"Hmm?"
Ryosuke was stunned, a bit confused.
"Thank me for what? I should be the one thanking Mr. Rengoku for his guidance, and you for the medicinal wine."
"It's different."
Kyojuro shook his head. "Since you came, Father hasn't trained with such focus and been so full of fighting spirit in a long time."
"After Mother's condition worsened, he became somewhat depressed."
"Although you didn't do anything special, your arrival and your request for guidance seem to have made him find the feeling of the past."
Ryosuke was silent for a moment, remembering Kagaya's request, his mood somewhat complex.
"I didn't do anything; it was Mr. Rengoku..."
"But you appeared, and became stronger."
Kyojuro's eyes burned with pure trust and expectation.
"Father needs an opponent, a junior who can make him serious! Mr. Yasui, maybe you really can make Father pull himself together again!"
Looking at the boy's incredibly serious and hopeful eyes, Ryosuke suddenly smiled.
Like a ghost at work, he reached out and rubbed Kyojuro's golden-red hair that exploded like an owl.
Ryosuke had wanted to touch it when watching the anime in his previous life!
Mhm—
Feels good indeed, fluffy and soft.
Kyojuro was stunned for a moment but didn't dodge or show dissatisfaction.
He blinked, taking this action as a form of recognition and closeness.
After two more days of hellish beating, Ryosuke felt his own Battle Spirit had initially stabilized.
Although far less majestic and terrifying than Shinjuro's, it could already be initially integrated into breathing and moves, significantly increasing power.
The Final Selection at Mt. Fujikasane was also about to end, so Ryosuke proposed to leave.
Shinjuro didn't stop him, just crossing his arms and saying:
"Tempering Battle Spirit behind closed doors is ultimately inferior. The real battlefield is the best furnace! If there is a suitable mission, I will let the crow notify you to go with me. You will realize faster in actual combat!"
"Yes! Thank you, Mr. Rengoku!"
Ryosuke bowed solemnly.
He noted down this kindness of guidance.
Leaving the Rengoku mansion, Ryosuke quickened his pace and headed straight for Mt. Fujikasane.
When he arrived at the shrine, the seven-day deadline had just passed.
The sea of wisteria flowers swayed, and the swordsmen who passed the exam had already gathered at the exit.
There were more people than in Ryosuke's batch, a full twenty or so, and most looked tired but not too terrified.
Obviously, this was all Sabito's credit.
He triggered his excellent tradition again, clearing out most of the demons alone.
"Ryosuke-nii!"
A crisp shout rang out, and a beautiful figure crashed solidly into Ryosuke's arms.
Rika hugged his waist tightly, rubbing her small face against his chest, her voice carrying the lingering fear of acting spoiled.
"Wuwuwu— That's great! Ryosuke-nii! You came to pick me up~"
"It was so dark inside, and the demons were so ugly, I was so scared~"
Feeling the gazes cast from around him, Ryosuke was instantly embarrassed, not knowing where to put his hands.
He pursed his lips and could only laugh dryly while patting Rika's back.
"Alright, alright, aren't you fine now? So many people are watching..."
Just then, the silent Tomioka Giyu beside them suddenly tilted his head in confusion.
"Um, Kirigaya, weren't you the one who killed the most demons besides Sabito? You even twisted that demon's head off and used it as a ball..."
"Waaah! Giyu! Come look at this!"
Sabito was quick-eyed and quick-handed, covering Giyu's mouth and dragging him away, winking at Rika before leaving.
Rika also smiled slyly at him.
Ryosuke: w(ﾟДﾟ)w
Seeing this scene, Ryosuke was dumbfounded.
No...
How did you guys get mixed up together!
How were you guys led astray and turned traitors by this girl!
What exactly did she say to you!
Rika lay on Ryosuke's chest with an obsessed look, sniffing repeatedly.
"Hehe~ Ryosuke-geigei~ Hehe~"
"..."
Ryosuke rubbed his forehead.
Girl, aren't you scary!
Headache!
So fxxking headache!
Selection over, next was picking Tamahagane and assigning Kasugai Crows.
When it was Rika's turn, a bright red and white hummingbird landed on her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek affectionately.
"Wow! So pretty!"
Rika opened her eyes wide in surprise, stroking the hummingbird's feathers carefully.
"Ryosuke-nii, look! It's as cute as yours!"
"Mhm, indeed quite cute."
Ryosuke nodded.
Everything done, Ryosuke greeted Sabito and the others and prepared to leave with Rika.
Just walking out of the crowd, they happened to run into Shota who had rushed over.
"Hey! Exam... is the exam over?" Shota ran panting.
Ryosuke glanced at him and said lightly: "Mhm, you came too late, of course it's over."
"Damn it! Missed it again!"
Shota was annoyed.
Why is the first person my sister sees after the exam not me!
Ryosuke knew his thoughts and suppressed a laugh.
Shota gritted his teeth, getting angry just looking at Ryosuke's punchable expression!
Just as he wanted to retort, a cry suddenly came from the sky.
Ryosuke's dark blue hummingbird swooped down and landed on his raised arm.
"Caw! Yasui Ryosuke! Urgent order! Flame Hashira Rengoku Shinjuro summons!"
"Immediately proceed to Hachijojima, Tokyo Prefecture to rendezvous and investigate!"
Ryosuke's eyes lit up suddenly.
It's here!
The chance for actual combat training is here!
"Let's go, Shota! Rika is in your hands."
Ryosuke instructed Shota, patted Rika's head, and turned into a bolt of lightning speeding away into the distance.
Before Rika could say anything, the figure disappeared at the end of the mountain path in a few leaps.
"Hmph~ Mmm!!!"
Rika: (,,Ծ‸Ծ,, )
Rika pouted in annoyance, grinding the small stones on the ground with her toe.
"Running so fast! Mission again! Mission again! Is the Flame Hashira that important!"
Shota, watching his sister like this, was also helpless and comforted softly.
"Alright, that guy is just like that. He only has killing demons and getting stronger in his eyes. Let's go, go home, Grandpa must be waiting anxiously."
He rubbed Rika's head: "When you get stronger, you can also take higher-level missions. Big Bro will take you then!"
Rika didn't complain anymore, just gave a muffled "Mhm."
The joy of just passing the exam in the girl's heart was also diluted by half.
...
Ryosuke operated Thunder Breathing to the extreme, his figure speeding like lightning.
"Hachijojima, Tokyo Prefecture..."
The wind whistled in his ears, but Ryosuke kept chewing on this place name in his heart.
"Why does this place sound so familiar..."
Even having read the original work, Ryosuke couldn't remember all the place names and events.
But associating it with Shinjuro's life...
Ryosuke's heart shook, and he sucked in a breath of cold air.
Hachijojima... Snake Demon... Sacrifice...
No way, the plot is coming already?!
...
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