The Sword of Miyamoto Musashi / The Burned-Down Village ...

"Shirou, this... might come in handy, right?" At that moment, Sasaki Kojiro walked over, carrying two freshwater fish from the stream tied with straw rope. These were his spoils from his morning practice.

Shirou took a look and saw that they were two plump mackerel. Although they weren't very big, they weighed two or three pounds together. His eyes lit up and he said, "Ah, this is perfect! For Japanese cuisine, fish is definitely a must for breakfast."

"Hmm, if there were a bowl of white rice and miso soup, it would be perfect," Kojiro said, resting his chin on his hand.

"Don't worry, we'll use mushrooms and wild vegetables instead of rice! It'll definitely satisfy everyone!" Shirou Projection a cutting board, raised a long, thin knife for killing fish, and his eyes blazed with the spirit of a chef.

So they scaled and gutted the fish, removing the gills and internal organs because the mackerel's gallbladder is poisonous. They rinsed the fish clean in the stream before cooking.

Mackerel has tender and delicious flesh, and its protein content is even higher than that of chicken. It can be boiled, braised, stewed, and it is especially delicious when smoked or deep-fried. Canned mackerel is also a very common delicacy.

Shirou chose to smoke and grill the mushrooms, along with the remaining fungi, and then rub them with fragrant wild vegetables and shiitake mushrooms, which removed more than 90% of the fishy smell.

Two mackerel are placed on an iron rack, with a gentle fire underneath, and are being smoked. They are simply turned over every now and then until the skin is slightly charred and the inside is golden brown.

Shirou then used a sharp knife to chop the soaked matsutake mushrooms and various other mushrooms into rice-grain-sized pieces, and added lily bulbs. The immature lily bulbs did not taste bitter because they were rich in starch, and instead had a slightly sweet taste.

After crushing it, add a small amount of boiled and cooled warm water and stir continuously until it becomes small pieces of dough. Put it together with the chopped mushrooms, stir-fry it on an iron plate for a while, add a little oil from simmering the mushrooms and wild vegetables. Put it into a bowl and put it into another small pot of water to steam.

Twenty minutes later, the mixed rice noodle soup was steamed and cooked. The fine rice noodles stuck together with the matsutake mushrooms and wild mushrooms, and the taste was sweet. When you bite into it, it has a texture similar to soft rice grains.

It tastes quite similar to matsutake mushroom rice, except that here the matsutake aroma completely overpowers the rice flavor, rather than the rice having a matsutake mushroom fragrance.

The meal consisted of smoked mackerel and leftover wild mushroom soup from yesterday, making for a traditional Japanese breakfast, although the ingredients used here were rather unusual. The saury, a saltwater fish, was replaced with mackerel, and the mild miso soup was replaced with a mildly flavorful wild mushroom soup. Having been left overnight, it had become even more flavorful and delicious.

The elegant swordsman, disregarding his image, began to drink heartily.

"Delicious! This is great!" Kojiro, holding his rice bowl and chewing with relish, praising the delicious taste.

Seeing how happily the other person was eating, Shirou was naturally satisfied as well, and he also took a few more bites of the wild mushroom stew rice.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Kojiro looked at Shirou and said, "Shirou, my next destination is the city. Have you made any progress on the request you accepted? If it's on the way, we can travel together."

"No, things are a bit complicated for me, so let's not talk about me for now. You're going to the city, is there some swordsman there? Are you traveling around practicing swordsmanship like before?" Shirou shook his head and asked the blue-haired swordsman.

Kojiro shrugged and said, "That kind of life is naturally what I'm looking for, but unfortunately, I was quite badly injured when I first came to this place and was rescued by a sorcerer. Now he has important things to do, and to repay his kindness, I must go to the city to serve as his guard. Although I can't compare to his powerful subordinates, I'm still quite confident if I'm just guarding the gate."

"Ah, I have no doubt about that last sentence. But the previous sentences were too modest. With your swordsmanship, there are probably few in this world who can compare to you." Shirou nodded with a smile. As a comrade-in-arms who had fought side by side, he knew better than anyone the strength of this ancient-style samurai.

