Chapter 354: The White End (5)

The Mad Swordsman, defeated by the Sword Emperor long ago, was shamed once again today by losing to me. Still, he knew how to accept his defeat, so I asked for my rights as the winner. Upon hearing my request, the swordsman raised his eyebrows.

Madsword: You want me to do as you say?

“Yes, that is correct.”

It turned out that the Mad Swordsman’s title was actually Madsword. He really was a mad swordsman in the literal sense. His real name was different, but the Sword Emperor had only told Madsword his old title, and that was how Madsword had regained it. It was an odd coincidence.

“I’m still unfamiliar with the ways of this world. To be honest, it’s so different from the world I came from that the martial arts I’ve learned are almost useless.”

Madsword: Yet you beat me with them.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Madsword: Don’t people at least pretend to play it cool when praised in this manner?

The swordsman looked dumbstruck. Now that I got used to the Truth Realm Heaven, I could read people’s expressions much easier. Still, I wanted to get better at more things than just reading facial expressions.

“My world is different from this one. In terms of direction, there is not only front and back, but also right and left. Even if you strike down with your sword from above, the upper left is different from the upper right.”

Madsword: I’ve heard that from the Sword Emperor before. To me, this is just outrageous nonsense... but I don’t think you’re lying.

“Well, I’m willing to accept your challenge to a fair duel.”

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The swordsman blinked.

Madsword: “Really?”

“Yes, but only after I’ve become familiar with how this world works. I have to know how my world’s upper left works here, or how cutting someone’s waist functions. Show me all the moves you can make as the resident of this world.”

Madsword: I don’t understand. I’m a born fighter. Words aren’t my thing. Use simpler words.

“Step forward with your front foot.”

The Madsword did as I said. Paying close attention, I watched the martial arts moves shown in the two-dimensional space.

"Good. Now raise your sword above your head.”

Madsword: Since I lost, I’ll do what you tell me. But what’s the point of this?

“Is it not the winner’s right to decide the meaning of their reward? Do as I say, please.”

Madsword:

Ugh...

The swordsman was puzzled, but he showcased all the stances I asked him to. His form was neat. Even though he had lost to me and the Sword Emperor, he was still the strongest in the Truth Heaven Realm.

Compared to me, he had far less aura, but that also meant he was a martial artist who didn’t rely on his aura. He was the perfect test subject for me to examine if I wanted to learn two-dimensional martial arts, so I kept making requests.

“Next, point the sword forward while holding it in front of you.”

"How does this look to you? What moves would you use to break it?"

“I’m not asking for your secret moves, just the basic ones. Show me the basic stances that any swordsman learns.”

At first, the swordsman obeyed sourly, but he soon grasped the intent behind my demands.

Madsword: I see.

He flashed a bitter smile. It was the first smile he had ever shown me.

Madsword: Right now, you’re interpreting my stances in your own style.

“Yes.”

Madsword: You must be studying my postures in your mind and adapting them to your own perspective.”

Though a bit late, the swordsman understood my intention. The reason I couldn’t use my sword with precision was that I wasn’t used to how the swordsman’s stances and mine appeared in this two-dimensional space. Therefore, I asked the swordsman to show me basic stances so I could match his movements to the martial arts of my world.

Madsword: How long do you think it’ll take to become familiar with my world?

“I’m not sure.”

I was busy recreating many moves in my head. Like technique, imagination could be honed. With training, it became stronger. Aura was the muscle of the mind. The more I mastered it, the sharper my mind became. Now, I could run many tests in my mind.

“About half a day. That should be enough.”

Madsword: Once you get used to it, will you challenge me to a duel?

“Yes, since a fair duel is what you want.”

The swordsman sighed.

Madsword: Right now I’m making my future foe stronger. Still, this is a fight I have long wanted, so I can’t refuse. Maybe I’ll lose to you again in our next duel. Even so, I can’t stop. No matter what I do, I keep running into dilemmas.

After that, the swordsman stopped sighing. Without a word, he moved his feet and swung his sword, repeating the same stance over and over to help me get used to the two-dimensional fights.

Half a day passed.

.,,..　　　　　⊂;⌒;⌒;,つ

,,:;:'':::'::::,,

,,:::::''::::::::: ::::'':::,,,

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

I sat in the lotus position for hours, meditating. It was said that, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” To defeat the strongest man in the way of the Truth Realm Heaven, I first had to become familiar with the world.

The stick isn’t a stick, but a sword.

I recognized—no, tried to recognize the stick shaped like┃ that my opponent was swinging as a sharp sword.

Not just the swords, but everything should be recognized as what they are.

— wasn’t a line, but the ground. ▲ wasn’t a triangle, but a mountain. ⊂;⌒;⌒;,つ weren’t just a mix of dots and curves, but a cloud. This was the truth of the world, and I had to accept it.

I blinked. The sun set and the white sky turned black. The black sunset was no less redder than a typical red sunset.

I unwittingly muttered, “But then, shouldn’t I be unable to hear my voice like everyone else?”

