Your Excellency Is Strong, but My Art Style Is Above Yours! Chapter 29

He did not even have a compass anymore. He was relying entirely on these people to show him the way!

Besides, saving a life was worth more than building a seven-story pagoda~

"Waaah... Finally, finally, I can go home..."

"I thought I was just going to die for nothing..."

"Sir Swordsman! He defeated the Dragon King and saved us!"

"The hero who drove back the dragon!"

"Banzai!"

CG Acquired

Dragon-Slaying Swordsman

Category: Art Style

Level: --

Quality: --

Rewards:

Art Style Value +3

Calculating...

Current Reiatsu Limit: 520!

--

Iori drove back quite a few Dangerous Species along the way. At last, guided by the survivors, he landed on the island nation he had long been thinking about.

Yet before he could properly experience the local customs, he received one fervent invitation after another. Some Warrior Generals and feudal lord Daimyos even came to him personally, wanting to "make friends" with Iori.

It turned out that the sailors he had rescued had spread word of his feat of slaying the dragon with a blade. Many of them held high positions in nearby city-states, and once those in power learned of Iori's strength, they naturally could not wait to extend an olive branch.

This was because the island nation was currently in the "Warring States period." Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of large and small states fought one another. Alliances and betrayals alike were commonplace, and amid all the scheming and deception, only overwhelming force was truly trustworthy.

And a powerful swordsman capable of standing against the Dragon King, the ruler of the seas—as they called that giant dragon—was absolutely worth any price these Daimyos had to pay to recruit!

Iori had no intention of becoming an official here. He first returned to the Soul Society to properly recover, then kept a low profile after coming back, asking around for information on things like "Imperial Arms" and "Orichalcum." By chance, he learned that this island nation had inherited the method of crafting special weapons called "Nether Treasures."

Furthermore, judging by the mark on its guard, the broken blade Gouetsu in his possession had been forged by Ise Kuwana, a family of hereditary swordsmiths. It was also a Nether Treasure, and one of above-average quality at that.

Disguised as a wandering swordsman undergoing martial training, he crossed the territories of six nations before finally arriving in Ise Province and successfully finding the highly respected Kuwana family.

Though the process of paying them a visit had some twists and turns, it went fairly smoothly overall. Once Iori brought out Gouetsu, the Kuwana family servant who recognized the broken blade's origins hurriedly welcomed him inside, then went to notify someone who could make the decisions.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting, Mr. Aizen."

After Iori had spent a quarter of an hour in the tea room, a large, powerfully built old man with thick hands and feet entered, dressed neatly in a haori and kimono.

His pure white topknot and beard showed that he was no longer young, but his physique was enough to put many strapping young men to shame. This was likely what people meant by an old general who only grew stronger with age.

However, he was not a professional warrior. Though he was counted among the prominent Warrior Clans, he had originally been an artisan. Only through the contributions and prestige accumulated generation after generation had his family gained the right to rule a city in martial Ise Province.

Kuwanoma Nobuyasu, the current head of the Kuwana family, sat down across from Iori. After the two exchanged brief pleasantries and names, Nobuyasu requested to borrow Gouetsu for inspection.

Iori naturally obliged and took out the broken blade. With a single glance, the swordsmith became certain that it was his family's work, then let out a deep sigh.

"So it truly is Gouetsu... This was my younger brother's work. He always wanted to forge the most powerful Nether Treasure, but his talent was insufficient and he was too impatient. Gradually, he strayed down the wrong path and actually sought to use wicked methods to compensate for the blade's flaws. That was how this blood-sacrifice-requiring Gouetsu came to be.

"But who could have imagined that the first person used for its Blood Sacrifice would be himself... Sigh..."

Incidentally, it had been proven that the Blood Sacrifice method did not work at all. That was also the most embarrassing part for the Kuwana family.

"Then the wielder of this blade, that Hitokiri Izou..."

"I already killed him," Iori said calmly.

"Good!"

Nobuyasu drew a deep breath, braced both hands against the floor, moved backward, and then bowed his head to Iori in thanks.

"My younger brother may have fallen into the Demonic Path, but he was still my blood relative. Since you avenged him, I, Kuwanoma Nobuyasu, must repay this debt of gratitude no matter what. If you ever—"

"No need to wait. Do it now."

"Hm?"

Nobuyasu looked up in surprise, but quickly understood. "That works too. Since you are a swordsman, you must need a divine weapon worthy of a Nether Treasure. Leave it to me!

"Do you have any particular requirements? Do you favor sharpness, resilience, or perhaps some special effect?"

"Mm... Do you know the Dragon King?"

"The Dragon King... You mean the dragon god Izumo Seisoryu, worshipped and feared by the Seven Coastal Kingdoms?"

"You call it something different, but yes, that's it."

Iori nodded and said with a serious expression, "My request is not demanding. Just forge a weapon that can slay a dragon."

