Read The Legendary Rebuilding of a World by a Realist Demon King

166 - - a prize for fighting

Back

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　They have successfully defeated the undead group, but in exchange, Toshizo has become dirty. His clothes stank. The undead had a terrible stench of rottenness.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Toshizo said,

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I'm not going to meet a woman. I'm more hungry.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　but the fox-faced old man disagreed.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

But the fox-faced old man disagrees. Even if we get some food, having a man like this next to us will make us lose our appetite.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"But you know what? ......"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Toshizo scratched his cheek uncomfortably, but I was in the same boat, so I grabbed an iron rod that had fallen around the place and held it in both hands.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"What's that?"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Toshizo asks.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

This is dowsing. If you walk around with it in your hands like this, it will tell you if there is a water source nearby.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"If it's a water moat, you can find it a little further back.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I thought I'd let the old man have a hot spring bath anyway."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　At these words, the old man with the fox face said..,

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Woah woah woah!"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The fox-faced old man laughs.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"A young devil king looking up at me. If I didn't have a master, I'd serve him as he is.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"You can serve him even if he is here."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Toshizo jokes, but he knows the old man has no intention of doing so. Without pestering him any further, he continued.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Well, I would like to go to a hot spring if I could. I like hot springs more than I thought. Are there any nearby?

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"That's what I'm looking for."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　He points the iron rod in all directions and finds one that opens up.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"It seems to be there!"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　We headed in that direction with a grin.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　It seems that the reason there were hot springs in the underground labyrinth, and in the Great Tomb in particular, was so that the family that guarded it could bathe in them. The baths were not for the masses, but for the priestesses who prayed, and there were carvings with female motifs all over the place.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Well, since no one uses the bathhouse now, it is unlikely that you will encounter a beautiful woman in the bathhouse," Toshizo said regretfully.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Toshizo said regretfully and stripped naked on the spot.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　He enters the bathhouse, hanging something magnificent on his head. Since it was boring to see what men were doing, I got naked too and went into the bathroom.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"This feels so good!"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　I said to myself, and Toshizo nodded his head in agreement.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Hot water is magic. Especially hot spring water is more effective than any restorative magic.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Toshizo washes his face in the hot water. Then he said the following words.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"By the way, mister, you're quite splendidly naked."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Is that so?"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Toshizo looked at my body.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Yeah, you're more muscular than I expected. I thought you'd be short because you're a magician, but you've got abs.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Not as muscular as Toshizo. But I wield a sword every day.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Well, that's surprising. I thought you devoted all your spare time to reading.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

I wish I could... but I'm the monarch. It is the duty of a monarch to train his body.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　A sound mind is a sound body.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I see... You are the very definition of a demon king, aren't you?

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Toshizo is impressed, but he is too interested to think about it.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　He wonders if Hijikata Toshizo had a man-crazy side.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　In a different world, he is often featured in novels about male s*xuality, but in the real world, he was a lover of women, and I am sure that he did not have such an aptitude. However, it is possible that the world in which I studied and the world in which Toshizo lived are different, so it is difficult to say for certain. It is also possible that he woke up after coming to this world," the old man interrupted the conversation.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

I'm going to take a bath, too.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　I was surprised to see the old man who came into the room.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　It was not because he came in wearing a fox mask. It was his body that surprised me. He was so muscular that it was hard to believe that he was an old man. He had scars all over his body, reminding one of a brave man who had fought many battles.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Toshizo seemed to have the same impression and said what he thought.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Wow, old man. You don't have the body of an old man.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Thank you. "Thank you. I worked hard even when I was an old man. You'll always have muscles."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"You're a hell of an old man. I can't wait to find out who he is.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Well, why don't we play a little game?

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

A game?

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Yeah, there's some kind of rock table over there.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Yes, there is.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Yes," said Toshizo, glancing at the table.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Let's arm-wrestle there. If you win, I'll take off this mask. How about it?

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"How's that sound?" "Interesting. I just don't like to pick on the old man. I have a lot of respect for the elderly.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Take it off. You better think about what you're going to say when you lose to the old man.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The old man lies and heads for the rocks. He tied a hand towel around his waist.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Toshizo does the same.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　They put their elbows on the rock and stare at each other.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

You're a fighter.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Of course I am. I can't let an old man beat me.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

That's the spirit.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The old man glances at me when he says that. I guess he wants me to signal the start of the game and be the judge. I wrapped a towel around my waist as well and left the bath. After checking both of our fists, he said, "Ready! I said. A camel-like hump formed on both of their arms. Their muscles were frighteningly muscular. I saw that and I said, "Start! and he threw his hands down.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Suddenly, the arm wrestling began, but the old man in front of me was stronger than I had imagined. Not only did he look strong, but he also possessed tremendous power.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"He's a monstrous warrior of unparalleled strength. ......"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　His ancestors are either Kintoki Sakata or Hachiro Chinzai, a.k.a. Tamecho Minamoto. Hijikata Toshizo reminds me of a great man from the past.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Well, that's a joke, but all I know is that this man is not Hajime Saito. Toshizo is convinced that the fox-faced old man is a member of the Shinsengumi, but he has no idea who he is.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The Shinsengumi had dozens of members. It is hard to get a good idea of who they are. However, after talking to him for a while, it was clear that he was not Isamu Kondo or Soji Okita. Even though he was an old man, he could still recognize Kondo and Okita, who had been his comrades and friends during his days at the Trial Hall. Therefore, Toshizo thought that this man might be Saito, but he found out that he was wrong.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The reason why he knew it was because this man was right-handed.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

(Hajime Saito, the leader of the Shinsengumi's third squad, was left-handed.)

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Therefore, we know that this man is not Hajime Saito.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　--I know. I know, but then I wonder who he is. He looks like Yoshimura Kanichiro, a country samurai from the south, but rumor has it that he was disemboweled at the residence of the Nanbu clan in Kyoto.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The other most likely candidate is Shinpachi Nagakura, who served as a master of swordsmanship, but for personal reasons, I have eliminated him from my list of choices. However, I wanted to exclude him from the list for personal reasons, because it would be troublesome if Nagakura became an enemy. I have known him since our days at the Trial Hall, and we get along well. His skill saved my life at Toba-Fushimi. I do not want to antagonize him.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　But how much easier life would be if we did not have to fight just because we did not want to.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Now we were having an arm-wrestling match, but I had a feeling that I would have to fight with this man someday.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The old man puts his strength into this thought.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"...... you're prying into my affairs. You'll lose if you keep thinking about unnecessary things."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The old man puts more force into his words. He seems to decide the game at once.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"The world will laugh at you if your ogre assistant chief loses to an old man. I'm going to get serious, too.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　and he gives it everything he's got.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　As the two swordsmen draw out their full strength, a crack appears in the rock on which they are fighting. With a crack, the rock splits in half.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　With nowhere left to push down the opponent's arm, the match is inevitably a draw.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The old man breathes hard,

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I feel like I'm missing the head of a great commander," he sighed.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　He let out a sigh.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The same went for Toshizo,

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I missed putting the old man in the grave.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The game between the two men ended in a draw.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　It was a great match, but the fox-faced old man said something unexpected.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

The game is a draw, but I will at least take off your mask.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　These words startled Toshizo and the Demon King.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Really?

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Yes, the prize for fighting spirit."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The old man said and easily took off his mask.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　And there he was..,

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Back

Table of Contents

Next

Back

Table of Contents

Next