Swinging My Sword 100,000 Times; I Want to Learn Breathing Techniques / Yoriichi's Test: I Won

As Scribe looked at the man holding him, he murmured inwardly.

My era is about to begin!

Wielding the Blade One Hundred Thousand Times, I Want to Learn the Breathing Technique

Winter gave way to spring, and cold gave way to heat. Before he knew it, Scribe had been in this world for seven years.

As early as when he was three years old, Scribe had already been able to wield a blade and slash with it.

Over those five years, he had endured bitter cold and scorching heat, as well as heavy rain and hail.

But no matter the hardships or obstacles, none of them had stopped him from swinging his blade.

Now, he was only a tiny step away from completing his initial mission.

99998/100000

99999/100000

100000/100000

As he counted silently, the instant he reached one hundred thousand, the system's voice rang out in Scribe's mind.

Congratulations, Host. Proficient Swordsmanship has advanced to Master Swordsmanship.

Mission: Swing the blade one hundred thousand times completed.

Task completion detected ahead of schedule. An additional reward will be issued for this mission.

Gift pack, including additional rewards, has been delivered. Open it?

Taking a deep breath, Scribe calmed his excited heart.

Open it.

Opening gift pack... Opening complete.

The instant the gift pack finished opening, a string of notification sounds appeared in Scribe's mind.

Based on the Host's own abilities, Master Swordsmanship (0/1,000,000) has increased to 300,000/1,000,000.

Based on the Host's own abilities, Novice Body Technique (1320/10000) has advanced to Proficient Body Technique (10000/100000).

Based on the Host's own abilities, Basic Culinary Arts (892/1000) has advanced to Proficient Culinary Arts.

Just as Scribe thought the rewards were over, the system spoke again.

Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the skill: Basic Blade Forging (0/1000).

Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the skill: Proficient Medicine.

Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the skill: Proficient Economics.

Proficient Culinary Arts/Medicine/Economics: 0/100000.

From the system, Scribe learned that all skills could be divided into seven tiers: Basic, Novice, Proficient, Master, Grandmaster, Transcendent, and Supreme.

Every tier required points to advance.

Advancing from Basic to Novice required one thousand points, while advancing from Novice to Proficient required ten thousand points.

Other than the unknown requirements for advancing from Transcendent to Supreme, every other tier could be advanced through points.

Tiers below Master could be improved through daily training.

After advancing to Master, one needed either system rewards or had to find a method personally.

This first top-up reward had practically sent Scribe soaring.

Not only had it raised his Master Swordsmanship to three hundred thousand points, it had also elevated his body technique and culinary arts to the Proficient tier.

And then there were the newly acquired blade-forging skill, Proficient Medicine, and Proficient Economics. Those three were even more unexpected delights.

First-time rewards really were great. This felt amazing.

Just as he thought the system's rewards had ended there, another voice rang out in Scribe's mind.

Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the skill Ageless Body (Simple Version/Deluxe Version voice-over).

For some reason, the moment he heard this so-called voice-over, Scribe felt a chill run down his spine.

It was as if the system had dug a huge pit and was waiting for him to jump into it.

Having learned from his previous experience, he decisively chose the Deluxe Version voice-over.

Deluxe Version voice-over loading... Loading successful.

The next second, all kinds of instrument sounds began playing in his mind.

Are you still troubled by getting older? Are you still irritated by aging?

With this system-produced Ageless Body, your body will remain at peak strength forever!

You will stay vigorous and powerful forever! Your energy will be absolutely overflowing!

Not 998, not 688, only—

Before the system could finish explaining, Scribe directly blocked out the rest.

Put simply, the Ageless Body meant he no longer had to worry about growing old.

Lowering his head to inspect his body, Scribe shrugged.

Well, having it was better than not having it.

At the very least, he no longer had to worry about dying of old age, the most awkward way to die.

After moving his body slightly, popping sounds like bursting beans came from all over Scribe's body.

His understanding of swordsmanship had deepened, and his body's reactions had become sharper and faster.

Even though the natural disadvantages of a child's body still limited him, Scribe remained certain.

