After the conversation with Mr. Mori, Tatsuya left the shop in a whirlwind of emotions. Mr. Mori's revelations about Hayato, the legendary swordsman, and the shocking truth that she was, in fact, a woman ignited a storm within him. Though Tatsuya had heard stories of Hayato in the past, realizing that there were more layers to her than just legend made him feel as if he were standing before an enormous mountain, its peaks shrouded in mystery. Even the revelation of her gender felt like an explosion in his mind.
That night, sleep eluded him. Visions of Hayato, the three legendary heroes, their battles, and the mysteries surrounding their lives spun endlessly in his mind. He could sense that there was something crucial Mr. Mori hadn't disclosed, or perhaps something even Mori himself didn't fully understand. Tatsuya knew he couldn't stop here he had to dig deeper, to uncover the secrets buried within the past.
At dawn the next morning, Tatsuya began his journey. He decided to seek out people who had known or had connections to the three legendary heroes. If Mr. Mori knew about Hayato, then surely others did as well.
However, this journey was far from easy. The clues Tatsuya uncovered often led to dead ends, vague answers, and frustration. But his persistence never wavered. He scoured alleyways and traveled through towns, hoping to find forgotten stories hidden away. His search stretched from morning until night with little success, and he had to spend a lot of Ethernite to hire teleportation gates to places he thought held clues. Ethernite, a crystal harvested from the corpses of sky-fallen beasts, could be absorbed to increase one's strength and also served as a form of currency. Strangely, Tatsuya had never been able to absorb them.
Despite the lack of useful leads, he discovered something unexpected: a village of blacksmiths.
The blacksmith village lay deep within a narrow valley, surrounded by towering mountains. To reach it, Tatsuya had to climb a steep, mist-covered path. As he entered the village, he immediately sensed a heavy atmosphere one filled with both peace and prosperity. Quaint wooden houses, their chimneys puffing out thin trails of smoke, created a cozy and inviting scene.
The villagers, mostly elderly blacksmiths, had rugged appearances with soot-covered faces. Yet, when Tatsuya shared his story, their eyes lit up, rekindling long-buried memories. An old man with a long white beard and sharp eyes approached Tatsuya and said, "You're seeking the three legendary heroes? Long ago, they came here and left an indelible mark on our village."
The old man told Tatsuya that many years ago, the three heroes had visited the village in search of a special weapon. The blacksmiths worked tirelessly for days and nights to forge those weapons, which had helped the heroes battle against dark forces. But after the battle, the heroes disappeared, leaving behind only memories and unanswered questions.
Hearing this, Tatsuya felt as though he had uncovered a crucial piece of the puzzle. But the biggest surprise came when the old man handed him a pair of glasses. These were no ordinary glasses; they were masterfully crafted from rare metals and adorned with gleaming gemstones. The old man said, "These glasses were made long ago, at the request of one of the three heroes. He never returned to claim them. They might save your life a valuable tool for your journey."
Tatsuya accepted the glasses with deep gratitude. Though he didn't fully understand their power yet, he knew they would be a key in unlocking the mysteries ahead. The blacksmith village had not only provided him with another clue but also bestowed upon him an invaluable artifact that could bring him closer to the truth buried in the past.
One evening, while searching through a run-down, impoverished district, Tatsuya suddenly realized he was being followed. He could feel the weight of someone's gaze tracking him from a distance. He paused, straining to hear any sound, but the street was too quiet. Only his own footsteps echoed in the stillness.
Deciding not to reveal his suspicion, Tatsuya continued walking as if nothing were amiss, though his mind was now sharp and ready for any outcome. Suddenly, a dark figure lunged at him with blinding speed. Tatsuya turned, but it was too late. A powerful punch struck his shoulder, sending him stumbling backward.
The attacker was a tall, imposing man with a ferocious demeanor. Beneath the cloak he wore, his eyes glinted coldly.
Tatsuya quickly put on the glasses the blacksmith had given him. Instantly, a stream of data appeared before his eyes, focusing on the attacker. These glasses did more than enhance his vision in the dark they also displayed the enemy's stats. Tatsuya smirked to himself, thinking, "So this is the life-saving tool the old man mentioned? Fascinating."
Enemy Stats:
Attack: 1.5
Defense: 1
Speed: 3
Endurance: 3.5
Ability: Enhanced Strikes (Class B)
Tatsuya's Stats:
Attack: 3.075
Defense: 3
Speed: 2.575
Endurance: 2
Ability: Comprehensive Development (Class A)
Feeling confident now that his stats clearly outmatched his opponent's, Tatsuya let his guard down. He became overconfident, thinking victory would be easy.
