"In a small town like us, this reward is very luxurious. Along with the chance to get into four top sects. Will make it even more."
Alex thought for a moment, Nourishing Pill. Its effect is to nourish the body and strengthen it. He didn't have anybody refining technique, so this Nourishing Pill is a bit tempting for him. And suddenly, a notification from the system locked his fate.
[Mission #1: First Place in Tournament and become a disciple of one of the four sects.
Reward: Premium Ticket x5]
It seems that the reward from the system is a bigger temptation than the reward the tournament gave for Alex.
"I got the gist of it. Should we have a spar now?"
"Sure"
They went into his courtyard. There is no noticeable thing in the yard, only a big garden inside it. But it is suitable for training. Alex took out his sword, but this time, he didn't use his Rank 3 Sword. Instead, he took out Rank 2 Sword that he just got from normal Gacha. Kenshin also pulled out his sword.
"We won't be using any Martial Arts since I wanted to see your movement. You can attack me if you are ready" Alex said.
Kenshin nodded. He charged toward him and raising his sword above his head before he swings it down.
Alex parried it with his sword.
*Clang*
*Clang*
They clashed for around a hundred rounds, before Alex said, "Stop. We will end this here."
Kenshin retreated a few steps back. He sheathed his sword.
"Your movements are rigid." Alex said.
"I know about that"
Alex pondered for a moment, he tried to confirm the thought that he had previously. He took out the Katana from System Inventory, from Kenshin's point of view, Alex looks like he took out a weapon from his Space Ring. He looked at the weapon that Alex took out just now. Alex pulled the katana from its sheath.
Kenshin looked at this weapon with great interest, he never saw a weapon like this. A moderate curve, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands.
"This is Katana, it is one of the finest cutting weapons. How about you try this?" Alex sheathed the sword and passed it to Kenshin.
Kenshin grabbed the Katana carefully. He unconsciously grabbed the katana in his left hand and used his thumb to unsheathe the blade before pulling it out from the sheath. He was astonished, "This…"
Alex, on the other hand, got the feeling that he really saw him somewhere…'Himura Kenshin'… Suddenly, something flashed in his mind. A guy with an 'X' in his cheek. He facepalmed. "How about you try it first?"
Kenshin nodded. He tried a few swings, unsheathed and sheathed it again. He tried to attack a practice dummy "Splitting Sword"
"Boom!"
The practice dummy gets obliterated. Alex who saw this screamed on his mind, "Japanese Samurai (Another World Version)! And this is Another World Version of Himura Kenshin, Should I make an 'X' wound on his cheek and change his green hair to red? No no, I can't do that. There is still a copyright."
To suppress this excitement, he called Kenshin, "Kenshin, how about we try it once more?"
"Sure"
Alex distanced himself a few meters from Kenshin. They looked at each other and nodded. Kenshin unsheathed his sword and swing it toward Alex. Alex raised his sword again to parry it.
*Clang*
*Clang*
Clash after clash, Kenshin's previous rigid movement starting to flow like a water. His movement becomes faster and more precise. Kenshin started to get used with the Katana. Alex smiled, "How about using that 'Splitting Sword' of yours. Is it still usable?"
Kenshin raised his sword and swung it down.
"Splitting Sword"
Alex parried it, but he finally realized that this strike is…"Heavy" the ground below him started to crack. His feet glued to the ground because of the force. He might be able to cut the snake's head back in the forest if he used to like this. But, Alex can't lose.
"Immovable Step"
He countered the force from Splitting Sword with his Immovable Step. Kenshin retreated a few steps back. Before he charged toward Alex again.
"Splitting Sword"
"Spirit Eyes"
Alex used his spirit eyes. When he used this technique, the world that he sees become slower, He observed Kenshin's movement and because of Sword Mastery. He felt he understood something from this.
"Immovable Step"
He countered Kenshin's Splitting sword again. They continue clashing for a few more rounds. Kenshin's continue using his Splitting Sword toward Alex. While Alex blocked him every single time.
"I think we need to finish it soon." Alex said.
"Let finish it with one strike" Kenshin nodded in agreement.
Alex said that because of another thing. After saying that, Kenshin charged toward him while raising his sword. Alex also did the same thing as him. And Suddenly,
"Splitting Sword"
"Splitting Sword. Plus Heavy Step"
Alex used the same move as Kenshin. He used his Splitting Sword and arranged it with his Heavy Step. Alex channeled the Heaviness in his lower half to his hand and made the Sword heavier. Because of this, Kenshin started losing in power before he crashed to the ground.
"I win"
Kenshin was astonished. Not only he loses in power, but also the last move that Alex's used… it is his Splitting Sword. Was he already know about Splitting Sword? If he not, then did he learned it just now when fighting him? If that so, what kind of genius is he?
Kenshin himself didn't know that he is also a genius. But he just didn't have the right weapon. After he got the Katana from Alex, the door in his path was opened. Alex reaches out his hand and helps him up.
"Alex, that move just now…"
"Sorry. I just learned it from you"
"What? You…" Even though he already speculated this, but hearing it now, still shocked him. He calmed himself down, "Alex, this weapon… thank you very much. How much is it? Can I buy it? Please let me buy this"
Alex nodded, "Don't mind about that. There is one more thing that I wanted to test"
"What is it? just tell me about it. I will immediately carry it"
"This is a bit weird but, how about ending your sentence with 'de gozaru"
"De Gozaru?"
