I'm having fun in Tokyo

"Oh, I see. You didn't know..."

Hojo Maki lowered her head in disappointment.

She chose to believe Morikawa Yu because she knew him well.

Since he was so frank, it can only mean that he was not lying.

"Morikawa, I asked an elder in my family who owns a dojo."

"They say that if someone suddenly becomes a swordsman overnight, it must be because he was a great swordsman in his past life and has awakened the power of that life..."

I don't know how to explain things to you, but I'm willing to believe you.

"But... Morikawa, are you really still the Morikawa I know?"

She raised her head and looked intently at Morikawa Yu, as if trying to see through his heart.

Seeing her like this, Morikawa Yu knew that the current atmosphere was not appropriate, but she found it somewhat amusing.

No wonder she was so nervous; she didn't dare to argue with him during dinner.

She probably thought she was some kind of great swordsman from hundreds of years ago, believing she was talking to a historical figure.

And judging from how nervous she is, she might be the kind of person with such a high status that she could be included in the gacha pool as a limited character.

"Teacher, do you still think I'm myself?"

Suppressing a laugh, Morikawa Yu approached her.

Maki Hojo's breathing immediately became heavy.

She wanted to turn her face away, but dared not, as if afraid he would turn into another person in the next moment.

Morikawa Yu shook his head, sat up straight, took her hand, and smiled.

"Don't worry, teacher, I'm still me."

"Look closely at my face. Can you see the expression of another person?"

"Have I really become a different person, teacher?"

"I still remember the correct posture you taught me for the first time two years ago, how you taught me my first set of kendo forms, and how you said you would teach me the techniques of Jigen-ryu once I mastered them."

"I was curious about what Manifestation Stream was, and you explained it to me step by step, and even took me to meet some masters of Manifestation Stream."

"I remember all of that, teacher."

"I won't suddenly find any kendo school, claim I'm their founder, and have them become my disciples."

"I won't claim I jumped out of a history book and demand the government restore the treatment I deserve."

"None of this concerns me, and I'm not interested in it."

"So, teacher, if you want to doubt me, what do you want to doubt me about?"

As Morikawa Yu spoke, his smile grew more and more pronounced.

Hojo Maki was initially worried, but as she listened to him speak, her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Really, Morikawa?"

"Then why were you so rude during dinner, acting like you were lecturing a junior?"

"Although I'm about your age, I'm still a teacher."

She said this, but then sighed.

"Or do you feel that I'm too strict usually, so you're just venting your anger?"

"I admit, I'm usually very demanding of you and don't have a very kind tone; I'm not a good teacher..."

"Since you know all this, teacher, will you be gentler with me from now on?"

Morikawa Yu squeezed Hojo Maki's hand and asked deliberately.

Her face flushed, and she turned her face away.

"Dream on, I just have some mixed feelings."

"Oh, I'm sorry, young lady."

"It suddenly occurred to me that I am actually the founder of the Ashina Isshin-ryu school, the Sword Saint Ashina Isshin."

"Now I must lead my old friends to restore the glory of Ashina. Farewell, and may you prosper in battle."

"Alright, alright, Lord Isshin, I'll be gentler from now on, okay?"

Hojo Maki glared at him rudely and shook his hand.

"Also, what exactly is Ashina Country? Did such a country really exist during the Warring States period?"

"Who knows? Perhaps there really is such a country and a sword saint named Ashina Isshin."

He thought for a moment, but couldn't recall any history books mentioning such a powerful swordsman who could stop the shogunate from unifying Japan, so he decided to keep it a secret.

"Hmph, looks like you've really grown up, you're even joking with the teacher now."

"That's because I hope the teacher can smile. The teacher's smile is the most beautiful, as captivating and beautiful as cherry blossoms blooming in the cold spring."

"Ha, you smooth talker. Go be your Ashina swordsman, I'm not going to bother with you anymore."

Hojo Maki blushed, pulled her hand away from Morikawa Hajime's grasp, and started the car.

He didn't insist, and a smile remained on his face.

Now he was certain that Maki Hojo had put aside her doubts.

For him, this was certainly the best outcome.

Although he could have gone along with Hojo Maki's words and pretended to be a great swordsman in Japanese history, he disdained to do so.

Firstly, he didn't have a specific understanding of Japanese history, and his familiarity was limited to some figures from the Warring States period, so he couldn't convincingly portray the character. Secondly, there really were mysterious forces in this world, and if he were to encounter a reincarnated swordsman, he wouldn't be able to explain himself clearly to the other party.

But the most important reason is that he doesn't want to live a hypocritical and cautious life.

