Chapter 456: Chapter 162: The Swordsman Who Severed the Ironclad Ship: Mamiya Kurō
Thus—Harada also followed in the footsteps of Nagakura and the others, not even managing to touch Chiba Eijiro once.
After Harada’s retreat, aside from Zhouzhu, Kondo, and Chokata, everyone else had already stepped forward to duel with Chiba Eijiro. From the final results... it seemed Aoto had the best outcome—at least Aoto, relying on "Sound Positioning," successfully hit Chiba Eijiro once, while Nagakura and the others couldn’t even touch him...
After battling continuously with Aoto, Nagakura, Saito, and Harada, Chiba Eijiro finally showed clear signs of fatigue.
He removed his mask, and his face was already drenched with sweat, his breathing difficult to keep steady.
"Alright, I no longer have the energy to continue. Let’s end the match here for now."
Chiba Eijiro turned his head and half-jokingly said to Zhouzhu, Kondo, and Chokata, who had not yet competed with him:
"Don’t you all say you want to have a match with me too."
Kondo shrugged and let out a light chuckle tinged with a bit of helplessness: "We won’t fight you."
"After all, long ago... we already understood the vast gap between us and you."
The recently defeated Nagakura and others now looked at Chiba Eijiro with eyes akin to reverence.
Taking turns to engage them and suppressing them the entire time, leaving them with no chance to retaliate... such strength is truly admirable!
Aoto couldn’t help but look at Chiba Eijiro with admiration at this time.
Different perspectives result in seeing different worlds.
Sitting at the edge of the dojo, watching the battles between Chiba Eijiro and Nagakura, Aoto saw many things he hadn’t noticed during his own match with Chiba Eijiro after his perspective shifted from "participant" to "spectator."
For instance: From the "spectator" perspective, Aoto clearly realized how masterful Chiba Eijiro’s control of distance was.
Whether in attack or defense, Chiba Eijiro’s spacing was just perfect.
When attacking, he could step to just the right position where his bamboo sword could effectively hit his opponent.
When dodging, he moved just the right amount, neither more nor less, to evade the attack.
Merely understanding how he managed spacing with his opponents could take Aoto and the others a long time to ponder and learn...
Aoto silently thought to himself:
—The title of "Strongest Swordsman of Edo"... it’s not unearned...
"Sigh... what utter defeat."
At this point, Harada’s voice sounded.
Just defeated, standing opposite Chiba Eijiro, Harada remarked with admiration as he took off his mask.
Once his mask was off, Harada displayed his signature goofy smile to Chiba Eijiro.
"Even before the fight began, I knew I would definitely lose."
"But I didn’t expect to lose so thoroughly, not even able to touch you with my spear."
At this, Harada laughed heartily several times.
"As expected of the Strongest Swordsman of Edo, hahaha, I wonder if in my lifetime I could ever reach your current level."
Seeing Harada suddenly admiring his strength, Chiba Eijiro raised his eyebrows, a faint wry smile slowly appearing on his cheeks:
"Thank you for the compliment."
Chiba Eijiro paused in his speech, then sighed lightly with a helpless expression.
"I suppose... I should correct you all—such a title as ’Strongest of Edo’ is not one I can accept."
"The so-called ’Strongest Swordsman of Edo’ is merely a misconception spread by those who like to talk."
"I have never believed my current strength has reached the level worthy of such a title as ’Strongest of Edo.’
The helplessness on Chiba Eijiro’s face intensified.
"’There is always someone better and the sky beyond the sky’ is an unchanging truth of the world."
"As the largest city in this country, Edo is full of hidden talents and masters whose numbers are countless."
"No need to mention others."
"If the legendary ’Ship-Slaying Sword Hero’ Mamiya Kurō is really, as rumored, residing secretly in Edo... then the name ’Strongest of Edo’ certainly does not belong to me."
"...Ship-Slaying Sword Hero?" Hearing such an unfamiliar title and name, Aoto couldn’t help but pause and question Chiba Eijiro.
Chiba Eijiro said casually:
"It is as the name suggests."
"According to legend, this sword master sailed alone under the cover of night in a small boat to the hull of a certain Western Ironclad Ship, and then with one slash, broke through its exterior armor."
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Seeking monthly votes! Seeking recommendation votes! (Leopard head wail.jpg)
While writing this Chapter, I suddenly thought—when was the last time I wrote about Saito speaking...?
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