The Charming Female Swordsman

Led by Leo, Asuna Yuuki once again arrived in the basement, reaching the magic circle where the mountain of books had been moved away yesterday.

"Zheng--"

The magic circle emitted a red glow, with rays of light rising from its lines like a barrier, causing a figure to manifest from within.

The figure slowly stepped out, sighing with emotion as she walked.

"The human world, huh? It's been such a long time since I've been back."

The voice was neither pleasant nor soft; in fact, it felt somewhat boorish. However, when Leo and Asuna Yuuki both saw the full appearance of the person who had stepped out of the magic circle, they were both stunned.

This was because she was a woman who, from any angle, was incredibly eye-catching.

The woman wore a trendy blue short-skirt style kimono, layered with a red maple-patterned haori vest. Two swords were tied at her waist. Her white hair, with a slight reddish tint, was tied up. With her well-proportioned figure and fair skin, she looked both dignified and alluring, making it impossible not to be drawn to her.

"Who are you...?"

Leo was both surprised by her dignified and alluring appearance and felt a sense of familiarity.

The female swordsman immediately turned her gaze toward Leo, followed by a smile that could only be described as refreshing.

"You must be young master Leo Eligos, right?" The female swordsman laughed boisterously while actually wiping the corner of her mouth, muttering, "What an incredible pretty boy. It seems I haven't come to the wrong place."

"Are, are you my swordsmanship teacher?" Asuna Yuuki looked at her, asking with some uncertainty.

"Oh, oh! You must be the knight that Sona Sitri mentioned who needs swordsmanship instruction, right?" The female swordsman looked Asuna Yuuki over and smiled. "Mm-hmm, you're quite the incredible young girl yourself. I'm already starting to look forward to the lessons ahead."

The corners of Leo and Asuna Yuuki's eyes twitched simultaneously.

Why did it feel like this person wasn't very reliable?

Even though she was an alluring female swordsman, why did she give off the vibe of a lecherous middle-aged man?

Asuna Yuuki already wanted to keep her distance, while Leo felt that the person was becoming increasingly familiar.

"Excuse me, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"

Leo asked directly.

"That's true, my apologies. That was rude of me."

The alluring female swordsman scratched her head in embarrassment, then grinned.

"I am Shinmen Musashi-no-kami Fujiwara no Genshin. You can both just call me Musashi."

Shinmen Musashi-no-kami Fujiwara no Genshin...

Upon hearing this name, Leo and Asuna Yuuki first muttered it to themselves, and a few seconds later, their expressions shifted.

"Are you Miyamoto Musashi...?!"

Asuna Yuuki exclaimed in shock.

Leo also stared at the other party with burning eyes, finally understanding why he had felt such a sense of familiarity.

Miyamoto Musashi—this was a name known to everyone in this country, from eighty-year-old elders to three-year-old toddlers.

She was a master swordsman from the end of the Sengoku period and the beginning of the Edo period. Born in Sakushu, or present-day Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture, her childhood name was Bennosuke. Because her father was a martial arts instructor serving the Shinmen family, the lords of Takeyama Castle, the family bestowed the name Shinmen upon her. She became a martial arts expert known as Shinmen Munisai, established a juttejutsu dojo in Yoshino-go, Miyamoto Village, and regarded that place as her hometown. Thus, she later took the surname Miyamoto, becoming the household name Miyamoto Musashi.

She left behind numerous legends in history, especially during the decade when she was in her twenties, during which she crossed blades with many martial arts masters. She created the Niten Ichi-ryu school of swordsmanship, went through over sixty duels in her life without a single defeat, and even defeated seventy-six members of the Yoshioka school. Her decisive battle against Sasaki Kojiro on Ganryu Island is still considered a classic to this day, remaining a popular subject for entertainment programs.

Throughout her life, she participated in various battles, including but not limited to the Battle of Sekigahara, the Siege of Osaka, and the Shimabara Rebellion. In her later years, she served the Hosokawa clan and authored military treatises such as Hyodo Kyo, The Book of Five Rings, Goho no Tachi Michi no Jo, and Hyoho Sanju-go Kajo, earning her the reputation as the strongest swordsman in history.

And now, this strongest swordsman, who enjoyed such immense fame in history, had actually appeared here?

Moreover, she was in the form of a woman.

This... was simply jaw-dropping.

"I suppose you find it hard to believe?" Miyamoto Musashi seemed accustomed to such reactions from others, saying with a hint of helplessness, "I can understand it, but it's still a bit disheartening to have my identity questioned all the time."

"So?" Leo already had the answer in his heart, but he feigned surprise and asked, "Are you truly Miyamoto Musashi herself?"

