#515 Everything has an end.
* * *
“Cool…!”
Could it be because of the sword master’s tenacious vitality?
Originally, it would have been more than a shock death at the point where the body was cut in two, but the Sword Saint did not die instantly.
After vomiting a handful of blood.
It just opened its mouth.
“Did I lose again?”
“okay.”
From the wounds all over the body to the flowing blood, it’s not as good as the Sword Saint, but it would
n’t be strange if he collapsed right away.
Limon calmly opened his mouth.
“This is my victory.”
It seems like a natural result.
Joy of victory too.
Without relief or thrill.
Unbecoming of a winner, the plain words make the loser miserable.
“Huh-huh… is that so?”
However, the swordsman was neither miserable nor angry.
Rather, he accepted his defeat more calmly than Limon and looked up at the sky.
He’s clearly dying.
With strangely silent eyes.
With the high and blue sky.
The swordsman called him.
“Sword ball.”
“why?”
“What do you think of the world today?”
“…That’s a fairly absurd question.”
Maybe it’s because I didn’t know you were going to ask me this.
Leaving Limon frowning.
The swordsman continued.
“I took a short walk through the world until I came here.”
A journey of at least a few days.
But for him, who could cross 100 li in one step, it was enough time to look around the world.
“And I saw.”
It’s only been 70 years.
A much more developed civilization.
with an overflowing population.
full of culture.
That’s why…
“A world that has become truly ugly.”
Reminds me of the disgusting scenery.
The swordsman continued.
“The rich forests have been cut down and the sea has become muddy.”
“The overflowing goods become garbage as they are.”
“Human beings live by eating and drinking in the trash they make.”
“Those without honor rule the world.”
“Bushido is gone, they laugh at morality and pride, and believe they can do anything for money and gain.”
“And while ignoring the age-old tradition as outdated, they proudly use shameful cultural artifacts that have no roots as if for granted.”
How can this not be ugly?
Even when blood is pouring out.
Looking at the grieving swordsman.
said Limon.
“Don’t lament all over again, because the world has always been like this.”
“…”
“Why?”
“Whoops no. You are right.”
It’s been a while since I’ve been silent at the sneering remark.
The swordsman finally let out a laugh.
Noh Kang-ho, who was born in the 16th century and went through World War II, although not as much as Limon.
Although not as drastic as the last 70 years, this kind of change has been seen and experienced for hundreds of years.
“So I closed this country.”
Kill Oda Nobunaga, a 16th-century hero who was active in bringing in new culture.
Unify the world with the power of the sword.
With the establishment of the Great East Asian Empire.
Until the issuance of the lockdown order.
Recalling what he had done hundreds of years ago, the Sword Master quietly continued.
“Because I couldn’t bear to see my homeland grow ugly.”
In the 16th century, that was enough.
It was the age of heroes.
The Sword Master, the Sword Master, reigns as the Absolute.
This country was able to enjoy a peaceful era just by ending the Age of Warring States and establishing centralized power.
“But that wasn’t enough.”
The problem is twofold.
One was that the Greater East Asian Empire was an island nation.
Unlike the rich continent.
The island’s resources are limited.
While the Warring States period ended, the population increased rapidly.
Even iron ore for making plows became increasingly difficult to obtain, and trees for building houses and making fires were rapidly decreasing.
Around the 17th century, the Greater East Asian Empire was already creaking and all sorts of problems began to emerge.
“So I had to make a decision.”
Either break the isolation and trade.
or expand resources externally.
and which one to choose.
The Samurai of the Warring States Period and the Sword Saint who hated the world being corrupt in the name of development had been decided from the beginning.
It was inevitable that the Greater East Asian Empire waged active wars of conquest and was reborn as a hegemonic state.
So it was.
Why did Limon suddenly open his mouth?
“Like starting a world war by joining hands with a swordsman?”
“Because that was your last chance to cross the wall of honor.”
Another problem faced by the Sword Saint.
That is, in front of the Great East Asian Empire, there was a peninsula protected by Limon.
Limon Aspelder.
protector of mankind.
Ending the Bronze Age.
Even that sword demon is a superhuman.
The master of the sword tower who raised several sword masters.
Even the swordsman, who was the absolute leader of the time, could not easily confront Limon.
That’s why they couldn’t set foot on the continent even though they carefully expanded their territory to Southeast Asia over hundreds of years.
In that sense, the World War was a golden opportunity.
Defeat Limon.
using the Korean Peninsula as a springboard.
If you conquer East Asia.
The Greater East Asian Empire would have been able to keep peace without any change as he wished for a thousand years.
But…
“even though it failed in the end.”
“…How can you look comfortable for something like that?”
“Whooping, there are times when you win and there are times when you lose, that’s the life of a warrior.”
The swordsman smiled lowly.
It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t sad.
However, he did not regret his life and choices.
For hundreds of years he defended his country according to his will, and died honorably after a duel with his rival.
Even so, there was one regret that he had to come back from death.
“I will ask you one last time.”
“what?”
“Are you really sure you are right?”
Whether an unqualified king reigns.
Even if everything turns ugly
Just watch as it flows.
