第４６４堀：異世界の侍と剣の神 (Part2)
After all, he had lived for this very day.
He stood face-to-face with Nogosh.
He remained standing there, his blade still sheathed.
"Hmph. To think it was you who went out of your way to lend a hand to Princess Bitz. You might have had a chance at victory if you had simply slit my throat in my sleep."
"..."
He stood in silence, offering no reply to Nogosh’s words.
I, too, must step forward as the witness.
"Are you even listening to me!! This is our final conversation, have you nothing to say for yourself!!"
"...Lord Nogosh. Such things are no longer necessary. Surely, even you can understand that much?"
"...A witness, are you? Fine. I shall strike down your master's disciple soon enough, and then you are next."
"I look forward to that moment."
Though, in all likelihood, that moment will never come...
"Now, let us have the pre-duel declarations."
As I spoke, Nogosh immediately raised his voice.
"I am the King of the Sword Country!! Nogosh, the God of the Sword himself!! I shall strike down the fools who dare to defy the gods!!"
"...I am Irwin, disciple of Nobutsuna Kamiizumi. To avenge the people of my homeland, I shall strike down a false god."
Nogosh’s fighting spirit and killing intent surged, yet in contrast, Lord Irwin remained perfectly natural, like a willow swaying in the breeze.
To have raised a man of this caliber—there is no doubt that his master was indeed Nobutsuna Kamiizumi.
In battle, it is standard to crush an opponent's morale with fighting spirit and killing intent.
And it is equally standard to counter that by unleashing one's own.
To refrain from doing so and remain as natural as the elements is a feat few can achieve.
The outcome of this match is already decided.
Thinking this, I wove my words.
"Begin!"
With that command, it was Nogosh who lunged at his opponent.
He was fast.
Terrifyingly fast.
In this world where physical ability is bolstered by the concept of levels, he is truly formidable, living up to his name as a god.
"To stand there without a stance, without even drawing your blade—die, you spineless coward!!"
But his substance is that of a third-rate fighter.
This man lacks spiritual discipline.
Or perhaps he simply knows nothing of the sword—to leap headlong at Lord Irwin, who stood there with no guard at all...
*Crack.*
"Guh!?"
The next instant, with that sound, Nogosh recoiled from Lord Irwin.
There stood Lord Irwin, merely thrusting his still-sheathed sword forward.
"...I would prefer it if you didn't run into that."
"Don't get cocky just because you happened to hit me with a sword you forgot to draw!!"
That was impossible.
He was likely testing him.
Lord Irwin is probably confused.
The gap between his own ability and his opponent's is so vast that he likely assumes he is the one holding back.
As proof, Nogosh launched a flurry of slashes, but Irwin dodged them as if he were a willow.
Lord Irwin likely does not realize the magnitude of the stance he has taken.
The Rank of Non-Action. The Stance of Non-Action.
I had thought it a creation of Yagyu, but it was indeed the teaching of Kamiizumi, the founder of the Shinkage-ryu.
That stance is to have no stance.
A stance is a mental preparation to defeat an opponent, a stratagem to strike them down. It is a way of being that leaves no openings while seeking to destroy the enemy.
Yet, precisely because it is a stance-less state full of openings, it can give birth to any sword stroke. It can respond to any situation.
That is why it is said that none can imitate it. It is a peerless technique.
The terror of taking a stance full of openings—in a situation where one's life might be taken, how many could truly act in such a way?
If one is even slightly consumed by fear or impatience, they lose their life in an instant.
That is the Stance of Non-Action.
And so, the result was inevitable.
With a sudden, swift draw of his blade, Lord Irwin signaled the end of the duel.
*Clatter, clatter...*
"Im... possible..."
With a look of sheer disbelief, Nogosh stared at Lord Irwin before his upper body slid away.
Along with him, the blade of the Dojigiri was severed in two...
" " "Aaaaaahhh!?!?" " "
I heard screams other than my own.
...Oh no.
I never imagined he possessed such skill.
What should I do?
To put it simply...
A major incident!! (I think it fits the style of a certain opening theme. Probably.)
Things always proceed in ways one does not plan.
Now, what will happen next!!
Ah, forget about Ray for now.