Udanosuke and the others raced through the city streets.
The number of screams had decreased considerably.
This wasn’t because the enemy’s power had subsided, but because the number of living humanoids to scream was decreasing. At least, in Udanosuke’s vicinity.
However, this conversely worked to their advantage.
The undead seemed to be concentrating their attacks on areas where prey was plentiful, and weren’t lingering in areas that were “used up.” This uncanny, coordinated movement allowed Udanosuke to return almost without encountering any enemies.
Any undead they did meet were swiftly cut down by Udanosuke.
The citizens following behind bravely brandished weapons like iron pipes and shovels, but they had no chance to use them. Or rather, aside from the zombie like citizens that were also undead, it would be too dangerous to let them face undead who were former soldiers.
Naturally occurring undead weren’t very strong, but undead created by skilled spellcasters had the potential of the materials drawn out. In addition, there were cases where special powers were added on top of that.
Elite undead at least as strong as living soldiers. It was too dangerous to have non-combatants fight against such things.
“You’re amazing, Boss!”
“You’re really strong!”
Hearing the praise from behind, Udanosuke began to realize that this wasn’t so bad.
He had long forgotten about protecting someone. The only things Udanosuke protected were the evil organization, Night Python, and the rewards he received.
But didn’t his master say once? That being strong wasn’t enough to be Bushido! Protecting the weak. Viewing cherry blossoms. Committing seppuku. That’s what Bushido is!
The Bushido spirit he had almost forgotten burned in Udanosuke’s chest!
Udanosuke was just a little ways from the inn on the outskirts of town where he was hiding. From there, the surviving people accompanying him would be able to escape out of town.
Fortunately, it was still daytime. If they left now, they could escape to the next post town before nightfall.
“Adventurer! Behind you!”
A strained scream rang out, and Udanosuke turned around.
Far behind them, on the main street, a squad of undead had appeared and were running towards them.
“Keep running! If they catch up, I’ll take them on!”
“A-and in front of us too!”
“What!?”
Another squad of undead appeared from the intersection ahead.
It was clearly a pincer attack targeting Udanosuke and the others. Perhaps they were noticed because so many people were moving together.
The group halted.
“W-what should we do…”
“Wait. Conversing with unkempt hair is equivalent to harakiri.”
Udanosuke retied the dull-gold hair he had gathered high on the back of his head.
Translator’s Note
Harakiri or Seppuku refers to ritual suicide by samurai where they disembowel themselves. I don’t think Udanosuke has any idea what it means though.
While he did so, Udanosuke surveyed the surrounding terrain.
There were several places where they could cut through buildings and escape through back entrances. But they couldn’t win in terms of speed. They were a group that included elderly people, but the undead could run without tiring. If they slowed down or took too long to escape, reinforcements might arrive one after another.
–They shouldn’t run!
“Skeletons are fast and strong, but they have no intelligence! Zombies are also fools! The undead are probably fighting in small squads led by ghouls! If I cut down the ghouls, their coordination should be disrupted! We’ll run through in that gap!”
When he pointed forward with “Douchou Atsuryoku,” the citizens who were listening understandably stirred.
Translator’s Note
“Douchou Atsuryoku” seems to be a made-up term, likely a play on words combining “leadership” and “pressure” or “domination.”
“You mean we’re going through there!?”
“It’s dangerous to take our time. I will ensure your safety, so we’ll break through in one go!”
After a moment, the boy he had rescued first raised his voice.
“Let’s go! If the adventurer says so, it’ll be alright!”
And the others around him followed.
“Yeah! We’ll manage somehow!”
“Leave the old man to me, I’ll carry him!”
“I’ll show them what I’m made of with this iron bar and wooden board!”
“Hey, first let’s escape!”
“We’re entrusting our lives to you! Boss!”
As if pushed by those voices, Udanosuke dashed off like an Onbashira sliding down a mountainside.
Translator’s Note
Onbashira refers to huge logs that are felled from trees and rolled down a hill in a dangerous festival celebrating the Suwa Grand Shrine in Japan.
The ghouls seemed to be commanding the entire group from their rearmost position.
Considering the time it would take for the pursuers to catch up, Udanosuke first cut down the enemy vanguard, then aimed to break through by dodging the attacks in one go.
Spears and swords were closing in on Udanosuke. As if trying to carve him up to turn him into an undead comrade.
He jumped over them. He moved sideways. He parried. He crouched. He pushed them aside.
A blade he couldn’t avoid tore at his side. But he didn’t care.
The ghoul commander frantically turned their sword toward Udanosuke… but it was too late.
“HARA! KIRI! SMAAAAAAAAASH!!”
Udanosuke ran past and stopped on the spot, sheathing his sword with a bachin! sound.
“Slashing is permitted!”
The ghoul’s upper body was blown away.
