SC1 15.3 – The Sly Shouji
In a blink of one eye Head Constable Shouji arrived in front of me. He was definitely faster than I expected. Moreover, I could feel he was determined to kill me. Then, he made his first attack.
Slash!
A compact and precise slash almost cut my chest open. Fortunately, I managed to step back in time. Of course, Head Constable Shouji gave a chase to my retreat and so I took out my kodachi.
Clank clank clank clank!
A series of lethal slash and parry took a place for a moment before Head Constable Shouji retreated and took a healthy distance from me.
“This is the first time I met a Level 1 who can match my slash and parry, in power and speed,” Head Constable Shouji said as he tried to reassess me using his sharp eyes.
‘This is the first time I meet a Level 2 who masters slash and parry almost to perfection,’ I replied inwardly. Then, I curiously asked, “How many warrior have you killed so far?”
“Around thirty and some,” Head Constable Shouji replied with a tone that neither arrogant nor humble.
“I never thought there will be so many warriors visiting Rokube.”
“I didn’t kill them in Rokube, but around Kamakura. Mostly, it’s a job from master.”
“I see.” After a pause I tried to dig other vital information, “May I know the highest Level on your butcher bill?”
“Level 5.”
‘Shit!’ I spontaneously cursed.
If Head Constable Shouji truly managed to kill a Level 5, with my current level he would have a good chance to kill me. The bastard truly knew how to hide his skill. A sly and calculated type, the one I hated the most.
After adjusting my assessment I asked another question, “Did you kill the Level 5 using your slash and parry?”
“More or less.” After a pause Head Constable Shouji added, “He was a young man from a renowned martial family. His martial arts is excellent, his foundation is also solid, but he underestimated my slash and parry too much.”
“I bet you put lot of effort on your slash and parry.”
Head Constable Shouji casually nodded. “I have no access to martial skill, so I train solely on slash and parry. After a few decades of hard work, it evolves into something that I can’t even understand. I only know it’s very deadly.”
‘What a hardworking man, too bad he works for bad dude,’ I muttered regrettably. “By the way, can you tell me why you are working for demonic warrior?”
After lowering his short sword to his side Head Constable Shouji replied, “When I was 10 years old, my parent started selling me to pedophile who frequently visited Rokube.
Master killed the bastard and my parents to free me, and I decided to repay him by becoming his follower, even though he clearly told me that he walked on demonic path.”
“And yet you didn’t take demonic path like your master?” I asked as my curiosity went deeper.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“My job is to become his hidden mule in Rokube. I can’t do that if I take demonic path. Not to mention, Master told me I’m not suitable for it.”
Now I’m curious about this dude’s soul mark. I could sense it. It was good soul mark, but I couldn’t grasp the exact detail without checking his essence sea.
“Do you have other question?” Head Constable Shouji calmly asked me.
In reflex I asked him back, “Are you sure you don’t mind answering whatever question I have in mind?”
“Well, our first exchange gives me enough clues that I’m more than capable to kill you. So, it’s not a big deal to satisfy your curiosity before I kill you.”
“I see.” After lightly nodding my head two times I asked another question, “Why do you stays at Level 2? Is that because you have to become hidden mule?”
“No, master sends me essence cube two times a year, but finding good breathing technique is very difficult unless I join martial family or martial guild.”
After a pause I asked the biggest curiosity in my mind, “What is your master’s plan to Yunno and Yui?”
“That’s…”
Without finishing his words, Head Constable Shouji suddenly vanished from my view. Fortunately, I kept my Essence Pulse in full display all the time. Even so, I still got a chill in my nape as only in millisecond, Head Constable Shouji already arrived in my left and gained a perfect position to mount a deathly slash to my lower body.
It would be too late if I tried to block the incoming slash using kodachi in my right hand. I also couldn’t avoid this horizontal slash by stepping backward or forward. All I could do was moving side step to the right and sacrificing my left belly.
Slash!
Blood splattered to the air right after the tip of the short sword cut my belly 2.5 cm deep, and even if I was fully prepared to sacrifice my belly, it was still hurt like a bitch.
At the same time, the damnable Shouji didn’t stop his attack. Worst of all, he used a wide and thick short sword like any other short sword, but swung it as if it was only a dinner knife.
“You won’t be able to escape,” He said as he chased me and performed a series of rapid slash.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
‘Fuck me!’
I could only curse as slash after slash hit my left belly. Fortunately, it didn’t hit my vital even once, and just before the fourth slash I managed to reset my position and enabled my kodachi to block his relentless slash.
Clank clank!
After only two exchanges, Head Constable Shouji darted backward and maintained a healthy distance from my reach. In an instant, I deeply frowned. This was a fighting style loved by an expert knife user.
First, you tried to end the fight as fast as possible with a sneak attack to the vital. If it failed, you switched into an attempt to turn your opponent into minced-meat. Mostly, by sending shallow but relentless slashes into body part you could reach without putting yourself to vulnerable position. This way, your opponent would drop dead on the ground from blood loss, sooner or later.
The main idea from this fighting style was to avoid unnecessary risk. It looked simple, but lot of seasoned warrior managed to turn this simple concept into one of the most deadly fighting styles, and its lethality went up a few notches if you had correct movement step, like the one that the Sly Shouji used on me just now.
“Other than excellent slash and parry, you also have Blink Step,” I said as I looked at the Sly Shouji straight in the eyes.
“Other than master who gave it to me, you are the first warrior who recognized my Blink Step.” Surprise was clearly visible on Head Constable Shouji as he looked back to me. “You truly have vast knowledge and experience.”
‘What a sly bastard.’
I couldn’t help but muttered another curse. Never did I imagine that a Level 2 warrior from a backwater town would have Blink Step. Moreover, the Sly Shouji used it on me only after he believed he had lowered my guard by satisfying my curiosity to some extent.
As the result, in less than a second he had carved a few pieces of sashimi out of my damn belly. Even without checking it visually, I could feel my blood leaking out from my wound like a flood.
‘I have to wrap up this fight as fast as I could,’
I muttered as I casted Healing Spell to my left belly. It would stop the bleeding and closed the wound to some extent, but it could not replace the blood loss that started to show its annoying effect.
After shaking my head to ward off some dizziness, I bluntly asked the Sly Shouji, “Do you have other cards in your sleeve?”
“No, but right now my chance to kill you have increased a few folds I believe.”
“Yeah, good for you.”
“How about you work for master like me?” The Sly Shouji casually asked.
“No thanks,” I firmly replied.
“In that case, be ready to accept your death.”
‘In your dream,’ I muttered as the Sly Shouji vanished from my view one more time.
*****