A Ronin Becomes My Subordinate

It was the next day. I was standing in front of a cave entrance that leads to the surface.

I was now finally about to go to the surface. Oh, how I missed the sun. The only time I saw the sun was at that underground lake with an enormous hole at the top.

"Noctem."

A stern female voice spoke. Luna was walking towards me with new looking daggers on her back.

"Are we ready to move out?"

She asked. I looked behind us and Rox, and Nozomi was standing there waving.

"Byeeee!"

Nozomi yelled.

"Did you say your goodbyes yet?"

"Yes. Thanks for helping me out."

"It's alright. I figured you'd also want to come with me to the surface, so I might as well bring you with me."

She became flustered and looked away.

"D-don't think I owe you or anything."

"Hehe, let's go."

We said our goodbyes and entered the tunnel.

<>

Meanwhile...

A black-cloaked figure wearing a large straw hat was traveling through the forest. He wielded a long Katana that was marked with the symbol of a god of death.

"I'm almost there..."

He was heading for a guild in a nearby town. He's been walking for two weeks straight from the nation of Koei to the nation of Regium.

The man was wobbling and rested by a nearby tree.

"Tch... I was almost there. Why did my legs give out?"

The leg pulled a bottle out of his pocket. It was a full restoration potion that recovers one's energy by a hundred percent.

As he popped the vial open, he heard a distorted deep voice nearby.

"Ahhhhh, it's so nice to finally be on the surface again."

He scrambled into the bushes and looked at who spoke.

When he peaked through the bushes, he saw a woman with a silver tail walking by.

"Noctem, what are you doing running out in the open? Don't you know everyone will freak out when they see a demon roaming around on the surface?"

'Demon? On the surface?'

The man thought.

"Oh come on now, what's wrong with a demon roaming the surface?"

There were a lot of things wrong with that.

"There are only a few demons that have ascended to the surface, and they had to gain a hundred years of trust with humans and the others."

"What?! So you're telling me that I have to live a hundred years just so I can gain the trust of humans?! That's bullsh*t!"

"Please avoid using foul language."

"What are you, my mother?!"

"Do demons even have mothers?"

"That's offensive!"

The man was confused. It was like listening to a weird couple arguing about the dumbest topic.

"So... where should we go from here?"

The distorted voice spoke.

"There is a town not far from here. We can head over there. But..."

"But?"

"N-nothing! Let's get going?"

"Yeah, but after we deal with the guy in the bushes."

The demon said as he approached the bushes. The man saw black scales on the demon's feet and he slowly backed away.

'He found me already?

"C'mon now, don't be shy. And by the way, your aura is loose."

The man looked around, and a red and black aura was leaking out from his back.

'How foolish am I to forget to conceal my aura?'

He thought to himself and his aura slowly died down. Then he walked out of the bushes.

"Mind introducing yourself?"

The demon spoke. The man inspected the demon.

'This demon... looks strange.'

The man thought as he looked at the demon's face. His eyes were yellow with white hair coming down to his shoulder.

He took off his straw hat, bowed, and introduced himself.

"My name is Tsukikage Masuyo."

<>

"So, which one is your first name?"

"Tsukikage is my first name. Masuyo is my family name."

Hmm, from first glance, you could tell he hasn't slept for days. Messy black hair which was tied back and black eyes with bags under them.

He was donning an edgy getup. Black trousers with chains around his waist and a black coat under the black cloak. My god, he's the definition of edgy.

I noticed that he had a black Katana strapped to his waist. It had a weird symbol marked all over the sheath. Wonder what it means? Damn, I wish I took Japanese class. The only thing I know are quotes from anime. Like, "Yare yare daze" and "Nani?!"

Wait a minute, he's speaking English, and it's his sword so he could tell me.

Hmm, now I wonder.

What does my sword stand for?

I pulled out "Koshiro" and inspected the blade.

Koshiro... wonder what that stands for.

'It stands for ambitious.'

Ichigo spoke in my mind.

Hmm? You can talk telepathically?

'I am in the master's shadow, so yes, I am able to talk to you.'

Ahh, then that's cool.

Ambitious, huh? Every sword's name has a meaning. Wonder why it's called ambitious.

"Your name is... Noctem?"

Tsukikage said as he got up.

"Yep. And the girl standing over there is Luna. She's a Lizardfolk."

Luna nodded and Tsukikage nodded back.

"Are you two heading for the town?"

"Yeah, you're heading there too?"

"Correct."

"Well then, let's ge-"

"But first."

