"They were just the pointless grumblings of a bored old man, I told you. Why did you have to make that face?"
The old man turned his head aside with a mournful expression.
"Ah, why must you always speak such lonely words? You, a swordsman as elegant as the wind, who should have become my worthy rival. Though it can no longer be realized in this life."
"But one day—"
Thud!
In his daze, it seemed as though flames stood between the two of them.
The old man's eyes shone brightly with hope as he looked at the longsword-wielding swordsman.
"It will be, upon another stage—"
"...Or, alas, if this place is Hell!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
Though this was the quiet and elegant Spirit Rock Cave—
"This old man will devour demon flesh raw, rise to his feet, and with you—"
"Duel!"
The longsword-wielding swordsman smiled.
At the old man's struggle—
He smiled happily, smiled contentedly.
"There is no need to worry. Nor is there any need to lament."
"What?"
The old man was somewhat bewildered.
"Just now, I truly crossed blades with Miyamoto Musashi."
"I have already witnessed what true Niten Ichi-ryu is."
"So... you need not worry, old man."
He closed his eyes.
"Shinmen Musashi... has indeed reached the realm known as [Zero] before my very eyes."
The old man—was somewhat astonished.
Yet he did not seem surprised in the least.
He merely nodded mechanically.
"I see. So that is how it is."
"...Haha, alas."
"If that is what you say, then this old man shall believe it."
"Musashi reached the Seat of Emptiness and came to know [Zero]."
"So that is how it is. So that is how it is, Sasaki Kojiro, my destiny."
"This truly..."
"Is quite a..."
"Beautiful tale."
"Truly a beautiful tale, one fit