Alex nodded.
"I will tell my mother first about this de gozaru…" Kenshin suddenly became pensive. He looked at Alex with an astonished face, "Alex, I didn't know why but I felt there is 'Clicked' inside my mind with this 'De Gozaru"
Alex smirked a little, "Then, that's good"
"Yeah. I will go with this de gozaru" Kenshin nodded.
While Alex was excited deep inside his heart. "According to the plan. Japanese Samurai Plan. Completed"
"But, what about the meaning of this 'de gozaru' Alex?"
"Don't mind about the small detail."
"But, I'm really thankful to you Alex. If it is like this, I can… From today onward, your problem is my problem. I consider you as my brother even if you didn't consider me as one."
"Haiz. It is only a small thing"
"It might be a small thing for you. But for me, this is my entire life." Kenshin clenched his fist, he was very serious in his words. "But, I'm confused. Why are you helping me Alex? We barely know each other"
"You wanted to know?." Alex smirked.
Kenshin didn't ask anymore. Alex let out a breath of relief. He says inwardly. 'How can I say that you have an MC vibe in your story and you also have the same thing as the person that I watched in the past though I forgot most of it.'
…
They went inside, Kenshin's mother has prepared all the food. They are waiting for his father to come back. Kenshin took a bath first. After that, Alex took a bath. When he finished, Kenshin was nowhere to be seen. Since it might be rude if he wandering alone in this house. He waited for a while.
And yes, not long after. Kenshin finally came back. But this time, there is a middle-aged man with black hair and a stern face. Alex can't perceive his cultivation stage. But since he came with Kenshin, this middle-aged man must be his father. And suddenly, he bowed to Alex. Alex was astounded.
"You are Alexander, right? I am really thankful for what you have done to my son. Not only, you saved him, but you also gave him a weapon that suited him. Even I have tried to make him handle so many weapons, but none suits him. I really thank you as his father"
"Please get up sir, What I have done is a small thing" Alex said while helping him get up.
"To you is a small thing, but for him, it is his entire life, his future. I am really a useless father"
"You are not a useless father, Sir. I'm sure about that, you have tried your best for your son. And I'm sure that your son will also think that" Alex said.
"That's right, Father. You are the best father that I can hope off. Even if I'm starting to become useless, You didn't give up on me. I'm the one who useless, so this time, I will definitely not disappoint you"
"You are not useless. You are my pride, your mother's pride, your grandfather's pride. You are our pride"
"Father…"
"Alexander, I heard you are going to join the tournament that will be held in a few days, right? I will register your participation. I will protect you to the end."
"I'm honored." Alex said.
"Let's eat"
Alex nodded.
…
After eating, Kenshin leads him to a guest room. At night, when he wanted to cultivate. A sudden knock on his door. When he opened the door, he saw Kenshin's Father, Himura Takata.
"Alexander, do you have time for a talk?"
"Sure, please come in."
Takata came inside. When Alex closed his door and turned back, he saw Takata bowing his head once again.
"Sir Takata?"
"I'm very sorry Alexander."
"What do you mean Sir?"
"I had suspected you as a spy that came from the other families when I received the report about saving my son in the forest. After all, it was a very coincidence. But, I was wrong. You even help him with his problem. As a father, who doesn't want his son to become a dragon. But I can't give him a solution that he needs. Inferiority started growing inside his heart, that's why when I heard from him that you gave him the solution that I never found, I'm really thankful to you" After pausing a bit, "But, why do you give your precious weapon? Isn't he a stranger to you just a few hours ago?"
Alex pondered for a moment, "It is his character."
"Character?"
"He is trustworthy. I'm sure that you already know about this. It's better to have an honest friend than having a 'Friend' that can stab you in your back at any moment, even though they are strong. And I believe he also has a vast potential that buried inside him. He just didn't find the right way. Sooner or later, even without me, I'm sure that he can overcome that hurdle by himself."
Takata was dumbfounded. "Alexander, I heard that you are an alchemist, right? How about I accompany you to register tomorrow?"
"Hmm, I will visit them to register before the tournament, having an identity as an alchemist should help me later on" Alex only told him his identity as an Alchemist as a cover to protect him. He didn't tell him all of his identities including the array master. He still didn't trust them fully. Kenshin might be different. But his father…Alex remembers the Zircodina King, who he thought was respectable, but still overflowing with greed.
"Then, which pill you are going to make for practice? I will buy it for you, Of course, it is from my own pocket, this wasn't to bind you to our Himura House. But it is thanks as Kenshin's Father."
Alex looked at him. It will be rude to him if he rejected this. "Sure. But, I don't know anything about this registering thing."
"Let me explain this to you. For registering or advancing your alchemy rank, you can do it in the Alchemy guild in our town. Do you know about the Alchemist Ranking?"
"There are eight rankings, which is rank 1 to rank 8. Each rank is separated into Low, Middle, and High."
"That's right. You need to make one pill for the rank that you wanted to register/advance and another pill with one level lower than that. In other words, if you are going to register a High Rank 1 Alchemist. You need to make a High-Grade Rank 1 Pill and Middle-Grade Rank 1 pill. There is no specific pill that you need to make as long as the rank is right. And the guild will prepare the medicinal ingredients you only need to pay 20 Spirit Stones to register."
"I see"
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