Chapter 83: "Peak Kendo Showdown"

On the second floor of the UDX Building, Akihabara Square lounge.

While Kimura Kazuki was immersed in his thoughts, Muraoka Hiroshi nodded his head and bowed deeply, his mobile phone clutched to his ear. "I will... Rest assured, president, there won't be any problems at this time's comic exhibition. You have my word. Don't worry, it will definitely be a wrap, and the propagation for 'The Sword Saga' will also appear on the itinerary!"

As he set his phone down, Muraoka Hiroshi's facial expression turned grim. He could not help from screaming, "Unbelievable! Yuma Sugawara is such an untrustworthy person. He agreed to come over today, but all he did was try to dismiss me with one sorry excuse?"

Today's comic exhibition at Akihabara Square was organized by the Seiki Association, and the reason it had free admissions was due to "The Sword Saga." The Seiki Association was a company newly established not more than a year ago, and their main goal was to dive into light novels. "The Sword Saga" was the Seiki Association's very first work to be converted into a comic and animated; moreover, it was also the first runner-up of the 18th Annual "This Light Novel Is Amazing" Competition.

Although the reputation of the "This Light Novel Is Amazing" Competition had fallen in recent years and had been deliberately renamed by netizens and readers as "This Shadiness Is Amazing," or "This Newbie Is Amazing" and so on... But the "This Light Novel Is Amazing" Competition remained famous within Japan when it came to the industrial sector and readers.

As "The Sword Saga" was awarded the first runner-up for the annual competition, it was naturally considered a popular piece of work. Last year's project to convert the novel into a comic had already been completed, receiving a whole lot of warm responses. This year's animation plan had already been put on the agenda and was expected to premiere in July.

This time, the complementary comic exhibition was obviously for "The Sword Saga," as a pre-release promotional event. Muraoka Hiroshi had initially been planning to hold a Kendo competition onstage. Intending to promote "The Sword Saga" with the utmost effort, he had invited Yuma Sugawara of the Sugawara family and Ono Nakamura of the Ono family.

The two of them were within the top 10 candidates in the under 18 categories in last year's Asahi Kendo Competition and were widely known in the Kendo field. They were no strangers to anyone who understood Kendo.

However, that Yuma Sugawara fellow ended up backing out. If he had been given an earlier notice, he would not have been this livid... The guy had just called to inform him that he could not make it right after the event had started.

In his anxious state of mind, he dialed the president's phone number to ask if he was acquainted with any other Kendo experts. Still, the sharp, observant president had quickly picked up on the situation at hand and scolded him till there was not a single scrap of dignity left in him. He was extremely fed up from this, and being unable to vent did not help.

"Brother-in-law... that kid Sugawara must have had his reasons, he had sent me a text message on my phone and told me that it was his grandfather who prohibited him from coming. It was unacceptable for a swordsman to go out and about showing off in public, so he put him on house confinement," Ono Nakamura was seated on the couch, a bottle of coke in his left hand and his phone in the other as he checked his messages.

"What era is it now? There are still people who think swordsmen can't show up in public!" Muraoka Hiroshi raised his phone to his face and saw that he had just received a similar message from Yuma Sugawara. The redness in his face slightly faded. After all, he had an actual reason. It was better than no apparent reason at all. Furthermore, Yuma Sugawara's absence was a factor outside of his control. In thought, he indignantly huffed, "Then isn't Yuma Sugawara considered showing up in public when he participates in competitions?"

"The Asahi Kendo Competition is different," Ono Nakamura softly remarked. "Plus, if you weren't my brother-in-law, I wouldn't have come either. Father had always taught me that swordsmanship is equivalent to killing, and once a sword is unsheathed, blood must be shed! To use it in performance..." Before he could finish, he saw his brother-in-law toss him a dirty look, making him halt his train of thought and let out a sinister chuckle, a harmless dash of evil swirling in his eyes. He said no more.

"Have you ever killed a chicken when you were younger?" Muraoka Hiroshi said disdainfully. "And you still say 'swordsmanship is equivalent to killing'... Why didn't you all put your real swords to use in competitions? Why didn't I see any bloodshed in the Asahi Kendo Competition? Your father possesses an ancient mindset, and you're following in his footsteps?"