At the same time, the surrounding undead slowed down. They sluggishly turned towards Udanosuke as if through inertia.
In that gap, the companions ran past the wall.
“It worked! That adventurer is amazing!”
“No need for thanks. Protecting the weak, especially cherishing boys, is a Bushido precept called Shudo!”
Translator’s Note
Shudo refers to the erotic relationship between a samurai and a young male trainee.
Udanosuke responded with a thumbs-up to the boy who was jumping up and down with joy.
Meanwhile, Udanosuke was still fighting the remaining undead. The squad that had attempted to strike from behind was also closing in.
“Everyone, you should escape first! I’ll take care of this!”
“No way! We’ll help you out!”
“If you do, we’ll have to fight and drive them away again when reinforcements come! It will be easier to flee alone!”
When Udanosuke said that, there was a bitter, frustrating silence.
“…Understood.”
“We can’t be a burden to you, Boss. Sorry, but we’re going on ahead.”
“Hey, adventurer, at least tell us your name! You must be an amazing warrior, a Fighter!”
As he left, the first boy called out regretfully.
Udanosuke smiled wryly.
“I am not worthy of giving my name. I am but a mere samurai. But I was moved by the soul of a samurai, and I have helped you all!
Remember this well. One who serves the ever-victorious war god, Daihonei! The noblest and strongest warrior in this world! This is a Samurai!”
It was completely parroted from his master, but Udanosuke felt like he understood its meaning now.
“Thank you, Samurai!”
“Thank you!”
“Stay safe!”
Saying their thanks in various ways, the companions escaped.
Udanosuke didn’t watch them go, but continued to fight.
Even elite undead were nothing to Udanosuke.
It was easy to annihilate the disorganized squad.
But there were many in the rear guard. About 50 undead citizens came with makeshift weapons.
–Their skills seem low… but with so many, a lucky hit is possible. I’ll defeat them while retreating!
Udanosuke began to fight while retreating so as not to be surrounded.
He wouldn’t lose in a one-on-one fight. If he repeated a one-on-one fight 50 times, he could defeat 50 undead.
This reminded him of the story of forced labor that he heard from his master, where stones are piled up on a riverbank in the Far East only to be kicked down.
–Calm down, Udanosuke…! Remember your training in the Holy Kingdom!
Those training days when I woke up before dawn every morning to prepare the dohyo! The training days when I wasn’t allowed to sleep until I moved a thousand beans from one Rokko Kiln to another with chopsticks!
Translator’s Note
Dohyo refers to a sumo wrestling ring. Rokko Kiln refers to a traditional style of Japanese pottery.
If he lost focus, he would be crushed by the overwhelming numbers.
But he couldn’t escape. Behind Udanosuke were those he had to protect…!
“Oh. There’s some fresh material here.”
A refreshing girl’s voice, unsuitable for the battlefield, could be heard.
The undead interrupted their combat and retreated, kneeling.
When Udanosuke looked up, he saw a girl standing on top of a building.
Or rather, could he really call someone a girl when they were holding their own head in one hand by the hair?
Beautiful silver hair and silver eyes. An innocent face with the air of a ruler. Adorning the pure white dress decorated with frills was a rose crest that seemed to be drawn with fresh blood.
In one hand she held her own head, and in the other she held a bright red sword that looked like it was carved out of jewels.
In the space created by the undead retreating, she jumped down with a thump (skillfully pressing down her skirt with the hand holding the sword).
–This young girl is…!!
Goosebumps stood on his skin from the terror.
From the extraordinary pressure and the evil presence alone, he knew that she was no ordinary person.
Besides, Udanosuke had heard about the commotion that had taken place in the capital.
Udanosuke held the katana in both hands as a shield and bowed exactly 30 degrees. There was a proper etiquette for samurai to observe towards nobles. Even if it was against an undead monster!
“Greetings, I am the swordsman and samurai, Udanosuke!”
“Oh, so you’re the last one here… Since you introduced yourself, I should return the favor. I am Renée “Rosy as a Rose” Luvia Ciel-Terra. One who is of the blood of the rightful king of this country.”
“I knew it!”
In many ways, he didn’t want it to be true.
He found it psychologically difficult to fight her… and from what he’d heard, he didn’t think he could win.
But even so, he had to stop her here. Now that the Knights had been annihilated, if there was anyone in this town who could stop the “Vengeful Rose Princess,” it was none other than Udanosuke!
“It is a disgrace for a samurai to lay hands on women and children, but such rampages are a nuisance to others! In other words, it is a Bushido target for subjugation!”
“From the looks of it, you’re confident in your swordsmanship. I’ll have you teach me a little.”
Renée thrust the red sword she was holding into the ground and reached out behind her.
One of the skeletons respectfully knelt and handed Renée the sword it had been using.
With a light ton, Renée closed the distance to Udanosuke in one breath.
