<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 144>
In his childhood, the Gato family ran a small tofu shop.
From grandfather to father, and then to the current father.
The Gato family made tofu every day of the year, all 365 days… and each dawn, just as the sun began to rise, they opened the shop door.
The tofu shop, passed down for 500 years, was a notable feature of the village. When the shop opened its shutters, people always lined up.
To young Gato, this line of people was a source of pride. It was overwhelming and made him proud to know that his parents’ tofu was so beloved.
“Father, when I grow up, I’ll make tofu too. The best tofu in the world!”
At the young Gato’s words, his father shyly laughed.
Still, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. On days when he received praise, he started pondering how to make even better tofu and waking up 10 minutes earlier to do so.
This pondering led to learning, and learning broadens one’s horizons.
And as the horizons broaden, humans develop greed.
Though it began with the simple proposition of “How can I make better tofu?”, this grew uncontrollably, like a snowball rolling down a snowy mountain.
Eventually, the small tofu shop from his childhood…
By the time Gato had donned his school uniform, it had transformed into a tofu factory.
And that is when misfortune began.
“Mr. Gato? We’re from □□ Bank. We have an inquiry about the loan repayment.”
Suddenly, the pressure from the bank arrived.
Just yesterday, the bank employees were friendly and smiling, but overnight, they turned cold, pressuring Gato’s father.
This was not the only issue.
“Didn’t we hear that this family is bad in quality?”
“Apparently, there’s a rumor that this factory has been built from fraud.”
Gato’s mother, who had never once spoken ill of anyone in her life, was suddenly branded as one of the greatest scam artists.
Was Gato himself doing any better?
“Oi, is that him? The son of a scammer. Kikikiki.”
“Oi, don’t talk to him. If you get involved, you might get dragged down too.”
Bullying.
Group ostracism.
Everyone looked down on Gato.
Not only the students, but also the teachers who were supposed to protect the students. Even the childhood friends who he had always been with had left Gato.
And so, Gato’s family fell into hell, and like many would expect, it ended in disaster.
Couple in their forties could not endure the hardship and hanged themselves.
“…”
Gato sat in the deserted funeral hall, lost in thought.
What made our family like this?
We just wanted to make good tofu.
He couldn’t find the answer.
Of course, it was natural. Gato was only 14 years old, just old enough to have entered middle school.
Then, Gato learned an unexpected answer.
“Hey, did you hear about him? His parents committed s*icide.”
“A little bit pitiful. Apparently, he was cursed by the ‘Tengu Clan.'”
“Huh? Tengu? Tengu means nobility. What do you mean? Can you explain it properly?”
“This is what I heard from my friend. His father angered the ‘Tengu Clan’ when he didn’t make the proper introductions for constructing the factory.”
“Ah? That’s it? For that reason? That’s just venting anger.”
“Well, it’s famous that the nobility can be whimsical. Once they decide, burying a few people is like nothing. So, you guys be careful. Don’t be nice to him just because you pity him.”
The truth overheard while hiding in a deserted back alley.
It was true.
Surprisingly, the only reason the Tengu Clan had ruined the Gato family was for the simple reason that they had not been properly greeted.
This terrifying fact shattered Gato’s worldview.
So, you don’t see us as humans.
Then, I will not see you as humans either.
You are evil.
Now, I will punish you.
“In the name of that revered figure, I shall vanquish evil.”
The dream of creating the world’s best tofu had shattered.
And in its place, the eyes of a fanatic opened.
“High Priest. High Priest Gato.”
Gato’s reminiscence came to a stop, and his eyes refocused.
“Ahh, sorry. I was lost in thought.”
“Keh, please focus on the meeting.”
Gato could feel the sharp gaze of those in the room.
This was a meeting attended by only a few key members of the cabinet, where the fate of Japan was decided.
It’s hard to believe that the fortunes of nearly 100 million citizens would be in the hands of fewer than five people. Yet, this was truly the reality.
“Citizens are uprising throughout the country. It was a result we intended, but it has gone too far.”
“It’s happening much faster than expected and it’s more radical.”
“We are controlling their anger for now, but we can’t guarantee how long we can keep this under control.”
“Oh, this doesn’t seem pleasant. To be honest, can citizens truly claim sovereignty? Sounds unreasonable, doesn’t it?”
“To some extent, I agree with the honorable member, but we should still refrain from too radical statements…”
“Keh! Isn’t what I say correct anyway? What do they know about politics? This is a national setback. A setback! Tsk!”
“However, I heard a strange rumor. The ‘Ito’ family has been wiped out…”
“I’ve also heard similar rumors. The ‘Konishi’ family was raided and obliterated…”
“Hah, nonsense. Nobility wiped out? Those cockroaches wouldn’t d*e that easily. It’s just a move to lower our guard.”
“Okay, okay. Please stop. Let’s keep the discussion focused. We’re talking about the ‘Martial Law’ here.”
‘Chaos’
This was the word that described the current situation of Japan.
Historically, Japanese politics had balanced between the central cabinet and the local nobility. However, in reality, the nobility had always held the upper hand.