"Genuine and authentic. Miyamoto Musashi of the Niten Ichi-ryu, that is I." Miyamoto Musashi was still smiling, but her gaze became much more serious. "As for the gender difference from the one you all know, the reason is actually quite simple: I hid this fact when I was still human."

"It had to do with my father's wish to have a son to inherit everything he had, as well as the necessity of making such a choice given the background of that era."

"In my time, how should I put it? If a girl were to carry a sword and go around challenging famous swordsmen, she wouldn't just be looked down upon—she'd likely be kicked out before even getting to meet them, wouldn't she?"

Although Miyamoto Musashi was the strongest swordsman in history, what people found most fascinating about her life were the repeated challenges she issued before achieving that title.

She was essentially a ronin. Before establishing her dojo in Yoshino-go, Miyamoto Village, her favorite thing to do was to travel around, seeking out famous swordsmen and challenging them.

So, it seemed understandable that she would make such a choice.

"I had thought I would live my whole life like that, as a man, until the day I died. But fortunately, I encountered another world—a more powerful, more fascinating world that was even more worth challenging."

Miyamoto Musashi smiled happily.

"So, when that person extended an olive branch, hoping I would become her peerage and her 'knight,' I didn't hesitate to accept."

Since then, Miyamoto Musashi had reclaimed her female form and had lived until this day.

He... no, it should be she now.

The era when she was human had passed hundreds of years ago. If she were still human, she would have long since returned to dust. But since she had become a devil, those hundreds of years meant nothing.

For devils, whose lifespans often reach into the thousands of years, a few centuries were hardly worth mentioning.

Asuna Yuuki felt dizzy from the sheer unreality of the situation. Leo, meanwhile, felt a twinge of self-reproach; he had been so negligent in researching the members of the devil king's peerage that he had no idea Miyamoto Musashi was still alive in this world. Not only was she a woman, but she had actually become a member of the current devil king Leviathan's peerage. It was all truly bizarre.

However...

"To have Miyamoto Musashi herself offer to instruct you in swordsmanship—it looks like you'll really have to put in the effort, Asuna."

Leo turned to Asuna Yuuki beside him and spoke with a teasing tone.

"Well, don't put it like that. I used to run a dojo, so teaching a student is just getting back to my old trade."

Although Miyamoto Musashi was a stunning female swordsman, her every movement still carried the bold, unrestrained air of a male master swordsman. The habits she had formed as a human were deeply ingrained in her instincts. It was the way she looked at him with eyes shining with interest that made Leo feel somewhat uneasy.

Leo vaguely remembered that while she was male in history, her true gender was female, and she undoubtedly had a preference for men. Specifically, she had a penchant for delicious and handsome young boys...

I'm not being targeted, am I?

Is this a win, or a total loss?

"Um... please, treat me well."

Asuna Yuuki finally accepted the reality before her. After hesitating on the spot for a moment, she eventually bowed to Miyamoto Musashi.

"There's no need to be so formal. I don't care much for worldly etiquette; let's just get along as friends." Miyamoto Musashi smiled at Asuna Yuuki. "Like I said before, just call me Musashi."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." While Asuna Yuuki was still hesitating, Leo nodded and immediately asked, "Since Miss Musashi is a member of the current devil king Leviathan's peerage, your rank as a devil must be quite high, right?"

Faced with Leo's question, Miyamoto Musashi shook her head.

"Lord Eligos overestimates me. Although I am a member of the devil king's peerage, my talent for demonic power isn't particularly high. Even after hundreds of years, my rank among devils is only equivalent to that of a middle-class devil."

As she spoke, Miyamoto Musashi spread her devil wings. There were two pairs, four wings in total—indeed, only the level of a middle-class devil.

"My only true skill worth boasting about is the sword. Nothing more, nothing less. One blade three bows; the end of my training is to reach the infinite. My distant, unreachable dream is a single strike that can conquer time and space—"

Miyamoto Musashi placed her hand on the sword at her waist. A look appeared on her face that would make any warrior instinctively tremble—a look filled with pure fighting spirit.

In that moment, Asuna Yuuki aside, Leo felt a truly lethal threat.

The female swordsman before him might have a lower devil rank than his own, but relying on the two swords in her hands, the strength she could unleash was definitely greater than his!

And by a wide margin, at that!

At the very least, without using his sacred gear, he would absolutely be no match for her!

She was a swordsman capable of going head-to-head with an ultimate-class devil, possessing strength that far exceeded her rank as a devil!

"Following my master's instructions, I have come here to teach you what it means to wield a sword."

Miyamoto Musashi said to Asuna Yuuki.

"No time like the present. Let's begin immediately."