第４６１堀：長き旅の終わり (Part2)
"Huh? Haaahhh—!? W-wait a second!! Why..."
A fist descended upon Dayatsu as he made a scene.
"Shut it. Now, kid. You’re really going through with this?"
"Yes. Thank you for everything up until now."
"...I see. I suppose it’s only natural. You’re a traveler, and we’re just villagers. I always knew a day like this would come."
"I apologize for the suddenness, but I’ve made up my mind."
"Don’t worry about it. You’ve looked after us well—protecting the village from monsters, and even keeping an eye on that idiot Dayatsu."
"So, as a token of my gratitude, I’d like to leave my sword with you, Uncle. Please give it to Dayatsu when you think he’s become a man worthy of it."
I smoothly turned the sword I had been holding out toward the old man.
"Haaahhh—!? Give it to me directly!"
"Shut up!! Like the kid said, you’re still too green for this!! Now, what about the rest of the village?"
"No, it would only make it harder to leave, so I’ll be heading out without saying anything. I couldn't do that to you and Dayatsu, though."
"I see. Then, we’ll just head out to the fields as usual."
"Huh!? What about seeing me off!?"
"You damn fool!! Just shut up and follow me!!"
With that, the old man strapped the sword to his waist, picked up his hoe, and headed out to the fields as he did every day.
...What a wonderful family.
The mother had already passed away by the time I arrived, and he had raised them single-handedly.
...Well then, I should return to my final journey, just as I always have.
Yes, it is a journey, but this one is the last.
Once, when my territory was stolen, my people taken, and my family slaughtered by Nogosh, I became a Dungeon Master. Even with that power, I was no match for him and was at my wit's end. That was when I met a true hero—a man said to have beaten Nogosh with nothing but a single sword.
My master, Kamiizumi Nobutsuna.
At the time, I begged him to kill Nogosh for me.
However, after hearing my circumstances, he told me to become strong myself. He said he had already seen what Nogosh was made of, that he had no personal grudge against him, and that being used by someone else wouldn't be interesting—nor would it benefit me. He told me that if I wanted to exact revenge, I should do it in the most effective way possible.
*"You are the sword. You need only surpass Nogosh and cut him down. There is no greater vengeance than that."*
I certainly thought about how wonderful it would be if I could do that. But because I couldn't, I had retorted that I became a Dungeon Master and kept sending monsters after him.
*"...Hmm. You are a bit blinded by anger and resentment, unable to see the essence of things. Very well. Our meeting here must be fate. I shall teach you military strategy and the Shinkage-ryu style for a while. I, too, have been looking for a way to cross the sea."*
Just like that, I became his disciple. I learned much, handed over a portion of my dungeon to a princess who knew nothing of "bits," and successfully managed to get her to join forces with Nogosh.
With that, his base was secured. I had been wondering how to strike him down in public, but the Dungeon Master of Weed played a brilliant hand.
They must have heard it from the kings of various nations. They used the name of my master, Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, to lure Nogosh out.
It was the ultimate stage for me—a duel between my master and his disciple. I could apologize to them for the trouble I’d caused, and I could pass on everything I had built. My existence would likely be an unexpected variable for them, but by stepping out, I would ensure the outcome.
"I personally wanted to introduce my master to the hero of Ranks..."
From what I hear, there is a high probability that the hero of Ranks is Japanese. He is a countryman of my master. I thought my master would be pleased, as he seems like a good person, but...
"He went across the sea, so it cannot be helped."
...That man was truly incredible. While teaching me various things, he even invented a technique to walk on the surface of the water as a way to cross the ocean. According to him...
*"Before one foot sinks, you step forward with the other. It was a simple principle."*
Yeah. That’s impossible. I told him the large monsters in the sea were dangerous, but he simply cut them in two, leaving me with no way to stop him.
"...I feel a bit conflicted, but I must steel myself. This is the perfect chance to strike down Nogosh with my own hands."
And so, I hurry toward the execution grounds announced by Ranks. Not as a traveler, not as a trainee, but as the son of a small, insignificant lord once destroyed by Nogosh.
"I, Irwin, shall be the one to strike off your head."