[You have shown respect for the laws of the Truth Heaven Realm!]

[The Faceless Conductor has allowed you to stay in the realm.]

[A small penalty has been given.]

I blinked again.

Me: What penalty?

As soon as I opened my mouth, I knew what had changed.

Me: I can’t hear my voice.

What I thought appeared as a dotted speech balloon, and what I said aloud appeared in solid ones. Neither stayed as a monologue inside my head. Was this the penalty? Still, it didn’t feel like a penalty, at least to me.

Me: Hmm.

I uncrossed my legs and stood up.

Me: Thank you for waiting. It took a while.

Madsword: ...

The swordsman, who had been repeating basic moves, hesitated. His eyes were as dark as wells as he stared at me.

Madsword: Have you really accustomed yourself to the ways of the world? Already?

Me: The Sword Emperor would have gotten used to them immediately, but it took me half a day just to have some grasp on the concepts. I was actually quite slow.

It was a strange feeling. No, perhaps it was normal all along. Even in the Musical Heaven Realm, I couldn’t hear any sound, but sound itself was nonexistent here. The senses needed to survive in this world were way fewer and much weaker than in my original world.

Me: It feels nice.

Madsword:

Huh?

The swordsman adjusted his stance, though this time he wasn’t doing it to give me an example. He pointed the sword at me so we could begin our second duel.

Madsword: Well, I guess that’s why you people are alive and I’m dead. I’ve already been defeated, but I can’t truly accept the defeat I suffered at your hands. I’m ashamed to ask, but would you accept my request for a rematch?

Unlike the first fight, the swordsman and I followed proper etiquette this time.

Me: I should be the one ashamed for making you wait so long. I’m the Young Heaven of the Heavenly Demon Cult. I also go by the name of Death King.

Madsword: Death King, why are you indulging in my childishness?

Me: I have the Sword Emperor as my teacher.

The Guardian, who had been listening to us talk, opened his eyes wide. This was the Truth Heaven Realm, where no lies and empty flatteries were allowed. Yet I called him my teacher without hesitation. However, it was too soon for him to show a reaction.

Me: My teacher is shameless and foolish. He can’t plan ahead, so he caused many people to go mad by making rash promises and oaths. How is he any different from a beast that flaunts and relies only on its own strength? As his student, I’m deeply embarrassed.

Idiot: You little...

Me: Still, even though he’s a stingy idiot, he’s my teacher who taught me how to use the sword. Even if he screws over the entire universe, I have to clean up his mess no matter how stinky it is. You’re also a victim of the mess he left behind.

Idiot: Hey! Hey!! I can’t believe that everything you said so far is true!

He was surely noisy.

Me: I have to restore the honor of my teacher and his sect. Even though you’re a criminal who has hurt many by blocking trade between the eastern and western regions, my teacher is worse. I’ll reform you and set this record straight.

Madsword: Haha, I’m surprised that those words truly came from your heart, but can you really reform me? No, that won’t be possible. Come at me!

I did come at him.

Madsword: !

With one strike, his sword broke. It wasn’t an aura attack from afar. My holy sword struck his sword from above, and it was over at once.

Madsword:

Hah.

Though hundreds of swords in the sword graveyard had been destroyed, hundreds still remained. The swordsman hurriedly pulled out another stuck in the ground.

Madsword: So...

I extended my right foot—no, my front foot—and struck the swordsman’s hand. The swordsman staggered before he even could raise his sword.

Madsword: ... Was I bound to lose no matter how I fought?

I used momentum to my advantage to kick him with my back leg. The swordsman tried to block my attack with his arms, but I used all of my strength into the kick, which ruined my posture entirely. The swordsman’s posture was just as bad, but my sword was still in my hand.

Me: There.

While the opponent had to grab the sword hilt and pull it out, I only needed to raise my holy sword and aim it at his neck.

Madsword: ...

Me: If you still can’t accept defeat, I’ll fight you as many times as you wish.

The Mad Swordsman offered a weak smile.

Madsword: No, I’ve lost. I’ve been defeated by the Sword Emperor

and

by his student. The result is pathetic after waiting so many years, but it’s a result nonetheless. Thank you.

The madman who had blocked the way between east and west would now disappear. I didn’t know if he would continue training or wander from town to town because of the damage he had caused. Still, I had no intention of cutting off the Mad Swordsman’s head as he still remembered the Sword Emperor.

Me: You’re probably the only resident who remembers my teacher on these floors. I have a question for you.

Madsword: Ask away.

Me: Between the Sword Emperor and me, who is stronger?

The swordsman closed his eyes. After a long pause, he offered a reply.

Madsword: The Sword Emperor is half a step ahead of you.

Half a step. In that gap lied the Mind Sword.

The Chemist was probably waiting for me to be done with my activities. Messages arrived as soon as the Mad Swordsman admitted his defeat.

[Your examiner has given you a pass!]

[You have earned your examiner’s recognition.]

[You may leave the stage at any time.]

I turned my back on the swordsman.