Chapter 45

Both sides had revealed the power of their Armament Haki. If they kept fighting, they probably wouldn't be able to control the situation anymore.

Koshiro knew that a battle against an opponent of the Evil Swordsman's caliber could never be concluded in a short time. Once they truly lost themselves in the fight, nothing else mattered—the small woods behind his dojo would definitely be ruined beyond repair.

Moreover, a clash between swordsmen was far too dangerous. The slightest mistake could turn it into a battle to the death. If he won, that would be fine, but if he lost...

Koshiro was unwilling to think about such a terrifying consequence. He couldn't even bear to imagine it.

Adrian was somewhat helpless. He had never expected Koshiro, who had fought so fiercely moments ago, to simply stop playing!

This feeling of being stuck halfway was incredibly frustrating!

Adrian suddenly felt an urge to press Yubashiri against Koshiro's neck and force him to continue the fight!

[79. Chapter 79: A Last Wish (Extra chapter for 18,000 tips)]

"Koshiro, watch my Pee-Slant Sword Style!"

"Koshiro, the thing a sword must stay farthest from is pointless emotion!"

"Koshiro, with such a weak personality, what are you doing as a swordplay teacher? Go home and raise pigs!"

No matter how Adrian provoked or taunted him, Shimotsuki Koshiro remained completely unmoved.

Those narrowed eyes hidden behind his black round spectacles made Adrian want to rip them out and smash them like marbles!

Adrian muttered under his breath, "Damn it! What a Monster with narrow eyes!"

"I can't pretend I didn't hear that, Tao Ya." Koshiro pushed up his glasses and said calmly, "Actually, aren't you the real Monster here?"

Although tales of monstrous rookies were always circulating across the seas, Koshiro had never seen anyone as powerful as Tao Ya.

Someone so young and yet already such a Swordmaster would surely be a rare sight even in Wano Country, the land his father had described as being filled with warriors and Swordmasters...

And then there was a swordsman's intuition.

Koshiro always felt that Tao Ya seemed to conceal an even more powerful force within him. Yet until now, the only thing he had displayed before everyone at the dojo was his level of swordplay.

"I can't be called a Monster." Adrian waved his hand, refusing to accept the title. "I still have a long way to go!"

Koshiro sighed inwardly and shook his head slightly.

A little Monster who was never satisfied with his own strength was the truly terrifying kind!

Perhaps before long, the Evil Swordsman's reputation would no longer be limited to the East Blue and West Blue...

Whether it would be a good reputation or a bad one, though...

"Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever asked." Koshiro changed the subject. "What do you plan to do in the future, Tao Ya?"

"The future?"

Adrian was slightly stunned. He didn't know why Koshiro had suddenly shifted the topic to this.

But after recovering from his surprise, he couldn't help falling into thought.

After a long silence, Adrian slowly spoke.

"In the future...

"I'll probably spend some carefree, pleasure-filled days on the sea first. Whenever I'm short of money, I'll hunt down some notorious Pirates and collect their bounties from the Marines...

"Once I've grown tired of touring the Four Blues, I'll go take a look around the Grand Line. The first half or the second half, either is fine. The sky or the seafloor, either is fine...

"Preferably with a few young, beautiful human girls by my side. Of course, beauty is the most important thing. Whether they're human or not... Ahem...

"After that, around the year 1521 of the Sea Circle Calendar, I'll retire from being a Pirate Hunter and join the Marines. I'll live a leisurely life as a public servant, slacking off at work every day, eating snacks at work, and clocking in and out..."

The middle part of that speech made veins bulge on Koshiro's forehead. The final sentence was even more outrageous. Just what did you think the Marines were, Tao Ya?!

Still, Koshiro noticed one unusual point in Adrian's seemingly simple and happy ideal.

He asked, "Why the year 1521 of the Sea Circle Calendar?"

Hearing Koshiro's question, Adrian instantly returned from his fantasies about the future and fell into the awkward silence of a handsome man at a loss for words.

Why join the Marines only in the year 1521?

Naturally, it was because the Paramount War would break out before then. Afterward, through the World Government's World Military Draft, he could directly obtain the position of Marine Admiral!

