At the Matsuna family shrine.
Jinhyuk, led up to the hall, closed his eyes.
No one was grabbing him by the collar, yet he felt strangely suffocated.
So these are the people attending a martial arts exchange… huh.
He cracked his eyes open and glanced at the gathered guests not far away.
Every one of them radiated an extraordinary aura.
Even the Genex Jin family, who had arrived with him, had turned dead serious the moment they stepped inside the shrine.
Pretending to meditate, Jinhyuk shut his eyes again.
He wasn't entirely confident.
A shut-in whose natural disposition was the exact opposite of solemnity—could he really blend into this atmosphere?
On becoming a decorative sack of rice…
Time dragged on tediously.
That was when the hidden Kancho stepped on his thigh and climbed up to perch on his shoulder.
"Commander-in-Chief. As deputy captain of the Yodel Ranger Unit, I intend to head out on a reconnaissance mission. May I go?"
"Don't release your concealment. Got it?"
"That's carrot bat!"
He must've meant, 'Of course, that's a carrot bat!'
After understanding as best he could, Jinhyuk surveyed the shrine again.
"A lot of experts are gathered here. They might detect you. What are you supposed to do then?"
"I don't know the Commander-in-Chief."
"Right. We're meeting for the first time."
"That's upsetting."
"I mean pretend. We're the closest, aren't we?"
"Puh-hehehe. True! Then I'll be off."
Kancho hopped down and scampered away.
It wasn't only about Muramasa—knowing the shrine's layout in advance would be useful regardless.
Watching Kancho's retreating direction, Jinhyuk once again closed his eyes.
For some reason, an elderly man was approaching him.
"Heh-heh-heh. Meditating, are you?"
Jinhyuk opened his eyes, as if refreshed.
"Yes. The air is so clean here, I couldn't resist."
"Heh-heh. A young man who knows a thing or two, I see."
The kindly old man laughed heartily.
Long white hair, a drooping mustache.
If a mountain sage existed in real life, he would look like this.
"I'm Matsuna Gaigen. And your name?"
The old man offered his hand.
A familiar name made Jinhyuk instantly snap to attention.
Gaigen—former head of the Matsuna family.
"My name is Yoo Jinhyuk."
He grasped Gaigen's hand as calmly as he could.
The old man's first impression had been far too gentle—he never expected this to be the previous family head.
He'd imagined a man whose face screamed 'I am extremely strict!'
"Hoh?"
Even after a couple of shakes, Gaigen didn't let go of Jinhyuk's hand.
He pressed here and there, flipped it over, carefully examining his palm.
"Do you train separately?"
These calluses weren't something a person could fake.
"Yes. After climbing the Tower, I always train with a sword in my spare time."
"Hoh! Splendid. Truly splendid!"
Gaigen burst into a pleased laugh.
He couldn't help it.
It had been ages since he'd met such a solid young man.
Ever since the Tower of Despair introduced awakenings to the world, everyone wanted to become strong.
But they no longer trained.
They simply earned money, bought equipment, and attempted to climb the Tower.
Not that this was wrong—climbing did increase one's level and strength.
Still, Gaigen couldn't help feeling bitter.
The foundation and qualification for strength—training itself—had been forgotten, buried beneath easy methods.
"So, you came with the Genex family? Tae-gon will be quite pleased. Come, I'll show you the way. The exchange will begin soon."
"Thank you."
Jinhyuk rose and followed Gaigen.
At the sudden appearance of the former family head, people instantly straightened up and paid their respects.
"Who's the person beside him?"
"No idea. But if he's with Gaigen-dono, perhaps he's from a Japanese family?"
Jinhyuk's overly healthy ears heard all the whispers.
He hadn't meant to stand out this early in the event.
"...?"
Before long, he ran into Jin Seohee, who wore a large question mark on her face.
A 'Why are you there?' question mark.
It just happened.
Jinhyuk nodded with melancholy and walked into the exchange hall.
Only six families were participating.
The hall was small and modest as a result.
A few participants from other families were already there, chatting amiably, unaware of Gaigen's presence.
"An exchange should be a place to share the martial way. Yet more and more people treat it like a social gathering for clans and corporations."
Gaigen wore a wry smile.
"I understand it's an inevitable change, but accepting it isn't easy. I suppose I'm too old to keep up."
Jinhyuk gazed at Gaigen's back.
He almost blurted out, 'Not at all! You're in your prime!'
He must've gotten used to having a 3,271-year-old friend and another over a thousand.
"This is Genex's area. They'll be here soon, so sit and wait."
Gaigen offered one more handshake.
"Until next time."
"Yes. I look forward to it."
After a brief smile, Gaigen moved to the head seat.
A bit of waiting later, the people outside began filing in.
So that's the current family head.
A massive man entered alongside the Genex group.
Matsuna Gyuto.
After exchanging greetings, everyone took their assigned seats.
As Gyuto headed toward Gaigen, he suddenly stopped.
Right in front of Jinhyuk.
"Hello. I'm Yoo Jinhyuk, here with the Genex family."
He greeted politely—but no response came.
