Well, this is how I became a disciple of Sage Kamiizumi, but my master at the time already had a disciple.

　Ronin the Sword God explains the situation at the time.

...... Could that possibly be the case, Mr. Hifune, ......? Our ages are too different.

Well. If she's his brother's apprentice, then he's the old lady. So no. Well, not too far off.

"So, is it possible that Father Ronin's brother's apprentice disciple is Mr. Hifune?

You're right.

My master, the holy kamiizumi, was famous for not taking disciples very often. However, even such a master was not able to overcome the advancing tide of age, and in his later years, he took two disciples.

"One of them is Dad Ronin,

And then there's Toushiro, the father of the hifune.

"Toushiro ......

"You're the guy I killed.

"Dad!

Why are you raising your voice?

"Because Dad wouldn't kill someone.

No way. Can't you see what I have hanging around my waist? I gave you an alias for this a long time ago.

　Lifting the sword at the waist with a click.

The "...... manslayer knife

Yes. All swords are tools of death, and all swordsmen are homicidal maniacs.

No. My father's sword doesn't kill.

"Maybe that's why it's so bad. Maybe they don't want to kill you, so they can cut you up as if you were tofu.

　The father looked melancholy for a moment and then spoke about Kamiizumi and his brother, Toushiro.

I told you how I met my master. I challenged him to a fight to see what kind of a man he was, but he was beaten back by his size.

　Father Ronin was truly horrified and said.

"They call me the God of Swords, but I think the greatest swordsman in the world is my master.

"Are you that strong?

"Oh, strength is endless. I'm familiar with all schools of swordsmanship, yet I move without belonging to any school.

"Amazing ......

It's a great skill to be able to master any school and then leave it behind. You are truly a man beloved by the sword.

"You can't do it either?

It's impossible. I thought I created the Ronin style of swordsmanship, but the influence of my family's dojo sword is still very strong. No matter how barbaric it looks, it still has a certain elegance to it.
　But the master says differently.

"Crude and vulgarly unkata. It's an obscure kata. And yet it is far more refined than dojo swords.

"...... such a swordsman.

Oh, there you are. That's the Kensei. That old man has a habit of only living for a hundred years and has reached a level that no one has ever reached before.

Wow. You can't be jealous when you get there.

You're right. I didn't feel any jealousy at the time either. I was just afraid and admired it.

　Dad Ronin proudly says.

(Even Dad Ronin looks like this: ......)

　Dad recalls with a boyish expression. I only know my father when he was my father, but I know that he had a boy and a young man too.

I trained hard to be closer to that master. I can't become a swordsman. But you can become a disciple of the Sword Master. As one who was taught by him, you can live your life with pride. So I practiced with my brothers and sisters.

You also respected Kamiizumi-san, didn't you?

Yeah, he's one of those guys who was fascinated by his master's swordsmanship. I heard that he was only a month ahead of me when he started, but he treated me like my own brother without giving me any seniority.

　Dad Ronin closes his eyes and talks about those days.


If ever there was a golden age in a man's life, it would be those days.


　God of the sword Ronin asserts.

　The time when the god of swords, Kamiizumi, trained Ronin. The so-called apprenticeship period had a great influence on Ronin's personality development.

　He would wake up and go to the falls with his brother Toshiro. It was a rough trip that seemed to freeze his blood, but Ronin didn't mind it at all. But Ronin had no trouble at all, because after the training came the reward.

　The swordsman's sage did not have the lechery that is typical of difficult swordsmen. Of course, he was strict in his training, but at the same time, he had a warmth about him.

　Whenever he returned from a trip to the waterfall with his brothers and sisters, a hot pot of food would be served to them.



　The Swordsman served a pot of vegetables and animal meat cooked in an iron pot. Despite being the greatest swordsman of all time, he chopped his own wood every morning, cooked his own food and served his disciples.

'I owe you.'

　And never speak of such a thing.

　Just say
"Do you taste good?
　A wrinkled face was twisted into a grimace and only said shortly.

　Ronin's family was the dojo master of a small clan in Penglai. Even a small clan comes from a family that is the master's swordsmanship instructor. If it were my father, I would never have done something like this.

　It was Ronin's father who would not even share a room with his second son or younger, let alone serve him a meal.

　The dojo masters he had defeated so far were probably similar. At least none of them cooked for their students.

　A few weeks after knocking on the door of the Kamiizumi style, Ronin felt that this was where he belonged.


　Ronin trained in such an environment. He respected his master's competence and personality as much as possible, but he also respected his brothers and sisters.

　Actually - or not? As expected, Ronin had a cocky personality, or rather, he was not very good at socializing even back then. Even when he was in Hourai, he would often get into fights with his students and other brothers. It was this that led him to run away from Hourai.

　Ronin had a tendency to get upset easily, and he hated getting along with others. He took pride in being the best, so it's not hard to imagine that he didn't get along with his brothers and sisters, and that's how he treated Toushiro.

　That's why Ronin was lashing out at him from the very first day he started.

"Hey! Don't give me your brother's hand just because I joined a month early!

