Volume 1: Re:Zero -Starting Life as a Samurai Chapter 55: The Dual-Sword Swordsman (Part 2)
Izumo is a region in Japan.
There were three domains in the Izumo region: Matsue Domain, Mori Domain, and Hirose Domain to which Ogata belonged.
In such a vast land of Izumo, Sakakibara Denichirō was known as "Izumo Unrivaled" - you can imagine how strong Sakakibara Denichirō was.
"When my brother was young, he traveled around the world to hone his sword skills and challenged masters from all over the place."
The look of reminiscence on Hanbei's face became more and more intense.
"My brother relied on his talent and strength to gradually make a name for himself, and was gradually given the title of 'Izumo Wushuang' by people."
"However... not long after my brother was awarded the title of 'Izumo Wushuang', he met a... very strange guy."
"My brother's encounter with this weird guy was completely accidental."
"The two were just walking towards each other on a narrow road, but the guy accidentally ."
"My brother's biggest shortcoming is his bad temper."
"After being hit on the shoulder by that guy, my brother immediately demanded that he apologize quickly."
"If that guy is willing to bow his head and apologize, this little thing can be let go."
"It's just that the guy not only didn't apologize..."
"She even challenged her brother: 'Shouldn't you be the one who should apologize? No matter how you look at it, you were the one who should have stepped aside, right?'"
"I don't remember exactly what the guy said at the time, but this is roughly what he meant."
"You should be able to guess what happened next, Ogata."
"The brother was so angry that he drew his knife and wanted to duel with that guy."
"My brother won many battles and was given the title of 'Izumo's peerless'. He was in high spirits."
"My brother was quite confident at that time."
"I am very confident in my swordsmanship."
"I am confident that I can teach this rude man a lesson."
"But who knew... Brother would soon stop laughing..."
"After my brother drew his sword, that guy also drew his sword."
"That guy pulled out his katana and his wakizashi in one go."
"Since the emergence of the two-sword style swordsmanship, it has a long history."
"But very few people can master the 'evil sword' called the two-sword style."
"That was the first time my brother faced off against a two-sword swordsman."
"But even though my brother was confident at that time, he still didn't take that guy seriously after seeing him draw his two swords."
"Confidently believe that no matter how many knives this guy pulls out, the one who will be victorious will be him."
"Then... after about two breaths, the outcome of this battle became clear."
"My brother is powerless to fight back."
"That guy defeated my brother, who was already 'Izumo Wusou', with just one strike."
"That was the first time my brother was defeated since he traveled all over the world."
“It was also the worst defeat.”
"After defeating my brother, that guy gave this book to him."
Having said this, Hanbei nodded towards the book in Ogata's hand.
"Huh?" Ogata looked at the book in his hand. " Why did suddenly send me a book?"
"That's why I said he was a weirdo..."
After sighing softly, Hanbei continued:
"This book records the two-sword style swordsmanship used by that guy."
"After throwing the book to my brother, the guy said, 'You are quite talented. This book was written by me personally. It contains the two-sword style swordsmanship that I use. See if you can comprehend it.'"
"After leaving these words, the man walked away."
Hearing this, Ogata felt that he was completely confused.
After listening to his master's story, Ogata also felt that this guy was too weird.
After defeating the opponent with a sword, he gave the opponent the secret book recording the sword techniques he used - this behavior was simply incomprehensible in Ogata's eyes.
The story of Hanbei Sakakibara is not over yet.
"Since that guy left, my brother has never seen that guy again."
"This confrontation had a huge impact on my brother."
"My originally rebellious and irritable personality has become much more restrained. My character has become much calmer."
"If you say that my brother was a knife with a sharp edge before, then after being defeated miserably by that guy, my brother has learned to hide the cold light and the edge."
"Perhaps because his mentality and personality had become much more stable, after several years, my brother finally integrated all the sword techniques he knew and created a new style that was unique to him - Sakakibara Ittoryu."
"So from a certain perspective, my brother and I should thank that weird two-sword swordsman. If it weren't for him shattering my brother's arrogant self-confidence, my brother might not have been able to create a new school in the future."
"And my brother has been studying and learning this book ever since he got it from the two-sword swordsman."
"In the hope of mastering the sword techniques recorded in this book."
"But until my brother died of illness, he was never able to master this 'Nintoku-ryū'."
"On the eve of my brother's death, he entrusted this book to me."
"It was only then that I learned from my brother that he had been defeated by an unknown two-sword master."
"After receiving , I have been studying this 'Two Swords of Muga'."
"Unfortunately……"
At this point, a wry smile appeared on Hanbei's face.
"I am a dull person... I don't even understand what this book is talking about..."
"Even now, with my hair all grey, I still haven't mastered even a single move of the 'Muga Nito-ryu'."
"But I really don't want to leave this book in the cabinet and let it gather dust..."
"It's like guarding a mountain of gold but not being able to dig out the gold from it."
"So, I made up my mind a long time ago - I would entrust this book to the most talented disciple in our library."
"See if the most talented disciple in our academy can comprehend even a single move of this two-sword style sword technique that once defeated my brother with one move."
"Originally, I was planning to entrust this book to Mikami."
"But now, I've changed my mind."
Hanbei straightened his slightly bent back.
All unnecessary emotions on his face were removed, leaving only a serious look.
"Ogata, I have decided - I will entrust the 'Muga Nito-ryu' to you!"
