My mother's love song

"Wuwuwu... No, you can't be called a beautiful boy because you're ugly. A childhood that was never welcomed by a big sister can only be called the childhood of an ugly boy, right?"

"Stop saying woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

Next to the enthusiastic female group, there was a scene of men cursing and crying in the audience, which was a bit pitiful.

Then, there stood a young man about twenty years old standing opposite Rhodes.

Rhode blocked out the strange screams of Musashi and the others behind him, and observed his first opponent with a playful expression.

The man was wearing layers of heavy armor. Although it was very heavy, his posture was upright. The sword held in both hands on the center line of his body was also straight and sharp.

As expected of the 128 elite players selected from all over Japan, after entering the main competition, the level of their opponents was suddenly raised and became more decent.

If the full score is 100, then this swordsman should have 80 points.

Musashi is a ten thousand point winner.

"Go ahead! Ito!"

It seemed that a lot of relatives and friends of Rhodes' opponent also came.

"Beat up that brat who only knows how to use the Young Master's swordsmanship! Let him see your unrivaled strength that has no rivals in the entire county!"

"That's right, cheer for me too since you eliminated me in the preliminaries! I won't allow you to lose to anyone other than me!"

"Think about the oath you made! You swore at your grandmother's bedside that you would revive the dojo and the sect!"

"You can definitely do it! Just get through the first round! Your childhood sweetheart Hanako is still waiting for you to marry her after you become a famous samurai!"

"That's right! You must win the Genji Festival and find the murderer of your father! You must avenge your father who died tragically with regrets!"

You have set up too many flags.

Rhodes slowly drew out the sword from his waist, held it in one hand and let his arm hang casually without even posing.

Kill him with one hit.

Rhodes had no intention of showing up too much at the Genji Festival, so he decided to keep a low profile.

But... this time the women behind me were too noisy!

It’s okay for the others, but what are you doing, Iori, Kiyoko, Momiji, Ms. Tsuru, and Ms. Kaori, what are you screaming about?

It's so embarrassing, wait and see how I deal with you later...

Although his rage bar was higher than usual, Rhode still did not plan to attack actively. Instead, he stayed where he was like he did in the preliminaries, waiting for his opponent to rush over with a shout before knocking him out with the bottom of the knife handle.

However, this time his opponent did not attack as recklessly as expected.

He also stood there, holding the hilt of the sword tightly with both hands, not moving at all.

"What's wrong, Ito! Come on! Hurry up and kill this brat!"

"That guy can't even lift a real sword! We are so lucky to have such a weakling. Let's kill him!"

Ito's fans shouted, but they didn't know that from their perspective, the person himself was already sweating profusely.

what?

what is this?

What exactly is this monster I'm fighting against?

Perhaps that was a scene that only Ito, who was on the same stage with the boy, could see.

What Ito saw was the endless darkness and infinitely extending abyss behind and above the boy.

"Ah~~~~ Even the expressionless Hikari no Kiss is so handsome!!!"

"Ahhhhh he's so great! I'm crying!"

"Come on, Lord of Light! I love you the most!"

"Master is the strongest! Master is the strongest! Master is the strongest!"

The boy didn't do it on purpose, but the support and encouragement from the female team made his blood pressure rise unconsciously, and this is what happened.

At this moment, the blazing dark murderous intent seeped out from Rhodes' skin and infected the entire sky above the arena.

Ito looked at the boy in front of him who seemed to be in a relaxed state, and felt his whole body go cold and he couldn't move.

The aura expanding behind Rhodes was like the Nine-headed Dragon Daimyojin of Togakushi Mountain dancing in a sea of ​​fire. The unprecedented pressure almost crushed the man's soul.

It would be fine if it was just awe-inspiring, but it's not that simple.

Ito's opponent just stood there nonchalantly, but he could not see any flaws in that seemingly casual posture.

Breathing naturally, being calm and composed, it seems like the words were created for him.

Perfect, flawless. This is the word used to describe such people.

Ito took a breath and the word "Sword Saint" emerged in his mind.

Even if we ignore the overwhelming aura emanating from the boy's small body and only judge his sword-holding posture, he is still invincible.

The pinnacle of martial arts that Genji pursued stood right there.

What about me?

who I am? where am I? What should I do?

Ito couldn't help but have such doubts.

By the way, I have to fight him as the first round opponent.

However, fighting a monster like that is like asking me to challenge the final demon lord [Yamata no Orochi] with only a branch!

"What's wrong, aren't you going to attack?"

Rhodes raised his eyebrows and asked unhappily.

“Ugh!!!”

The man let out a cry, and his hands holding the sword trembled uncontrollably.

"Since you won't attack me, I'll attack from my side."