After slacking off as an Admiral for two years, he could even confidently tell Boss Akainu, "I'm learning from Senior Kizaru!"

And what about afterward?

Afterward, Luffy would really be punching the Four Emperors and kicking Admirals on his way to becoming the Pirate King!

The World Government and the Celestial Dragons would probably collapse by then!

When the war broke out, he could act as an inside man and guide the way.

Then he could retire immediately after the war and collect an Admiral-level pension. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Play as much as possible while young, then find someone to support him in his old age and live out the rest of his days. Wasn't that the correct attitude toward life?

Unfortunately, he couldn't tell anyone that reason!

Adrian's mind raced. Soon, he came up with an explanation that sounded reasonable but was actually complete nonsense.

"Because... by then, I'll be a nearly forty-year-old agassi—an uncle. After experiencing all kinds of things, I probably won't hate those foolish Celestial Dragons and kingdom nobles quite so much. Joining the Marines would guarantee my livelihood while allowing me to continue contributing the last of my Justice. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Judging from Koshiro's expression, he had accepted the explanation only with great difficulty.

But then his expression turned strange. "In the year 1521 of the Sea Circle Calendar, you'll only be nearly forty? Thirty-nine? Doesn't that mean you're only about seventeen now?"

In Koshiro's mind, Adrian was instantly elevated from the level of a Monster to that of a prodigy.

An underage Swordmaster!

This was outrageous!

Adrian waved both hands repeatedly. "I'm seventeen by actual age, eighteen by nominal age, nearly nineteen in appearance, and practically twenty! I feel like I'm already getting old!"

Koshiro felt as if his heart had been stabbed more than once.

"Ahem!" He coughed heavily several times before abandoning the small talk and asking directly, "Tao Ya, would you be willing to learn the technique I mentioned earlier, the Haki known as Ryuo?"

Although Adrian marveled at Koshiro's incredible talent for steering conversations off course, he still nodded like a pecking chick.

This was Ryuo!

If he missed this opportunity, he could only go to Wano Country, deep in the New World, and try his luck!

If he hadn't been too embarrassed, Adrian would have asked Koshiro about it immediately after the battle ended!

Seeing how excited Adrian was, Koshiro nodded slightly. He believed he had a good eye for people.

He believed that everything Adrian had just said had been sincere. His life and interactions at the dojo over the past few days had confirmed it.

Who would have thought that the infamous Evil Swordsman of the West Blue and East Blue was, in reality, a righteous man who yearned to join the Marines?

Since that was the case, Koshiro was prepared to entrust something else to him.

"If you want to learn Ryuo, it isn't impossible. However, I have a task to entrust to you." Koshiro grew somewhat serious. "It is also my father's Last Wish, one he was never able to fulfill!"

Adrian straightened his expression as well. "Please, tell me."

"After you learn Ryuo, when you leave the Four Blues one day and head for the second half of the Grand Line, you must visit a country called Wano Country and investigate the Shimotsuki Family."

At the same time, a message appeared on the panel.

[You have triggered the quest [Last Wish]!]

[Quest Description: Gazing back at one's homeland, one's hair turns white with age. Thirty-two years ago, Shimotsuki Kozaburo led his warriors away from the isolated Wano Country. Until his death, he was never able to return to his homeland... Now, Shimotsuki Koshiro is asking for your help, hoping that you can make up for his father's greatest regret.]

[Quest Requirement: Go to Wano Country, investigate the current state of the Shimotsuki Family, and inform Shimotsuki Koshiro.]

[Quest Time Limit: None.]

[Quest Reward: 1,000,000 experience, Armament Haki Trait: Ryuo.]

[80. Chapter 80: Ryuo]

Faced with the sudden quest, Adrian naturally had no reason to refuse.

Moreover, Koshiro had taken such good care of him. Even without the reward, Adrian would have willingly helped him fulfill this request.

After all, Wano Country was one of the destinations he had decided on long ago!

As he accepted the quest, Adrian said to Koshiro, "Koshiro, please rest assured. Once I successfully reach the New World, the second half of the Grand Line, I'll definitely go to Wano Country and investigate. It's just that..."

