Samurai Hearts – Tutorial (7)
"Wow…"
Watching the scene unfold, Seung-yeon let out a breath of awe.
It looked almost like magic.
At a glance, it was as if the enemy soldier had voluntarily run forward and offered his own neck to the blade.
Despite being an extremely violent scene in which someone was clearly killed, her first reaction was fascination.
It felt like watching an art piece that's difficult to fully understand.
No wonder the viewers couldn't tear their eyes away.
'SwordMasterYamato' has donated '10,000 won'!
[Has your younger brother ever learned swordsmanship before by any chance?]
"SwordMasterYamato! Thank you sooo much for the ten thousand won donation! No, my brother has never learned any kind of swordsmanship. So I'm shocked too. I had no idea my little brother had that kind of talent!"
— Damn he's a real-born prodigy— VR game is his first time, never learned swordsmanship, and he's LIKE THAT?— Okay physical ability is one thing, but his sword handling is no joke
Would an ordinary person swinging a sword however they wanted really look like swordsmanship?
Of course not.
Even in virtual reality, the same holds true.
This is why pro VR players study all kinds of martial arts and sword techniques—because it's undeniably helpful.
Even in VR, the movements of someone trained in martial arts are unmistakably different from someone untrained.
But Do-hyun?
Did he ever learn swordsmanship?
He definitely didn't…
As siblings living together for years, she knew very well how Do-hyun spent his time and what he had (and hadn't) done.
Which meant she knew perfectly well that he'd never had anything even remotely to do with swordsmanship.
Yet watching him fight now, he looked like some kind of sword master.
Is this also talent?
If so, "insane" was the only fitting word.
But Do-hyun himself seemed to feel differently.
After deflecting yet another attack—a perfect success, naturally—he instantly cut down the enemy and clicked his tongue.
Seung-yeon, who had lived with him for years, recognized the expression.
That was the face he made when he felt something was off or unsatisfying.
"What's wrong? Something not working?"
"No, not really…"
Do-hyun looked down at his sword.
The blade was sticky with blood dripping down in red trails.
Despite cutting down so many enemies, the edge was as sharp as ever.
In real life, it would've dulled already.
But here, such minor unrealism was allowed—because this was a game.
But that wasn't the important part.
The problem was that he felt a strange discomfort while swinging the sword.
"My body isn't moving the way I want. It's annoying."
The sword in his hand wasn't heavy.
His body felt heavy.
His movements lagged behind what he imagined in his head—at minimum half a breath, at worst a whole breath or more.
In actual time, it was only a few tenths of a second, a fraction of a moment—but to Do-hyun, it was extremely irritating.
"No way…"
To Seung-yeon, this was unbelievable.
He had gotten perfect deflects on everything so far, and yet—
His body isn't moving the way he wants?
Then what were the people who failed deflects supposed to be?
"And what more do you want to do? The VR players in chat are already losing it calling you a talent monster."
"I'm just saying it feels off. It bothers me. I can do better."
"Wow… Being on the receiving end of talent-bragging IRL is REALLY annoying. I get it now. Thanks a lot, little brother."
"My pleasure."
At Do-hyun's calm reply, Seung-yeon let out a heavy sigh.
Of course, it was partly theatrical.
She glanced at the chat window.
As expected, the chat was even more on fire.
Do-hyun might not have meant it that way, but to the viewers, it was blatant prodigy-level humblebrag.
On top of that, viewer numbers were skyrocketing.
Clips were already spreading, and her peak viewership numbers were being shattered in real time.
— So THIS is that place where sweet and spicy coexist…— Prodigy character is insane fr— Her brother's got insane streamer instincts…— LMAO he's still not satisfied even in that state??
The viewer graph was climbing at a terrifying pace.
Never in her usual streams would she see results like this.
Who would've guessed that her little brother—who she invited for a tiny appearance fee—would turn out to be god-tier content?
"By the way, how long are we supposed to keep holding out? This is getting boring."
"It should be almost over."
Before Seung-yeon even finished answering, the sound of distant hoofbeats echoed toward them.
At the same time, control of their bodies was once again taken over by the event cutscene.
"Rescue the young lord!"
A mounted unit appeared with thunderous hooves.
Their armor bore the emblem of the Atsuragi family.
Seeing them, Tatsuki—who had been shielded by Seung-yeon and Do-hyun—brightened instantly.
"The warriors of the Gale Corps!"
The Gale Corps—the Atsuragi family's renowned elite cavalry unit!
They were praised as a group of warriors who swept across battlefields, each one worth a thousand foes.
Having recognized Tatsuki's peril, they had come to rescue him.
But as they drew closer and their condition became clear, Tatsuki's expression twisted in dismay.
Only three words were needed to describe their appearance:
Defeated soldiers.
The Gale Corps originally numbered over a hundred, yet barely thirty were approaching them now.
And even those few were drenched in blood, their armor cracked and broken in multiple places.
Some of them were carrying snapped or shattered weapons—evidence of the horrific battlefield they had passed through.
