Swords are good. Swinging them helps clear your mind and is perfect for focusing. When enemies appear, I cut them down as I please. Those who try to take from me, too. My world is simple – enemies or allies, swords. That’s all there is to it.
I’m Kuuga. I’m the captain of the infantry unit in a mercenary group. My infantry unit is made up of guys who are itching for a fight. We’ve got all kinds – from the skilled ones to the muscle heads – all looking for ways to kill enemies with swords, spears, and other tools. Our job is to charge in first on the front lines, take down enemies, and clear the way for the guys behind us. We take pride in that. I don’t use tools. I don’t use spears either. All I use is a two-handed sword. Doesn’t matter if it’s spears, bows, magic, or magical tools. I’ve always taken down enemies with just my sword. But lately, things have changed. Lill. That girl’s talent has blossomed. Her three inventions were quickly distributed to my unit too. They got used to them right away. My subordinates were thrilled, saying they could take down more enemies with these. But then, how are we any different from the engineering unit? We used to take pride in defeating enemies with our weapons. But now, the thought that it’s fine to just use these tools is starting to spread. That’s not good. Sure, we fight on the front lines. But that’s not all we do. We also need to cover the rear during retreats. Will those tools still be around then? They won’t be. If things were that solid, we wouldn’t need to retreat in the first place.
But I can’t convince them anymore. There are some who still understand the importance of swords. But most of them rely on Lill’s tools now. When there’s something convenient, of course I’d use it too. But we’re shields. Shields can’t rely on decorations.
I used to live in the slums. Gungrave and I supported each other to survive in that filthy environment. Back then, I always charged at enemies first with a wooden stick or iron rod. When retreating, I was always at the back, holding off enemies. I guess that’s why I’m pretty confident in my sword skills now. But I still can’t beat Gungrave consistently. That genius picked up in no time the sword techniques that took me most of my life to master. But Gungrave’s a captain now. We can’t send him to the front lines. I need to charge in first and pave the way for him. However, my sword skills aren’t improving much anymore. The speed and weight of my sword, you know. This might be the limit of my talent. But one night, I realized something. I need to create my own sword technique. A technique that’s uniquely mine, built from all the skills I’ve stolen from soldiers I’ve fought.
One night, after storming out from an argument with my subordinates. I tried to get those idiots who keep relying on flame stones to practice, but they wouldn’t listen. So I stormed out. I entered a forest and came to a clearing. That’s when I unconsciously drew my sword. For years, I’ve been doing this – creating an image of myself in front of me and practicing. It’s not magic. It’s the ultimate concentration I’ve gained from fighting enemies and training continuously. I call it shadow practice. I exchange a few blows with my shadow. …It’s no good. As expected, I was about to lose miserably against my ideal sword, the goal I should be aiming for. That’s when I sensed someone’s presence from the forest.
“Who’s there?”
When I called out, a man stepped out from behind a tree. Looking rather sheepish.
“S-sorry!” “Oh, it’s you, Shuri. You startled me.”
It’s Shuri, the cook. A unique addition that Gungrave recently brought in. The food has been delicious lately, and my body’s been feeling good too. But why is he here?
“What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?” “Well, you know. It’s what they call a slump.”
For some reason, I could talk to this guy. I haven’t told anyone about my worries. If I said I felt like I’d hit the limit of my talent, I couldn’t complain even if I got thrown out of the group. But right now, I want to talk and feel better. I sheathed my sword and sat down heavily.
“A slump, you say?” “Yeah. Lill’s been working hard lately, right? She’s making amazing things, contributing to our battles. But all I can do is swing a sword skillfully. I wonder if this is the limit of my talent.”
It’s sad just saying it out loud. I’m not jealous of Lill. But I envy her. Meanwhile, even the guys in my unit are starting to lose patience with me.
“Don’t say such sad things about talent.” “Hm?”
Shuri looked at me with a face that seemed about to cry.
“I don’t have talent either. But I make do with the knowledge and experience I’ve gained through effort, managing with the skills I have. You handle your sword so beautifully, Kuuga. It’s not a slump, you’ve just hit a wall.”
I felt like I was about to cry. This guy calls my murderous sword beautiful. It’s not beautiful, it’s stained with blood. No, it’s a sword I’ve kept swinging to save my comrades. Maybe I needed to realize that. To take pride in my sword that saves my comrades. Maybe I needed to believe in it. I looked down, trying not to show my tears. A wall, huh? Am I hitting a wall.
