Chapter 83
Kusanagi’s Sword (4):
At Konoh’s provocation, the yakuza began pulling out their weapons one by one.
Jackknives, hammers, steel pipes—truly realistic, on-the-ground tools of violence.
‘These people aren’t players, huh.’
Well, it made sense—players weren’t exactly common.
“Take it easy. They’re just ordinary folks.”
“Okay!”
Konoh tied her long hair tightly with a cord and then—
Pat─!
In an instant, she vanished from sight.
“What… what? Where did she go?”
“Did only the girl run off?”
“Hmph, doesn’t matter. Let’s just catch that one guy. Our boss will be pleased!”
The yakuza exchanged unpleasant grins, readjusted their grip on their tools, and closed in.
“I’ll stomp you into the ground so you can’t even open your mouth!”
One hot-blooded yakuza stepped forward first.
Shh──
Just as the jackknife tip neared his neck, Sehyun drew a sword from his backpack and lightly blocked it.
Meanwhile—
“Over here─!!”
Another yakuza charged from behind, swinging a steel pipe.
Sehyun tried to block with his sword, but for some reason, it didn’t budge.
“Think I’ll let go?”
The yakuza holding the jackknife had seized Sehyun’s sword tightly.
He could have simply cut off the arm, but it wasn’t an option against a non-player.
And besides, he didn’t have just one sword.
Whoosh──
Sehyun pulled out another sword from his backpack.
“What… what?!”
The yakuza holding the steel pipe froze, clearly flustered as a longsword suddenly appeared from the small backpack.
Cheng─!
Snick─!
Sehyun’s sword drew an arc, slicing the steel pipe like a twig, leaving only half behind. At the same time, he kicked the abdomen of the yakuza holding his sword, sending him flying.
The remaining yakuza groaned as they watched their comrade humiliated.
“The brat was easy, so we thought we’d go all out!!!”
Realizing this wouldn’t do, the yakuza charged en masse.
The ones with hammers, brass knuckles, monkey wrenches—poured in from all directions, too many to even count.
Sehyun raised his arm toward the sky, and the chain bracelet on his wrist glowed blue.
Kiiiiiing─!
Chaja-jajak─!!
The opening of his backpack widened, and swords poured out, floating in midair.
The yakuza froze, staring as if their feet had been glued to the ground.
“What… what? The swords are floating?”
“What kind of trick is this?”
Even floating the swords alone was enough to provoke a stunned reaction.
“Now that I’ve shown something fun, it’s your turn.”
“What are you saying!! You think we’d be scared of tricks, you little brat?!”
One, thinking it a ruse, lifted a hammer and charged recklessly.
The moment the hammer head swung toward Sehyun—
Thud─!
“Ugh?!”
The yakuza froze mid-swing.
“What’s going on?”
“My… my body’s frozen…!”
“Stop babbling! Take out that brat already…!”
Even the attacks of the other yakuza couldn’t reach Sehyun.
They tried running but instantly collapsed as their bodies lost strength.
“What the hell are you doing, you guys!!”
“That bastard did something!”
“What trick is this!!!”
Sehyun looked down at a yakuza who had slid toward him.
‘Hmm? What’s this?’
A needle was embedded in his neck.
Could it be… Konoh?
“Now, finish him!!!”
“Going!!!”
“Kill him!!!”
As the remaining yakuza rushed in, Konoh leapt into action.
Rustle──
Leaves fell from the air as she twirled, her tied hair whipping like a tail.
Tap─! Tap─!
The yakuza lunged, but she stepped on scattered leaves midair, leaping gracefully.
[Ninjutsu: Leaf Step]
Landing lightly, she stomped fiercely on one with both feet.
“How’s that? Can’t catch me, right?”
Konoh taunted with a playful grin, wiggling her fingers, making the yakuza’s faces flush with anger.
“Take her out first!!!”
Thunk─!
A yakuza rushing forward lost his balance and fell, a needle sticking into his ankle, stiffening his muscles.
With the front line down, the formation quickly collapsed.
Konoh weaved through them, smiling wickedly.
Swish─!
Her upward punch left three lines across a yakuza’s face, like a wild beast’s claw.
Looking closely, she held needles between her fingers.
The yakuza attacked en masse, but none landed a hit.
She minimized contact and struck back decisively when the opportunity arose.
Like watching a nimble wildcat, she even winked at Sehyun.
‘She’s doing it just for me.’
Both Sehyun and Konoh had stellar force in their bodies—there was no reason to be overwhelmed by these yakuza.
This was purely a performance, showing off their skills.
Sehyun avoided bloodshed, parrying and drawing swords lightly; Konoh subdued without killing.
