Volume 2 Chapter 5: Words of the Master

Viscount Razel's territory.

Yasushi was currently there.

Liam's sword master had come here after hearing that they were hiring people for work in the mines.

He was the founder of the great swordsmanship style of the One-Flash, but he was no big deal.

"Damn it. What do you mean you can't hire me because I don't have the license to handle heavy machinery? I've ridden on mobile knights before, even if I only boarded them."

He was originally just a street performer, but after his friend asked him for a favour, he became Liam's teacher.

Soon after, his disciple quickly grew into a first-class swordsman.

Yasushi didn't understand how either.

In the end, fearing that Liam would discover the truth and kill him, Yasushi had fled as far away as he could.

Which eventually led to his current situation of wobbly walking around while broke.

He was now sloppily looking for a day job.

"Even if I show off my performance, nobody takes interest and hires me..."

Unsteadily, he drudged his way through the entertainment district.

He didn't have enough money to continue drinking.

And yet, he still found himself walking through there.

He had already sold his sword, so he didn't have anything that had monetary value anymore.

"Anybody is fine, can somebody give me more alcohol~"

As he bumbled on, his shoulder collided with one of the thugs that were walking by him.

"The hell, watch where you're walking!"

"Its hurts! Oh, the pain!"

"Are you okay?! -When you hurt my little brother, don't think you can get off scot-free!"

He ended up getting involved with some bad people.

The surroundings seemed to be saying "Wow, again?", and coldly continued on their business as to not get involved.

Yasushi was surrounded by three people with no chance of escape.

"But I only lightly bumped into you!"

He tried to resist, but there was no chance while he was outnumbered.

"Is that all that you have to say?! I guess this means that you're blind, too!"

"We should bring him over to an unlicensed doctor and sell off his organs."

"That sounds great!"

There was no point in talking.

Yasushi was praying to the heavens for a miracle.

(Somebody please help me!)

Almost immediately after, the surroundings started to break out into a commotion.

The three thugs ignored it though and continued talking to Yasushi.

"We'll beat you down while everyone-"

But-

"While everyone- what? Don't just stop there, finish your sentence."

As Yasushi turned his gaze to behind the three thugs, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

He was taller than the last time he had seen him.

However, he was the one person that he absolutely didn't want to meet.

(Oh god, not him. Anybody but him!)

Looking behind the three thugs, there was Liam standing there.

He was holding a weapon in his right hand.

It was a laser blade, a weapon designed to be convenient to carry.

Seeing such a Liam, the three started to reach for their handguns.

"You're just a brat! Who the hell do you think you are to take that tone wi-"

The head of the man who spoke was sliced off.

Witnessing such a sight, Yasushi felt his spine freeze solid.

(T-this guy... he reproduced my trick as an actual technique.)

He felt like the technique was even stronger than the last time he saw it.

Yasushi couldn't even see what happened, but he understood that Liam had grown unimaginably strong.

—All of his instincts were screaming that he should never fight such a person.

He had to run away, but the place he was standing at was right in front of Liam.

(Ahh... it's over.)

Yasushi felt that his life was over, turning in fear to watch what was about to transpire.

The thugs had faces on that said they didn't even know what had just happened.

As Liam approached with weapon in hand, the two suddenly burst like bloody water balloons and fell down.

The surroundings were frozen in shock, unable to comprehend what had just occurred.

As the smell of blood permeated through the air- Liam,

"Stay out of my way. Hey old man, are you involved with the-"

Liam didn't know it was Yasushi.

But after seeing his face, he immediately genuflected onto the ground and lowered his head.

"M-master! P-please excuse my rude behavior!"

Looking at Liam who had hurriedly bowed his head, Yasushi was at his limit.

In stark contrast to the image he was showing off before, he started talking to Liam with a dignified attitude.

"You look like you're doing fine."

"Uh, yes. U-um... what are you doing here?"

What response would be appropriate?

The worst-case scenario would be to tell Liam his current whereabouts.

That was something he absolutely had to avoid.

"Traveling... Yes, I'm traveling."

"You've been traveling? Oh, but why are you in a place like this without a sword? I know there's no need to be worried about you, but Master, wouldn't it be better to carry a weapon?"

Yasushi thought,

('I sold it because I didn't have any money!'- As if I could tell you that!)

"Without a weapon, I decided to travel with only the clothes on my back."

"Why?"

(Why?! There is no reason why!)

"...I'm looking for a new disciple."

Taking a glance at Liam, he said the first thing that he thought of.

Liam smiled,

"If that's the case, then I'll prepare a training hall in my territory immediately. You'll be able to concentrate on fostering the future generations, and I'll be happy knowing that I was able to help fulfill the wishes of my master."

"No, that's no good."

"Huh?"

Liam's face seemed to say, "Why not?"

(AHHHHHH!!! My head's spinning in circles here to think of a good excuse!)

Yasushi decided to just wing it and told Liam his reason,

"It's true that I'm looking for a disciple, but I'm not looking for just anyone. I'm looking for a disciple that can complete the One-Flash style."

"Complete it? No, wasn't the One-Flash already completed?"

"You're wrong!"

As he strongly denied it, Yasushi's mind was racing.

Liam, who was yelled at by Yasushi, closed his mouth and eagerly waited for the next words.

"There is no ending on the path of martial arts."

"-Master, I'm sorry. I was being stupid, but couldn't you find a disciple in my territory?"

"I'm looking for someone that can complete the true One-Flash style. Liam, you are one of those possibilities, but that's not enough. I'm looking for at least two more disciples like you."

(What the hell am I saying?! He was asking me about why I couldn't stay in his territory. This is bad. I need to follow up!)

Yasushi's brain was spinning,

"-Liam, the One-Flash style I use and the one that you use are different. New possibilities won't be found in nearby places."

