“Sora... Sora... As in, that Sora? Oho! You don’t say!”
Upon hearing the name Claudia had shouted, the old man’s eyes narrowed with great interest. Having served the Mitsurugi family for many years now, the name definitely rang a bell. Sora Mitsurugi, the puny son of the mighty Sword Saint himself.
“Washed up on the shores of Kanaria, did you? Ah, no wonder you looked so familiar! And yet...” There was a hint of doubt in his voice. He could feel a torrential outpour of vigor coming from this young man, roaring audibly as it coursed through his body, its pulse causing the air around him to tremble. How could this be the same ordinary boy who couldn’t even overcome his trial ceremony back on the island? The young man in front of him had definitely awakened to his Shinsou, there was no doubt about that. And most likely, the black sword in his right hand was his Shinsou’s manifestation.
The Illusory Blade style was only taught on Onigashima. Someone who had nothing to do with the style or Onigashima could never awaken to their Shinsou. Therefore, the Sora before him had to be Sora Mitsurugi. But he hadn’t passed his trial, so he wasn’t an official Illusory Blade user. Had someone so weak really managed to gain his Shinsou’s power on his own? That was hard to believe.
But if so...interesting! Quite interesting indeed! The old man’s lips curled into a grin of amusement, and he let out a throaty chuckle. He’d never met Sora before and had no emotional attachment whatsoever to the Sword Saint’s exiled son, but if Sora truly had crawled up out of the abyss to obtain the power of his Shinsou on his own, the old man felt that alone was worthy of respect. After all, he had once traversed a similar path himself.
“Sora Mitsurugi, I presume? Please forgive this old codger for not recognizing you right away. I am Jijinbou, one of the Eight Banners of Seirin.”
The old man—Jijinbou—spoke to Sora as respectfully as he could manage. However, since he’d announced his intention to attack and already caused the duke’s family and attendants to collapse, Sora would no doubt still regard him as an enemy. And indeed, Sora only glared at him without saying a word. Therefore, Jijinbou went right on speaking.
“So, young ’un, did my little suggestion that Astrid Dragonaut cursed Claudia Dragonaut prove useful?”
At that, both sisters simultaneously snapped their heads up to look at Jijinbou, then looked over at Sora.
“It sure did,” Sora said with a small shrug. “The moment I saw the repulsive look in your eyes as you named Astrid as the culprit, it was obvious that she was innocent.”
“Hee hee hee! Then perhaps I ought to praise your keen insight. It seems you’ve grown up a little from when you were exiled from the island on account of failing to beat a single Dragon Fang Knight, eh?” His voice was laced with malice and scorn.
“Oh? But if I recall correctly, weren’t you similarly exiled?” Sora retorted, his tone equally derisive. “I don’t think our positions are too different.”
“Hee hee hee hee! Now that’s something I didn’t expect to hear. I’ve been trusted to carry out the emperor’s orders. You were exiled from the island on account of being too weak. What could the two of us possibly have in common? If what you said just now wasn’t just some thoughtless comeback, then by all means, inform this senile old coot how he’s mistaken.”
“Certainly. It’s simple: If you really were of any use to the Mitsurugis in combat, they never would have sent you off the island.” Sora’s lip curled in a smirk as he looked at Jijinbou. “As the most powerful force in Onigashima right behind the Mitsurugis themselves, the Eight Banners of Seirin are duty bound to use their Shinsous to protect the island. Otherwise, the place would be overrun by monsters pouring through the Demonic Gate in no time. Were there any exceptions, they would have to be rookies who’d just enlisted, those too sick or wounded to fight, or those who were capable fighters but whose Shinsous’ power were wholly unsuited to combat on the island.”
Those from the third case would be given orders to act outside the island. Even if they couldn’t fight the tough monsters on Onigashima, they could fight weaker monsters elsewhere in the world, and they could certainly defeat other humans. In other words, they were suited to working for the empire outside the island’s borders. They would be tasked with taking care of the empire’s nagging dirty work, while the most elite Illusory Blade users continued to form the cornerstone of the island’s defenses. Sora knew all too well how the current head of the family distributed the forces under him.
“Based on the fact that you’re here right now and not on the island, I can guess your real standing within the Eight Banners. I might have been exiled, but you were essentially demoted. So our positions really aren’t that different, now are they?”
“Hee hee, what nonsense. I’m Level 73! For an upstart young ’un to view me on the same level as you, I’m honestly offended!” He cackled again.
Sora came at him from a different angle. “Seeing the way you used your biwa-shaped Shinsou just now, it seems like your Shinsou specializes in sound and curses.”
“Oh?”
“Considering your curse was able to reach all the way from the public cemetery to this estate, your range is truly impressive. So why was it deemed unsuitable for combat on the island? Was it perhaps because it doesn’t work against anyone possessing a certain amount of vigor?”
The old man didn’t answer.
“In other words, no matter how high your level, you’re only able to bully opponents weaker than you are. And in that case, I have no reason to fear you.”