Chapter 2 – The Encounter
I dash nimbly through the forest.
Light. My body feels incredibly light! This sensation is like that of my youth.
“Hahaha! Light! Light as a feather!”
As I accelerated suddenly, what came into my view was a large number of animals amd a girl surrounded by them.
She seems to have lost her footing, completely sitting down on the ground.
“Wh-what should I do…?”
Is that a wolf? But it’s more ferocious than usual, with very sharp fangs and claws.
“──Are you alright?”
I cut through the pack of wolves swiftly and stand right next to the girl.
Although, she shows a surprised expression but calls out to me.
“Ah, you…?”
“I’m a travelling samurai,”
“A samurai?”
“Anyway, it seems you’re in danger. I will help you.”
I draw the sword sheathed at my waist.
My treasured sword, my longtime partner in battle—my cursed sword, Amajiki.
That is the name of this sword, and its blade is entirely dyed black.
“──Haa!”
I close the distance to a wolf and slash in a single swift strike. I easily decapitate one.
Not bad. I don’t feel the fatigue I sensed in my later years; rather, my body is in perfect condition. I feel a sensation even sharper than my prime.
The wolves all charge at me simultaneously, but I fend them all off.
Just one strike. Yet, the wolves’ heads all fall to the ground at once.
“Still want to fight?”
Animals can’t understand words, but they probably get the gist somehow.
The surviving wolves immediately run away.
I lightly wipe the blood off my sword and sheath it. I reach out my hand to the trembling girl.
“Are you alright?”
“Ye-yes. Thank you very much.”
I hold her hand tightly and help her to her feet.
Her gold hair, reaching her shoulders, flows smoothly, and her azure eyes are slightly moist.
“That was amazing! I’ve never seen such a incredible swordsman before!”
“I see. But I am still in training myself. I am a work in progress, after all.”
“Your ambition is impressive. Since I don’t often see swordsmen, it’s kind of refreshing.”
“Huh?”
“Eh? Did I say something that bothered you?”
“What do you mean, you don’t see many swordsmen?”
In the world I came from, there was no such thing as a lack of swordsmen.
While matchlock guns, bows, and thrown weapons were also used in battles, it was impossible to deny that swords remained the main weapon.
“Ah. Perhaps you came from the east? You look the part.”
“Something like that.”
Even if I say I was reincarnated, nobody would probably believe it. I decide to go along with the story.
“This is the Kingdom of Arcadia, where magic is most prosperous. There are hardly any swordsmen left here.”
“Magic… So, that means that technique surpasses swords, then?”
“Exactly.”
“…”
Magic. I’ve never heard of that name before.
In other words, that supernatural ability is superior to swords?
In my world, abilities like sorcery and barrier techniques existed too, but to think swords would be phased out…
This is truly another world. I consciously realized that once again.
“If you’d like, I can show you around the Kingdom? I also want to thank you for helping me!”
“Ah, sure. I appreciate it. My name is Ayame.”
“I’m Luna. Nice to meet you, Ayame-san.”
“Same here.”
I shake hands with the girl.
And I’ve come to be guided around the kingdom by Luna.
†
Currently, we are walking through this forest. After a little more walking, we should be able to see the kingdom.
“By the way, what’s the name of this place?”
“This is the Arcadia Great Forest. It’s quite dangerous due to monsters, and even magicians can die here.”
“I see. Then, Luna, why are you here?”
It’s clear she has some purpose coming here.
But Luna might have died if I hadn’t been there. That scream was proof of that.
“AHaha… It’s because I was looking for a certain rare material. But I’m still an aspiring adventurer, so I’m not very skilled with magic yet. I’m good at healing and support magic, though.”
“Hm. There’s a saying that suitable people are used in suitable places. If you’re suited for the rear guard, why don’t you team up with someone good in the front?”
“Well…”
Luna looked away awkwardly.
It seems she has some secret. I’m not enough of a boor to press her on it.
“Oh, um. Ayame-san, where are you from?”
“Let’s see. I’m from the East.”
“I see. You’re not here just for sightseeing or anything?”
“I’m traveling on a martial training journey to master the sword.”
Let’s go with that. I’m not exactly lying, after all.
“Wow! Ayame-san is really amazing… unlike me,”
She says, lowering her head. There’s definitely something more to her. It’s clear she has some reason for that.
“Oh! There it is, I see it!”
“Oh… that must be the kingdom,”
In the distance, I can faintly see a towering castle surrounded by walls.
Its construction style seems completely different. And it’s a huge country, too.
“Oh, but, how should we enter?”
“Is there an inspection?”
“At least, yes. Do you have any identification?”
“Probably not… but I guess it’ll work out somehow.”
“Oh! Wait a moment, please!”
I head briskly toward what must be the inspection point. A large gate is closed, and there stands someone who looks like a soldier.
“Entry?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you have identification?”
“MY ID…..”
Just in case, I check my body and realize I’m carrying something.
“Is this okay?”
It’s a piece of paper. Why I have it is a mystery, but perhaps it was given to me by that goddess.
“You came from the Far East? I see.”
“……Yes.”
“Hmm. It seems there won’t be any problem,”.
If I mention I’m from another world, it’ll only make things more complicated, so I’ll keep pretending I came from the Far East.
“Ayame-san. Has the inspection finished?”
“Yeah. It seems there are no issues.”
“That’s good.”
Luna also arrived safely, a little later, to join us.
“Well then, I’ll open the gate. It’s a bit heavy and takes some time, so please wait,”
“If you unlock it, that’s fine,”
I touch the gate with one hand and push it outward, opening it toward the inside.
It’s not light, but I wouldn’t say it’s particularly heavy. I completely open the gate.
“Come on, Luna. Let’s go. Hmm, what’s wrong with you two?”
Turning around, the two of them looked as if they had just witnessed something bizarre.
“Uh…”
“The door is quite heavy, and it’s normally impossible to open it bare-handed…”
“Hahaha! With this level of strength training, there’s no problem!”
That’s a funny joke. Honestly, if the weight is just this much, anyone who’s trained should be able to open it.
“Anyway, just don’t cause any trouble. Though, honestly, causing trouble would be pointless. And—”
Just before the gate closed, the soldier looked at me with a sympathetic expression.
“It’s a place that’s strict for swordsmen. You’d better prepare yourself for that.”
Then, the gate was completely closed.
Based on what Luna and that soldier told me, I wonder if swordsmen are quite badly treated in this kingdom? But at the same time, I was also somewhat looking forward to it. It means there are techniques here I don’t know.
And when I face those techniques, how much can my sword actually counter?
My excitement and anticipation keep rising without stopping.
“Come on, Ayame-san. Let’s hurry. I’ll show you to my house.”
“…Yeah.”
I follow Luna as she heads into an alley nearby, not the main street.
During that time, I felt eyes on me.
The gaze directed at me wasn’t aimed at my face but at the sword sheathed at my waist. It looked like a contemptuous stare.
I still don’t know.
In this world where magic is supreme, how are swordsmen treated—or rather, what kind of treatment do they receive?