Teaching Kendo in Tokyo 1980

Uesugi Sōichirō locked eyes with Kazuma and asked in a deep voice,

"Even if I were to draw my sword here and cut you down—you would not change your mind?"

A chilling bloodlust radiated from him, and for Kazuma, that killing intent immediately translated into a status effect floating above Uesugi's head.

It lasted exactly one second—but each time it ticked down to zero, it instantly refreshed. It felt a bit like watching a buff auto-refresh in an MMORPG.

Still, snark aside—this killing intent was very real.

But Kazuma answered calmly, "Even so, I stand by my answer."

"Even if I were to tear your sister limb from limb?" Uesugi pressed.

"Yes," Kazuma replied without hesitation.

The greater the danger, the more one must stand firm—only by disregarding life and death could one grasp the slimmest chance of survival. This was something Kazuma had learned firsthand during yesterday's desperate assault on the yakuza headquarters.

For a few seconds, Uesugi was silent.

Then, suddenly—he burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha! That's the spirit! When I first heard you spouting that talk about swordsmanship and the heart, I thought you were just some promising kendo student."

He raised a hand and began clapping.

"Who would've thought! A boy like this in the postwar era..." He trailed off, then his expression darkened and his tone shifted.

"But anyone can talk big and bluff if they're gutsy enough. That alone means nothing."

His gaze sharpened.

"I can't stand liars. If you want to prove your resolve—prove that you weren't just running your mouth—then get into the University of Tokyo. Bottom of the list is fine. But it must be Todai. Remember that."

He leaned forward, voice icy.

"If you fail to pass next spring's exam—or choose any other university—I will punish your deception in the harshest possible way. I will humiliate your sister and your girlfriend before your very eyes—and then kill them, one by one."

"And of course," he added with an almost casual smile, "I'll make sure you're all reunited at the bottom of Tokyo Bay. I'm no demon, after all."

With that, Uesugi's face shifted again—he was once more the kindly old fisherman from a moment ago.

"But if you do get into Todai... naturally, I'll see to it that the Tokyo Metropolitan Police gains a promising new recruit with suitable rewards to match."

"Until then, my men will behave themselves and not trouble you any further."

He paused, still giving Kazuma no room to speak.

"I'm expecting great things from you. Daisaku—let's go!"

Clearly, this "bet" was not something Kazuma had any choice in.

If he failed to pass the Todai exam next spring—no retakes allowed—it was death.

Kazuma called after Uesugi's retreating figure.

"Your men trashed my house. Aren't you going to have it fixed?"

Uesugi stopped and glanced back.

"Ah, you're right." He turned slightly. "Shirahane—you heard him. Fix it up nicely. And anyone who botched this job—have them cut off a finger and deliver it to young Kiryu."

"Understood, sir! Leave it to me!" Shirahane Sōgo bowed deeply to Uesugi.

"Very good. Until next time." Uesugi waved casually and left the dojo, fishing gear slung over his shoulder.

The so-called "Eternal Champion" named Daisaku glanced at Kazuma with a faint smirk, let out a snort, and followed.

Kazuma turned his gaze to Kimura Nobumori, who had been awkwardly sidelined the entire time.

"You still want to fight?"

Kimura opened his mouth to answer—but Shirahane's voice rang out from the courtyard.

"Fight? What fight? The boss said not to disturb his university entrance prep. Let's go!"

With that, Shirahane led the group out of the courtyard.

Kimura looked like he still wanted a piece of Kazuma. He hesitated for a moment, then begrudgingly tossed the bamboo sword back to Kazuma—it was one from the Kiryu dojo.

"Enjoy your final year," Kimura sneered. "Todai's acceptance rate is pathetic. You're all doomed. The boss never goes back on his word."

Kazuma replied coolly,

"And what's that got to do with you, Kimura-san? Your boss is already leaving—if you stay here alone, are you planning to tag along with the Nishiyama-gumi?"

Kimura paled as he realized the situation. Glancing nervously at the Nishiyama-gumi members now loosely assembled in the courtyard, he beat a hasty retreat through the front door.

Nishiyama Heita emerged from the courtyard and stepped onto the engawa, standing at the threshold between the dojo and the garden.

He looked at Kazuma.

"What a shame," he said. "Seems that drink we talked about won't be happening after all."

"I don't regret that one bit," Kazuma replied bluntly. "I have zero interest in getting chummy with someone who wanted to send my sister to Kabukichō as a prostitute."

Nishiyama laughed heartily.

"Fair enough. But you know, I envy you. Compared to someone like me—someone who gave up and chose this path—you're far stronger. I sincerely hope that next summer, you'll be sitting in a Todai lecture hall, basking in the sunshine."

With that, Nishiyama bowed deeply to Kazuma.

Seeing their boss bow, the Nishiyama-gumi members hurried to follow suit—though a few hesitated. After all, bowing to someone who had just clashed with the Kanto Union's top boss... there might be consequences later.

But in the end, the entire Nishiyama-gumi bowed.

After three seconds, Nishiyama straightened and turned back to the courtyard.

"Let's move out," he ordered.

The last wave of yakuza filed out in grand procession.

The dojo and courtyard were quiet once more.

Only the Kiryu siblings remained.

With a thud, Chiyoko dropped to her knees.

"My legs gave out..."

Kazuma smiled.

"Not bad—you held up this long."

Chiyoko started to reply, but her expression suddenly changed. She scrambled to her feet and bolted toward the bathroom.

Kazuma smirked.

She was just a third-year middle schooler. She hadn't experienced life-and-death combat like he had. The fact that she lasted this long was impressive enough.

A less courageous girl might've... well, wet herself.

Kazuma strolled into the courtyard and sat on the engawa, gazing up at the cherry tree.

For a while, he simply sat in silence, calming the surge of emotions within.

Once composed, he decided to check the results of his fight with that level-23 Kimura.

He closed his eyes and entered meditation.

A moment later, his status window appeared.

And right away, he spotted a new permanent buff:

"Koyama Slayer"

The style of this entry was very different from previous ones—its effect was obvious at a glance, with none of the vague wording of earlier buffs.

Description: A new era must be forged upon the blood of the old.

Tch... looks like I'll be cutting down more of Koyama's remnants in the future, Kazuma thought.

He shifted his attention to his sword skill levels.

To his surprise, Shintō-ryū had leveled up!

Well—more accurately, it had gained half a level. He'd already been halfway to the next level, and now he was past that.

A half-level boost from one match—not bad!

If I can find another opponent around Kimura's level and grind away, I could hit level 20 pretty quickly! Kazuma thought excitedly.

But then he reminded himself—his primary focus wasn't kendo anymore.

It was studying.

Kendo practice was just insurance. If he failed the Todai exam, he'd need martial strength to protect himself and his sister.

If only there were shortcuts... Kazuma mused. I wonder if any of those temporary buffs can boost learning efficiency.

He'd have to test them one by one.

As the saying went—sharpening the blade won't delay chopping wood. The immediate crisis was over; it was time to prepare.

Kazuma felt a surge of motivation.

Born a dragon... there's a whole wide world out there. Of course I want to see more of it.

(End of Volume 1 — "Becoming the Dragon")

(Tomorrow—on to Volume 2 — "Summer Fireworks")

(End of Chapter)