"I-I see... but even so, Master, why didn't you tell me about this?"

"This isn't just my problem alone. Liam, the moment you received your license, you were given the obligation to connect the One-Flash style inside of you to the next generation. Or are you telling me that you never intended to take disciples in the first place?"

Liam's gaze started to swim.

It looks like he never thought about taking disciples.

(Ah, I got it! If I tell him that he needs to find disciples, he'll focus all his attention on them instead of myself!)

"Liam, try to have at least three disciples. Not everyone you entrust your sword to will necessarily become a swordsman, but I want you to convey the One-Flash to more people. You're already fine the way your are. In my eyes, you're already a splendid sword master."

"Master, forgive me... I was wrong."

Even though Yasushi was only thinking of himself, Liam still seemed quite impressed.

(This is all a lie, but it looks like its working. I want to run away, but I can't leave this planet because I don't have any money. Damn, how am I supposed to get the funds now?!)

That's when Liam started talking,

"With that said, I can't just ignore Master's current appearance as your disciple. It's only a small amount, but I'll give you some money for your travels."

"Is that so? I'm grateful."

(I did it! I can get away like this!)

Liam started digitally wiring the money to Yasushi's terminal.

Seeing the amount, Yasushi's eyes went bloodshot.

(Eh?! What the hell is with this amount?! The number of zeros here is amazing!)

After having been given an incredible amount of money, Yasushi desperately tried his best to hide his inner turmoil.

All while thinking about how he was going to leave this territory immediately.

◇ ◇ ◇

I saw off Master while contemplating my new goals.

"Three disciples... I guess I need to take some too. That said, not just anyone will work..."

I have to work hard to spread the name of the One-Flash.

In the first place, should I open up a training hall in my territory?

However, there wasn't anyone capable of teaching the One-Flash over there.

As I was the only one taught it, I didn't have anyone I could hire as its instructor.

There were only instructors of the major swordsmanship disciplines available.

"As I thought, it's no good to only be thinking of myself. Master's words sure do have a lot of weight to them. I need to make sure to learn from him."

Even though he was surrounded by thugs while unarmed, he had taken an attitude that said he didn't even care.

Is that not how a person of true strength should act?

I was aiming to become an evil lord, but I still wanted to follow the same path as Master.

"What are you muttering to yourself about?"

The instructor knight had come to get me, who had tried to escape from the prison known as the viscount's house.

It looks like it's impossible to play around in the city.

"You came here for training, so why exactly are you running around and causing trouble?"

"I'm sorry."

When I left the mansion with my upperclassmen to play around the entertainment district- I got lost.

Then thugs had suddenly appeared before me while I was in a bad mood.

I hated people like them.

They were the kind of people who ended up being debt-collectors.

In dramas and movies, they'd secretly be kind, but the truth wasn't like that at all.

"Well, I can understand your feelings though."

The knight looked at me and smiled,

"When I looked into them, they seemed to have quite the infamous reputation. It really makes me wonder how they haven't been arrested yet."

It looks like they were actually pretty bad guys.

Well, I guess it doesn't matter anymore.

I had needlessly meddled in something I shouldn't have.

After all, Master was there. Maybe nobody would've died if I hadn't stepped in.

"Even Lord Randolph needs breaks, so it's fine to let off steam once in a while."

"I'll do that."

As I thought about the various ways for me to gain disciples, I felt strangely happy.

◇ ◇ ◇

The Razel territory was actually the main base for a band of pirates.

They were angry that three of their companions were killed.

-The ones that Liam had just killed.

"Boss, we aren't going to stay silent about this, are we?!"

"-you're really stupid, aren't you? Of course we'll be doing it, and we're going to thoroughly crush the offender."

The pirate group was the largest one in the Razel house's territory.

"Apparently the other party is a nobleman. A child that had come to the Razel house for training."

"What I'm most afraid of is the lack of information. Of course, it'd be easy to just kill him, but is there anyway for us to look into his background?"

One of the subordinates had raised their hand,

"Recently, there's been a VIP frequenting our casino. He's the heir to the Peetak Count house, but he owes us a considerable debt. We might be able to use him."

"Yeah, that sounds fine. Alcohol, women, money- use anything to gather information on the fool who messed with us. We always get our revenge."

First, they needed to gather information on their opponent as a precaution.

"We'll make that noble brat regret ever getting involved with us."

The pirates laughed and smiled as they swore revenge on Liam.

◇ ◇ ◇

The territory of Viscount Razel.

It was a place that he usually didn't go to, but Thomas had arrived there to conduct business.

"Lord Liam's name doesn't seem to have any effect on the pirates here..."

In the territory ruled by Liam and its nearby vicinity, pirates hardly ever appeared.

However, things seemed to be different in the Razel house's territory.

One of his subordinates gave a report,

"We were able to get through by paying the toll, but isn't the timing of all of this suspicious? Could it be that they actually have a connection with the Viscount?"

Thomas also felt this,

"I know, but we couldn't really ask Lord Liam to prepare bodyguards this time. If you consider the profits, we'd be in the red with the escort costs. "

It'd be nice if they could see him at the Razel house's spaceport, but they were on a schedule and had to leave as soon as business was finished.

"I wanted to say hello to Lord Liam, but it looks like it's impossible at the moment."

The subordinate exhaled a sigh,

"Even once we finish the deal, we'll barely be making a profit. I don't really like places like this, which seem to have strong connections to pirates."

The pirates demanded tolls that changed depending on how successful the merchant seemed to be.

They were amounts that were just barely tolerable.

"I heard that the Viscount was quite the reputable lord, but is that true?"

Thomas was worried that Liam would be corrupted in the ways of the Razel house.