The cabinet had been waiting for an opportunity. An opportunity to seize power. Gato had targeted this. Their desire, their greed… Gato had incited the power lust of the cabinet.
At the same time, he gathered ‘Saviors’ from around the world and concentrated them in Japan. Once equipped with military power, he transported the ‘offering’ bought from the Triad and other organizations.
And as those offerings summoned ‘that revered figure’…
Bang!
It erupted.
The rest is well known.
That revered figure revealed their presence to the world as the Guardian Spirit ‘Archangel,’ which the cabinet officially recognized.
The nobility was unable to respond to the sudden emergence of a guardian spirit, leading to the cabinet gaining control.
‘Martial Law.’
The pretext was a ‘collective rebellion of the nobility.’
This was the first time the term ‘nobility’ had been explicitly documented, a declaration of war.
But the nobility were not the nobility for nothing.
They had ruled over their regions for at least 500 years, with some for more than a thousand. The factions built over centuries had taken root like bamboo roots, completely controlling the economy and society of the area.
They were, in fact, the daimyo of the region, both lords and rulers.
The resistance of the nobility intensified. They faced off against the Self-Defense Forces while simultaneously pressuring the cabinet. The cabinet, not to be outdone, stirred up public opinion, informing the people of the atrocities committed by the nobility.
Protests broke out across various cities, resulting in a mud-slinging battle.
But they don’t know.
Neither the cabinet, the nobility, nor the citizens know that they are all being manipulated by Gato.
It was Gato who delivered the cabinet’s ledger of corruption to the nobility, leaving them in a tight spot. It was Gato who wiped out some of the nobility families, eliminating any chance for retreat. It was Gato who incited those dreaming of revolution, stirring the nation.
“It is burdensome for us to continue this martial law.”
“Yes. I’ve lost count of the number of calls I’ve received from corporate executives these past few days.”
“Prime Minister, truthfully, our initial plan didn’t include this martial law. We merely intended to shake up the nobility’s network and strengthen centralized politics, but the situation has turned out like this.”
“Apparently, the nobilities across the nation are gathering, divided between Fukuoka and Hokkaido. They’re splitting into extremes, moving as far as possible from Tokyo.”
“In some local areas, the Self-Defense Forces attempted to intervene militaristically, but the nobilities resisted, leading to clashes.”
“The issue is not the clashes. The governor of Hokkaido and Fukuoka officially stand with the nobility.”
“I saw that too. They kept harping on central government’s excessive interference. Essentially, they’ve raised their revolt flag, Prime Minister.”
“Their demands are simple. An official apology from the cabinet and the acknowledgment of ‘nobility’ rights. Lastly, the surrender of the guardian spirit ‘Archangel’.”
At these demands, the Prime Minister sighed.
The situation had grown too complex, beyond what the cabinet could control.
Or perhaps, it had already slipped out of their hands…
The Prime Minister glared at Gato with a hint of accusation.
“High Priest Gato, you’re unusually quiet today. Weren’t you the one who strongly supported the martial law?”
An accusatory question aimed directly at Gato.
You share significant responsibility for this situation, don’t you? It was a roundabout Japanese phrasing implying this.
Gato nodded agreeably.
“Indeed, we were short-sighted. We thought the proclamation of martial law would somewhat suppress those wicked ones, but the roots of these people in this country are deeply and intricately entrenched.”
Though Gato said this, in reality, he had accomplished everything he had aimed for through this state of emergency. Didn’t he successfully gather all the nobilities to one place as per his original goal?
The state of emergency had served its purpose.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“The situation has worsened this much.”
“We trusted you and the Guardian Spirit, but unfortunately, it ended up like this.”
“We acknowledge the excessive suppression as well. I take full responsibility.”
Gato’s apology made their expressions lighter.
It was apparent that they had the intention to extricate themselves if this situation went awry.
Gato secretly sneered at their shallow appearance.
He could apologize as much as needed.
He could provide them with justification as much as needed.
He could take responsibility as much as needed.
However…
Don’t forget this.
Even if you apologize, even if you build justifications, even if responsibilities are clear,
‘You are all accomplices.’
The ship has already set sail, and no one can get off this ship.
The helm of the ship was just broken.
At that moment, hooded figures were leaving Tokyo.
Multiple Ice Spears descended, blocking out the sky.
Oni Yoshinao, who was firing his g*n, realized their trajectory and understood their target—elderly people and children.
He had to stop them!
Oni Yoshinao’s eyes turned pitch black.
Already black, his eyes deepened like an unfathomable abyss.
The first technique of the Oni clan:
The Art of Absorption
It swallows all ‘magic’ within its sight.
Converting the magic into mana.
Oni Yoshinao immediately formed hand seals.
All the Phenomena of the World
Wind Wall
Winds howled from all directions, rapidly expanding and transforming into a great wall of storm.
This was the pride of the Oni clan, ‘Yoan’.
Its ability to absorb every magic within its sight, decompose it instantly, absorb its mana, and re-manifest it—a bizarre trait belonging to the elemental bloodline.