Still, cavalry was cavalry—meaning the enemies surrounding Tatsuki were swept aside in an instant.
"Gale Corps Captain Kono Suchiha, greeting the young lord!"
The man at the very front bowed deeply to Tatsuki.
His armor was broken all over, and several arrows were still lodged in his back.
Such wounds—yet he was still moving so easily!Tatsuki gasped in horror at the sight.
"Uncle! How did you receive such injuries?!"
"The cowardly Nagamatsu dogs ambushed us. Treacherous wretches who broke the alliance…!"
Suchiha ground his teeth hard.
With a shocked expression, Tatsuki asked,
"They ambushed you? How could they betray us so shamelessly! Then what of Father? Did he escape safely?"
"The Lord of the Castle… is…"
Suchiha turned his head away, as if unable to speak the words.
The meaning was clear.
Tatsuki's father—the lord of the Red Fox and the Black Wolf—Atsuragi Toyohashi, was dead.
Killed immediately after his first and only appearance.
Well, I already knew he'd die, anyway.
Before the game even began, Do-hyun was told the story was "the tale of a samurai who lost his lord and seeks revenge."
Still, he didn't expect the lord to appear once and disappear forever without even showing his face again…
Regardless, it wasn't a surprising development, so Do-hyun watched calmly.
There wasn't much else he could do, anyway.
"For now, young lord—no, my lord—your escape from this place is our top priority. If you were to fall here as well, the Atsuragi line would be extinguished."
"I will follow your guidance, Uncle."
"We must hurry. And I ask a favor of you two as well—the Red Fox and the Black Wolf. Please protect our lord."
At Suchiha's words, the Red Fox and the Black Wolf nodded firmly.
Thus, Seung-yeon, Do-hyun, and Tatsuki joined the Gale Corps, spurred their horses, and attempted to escape the castle territory.
Obtaining horses wasn't difficult.
There were many wandering around—steeds whose masters had already died. All they had to do was catch and mount them.
Like their unit name implied, the Gale Corps rode like the wind, aiming to break out of Atsuragi Castle's region—but it wasn't easy.
Atsuragi Castle had already fallen, and Nagamatsu troops were positioned all around to sweep up the remnants.
On top of that, the Gale Corps had just endured a brutal battle and were nearly exhausted, making speed difficult.
"At this rate, they'll catch up…"
Suchiha muttered through gritted teeth as he rode at the front.
Escaping without casualties was impossible unless a miracle occurred.
And as the commander, he knew better than to rely on miracles.
His grip tightened on the reins so strongly the veins on his hand bulged.
"Second unit! Delay them!"
"Yes!"
At the command, half of the Gale Corps immediately turned their horses around.
They galloped straight toward the pursuing enemy without even a moment's hesitation.
The enemy was countless, and they were barely a dozen.
Riding back to stop the enemy would guarantee death.
Even so, not a single soldier hesitated.Not a single soldier disobeyed.
This was why they were called the elite—warriors worth a thousand foes.
"Uncle…!"
"You must remember this, my lord! Why they die, and for what they die!"
Suchiha's bloodshot eyes and trembling voice silenced Tatsuki.
On the face of the young man—barely stepping into adulthood—resolve began to form.
But escape was still not easy.
The time bought with the sacrifice of half the Gale Corps wasn't enough.
Riding forward, they soon encountered enemy troops arranged in a tight formation.
As if they had been waiting from the beginning, the enemy had completely sealed the path forward.
Suchiha's face hardened in dismay.
"How did they get here so quickly…?"
But there was no time to wonder.
Suchiha made a swift decision.
"Red Fox, Black Wolf! I'm counting on you! Escort our lord to safety!"
"Uncle! No—!"
Realizing his uncle's intent, Tatsuki shouted in panic.
But Suchiha remained firm.
"There is no time, my lord! You must survive. The Atsuragi line cannot be allowed to die out!"
"But uncle—how could I abandon you and live?!"
"If my life can preserve the Atsuragi bloodline, then it is a worthy bargain. Only if you live can the Atsuragi rise once more!"
Suchiha let out a fierce laugh.
"What Nagamatsu has done is a blatant betrayal. If you, my lord, raise the accusation, the Shogun will undoubtedly intervene. Then, revenge will be possible!"
"Uncle…"
"That is a path open only to you, the rightful heir of Atsuragi. No one else. Do you understand? To take revenge—no matter what it takes—you must live!"
Tatsuki, biting his lip hard, nodded heavily.
He had realized that for the sake of his father, his uncle, and the Atsuragi family's vengeance, he had to survive.
Seeing that he had convinced him, Suchiha looked to the Red Fox and the Black Wolf.
"Your swordsmanship and loyalty are qualities the late lord himself praised. I entrust the young lord to you. Ensure he is escorted safely from this place."
"Understood, Lord Suchiha."
The Red Fox responded firmly.
Satisfied, Suchiha gave a bold, booming laugh and spurred his horse forward.
The Gale Corps followed after him.