Gyuto silently observed the unassuming man before him.
He had introduced himself courteously, but Gyuto didn't bother listening.
He simply didn't care.
Someone not here for martial arts but for some other purpose—an insignificant nobody.
Asking to see Muramasa, is he?
Gyuto barely restrained a snort.
Since Tae-gon had asked, he wouldn't refuse outright for his sake.
But showing that sword to someone so detached from the martial path?
Absolutely not.
To let such an unworthy person lay eyes—or worse, hands—on Muramasa, a famed blade?
Unthinkable.
Turning his head sharply, Gyuto walked away.
Watching him retreat, Tae-gon approached Jinhyuk.
"What did he say?"
"He didn't say anything."
No need to mention the murderous glare.
Tae-gon sighed.
"I've made the request, but he won't show it easily. Sorry. I'm not much help."
"No, thank you. Just mentioning it is more than enough."
Jinhyuk exhaled lightly.
Bringing up the name Muramasa now felt like it would get him kicked out immediately.
But he wasn't too worried.
The Matsuna family valued the martial path above all else.
And precisely because of that, there was still hope.
He raised his head, looking at Gyuto and Gaigen.
He would show both the ones holding the decision—he was no unqualified nobody.
DODODODODO—shashak.
DODODO—shak.
Kancho crossed the garden and hid himself in a patch of bushes.
His ears twitched as he peeked out.
Nothing requiring vigilance—but he couldn't afford to relax.
Where is Muramasa?!
He had grasped the general structure of the shrine.
A treasure important to the family wouldn't be kept somewhere people casually wandered.
That eerie door with the strange emblem—very suspicious.
Continuing infiltration!
Kancho darted out of the bushes and leapt at the door.
He would vault over in one motion, scout the inside, then disengage his manifestation. A perfect plan.
Snap!
Except—there was a variable.
A hand seized his head.
Eh?
Unbelievable.
The deputy captain of the Yodel Ranger Unit being discovered during reconnaissance?
Impossible.
Kancho turned trembling eyes sideways.
"What's this? What an adorable creature."
A bright, ringing voice. A woman with vivid yellow hair leaned in.
"You can see me?!"
"Puhahahaha! What's with that weird way of talking?"
Laughing, the woman pointed at something.
A full-length mirror standing in an odd location.
The light reflected from it was currently revealing Kancho.
"No matter what ability you use, you can't hide from this mirror. There are hidden-class craftsmen in the world, you know?"
Kancho's mind raced.
He could simply dissolve his manifestation and escape—but he hadn't found Muramasa yet.
As long as his connection to Jinhyuk wasn't exposed, everything would be fine.
Since he'd been spotted anyway, he might as well find Muramasa before returning.
"So, what are you? A raccoon? A badger?"
"Neither."
"Then what?"
"A secret. Who are you?"
"Me? Matsuna Hiyori. Japan's official rank 7. How about that?"
"What about it."
Hiyori tied her hair into a ponytail pose.
"Pretty, right?"
She's a crazy woman.
"You just insulted me inside your head, didn't you?"
"Mind reading?!"
"Honest, aren't you."
"My ears are gonna get ripped off."
"Ah—sorry."
Hiyori released him.
What is this thing?
Clearly not a monster.
Something this cute could never be a monster.
Now that she thought about it, he resembled Conu, a floor resident from the 10th floor of the Tower of Despair.
"Ah!"
Kancho gasped and pointed behind Hiyori.
"Hm?"
Hiyori reflexively turned.
Kancho didn't miss the chance—he bolted out of the mirror's angle of reflection.
DODODODODODODO!
And sprinted toward the house deeper in the yard.
If any treasure was hidden, it would be there.
He had to check inside.
"Adorable to the end."
Hiyori's lips curled upward.
The raccoon—now out of the mirror—had vanished entirely from sight.
And somehow, even its presence disappeared.
But that was fine.
She placed her finger on the blade of the glaive she held.
Letting her ability flow—
VROOOOOOOM…!
The vibration began at the weapon and spread through the air.
After a moment, Hiyori opened her eyes.
Found you, little raccoon.
Smiling, she kicked off the ground.
Kancho was just reaching the house.
He glanced back—and his face turned ghostly pale.
She's c-coming!!!
She didn't even look fast, yet she was unbelievably quick.
The distance closed in an instant.
This was do-or-die.
Kancho threw subtlety away and sprinted, sliding open the wooden door.
At that exact moment—Hiyori seized his head again.
"You're not getting away this time."
Kancho lifted his gaze and locked eyes with her.
"Puhehehe! I don't care!"
He stuck out his tongue and waved with the most aggravating expression in existence.
"Bye-roo!"
"Bye-roo my—?!"
Hiyori's eyes widened.
The raccoon vanished as though he had never existed.
Not hidden—gone.
Truly evaporated.
"What the heck."
Hiyori muttered, lifting her gaze.
Right in front of her—the blade, Yōtō Muramasa.
The raccoon had taken one look at the sword and disappeared as if satisfied.
The raccoon and Muramasa…
Hiyori scratched her head.
Seriously—what was that thing?
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T/N:
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