Everywhere, magic erupted, but the members of the Oni clan absorbed all the magic and retaliated.
However, even while stopping the attackers’ assaults, Yoshinao’s expression was far from pleasant.
“The number of enemies, is it continuing to grow?”
“Sorry…”
“Huh.”
The situation worsened continuously. What they could see right before their eyes was just a small part. The enemies surrounded them from all sides, blocking their escape routes.
Yoshinao intended to send out scouts to change course.
“The scouts, have we heard nothing from them?”
“Yes.”
It had come to this.
“d*mn…”
The conflict between the nobility and the cabinet seemed to have come to an end yesterday when the cabinet lifted martial law.
In the end, the victor was once again the nobility. The alliance of nobility celebrated their victory with toasts.
Even that morning, when they sat at the negotiating table.
People claiming to be the servants of the guardian spirit attempted negotiations, and several principal members, including the heads of the households, were present at the negotiating table.
Looking back now, it was a naive action. Attending the enemy’s camp with the entire command amidst still unresolved conflicts.
Of course, the history between the nobility and the cabinet was long-standing. Sure, this clash had been unusually extreme, but there had been much worse cases historically.
Still, the very reason this system had been maintained was the mutual belief that it wouldn’t reach an absolute end.
Repeated history numbed people, and the command erroneously assumed it would follow the same pattern.
And the result of this action was d*ath.
Poke!!
The massacre of the leadership.
Simultaneously, the servants of the guardian spirit launched a full-scale attack.
Without any declaration of war or any conversation, they suddenly lunged with swords.
What unfolded was a real battlefield of life and d*ath.
“Little Master, the situation is chaotic. Even Little Master should retreat…”
“Other households’ leaders are already retreating. You must also do so quickly…”
A sigh escaped Oni Yoshinao’s lips.
Were these individuals purely acting out of loyalty in advising him to flee? No. If their master, Yoshinao himself, withdraws, they’d follow suit.
Why? Because it was frightening.
This revealed the chronic problem of the nobility: the absolute lack of real combat experience.
“Support from Optimum will arrive soon… Somehow, we must hold on until Hakata Port.”
“Little Master…”
“For now…”
“Silence!! There’s nowhere to flee. If you have energy to shout, use it to stop them. Now!!”
The bellow of the little master sent the clan members scattering in panic.
Some looked back, reluctant to leave.
Does Yoshinao not understand their hearts? He himself wants to live. He wants to escape more than anyone else.
But, where could he escape to?
The sky is obscured by magical bombardment, and enemies surround the ground.
There is absolutely no place to escape.
Moreover, the enemy cast area magic right in the center of the city. That alone was evidence enough; they didn’t even care about the civilian casualties.
“Are they determined to k*ll us by any means possible?”
But he didn’t realize it.
These very thoughts by Yoshinao were proof that he lacked combat experience.
Contemplating anything outside the battle in a combat situation?
If Park Ki-hyuk had seen this, he would have slapped him twice.
And this immature mindset led to a fatal outcome…
A massive cluster of ‘Ice Spears’ was coming from the distant sky.
It was the same as before.
If there was any difference, it was the sheer number.
Twice… No, three times more. For a brief moment, the spears covered the earth, and like before, Yoshinao activated ‘Yoan’ to cancel the magic.
Yet, upon activation…
Only half was obliterated?
They had hidden the bloodline Ice Shift spears of the ‘Ice Shift’ within the magic Ice Spears.
“Everyone, activate the defensive spell!!”
He warned urgently, but it was already too late.
The ice spears struck the ground.
“Keuhk!”
“Kraaaaaak!!!”
“My arm!”
“Mom, Mommy!!”
The clan members collapsed on the ground.
Yoshinao, attempting to block the wound in his pierced shoulder, slowly rose.
It was then that beams of light illuminated the ground. A warmth enveloped their bodies, and Yoshinao swallowed the saliva accumulating in his throat as he looked skyward.
In that moment, Yoshinao froze.
Beams of light.
Dozens of massive beams of light emerged between the clouds.
The targets were, naturally, them.
Aiming at the nobility as if taking aim with a weapon, the beams fired.
Watching the light-like beams fly toward them, Yoshinao couldn’t utter a word.
Everything felt like a dream.
The fact that the proud nobility had become fugitives overnight.
The reality of being in this situation where they couldn’t mount a proper resistance and were facing d*ath.
“It’s a dream. Yeah. It’s just a dream.”
Yoshinao faintly smiled and closed his eyes.
It wasn’t resignation in the face of d*ath.
He simply believed it was a dream. When he woke up, his home would be there again… He believed this and escaped from reality.
And yet, this, this act here, was what this man despised the most.
“Is this kid crazy?”
Kwa-A-A-Aang-!!
A thunderous roar sounded.
The earth shook.
A towering misty giant rose up, and the beams of light shattered.
Soon, a golden sword formed in the air. Its sword energy, like starlight, had already torn through the ground, beginning to carve out a path toward them.
The Optimum.
They had arrived.
“You’ll be dealt with later.”