“A wall… huh?”
Is it a wall of the limits of my talent, or a trial to grow even bigger?
“Oh, you must be hungry. Shall I make you a late-night snack?” “Is that okay?” “Gungrave won’t get angry if I feed someone who’s working hard.”
I was startled when Gungrave’s name came up. Did he know? Did he assign this guy to stick with me and encourage me? …That guy, being considerate in his own way.
Regardless of my state of mind, Shuri brought out some horse mackerel, oil, and something that looked like pepper. What’s that yellow, sticky stuff? Come to think of it, there was a time before when Shuri was constantly mixing eggs, oil, and seasonings in a bowl. I remember wondering what he was doing back then, but I ignored it. Shuri fried the pepper in oil, then immediately crushed it into breadcrumbs and sprinkled it around. He cleaned the horse mackerel beautifully, dipped it in the pepper breadcrumbs and egg, then dropped it into the oil.
“Looks delicious,”
It’s a nice smell. The savory smell of fresh fish frying in oil is irresistible. I’ve always loved fish to death. But you’d think, ‘Man, this could use a bit more richness,’ you know?
“It’s a bit spicy.”
Spicy? Does he mean it’s a little spicy?
Then Shuri took out the horse mackerel, poured the yellow stuff over it, and served it to me. Do we need the yellow stuff? It seems good enough as it is, but I know this guy’s cooking is delicious, so I stuffed it in my mouth without hesitation. First, it was crunchy. Then, it was fluffy. It had a strange texture. It was crunchy and had a good bite, but the inside was fluffy and filled my mouth with a savory aroma. Then the taste of fish dominates my mouth like there’s no tomorrow. Light yet rich. These seemingly contradictory sensations are in perfect harmony. And that yellow stuff. It’s irresistible. It’s sour, but not an unpleasant sourness. It’s sour and delicious, enhancing the deliciousness of the horse mackerel without overpowering it!
“Oh! It’s crispy and fluffy. Sweet and sour with great flavor!”
Yeah, the flavor is good too. The scent of pepper comes to my nose in the aftertaste, making it refreshing. It’s certainly a bit spicy, but not that spicy. It’s spicy, but not spicy. So this is what they call “spicy”, huh.
“You’re good at filleting fish.”
While eating what he called horse mackerel fry, I asked casually. There are no bones and it looks beautiful.
“You gently stroke the soft parts with the knife as you cut.”
Soft parts. Stroke and cut. Those words felt like a revelation to me. That’s right, there’s no need to imitate Gungrave or the big guys. I don’t have that much strength. I’ve always been skillful in maneuvering. I’ve maneuvered, found openings, and taken them down. But that alone isn’t enough. The gaps in armor, the gaps in offense and defense, these “soft parts”. And the gaps in consciousness. That’s what I need to strike. If I can hit those, I can cut even with a stroke. There was no need to cut with force.
I asked Shuri. What is talent, I wondered. He thought for a bit and then answered.
“Well, I’d say it’s about noticing things. Noticing the strengths and weaknesses of others, incorporating their strengths and making them your own. They call it ‘shu-ha-ri’ in martial arts. In ‘shu’ you protect the teachings, in ‘ha’ you break the teachings and test them, and in ‘ri’ you depart from both ‘shu’ and ‘ha’ to create something that’s uniquely yours.”
Shu-ha-ri. I’d never heard of it before. That’s right. I was trying to break out of my shell. And I found a clue.
After parting with Shuri, I continued my shadow practice relentlessly. Surprisingly, it went well in the shadow practice. I was getting beaten badly just a moment ago, but suddenly I could win easily. Of course, I don’t intend to abandon my power sword. I’ve just gained a new sword. If we call the power sword the “hard sword”, let’s call the technique sword the “soft sword”. I felt like I had become stronger, not just by one step, but by dozens of steps.
In the next battle, I showed off my soft sword and hard sword in front of those guys who still relied on tools. Before I knew it, there were no enemies around me. It seems they all had to keep their distance because of my strength. We won the battle and got the money. Afterwards, my subordinates came to apologize and asked me to teach them swordsmanship. Of course, I know they’re just flip-flopping. But these guys are my important subordinates. If my sword can “save” someone. I felt like I could be at peace with that.