He is who he is: a wanderer who loves to roam, loves to feel the wind, loves to build a full set of Statikk Shiv and Infinity Edge, and is the happiest man in Summoner's Rift.

Just be yourself, why pretend to be someone else?

He watched as Maki Hojo started the car and drove out of the parking lot, feeling relieved.

However, his expression suddenly changed.

For some reason, he felt a somewhat urgent voice in his mind.

"Please help me... Your Honor, the Arbitrator..."

The voice was so clear, it was as if someone was whispering in his ear, pleading for help with great anxiety and fear.

He glanced at the car but saw no one, and there was no unusual movement outside the window.

He couldn't help but wonder if it was just his imagination, but then the voice rang in his mind again.

"Please, help me, Your Honor..."

"What's wrong, Morikawa?"

Hojo Maki had just started moving, shifted gears, and was preparing to accelerate.

Seeing Morikawa Yu's expression, she quickly stepped on the brakes, stopped the car, and pulled the handbrake.

"Don't scare me, are you really going to restore that Ashina Kingdom?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about it, teacher."

Morikawa Yu glanced at her helplessly. He had been worried that he had encountered something unclean, but he almost laughed at her strange concern.

"I just heard a voice."

"It sounded like someone was calling for help, but she was shouting something about arbitrators, I don't know what that meant."

"arbiter......?"

Maki Hojo frowned.

"I think I've heard this title before. I think Grandpa mentioned it when he was on the phone with Aunt Liangzi, and he even said something like, 'Thank you for your hard work.'"

"Aunt Liangzi?"

Morikawa Yu immediately remembered the great priestess who wanted him to go to the shrine to learn how to manage it.

"But why am I hearing this title now?"

Chapter 25 The Chosen One

Maki Hojo was also pondering.

Suddenly, she frowned and looked at Morikawa Yu.

"Morikawa, are you carrying Aunt Ryoko's goshuincho?"

Morikawa Yu nodded. He was worried about leaving his sister alone at home, so he brought the goshuincho (a type of incense burner) with him.

"right"

"So that's how it is. I knew it! Why would she give you the Imperial Seal for no reason?"

A hint of envy flickered across Hojo Maki's face.

"Is it because of this Goshuincho?"

Morikawa Yu took out the Goshuincho (a type of imperial seal), her gaze strange.

"Hmm, I don't think I've told you this before. Aunt Ryoko is the head priest of Asada Shrine, and also the night watchman responsible for communicating with yokai in the Tokyo area at night. It should be the medium used for communication."

"Normally, monsters don't attack humans, but if that happens, Aunt Ryoko will either have a human or a monster deal with the attacker."

"Correspondingly, if a human attacks a yokai, Aunt Ryoko will also communicate with the Metropolitan Police Department to stop that person."

"If both parties are at fault, Aunt Liangzi has the right to make an arbitration decision."

"If the person being stopped resists during this process, Aunt Ryoko can do whatever she wants with them, and neither the monsters nor the Metropolitan Police Department can interfere."

"Even if the people she deals with are humans, it's the same?"

"Um"

"Isn't this... a bit too much power?"

Morikawa Yu subconsciously thought of this question.

After all, if perpetrators can be dealt with at will, wouldn't that mean one person is both a judge and a law enforcement officer?

If she were more ruthless and offered interpretations that benefited her when dealing with matters, she could completely control those being dealt with.

"can you?"

"However, I only heard about these things from my father. The government has no objection to them. After all, without Aunt Liangzi's intervention, they wouldn't be able to handle these matters properly."

"As for yokai, the great yokai who are benevolent towards humans basically only show consideration for Aunt Ryoko."

"As for the great demons who dislike humans, the government finds them difficult to deal with, so the current situation has been maintained for decades."

Morikawa Yu nodded silently.

He has probably come to the conclusion that it was the right thing for him not to clash with Kondo Ryoko yesterday.

She was alone, like an emperor in the night.

All humans and demons must, to a certain extent, acknowledge her transcendent status and abide by the order she established.

"I never expected Aunt Ryoko to give you this medium."

The envy in Hojo Maki's eyes was now impossible to hide.

"I used to keep asking her, but she would never tell me."

"Then why did she give it to me?"

Morikawa Yu had an indescribable feeling in his heart; he had thought this was just a place for his sister to live in.

Even though he had worried that this was Kondo Ryoko's scheme, he never expected it to be like this.

"How should I know? Have you thought about what Aunt Ryoko said to you?"

She said she wanted to teach me how to use this goshuincho (a type of shrine gatebook), and also wanted me to become an assistant manager at the shrine.