Let's end this quickly. I'm going to go down and give those lawless women a good beating, especially Kiyoko and Musashi.

Rhodes walked towards Ito with brisk steps, but the other party still stood there indifferently with a shattered posture.

"What a pity that I got to meet you in the first round."

After bringing his opponent within range, Rhodes raised his sword with one hand in slow motion with a cold expression.

Then, with lightning speed,

"I, I surrender!!!"

Ito hurriedly dropped the sword in his hand and shouted at the top of his voice.

When the sword tip was only one centimeter away from his opponent's forehead, Rhodes stopped his wrist smoothly like silk.

The surroundings became silent.

Everyone tried to understand what was happening.

However, the echo of "I surrender!" still echoed in everyone's ears.

When they saw Rhodes sheathing his sword and turning around to walk off the ring, the referee and the audience finally came to their senses.

"The winner... The winner! Tiga-kun!"

"Huh? Ito, what the hell are you doing?"

"Fake match! Fake match! This must be the dealer's conspiracy!"

"You're giving up without even swinging your sword. Are you still a man? Are you really a samurai?"

"This is so embarrassing! What the hell is this! Commit seppuku right now!"

The audience booed Ito loudly for giving up the match without even fighting for one round. When the man lowered his shoulders dejectedly, only Rhodes gave him an approving look.

"Unlike those noisy fools, you are quite self-aware.

There is no need to feel sad. It is a great thing to recognize and accept the gap in strength between the enemy and us. After all, this country is full of idiots [samurai] who can only shout long live and charge forward at the risk of their lives.

With the courage to admit defeat, you will surely be able to achieve success in the future."

After leaving these words, Rhodes walked towards Qingzi and the others with a sinister smile.

As Rhode had predicted, Ito later became a very great swordsman. He fulfilled his promise and revived the school. After becoming rich, he returned to his hometown and married his childhood sweetheart. In the end, he defeated the murderer of his father... Well, these are all stories that have nothing to do with the present.

By the way, "Tiga-kun" is the pseudonym Rod used at the Genji Festival.

……

……

……

After the first round, Rhode finally had the chance to teach those girls a lesson for their continued booing.

Musashi, Momiji, and Tsuru-san who were sitting in the open space: "I'm sorry~~~"

Xiangzi, who was sitting next to him, said: "Why am I also..."

"B-How damned! I tried so hard to support you, and you treated me like this!"

Sei Shonagon, lying on the ground, cried and complained.

"That's embarrassing. Don't do that next time."

"Yes~~~"

Although Rhodes passed the first round without even making a move, it did not mean that his strength was recognized.

Most of the people who watched him fight thought that this skinny boy must have been up to something secretly, and they looked at him with disdain.

Well, Rhode himself doesn't care about the opinions of mortals.

"…By the way, it seems like more and more girls are gathering here. Is it just my illusion?"

Among the audience, it seemed that only Musashi and Momiji had a correct understanding of Rod's performance.

"As expected of my master, you are so cool."

The ghost girl Hongye squeezed her legs together, followed Rhodes with red cheeks, and said something like "This majestic majesty is so great that even the Sixth Heaven Demon King would pale in comparison to you."

Rhode was quite happy to be praised, but then he thought that the sixth demon king, Poxun, was the same guy as Kama! It didn't seem to be a big deal to be more intimidating than her.

"Hey, hey, hey, that's not appropriate for ordinary people, right?"

Musashi put his arm on the boy's shoulder and said with a sly smile, "How can you intimidate ordinary people? Didn't the Master say that he wouldn't show his real skills?"

"Who do you think made me so angry?"

In fact, not only Rhodes' match is today, but Musashi's match is also today, and the time has just arrived.

Afterwards, everyone came to the other side of the ring to cheer her on.

Her opponent was an elderly swordsman. An ordinary person might have shown mercy, but Musashi was clearly not that kind of person.

Miyamoto Musashi shouted "What good luck!" and won the match in no time, blasting the old man out of the ring with a sword.

"Easy~ Easy~ It takes me less time than the Master~"

It seems that he is competing with Rhodes secretly.

"Well, now that today's game is over, it's about time for us to go back."

Everyone agreed.

Just then, a man walked towards this side.

"Brother Zhixin!" Qingzi called out his name.

It turned out to be Sei Shonagon's elder brother. In other words, he was the man who might become Rhodes' next opponent.

I originally thought that Kiyoko's brother would be a young man in his twenties or thirties, but he looks like a middle-aged man over forty years old.

The man's sharp eyes and defiant expression gave off the aura of a battle-hardened warrior.

By the way...how old is Sei Shonagon?

"Good afternoon, I guess you are all the ones that Nuozi has been talking about recently... I am sorry to bother you all."

Qingyuan Zhixin bowed politely to everyone.