Chapter 83: Full of Grinding and Spending
Yagyū Simozi opened her eyes groggily. Her first reaction was to touch her own face, then she checked her hands, feet, abdomen, and even pinched her ears to make sure they were all intact. Only then did she feel relieved.
Not long ago, she still remembered that her body was missing many crucial parts, with several holes added, as if she was a Gundam model that had been tinkered with by a mischievous child.
She hastily looked around and realized that she was lying on the grass mat at the starting point, with the elderly man who called himself Saizō by her side.
"How long have I been unconscious?" she inquired.
"Ten minutes," Saizō replied nonchalantly.
"I wonder how I managed to come out?" she gazed at the nearby iron Rashōmon gate, which was tightly closed. How did she leave? She still remembered being suddenly attacked from behind by someone, resulting in a severe injury, and then losing consciousness.
Saizō didn't respond.
"Could it be that I died?" Yagyū Simozi thought to herself, just like in a game, when a character dies, they respawn.
"If you were dead, you wouldn't be here," Saizō replied nonchalantly.
"Likewise," the girl muttered, "It seems that wounds can heal rapidly outside. I've been killing in Rashōmon for I don't know how long, slaying countless monsters… with no end in sight," she said wearily.
"There is no end in Rashomon, where there are eight million evil demons."
"I have chopped down at least a thousand of them."
"You have chopped down one hundred and eighty-one," Saizō said expressionlessly, "sustaining for three hours and five minutes, during which forty-five minutes were spent resting under the puppet's protection."
Yagyū Simozi tilted her head and exclaimed, "How do you know all this in such detail!"
She continued to shout, "I distinctly feel like a long time has passed, how is it possible that it's only been three hours?"
Saizō's voice became hoarse as he said, "Engaging in endless battle with creatures in the darkness, it is already a great challenge, making it difficult to perceive the normal passage of time. Being able to endure for three hours, you have already accomplished…"
Yagyū Simozi also thought about it and felt good about herself, saying, "It's not bad for the first time, lasting three hours."
"It's already an extremely ridiculous and pitiful level," Saizō's tone changed, he disdainfully snorted and said, "With your meager skills, it's better for you not to challenge RashoMon. Go back where you came from and continue playing with your make-believe swordsmanship."
A girl's eyebrows furrowed as she pointed her sword at the old man, angrily saying, "Say it again! Make-believe swordsmanship? The Yagyū family's swordsmanship is an ancient style of lethal swordsmanship!"
"Ha, indeed this swordsmanship is of ancient lineage, but you are not." Saizō ridiculed, "Your skill level is not even worth one-tenth of our predecessors. In your hands, this blade is nothing but gathering dust."
Yagyū Simozi gritted her teeth, filled with anger, but still had to maintain composure.
However, the old man's following sentence made her forget her anger in an instant.
"With a score of just over a hundred, you can't even afford the cheapest sword technique from me."
"Buy… sword techniques?" Yagyū Simozi's initial reaction was a game store.
In this world, at least there are NES games like Super Mario and Dragon Quest that can be played. She had been exposed to such games because of her older brother.
As Saizō waved his hand, lines of text instantly appeared before Yagyū Simozi's eyes.
Translation:
'Wolf Fang Thrust'… 300 points; 'Surging Wave Seven Flash Blades'… 900 points; 'Tide Breathing Technique'… 3000 points
A multitude of sword techniques were listed in rows, with an abundant quantity of at least thirty to forty.
It was indeed a skill shop, and she noticed that she now had more than one hundred and eighty points.
Yagyū Simozi wasn't angry at that moment, who would be upset with a shop NPC?
Even if he has a foul tongue and a toxic personality, he still deserves to be tolerated until the game ends.
Yagyū Simozi curiously asked, "Can these sword techniques really be purchased? And once purchased, can they be used?"
Saizō couldn't be bothered to explain, "Once you acquire enough points and make the purchase, it will become clear."
"Excellent!" Simozi immediately caught fire with enthusiasm. It turned out to be a game, where one can continuously grow stronger by constantly battling enemies. Every time RashoMon is cleared, I can become even more powerful! I will dominate this!
Saizō reminded, "You still have one more chance."
"!" Yagyū Simozi exclaimed in astonishment, "Isn't it supposed to be limitless?"
It has turned into such a game, and now there's even a stamina restriction?
"Very soon you'll understand why," Saizō refused to disclose too much.
Yagyū Simozi, although puzzled, also accepted this setting. At the beginning of the game, characters start at a low level, so naturally, there are many limitations.
She was optimistic about this matter as becoming stronger was only a matter of time.
Immediately, she strode confidently towards the direction of the iron gate, her steps swift and purposeful, and once again found herself standing before the puppet.
