The Yokai is a specific type of ghost or demon that sometimes takes the form of beasts like a wolf. Not everyone is capable of facing them—only those who can wield Ki or Mana.
In the capital, a man wearing a Ronin hat, with black hair and blue eyes, appeared weak and frail. This man was none other than Akiyama, who was disguising himself as a feeble person.
"How the hell did you manage to kill those bandits?"
Akiyama replied, "There was a monster in the village that started killing them, so I ran away, set up a trap, and killed it."
"Honestly, your story makes sense. How could a weakling like you possibly defeat a group of bandits? Since you managed to complete that task, there's another mission for you tomorrow morning… though I don't expect you to survive it."
Akiyama frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
"You will be joining a group of samurai to take down a certain criminal."
"And who is it?"
"A first-degree criminal—Yosuko."
Everyone was shocked.
Criminals were classified into different ranks, with first-degree criminals being the most dangerous. Among them was Yosuko, a ruthless outlaw. He was once a powerful samurai who had fought in many battles and was infamous for his brutal fighting style, which led to the death of everyone who faced him. In one battle, he decapitated anyone who stood in his way, earning him the title of a first-degree criminal.
"You must complete this mission tomorrow. But don't worry, you will be accompanied by high-ranking samurai—Banner Warriors. You're just bait. Also, if the mission succeeds, it will be a great achievement for you."
Akiyama smirked. "Alright, I'll take part in this mission."
"Then I'll see you tomorrow."
Before leaving, Akiyama noticed a statue of someone who looked just like his true form. That man was known as the Ruler of the Samurai. Akiyama smiled and walked away.
---
In the slums, inside a small wooden house, Akiyama knocked on the door. A young boy with black hair and black eyes opened it. His name was Kanjiro.
"It looks like you're back, brother," Kanjiro said.
Akiyama nodded. "Yeah, I'm back."
As they sat down, Kanjiro asked, "Why do you work as a samurai when you know you could die at any moment?"
Akiyama sighed. "I know that… but who else will provide for you? Without money, we can't survive."
"There are plenty of jobs out there, but you chose to be a samurai," Kanjiro muttered bitterly.
Akiyama dismissed the topic. "Forget it. I'm going to sleep—I have a mission tomorrow."
Kanjiro, still angry, walked away.
---
On an icy mountain, a lone figure sat atop a pile of Yokai corpses. His white hair was barely visible beneath his Ronin hat. He laughed.
"So, they want to kill me using weaklings?"
That man was Yosuko.
Next chapter is on Thursday