"At that moment, everyone at the party realized that behind every lineage of warriors like the Chan clan lies an unbroken chain; the heir was not the son but rather the daughter! Did you hear that...? The daughter! The girl who is impossible to engage in wars and fighting! So you understand now. You cannot strike a woman..."
"Tell me, Karl! If you were in the shoes of the eldest son, what would you do then...?"
Karl took a long time to think. "I would erase that horrible humiliation by finding a way to defeat her."
"Oh! You didn't answer my question; the brother was a boy at that time, didn't he see it from the same perspective?"
"Let me tell you what he did years later! He slit his own belly with his sword, as a way to preserve his honor...! Would you have the courage to do what he did?!"
"So the one who was supposed to be the heir died, shaking the sanity of father Chan; this is the girl who saved you... Audrey!"
"Ha ha ha ha, so Karl, was it an entertaining story or not? Huh?"
"This girl's mere existence is the greatest shame...! For a family that will never know that!"
"Chan, you bastard! Did you think that your weak son, the future master of the Dragon Sword School, could surpass me! The founder of the Golden Hawk Sword School! Ha ha ha!"
Karl sat alone at the entrance of the martial arts training hall after the conversation he had with his master, who was actually his grandfather!
He saw Schiller passing by and decided to ask him a question, "What do you think of my grandfather?"
Playing with his wife's hair that was hanging at her waist, his facial expression hinted at suspicion regarding the question. "What do you mean exactly?"
"I think he's a detestable dog, a broken old man!"
"You should be careful when you speak like that...!"
"My grandfather is incapable of thinking about anything other than dignity and pride, and the Dragon Sword School, which expelled Wang, a man of strict standing and respect! So what's the difference between them?
Dignity! Pride! Status! Respect! What are these virtues?? Do people really die for such trivialities?!"
In a relaxed posture, with one knee drawn to his chest, his left arm stretched over his knees while his right arm rested on the ground beside him, he said, "They say death is inevitable in the end, whether for man or beast, but if death is all it takes to preserve honor! In that case, even monkeys can be warriors."
It seemed that Schiller was impressed by Karl's words, a slight smile on his face as he closed his eyes. "What are you trying to get at, young sir?"
"I want to join a sword school that doesn't adhere to those foolish noble principles! Not tied to their masters like the samurai do...! They don't serve their emperor nor belong to any side! An invincible faction! They follow nothing but the appreciation of the sword, nothing but victory!"
"Ha ha ha, young sir, if your clan knows no moral principles other than the sword...! No one will ever see you as a samurai family! Who on earth would want to rally under the banner of such a man? And if anyone did...! They would be men like me. There's no superiority among humans..! Are you ready for that, Sir Karl?"
His eyes gleamed. "Yes, that is the path I aspire to!"
_________________________________________________________________
In the Present.
In a complex psychological state, Karl sat hunched over, resting his head in his hand, lost in a realm of internal focus...
The last few days had been quite difficult—the death of Schiller at the hands of Brando...! Yuri had not appeared around! Audrey had failed in her mission! A number of duelists from other schools had joined the Golden Hawk Brigade, but in his eyes, none of them deserved to carry that name...!
Standing at the edge of a wooden balcony, gripping it tightly with both hands, as if seeking support against tumultuous thoughts.
He opened his eyes to a panoramic view of the sea, where the waves gently swayed under the vast sky.
"Teacher of my childhood... you are the only one left... please don't betray me...!"
...
...
...
Standing with Eva at the inn's door, in front of an alley that stretched like a narrow ribbon surrounded by old wooden walls, bearing the marks of time in its fine cracks and colors saturated with moisture. The scent of wet wood and wild grass seeping through the crevices wafted from it. The sloping roofs of the neighboring houses nearly touched, forming a natural ceiling that barely let the sunlight in...
A faint echo of footsteps began to resonate, mingling with the whispers of the wind between the walls of the silent alley.
In her usual attire, her head covered, shamisen in hand, Audrey said as she approached, "Alright... alright... alright."
With a sardonic smile, I responded, "You again? What do you mean with that nonsense 'alright, alright'?"
I imagine you were waiting for me near the inn! Weren't you?
"Maybe..! I wanted to apologize about yesterday; I feared that I couldn't please you."
Hmm! Well, will this time... you make me reach the peak of ecstasy...?
"Perhaps!"
Ha! I expected you'd need just three days to regain your balance... but you seem to be in good health.
Signs of tension were evident on Eva's face! Numerous question marks appeared above her head, as if she were asking if sex was that difficult, considering what she just heard—three days??
(But Brando's talk about the humiliating defeat he inflicted on the Golden Hawk girl, Audrey! He also deliberately chose not to clarify the matter.)
"Eva! I have some business with this lady! Why don't you go sit in one of those cafés and order whatever sweets you want while I finish my work...? You love those things, don't you?"
She shot me an angry glare and jumped to hit me on the head...!
"Why is that?"
"Did you forget everything we talked about yesterday regarding this matter?"
She turned her gaze toward Audrey and began to scrutinize her from head to toe with intense focus...
Internal Voice
"A beauty, with fair skin, a large bust, an attractive figure; well, certainly... I can't compare myself to someone like her. I'm just a silly little girl! Well, sort of. At least for now. But... but... even if..!"
Eva was annoyed and started shouting at me, "Wait a minute! Are you planning to do it now? In broad daylight? Have you forgotten the reason we're here?! I can't believe this! Are you serious? Are you even human?"
"What's wrong with you? Just a moment ago, you were calm...! Come on, girl, just do as I said."
"Brando!"
Her eyes sparkled with a frenzied anger toward me, her face tense with a strained expression.
She pulled out a copper wire filled with coins that sparkled under the faint sunlight, as if preparing to throw them in my face...
"Give me your hand!"
Hmm, fine, I'll take the money. I opened my palm and she began to drop the coins into it... Oh wow, this is good...
"Are you sure? You chose to waste money like this...! Then I'll do the same; how about buying ten sweets?!"
In any case, it's your money, so you should be the only one to regret it!
"I'll see you later!" she started walking away.
"Hey! Eva, I won't be long; don't be loitering around!"
As she walked away, she turned to me and stuck her tongue out in a provocative gesture, as if rejecting my advice...