He was already stronger than he had been in his previous life!

Just as he was about to find a place to test his strength, a set of footsteps sounded not far behind him.

Turning around, he saw Tsugikuni Yoriichi standing there in a set of samurai robes.

Master.

After bringing him back, Yoriichi had not taught him any profound swordsmanship or body techniques.

He had only taught Scribe some relatively simple training methods.

And because Yoriichi preferred peace and quiet, their master-and-disciple residence was located in a very remote place.

Other than the occasional person delivering food and other supplies, almost no one else ever came by.

On top of that, Yoriichi often went out to hunt demons, leaving him even less time to stay by Scribe's side.

That was why, over the past seven years, Scribe could only continuously hone his swordsmanship while making very slow progress in other areas.

But even so, Scribe held no resentment toward Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

The fact that Yoriichi had raised him alone was enough for Scribe to respect him for the rest of his life.

You have changed from before.

After carefully looking Scribe over, Tsugikuni Yoriichi spoke.

Every time I return, you renew my understanding of you.

Smiling faintly, Scribe said, "Have I? I merely persisted in things that ordinary people find difficult to persist in."

Yoriichi nodded and said nothing more.

A trace of satisfaction flashed through his eyes. He was very pleased with Scribe's answer.

He had spoken at one year old, picked up a blade at three, and had continued training himself for the next five years.

Even though Yoriichi had never given Scribe much care or instruction, he had persisted all on his own.

As his disciple, if Scribe had been willing, he could have relied on that status to coast through life without doing anything.

But Scribe had chosen a difficult path—the difficult road to becoming stronger.

Talented, capable, humble, and aware of when to advance and retreat.

Those twelve words were Yoriichi's highest praise for Scribe.

Train well. I will return to rest first. If there is anything you do not understand, come ask me.

Born unable to express his emotions, Yoriichi could only convey his love for his disciple through simple words.

Just as he turned to leave, Scribe suddenly spoke.

Please wait!

Yoriichi's raised foot stopped instantly, and he turned to look at Scribe.

Though somewhat curious, he knew Scribe would not call out to him without reason.

Only when something was extremely important to him would Scribe seek out Yoriichi.

Taking a deep breath, Scribe looked into Yoriichi's eyes.

Their gazes met, and Yoriichi saw something in the other's eyes that had not been there before.

It was a desire—a desire for something new!

Master, I want to learn the Breathing Technique!

Yoriichi's Test, I Won

The moment those words fell, the scene immediately went silent.

With his sharp eyes, Scribe noticed that Yoriichi's body had just trembled slightly.

Clearly, Yoriichi did not want Scribe to learn the Breathing Technique.

Or rather, he did not want him to learn it too early.

Of course, Yoriichi was not deliberately making things difficult for him. Rather, it was his way of protecting Scribe.

The road to becoming stronger was difficult and painful. Tsugikuni Yoriichi hoped his disciple could grow up as healthily and happily as possible.

Besides, learning the Breathing Technique and swordsmanship meant becoming stronger, and becoming stronger meant taking part in trials.

Once he became an official member of the Demon Slayer Corps, he would have to take on the duty of hunting demons!

Yoriichi knew very well what happened to those Demon Slayers. He did not want his disciple to endure that pain too early!

If possible, he would rather Scribe become an ordinary person and live happily.

But clearly, Scribe would not live according to Tsugikuni Yoriichi's arrangements.

After experiencing a rare emotional fluctuation, Yoriichi quickly calmed himself.

His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

I'll pretend you never said that—

No, I must learn the Breathing Technique!

Interrupting Yoriichi, Scribe's expression was extremely solemn and serious.

This is the request of my life!

Faced with his disciple, Yoriichi finally wavered.

All right, but I have a test.

As he spoke, Yoriichi took a wooden sword from a nearby rack.

Next, I will not use the Breathing Technique, and you will spar with me.

The condition for passing is to cut my clothes!

It sounded as though the test would be simple.

But Scribe knew that it was far more difficult than it appeared.

Though he had never crossed blades with Yoriichi, he understood very well just how strong his master was.