　As I explained earlier, he treated Ronin with respect, as if he were treating his elders rather than his brothers and sisters.

Don't get carried away just because you're a little more skilled.

　Not for a moment, the brotherhood was one of the few men stronger than Ronin.

　But the sniveling Ronin was always cutting off his lashes whenever he came close to his face like a scoundrel.

　I can't help but laugh when I imagine those scenes. I'm sure he would cut off his brothers and sisters the same way he cut off his mother Miria.

　But Toushiro was a really good person and did not take Father Ronin up on his offer.


Ronin, your swordsmanship seems wild, but it's actually delicate. There are times when you could have used a little more force.

　Uhee, and rebound Ronin. But in the end, he adopted Toushirō's opinion and improved his swordsmanship.

Your kesa-slashing skills are excellent, you should teach me sometime.

　Again, I'll be able to get rid of it, but in the end, we'll be waving a thousand kesa-slashes together every morning.

I'm so full. You have a cold, so eat now while you can.

　This eats honestly without woo-hooing and splashing. People have to eat when they can. But later on, when Toushirō catches a cold, Ronin does the same thing and shares his food with him. 　


　Or as Mother Militia would say, "A saint! I guess that's what it means, but it's true that Tohshiro was a saint.

　Within a month, he had gotten his hands on Father Ronin and reluctantly had him call him "Brother".

We slept and woke up together, went to the falls together, poked at the pots and pans together, swung our swords together. The three of us would take a rock bath together. Well, if you keep doing that, you'll get to know each other.

　It's a bit of an embarrassment for Ronin's father, but I think they must have liked each other a lot. You will be able to see that the two of you are opposite in character, but it is precisely because you are opposite that you were attracted to each other. --But there's nothing disturbing about what I've just heard. If Father Ronin's words are not a lie, then Father Ronin killed his sibling.

...... When Dad talks about Kamiizumi and Toshiro, he looks very calm. It's just like when he's at home with Mom and Dad Milia and Vandal. I can't believe that such a father would have killed Mrs. Toushirō. So that's a lie, right?　You didn't kill Mr. Toushiro, did you?

　My father replied seriously to my serious question.
　He slowly shakes his head to the side and says, "No, it's the same.

No, it's the same. I killed Toshiro. I killed my only friend.

"............

　It's hard to believe, but there's no point in asking anymore. Wait for the next word.

"After that, Toshiro and I had a friendly competition under our master. We became known as the dragon and tiger of the Kamiizumi school.

"Dragons and tigers, they look strong.

Well. But the greatest swordsman in the history of swordsmanship was a man's son too. He was a man of destiny. So he entrusted me and Tooshiro with a secret book of his sword techniques.

"The Secret Book ...... Gokuri ......

　A book of secrets from the world's greatest swordsman. I'd like to read it. Is it in the house of the gods? While I was thinking about this, Ronin's father continued his story.

　Just before he died, the greatest swordsman of all time summoned Ronin and Toshiro separately and put down the two scrolls.

　This is the Book of Dragons and Tigers, the secret book that will be known as The Book of Dragons and Tigers in later life.
　The Book of the Dragon and Tiger is a book that contains the secrets of the Kamiizumi school of swordsmanship. It is a book that should be coveted by anyone who aspires to the way of the sword. I'm also intrigued by it.



"Did you become the strongest because you read the Book of Dragons and Tigers?

"No way. . but .

　Dad Ronin's response was terse.

"You weren't interested?

There it is. I want to be the strongest. I'm so tempting I'd drool all over my body.
　But--and Dad continued.

The Dragon and Tiger Book didn't work with only one of them. It can only be effective when you understand both books.

"Both ......

The Book of Dragons and Tigers is a pair of books. The Book of Dragons and Tigers is a pair of books. It is also known as the Book of Mind and Technique. It was a book that only had value when the two were read and understood.

Then you should have cooperated with the other one's successor, Mr. Toushiro, and figured it out.

Smart. Well, I guess I will.

The way you talk, you've tried it.

Of course. Both Toshiro and I are swordsmen who want to be the strongest. We will show each other the Book of the Dragon and Tiger and train together. To begin with, my master gave me and Tooshiro one by one in order to literally connect technique and heart. It was to let people know that the essence of Kamiizumi's style is in the technique and heart.

So you two have worked together to master the Kamiizumi style?

No, I couldn't do that.

What do you mean?　Was it that difficult to get to the depths?

"No, I don't know that. It's true now. But Toshiro and I were never able to master the secrets of the Kamiizumi style. --Because...

　Dad, with his distinctly serious expression. I gulp down a mouthful of air.
　As my throat trembles, Dad Ronin speaks out with a shocking truth.

That's because I killed my brother, Toushirō, before I could master the secrets of the game.

　Ronin tied it off blandly and without blame, and then turned his back to me.

　I could hear Mom's voice from afar. She's worried about us and worried that our supper is getting cold. I'll get hurt if I don't, Dad finally let out a grunt and melted into the darkness, returning to the house of the gods.

　I stared at my father's back and followed him silently.