[79] Just a Side Task

The course of events was roughly as Eiji had guessed.

Two years ago, Kaito Ayatsuji was diagnosed with heart disease. For the sake of his remaining years and his family, he had no choice but to give up kendo. After retiring, he focused entirely on managing the Ayatsuji Dojo and training the next generation.

Not long after his retirement, Kuraudo Kurashiki came to challenge the dojo.

Kaito Ayatsuji had already sheathed his sword. No matter how much Kuraudo Kurashiki threatened or even spat in his face, he remained unmoved and refused to fight.

Kuraudo Kurashiki left.

A few days later, the dojo's students came to resign, their faces bruised and filled with shame as they gave up kendo.

Each of them had been secretly approached by Kuraudo Kurashiki, who forced them to spar with him and then brutally beat them. This not only physically injured the students but also shattered their spirits, making them question whether learning the sword was even worth it.

In the end, all the dojo's students abandoned kendo and left.

"What a rude guy."

Kanata frowned, her expression filled with displeasure.

In the small town at night, dim streetlights barely illuminated the road. The sound of the rising tide and the rustling of the mountain forest could be heard in the distance.

It was a beautiful scene, but the topic of conversation was anything but pleasant.

"Not only that..."

Ayase clenched her fists, gritting her teeth.

"One night, he forcibly broke into our dojo and demanded that my father duel him again!"

This time, Kaito Ayatsuji finally agreed.

As for the outcome, it was clear from Ayase's expression.

Kuraudo Kurashiki didn't use his Blazer abilities, didn't summon his Device, and didn't even use magic. With just a wooden sword, he defeated Kaito Ayatsuji.

"Mr. Kaito Ayatsuji probably didn't lose because of his swordsmanship, right?"

Eiji calmly made his guess, as if he were certain.

"Yes, my father's body had already been weakened by his heart disease. On top of that, he had been repeatedly injured by Kuraudo Kurashiki. In the end, he couldn't hold on and lost..."

Ayase gave Eiji a surprised look but then shyly averted her gaze.

She hadn't expected Eiji to have such high confidence in her father's swordsmanship.

The Last Samurai, despite his extraordinary swordsmanship, was still just an ordinary person.

If anything, he was probably the person in the world who most wished to become a Blazer.

Due to his physical condition, Kaito Ayatsuji ultimately lost to Kuraudo Kurashiki. He was struck on the head with a sword, cracking his skull, and had been in a coma ever since.

So, the reason the Last Samurai was hospitalized wasn't solely due to his heart disease but also because he had been beaten unconscious by Kuraudo Kurashiki. He had been lying in bed for two years now.

"In the end, not only was my father severely injured and hospitalized, but the dojo was also taken by that guy! I've tried to reclaim the dojo several times, but since I'm no match for him, I can't even get close to him anymore!"

Ayase's face was filled with unconcealed hatred and frustration.

She hated Kuraudo Kurashiki for his cruelty, for beating her father into a coma, and for taking their family dojo. But she also hated her own weakness, for being unable to reclaim the dojo that had been stolen by her enemy.

"So, are you really planning to go find that guy?"

Kanata shifted her attention back to Eiji's hand.

In his palm was a student handbook, similar in design to Hagun Academy's but with the Donrou Academy emblem on the cover.

It was the handbook Kuraudo Kurashiki had thrown to Eiji earlier, containing his current address.

Now, the three of them were heading in the direction of that address.

"This address is definitely my family's dojo."

Ayase's face was filled with hesitation, and she couldn't help but give Eiji a nervous look.

"But is this really okay? I'm grateful that Nangou-kun is standing up for me, but Kuraudo Kurashiki is really not someone to be taken lightly..."

Of course, he wasn't simple. After all, he was a national top-eight student knight.

"Finding Kuraudo Kurashiki is just a side task. Don't worry about it."

Eiji, on the other hand, looked completely unconcerned, not seeming to worry about his safety at all.

"I have other important matters to attend to there... And even if Kuraudo Kurashiki isn't simple, does that mean I am?"

Of course, he was even less simple. After all, he had defeated the former world number three and Hagun Academy's second-ranked student, though the former victory had been largely due to luck.

Ayase was left speechless.

Only then did she realize.

The image of Kuraudo Kurashiki's overwhelming strength had been deeply ingrained in her mind, to the point where she had started to feel as though he was the strongest in the world.

Little did she know, there were countless people in the world stronger than Kuraudo Kurashiki.

"What exactly is this 'important matter' you're talking about?"

Kanata couldn't help but ask curiously.

"You'll know when we get there."

Eiji didn't answer directly, instead keeping it a mystery.

Kanata tilted her head, unable to figure it out.

Eiji and Kuraudo Kurashiki had only met today. What important matter could he possibly have that required him to go to Kuraudo Kurashiki's place?

"Still, it looks like this won't end peacefully."

Kanata sighed quietly to herself.

She took out her student handbook and, after some thought, sent a message to her best friend.

She didn't think Eiji would lose.

After all, he had once defeated her head-on, fair and square, under circumstances that were deemed nearly impossible. In her eyes, there was no way Eiji could lose to someone who was merely a top-eight contender.

But it was still necessary to prepare for any underhanded tactics.

After all, the reputation of Donrou Academy's director wasn't exactly stellar.

***

On the road leading to the mountainous area, the streets were lined with quaint, traditional houses.

The three of them walked down this street and arrived at a quiet, overgrown mountainous space.

A large house surrounded by a fence came into view.

"This used to be my home..."

Ayase looked at the mansion, her teeth clenched.

It was a samurai residence.

In the past, it must have been a very impressive building, but now it was in ruins, almost like a derelict house.

Tiles had fallen off the walls, the pillars supporting the gate had turned black and were visibly rotting, and the area around the mansion was littered with cigarette butts, empty cans, bread wrappers, snack bags, and other trash. The walls were covered in colorful graffiti, with sloppy drawings defacing the once-pristine white surfaces.

"Occasionally, you'll find surprisingly good graffiti in commoner areas, even art. But the graffiti here has no taste at all. It's all low-class, dirty work."

Kanata calmly commented.

"Is that really what we should be criticizing?"

Eiji gave her a weird look.

Then he took a step forward and strode toward the entrance of the mansion.

***

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