Adrian deliberately left his sentence unfinished.

The meaning behind what he hadn't said was obvious.

In Adrian's memories, the Shimotsuki Family had once been a famous and powerful family in Wano Country's history. Its lineage had even produced a legendary dragon-slaying Swordmaster and Hero like Shimotsuki Ryuma.

But in recent years, the Shimotsuki Family had long since fallen into decline, with its connections dwindling.

By the time it first appeared in the original story, only Shimotsuki Kōka and Shimotsuki Toko remained as the family's sole descendants. Toko herself had even been adopted...

Even at this point in time, who knew how many members of the Shimotsuki Family were still left?

Koshiro naturally understood the unspoken meaning behind Adrian's words.

He shook his head calmly. "My father's homeland was his greatest regret in life. Even before his death, he kept talking about the cherry blossoms of his homeland... When you go to Wano Country, Tao Ya, you only need to confirm the Shimotsuki Family's condition. As for anything else, don't concern yourself too much."

After a pause, Koshiro seemed to recall something. His voice lowered as he said, "Actually, it's rather sad. I, a swordsman with Shimotsuki as my surname, never even saw what my original homeland looked like in my entire life. It truly is..."

Koshiro let out a faint sigh and stopped there.

Adrian comforted him. "I believe that one day, Master Koshiro, you'll also be able to leave the East Blue and travel to Wano Country."

"Impossible." Koshiro laughed bitterly. "If there had still been a slight possibility before, the current me can never bring myself to abandon Isshin Dojo and Machiko."

Adrian fell silent.

Only now did he finally understand why this Isshin Dojo master, who was very likely the hidden boss of the East Blue, was content to remain tucked away in this tiny corner of the world.

It was the power known as Responsibility!

After Shimotsuki Machiko gave birth and Kuina was born, that power of Responsibility would only grow stronger.

Until Kuina's accidental death, when the power of Responsibility that bound Koshiro to Isshin Dojo would instantly transform into an even greater Last Wish!

It was difficult to imagine what Koshiro's ending would have been without the appearance of Zoro, that "sword maniac" and "direction maniac."

Thinking of this, Adrian's expression changed slightly.

Kuina...

He pretended to speak casually. "Master Koshiro, come to think of it, Mrs. Machiko's due date should be sometime this September, right? I wonder whether it'll be a boy or a girl. You mustn't play favorites."

"Ahem, why did you suddenly bring that up?" Koshiro's face flushed slightly. This man was unexpectedly bashful when it came to family matters, but there was still a faint look of anticipation in his eyes. "Still, I hope it's a girl. Then I could... Ahem, let's discuss the proper matter!"

Koshiro cleared his throat and put on a stern expression. "Now let me teach you the details of Ryuo."

There was no arduous training like Adrian had imagined.

Koshiro explained the key details of Ryuo several times and carefully described the slight difference between ordinary Armament Haki and Ryuo.

In Koshiro's estimation, even if Adrian was a little Monster who had advanced to the level of a Swordmaster at a young age, Haki was ultimately different from other abilities.

It was different from Observation Haki and Conqueror's Haki.

Armament Haki relied heavily on the strength of one's physique.

Generally speaking, experts in Armament Haki could also be directly equated with experts in martial arts.

During their earlier battle, Adrian had indeed unleashed his Armament Haki, but Koshiro had clearly sensed that its strength was not particularly high.

Koshiro believed that this was because Adrian was still young and his physical qualities had plenty of room to develop.

Therefore, according to Koshiro's estimate, even if Adrian was a genius, he would need at least a month to cultivate his Ryuo to the point of mastery.

But unexpectedly, after Koshiro finished explaining Ryuo, only three minutes passed.

The skin on Adrian's hands first changed from the inside out, becoming cold, hard, and pitch-black. This was ordinary Armament Haki.

The next second.

Adrian's hands seemed to be metal heated until it glowed red. A flowing, cherry-blossom-pink radiance faintly covered them, while the surrounding air even appeared to twist slightly, producing soft, grating crackles.

Ryuo had manifested!

Even with glasses perched on his nose, Koshiro's wide-open eyes revealed the violent shock in his heart.

Monster!