If it is not clearly harmful to mankind, do you intend to continue to maintain a way of life that does not intervene at all?
To the question the Sword Master quietly asked.
Limon did not immediately respond.
Instead, he slightly turned his head and looked up at the sky like a sword star, only to open his mouth after a while.
“well.”
not positive either.
Neither is it negative.
An ambiguous answer that you might feel as if you were avoiding an answer.
“…Right.”
But he wasn’t disappointed.
Until you give that simple answer.
Because the time it took itself was the same as the answer.
Above all, what does it mean that Limon was able to take one more step before he attained the realization of Cheonuimubong?
Because I knew better than anyone.
The swordsman laughed.
“Does even you change eventually?”
“Everything is bound to change.”
“Huh, that would be it.”
It seems a bit sad.
nevertheless satisfactorily.
After coughing up a handful of blood, he muttered in a low voice.
The swordsman continued with his eyes shining brightly.
“But at least it won’t be my home country.”
“…was that your real purpose?”
“Yes.”
Limon understood.
Even the kidnapping of the president.
The one that appeared in Edo.
To the Sword Saint, it was nothing more than a means to an end.
“Now that you have seen me come back from the dead, this country will not change for the next 100 years.”
“After that 100 years, it will collapse even more horribly?”
from the 16th century to the present.
Cut off all contact with the outside world.
Even the development of technology is neglected.
The Greater East Asian Empire, bound only by the traditions and honors of the past, will collapse the moment the seclusion is lifted.
Limon pointed out.
The swordsman answered.
“Does not matter.”
“…”
“Everything has an end anyway.”
“….”
“Wouldn’t it be more beautiful to perish noblely rather than struggling and struggling to survive?”
Only the Sword Master can live forever.
Even the country is not immortal.
If it is going to perish someday, it is better to crumble as beautiful as a flower withers.
Seeing the Sword Master who speaks quietly even in the face of death.
Limon said quietly.
“You’re crazy too, swordsman.”
“Whoops, maybe.”
This who could not keep up with the change of the times.
A sword master who yearned for the past, regarded only memories as beautiful, hated development, and denied the future.
That’s why I couldn’t become immortal in the end.
Instead, a monster who tried to stop the world’s time entirely and create a world where nothing changes forever.
“But how are you?”
The swordsman turned his gaze again.
And looking up at the sky he loved.
Unlike before, he opened his mouth in a quiet voice.
“Bushido means dying.”
“A dream of a fleeting world.”
“It is like the sky at dawn.”
“This is the way of the samurai.”
Like a candle burning brightly before it goes out.
In the midst of such a quiet voice, the light in the eyes rapidly went out.
The swordsman finally licked his lips.
“Whoops…. But it’s a bit disappointing.”
“….”
“At least a draw… was possible…”
Chulkkeng.
And…
the Sword Master’s body turns to ashes.
Instead, only a broken katana fell.
that’s the end
Sword Saint Kami Itsumi Nobutsuna.
As the shogun of the Great East Asian Empire, it was the end of the sword master who caused the world war for the peace and prosperity of his homeland.
Leaving behind the lost swordsman.
At the end of looking at the sky.
Limon asked casually.
“Would you like me to thank you for waiting?”
“Thank you. It’s trash if you interfere in leaving a will after a duel.”
“You are a dog.”
“…Isn’t that Master, you’ve been doing too much for the disciple who served as an observer for a long time?”
Whether or not Billy grumbled as he watched the duel with Vlad.
Limon didn’t care.
Instead, he just turned his head.
“so.”
From the back of the hand where the bones were exposed, to the still bleeding neck and calves, and all sorts of minor wounds.
Limon’s face is a mess.
Of course you can’t fight properly.
It seemed like it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed right away.
“Who’s next?”
nevertheless.
without an inch of shaking.
With the sword stretched obliquely.
Watching Limon look at them with golden eyes and ask who will attack them next, let them be silent for a while.
Billy said with a smile.
“Well, let’s call it a day.”
“…Are you trying to run away?”
“As sword masters, we just had a duel, so it’s unlucky to cut a knife at a dying master.”
“You talk about dogs like people talk.”
“Don’t be so rude. Because it’s only half true.”
“What is the half that is not sincere?”
“That’s it, I just want to have some fun.”
“That’s for a very good reason.”
Wouldn’t it be too trivial to kill Master like this?
Hearing what he said, he giggled while watching the cynical Limon.
Billy smirked and raised one hand.
“Then, long live until I meet again to kill you, Master.”
“…see you next time.”
Billy raised his hand pretending to be.
Vlad bowed his head respectfully.
At the end of looking at the empty seat of the two who suddenly disappeared after leaving only a greeting for a long time.
Limon opened his mouth with a sigh.
“The Liberation Brigade guys must be sick too.”
* * *
“Sword Saint… Is he dead?
“I just went with a satisfied smile.”
“Did you just watch it…?”
“To be precise, it is not a spectator, but an observation. Kya, to be honest, it was the most amazing duel I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
“Even though… did you just come back without killing the swordsman?”
“Did you say that?”
“…hey.”
“Huh? What?”
“Hey, this X says that!?!?”