In the Fifth Holy Grail War, he was a troublesome presence for all Servant. Medea's position at Ryudoji Temple became almost impregnable because of his presence.

Kojiro shook his head and said, "No, the path of swordsmanship is much longer than I imagined, endless. My Swallow Counter, in the infinite, pursues more possibilities, hiding more swords in a single strike."

But perhaps there are even more powerful sword techniques in this world. For example, there might be a sword technique that is the exact opposite of my secret sword, pursuing 'absolute' in the infinite. That's why I travel around like this, seeking only to find a true master."

Chapter 355 Miyamoto Musashi's Sword

Hearing that Sasaki Kojiro wanted to find an opponent.

Shirou fell into deep thought. If we're talking about strong individuals, the world of Servant is teeming with them.

However, in terms of swordsmanship alone, the man before him has undoubtedly reached a very high level, a position where the higher one climbs, the more isolated one becomes. Sasaki Kojiro's secret sword technique, Swallow Counter, has reached the level of a divine skill capable of causing dimensional folding. Like Tohsaka's Jewel Sword, it has already entered the realm of the Second Magic.

When he used the secret sword, he unleashed three strikes simultaneously in an incredible manner.

These three swords can strike at different angles and in different directions without interfering with each other, as if they were in different spaces, without any obstruction or collision, and simultaneously slash at the opponent. To be honest, this kind of secret sword is even more terrifying than a demon with six arms wielding three swords.

If the first sword strike misses the enemy, the user will return to the moment of the initial strike and unleash a second strike.

Even if the enemy dodges the first two strikes, they are now completely blocked from other escape routes. The third strike is unavoidable and unblockable, and they will inevitably be hit.

For a great swordsman like Sasaki Kojiro, being caught off guard and slashed is practically the same as suicide. Even if the opponent is Dragon species, the outcome would be the same.

"Does such swordsmanship really exist?" Shirou asked doubtfully. He had witnessed Kojiro's swordsmanship firsthand and knew its unfathomable depths. He simply couldn't imagine what kind of swordsmanship this island nation might possess that could surpass his.

Perhaps the only swordsmen who can compare to Kojiro are those heroes from ancient kingdoms, whose legends and epics are widely celebrated and whose fame has lasted for generations, possessing unparalleled swordsmanship; or those recognized by multiple countries as sword gods and sword saints who were unmatched in their time.

Lancelot, the best swordsman among the Knights of the Round Table, might be slightly inferior to Kojiro in terms of swordsmanship, even disregarding his magic.

Take, for example, the poet Li Bai, who was known for his mastery of wine, poetry, and swordsmanship. Li Bai's swordsmanship master, Pei Min, was a man of incredible strength who once shot and killed thirty-one tigers in a single day, and also killed a giant spider monster.

He was skilled in sword control, able to toss his sword into the clouds dozens of feet high, and then, without even looking up, casually raise the scabbard. The swords that fell from the sky seemed to have eyes, automatically returning to their sheaths—a divine being.

However, these legendary figures could never possibly appear in this island nation.

Kojiro's gaze sharpened like a drawn sword, and he said firmly:

"Yes, it does! It transcends 'infinity,' transcends 'one,' and becomes 'zero.' No second strike is needed, nor a third strike; victory is already predetermined before the sword is even drawn."

A sword of absolute certainty, a sword that has reached the realm of 'emptiness'. The sword saint who authored the 'Book of Five Rings,' Miyamoto Musashi! Such a master among masters of swordsmanship."

"Miyamoto Musashi!! Have you met Musashi?" Shirou exclaimed in surprise, recalling the pink-haired lady he had met before, who was very bold but sometimes unreliable.

Given Kojiro's Martial Arts Enthusiast nature, if he were to meet Musashi, he would definitely challenge him to a duel and fight until a victor was decided.

Could that young lady, who collapsed from hunger, really withstand a secret sword attack with a portion of the power of the Second Magic?

Kojiro said regretfully, "Ah... but when I found him, he was already an old man with a white beard, too old to even hold a sword properly, and nearing his death. He had no children, had given up life in the city, abandoned his disciples, and lived alone in a mountain cave."