After the founding of the Unified Empire, various martial arts flourished. All of them were created based on military tactics cultivated on the battlefield, and then disappeared. This is because in the Unified Empire, there are only two martial arts that exist.
One of them is the Kuuga style.
A martial art created by the sword saint Kuuga Yanagi. It’s the ultimate sword technique that the founder Kuuga enlightened during a war over salt rights. It spread from the first time Kuuga demonstrated it in that battle, where he defeated hundreds of enemies single-handedly without breaking a sweat. The Kuuga style has various derivatives. The “Kuuga-style Hard Sword Technique” that cuts through enemies and their defenses with sheer power. The “Kuuga-style Soft Sword Technique” that cuts through enemies’ consciousness like threading a needle. The “Kuuga-style Mind’s Eye Technique” that senses the flow of the opponent and the battlefield with the mind. The “Kuuga-style Aiki Technique” which is premised on fighting against armed opponents with bare hands. There are also derivative schools for various weapons other than bows, and they spread with unparalleled practicality compared to other miscellaneous schools. The Kuuga style even became a required subject for generations of imperial rulers of the Unified Empire, with mastery up to its secrets being a prerequisite. Also, Kuuga Yanagi, despite holding the position of Grand General of the Unified Empire, preferred the method of defeating enemies on the front lines and inspiring others. He is quoted as saying:
“I used to think there were only corpses behind me. But that guy made me realize. It’s not just corpses. There are thousands, tens of thousands of lives that have been saved. That’s why I fight at the very front. To protect my friends, I’ll be the first to jump out and become their shield, their sword.”
Believing that the number of lives saved was greater than the number killed, he gripped his sword. Even in his old age, after spreading the Kuuga style and entrusting it to his successors, and after handing over his position as Grand General, he remained the strongest. They say that after he retired, he became a jovial old man who enjoyed fishing leisurely and drinking and chatting with his childhood friend, the emperor, and his comrades. At those times, he always ate horse mackerel fry. They say he never missed eating that dish, which would make his wrinkled face break into a full smile.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link
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Chapter 6
Swords are good. Swinging them helps clear your mind and is perfect for focusing.
When enemies appear, I cut them down as I please. Those who try to take from me, too.
My world is simple – enemies or allies, swords.
That’s all there is to it.
I’m Kuuga. I’m the captain of the infantry unit in a mercenary group.
My infantry unit is made up of guys who are itching for a fight.
We’ve got all kinds – from the skilled ones to the muscle heads – all looking for ways to kill enemies with swords, spears, and other tools.
Our job is to charge in first on the front lines, take down enemies, and clear the way for the guys behind us. We take pride in that.
I don’t use tools. I don’t use spears either. All I use is a two-handed sword.
Doesn’t matter if it’s spears, bows, magic, or magical tools. I’ve always taken down enemies with just my sword.
But lately, things have changed.
Lill. That girl’s talent has blossomed.
Her three inventions were quickly distributed to my unit too.
They got used to them right away. My subordinates were thrilled, saying they could take down more enemies with these.
But then, how are we any different from the engineering unit?
We used to take pride in defeating enemies with our weapons. But now, the thought that it’s fine to just use these tools is starting to spread.
That’s not good.
Sure, we fight on the front lines. But that’s not all we do.
We also need to cover the rear during retreats. Will those tools still be around then?
They won’t be. If things were that solid, we wouldn’t need to retreat in the first place.
But I can’t convince them anymore.
There are some who still understand the importance of swords. But most of them rely on Lill’s tools now.
When there’s something convenient, of course I’d use it too.
But we’re shields. Shields can’t rely on decorations.
I used to live in the slums.
Gungrave and I supported each other to survive in that filthy environment.
Back then, I always charged at enemies first with a wooden stick or iron rod. When retreating, I was always at the back, holding off enemies.
I guess that’s why I’m pretty confident in my sword skills now.
But I still can’t beat Gungrave consistently.
That genius picked up in no time the sword techniques that took me most of my life to master.
But Gungrave’s a captain now. We can’t send him to the front lines.
I need to charge in first and pave the way for him.
However, my sword skills aren’t improving much anymore.
The speed and weight of my sword, you know.
This might be the limit of my talent.
But one night, I realized something.
I need to create my own sword technique.
A technique that’s uniquely mine, built from all the skills I’ve stolen from soldiers I’ve fought.
One night, after storming out from an argument with my subordinates.