The attacker charged forward again, delivering a fierce punch to Tatsuya before he could react. The blow sent him flying backward, blood spilling from his mouth. A deep dent twisted into his armor at the abdomen, and pain surged through him like fire. Tatsuya hadn't expected his enemy to be this strong. He cursed the blacksmiths under his breath and quickly decided to flee.
Tatsuya turned, bracing himself for the next assault, but this time, he knew he couldn't rely on brute strength or luck. He had to fight with every ounce of cunning and skill he possessed because this opponent was far stronger than he had imagined.
Realizing he couldn't continue the confrontation in his current state, Tatsuya chose to retreat. He mustered his remaining strength and dashed away, weaving through narrow, dark alleys. The enemy pursued relentlessly, but with his knowledge of the terrain and an intense will to survive, Tatsuya managed to evade his pursuer and found temporary refuge.
As he hid, panting heavily and exhausted, Tatsuya stumbled upon an abandoned house. The dim light seeping through a crack in the roof illuminated a corner of the room, where a dusty wooden chest sat. Curious, he opened it and discovered an old, weathered journal. The leather cover had faded over time, and when Tatsuya flipped through the pages, he realized it was the journal of Blood Sword, one of the three legendary heroes.
The journal chronicled Blood Sword's experiences, detailing brutal battles and complex emotions. But what shocked Tatsuya most was a passage about Blood Sword's power. He described how he began to feel a madness he couldn't control whenever he absorbed too much blood. This frenzy grew stronger over time, as if a dark force was amplifying it. This reminded Tatsuya of Mr. Mori's story about the sudden disappearance of the three heroes.
However, just as Tatsuya was about to read the final entries, he noticed that several pages had been deliberately torn out. The missing pages left him unable to grasp the full story who had tried to heighten Blood Sword's madness, why these pages were missing, and what really happened all those years ago. Yet one thing was clear: a great threat lurked in the shadows, possibly tied to the disappearance of the legendary heroes.
Clutching the journal, Tatsuya felt a weight of dread and responsibility settle on his shoulders. His discovery wasn't just a clue it was a warning of the dangers that lay ahead. But at the same time, he knew he was one step closer to the truth. The path before him, though treacherous, had to be walked.
Before he could catch his breath, the pursuer found his hiding spot and entered the house. Tatsuya's heart raced. The air grew thick with tension. Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the room. Though Tatsuya tried to stay calm, he knew his enemy had found him.
Springing to his feet as silently as possible, Tatsuya searched for an escape route. But there was none, save for the front door, where the enemy was closing in. The realization that he had been cornered washed over him like a wave of despair.
With no other option, Tatsuya drew his weapon a pair of brass knuckles he always carried. Though his stats were superior, his recent experiences had taught him that raw power wasn't enough. His lack of real combat experience had left him vulnerable.
Determined not to flee any longer, Tatsuya braced himself, and with sudden resolve, lunged out of hiding, striking with everything he had. His surprise attack caused the enemy to falter momentarily, but it wasn't enough to bring him down. The experienced fighter quickly recovered, delivering a powerful kick to Tatsuya's abdomen, sending him crashing into the wall.
His earlier wounds screamed in agony, leaving him dazed. But in that moment, Tatsuya's survival instincts kicked in. He knew he had no chance unless he acted now.
Grinding his teeth through the pain, Tatsuya rolled to the side, barely dodging the next attack. As the enemy charged again, Tatsuya blocked with his brass knuckles and immediately countered with a fierce punch to the face. The enemy staggered back, blood trickling down his chin.
"You're stronger than I thought," the enemy growled, his voice thick with disdain. "But strength alone won't save you."
Tatsuya wiped the blood from his mouth and glared at his opponent, refusing to back down. The battle was far from over, but this time, Tatsuya knew he had the resolve to see it through, no matter the cost. He could feel the weight of the legendary heroes' fate on his shoulders, and he wouldn't let their story end with him.
Instantly recalling what was said in the blacksmith village, he decided to trust them once more and put his glasses back on. This time, he clearly saw the condition of the house and identified its weak points. He decided to charge straight at the enemy, feinting a blow before turning and punching the supporting column of the house, causing it to collapse. The house fell on top of Tatsuya and the enemy, and Tatsuya quickly ran away, giving himself extra time to create distance and escape. He ran through alleys and corners, leaping over many walls, until he finally felt safe and relieved.
Afterward, he felt that his journey had become more meaningful and realized that this trip was not as easy as he had thought.