"Ah, I see, that makes sense. Hmm... So it's Musashi from this side. He's already an old man, it's a real shame." Shirou suddenly realized, nodding repeatedly. He felt a bit confused.

On second thought, he realized that it made sense. When it came to Miyamoto Musashi, one would naturally picture a burly man with a long beard. However, the pink-haired young lady had left such a deep impression on him that he couldn't help but think of her.

"Shirou, where are you going next? As long as there's enough time, even if it's a long detour, I can complete the entrustment for you first, and then go to the city to keep our appointment," Kojiro said sincerely. As a comrade-in-arms who had gone through life and death together and fought side by side, this Martial Arts Enthusiast fanatic rarely showed such a sentimental side.

"No, I'm planning to go to the nearby villages to investigate now. I won't keep you any longer," Shirou said, waving his hand.

"Alright then, farewell. If you encounter any trouble, you can come find me at the best sake brewery in Shimousa." Kojiro didn't elaborate further and agreed with a light laugh.

"I understand. If I encounter any problems that I can't solve, I will definitely ask you for help." Shirou nodded readily in agreement. However, when he heard the name Shimousa this time, Shirou felt that it sounded very familiar, and he finally remembered something.

Historically speaking, Shimousa wasn't particularly famous, but the geographically connected Awaki Province was more well-known. In earlier times, this area was unified under the ancient Sosa Province, but later it was divided into three: Shimosa, Kamichū, and Namsa.

This ancient country, in modern times, is Chiba Prefecture, Shirou's hometown in this life, and it borders Tokyo and Saitama, so he couldn't help but be familiar with it.

Shimousa itself is unremarkable, but Anfu Province, also known as Nansa Province, is home to a monumental novel centered around this place: Nansō Satomi's Eight Dogs. This book holds a place in Japan roughly equivalent to the Four Great Classical Novels of China. It has had a profound influence on later popular literature and is also the longest novel in Japan.

This book was written in the early 19th century, comprising 106 volumes and taking 28 years to complete. It also drew inspiration from Water Margin and Investiture of the Gods.

The story features a magical crystal necklace with 108 beads. Its owner was the most beloved daughter of the lord of Satomi Castle, the Princess of Nanso Province. She was cursed with evil, and her pet dog, 'Yafusa,' turned into a demon, raped her, and then took her to the deep mountains to marry her.

When the Princess learned that she was pregnant with the dog's child, she committed suicide with a knife.

At this moment, the crystal necklace accidentally fell off, and the eight large beads representing benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, loyalty, trustworthiness, filial piety, and brotherly love were imbued with the essence of the fetus. They soared into the air and flew in all directions, reincarnating as eight warriors. Each of them had the character "dog" in their surname and a peony-shaped birthmark on their body.

The Satomi family, who guarded the lord of Nanso Province Castle, were therefore known as the 'Eight Dogs of Satomi'.

This is a story familiar to everyone in the country. The Southern Kingdom is like Liang Shanbo in the Water Margin; even if you don't know its exact location, you've at least heard of it.

Aside from some shrines, temples, and tourist attractions, Shimousa really doesn't have anything particularly special about it.

However... this is the city where Shirou once lived.

Shirou looked around, still finding everything unfamiliar. But this was the city where he grew up, and some of the land he saw in the distance was likely places he had visited in his later life—his school, the shopping streets he frequented, or even his home.

But times have changed, and the world has transformed.

In future urban development, these mountains may be leveled, streams may dry up, and rivers may be filled in. Even if he knew this was the city where he was born and raised hundreds of years ago, he wouldn't be able to identify where he was.

Chapter 356 The Burned-Down Village

Knowing that this was Shimousa, Shirou finally felt more at ease, but he didn't know which era this Shimousa belonged to, or how it differed from the history he knew.

However, these things could be found out with a little investigation, so Shirou said goodbye to Sasaki Kojiro.

Kojiro headed straight into the city, while Shirou decided to leave the mountain and find the nearest village. Although Alaya didn't say anything, there must have been a reason why he was teleported here.