I tried to get those idiots who keep relying on flame stones to practice, but they wouldn’t listen. So I stormed out.
I entered a forest and came to a clearing. That’s when I unconsciously drew my sword.
For years, I’ve been doing this – creating an image of myself in front of me and practicing.
It’s not magic. It’s the ultimate concentration I’ve gained from fighting enemies and training continuously.
I call it shadow practice.
I exchange a few blows with my shadow.
…It’s no good.
As expected, I was about to lose miserably against my ideal sword, the goal I should be aiming for.
That’s when I sensed someone’s presence from the forest.
“Who’s there?”
When I called out, a man stepped out from behind a tree.
Looking rather sheepish.
“S-sorry!”
“Oh, it’s you, Shuri. You startled me.”
It’s Shuri, the cook.
A unique addition that Gungrave recently brought in.
The food has been delicious lately, and my body’s been feeling good too.
But why is he here?
“What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?”
“Well, you know. It’s what they call a slump.”
For some reason, I could talk to this guy.
I haven’t told anyone about my worries. If I said I felt like I’d hit the limit of my talent, I couldn’t complain even if I got thrown out of the group.
But right now, I want to talk and feel better.
I sheathed my sword and sat down heavily.
“A slump, you say?”
“Yeah. Lill’s been working hard lately, right? She’s making amazing things, contributing to our battles. But all I can do is swing a sword skillfully.
I wonder if this is the limit of my talent.”
It’s sad just saying it out loud.
I’m not jealous of Lill. But I envy her.
Meanwhile, even the guys in my unit are starting to lose patience with me.
“Don’t say such sad things about talent.”
“Hm?”
Shuri looked at me with a face that seemed about to cry.
“I don’t have talent either.
But I make do with the knowledge and experience I’ve gained through effort, managing with the skills I have.
You handle your sword so beautifully, Kuuga. It’s not a slump, you’ve just hit a wall.”
I felt like I was about to cry.
This guy calls my murderous sword beautiful.
It’s not beautiful, it’s stained with blood.
No, it’s a sword I’ve kept swinging to save my comrades.
Maybe I needed to realize that.
To take pride in my sword that saves my comrades.
Maybe I needed to believe in it.
I looked down, trying not to show my tears.
A wall, huh? Am I hitting a wall.
“A wall… huh?”
Is it a wall of the limits of my talent, or a trial to grow even bigger?
“Oh, you must be hungry. Shall I make you a late-night snack?”
“Is that okay?”
“Gungrave won’t get angry if I feed someone who’s working hard.”
I was startled when Gungrave’s name came up.
Did he know?
Did he assign this guy to stick with me and encourage me?
…That guy, being considerate in his own way.
Regardless of my state of mind, Shuri brought out some horse mackerel, oil, and something that looked like pepper.
What’s that yellow, sticky stuff?
Come to think of it, there was a time before when Shuri was constantly mixing eggs, oil, and seasonings in a bowl.
I remember wondering what he was doing back then, but I ignored it.
Shuri fried the pepper in oil, then immediately crushed it into breadcrumbs and sprinkled it around.
He cleaned the horse mackerel beautifully, dipped it in the pepper breadcrumbs and egg, then dropped it into the oil.
“Looks delicious,”
It’s a nice smell.
The savory smell of fresh fish frying in oil is irresistible.
I’ve always loved fish to death.
But you’d think, ‘Man, this could use a bit more richness,’ you know?
“It’s a bit spicy.”
Spicy?
Does he mean it’s a little spicy?
Then Shuri took out the horse mackerel, poured the yellow stuff over it, and served it to me.
Do we need the yellow stuff?
It seems good enough as it is, but I know this guy’s cooking is delicious, so I stuffed it in my mouth without hesitation.
First, it was crunchy.
Then, it was fluffy.
It had a strange texture. It was crunchy and had a good bite, but the inside was fluffy and filled my mouth with a savory aroma.
Then the taste of fish dominates my mouth like there’s no tomorrow.
Light yet rich. These seemingly contradictory sensations are in perfect harmony.
And that yellow stuff. It’s irresistible.
It’s sour, but not an unpleasant sourness.
It’s sour and delicious, enhancing the deliciousness of the horse mackerel without overpowering it!
“Oh! It’s crispy and fluffy. Sweet and sour with great flavor!”
Yeah, the flavor is good too.
