NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Samurai Meets Adventurers
Kurosu, having annihilated the village, retrieved the hidden sword he had stashed away and returned to the place where he had struck down the initial five victims.
Even if they were bandits, they deserved peace in death. With that thought, he made several trips to gather their bodies and carry them back to the village. Using deer antler-like objects scavenged from the village materials, he dug graves and carefully cleaned the severed heads of the victims with bamboo-cylinder water before cremating them with respect.
He gathered the corpses of the bandits, burned them, and constructed modest graves in their honor. Though they were merely large rocks found nearby, this was the best he could do for them now.
Though they were strangers, he silently prayed for their souls to rest in peace, closing his eyes and clasping his hands together in front of the lined-up stones.
“Hmph…”
Exhaling with fatigue, he slapped his soil-covered kimono clean with his hands. His disheveled hair clung to his forehead like seaweed, slick with sweat, causing a slight wrinkle of discomfort to form on his brow.
There was no water source nearby, and he had already used up the water from his bamboo cylinder, so there was nothing he could do about his desire for a bath. He resolved in his heart to head to a hot spring as soon as he exited the forest, placing his hands on his hips and gazing at the crimson sky.
“The sun will be setting soon.”
Due to the significant time he took transporting the bodies, he hadn’t noticed how late it had become. He wanted to find a place to rest and recuperate from his weariness, but it wasn’t safe within the village. The area was drenched in blood from his rampage, which could attract beasts, and there was also a chance that villagers who had wandered off might return unexpectedly.
Kurosu glanced around and spotted a magnificent tree that would likely be revered as a sacred tree in a shrine—it stood tall and grand.
Years ago, while camping in the mountains, he had been surrounded by a pack of wild dogs and suffered greatly. In such places, he preferred to sleep at a height for safety. Though it was no plush bed, it was far preferable to the risk of being startled awake by an attack. Additionally, this tree would allow him a view over the village, offering a good position to guard against nocturnal assaults.
With practiced ease, he scaled the giant tree and straddled a thick, stable branch, resting his back against the trunk. Securing himself to the tree with a rope he had, he managed to rest well enough.
…
The chirping of birds, particularly loud and persistent, woke him up, and he silently lowered his gaze.
Upon climbing last night, he hadn’t noticed a bird’s nest on the branch just below him. The mother bird was fiercely warning him off, trying to protect her chicks.
…
Feeling the typical irritation of being awakened by someone else, Kurosu briefly entertained the idea of making them into a dish but found it absurd to start the day by shouting angrily at birds, even in jest.
Though lingering sleep still clung to the back of his head, the urge to stretch his body on the ground overcame the drowsiness. As he descended the tree, the morning sun warmed his cheeks, and he narrowed his eyes in content. His back and buttocks ached from spending the night on the hard branch.
The night had passed quietly without any attacks. Although it hadn’t been the most restful of sleeps, it was more than he expected.
After warming up with a few deep stretches, raising his arms high to loosen up his stiff muscles, he proceeded with his morning routine of practicing sword swings, slowly warming up his groggy body. Checking his body carefully while wielding his sword and confident he found no abnormalities, he slid his satisfied sword back into its scabbard. He hadn’t sustained a single scratch in yesterday’s battle, but this had become a habit from childhood, ingrained so deeply that a day didn’t feel like it had begun without it.
As the surroundings had brightened well enough, Kurosu decided to survey the village dwellings. Although he had to pinch his nose at the stench of leftover food swarming with flies and scattered excrement, he thought there might be some relics of the victims that could be salvaged.
Perhaps something that indicated their identity could be returned to their families. For some time, he searched the dwellings, uncovering a few items. While wolfing down grilled snake skewers left harmless overnight, he began to carefully inspect the objects he had found.
First was a small leather bag filled with coins. Jangling with numerous coins inside, Kurosu noticed three distinct designs among them upon closer inspection. Each depicted a beautiful woman who seemed to be the same person, but their poses varied—a frontal view, a profile, and a silhouette with the face hidden.
He had never seen coins with such intricate designs. Although it was unlikely that bandits would have created such a precise currency as a joke, Kurosu, not one to fuss over money, hadn’t even fully grasped the current circulating currencies. He simply assumed these might be ancient coins from before his time or newly minted coins issued by the authorities without his knowledge.
Next, there were five simple necklaces, each made of iron plates tied with leather cords. They all appeared cheaply made, but the engravings on the iron plates varied.
Though they appeared to be random symbols, considering they had been worn as decoration, they could signify something significant, perhaps akin to a family crest or a signature.
Kurosu himself had inherited one of these complex signatures from his ancestors, which he still occasionally wrote incorrectly despite his familiarity. Thus, when verifying documents, he always included his real name.
