LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 283.2
Chapter 283.2. Sword Saint
The calm and composed words of Nobuhiro carried a weight of truth, a force that made it impossible to dismiss them as lies.
“Let me ask you something—why have you lived in hiding despite having that power? With strength like yours, you could have aimed far higher.”
“You already know the answer to that. It’s easier to be underestimated, seen as an unremarkable man. Sure, this power surpasses human limits, but that’s all it is. Even if feared, it can’t stand against missiles. At best, it’s child’s play.”
“Couldn’t you have strived to become the strongest through effort?”
“Even if I became the strongest, I wouldn’t obtain what I seek. What I desire isn’t brute force but authority.”
A single person’s strength is trivial. Swinging a sword around could, at best, make one a gang boss—this, Nobuhiro realized in his youth. What he wanted was to dominate Japan, to wield immense authority. To this end, he adopted the name Nobuhiro Oda, choosing it to appear inconspicuous. His original name had long been discarded.
“Authority cannot be gained overnight. I’ve worked beneath the surface for years. After toppling the Ashikaga, the plan was to have the Minamoto and Taira clans weaken each other, leaving me to seize control. But you, of all people, destroyed it all!”
His gaze grew sharp, his voice tinged with anger as he glared at Sakimori. Everything had been proceeding smoothly until Tenkou Sakimori appeared and threw it all into chaos.
“When the coup occurred, the Oda family was a minor house that could’ve been blown away like dust. My family hoped I’d rise with just a sword. But I had no intention of meeting their expectations. It was clear they saw me as a disposable tool.”
The [Sword Saint] skill. At the time, people had little understanding of skills, and expectations for it were low. This lack of interest saved Nobuhiro; no one held him in high regard. It wasn’t an era of swords, and the abundance of firearms reduced the skill to a mere curiosity.
Thus, after registering the skill, Nobuhiro secretly erased its record by faking his death. Anticipating an endless influx of monsters, he ensured he wouldn’t be sent to the frontlines.
“So I decided to play the part of a harmless, kind man. Fortunately, I acquired magical tools for [Disguise] and [Concealment], making it easy. I didn’t seek fleeting glory from brute force—I sought long-term greatness. Do you understand that, Sakimori?”
Though Nobuhiro was prepared to scoff regardless of Sakimori’s answer, the response he received was unexpected.
“Raising your level to six and saying that? Clearly, you did rely on brute strength. With such a divine skill set, you started from level one, didn’t you? You kept training in secret. I’ll applaud that, but I’d have done it better.”
Waving his hand dismissively, Sakimori smirked, his expression turning sly as he spoke.
“And having rivals show up is only natural. Getting mad about interference only proves you think you’re a genius. Couldn’t handle the idea of your decades of work being undone, huh?”
Nobuhiro, momentarily caught off guard, widened his eyes—and then let out an amused laugh.
“You’re right. I’ve grown arrogant without even realizing it. Thanks for pointing that out.”
“Is that so? Don’t mention it.”
“Well, now that I’ve reflected, maybe I’ll visit the Ashikaga and ask for forgiveness?”
Sakimori, a man who always calculated the benefits, understood that if the Ashikaga mediated, Nobuhiro would be untouchable. Escaping unscathed would then be feasible.
“No, that’s not happening. You’re dangerous and too much of a hassle to leave unchecked.”
“Thought so. If I were in your position, I wouldn’t let me go, either. So, I’ll just push through. At this range, a mage can’t beat a swordsman.”
As Nobuhiro predicted, Sakimori’s answer didn’t faze him. With a serious expression, he adjusted his sword stance.
“Don’t be so sure. You’ve simply chosen poorly. That’s all this will come down to.”
“Let’s see if that’s true.”
Nobuhiro lightly tapped the floor with his foot, closing the distance as he activated his combat techniques. From his toes to his hair, he channeled mana to hone his battle aura.
[Teleportation Seal Activated]
From his pocket, Nobuhiro retrieved and used one of his rings. It glowed, disrupting the surrounding mana with static-like interference.
[Dark Butterfly]
Sakimori summoned a small black butterfly from his palm, retreating as it fluttered away. One butterfly became two, then four, multiplying rapidly until they filled the space before Nobuhiro, forming a wall that obscured Sakimori’s figure.
[Bird-Slayer Slash]
With a light horizontal swing, Nobuhiro’s blade generated a ripple of wind that dissolved the ominous butterflies, exposing Sakimori once more.
[Dark Arrow]
“Take this!”
[Arrow Deflection]
Sakimori unleashed a barrage of dark arrows like a gatling gun, but Nobuhiro countered with a martial skill. He aimed another ring at Sakimori and channeled mana into it.
[Gray Wasp Swarm Activated]
[Active Dark Wall]
The gray wasps created by magic could disrupt mana in their targets, rendering spellcasting ineffective. Hundreds of ten-centimeter wasps swarmed, capable of overwhelming a typical mage. However, as their stingers struck Sakimori’s barrier, they exploded and vanished.
“Fight me with your sword! How many magical tools did you bring?”
“I brought all the good ones. It’s a dangerous world these days.”
“Fair enough. It really is dangerous—you might die in an ‘accident.’”
Despite Sakimori’s exasperated tone, Nobuhiro’s teasing reply signaled no end to the intensifying battle between them.