Ryosuke cautiously narrowed his eyes, cracking them open just a sliver—
And immediately met Rika's expectant face.
"Ryosuke gege~"
She tugged on his arm, swaying slightly as she acted cute.
"You'll come with me to the Final Selection, right? Please~? Pretty please!"
Oh, so your brother's away on a mission, and now you're boldly targeting me alone, huh?
Not to mention—your batch is practically a golden generation, alright?!
You've got the Water Breathing prodigies Sabito and Giyu.
You've got that luck-defying monster Murata, whose clothes are always just a little dirty.
The Hand Demon already got taken out early—
At that point, you could just hold your sword, follow behind, and shout "666" all the way through and still pass!
This lineup is ridiculously safe!
Why do I need to go?
To stand around twiddling my thumbs?
Ryosuke was just about to refuse when Jigoro spoke first, his tone utterly natural.
"Ryosuke, Rika hasn't traveled far on her own before. She's lively by nature too. You don't have any missions coming up, so accompany her to Mount Fujikasane. You can look out for each other on the road—gives me peace of mind."
Ryosuke: (゜д゜)
Which eye of yours is seeing that she needs looking after?
This girl is sharper than the monkeys on our back mountain!
She's practically their king already!!!
Your favoritism has completely gone off the rails!
I'm half afraid she'll end up tying a demon up and turning it into some kind of infinite energy resource or something…
Ryosuke helplessly shifted his pleading gaze toward Uzui Tengen, who was training nearby—
Only for a swaying wall of muscle to block his view entirely.
Hinatsuru, carrying refreshments, smiled gently and nodded in agreement.
"Mr. Jigoro is right. Rika is still young—having Mr. Ryosuke accompany her to such a distant place would indeed be more reassuring."
Ryosuke choked.
He nearly didn't catch his breath.
He stared at Hinatsuru in despair, then glanced at Makio and Suma nearby—who hadn't spoken, but were clearly in agreement.
Women really do form alliances fast.
It hadn't even been that long, and they were already united against him!
In the end, with no excuse left, Ryosuke agreed under Jigoro's insistence to return quickly, slung his pack over his shoulder, and went to prepare.
Rika: (●´∀｀●) Yay!
Fine.
I'll treat it as a trip to clear my head.
And I can check in on Sabito and Giyu while I'm at it—so it's not a total loss.
On the road to Mount Fujikasane—
A boy in a pitch-black haori walked ahead, dead-eyed and lifeless.
Behind him bounced an excited, endlessly chatty girl.
"Ryosuke gege, look! That cloud looks like a big rabbit!"
"Ryosuke gege, look! There are fish in that stream! They're huge! Hehe~"
"Ryosuke gege, are you hungry? I brought rice balls! Hinatsuru-jiejie taught me how to make them!"
"Ryosuke gege! Ryosuke gege—!"
Ryosuke felt like hundreds of bees were buzzing next to his ears, his brain throbbing.
Across both his past life and this one, he had never felt a road stretch so long.
More than once, he seriously considered just using Thunder Breathing to ditch her and run.
But the mental image of Jigoro's cane—and Rika's tearful assault afterward—forced him to endure.
"Be quiet. Keep moving."
Ryosuke finally snapped, shooting her a glance.
Rika wilted for a moment—
But less than five minutes later, she was humming a completely off-key tune and harassing him all over again.
Ryosuke pressed his forehead and sighed deeply.
After days of travel, the mountain perpetually shrouded in wisteria blossoms finally came into view.
Beneath its breathtaking beauty lay years upon years of accumulated bloodshed and despair hidden deep within its belly.
They had barely stepped onto the open space before the shrine when—
Before Ryosuke could even find a place to hide and slack off—
A familiar figure came barreling over like a cannonball, grabbing Rika and inspecting her from head to toe.
"Rika! Are you okay?! Did the trip go smoothly? Are you thirsty? Hungry?"
Shota had clearly rushed over the moment he finished his mission just to see her off.
Rika spun around cheerfully.
"I'm fine! Ryosuke gege came with me—it was super safe the whole way!"
Only then did Shota notice Ryosuke standing off to the side.
His eyes widened. His face darkened.
"Wait—?! Why is this guy here?!"
After years together, Shota knew Ryosuke's lazy nature all too well.
Unless he was on assignment, there was no way Ryosuke would willingly leave home.
Ryosuke didn't even bother rolling his eyes. He waved weakly.
"It's a long story… and I don't feel like telling it."
He had zero desire to relive how he'd been collectively set up.
Shota leaned in, face serious.
"You didn't do anything weird to my sister on the way here… did you?"
Ryosuke: o_0?
Bro.
I like looking at beautiful women—but I'm a human being, not an animal!
Your sister is how old?!
That line of thinking is straight-up criminal!
Way too criminal!!!
Ryosuke looked helplessly at Rika's eager face.
If anything weird was happening, wouldn't it be her doing it to me?
Seeing his expression, Shota didn't press further and turned his attention back to Rika, fussing over her and repeating reminders for the trial.
Just then, a bright, energetic voice called out from behind.
"Ryosuke ge! It really is you!"
Ryosuke turned.
Sabito stood there, full of vigor, a sunny grin beneath his reddish hair.
Beside him, Giyu stood quietly like background scenery—though his eyes brightened just a little when he saw Ryosuke.
Mm.
He really liked this guy.
Murata, standing last, looked… a bit dispirited.
"Sabito, Giyu, Murata."
Ryosuke walked over and clapped Sabito on the shoulder.
"You've gotten stronger. The selection won't be a problem."
"Hehe, not really! I can't compare to you, Ryosuke ge!"
Sabito scratched his head, then glanced over.
"Huh? Are those your junior disciples?"
Ryosuke nodded. Before he could speak, Rika dashed over excitedly.
Rika: ＞ᴗO!
"My name is Kirigaya Rika! This is my brother Kirigaya Shota! You're disciples of Urokodaki-sensei from Mount Sagiri, right?"
"Yeah, nice to meet you."
Sabito took an immediate liking to the energetic girl and introduced the others.
"This is Tomioka Giyu. And Murata."
Rika nodded enthusiastically and greeted them one by one.
Giyu responded politely, expression unchanged.
Murata… well, he was a bit shy.
Watching Rika's easy friendliness, Shota wore the proud smile of a doting parent.
See?!
This is my sister!
Isn't she adorable?!
Ryosuke said nothing, standing alongside Giyu as part of the background.
After chatting for a while, it was time for the selection to begin.
As the new batch of swordsmen passed through the sea of wisteria blossoms, Ryosuke yawned and waved lazily in farewell.
Alright! Escort mission complete!
Seven days of vacation, here I come!
He turned, about to say goodbye to Shota and slip away—
When a figure appeared silently before him and bowed respectfully.
"Mr. Yasui. The Master requests your presence."
Ryosuke halted, raising an eyebrow.
Kagaya was summoning him?
At this timing?
A subtle sense of being set up crept over him.
He glanced at the equally stunned Shota and was about to speak when the Ubuyashiki clansman gently shook his head.
"The Master has invited only you. Mr. Kirigaya, please wait in the side hall."
Well.
No escaping this.
Ryosuke sighed.
"Lead the way."
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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