In any case, perhaps these items might identify the victims.
Once Kurosu had finished his meal, he stored the relics, strapped on the sword he had taken from a large man, and pondered his next destination.
“Hmm, what should I do?”
There were no horses in the village, but since the bandits had established themselves here, there ought to be a hunting ground or a nearby village accessible on foot.
Examining the footprints, he chose the direction that showed the most human traffic and set out.
…
“AAAAAHHHHH!!”
“Hey!”
“Let’s retreat… now!”
After leaving the village and walking leisurely through the forest for a bit, Kurosu heard the sounds of what appeared to be a human altercation from far away. Though faint from this distance, it sounded as though they were speaking an understandable language.
Filling with anticipation of finally encountering regular people, Kurosu crept forward silently.
…
“Damn it, the skin is too thick! The arrows aren’t piercing!”
“Mauro, keep the distraction going! Barth and I will handle the attacks! Pamela, fire the cannon as soon as you’re ready!”
“It’s all up to your magic! It’s all on you!”
Peering through the bushes, Kurosu observed a desperate group of four battling something. The scene was unclear at first glance. Surprisingly, among the group were women, children, and elderly people. Though all were armed, it was uncertain what kind of group they were.
But more importantly…
“What is that?”
Kurosu’s eyes were transfixed on the group’s opponent.
It was immense.
Clearly beyond the scope of ordinary humans.
Even the imposing swordsman they faced looked tiny compared to their adversary, who was probably twice his height. The bulky giant’s body, resembling that of a sumo wrestler, was covered in grotesque blemishes. Though adorned with animal skins, the overwhelming stench was practically palpable even from here. The grotesque visage of this inhuman giant grinned with a sinister smile as it effortlessly swung around a log roughly the length of a human.
A giant…?
A demon or similar creature?
As Kurosu watched intently, the swordsman giving orders was flung away. Though his round shield on his left arm had deflected the blow, the landing had been rough.
Conscious, but he’s done for.
This left only a woman, child, and an elderly person. Kurosu, involuntarily leaning forward, accidentally made a sound.
The child wielding a bow noticed him.
“Hey! You there, are you an adventurer?”
“Adventurer or not, I’m just a wandering samurai passing through.”
“So you can fight!? Please, help us!”
…What should I do?
Truthfully, he wanted to fight. In fact, he almost wished someone would take his place. But as a samurai, interfering in others’ battles would be cowardly.
No, wait. If this giant is indeed a monster and those children are being attacked…
“One question. What is that thing?”
“A giant! The upper-level monster of the forest. We’re short on frontline fighters!”
“Monster,” monster, he says.
Ah, so it’s a monster after all.
“I’ll assist. Shield bearer, switch places with me.”
“Thank you, we’re saved!”
Kurosu exchanged places with the elder holding the large shield and stood in front of the giant.
Up close, it was literally towering. There was no comparison among the foes he had faced before.
—Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve encountered an opponent who’s so thrilling before we even start fighting…
Resisting the urge to grin while drawing the sword he had acquired in the village instead of his favored blade, Kurosu anticipated the thrill of his first demon extermination and the return of a powerful opponent.
Though he had no desire to toy with his enemies, Kurosu found himself famished for battle.
The giant lacked advanced swordsmanship, only swinging its log around. Still, its sheer strength was astonishing. Wanting to test its power, Kurosu stepped into its reach as the giant raised the log overhead, positioning his sword above his head with his left hand on the blade to support it.
“Hey! Get out of the way! You’ll get crushed!!”
Despite the shouts from the child archer, the others had faded from Kurosu’s mind. All he desired was to savor the excitement for a while longer.
In the next instant—a thunderous crash shook the ground where his raised arms intercepted the blow.
“Haha, incredible! Such raw power is the first I’ve ever felt!”
His arms tingled with the impact, and his spine groaned under the pressure. Even a renowned swordsman of “unmatched force” couldn’t compare to this.
Worthy of the title “Golden Strength.” Absolutely splendid…
Kurosu felt as if his pores were bursting with excitement, involuntarily breaking into a grin.
“Someone held up the giant’s attack…!?”
Recognizing the improvised sword was bent, he hurled it toward the giant’s face.
“UUUUGGHHHH…!”
Indeed, testing its strength with this weapon was the correct choice. Any attack like that would have easily shattered the sword he had cherished for ten years.
Next, let’s test its durability.
While observing from the shadows, Kurosu noticed the giant’s skin repelled both swords and arrows like armor.
Will my blade withstand?
Please, endure it…
The giant, having dropped its log, now covered its face with both hands, groaning from where the sword had struck it—leaving its torso exposed.
In an instant dash, Kurosu unleashed his full power with a horizontal slash, targeting the giant’s exposed side.
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