So much easier to bear than to worry about.


　As I retreated from the large hall, I murmured with great satisfaction and a slight sense of relief.

　Until we actually faced off against the Sword Saints, I had also assumed the worst case scenario, that they had become even stronger than we had become.

　Considering Goz, Klimt, Cryer and others, I knew the possibility of that was close to zero, but my memories of five years ago kept whispering to me about that possibility.

　But now that I actually faced him, my fears were completely erased. Moreover, it was an added bonus that the strongest swordsman in the Sword Family hadn't grown at all in the past five years.

　If he didn't rejoice in this, what was there to rejoice in?

　Not only that. This state of affairs will not change for many years to come. The Mikenshikibu is the strongest swordsman in the world, and that's why he can't move from that extreme point.

　In contrast to me, I can move forward as much as I want. It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to see your own face.

　--I'm not sure what that means.

　I can't help but chuckle. I'm sure you'll be able to hear the buzzing and shouting of the people gathered in the hall behind you, but that doesn't bother you much.

　Well, regardless of the test rituals, I'll fight the spider. I'm not obligated to follow the conditions that they added on their own, but I need to meet the condition of "proving strength" that I agreed to in advance.

　On top of that, if the swordsman forces me to obey him or mess with the sparrow, then I'll feel free to eat him - no, I'll kill him.

　It would be troublesome if I could sit up to the Swordsman and Twin Peaks at this point in time, but for a person who was cut down as weak five years ago, that's also an honor. If it wasn't for those three people, they would have been deemed unruly.


Hm. But that's only if they have the time to bother me.


　With that said, I think back to the events on this island. The turmoil in the Canary Kingdom earlier was quite a mess, but it seems that Onigashima is also experiencing the seeds of disquiet in Onigashima. It seems that a situation that is beyond me and the sparrows' reach will occur soon.

　Of course, this is just a guess - or rather, an unfounded hunch. That's why I'm not going to warn you or give you any advice. I'm sure the signs I've detected are insignificant to the swordsmen who have been defending the demon gate for three hundred years.

　With my lips twisted into a sarcastic smile, I returned to the guest room I had been assigned to earlier. No, I tried to go back.

　But someone stood in my way.

　It was a very small person. He was even smaller than the three little kids at the Seela priest's place.

　He must have been about four or five years old. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one. I'm sure that the crest of the swordsman's family is on his coat of arms, so he is definitely a child of this family.

　That's as far as it goes. It's no surprise that there is a child of the Mikado inside the Mikado's residence.

　The problem is that the child is staring at me with a very indignant look. And why is he wearing a sash over his cloak?　You shouldn't take off your cloak before you tie it...

　Upon closer inspection, it appears that he tied it himself, and the knot is terribly unreliable. I'm worried that it's going to come undone soon as well, and I'm worried about someone else.

　As I was thinking about this, the little black-haired swordsman opened his mouth, glaring at me with a snap.


'I am Miken Ibuki!　I'll give you a fight, I'll give you a fight, I'll give you a fight, I'll give you a fight, I'll give you a fight!

Uh....


　When a kid who is a year or more younger than you suddenly offers you a duel, what should you say?

　For now, I sat down and made eye contact with the other person, and I decided to say my name as well, in response to the first person who said his or her name in thanks.


I'm Sora. So, uh, Ibuki, you say, little swordsman-dono. Why do you want to have a duel with me?

"Because you're the one who bullied Grandpa Goz!　This is a justifiable cause!

.........huh.


　Uncle Goz, you know.

　He may simply be a disciple of Goz or something, but seeing as he took the last name of Gokens--


And I can't forgive you for making your mother look so sad!

...Your mother's name was Cecil, sir?


　At our question, the boy pulled his lips into a straight line and nodded widely.

　Then he pulled a wooden sword from its scabbard and thrust the tip of it at me, shouting loudly.


'Come on, let's go out there and compete with the Jinjyo!


　The wooden sword the boy is holding is small, but it is really beautifully crafted. Come to think of it, Goz was good at this kind of crafting. Recalling this, the edge of his lips twitch up sarcastically.

　-- or else I was going to start laughing like old times without any other intention.

　The boy piles on the words without the wind of noticing my inner thoughts.


What's the matter with you, get out of there!　I can't cut what I haven't drawn my sword for!


　The tone is sometimes strangely stiff, perhaps because he is imitating a passage from a story his mother read to him. It's just the kind of line that one would expect to hear in a story.

　--And now, what should I do?

　It's a good idea to have a half-brother in front of you and you're not sure what to do.

　To tell the truth, this half-brother doesn't sound very friendly to me. Even before I left the island, I had more than enough half-brothers and half-sisters to fill my hands, because of my father's involvement in the affairs of women. And I had never spoken to most of them, let alone seen them.

　It's unlikely that I would feel any affection for them if there were one or two more such brothers and sisters.

　But if you look at them not as 'half-brothers' but as 'Goz's nephews' and 'Cecil's children', I have some thoughts about them. I have a lot of feelings about them, but that doesn't mean I'm going to treat him coldly.

　It's natural for him to be angry with me for beating up Uncle Goz and making your mother sad. If I was in the same position at my age, I would have challenged my opponent to a fight or two. I didn't even consider that Goz and Cecil might be responsible.

　It's just the way it is. I'm going to have to deal with one of them now, I thought with a wry smile.


'Get it over with!　From this, what I see is the power of the forbidden dragon!

...hmm?


　A line I've heard somewhere familiar jumped into my ears.

　While I was puzzled by the unknowable anxiety I was experiencing, the swordsman in front of me continued to speak.


It's the ultimate swordsmanship to beat the demon gods!

Hey, wait--

It's called the Flaming Sword!

Guffaw?


　I winced as I was stabbed through an old wound in my chest with precision, and I winced as I held my chest.

　The little swordsman, perhaps thinking that this was the effect of his own name calling, proudly threw out his chest.


''Fear me, you evil bastard!

"Biggety, biggety, biggety!


　I was coughing so hard I couldn't stop coughing because my spit was stuck in a funny place.

　I'm sure it's because of the painful look on my face, but Ibuki pulled back his signature expression and asked a worried question.


I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get away with it.

...


　After receiving the final blow, I finally kneeled down right there and nodded in dismay.

　It was an unexpected and fatal blow (calling me an uncle).