Walking outwards from the foot of the mountain, although there was still no one in sight, we finally found a bumpy dirt road with signs of someone following a vehicle. The dirt road split into three paths, one of which ran alongside the other.

All Shirou knows right now is that this world is in danger, savior will appear, and he must help the savior and guide him to save the world. It seems that Gudako, the Master of Chaldea, has also been involved.

But now he has been teleported to the desolate wilderness by Alaya without any clues, so he can only take it one step at a time and ask around in the nearby villages first.

There are better methods. If we use that almost omnipotent Creative Power to investigate, as long as we open those Magic Eye that are white with iridescent light, we can directly analyze the origin by visualizing the structure of the world and observe everything in this world. Nothing can escape the sight of those Magic Eye.

However, Shirou is currently unable to use it.

Because he has merged with the Divine Power of another version of himself, he has become an entity similar to the white god. He is no longer just Shirou living in Chiba, but a fusion of 1+1. The previous divine avatar entrusted everything to him.

The white god is a collection of thoughts formed by Shirou from all parallel worlds in order to achieve true salvation, but now it is missing one clone.

His battle with the white god has officially begun and can no longer be stopped. Although, in essence, they are the same person, this is a battle between himself and himself, and also a fight to the death.

Because the white god has gone astray, detached himself from the mortal realm, and no longer understands humanity, his blind attempts at salvation cannot bring happiness. On the contrary, they may even pose a threat of great collapse. Therefore, Shirou's desire to stop him is not wrong.

The white god, without any selfish motives and solely dedicated to saving the world and rescuing all those suffering from disaster, has always been doing what he firmly believes is right. He has not been wrong.

However, this is a battle of beliefs. Born from Shirou Emiya's yearning for happiness, he and the white god who wants to save everything and eliminate all misfortune can only coexist.

If he were to use Divine Power now, because his mass is higher than that of other divine avatars, he would be easily detected by the white god, who might even break through space and come knocking on his door.

Therefore, Shirou would never use the Divine Power of creation lightly; if he did, he would have to be transferred away from this world.

However, if it's just at the level of Hawkeye, then there's no problem.

With his excellent eyesight, Shirou surveyed the scenery below the mountain and looked around. Finally, about three kilometers away, he vaguely saw a place where several wisps of gray-black smoke were rising. It seemed that someone was using a fire to cook or something, and there should be a village there.

So Shirou ran along the dirt path by the roadside towards the village.

While maintaining a steady pace of breathing, I ran forward at a moderate speed, and after more than ten minutes, I arrived at the village.

The village was surrounded by a fence. Inside the fence were rows of thatched huts, separated by wooden fences, with courtyards easily visible between them. It was a typical Japanese village, but there was no sense of human presence.

It was clearly a village with at least forty households, and the surrounding area was unusually quiet. There were fields and vegetable gardens, but at this moment, no one was watering or fertilizing the plants. No one was grazing livestock either. Only unnatural black smoke was rising from inside the village.

As Shirou walked further in, his expression changed when he saw the surrounding scene clearly. The houses were in a mess, with doors lying on the ground or windows smashed.

Shirou quickly ran towards the source of the smoke and saw a charred ruin, with a burned-out hut still emitting ash smoke. It turned out that the ash smoke he had seen earlier was not from cooking, but the last embers of a fire.

"How could this be..." Shirou looked around. There were still wisps of smoke rising from the area, so the fire must have been started last night.

"This place is so much worse than Mikawa Province. Although Mikawa Province was attacked by Demonic Beast, at least the people in the city were protected by the city and could organize themselves to seek refuge. But here, there is nothing left..." Shirou walked towards the charred ruins, where the houses were no longer recognizable.

Apart from a few houses near the entrance that survived, more than 80% of the houses in the village were burned down. The entire wooden houses were burned to the ground. Some houses had earthen walls that were preserved, but they were blackened by smoke. Some wooden pillars were burned to charcoal, and the roofs collapsed, crushing the houses.

