Chapter 102: The Hero of The Principality
At the very outset, Hero Kagetora unleashed an enormous spell.
Gogogogogogo.
A colossal meteor bore down upon the grassy plain, its vast shadow swallowing the earth below.
(The Hero who defeated the Demon King and saved the world. Though he has only just been summoned… his power is indeed not to be underestimated. However…)
“It is a reckless spell, riddled with openings.”
Until the moment of impact, the Hero stood completely unarmed. And more than that—when such a meteor struck the plain, it was doubtful in the extreme that the Hero himself could withstand the shockwave.
Ryoma closed the distance in an instant, intending to cut him down—
“…Hm?”
His blade halted against an invisible barrier.
“Ah, you finally noticed? That is my magic—Absolute Defense Barrier.”
“Absolute Defense Barrier…?”
“The strongest defensive spell that cannot be broken. Incidentally, it is deployed in a spherical shape centered around us, so going around it would be pointless.”
“I see… Then I shall retract my earlier remark about it being reckless.”
“How honest of you.”
(They say his swordsmanship is unparalleled… It would be a waste to kill him… Ah, I know.)
The Hero took a breath.
“If you acknowledge defeat now, I shall take you as my subordinate. What do you say? A tempting offer, is it not?”
With that, he halted the meteor midair.
Ryoma stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“Hmmm… that is a difficult choice.”
“H-Hey, Ryoma! If you serve under anyone other than Itagaki, I’ll never forgive you!!!”
Hijikata shouted from within the barrier.
But—
“Serve under? Whatever are you talking about?”
“Huh? You just said you were hesitating!”
“Ahh. I am hesitating over how best to deal with the meteor. Whether to divert it beyond the plain… or to cleave it apart.”
The two men stared at him in stunned silence.
“Cleave it…? Surely I misheard…”
“Ryoma… you’ve got to be kidding me…”
“As you can see, I can control the meteor. No matter where you flee, it is futile. I will pursue you to the ends of hell.”
The Hero resumed its descent.
“Then I shall cut it.”
In the next instant, Ryoma vanished.
“Eh…?”
“Look up, Hero.”
There, directly beneath the falling meteor—
Ryoma poised his blade.
(Hmm. Simply splitting it in two would still send shockwaves toward Edo. In that case…)
His sword flashed, faster than the eye could follow, releasing thousands upon thousands of slashes.
The enormous meteor, once so overwhelming in size, was shredded into fragments midair.
It disintegrated into countless pebbles that rained harmlessly upon the plain.
The Hero and Hijikata could only stand there, frozen.
“So this is Hinomaru’s greatest master swordsman… Sakamoto Ryoma…”
“Ryoma… you’ve got to be kidding me…!”
Ryoma landed lightly.
“To think you believed you could claim dominion over the world with something as trivial as a meteor… The absurdity borders on comedy. You would do well not to underestimate samurai.”
“Damn it…”
“Hey, Hero! Drop the barrier and let me out! Let me fight Ryoma!”
“No. Even you would stand no chance against that monster.”
“This isn’t about chances!”
To be granted the opportunity to challenge the strong—such an act was the highest honor for a warrior.
For Hijikata, who for too long had faced only those beneath him, it was everything.
But that was something the Hero, who had come from beyond Hinomaru, could never understand.
A brief explanation of Kagetora is in order.
The Hero Summoning Spell can ordinarily call forth multiple heroes, each inexplicably granted a single unique magic.
Yet The Principality succeeded in summoning only Kagetora.
In exchange, he received two spells: “Meteor Magic” and “Absolute Defense Magic.”
Shield himself with invincible protection, then rain meteors from above.
With that alone, he could annihilate a thousand foes.
The Principality rejoiced at this obvious, devastating combination.
And so did Kagetora.
(It’s like being a walking nuclear weapon! I’m the strongest! Being transported to another world is the best!)
Among humanity, he was undoubtedly one of the strongest.
Delighted, he had eagerly accepted the Hinomaru mission, arriving with little more than lighthearted confidence.
However…
There exist beings in this world that defy the common sense and rules of mankind.
Kagetora trembled before the monster standing before him.
(They never told me someone like this existed…! But as long as Absolute Defense stands, I’m safe. I just need to calm down.)
He drew in a deep breath.
“Who bestowed upon it the name ‘Absolute Defense’?”
“…The captain of The Principality’s Mage Corps said, ‘This must be the legendary Absolute Defense Magic.’”
“I see. Then allow me to deny that legend.”
Unlike before, Ryoma poured every ounce of strength into a single, beautiful stroke.
──The so-called Absolute Defense Barrier split cleanly in two without a sound.
“T-That’s impossible…”
The Hero fell backward, despair washing across his face.
Ryoma advanced to deliver the finishing blow.
But Hijikata stepped between them.
“If you want to kill him, you’ll have to kill me first.”
“…………”
A grin tugged at Ryoma’s lips.
Steel rang out.
“Haaaaaah!!!”
Hijikata launched a ferocious assault, his strikes savage as a demon’s.
Yet Ryoma did not budge—not even a single step.
“Heh. Look, Hero. This is what you call ‘absolute defense.’”
After dozens of seconds of clashing blades, Hijikata felt nothing—no progress, no edge.
(He’s holding back…)
Joy at crossing swords with Ryoma mingled with frustration at failing to draw out his full strength, leaving him with a bitter smile.
“There’s no point dragging this out. It’s a bit early, but I’ll use my ultimate technique.”
“Very well. I shall receive it.”
“Heh. Let’s see that calm expression crumble.”
Hijikata’s aura shifted.
A demonic presence enveloped him.
“Genki-ryū Ultimate Art──Rasetsu Tenzan.”
“Then I as well… Rasetsu Tenzan.”
One must not forget—this man had mastered every school.
Their blades crossed—
—and Ryoma cleaved both sword and opponent in a single stroke.
“Gahhh!!!”
Hijikata’s chest split open in a dramatic spray. He staggered forward, collapsing against Ryoma.
“A blade worthy of the name ‘demon,’ Hijikata.”
“Heh… shut up… Just finish me already…”
His consciousness faded.
Ryoma gently lowered him to the ground.
“No. You are far too precious to die. Reflect, and begin anew. Should you wish to challenge me again, I shall accept anytime.”
If Chōshū had wished, they could have rained meteors upon Edo from the beginning.
Yet they had chosen to confront them head-on.
Ordinarily, sparing rebels would be folly—but perhaps this much mercy could be allowed.
“…But the Hero is another matter.”
During the duel, the Hero had abandoned Hijikata—who had shielded him—and fled.
Ryoma would never forgive one who abandoned comrades.
Such was the nature of a dragon… no, of a samurai.
Hero Kagetora ran through a nearby forest.
“Hah… hah…”
(I’m sorry, Hijikata-san, but my life comes first this time. That was the mission from the start.)
For The Principality, nothing would be worse than losing their Hero.
Thus their leaders had repeatedly ordered him: if your life is in danger, abandon Chōshū and Hizen and flee alone.
“I just had bad luck this time. When I get back, I’ll train my magic again…”
The words had barely left his lips when—
“…Eh?”
His vision flipped.
In his fading consciousness—
(He cut through the entire forest… along with me… you monster…)
“The Hero was hardly impressive.”
Ryoma turned on his heel.
“There is always someone stronger… Even I cannot defeat the true paragon. Whether one knows that or not makes all the difference in a warrior’s stature.”
Yawning, he made his way back toward Edo.
(I wonder what that rumored paragon is doing now…)
Result of the battle against the Hero──One Hero of The Principality, deceased.