Nobuyasu: "...Ah, a Dragon Slayer's Blade. Me?"

Dragon Jewel

Izumo Seisoryu, also known as the Dragon King, Azure Dragon, and Ibuki Ten Snake God—due to the Eastern Island Nation's long-standing chaos, different regions called it by different names.

Some nations regarded it as a guardian god, while others depicted it as a demon king that brought Natural Disasters. But one thing could be confirmed from the many legends and records:

This majestic and powerful giant dragon had already existed and ruled these seas as early as the Warring States period, or even before the very concept of a "nation" had appeared on the island.

It was a transcendent creature with a history equal to that of Far Eastern Civilization itself, one that had witnessed the growth and rise of this island nation's civilization. Given that, it was hardly strange that some nations worshipped it as a god.

Yet Izumo Seisoryu itself held no particular affection for the island nation. It merely regarded it as its territory and would not allow other Super Dangerous Species to encroach upon it. Humanity's one-sided worship had never created any close connection.

Around a thousand years ago—in an era so distant it seemed like mythology to the many small nations on the island—an army crossed the sea with the intention of subjugating Izumo Seisoryu. The island nation's rulers at the time viewed the foreign army as invaders.

In the end, the imperial forces were utterly slaughtered in the battle between the foreign army and Izumo Seisoryu. The rulers lost their authority from that point onward, entering a chaotic age of divided rule. There had been brief periods of stability over the past thousand years, but none lasted long, which was why the nations continued to wage war against one another even now.

As for the battle between the foreign army and the Azure Dragon, it ended with the complete annihilation of the fleet. The sovereign of sea and sky once again established its supreme position!

However, the foreign army had not been completely wiped out. A small number of elites returned successfully, and the Azure Dragon itself had suffered the most severe wounds of its life.

According to ancient records from that time, those foreigners had used many miraculous and powerful weapons in battle, and numerous inhumanly powerful warriors had appeared among them. That was the primary reason the Azure Dragon had been injured.

The islanders took in some surviving foreigners and learned from them that those special weapons were called Imperial Arms. Only warriors capable of facing a thousand enemies alone on the battlefield were qualified to receive one from their emperor.

Afterward, some islanders risked their lives to cross the sea and learn how to make such weapons on the continent. Though the vast majority never returned, some eventually came back successfully. They combined the techniques they had learned with the island nation's native forging arts, improving them generation after generation to create the current lineage of Nether Treasures.

Compared with Imperial Arms, Nether Treasures were far less powerful. The main reason was that no one on the island could hunt monsters on the level of Super Dangerous Species, so they could only use high-grade Dangerous Species or ordinary Dangerous Species as materials.

As a result, most Nether Treasures were not even as good as Ministerial Arms. The famed blade Gouetsu was already considered one of the better ones... Of course, even so, it far surpassed ordinary weapons and remained highly sought after throughout the island nation.

The Kuwana family of Ise Province was the most renowned maker of Nether Treasures, and among their many styles, blades and swords were the finest.

As the family head, Kuwanoma Nobuyasu might not have been the strongest smith in the entire island nation, but he was certainly among the top three. He had always possessed that confidence and had never doubted his own craftsmanship—

Until today!

When Iori said that he wanted a Dragon Slayer's Blade, Nobuyasu thought he had misheard. After confirming it again and again, he could not help falling silent.

His first thought was, Absolutely impossible, because a Nether Treasure of that level had never appeared in history!

But then he could not help thinking that he had long since mastered and innovated upon his family's forging techniques. He believed he was no worse than the craftsmen of a thousand years ago. He was merely constrained by various conditions; otherwise, he would surely achieve an unprecedented accomplishment!

"I'm afraid I cannot accept this request."

Kuwanoma Nobuyasu said apologetically, "I fear no one in the entire Far East can accomplish it."

"Why?" Iori asked seriously.

"Materials!"

Nobuyasu said solemnly, "Whether in Ise or other nations, the materials of aberrations—Dangerous Species—that can be found in their treasuries reach only Grade Two at most. There may perhaps be Grade One materials, but Grade One aberrations can destroy an entire fortress. Only the most elite armies and generals can drive them away or subjugate them.

"But materials from Grade One or Grade Two aberrations are completely insufficient to compare with Izumo Seisoryu. Even if special alloys are added, their strength would still be lacking, so..."

"So it's only a material problem?"

"Not only that. We also lack the experience to forge such a weapon... But generally speaking, everything else can be overcome. Only the materials are impossible!"

"But what about this?"

Iori brought over the package he carried with him, took out the box inside, opened it, and pushed it in front of Nobuyasu.

"This is..."

The old swordsmith leaned forward to look inside. The refreshing aura rushing toward him made his eyes widen in surprise. Within lay the azure jewel Iori had obtained after the previous battle.

Misty vapor swirled around the clear jewel, which emitted a faint, mysterious, beautiful glow. Vaguely, dragon- and serpent-like currents of energy seemed to coil around it. Even a beggar who could not read would recognize it as a peerless treasure, much less a well-traveled craftsman like Nobuyasu.

