Only While Convenient

The direction of everything more or less aligned with Hoshiharu's predictions.

Two years ago, Ayatsuji Kaito was diagnosed with heart disease. Considering the remainder of his life and his family, he had to give up kendo. After retiring, he devoted himself to running the Ayatsuji Dojo and training the next generation.

And not long after he retired, Kurashiki Kuraudo came to challenge the dojo.

Kaito had sealed his sword. No matter what Kuraudo said, threatened, or even spat in his face, he wouldn't move an inch.

Kuraudo retreated.

A few days later, the dojo's students came to bid farewell with bruised faces, quitting kendo out of shame.

Each of them had been secretly visited by Kuraudo's men, forced to compete with him, and then brutally beaten. This dealt a severe blow to the dojo students, making them doubt the worth of learning swordsmanship.

Eventually, all the dojo's students abandoned swordsmanship and left the dojo.

"What a brute." Kanata frowned, displeasure evident on her face.

In the small town at night, the dim streetlights barely illuminated the road, and the sound of the tide and rustling mountains and forests could be heard in the distance.

It was clearly a beautiful scene, but what some people were saying at the moment was truly unpleasant.

"Not only that…"

Ayase clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

"One night, he forced his way into my dojo and again challenged my father to a duel!"

This time Kaito finally agreed.

The result was evident from Ayase's expression.

Kuraudo didn't use Noble Art, or take out a Device, or even use magic. He defeated Kaito with just a wooden sword.

"Kaito-san probably didn't lose in swordsmanship."

Hoshiharu guessed calmly, as if he was very certain.

"Yes, my father's body was already weakened by severe heart disease. Moreover, he was continuously injured by Kurashiki. Ultimately, he couldn't hold out until the end, so he lost…"

Ayase looked at him in surprise, but then turned away as if embarrassed.

She hadn't expected Hoshiharu to have such high confidence in her father's swordsmanship.

Even though the last samurai had extraordinary swordsmanship, he was still a human being.

To be honest, he should be the person in the world most wanting to be a Blazer.

Due to physical reasons, Kaito was ultimately defeated at Kuraudo's hands. His forehead was struck with a wooden sword, his skull cracked, and he had been unconscious ever since.

Thus, the reason he ended up hospitalized wasn't just because of heart disease, but also because he was beaten nearly to death by Kuraudo.

"As a result, not only was my father severely injured and hospitalized, but even the dojo was taken by that man! Although I went to him several times to reclaim the dojo, because I was no match for him, gradually I couldn't even see his face anymore!"

Ayase's face was full of hatred and reluctance.

She not only hated Kuraudo's cruelty, hated him for seriously injuring her father to the point of hospitalization, and hated him for taking her family's dojo, but she also hated herself for being weak and hated that she couldn't even reclaim the dojo taken by her enemies.

"Then, are you really going to find that man?"

Kanata drew her attention and looked at Hoshiharu's hand.

In his palm, he held a student handbook. Its shape was roughly the same as the Hagun Academy's, but the emblem of the Donrou Academy was engraved on its cover.

It was a student handbook once given to Hoshiharu by Kuraudo, and it contained his current address.

Now, the three of them were rushing to that address.

"This address is my home dojo."

Ayase's face was full of doubt, and she couldn't help but look anxiously at Hoshiharu.

"But, is this really okay? I'm very grateful to Nangou-san for standing up for me, but Kurashiki is actually not a simple character…"

Of course, it wasn't simple. After all, he was also one of the top eight Student Knights in the country.

"Actually, I'm looking for Kurashiki Kuraudo. You don't need to remember that."

Hoshiharu had an indifferent expression on his face, seemingly unconcerned about his own safety.

"When I go there, there's something important I need to do…and even though he's not simple, am I a simple character?"

Of course, it wasn't simple. He had defeated the former third strongest Blazer in the world and was ranked second at Hagun Academy, although the first was very weak and he had taken great advantage.

Ayase fell silent.

She hadn't reacted until then.

The strong image of Kuraudo had been deeply rooted in her heart for a long time, so much so that she felt as if the man was the strongest in the world.

As everyone knows, there are actually many people in this world much stronger than Kurashiki Kuraudo.

"What do you mean by business?"

Kanata asked him curiously.

"You'll know when you get there."

Hoshiharu didn't answer directly but kept it a secret.

Kanata tilted her head, unable to understand.

Hoshiharu and Kuraudo met for the first time today. What business did he have that required him to go to Kuraudo?

"However, it seems that the situation can't be better this time."

Kanata sighed helplessly.

She took out the student handbook, thought about it, and sent an email to her best friend.

She didn't think Hoshiharu would lose.

After all, he had openly and publicly defeated her once, and that was under circumstances considered nearly impossible. In her opinion, it was impossible for Hoshiharu to lose to just the top eight.

But she also needed to make some preparations first to avoid the worst-case scenario.

After all, the reputation of the Donrou director wasn't very good.

❀❀❀

On the road to the mountains, antique houses lined the streets.

The three of them walked through this street and reached a very peaceful mountainous area overgrown with weeds.

A large house surrounded by a fence appeared before the three people.

"This used to be my hometown…"

Ayase looked at the large house in front of her and gritted her teeth.

This was a military house.

It should have been a very grand house, but now the mansion was dilapidated and could even be described as a deserted house.

Bricks and tiles were peeling off the walls, the supporting pillars of the door were somewhat blackened and appeared weathered. Trash such as cigarette butts, empty cans, bread bags, and snack bags were scattered around the house, as well as the wall. Colored spray paint and twisted graffiti polluted the white walls.

"Sometimes, good and surprising graffiti will appear in places where ordinary people gather. It can even be called art, but the graffiti here has no taste at all. It's all vulgar work."

Kanata commented calmly.

"Should I complain about this kind of thing?"

Hoshiharu showed a subtle expression.

Then he lifted his foot and stepped towards the mansion door.