Ono Nakamura kept his words at the back of his throat. When it came to witty replies, he could never beat his brother-in-law in arguing. Besides, he also felt that there was some truth in what he said.

Faced with Ono Nakamura's silence, Muraoka Hiroshi also plopped down onto the couch, pulling a long face, "Do you know anyone who can rush over right now..."

"Brother-in-law, you already asked once earlier. Even if they are free, isn't your event about to start... Time is too tight on hand."

"Is that so..." Muraoka Hiroshi rubbed the back of his head with force, it seemed like he was starting to panic. He glanced at the time and mentally noted that he only had 10 minutes to spare. Thinking, he gritted his teeth. "Ono, you must do me this favor as my brother-in-law."

Following that, Muraoka Hiroshi described his plan to a flustered Ono Nakamura, whose irises immediately erupted with alarm. "No... How can I cheat? Brother-in-law, you clearly said that I am here to compete with Yuma Sugawara..."

"Sigh... If you don't agree, I'm probably going to get fired by the president. I'm already in my thirties, if I lose my job now, I most probably won't be able to find another one. If I don't have a job, Yuki will have to live on the streets with me... Sigh, and your poor four-year-old nephew..."

Ono Nakamura was speechless.

Finally, Ono Nakamura ended up giving in to the plan. He could only silently hope that his father would never find out about this matter.

10 minutes later, Muraoka Hiroshi stood underneath the enormous exhibition stage, taking in the view of an ocean of people underneath him. He thought to himself, "The Sword Saga" sure has an astounding level of popularity, I can't be the one to destroy its reputation and let down all these people.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the comic exhibition held by the Seiki Association..." Although Muraoka Hiroshi talked on and on, his voice was just the right pace, not too quick or too slow. This had successfully attracted a sea of people to him.

Of course, the main reason was due to the large banner extending across the exhibition stage.

Peak Kendo Showdown! Winners will receive a prize of 150,000 yen. It read.

The banner had just been hung up, so a handful of curious people directly moved over to have a look at it right after spotting it. It was rare for a Kendo competition to be held at a comic exhibition.

"...As you already know, 'The Sword Saga' describes a light novel set in a war era, about how each of the valuable weapons was passed down to modern times, where they became human bodies with the help of magical powers, who then declared war on each other in the city. All the weapons held different beliefs in faith - some fought for the people, some fought for their organization, while others fought for their beliefs... This is the exact reason behind the success of 'The Sword Saga.'

"Now, the Seiki Association is working on the production of the animated version of 'The Sword Saga,' and it will be released to the public in July. This time's comic exhibition is to promote the pre-release, so we also managed to invite Ono Nakamura, who had proudly secured the eighth position in the under-18 category in last year's Asahi Kendo Competition. He will serve as the master of the ring, and you all shall be the challengers. Whoever defeats Ono Nakamura on stage will receive a prize of 150,000 yen!"

Following closely after the last syllable of Muraoka Hiroshi's lengthy speech, Ono Nakamura swiftly climbed onto the stage.

"Is... he cosplaying Muramasa?"

"He looks exactly like him, and he's so handsome!"

"I give this cosplay full marks. The host said he has a rank in some kendo competition?"

"Seems like this trip was worth it!"

It was undeniable that Ono Nakamura upheld the incredible image. Donning a black and white kendo uniform, with its full sleeves swaying elegantly behind him with his every move, he had on a high-quality wig, its silky black hair flowed and hung delicately just below his broad shoulders. Bamboo sword in hand, he easily emitted a warm, gentlemanly, jade-like vibe by merely standing at the center of the exhibition stage.

But because Sengo Muramasa was symbolized as "bad luck," Ono Nakamura's vibes topped with the infamous reputation of Sengo perfectly pulled off the contradictory sensation of Muramasa in the novel.

In a fleeting moment, camera shutters sounded throughout the room. Some teenage girls were heard squealing, obviously lost in Ono Nakamura's hotness.

Watching from aside, Muraoka Hiroshi brought the microphone to his lips. Voice trembling with evident excitement, he began, "So... who wants to be the first to come on stage for the challenge?"

Muraoka Hiroshi had barely finished speaking...

"I will."