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The next morning, on the training grounds behind Shimotsuki Village.
"What? Kuina, you're saying you no longer want to be the world's greatest swordsman?!"
Zoro, with three bamboo swords at his waist, had a look of shock and confusion on his determined little face.
"That's right, Zoro. The title of the world's greatest swordsman is all yours now."
Kuina, dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt, was full of energy and waved her arms enthusiastically, "From now on, my goal is to become the strongest Sword Goddess!"
Seeing her more confident than usual, Zoro frowned, scratching his mossy head, completely clueless.
"Is the Sword Goddess a title stronger than the world's greatest swordsman?"
If so, he wanted it too!
After all, he couldn't lose to Kuina no matter what!
"Maybe, or maybe they are equally strong, I'm not sure right now."
"Huh?" Zoro tilted his head, filled with question marks.
After pondering for a moment, Kuina came up with an interesting idea.
"How about this, Zoro? Once you become the world's greatest swordsman and I become the Sword Goddess, we can compare to see who is stronger. That way, we'll know who is more powerful!"
"So it's settled then. The world's greatest swordsman is definitely stronger!" Zoro stated confidently.
"That's a bold statement for someone who hasn't beaten me yet," Kuina chuckled, not backing down.
Now, she no longer feared the boy, Zoro, surpassing her.
If she were to be surpassed, then she would simply surpass him back.
After all, as long as she's serious, she can achieve anything. She was that capable!
"Speaking of which, why did you bring three swords today?"
Kuina suddenly noticed the odd number of bamboo swords at Zoro's waist.
"That wheat-head jerk is too strong. To defeat him, two swords are definitely not enough!"
Remembering the humiliation he suffered at King's hands yesterday, young Zoro clenched his teeth, his frustration palpable.
"If two swords aren't enough, then use three. That's so typical of your idiotic personality," Kuina couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Who's an idiot? Even if you nearly died tripping over the stairs and are still weak, I won't wait for you!"
With that, Zoro immediately picked up a bamboo sword, bit it in his mouth, and started furiously hitting the hard rocks with a sword in each hand.
"Idiot, don't ever bring that up again!"
Kuina, her cheeks flushing, hurriedly started training hard like Zoro, covering up the embarrassment of almost tripping herself to death.
...
Early in the morning at Isshin Dojo, Zyhark came to consult Koushirou on some swordsmanship queries.
Learning is all about humility.
King intended to stay in and pretend to sleep in the accommodation provided by Koushirou, but the dojo disciples were too enthusiastic, knocking on his door every now and then to ask about the correct posture for push-ups and sit-ups.
Eventually, unable to stand it any longer, he came to the dojo for a unified action guide.
Surprisingly, as an outsider, his mere gaze and gestures sparked a wave of imaginative analysis among the disciples.
In the end, they actually managed to practice properly!
As for the foolish goddess, she was currently sprawled on the bed, sound asleep, possibly even scratching her foot or belly in her sleep.
Unsurprisingly, she had drunk too much at last night's party and vomited a rainbow...
Time quietly passed in this relative tranquility until noon.
"Understood, thank you for clearing up my questions. I feel much clearer about my swordsmanship now."
Zyhark slowly put down his tea cup, expressing his gratitude to Koushirou across the table.
"If not for you, Kuina might have left us."
Koushirou maintained his gentle smile, filled with heartfelt gratitude.
"If you don't mind, how about having lunch here at the dojo?" he offered.
"That would be lovely," Zyhark nodded.
Just then, there was noise outside the dojo.
Kuina, who had finished her intense morning training, walked in, drenched in sweat, her clothes soaked halfway through.
"Kuina, where's Zoro? Didn't he come back with you?" Koushirou asked in confusion.
"We ran into Miss Aqua in the village. She wanted to find a crowded place to spread the word about the Axis Church, and Zoro ran off to show her the way."
Kuina paused, sighing helplessly, "I wanted to go with them, but Zoro insisted on proving he knew the way and wouldn't let me follow."
"Even though he's the type to get lost on his way," she added.
Zyhark almost spit out his tea upon hearing this.
"You're saying Zoro is guiding Aqua?!" he exclaimed in shock.
Where did these two get the courage, one to lead and the other to follow?!
Koushirou calmly responded with a reassuring smile, "Don't worry too much. Although Zoro's sense of direction isn't great, the village only has so many streets. If they do get lost, Miss Aqua should be able to find her way back."
Unfortunately, such reassurance did little to ease Zyhark's worries.
Because his concern wasn't just about Zoro!
"Let's have lunch first, Mr. Koushirou."
"Uh, are we not waiting for Miss Aqua?"
"Let's fill our stomachs first, then we'll have the energy to look for them..."
"What do you mean?"
...
As Zyhark had anticipated, the situation unfolded exactly as he feared.
Currently, in a secluded area deep behind Shimotsuki Village.
"Zoro, are you sure we haven't gone the wrong way? This doesn't look like a place where many people would be."
Looking at the small stream and weeds underfoot, Aqua couldn't help but voice her doubts.
"Strange, I was sure it was this direction, with a few rows of houses... How did we end up in the mountains?"
Zoro, scratching his mossy head, began to doubt his life choices.
"You couldn't possibly be lost, could you?"
Aqua blinked, her suspicions growing stronger.
"No, impossible! I've grown up in this village; how could I get lost?" Zoro defended himself, his face reddening.
Hearing his denial yet earnest look, Aqua couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"You're clearly lost, hahaha, it's hilarious that someone could get lost in their own village!"
"Zoro, even among all the reincarnators I've met, you'd be a standout for being hilariously lost, ahahaha!"
In the end, Aqua was laughing so hard she was slapping her thigh, tempting anyone to want to thrash her for it.
"Enough! You, woman!"
Zoro, face flushed with embarrassment, shouted in defiance, "Fine! I admit it! I don't know the way back, please lead me back!"
...
Hearing "the way back," Aqua's hysterical laughter stopped instantly.
Because she had been following a local, she hadn't bothered to memorize the route. How would she know the way back?
"You can't possibly tell me you don't know how to get back either?"
Now it was Zoro's turn to harbor doubts.
"How could that be! The Goddess of Water has an excellent sense of direction!!"
Aqua feigned calm, scanning the surrounding woods as if looking for clues.
Finally, using the direction of ant trails on the ground, she "determined" the location of Shimotsuki Village.
"Right here, hurry up and follow, Green-Head."
With that, Aqua confidently led the way, full of self-assurance.
"Damn it! Stop calling me Green-Head!!"
Zoro cursed, following her.
Thus, the two made their way through the densely wooded forest.
Half an hour later, buildings indeed appeared before them!
"Hahaha! See, Zoro, I told you my sense of direction is strong."
Looking at the town made of brick buildings and stone streets, Aqua couldn't help but remark, "The villagers here are quite efficient builders. In just a few minutes, they turned a rundown village into a proper town."
Hearing such a preposterous statement, even Zoro couldn't hold back his disbelief.
"That's clearly the coastal town outside the village!!!"
(End of Chapter)