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Chapter 113: Zen’s Homecoming ①

~Zen’s point of view~

A month had passed since the war with the Ibrudia Empire and the informal meeting that followed in Alraine, and now I had arrived in my hometown of Bukyo.

I took a boat from the northeastern part of the Ibrudia Empire and entered the island nation of Bukyo. Usually, entering the county would take some time. Although Bukyo does trade with other countries, it has a negative stance about letting people from other countries enter the country. It can be said that Bukyo is in a state of semi-isolation.

In my case, I am a citizen of Bukyo, so the procedure was relatively easy. Besides, I left Bukyo and headed for the Arto Kingdom when I was 14. With my level and status having risen, and Mi-chan being here, my travel speed was much faster than last time. I should be some ways ahead of schedule.

My purpose for returning to Bukyo this time can be broadly divided into three.

The first is to talk about the war between the Ibrudia Empire and the Arto Kingdom to the shogunate, which is the government body of the Bukyo Kingdom, and moreover to its top brass. There is also a letter from His Highness Ruzark, so I could just hand it over and be done with it, but in order to actually obtain their cooperation at the Council of the Seven Sphin Nations, it is necessary for me to negotiate directly.

If possible, I would like to speak directly with the Shogun, who is the leader of the kingdom. However, it will take a considerable amount of time to achieve this.

The second is to report on the training imposed by my father, my master. Although I have yet to win the ranking battle, I have found an answer to his question, “What is the purpose of your sword?”

Also, although this also serves the first purpose, I have to explain the situation to my father and ask for his assistance.

I’ve been away from Bukyo for 5 years. I have no information about the domestic situation. My father is the head of the Suigetsu family that has been around for generations, and is the master of the Suigetsu school of swordsmanship. He should have a lot of influence with the top brass of the shogunate.

Third, is a request from Aun to investigate his grandfather, “Doumeki Daigoku”.

Aun asked me to hide as much information about him as possible, but I’ve gotten permission to talk about him with people I think I can trust, and people I judge to be trustworthy. However, I should still move carefully so that Aun’s name doesn’t get tracked.

「Let’s return home first.」

The Suigetsu family house is not far from the port. It takes about half a day on foot.

I wonder what kind of conversation I will have with my father after 5 years… It’s evening right about, the hour of the rooster. I knocked on my family house with a mix of happiness and anxiety.

「What kind of business do you…… Zen-sama!?」

「I’m back. Is the master at the dojo?」

「Y-Yes! He’s still at the dojo. It’s almost time for the training to end.」

「Then let me go there.」

「Understood. I will go ahead and inform the master that Zen-sama has returned.」

「Thank you.」

I thought there would be new disciples who wouldn’t recognize me since it has been 5 years, but it was convenient that someone who knew me was at the gate.

As I walked towards the dojo, my father was just coming out of the dojo.

「Master, I have returned.」

「Welcome back, Zen. You look like you have something to talk about. But let’s eat first. Shall we take our time to talk after that?」

「Yes, thank you.」

As expected… he guessed various things from my expression.

I respect him from the bottom of my heart as a master of martial arts, as a father, and as a man. It’s been five years since I began my training. I couldn’t feel my father’s strength in the past, but now, I can sense it accurately.

I naturally found out that I was still not a match for him.

After dinner, I was facing my father in the tatami room.

I am feeling nervous, after all…

When I was wondering where I was supposed to start from, my father spoke to me.

「Zen, something must have happened, right? You have one more year of training left, and I already know the results of your ranking battle. First of all, can you tell me why you returned?」

「Yes. The truth is, after the Ranking Battle, the Ibrudia Empire launched a war against the Arto Kingdom. And then———」

I told him about everything I experienced regarding the war that broke out in the Arto Kingdom, and on top of that, I told him that I had received a secret order from His Highness Ruzaruku.

He had a slightly surprised expression on his face, but as expected, he didn’t show it in a big way.

「Hmm…Is that so? We will have to report that to the Shogunate… Alright, I think it will take some time, but I shall cooperate too.」

「Thank you very much!」

「It’s fine. I am your master, but before that, I am your father. My son is trusted by the prince of a nation with a task… If you need my help, I’ll always help you.」

「Father……」

「It’s been a long time… hearing you call me that.」

「I-I’m sorry, master.」

「It’s fine. Even so, Zen… you’ve got a good look in your eyes now. Have you found the answer to my question five years ago?」

「……Yes. At that time, the world in my view was so narrow that I could only think about myself and this family. However, after leaving Bukyo and experiencing a battle where I gave it my all, I reached enlightenment.」

「Is that so…then let me ask you again. Zen, what is the purpose of your sword?」

I closed my eyes, then slowly opened them.

In front of me was my father, whom I had always admired, looking straight into my eyes.

…………I shall convey the truth of this world that I have glimpsed!

「My sword, my martial arts, my justice… is for the Fluffy!!!」

「As you say–… Eh? F-Fluffy…?」

Hmm? Father looks as if he bit something bitter…

No way… Is my answer wrong?

No, this hot burning flame in my chest is definitely not fake!

No matter what anyone says, the answer I arrived at cannot be wrong!!

「Zen… umm, what is fluffy…」

「Fluffy is fluffy, master!」

「Hmm? Huh? Huh…」

I see. I need to explain fluffy!

That means it is time for her to come out!

「Master, excuse me for a moment. [Summon Four Spirit Beasts]!」

A white tiger was summoned next to me along with a shining white light.

Mi-chan appeared in a sitting position when she was summoned.

She is so well behaved!

Mii-chan is the strongest! Fluffiness is the strongest!

「Um, Zen… W-What is that giant white tiger?」

「White Tiger Mii-chan is my partner! Master, this is fluffy!」

「I-I see. So, how is that fluffy… um, connected to your sword and your justice?」

「For the past five years, I have literally continued to fight to the death, and have refined my martial arts on my own to the limit. However, I realized something after losing in the ranking battle this year. That is the limit of my martial arts which only serves myself. In contrast, those people fighting who were fighting for someone or something were truly strong. I couldn’t even see the limits of their strength… When I realized that, I knew…that “something” that I will fight for is “fluffy”!」

「Well, you’re not necessarily wrong… There’s a limit to the strength of your “mind” that you can reach on your own. Martial art is where “mind, technique, and body” all three are trained. You seem to have clarity on the “someone or something”… So I think you should continue to broaden your horizons from now on. Besides, you still have no intention of settling here again, do you?」

「No. I am still inexperienced. There are things I want to accomplish and things I must accomplish. I can’t come back here until I’ve done that.」

「Understood. In that case, your training will continue until then. Do what you wish to accomplish with all your strength.」

…As expected, I am no match for master.

It seems that my glimpse of “the truth of this world” was just the beginning.

Master must already know. The truth that lies at the end of the path of the Fluffy…