He then slowly pulled his blade out of his sheath, making a ringing "shiiiiing" sound.

"I want to see how good you are with that sword."

He said pointing at the Koshiro. Then he tossed his straw hat onto the bushes, and got into a stance.

Does this guy really want to have a fight right here? Well, I'm not busy so I guess I can, but this is kind of random. Can he really beat me?

I unsheathed Koshiro and just held it with one hand. I wonder if this is the time that I can test out [Murderous Daunting].

"I guess I can be an observer of this fight."

Luna said as she walked between us.

A few seconds passed, it was quiet. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of leaves rustling.

"Begin!"

Luna yelled, and I activated [Murderous Daunting].

I glared at Tsukikage, and suddenly he lowered his sword. I slashed the air and used [Distortion]. The air twisted and Tsukikage didn't seem to notice and was hit.

"Augh!"

He rolled backward and eventually got up. After 10 seconds had passed, he suddenly dashed towards me. But then he suddenly appeared in front of me.

"?!"

He thrusted his blade near my belly, and I parried, hitting him with the hilt. He staggered back but recovered in an instant. He jumped back, but then charged at me once more. I noticed that he looked like he was sliding towards me.

"What the?"

I slashed upwards, and he twirled. He was aiming for my neck, but I caught his blade with my left hand. Using [Distortion], I was able to look like I was still standing in my regular position, but I was actually getting behind him. When Tsukikage noticed, it was already too late.

Shiiiiing~

I had my blade at the back of his neck. Tsukikage gulped and lowered his blade.

"Amazing..."

He said with an astonished face.

"Enough, the winner is Noctem."

Luna said as she lowered my blade. I nodded and placed it back in its sheath. Tsukikage started to look gloomy and slowly sheathed his blade.

"So... good match?"

Suddenly, Tsukikage got onto his knees.

"Whoa, umm hey now, what are you doing?"

"I have a favor to ask."

"And what is that?"

"May you become my master?

Seriously? Become his master?

"But we've only met just now."

"True. But I am a ronin, I am masterless. I've left my country in hopes of finding one that I may serve under."

"So why couldn't you have just served someone in your country?"

"Because none of them were capable of keeping up with me. I only serve the ones that are able to outmatch me."

Then he continued.

"My father has ordered me to find a master worthy for me to serve under. For years, I have thought of no other that can beat me. Even though my father suggested I become a lord, I declined as I see no honor. If I haven't fought you, I would've looked down upon myself."

He got up and wore his straw hat once again.

"Will you accept my allegiance?"

He asked politely.

Well... I guess I can accept it. I mean, there isn't any harm in it. And it's pretty cool as well, having a samurai as a kind of bodyguard, I guess I can work with that.

"Alright, welcome aboard uhh... T-su-su-Tsuki-Tsukikage. Did I get that right?"

Tsukikage nodded.

"Hmm, I might have difficulties saying that so... how about Kage?"

"That's alright, my name is long so people tend to have difficulties saying it. I'm alright with you calling me Kage."

"Ahh, well that's great."

"Ahem."

Luna interrupted us. I turned around and asked what's wrong.

"We should get going."

"Oh, right, I've been distracted by all this talk that I almost forgot why we were up here."

"Where did you guys come from?"

I pointed at a cave entrance that was hidden behind some thick bushes. Kage tilted his head and I can tell he was wondering where that led to.

"So then let's head to the town now."

***

About a few hours passed. I think it was about ten hours or more, but I can't tell how time works in this world because the sun was already setting.

"Hee... hee... are we there yet?"

I said as I dropped onto the ground

"Lift your head up, it's right there."

Luna pointed forward, and we spotted lights. There was a large building that could be seen in the distance. That must be the guild building.

"Before we head into town, you need to disguise yourself."

Luna said as she pointed at me.

"Huh? Whats the purpose for that?"

"Your appearance will frighten the people."

"What about you?"

"Demi-humans, Beastmen, and Lizardfolks are recognized as humans, if you didn't know. Demons are different."

"So then, what do I have to use for disguising myself?"

Luna glanced over at Kage, who looked like he was drinking some red liquid from a vial.

"Mr. Kage, may you give Noctem your cloak and hat?"

"Hmm?"

Kage looked at me from head to toe, then he nodded.

"Here you go, master."

He handed me his cloak and his straw hat. I sighed and put the hat on my head and wrapped the cloak around my shoulders, covering my body from neck down.

"Now... let's go."

And so we headed into town.