“Ugh!!”
Konoh leapt onto a yakuza’s face and climbed a tree, launching herself into the air.
Leaves scattered, obscuring vision.
[Ninjutsu: Leaf Shatter]
Chaja-jajak─!!
Spinning midair, she scattered needles in all directions.
Each needle pierced the airborne leaves and simultaneously struck the yakuza’s vital points, paralyzing them.
Tap─!
Landing gracefully, Konoh smirked, brushing her hair behind her ear.
“How was that? My skills.”
“…I didn’t think, but you really were a ninja.”
Her Star Nickname was “Biking Ninja,” after all.
It was clever to ride a ninja-themed bike in a female ninja outfit, but seeing her reveal her true self was even more remarkable.
“Isn’t it fun? Even revealing my identity, people just saw it as a cool Star concept.”
“True.”
Inha would cosplay realistically; Konoh disguised reality as cosplay.
“Well, enough of this… let’s see.”
Konoh began interrogating the fallen yakuza.
“Which one should I choose~ hmm~?”
Not exactly choosing candy.
She went to one, slapping him on the cheek.
“Excuse me, sir, can I ask something?”
“Grrr, you think I’ll answer willingly?”
Konoh smiled slyly, eyes sharp.
“You’ll talk, even if you don’t want to.”
She rummaged through her chest and pulled out a talisman.
“What’s that… ugh!”
Before he could speak, she stuck it to his forehead.
“Now, tell me everything you know.”
“Do you think I’d talk? We were told to watch anyone mentioning Kusanagi, especially anyone talking about the sword. And to catch them immediately! Do you think I’d tell you that?!”
He realized too late that he was spilling it all.
Konoh laughed, patting his chest.
“See? You wouldn’t talk, right? You guys must be important people, whoever sent you, right?”
“Of course! We are the proud Kashiwagi clan… hngh!”
“Yes~ Kashiwagi clan, from Tokyo.”
Every time he spoke insincerely, the talisman glowed blue.
‘A talisman for interrogation… maybe I could use this.’
Sehyun nodded, pleased with the unexpected discovery, while Konoh continued her questioning.
“So, it must have been someone named Kashiwagi giving the orders.”
“Think I’d say more? The big boss handles everything, almost solely since this year! Mostly cleaning up after others, which I find a bit frustrating, but… would I say that in front of the gang?”
Other yakuza nodded in agreement.
“Boss! We actually thought the same!”
“We weren’t the only ones questioning why our clan, cooperating with street merchants, would do this!”
“I even joined this clan because of our boss…!”
The yakuza, talisman on his forehead, shed tears.
“Damn it! Shut up all of you! But my loyalty is still to boss Kashiwagi!!”
“Boss!!”
The yakuza cried together, though awkwardly, pierced with needles and on the ground.
Oddly, the villainous image was still theirs—they had started the violence first.
Konoh looked at Sehyun, worried.
“Brother… these people are kind of scary.”
“Don’t worry, I think so too.”
“Boss!!!”
“Ugh… you kids!!!”
A scene to behold.
Without loyalty, yakuza couldn’t operate here anyway.
Sehyun approached and asked.
“Since I know your loyalty, do you know anything about the jobs Kashiwagi takes on?”
“…Not in detail. Every time he takes a deposit, the backing seems substantial. Sometimes he gives something other than money.”
“Something other than money?”
The yakuza swallowed nervously.
“Some minor medicine… the boss crushed and drank it. Didn’t expect he’d meddle with drugs too.”
“…Surely not.”
Sehyun instinctively knew.
It had to be a soul stone.
The jobs assigned to Kashiwagi were from players, and if this split the four factions into fighting, everything connected.
They had cleaned up after one of the factions’ subordinates; this attack was one of them.
Which faction was behind it…
Sehyun’s eyes widened as he sensed strong stellar force nearby.
“Konoh! Dodge!”
“Huh?”
Sehyun grabbed Konoh’s wrist and swiftly moved.
[Draw Sword]
Kwaaaaaa─!!!!
A crimson sword energy shot sharply.
They narrowly dodged; the yakuza with a talisman stuck to him was split in half and died instantly.
“Second Boss!!!!!”
“Who dares!!!”
Konoh and the yakuza turned pale.
Only Sehyun remained calm, staring at the approaching figure.
A man in samurai attire approached, drawing his katana.
“Hmph, missed. Only an innocent subordinate died.”
The yakuza wavered.
“Embarrassing enough to be beaten by this blue kid, and he spilled everything. He deserved seppuku. I’ll pray for his soul.”
“Boss Kashiwagi…”
The man they served, Kashiwagi, smirked wickedly, ready for battle.