Then, befitting her appearance, she wielded her sword as if dancing.
Renée’s sword drew a complex trajectory and launched a wave of attacks.
Sparks flew. The response had an unexpected weight for a child’s form.
But Udanosuke saw through it and accurately blocked it with his katana.
“Fast, strong, and beautiful! But there’s too much wasted movement! UOOOOH, SUSHI–!”
A single blow from Udanosuke that struck down.
Renée nimbly dodged it. Aiming for the gap in the attack, she countered.
Udanosuke held his katana and rolled sideways, taking distance while evading.
Then, a large, powerful blow with momentum as he stepped forward. And another blow!
It looked like he was swinging the katana randomly, but in reality, he was seeing through the opponent’s range and gaps, launching continuous attacks that didn’t give them a chance to counterattack.
A particularly loud and clear sound echoed through the desolate streets of Wesala, which were turning into a city of the dead. It felt like he was hitting a rock with his katana. Renée, who looked like she was lightly holding her sword in one hand, didn’t lose her balance even after receiving his full blow.
The zombie fodder were kneeling and watching their master’s battle.
“May you be released and attain enlightenment! NamuNamuNamu!”
“…It sounds like very careless Japanese, but what is this chant…”
In between attacks, Udanosuke created an inviting opening.
Renée reacted. She unleashed her sword as if to strike Udanosuke’s abdomen, who had raised his katana.
But. Udanosuke swung his katana down at the extended sword. If he received a blow to his weapon in this position, Renée’s upper body would sway slightly.
He wouldn’t miss this.
Udanosuke slashed horizontally at Renée’s torso with his returning blade.
“HARA!”
Renée, reacting quickly, managed to deflect the attack in an imperfect position.
Then, Udanosuke’s vertical slash.
“KIRI!”
This must have been because Renée was small. Because her head wasn’t on top of her body, her height was even lower. The time it took for the katana to reach its target was longer than usual… a fleeting moment!
While a lock of silver hair was cut off, Renée dodged this blow with her body movements alone. And then.
“SMAAAAAAAAASH!!”
A full-force diagonal slash.
Renée blocked this head-on.
Due to the impact, Renée slid backwards while scraping the cobblestones with both feet.
But Renée had blocked it.
“…Guh, to defend against that!”
Udanosuke sheathed his katana. With a bakin! sound, Renée’s sword was broken in half. The Harikiri Smash’s follow-up attack occurred in the area where the attack hit.
He managed to destroy her weapon, but that was it. She hadn’t used her original weapon, the red sword, and a replacement sword was immediately thrown from the undead army behind her, which she caught.
“I’ve decided!”
She clapped her hands together while holding her own head and sword.
She smiled innocently and cheerfully, as if she had come up with a special prank, but arrogantly.
“You will be my swordsmanship instructor for a while. You will serve me as a ghoul. It’s a court appointment, you should be honored!”
Udanosuke broke out in a cold sweat as he was faced with the sword.
It seemed she had taken a liking to him for some reason.
…He had a very bad feeling.
“Unfortunately, that’s out of the question–”
“≪Calamity Blood Flash Plagueray≫”
A red-black light converged on the tip of the sword Renée was thrusting forward.
–Magic…!
Wasn’t that in the information about the “Vengeful Rose Princess?” That she massacred people with magic.
She really intended to train Udanosuke and had been holding back while fighting.
And now, because she liked Udanosuke and wanted to make him her minion, she was getting serious.
The light at the tip of the sword… swelled!
–Not yet! I have the talismans!
The five talismans he had been given on the job. He was going to sell them for money in case of emergency, but they were useful here. No matter how ridiculous her magical power was, this much would be enough. It was enough to charge straight in and cut her down.
Udanosuke charged. A horrible sensation caressed his entire body. The red-black light… was cut off!
“GEISHAAAAAAA!!”
Translator’s Note
A geisha is a traditional female Japanese entertainer.
That katana slashed vainly through the air.
“What!?”
She wasn’t there. Renée wasn’t there. She was definitely there until just now.
“Too bad.”
The girl’s voice was heard with a chilling echo.
When he looked up, he saw a skeleton in a white dress on the roof where Udanosuke’s katana couldn’t reach.
In its hand was a red staff carved out of jewels.
–Teleportation, is it…? And what is that form! A lich!?
A red-black light lit up at the tip of the staff.
It had a radiance that was several times larger and more ominous than before.
He still had the talismans left… but he had a strong premonition. He couldn’t withstand it!
–That boy, the survivors, did they manage to escape?
The light was swelling.
–Ah… I wanted to see the Far East with my own eyes before I died…!
A/N: ※ Ever-Victorious War God, Daihonei
Does not exist. It is Udanosuke’s master’s delusion, or fabrication.
Editor’s Note: Again, apologies for any bad editing on this chapter but I refuse to go through that cringe again.