Shimotsuki Village

A gentle breeze swept across the emerald grass, raising waves like those on the sea.

The three of them walked along the road that cut through the grass, heading toward the village in the distance.

As they passed fields of wheat, many villagers were drawn to Louis's saintly appearance and unconsciously stood there, dumbstruck.

Louis was completely unfazed. He had long since gotten used to it.

Beside him, Uta poked her head out and grinned at Louis. "Louis, they're all looking at you!"

"By the way, have you really never considered debuting with me? We could become global superstars, conquer the world with our songs, and beat up the World Government!"

"I think I'll pass. One smug, narcissistic brat is enough." Louis shot back without mercy.

"Louis, you're so good at pretending!"

Uta put on an expression of utter amazement.

"You really should debut as an actor instead!"

"..."

Louis ignored Uta and asked Yelena, "Did you bring a sack?"

"A sack? What for?" Uta still hadn't realized how serious things were.

"Here!" Yelena smiled and handed Louis the sack she'd brought to carry vegetables and fruit, entirely without a care.

Louis took the sack and looked at Uta without a hint of emotion. "Sorry, this is the only color I have."

Uta's smile froze, and her eyes fell on the sack.

"!!" She quickly realized how serious the situation was and instinctively backed away a few steps.

Then she forced a smile.

"Hey, can we work this out?"

Louis: →_→

"..."

"Mm~ mm!" A strange sound rang out.

A moment later, the two of them continued down the road.

Before they reached the crowded part of town, Louis let Uta, her face full of resentment, out of the sack.

As soon as she was out, Uta blinked her tear-filled eyes and cast Yelena a betrayed look.

Yelena had already figured out what Uta was like. She smiled, gently stroked Uta's smooth hair, and asked, "Want to come with me and see if there's a music shop around here?"

"Really?" At once, Uta's sorrow vanished, and her eyes sparkled.

"Of course!"

Louis shook his head at the sight. Uta was still too young. What sort of remote village in the East Sea would have a music shop?

Then Yelena turned to Louis. "Louis, do you want to come with us?"

"No. When you're done, just find me at the local dojo."

"Okay!" Yelena nodded.

She knew Louis's senses were astonishingly sharp. He could often tell what was nearby from a great distance.

If he said there was one, there definitely was. The two of them could simply ask someone for directions once they were done.

After a long while, Louis followed a road that drew countless eyes along the way. Having stirred the hearts of women of all ages, he finally arrived at his destination.

"Isshin Dojo"

Louis looked up at the sign in front of him, two red katanas crossed together, and fell into thought.

"Is this the Shimotsuki Family's emblem from Wano Country?"

As Louis pondered, a petite girl with short black hair, dressed plainly and holding a white katana, stood frozen not far away.

"There are really people with wings in this world..."

As a swordswoman, her eyesight was excellent. She could easily tell that the wings on the other person's back weren't decorations.

But soon, she put aside her scattered thoughts and regained her composure. She'd seen people six or seven meters tall before. A pair of wings wasn't all that strange.

She took a deep breath and asked, "Excuse me, who are you? What brings you here?"

Louis turned to look at the girl with her black hair cut to her ears and smiled as he explained why he'd come.

"I'd like to see the master of this place."

As he spoke, Louis had already recognized the girl: Kuina Shimotsuki.

He wasn't surprised to see her. She died in 1510, but no specific month had been given. It was only April now, so, to be safe, she might still have seven or eight months left.

The girl glanced casually at the sword at the winged boy's waist, and a look of understanding flashed in her eyes.

She nodded slowly, putting on an air of familiarity. "I see. You're here to challenge the dojo too, right?"

Louis: "..."

"Creak." The tightly shut door swung open, and a middle-aged man appeared before Louis. He wore a plain kimono, his long black hair tied in a ponytail, and transparent glasses rested on his face.

He seemed to have noticed Louis's arrival long ago and opened the door in advance to welcome him.

"Guest, please come in!"

"Sure!" Louis didn't stand on ceremony and stepped into Isshin Dojo.

Then the bespectacled middle-aged man smiled at the short-haired girl. "Kuina, why did you take a real sword outside?"

Kuina lowered her head and tightened her grip on the sword. "I'm going to have my two-thousand-and-first duel with Zoro!"

"Where's Zoro?" the middle-aged man asked again.

"..."

A look of utter disbelief appeared on Kuina's face. "I don't know. He was just in the back..."

The middle-aged man covered his face, speechless.

Inside the dojo, Louis stood surrounded by a group of kids, the corner of his mouth twitching.

He sighed inwardly. "As expected of the king of getting lost..."

The next moment, he thought of the number two thousand and one and took back his earlier judgment.

Kuina probably didn't have seven or eight months left. The Supreme Grand Staircase might take her away tonight.

Much later, Louis sat in the middle of the dojo. The kids who'd been pestering him with questions had already been sent off by the middle-aged man to practice their swordsmanship.

A moment later, Koshiro Shimotsuki brought a teapot over and sat down across from Louis, pouring him a cup of tea.

"Guest, may I ask what I should call you?"

"Louis."

Then Koshiro sat with his knees together and legs folded beneath him. His eyes swept over the spear and Seven Star Sword Louis had set on the floor, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Is that... a Cursed Blade?"

Koshiro hadn't noticed outside that Louis's sword was cursed. Only now did he sense the sinister, ominous aura radiating from the double-edged sword.

Out of politeness, Koshiro didn't immediately ask about the sword. Instead, he looked Louis in the eyes and asked with a smile:

"Mr. Louis, may I ask why you've come to Isshin Dojo?"

Koshiro had a far keener eye than Kuina. He could tell at a glance that Louis hadn't come to challenge the dojo.

He could even tell that Louis wasn't a swordsman and hadn't come bearing any hostility.

Louis took a slow sip of tea, then explained why he'd come. "I'd like to find Kosaburo Shimotsuki and ask him to forge a weapon for one of my companions."

Louis's question made Koshiro lose focus for a moment.

Then he smiled and said, "I don't know how you learned my father's name, but he passed away peacefully of old age a year ago."