Side Story 1: Shirou Emiya of the Ancient Era
Winter.
It's a bit cold.
Snowflakes drifted down from the sky.
A thick layer of snow had settled in the courtyard.
The vast expanse of white snow weighed down the pine and bamboo trees in the yard, concealing the filth in the corners, and seemingly also covering up the sins committed by the owner of the yard.
This is the residence of a Daimyo.
As the leader of a country, Daimyo would certainly not want his noble body to go out in this weather and catch a cold, but should instead summon his ministers to a banquet.
The stoves beside the host and guests were burning charcoal, filling the room with warmth that extended into the corridor, so much so that servants had to fan the ministers who were sensitive to the heat.
"Come on, have a drink!"
Daimyo, seated at the head of the table, raised his glass in a toast, laughing as he recounted the origin of the wine in his cup, "I spent a fortune hiring a Ninja Sect master; he killed an entire village of lowly people to steal this fine wine for me! Everyone should definitely try it!"
"The wine has a very mellow and rustic taste!"
"That money was definitely well spent!"
"Your Daimyo is willing to spare no expense for a cup of fine wine, and is even willing to share it with us, your subordinates."
Your capacity for alcohol and your capacity for drinking are as vast as the sea!
The guests in the hall laughed and praised loudly, not caring that the wine spilled from the bamboo cups on their hands, and even discussing it with great interest.
"Speaking of which—"
"The Ninja Sect members are really useful—"
"These people are stupid; there's no need to pay them any attention."
Among them, many people became curious about the Ninja Sect, because this organization had gradually flourished on the continent after that great disaster.
The people of this land gradually became accustomed to the existence of the Ninja Sect. They knew that the Ninja Sect had many experts and a magical power that could help people solve their problems.
Nature.
Not all members of the Ninja Sect are benevolent and righteous people.
A very small minority of them obtained that power through the Ninja Sect, and while traveling outside the Ninja Sect, they gradually discovered that this power had even greater uses.
For example, they could seek refuge with nobles and powerful Daimyo to gain wealth and status; they could kill and plunder to amass riches; and they could seize beautiful women as wives.
These people still act in the name of the Ninja Sect, but they dare not act too recklessly because they know that the founder of the Ninja Sect is still alive.
In comparison, these wandering masters of the Ninja Sect preferred to serve the powerful and wealthy for payment rather than learn martial arts and literature to sell to the imperial family.
"Snort-"
"I overestimated their intelligence."
"I had heard rumors about the Ninja Sect and thought Ninja Sect would help those lowly people hinder my rule!"
The Daimyo sitting in the main seat spoke of these wandering Ninja Sect masters with a disdainful sneer, "It seems that as long as they still have desires, they are just a bunch of dogs serving us. As long as we give them a few bones to fill their stomachs, they will obediently follow orders."
"What an innocent and adorable bunch of puppies!"
As the obese Daimyo spoke, he couldn't help but smile. His laughter suddenly grew louder and louder, even bordering on boisterous, as he exclaimed, "Hahaha, come on, let's drink! I hope there will be more and more dogs like this in the future!"
"Hahaha—that's it!"
"Hahahaha—"
The room was immediately filled with cheerful laughter, and some guests applauded the Daimyo with laughter, because everyone thought that what the Daimyo said was indeed very wise.
"Who goes there!"
Daimyo's expression suddenly changed!
Because he heard applause coming from behind the screen behind him!
The Daimyo sitting in the main seat subconsciously turned around and saw a sharp glint of a blade, which frightened him so much that he tumbled and knocked over the table!
Whoosh!
A flash of light appeared!
The entire screen was instantly cleaved in two by this sharp blade!
"There's an assassin!"
"Help! Someone come quick!"
The guests present jumped up in fear and unease.
Some people panicked and tried to hide in all directions, some shouted for the guards outside the door to come and protect the emperor, and some suppressed their fear and tried to help the Daimyo to safety!
"Sh-"
"Please be quiet."
The newcomer wore a hood, held a katana in his right hand, and raised a finger to his lips with his left hand, signaling everyone present to quiet down.
"Your place—"
Some guests opened their mouths as if to say something.
Whoosh!
The vines suddenly burst out of the ground!
These vines pierced directly into the guests' bodies, growing instantly as if they were alive, completely penetrating their bodies!
Fresh blood began to flow silently down the floor.
The scene quieted down.
The Daimyo stood up with the help of the two remaining ministers.
The Daimyo, forcing himself to remain calm, pushed aside the minister beside him and glanced at the scene, now littered with corpses.
He looked solemnly at the uninvited guests at the banquet.
"Who exactly are you, sir?"
"So calm? Truly worthy of Daimyo in this country."
The uninvited guest exclaimed in admiration, praising the Daimyo's great achievements. "No wonder you were able to gather a nation together in such a short time after that great disaster. If it weren't for my arrival, you might have had the chance to unify this land."
"Thank you for your kind words."
Daimyo's mind gradually calmed down.
It is indeed something to be proud of to establish a country so quickly.
When many places on the mainland were just villages, he relied on his bloodline from Daimyo family before the great disaster to gather a group of people and quickly establish a stable country, and even took the opportunity to gradually expand outward.
"Since you can see a part of the truth of this world, let me introduce myself briefly."
The newcomer reached out and removed his hood, revealing a young man's face. His face was very peaceful, and he looked like a kind person.
"My name is Shirou Emiya."
"Currently, we are searching for those in the world who have spread Chakra throughout the world through the Ninja Sect. If you have any information about the Ninja Sect, please do not conceal it."
"Phew, I see—"
The Daimyo took a deep breath, his mood gradually relaxing. "The Ninja Sect expert I hired headed south because I gave him a new commission to gather intelligence on several villages in the south."
I heard that the villages there are very prosperous.
How long has he been gone?
"Left two days ago—"
"Thank you so much."
Shirou Emiya politely bowed in thanks.
"No need to be so polite, it's just a misunderstanding between us—"
The Daimyo breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to say something more to the other party to completely dispel the other party's hostility, but saw the other party's figure suddenly disappear from his sight!
I'm sorry.
"I never said I'd let you go—"
Shirou Emiya's voice echoed in the room.
"Where did he go—?"
The Daimyo, somewhat surprised, wanted to ask his minister.
However, before he could finish speaking, he felt a chill run through his body as a sharp katana pierced his heart from behind!
"Why?"
"For no reason."
Shirou Emiya stood behind the Daimyo and calmly explained, "Killing you was just a piece of cake, no need to be so polite with me—"
"You rascal—your knife's really sharp—"
Daimyo slowly lowered his head, feeling the strength in his body disappear, and looked helplessly at the section of the blade stained with bright red blood that had emerged from his chest.
"What a pity."
Your praise is of no value to me.
Shirou Emiya sighed with some regret, then suddenly drew his sword and beheaded the two terrified ministers behind him.
The entire room was filled with the stench of blood.
Shirou Emiya wiped his sword clean, put his hood back on, opened the door to the room, and disappeared into the snowstorm once more.
It's warm here, perfect for spending the winter.
However, Shirou Emiya did not have time to stay here.
For a newcomer to this Shinobi World, who is in a primitive era, there is no time to waste resting. He needs to make himself stronger as quickly as possible during this period.