Chapter 36: Reverse Blade

Chapter 36: Reverse Blade

It was a small, unremarkable isle in Inazuma’s waters—hardly more than the size of a courtyard.

Aside from a few sparse trees, it was carpeted with nameless wild grass swaying in the breeze.

A handful of cranes picked delicately across the soft sand, occasionally dipping their heads to snatch up some unwary crab trying to burrow into the shore, savoring their midday meal.

They had lived here for a long time. With nothing of value on the island, humans rarely disturbed them.

But today, two figures had arrived.

“Kh— cough, cough—”

Kaedehara Kazuha lay sprawled on the sand in an undignified starfish posture, soaked to the bone. Even with the wind at his back, he had never attempted such a reckless escape—at one point, he had truly thought he might be on his way to meet his late friend.

Bai Luo, on the other hand, sat far more composed. The recent awakening of his second class had bolstered his stamina greatly; compared to Kazuha, he was in no hurry to catch his breath.

Perched on a reef at the edge of the shore, he kicked off his wooden clogs, peeled off his white socks, and casually shook out a few wriggling fish that had somehow gotten inside.

“…My thanks, for saving me.”

Once he could breathe again, Kazuha pushed himself up, bowing in gratitude. Without Bai Luo’s intervention, he might well have shared his friend’s fate.

“Thank him, not me.”

Bai Luo waved a hand dismissively and tossed something toward him.

Kazuha caught it—his eyes widening.

The Vision.

The very Vision Bai Luo had risked crossing blades with the Raiden Shogun to seize.

Before going to the arena, Bai Luo had already ordered Kujou Takayuki to tighten security around Tenshukaku and sent word to the Fatui: if Kazuha appeared, they were to block him from entering at all costs.

But the man’s persistence had exceeded his expectations. Against all odds, Kazuha had broken through layer upon layer of defenses to reach Tenshukaku.

“…You’re giving this to me?”

A Vision was not always a gift from the gods; unclaimed Visions could awaken in new hands. Its worth was immeasurable. Kazuha had assumed that once this stranger took it, it would be lost to him forever. Yet now, Bai Luo was handing it over without the slightest reluctance.

“It wouldn’t do me any good.”

Bai Luo had long since tested it—neither Visions nor Delusions worked for him.

To him, these kinds of things were only useful to be traded for Mora.

And as a Harbinger, Mora was just a number. Northland Bank would give him as much as he pleased. In that sense, he was as wealthy as Childe himself.

Besides, with his second class unlocked and the system no longer requiring him to hold it, he might as well make a show of goodwill and pass it on to Kazuha.

“…Then…”

Kazuha’s gaze drifted toward the broken sword lying beside Bai Luo. Not because he wished to take advantage, but because his friend’s body still lay within Tenshukaku—retrieving it was impossible. That blade, at least, could serve as a memorial.

“That’s not your friend’s sword.”

Bai Luo’s eyes flicked to him, reading his thoughts instantly.

“…”

Kazuha said nothing, but his expression made it clear he didn’t believe him.

“See for yourself.”

Bai Luo grasped the hilt and drew the blade. A flash of cold steel shimmered into the air, dropping the surrounding temperature by several degrees.

To Kazuha’s astonishment, the once-broken sword was now perfectly whole—without so much as a scratch to show it had ever been shattered.

“How… is that possible?”

Even while dueling Kamisato Ayato, Kazuha had kept one eye on the Shogun’s side of the battlefield. Ayato had held back, allowing him the focus to observe.

He had seen Bai Luo pick up his friend’s broken blade. He had seen him fight the Shogun with it. Even the strike Bai Luo had used to cut Ayato down had been with that broken sword.

And yet now… it was whole.

And yet… he couldn’t shake the feeling that something about that sword was off. He just couldn’t put his finger on exactly what.

“This time… I wouldn’t be surprised if the shogunate puts you under the Vision Hunt Decree, hunting you all across Inazuma. What are you planning to do?”

Sheathing his blade, Bai Luo asked.

Truthfully, he had no intention of revealing his identity. This second class of his—Battousai—was his second life. Even knowing full well the kind of man Kazuha was, he wasn’t about to casually hand over that second life to someone else.

“What about you? If you’ve got nowhere particular to go, how about coming with me to Watatsumi Island? The resistance forces there are always happy to welcome people like us.”

Kazuha had actually planned to head to Watatsumi before, only to turn back halfway because of a friend’s troubles.

He’d seen Bai Luo’s skills firsthand, and if he could convince him to come along…

“You go ahead. I’ll be staying in Inazuma City for now.”

Watatsumi Island… yes, he would go there.

Just not yet.

With what had just happened in Tenshukaku, Inazuma City was bound to be in uproar. If he, a Fatui diplomatic envoy, suddenly vanished at a time like this, suspicion would fall on him instantly.

He couldn’t leave—not now. In fact, he had to get back as soon as possible.

“What if someone recognizes you?”

Hearing that Bai Luo intended to remain near Tenshukaku, Kazuha couldn’t help voicing his concern.

The incident at the castle tower was more than enough to make the Tenryou Commission turn the whole of Narukami Island upside down. Even the outskirts might not be safe.

Going back now… wasn’t that the same as courting death?

“They won’t find me.”

Bai Luo stood, confidence radiating from him.

The Tenryou Commission was already thoroughly infiltrated by the Fatui. Even if they did try to track him down, it would be like scooping water with a wicker basket—pointless.

Besides… what did a mysterious wandering swordsman have to do with a Fatui Harbinger?

He wasn’t a swordsman. He played with daggers.

That quiet, unshakable confidence made Kazuha pause. Then it hit him—this was the man who had wounded the exalted Raiden Shogun herself. Ordinary shogunate soldiers wouldn’t stand a chance.

Worrying about him being caught was like worrying a fish might drown in the ocean.

“You should go. The shogunate will definitely send people to investigate the cliffside, and this little island will get visitors too.”

Bai Luo glanced up toward Tenshukaku, hidden away behind thick clouds, and gave his parting words.

Before Kazuha could reply, Bai Luo stepped forward and leapt straight into the water, vanishing beneath the surface.

By the time Kazuha dove in after him, the man’s silhouette was nowhere to be found.

“What a strange man…”

He glanced at the long blade in his own hands, sighing to himself.

But then his gaze sharpened, locking onto the edge of the weapon.

It wasn’t his blade that was the problem. No…

“That sword…”

And in that moment, he realized what had felt so wrong about the other man’s weapon.

The part of the blade that should have been sharpened was dull, while the spine of the sword had a cutting edge.

In other words, when the man swung his sword, the blade’s edge had been pointed toward himself.

“A Reverse Blade Sword?”

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