Seeing the expression on Kuguruma Natsunishi's face that clearly said, "Master, are you sure you know what you're talking about?", several "anger" veins popped on Kazami Sarayoshi's forehead.
(▼皿▼#)
"You brat..."
"Ever since my youth, I have used the Breath of Wind. Naturally, I don't understand the exact process those swordsmen used to develop their derivative Breathing Styles."
"However, I imagine it wouldn't be too complicated."
"Probably... it's just taking the basic training methods of the five main Breathing Styles, taking a little away here, and adding a little there?"
Kuguruma Natsunishi: ≖_≖
Hearing your words is like hearing words.
And could you please sound a bit more certain?
Taking a step back, even as a player, he knew that blindly mixing skills or modifying skill parameters without fully grasping the game's underlying mechanics was a recipe for disaster.
Breathing Styles polished through centuries of actual combat and inheritance might not necessarily have the highest raw power, but their stability and universality far surpassed some "magical modification" created by a genius on a whim.
If he messed around without understanding what he was doing, it might feel more comfortable in the short term, but the long-term potential was another story. There was a chance the strength of the Breathing Style would decrease rather than increase.
Moreover, the realism of this game was terrifyingly high. What if he didn't just fail to learn it, but ended up breaking his character build?
Kazami: "Cough, cough. Stop looking at me with those eyes."
"I do, however, know someone."
"His strength is above mine, and the Breathing Style he uses is one he created himself."
Kuguruma Natsunishi's eyes lit up. "Please enlighten me, Master."
"Uzen Igarashi."
Kuguruma Natsunishi had a blank look on his face. "Who?"
Kazami Sarayoshi was so angry he rapped Kuguruma Natsunishi on the forehead.
"You scoundrel, you don't even recognize your own senior disciple!"
"Haven't I told you many times? The current Demon Slayer Corps 'creator of Storm Breathing' is a swordsman cultivated by me!"
"In terms of seniority, he is your senior brother."
Kuguruma Natsunishi clutched his reddened forehead, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Probably, maybe, possibly... when his "cheap" Master mentioned it, he had skipped the dialogue.
"So Senior Brother's Breathing Style was derived from one of the five main styles?"
Kazami: "Exactly. According to your senior brother, his Breath of Storm was modified based on the Breath of Wind, adding his own insights and adjustments that suited him."
"Then Master, must I use the Breath of Wind to create a derivative style?"
Kazami: "Hmm?!"
"To be honest, I want to practice other Breathing Styles as well to see which one suits me better."
"If possible, maybe I could even fuse them together into a 'Five Elements Unity' version..."
Thonk!
Another rap to the forehead. Kazami's mustache was practically twitching toward the sky.
"You certainly have big dreams, brat. Don't you understand that he who chases two rabbits catches neither?"
"Even a single Breathing Style requires a swordsman to spend their entire life climbing to its peak."
"And you want to practice two?"
"Do you even have that much time?"
Kuguruma Natsunishi: (°◇°)
I do. I just need to add points.
Kuguruma Natsunishi mused that he never said he intended to practice other styles to an incredibly profound level. He planned to practice them to Level 0 to activate the system skills and see the compatibility. It wouldn't waste much time.
Seeing that Kuguruma Natsunishi didn't immediately concede, Kazami finally let out a sigh. He knew this disciple of his. He was stubborn.
"Fine. There is no rule in the Demon Slayer Corps that a swordsman can only practice one style."
"I will write some letters of recommendation for you."
"When the time comes, you can visit them during the gaps between your missions."
Kuguruma Natsunishi: "Master, I only intend to use them for reference. I'm not planning to betray the sect!"
"Quiet!"
"Betray the sect?! You're asking for a beating, aren't you, brat?"
Seeing Kuguruma Natsunishi clutch his forehead and run away, Kazami lowered his raised right hand.
"I suppose I have some connections within the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Tell me which Breathing Styles you want to learn, and I'll get to writing."
Kuguruma Natsunishi tested the waters in a small voice: "Can I choose all of them?"
Kazami: "Hah?"
Even though this kid had decent talent and worked hard enough, wasn't he being a bit too greedy?
