To become a king and a magician

To fight Natsukawa Torato, the first thing to do is to resist the manifestation of illusion. That is the power of creation, which is truly equal to, or even greater than, the power of a god. If you cannot resist it to the minimum, then the battle will be a foregone conclusion.

After that, physical ability is also a very important factor.

Shuten-dōji lacks all of these qualities.

"To be honest, I could take down all five Heroic Swordsmen by myself without any problem; it would only take five hits anyway."

"Ugh...you better be a little weaker..."

Miyamoto Musashi was deeply discouraged, but quickly rallied: "Right, since Torata said even the Heroic Spirit Swordsman couldn't withstand one of your attacks, then I, who just managed to take your punch, am probably—"

"BOOM——————————!!"

Before Miyamoto Musashi could finish speaking, the wilderness created by Natsukawa Torami's imagination was torn open by his punch, leaving a huge crack.

A bead of cold sweat the size of a bean trickled down Miyamoto Musashi's forehead.

"Think before you speak, you idiot. Even a fool knows I can't train you with my full strength, right? The force of my punches alone would kill you seven or eight times over."

"Don't just throw a punch that could kill someone!"

"So I held back, controlling my power to just enough to suppress you." Natsukawa Torama flicked his hand. "By the way, with my blessing, you should be able to do something similar, like mowing down grass with just the air currents from a sword swing—"

"real?!"

Miyamoto Musashi immediately became interested.

Using the air currents generated by slashing his sword to knock down enemies... Miyamoto Musashi could hardly bear to even imagine that scene.

"Come on, Tiger! Continue!"

He jumped up from the ground, holding his twin swords, looking excited and full of fighting spirit!

Xia Chuanhu smiled slightly: "Yes, it's good to have such fighting spirit. Then let's continue and try our best to activate the blessing I gave you."

"Okay! I'm coming!"

Miyamoto Musashi immediately charged towards Natsukawa Torato with his sword, and perhaps due to a change in his mind, golden light began to flow from the blade, covering Miyamoto Musashi's body.

The blessing has been activated!

However, in the next instant—

"Snapped!"

The overwhelming difference in strength caused Miyamoto Musashi to be sent flying by a single punch once again.

Natsukawa Torato: "......."

He remembered that he had suppressed his power, didn't he?

15. Saya Aika gave it a like.

A week passed quickly after Natsukawa Torara and Miyamoto Musashi defeated Tomoe Gozen and Hozoin Inshun.

During this week, the heroic swordsmen who had been rumored to be there seemed to have vanished into thin air, with no news of them emerging.

The Kingdom of Suzuki, which had been shrouded in gloom for a long time, has finally enjoyed a rare period of peace.

therefore--

"Let's go patronize Tiger's shop, Lord Tomoe!"

One afternoon, Miyamoto Musashi said this to Tomoe Gozen, who was cleaning the house.

"Huh? To Lord Tiger's shop?"

Removing the headscarf from her head, Tomoe Gozen looked at Miyamoto Musashi, who had made the suggestion, with some confusion: "Why would you suddenly want to do this?"

"Because it's so boring to just stay at home all day, Tiger said he wanted me to do meditation training to see if I could activate the blessing in this way, but it's completely useless, I'm almost falling asleep."

As he spoke, Miyamoto Musashi scratched his butt like an old man and fiddled with the two swords beside him.

A week has passed since Miyamoto Musashi began training with Natsukawa Tora on the use of the Kaga. After being repeatedly beaten, hung up, knocked away, knocked into the ground, and instantly killed by Natsukawa Tora, Miyamoto Musashi finally found some tricks to using the Kaga.

However, that wasn't in terms of offense, but in terms of defense.

Because of the thought that he didn't want to be punched to death by a tiger, the blessing gave Miyamoto Musashi enough physical toughness and resilience to withstand blows... In the end, it seems that the training goal was achieved, but it also seems that it was not.

Aside from the special training at night, Miyamoto Musashi, who had nowhere else to go, meditated at home while Natsukawa Tora went out to earn money by selling himself during the day.

To be honest, Miyamoto Musashi found this rather boring. She had no problem improving her strength, but doing this every day without any results was really tedious for her.

and so--

"Let's go and support Tiger's business!" Miyamoto Musashi said with a smile.

"But I remember that Lord Tiger's business is..."

Tomoe Gozen hesitated.

Both of them knew what kind of work Natsukawa Torama did outside, so if they went to visit him like this... Tomoe Gozen was sure that Natsukawa Torama would have a big reaction.