However, this time the puppet was not fitted with a sword. It maintained a standing posture, motionless, exuding a strong sense of oppression.
Upon seeing him, Yagyū Simozi felt considerably relieved. If it weren't for the puppets, she doubted she could have endured even half of the three-hour battle.
She gently tapped the puppet's arm and said, "Let's go, continue the…"
Just as she was about to speak, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew towards her, and the puppet swung its heavy sword, aiming to strike at her position.
Yagyū Simozi quickly parried with her side blade, causing her shoulder to be directly bruised. She winced in pain as she moved back, saying, "What's going on? Why did the puppet… malfunction?"
She couldn't comprehend, yet the puppet's movements didn't cease, but continued to operate with a thunderous roar, making swift strides towards her. Even the facial mask contorted, transforming from a fox-like visage to a beastly set of fangs and sharp teeth.
Upon facing the puppet, Yagyū Simozi only then realized the terrifying strength of this puppet, with boundless power and swift movements, undeterred by pain. Each move was executed with great openness and coordination, yet there were remarkably few flaws, making it impossible to find any openings.
Yagyū Simozi took a daring gamble, stepping back and spinning around, her sharp blade slicing into the puppet's raised arm and armpit. However, in the blink of an eye, with a skillful spin, she adeptly evaded the trajectory of this strike, displaying a nimble maneuver reminiscent of the avoidance technique employed by wandering swordsmen… It was the very technique of evasive counter she had yet to master!
The puppet wielded a heavy sword, yet managed to execute agile moves of evasive counter, following up with a powerful backswing. Although it missed its target, the impact was so forceful that it cracked the ground. The girl, destabilized by the attack, lost her balance and was swiftly charged at. Her feet left the ground as she was sent flying five meters away, immediately falling into unconsciousness.
Ten minutes later, a revived Yagyū Simozi stared at Saizō with wide eyes and exclaimed, "What's the deal with that puppet? Did it malfunction after just one use?"
The old man sneered, "Do you truly believe that you can safely walk out of RashoMon without paying any price?"
Yagyū Simozi suppressed her displeasure and inquired, "Then, what is the price?"
"The price is the contamination of the puppet. It is no longer usable, it has gone insane. You must destroy it," Saizō said, his mocking tone faded, his voice low. "He ensured your safe passage, but you must destroy it, otherwise you cannot enter RashoMon."
"But if we destroy it, wouldn't that be…"
"Yes, you can only enter RashoMon alone this time… If you were to die inside, no one would bring you out!"
"So, I can only go in one more time."
"Yes."
"If I die inside RashoMon."
"This will be the end this time."
Yagyū Simozi gritted her teeth, gripped Tengu Cut, feeling very uncomfortable, carrying a sense of guilt and reluctance to part with the puppet. She challenged RashoMon alone, and she truly doubted if she could endure for three hours.
"I…"
"You better not say things like wanting to flee in the midst of battle," Saizō said coldly. "The puppet was contaminated in order to ensure your safety, so it's your responsibility to clean it up! That is the most fundamental bottom line."
"I understand," she lowered her head.
"Remember, the puppet's weakness lies in its heart. Stab it with a sword! It will cease to function… just like…"
"Just like?"
"Just as you pull out this sword."
…
Yagyū Simozi, known as Yagyū Simozi, has defeated the puppet, discovered its weakness, and making several attempts was not considered difficult.
In reality, it is still somewhat challenging, but as long as the number of attempts is extended to dozens of times, her chances of winning will gradually increase, ensuring success at least once.
She pierced the puppet's chest with the sword, and at first, the blood flowing out of its heart was dark greenish-black, gradually transforming into a vivid red.
The puppet remained motionless, kneeling on one knee, with its head lowered, just as it was when first encountered.
She suddenly felt an indescribable sadness, yet she managed to dispel this emotion, drew her sword, and proceeded towards Rashomon.
The challenge at Rashomon ended swiftly, just as she had envisioned.
Indeed, she couldn't hold on for an entire hour.
After losing consciousness within Rashomon, she awakened in reality, feeling inexplicably exhausted throughout her entire body, and the time had advanced to one o'clock in the afternoon.
She wondered why her older brother hadn't called her for lunch. When she found Bai Wei, he was sitting in the tea room, his gaze distant, lost in thought.
"Brother?"
"Shhh… I am pondering a matter of great importance. Please don't disturb me," Bai Wei said, his gaze vacant.
"What question?" Yagyū Simozi asked cautiously after waiting for a while.
"What is the true identity of my first love? Is it Ayanami Rei or Tohsaka Rin?"
PS1: Volume 11 has been translated and published on Amazon (https://amzn.to/49WRQAB).
PS2: Volume 12 will be translated within 10 days.