After another round of chaotic chasing, Kazami Sarayoshi glared at him before heading back to write the letters.
In truth, even if Kazami couldn't introduce him to other powerful swordsmen, Kuguruma Natsunishi wasn't completely without options. The fellow recruits from the Final Selection barely made up a set of swordsmen for the five main styles. He could always trouble them to teach him later.
After all, he only planned to learn until Level 0. It would just be a bit slower. Watching them demonstrate would not always result in a success judgment from the system, and even if it did, the progress added would be minimal.
Based on the progress of those two days, the speed of advancement was only one-fifth of when he first learned the Breath of Wind. Likely, the system judged that the experience gained from a rookie who had just finished their apprenticeship was far lower than that from a skilled and experienced Cultivator like Kazami Sarayoshi.
Once Kazami had left, Kuguruma Natsunishi didn't idle. After cleaning the dishes, he quickly resumed his grand plan of "skill grinding."
By evening, when Kazami Sarayoshi returned to the training hall with five letters of recommendation, he froze at the entrance.
Had this room... been redecorated?
The floor was spotless, the equipment was neatly organized, and even the dust in the corners of the window sills had been wiped clean. In the kitchen in the distance, the stove fire was burning bright, and a tempting aroma of stewed meat wafted through the air.
Outside the door, several bundles of chopped firewood were stacked neatly. Even the vegetable patch he hadn't had time to tend to in the morning had been tilled and thoroughly watered.
"Huh?"
The old man blinked, looking at Kuguruma Natsunishi, who was busy in the kitchen. Wearing an apron, he was skillfully tossing ingredients in a pan.
How had this kid become so diligent after just one trip out?
Before long, dinner was served on the low table by the hearth.
Wild Game and Vegetable Tonkotsu Stew
Pan-Seared Salmon Belly
Seafood Tonkotsu Miso Soup
How extravagant...
Where on earth did this kid get pork and salmon?
Kazami Sarayoshi picked up his wooden bowl and took a shallow sip.
"Unexpectedly delicious..."
Looking up at his disciple, who was spacing out while staring at the fire again, the wrinkles at the corners of the old man's eyes softened.
He nodded with great satisfaction. "Brat, with these skills of yours, you'll definitely marry a good woman in the future."
Kuguruma Natsunishi: "Ah?"
He was currently scrolling through his life skills.
LV2: [Physical Training] [Cooking] [Running]
LV1: [Suburi] [Camping] [Fishing] [Logging]
LV0: [Foraging] [Cleaning] [Farming]
Achievement Points: 8
[Breath of Wind LV.3 (427/2000)]
To be honest, he hadn't expected [Cooking] to level up to Level 2 even earlier than [Running], which he used for traveling.
"These are the recommendation letters I wrote for you. Keep them safe."
After dinner, Kazami handed over several introductory letters. Five in total.
[To Mr. Sakonji Urokodaki...]
[To my brother, Daimon Matsuyama...]
[To Ms. Mei Nikaido...]
[To Mr. Shinjuro Rengoku...]
[To Uzen Igarashi...]
"Swordsmen seniors of the four great Breathing Styles, and your senior brother's." The old man patted Kuguruma Natsunishi's head with a complex expression and said, "Brat, it seems you intend to walk quite an incredible path."
"Depart tomorrow."
"Visit Mr. Urokodaki at Mt. Sagiri first. After all, the Breath of Water is the most inclusive of all Breathing Styles."
"I will also write a letter to the Leader to explain things."
"Perhaps by the time the Leader's mission and your uniform arrive, you will have already mastered the basics of the Breath of Water."
Seeing Kuguruma Natsunishi looking a bit spaced out again, Kazami increased the pressure and rubbed his hair vigorously.
"When you meet these seniors, be polite. Don't spend all day dazing off."
"Also, if you run into any trouble later, write to me or your senior brother."
"We will find a way to help you."
Seeing Kuguruma Natsunishi nod blankly, Kazami let out a helpless sigh.
"Keep your wits about you. And stay safe on the road."
Kuguruma Natsunishi: "Okay, Master. (*・ˍ・)"
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