Thinking that he might witness the rise of a young Sword Saint, the old swordmaster felt honored to be part of it.
That day, Hebe challenged seven major schools in succession and defeated nine swordmasters.
The name of the demon fox shook Kyoto.
Hebe stepped out through the gates of the Shigakukan.
This was a dojo that taught Kyoshin Meichi-ryū.
So far, the three most renowned and populous schools in Kyoto—the Shintō Munen-ryū, Hokushin Ittō-ryū, and Kyoshin Meichi-ryū—had all acknowledged their defeat.
Yet the progress on her main quest remained at 0.
Honestly, that was strange. Hebe had never encountered anything like this before.
Back in the Heian era, whenever she worked toward this goal, she would receive at least some positive feedback. Yet this time, the progress bar had not budged at all.
Did I work toward the wrong goal? Hebe thought calmly. No, that should not be it. I really am walking the path of "finding my own sword"...
She looked up at the sky and did not immediately head for her next destination.
The girl with linen-colored long hair slowed her pace and walked leisurely along the artificially dug river channel within the city.
Her wooden clogs tapped crisply against the stone-paved road. Water murmured by, and Hebe's thoughts gradually settled.
She stopped by a bridge and watched the pedestrians come and go.
Hebe began recalling everything she had done since arriving in the late Bakumatsu period.
Right from the start, she had run headlong into the Shinsengumi. A single disagreement had been enough for both sides to start fighting.
The Shinsengumi had then been defeated by her power, while Kondō Isami himself had suffered a mental blow. He had gone from commander of the Shinsengumi to the gatekeeper who watched her door... No matter how