Shirou walked into the courtyard of the house and found that there were still black, sticky bloodstains on the ground at the threshold. There were quite a few of them, and every house had more or less the same.

Looking into the collapsed house, they found partially burned roof beams and pillars, with a charred arm, still streaked with blood, protruding from inside. They also found some charred corpses in other abandoned houses.

It seems this was not an accident, but a massacre. It was a scene of utter devastation, dark and chilling, as if something even more ominous was about to appear, a ghostly realm that inspired fear and made one unwilling to linger.

Seeing this scene, Shirou couldn't help but recall the time he had been asked by the villagers to gather his companions to fight against the mountain bandits. If no one had defended the village back then, things might have turned out the same way.

Shirou felt fortunate for his decision to help the villagers, yet also deeply saddened by their plight.

'What happened? A perfectly good village, just like that, gone?'

"Damn it... No! I have to find out what happened here!" Shirou composed himself and walked towards the houses near the entrance that hadn't been affected by the fire. Sure enough, the people inside had also been killed, all with a single, fatal blow.

The boxes and drawers inside the house had not been opened, and none of the valuables were missing. It seemed that the murderer had simply killed the person and left, without touching any of the money.

'Not robbers? No one was after money? Could it be a revenge killing?' Shirou made his judgment.

Chapter 357 Little Girl and Baby

Shirou went outside and continued searching for clues. When he reached the other side of the village, he found more than ten corpses, along with farm tools such as pitchforks, sickles, and hoes. It seemed that these were people who had rushed out of their homes to resist, but were killed.

Shirou glanced at a villager still clutching a hoe; his heart had been pierced with a single, swift stroke. The assailant was skilled, swift, and powerful. Looking at the other corpses, though the wounds varied, they were all fatal blows. The villagers here hadn't even had a chance to resist before being killed.

There were no hoofprints on the ground, suggesting the killer arrived on foot. Judging from the unburned houses, the killer wasn't after money. The disparity in strength between the two sides was so great that a direct confrontation was impossible, let alone revenge.

Could he be a murderer who slaughtered the village on a whim?

Just then, a commotion came from outside the village, interrupting Shirou's thoughts. He went to investigate and saw several Black Shadow of wild animals dragging a corpse away. Beside them, an even larger Black Shadow was lying on top of the corpse, writhing.

Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be two beast-shaped demons, one two meters long and the other nearly three meters long, even stronger than a bear.

Its large tail was held high, and it crawled on all fours. It looked like a wild dog or a wolf, but its whole body was covered with fluffy, long fur, and its red eyes were faintly visible. Two long teeth were exposed on either side of its mouth, and an eerie black aura emanated from its body, obscuring its complete figure.

The monster, with its fangs wide open, bit open the corpse's belly and was eating its internal organs.

"Hiss..." At this moment, the monster also noticed Shirou's presence, raised its head, and let out a threatening roar, as pink intestines fell out of its mouth.

"Roar!!!" Another monster gripped the ground with its two front paws, arched its back, and was about to pounce on Shirou.

"Demons!!!" Shirou roared in fury, rushing forward and Projection black and white swords with his outstretched hands. Just before the monster pounced, he appeared in front of two dog-like creatures, and with two flashes of light, the heads of the two monsters were severed.

Then, the sound of a baby crying came from outside the village fence, but it stopped quickly.

Shirou looked in that direction and saw an empty cowshed. Outside the cowshed was a well, and there were several large water vats. It seemed that thanks to the water, the air here was not as dry as outside.

There was nothing in the cowshed except for a few buckets and hay. Shirou looked at a large pile of hay in the corner, reached out and parted the hay, and found a small hole inside. Inside, a little girl was curled up, holding a baby in swaddling clothes, staring wide-eyed at Shirou.

"Bad guy?! Just kill Afeng! Don't hurt Tadasuke!" The frightened little girl, who was tightly hugging the baby, cried out to Shirou, her small body trembling.

"I'm not a bad person. Everything's alright outside now, come out. Little girl, what's your name?" Shirou took two steps back and gave the little girl a reassuring smile.

The little girl stared at Shirou for a long time without saying a word.