I met that man when I was at my lowest ebb. It was before I went to Kayo and her sisters' house.

My parents had been killed in a car accident and I was first taken in by my father's relatives. That's when I met Mitsurugi, a samurai named Mitsurugi-Toji, who was my grandfather. I met Mitsurugi, who was my real grandfather.

I knew your maiden name was Mitsurugi, but was he the person who taught you how to fight?

Yeah. That was a hell of an old man.

The Mitsurugi family has been practicing sword fighting for generations. My grandfather told me that the swordsmanship of the Mitsurugi was the key to my family's success, even though my ancestors survived several wars and won many awards. I don't know if it's true or not. I don't know if it's true or not, but I do remember that he was proud of the cool anecdote he told me.

As I recall, he told me a story about a fighter jet that crashed because it ran out of fuel, and he destroyed an enemy base by himself, and escaped from the base by snatching the jet, right? I'm sure it's a lie.

I don't know if it's a lie or not, but I heard that the sword fighting techniques of the Mitsurugi have been passed down from generation to generation. I didn't know it at all, but I heard my real father had learned this swordsmanship too.

I didn't know this at all, but I heard that my father had learned this swordsmanship from his father. Incidentally, I heard that he was known as the modern-day Hijikata Toshizo at the time.

Thanks to that, I was able to get beaten up by my grandfather in a VR game. At that time, he taught me only the knowledge of combat in VR games. He didn't teach me any other knowledge. They just killed me with a sword and killed me.

But I knew that it made me slow down in pain, and I knew that the golden target was effective. That's why Arthur and the others were able to fight like that.

In case you're wondering, I'm the only one who should know about this. I don't think my grandfather would have told them off. My sister Kayo is listening.

'I know why you're strong, but why did you do it?　Isn't that dangerous?

'Yes, but I think I'm saved by my old man.

Huh?

The three of us look at each other as if to say we don't know what they mean.

'At the time I was losing my parents and my mind was really wild. Every person in my eyes looked like trash, how could someone like trash be alive and why did my parents die?　I've always wondered if it wasn't the trash people who should die.

Mr...

And I began to think that there was no point in living in this world. The old man must have realized that... he took me to the dojo and told me to fight with him. For some reason I didn't like his attitude, so I grabbed my shinai and fought him. I lost, but I felt better.

'Is that because you've been relieved of stress?'

'I don't know. But I do remember that the view I saw while I was lying there with my body stuck, it looked so beautiful.

'I see. So we should be grateful to Sei-kun's grandfather?　It's just that he's the one who brought us and Sei-kun together.

I don't think I'm overreacting that much, but I don't want to get watered down here. Then Rikoi speaks up with a question.

'But isn't that strange?　Because this is the end of the story here, right?

Yeah, normally, it would certainly end up being a good story, but unfortunately, the old man wasn't normal.

'There's a continuation of the story. As I was collapsing, the old man said to me, 'You have a talent, now take a lesson from me. From now on, you're going to learn from me.'

"Yes?

The three of you give me that what-it-is look. What was I saying at the time, too? I thought it was this old man.

Every day, he would catch me and teach me the basics of kendo. After a while, when he saw that I had mastered the basics, he told me that I had to fight with him every day, and he would beat me up every day. When I couldn't move, I would spend the days getting beaten up again by VR games. After that, the old man was satisfied, so a few days later, I came to the Konoe family.

What a... powerful grandfather he was.

'He was too powerful. He enjoyed it when I threw rocks at him, and he enjoyed it even more when I stole his old man's skills... he was a really troubled old man.

I still remember it well.

'Good!　Seigo!　That's right!　Use whatever it takes to win!　That's the spirit.

"Don't stop thinking!　Think about killing an eagle every day!　And then you'll kill me with aplomb!

Oh, I just remembered something bad... why was I living with that old battle-crazed man?

When I'm reminiscing about my unpleasant past, Miki says to me.

'But brother, you're smiling... it's the first time I've seen you smile.

Hmm?　Were you smiling?

He had a big, friendly smile. You still have something to hide, don't you?　the "Holy Grail

It's not a secret, though.

It's not a secret, but I learned a lot of important things from him, even though he gave me a lot of shit. In my mind, he's a goal, a person I look up to and a benefactor.

Riko asks.

'What did they teach you?'

Is that a secret?

"Yeah!

The three of you are not happy about it, but can't I tell you all about this? I remember what my grandfather told me.

Seigo...it's a living thing that dies. It will be painful, but the living will have to experience that pain.

Why?

The purpose of a dead man's will... is to carry on his memory.

Do you have to go through a lot to pass it on?

It is an unavoidable path to inherit a true love. On the contrary, Seigo is now attempting to carry out the wishes of his father and mother.

It's my mother and father's will that I pass on...

Goodbye. The pain you're experiencing, I'll show you that you can overcome it with flying colors. Then I'm sure our heavenly hosts will be relieved.

Grandpa...I...

I decided at that moment. I was going to make my parents proud of me. That decision has never changed. By the way, he passed away before I was in high school. When he died, I didn't cry. That's because I received his last will and testament.

He said, "I leave my sword to you. I look forward to the day I can fight in the afterlife.

It's very much like that old man, and it made me laugh.

I wonder if EO can beat that old man? Strangely, I felt that way, but I don't think I'll win. One day, I want to be proud and say that I'm stronger than my old man.

'Brother... you're remembering something...'

Oops, Miki sensed it.

"That's all the explanation from me for now. Court adjourned.

Oh, wait!　I still need to ask you something else!

Hmm? What else did I miss?

'That's right!　This was the real deal!

Super important.

The two of them followed by Kayo's sister would also say so. No, I really don't have any idea, okay?

"Why did you let the other players know about the attack before we did?

...... Ahhhh.

That night, I explain things to the three of them and talk about the event.

Apparently the three of them are also coming to the free-tier. They're applying tomorrow, and they're hoping to arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm not going to be defeated either.