"So the legends didn't exaggerate..."
Koshiro looked down, his expression solemn as he gazed at the Seven Star Sword in his hand, which radiated an ominous aura. He muttered to himself. In this world, the reason cursed swords were regarded as ominous, deadly weapons was that they would kill their owners. This had become the stereotypical perception people had of them.
But now, Koshiro had seen his own daughter affected while he was merely holding it. This shattered his understanding of cursed swords. Seeing that Kuina was not controlled or harmed, Koshiro felt relieved.
He then returned the Seven Star Sword to Louis with both hands, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Lord Louis, to be able to control this ominous, cursed sword without even being a swordsman... I am truly impressed."
He was confident he wouldn't be controlled by the Seven Star Sword, but he couldn't completely ignore its influence. If he were to fight a strong enemy while holding it, he might very well be killed in an instant due to a lapse in concentration.
Kuina's eyes widened at his words. She looked at Louis with an expression of disbelief and subconsciously said, "He's not a swordsman?"
Louis heard this and gently unsheathed the Seven Star Sword, revealing its form, now completely devoid of any demonic or ominous aura, to the two of them.
Koshiro was stunned. The shock on Kuina's face deepened.
Under their gazes, Louis looked at the Seven Star Sword and said calmly, "The reason I can control the Seven Star Sword is very simple."
"Because it cannot affect me, while I can destroy it at any time."
"..."
Koshiro was taken aback by his words, then said meaningfully, "That's right. If you can't guarantee that a weapon won't harm you, then it's best not to wield it."
"Do you understand, Kuina?"
Kuina heard this and a puzzled expression appeared on her face. "Isn't that just common sense?"
Koshiro looked at his daughter and shook his head, saying pointedly, "It is common sense, yes. But how many people actually do that?"
Kuina gripped the Wado Ichimonji in her hand and fell silent.
A moment later, Louis sensed Yelena and Uta approaching and informed Koshiro of his partners' arrival. Koshiro nodded thoughtfully.
Just then, a shout came from the entrance. "Master, two more people have come!"
"They are also guests. Bring them here," Koshiro turned his head and instructed his student gently.
Soon, Yelena, carrying large and small bags, and a curious-looking Uta were led into the courtyard. As soon as she entered, Uta's eyes locked onto Louis. A charming smile immediately appeared on her face as she waved at him.
"Louis! We came to find you!"
Then, she ran over with a series of taps, stopping in front of the veranda. She smiled and greeted Koshiro and Kuina. "I'm Uta! I'm Louis's best friend and partner!"
Her words briefly stunned Koshiro and Kuina, who then smiled back in response.
"Shimotsuki Koshiro."
"Shimotsuki Kuina."
Just then, Yelena slowly walked over. After placing her purchased goods on the veranda, she came before them. "My name is Yelena. As you can see, I'm Louis's partner."
Kuina stared at the black oni horns peeking out from between Yelena's white hair, momentarily dazed again. In addition to people six or seven meters tall and people with wings, she had now seen a person with horns. The biodiversity of the sea truly amazed her.
Across from Louis, Koshiro looked at the pair of black oni horns on Yelena's head, a pensive expression on his face. A person who has inherited the blood of the Oni?
He couldn't help but think of another person with oni horns his father had mentioned when he was alive. That person had caused quite a stir over the decades, making headlines in the World Economic News multiple times.
She's impressively strong! And she looks so young. Will she become the second Kaido of the Beasts? Koshiro thought to himself. He then looked at Louis, who was sipping his tea silently, and marveled again. Louis is even younger... he looks to be only a year or two older than Kuina.
Is this a team composed of two monsters? In comparison, this girl with the rare hair color seems quite ordinary...
Koshiro had taught countless students at the Isshin Dojo. With his Haki and keen eye, he could tell the natural talents of Louis and the others at a glance.
Then, Koshiro pushed up his glasses and said with a smile, "Lord Louis, you came here looking for my father to forge a war hammer for Miss Yelena, correct?"
Louis nodded. "That's right. Her original weapon is nearly broken and needs to be replaced."
Yelena was taken aback. She didn't know Louis had this in mind. Her war hammer was also inherited from her ancestors. By the time it reached her, it had inevitably developed cracks. She had originally planned to seal it away after it became completely unusable and then fight bare-handed or with a heavy weapon made of ice.
But now...
Yelena looked at Louis, a tranquil and elegant smile on her face. Since Louis was going to find a suitable weapon for her, she wouldn't try to talk him out of it. Instead, she would bury her expectations deep in her heart and quietly wait for that day.
A moment later, Kuina took out two more teacups and poured tea for Yelena and Uta, then sat down beside Koshiro again.
On the other side, Uta looked at the white katana beside Kuina and asked curiously, "Is Kuina a swordswoman too?"
Hearing this, a confident smile appeared on Kuina's face. "That's right. In the future, I will become the world's greatest swordsman!" Kuina subconsciously gripped her Wado Ichimonji, her gaze firm, her face full of confidence.
After making the promise with Zoro to become the world's greatest swordsman, she no longer felt lost about being a woman. Even if she was a female, who, as her father said, was naturally lacking in physical strength, it could not stop her from climbing to the top of the world!
Beside her, Koshiro was stunned. He looked at his daughter's confident profile, a dazed feeling in his heart. Was my past discouragement of Kuina really wrong?
After hearing Kuina's ambition, Uta's expression changed from curiosity to surprise. Then, she smiled and said, "Although I don't know what the 'world's greatest swordsman' is, I can feel that Kuina is very serious!"
"I am willing to bet my life on it!" Kuina's gaze was resolute, her tone decisive!
Next to Kuina, Koshiro silently lowered his head, pressing his lips together. His transparent glasses reflected the sunlight, making it impossible to see the look in his eyes.
"So... you've already made up your mind, Kuina..."
...
After a long time, at Koshiro's earnest invitation, Louis's group stayed the night at the Isshin Dojo. Koshiro also offered to give Louis some of Shimotsuki Kozaburo's leftover forging materials the next day so that he could find a suitable person to forge a weapon for Yelena.
Late at night.
The Den Den Mushi on Louis's body rang. An unexpected person was contacting him.