"A Dragon Ball! A Dragon Ball that only has an extremely small chance of forming within aberrations such as lesser dragons, giant serpents, and clam-like creatures!

"This size is not particularly astonishing, but this crystal-clear quality, and this wondrous sensation... What exactly is it?"

Nobuyasu had seen more than one Dragon Ball, including clam pearls as large as human heads. Yet instinctively, he felt that compared to the one before him, they were all worthless junk. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he looked toward Iori.

"May I ask what sort of jewel this is?"

"Didn't you say so? A Dragon Ball."

"I know it's a Dragon Ball. I'm asking what aberration—Gasp!"

It was as though lightning had struck Nobuyasu's mind. All manner of thoughts flooded in. Seeing Iori's calm demeanor, the most unbelievable possibility rose in his heart.

"Could this be from that dragon god... Ah, you are... There were rumors in the streets two days ago that a Great Swordsman who rode lightning and slew a dragon had appeared in one of the coastal nations. Was that truly not a lie?!"

A dragon slayer riding lightning? It was not exactly wrong... Just a little too chuuni.

"I don't know how this jewel was formed, but it was indeed left behind by Izumo Seisoryu... Or rather, given to me."

Iori said seriously, "If I hand this over to you, can you help me forge a Dragon Slayer's Blade?"

"Dragon Jewel..."

The words left Nobuyasu's mouth like a groan. He felt as though all strength had left his body. Never in his life had he felt such happiness, but he quickly steadied himself. He did not want to embarrass himself before Iori and lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"If that is truly the case, then I am willing to stake everything I have on it. Even if it costs me my life, I will draw out every last bit of this jewel's potential!"

"Good!"

Iori then added, "But I have one more request."

"Please, speak freely." Nobuyasu did not care. At this moment, even if Iori asked him to follow the example of the sages and die as a swordsmith for the sword he forged, he would likely agree.

"I will fully assist you in forging this sword. I will gather all the supplementary materials needed, and you need only consider how to push it to the limit.

"Besides that—I will also take part in the forging process and shape it with my own two hands!"

Descent, Dragon Sword: Ame-no-Murakumo!

Twenty days passed quickly after Iori handed the Dragon Ball over to Kuwanoma Nobuyasu. While studying forging techniques under him, Iori also traveled everywhere to subjugate Dangerous Species for use as materials.

Kuwanoma Nobuyasu had not been idle either. Although he had confidence in his skill, no one in the island nation had ever handled such high-grade material. To improve their odds, he invited nine master smiths with whom he was acquainted, gathering them all in Ise Province.

The Dragon Jewel was a priceless treasure to any swordsmith, and using it to forge a Dragon Slayer's Blade... The sense of accomplishment was beyond words.

Nobuyasu used the jewel as bait to invite them to participate in this forging. Naturally, they agreed without hesitation. They dismissed their attendants and stayed alone at the Kuwana estate, intending to keep the news sealed away and avoid attracting unnecessary trouble.

Nobuyasu took the lead, with the Nine Lives Masters assisting him. Before processing the jewel, they experimented with precious but inferior Dragon Balls, continuously verifying the shortcomings in their predecessors' techniques and using their own wisdom to improve them.

Almost all the materials Iori collected were thrown into this bottomless pit...

After repeated simulations and deductions, they determined the specific forging process and the foundational materials:

The Dragon Jewel would serve as the core, special alloy as its veins, while the supplementary materials would be the "heart of the Diamond Man," "tender branch of the Penglai Tree Demon," "pelt of the Flame Heart Rat," and "eggshell of the Flying Blood Swallow"!

All of these were Grade Two or even Grade One Dangerous Species unique to the island, making them extremely difficult to collect. Fortunately, these craftsmen were quite prestigious. Using the excuse that they were forging Nether Treasures as tribute for the Daimyos, they gathered some of the materials from the treasuries of powerful clans across the land.

But the Diamond Man and Penglai Tree Demon were powerful Dangerous Species between Grade One and Grade Two. No region had them in stock, so Iori ultimately had to make the trip himself.

--

That day, the city's residents discovered that a large number of dark clouds had silently gathered in the previously clear sky. The air also became increasingly damp, and they hurried home to wait for the coming torrential rain.

Yet strangely, the storm that should have come and gone abruptly never arrived. The clouds only grew thicker and thicker, hanging so low that they seemed about to press against the ground. A heavy atmosphere blanketed the entire city, causing every resident to sink into unease without realizing it.

Clang!

Clang!

For some reason, the people living near the city lord's residence could vaguely hear the repeated sound of metal being struck. Yet unlike ordinary ironworking, the sound possessed a distinct rhythm and crystalline clarity. Not only was it not irritating, but it made them unable to resist listening closely, their entire bodies and minds drawn into it.