The scent of pepper comes to my nose in the aftertaste, making it refreshing.
It’s certainly a bit spicy, but not that spicy.
It’s spicy, but not spicy.
So this is what they call “spicy”, huh.
“You’re good at filleting fish.”
While eating what he called horse mackerel fry, I asked casually.
There are no bones and it looks beautiful.
“You gently stroke the soft parts with the knife as you cut.”
Soft parts. Stroke and cut.
Those words felt like a revelation to me.
That’s right, there’s no need to imitate Gungrave or the big guys.
I don’t have that much strength. I’ve always been skillful in maneuvering.
I’ve maneuvered, found openings, and taken them down.
But that alone isn’t enough.
The gaps in armor, the gaps in offense and defense, these “soft parts”.
And the gaps in consciousness. That’s what I need to strike.
If I can hit those, I can cut even with a stroke. There was no need to cut with force.
I asked Shuri.
What is talent, I wondered.
He thought for a bit and then answered.
“Well, I’d say it’s about noticing things.
Noticing the strengths and weaknesses of others, incorporating their strengths and making them your own.
They call it ‘shu-ha-ri’ in martial arts. In ‘shu’ you protect the teachings, in ‘ha’ you break the teachings and test them, and in ‘ri’ you depart from both ‘shu’ and ‘ha’ to create something that’s uniquely yours.”
Shu-ha-ri. I’d never heard of it before.
That’s right. I was trying to break out of my shell.
And I found a clue.
After parting with Shuri, I continued my shadow practice relentlessly.
Surprisingly, it went well in the shadow practice.
I was getting beaten badly just a moment ago, but suddenly I could win easily.
Of course, I don’t intend to abandon my power sword.
I’ve just gained a new sword.
If we call the power sword the “hard sword”, let’s call the technique sword the “soft sword”.
I felt like I had become stronger, not just by one step, but by dozens of steps.
In the next battle, I showed off my soft sword and hard sword in front of those guys who still relied on tools.
Before I knew it, there were no enemies around me. It seems they all had to keep their distance because of my strength.
We won the battle and got the money.
Afterwards, my subordinates came to apologize and asked me to teach them swordsmanship.
Of course, I know they’re just flip-flopping.
But these guys are my important subordinates.
If my sword can “save” someone.
I felt like I could be at peace with that.
After the founding of the Unified Empire, various martial arts flourished. All of them were created based on military tactics cultivated on the battlefield, and then disappeared.
This is because in the Unified Empire, there are only two martial arts that exist.
One of them is the Kuuga style.
A martial art created by the sword saint Kuuga Yanagi.
It’s the ultimate sword technique that the founder Kuuga enlightened during a war over salt rights.
It spread from the first time Kuuga demonstrated it in that battle, where he defeated hundreds of enemies single-handedly without breaking a sweat.
The Kuuga style has various derivatives.
The “Kuuga-style Hard Sword Technique” that cuts through enemies and their defenses with sheer power.
The “Kuuga-style Soft Sword Technique” that cuts through enemies’ consciousness like threading a needle.
The “Kuuga-style Mind’s Eye Technique” that senses the flow of the opponent and the battlefield with the mind.
The “Kuuga-style Aiki Technique” which is premised on fighting against armed opponents with bare hands.
There are also derivative schools for various weapons other than bows, and they spread with unparalleled practicality compared to other miscellaneous schools.
The Kuuga style even became a required subject for generations of imperial rulers of the Unified Empire, with mastery up to its secrets being a prerequisite.
Also, Kuuga Yanagi, despite holding the position of Grand General of the Unified Empire, preferred the method of defeating enemies on the front lines and inspiring others.
He is quoted as saying:
“I used to think there were only corpses behind me. But that guy made me realize. It’s not just corpses. There are thousands, tens of thousands of lives that have been saved.
That’s why I fight at the very front.
To protect my friends, I’ll be the first to jump out and become their shield, their sword.”
Believing that the number of lives saved was greater than the number killed, he gripped his sword.
Even in his old age, after spreading the Kuuga style and entrusting it to his successors, and after handing over his position as Grand General, he remained the strongest.
They say that after he retired, he became a jovial old man who enjoyed fishing leisurely and drinking and chatting with his childhood friend, the emperor, and his comrades.
At those times, he always ate horse mackerel fry.
They say he never missed eating that dish, which would make his wrinkled face break into a full smile.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link
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