"Furthermore, Lord Musashi, what should we do about the money? We don't have any money that we can freely dispose of."

"Hehehe~~~ Don't worry about that! Master Ba, just follow me!"

————————————————————————————————————

A little while later.

"So, Aba, you were dragged here by Musashi?"

Dressed in an elegant kimono, Natsukawa Torara looked at Tomoe Gozen and Miyamoto Musashi sitting in front of him and sighed helplessly: "And then, the money I was asked to use was..."

Reaching out, he grabbed Miyamoto Musashi's face, pulled her close, and then forcefully shoved her to the sides: "Using my hard-earned money to patronize my business! What a ridiculous idea! Musashi! Are you going to freeload in this kind of business?"

Yes, the money that Miyamoto Musashi and Tomoe Gozen used to come to this shop specifically to ask for Natsukawa Torata was the money that Natsukawa Torata had earned himself—or rather, the money that Princess Kiyohime of Tsuchiki Castle had bestowed upon him.

If this money is used to specifically name Natsukawa Torama, it will naturally end up back in Natsukawa Torama's pocket. At most, there will be one less cut, which, rounded up, means that Miyamoto Musashi and Tomoe Gozen got Natsukawa Torama for free.

Only a foolish swordsman who only thinks about eating for free could come up with such an idea.

"I'm sorry, Lord Tiger, Tomoe did try to dissuade him, but Lord Musashi was too resolute, and his actions were too swift and decisive, so Tomoe was unable to stop him in time."

"It's alright, Aba, you don't need to blame yourself. I can tell with my own eyes that it has nothing to do with you."

Releasing Miyamoto Musashi, Natsukawa Torama sat back down by the window: "So, Musashi, what exactly did you come here for? Did you really come here to have me drink and play with you?"

"Ok!"

Miyamoto Musashi smiled and nodded: "After all, your reputation has spread far and wide now. You're the most handsome man from the South who's known to everyone in the castle town, the top courtesan who makes women swoon. Let us enjoy your hospitality a little!"

"How come I remember demonstrating this to you before?"

"That's not enough! I want the whole set, money's no object!"

"Yeah, that's definitely enough, because it's all my money, you idiot!"

Xia Chuanhu really wanted to kick him directly: "Instead of wasting time fooling around here, you should go back and think about how to activate the blessing. If you produce results, I can give you a full set in private. There's no need to come here to give the shopkeeper money."

"Is it really okay for you, as a shop employee working here, to say something like that?"

Miyamoto Musashi was certain that if the old lady on the first floor heard what Natsukawa Tora said, she would be furious.

"Well, let's not talk about that for now. Anyway, Tiger, come and massage my shoulders first! I've been getting hit by you a lot lately, and I also have to meditate during the day. My whole body is stiff and sore."

"Didn't you hear what I just said...? I can't stand you."

Despite his disdain, Natsukawa Tora obediently walked behind Miyamoto Musashi and placed his hand on her shoulder: "Gently or firmly?"

"The most painful spot—!!"

A sudden, sharp pain in his shoulder made Miyamoto Musashi cry out, "Tora, why are you hitting me so hard?!"

"You asked me to use a heavier weight, is that my fault?"

"Ugh...Are you playing a trick on me on purpose?"

"Ah."

"Don't admit it so readily!!"

"I haven't even settled accounts with you for spending my money yet, or do you want to fly a few more times tonight?"

Upon hearing these words, and seeing the cold glint in Natsukawa Torato's eyes, Miyamoto Musashi immediately cowered: "No, I was wrong... but at least give me a normal massage, the most basic service!"

"alright."

Natsukawa Tora placed his hands on Miyamoto Musashi's shoulders again and gently massaged her with normal force.

"Yes, yes, that's the right amount of force. Tiger, you're very skilled at it."

"Because people used to come to my room late at night, I learned it without even realizing it."

For example, there's Merry, for example, Sajou Rei, and for example, Olga Marie later on.

"Aba, I'll give you a massage later too."

"Okay, okay... Thank you, Lord Tiger."

Tomoe Gozen was somewhat flattered.

And at that very moment—

"Tiger~~Master~~"

Suddenly, a voice that conveyed such genuine emotion drifted in from outside the door, and Natsukawa Torato, who was massaging Miyamoto Musashi, immediately trembled upon hearing it.

Then--

"Snapped!"

The gate was opened, and Princess Kiyohime of Shimosa Province once again visited her "love nest".

"I've come to see you again, Lord Tiger. Please join me today as well—"

Natsukawa Torato: "......"

Miyamoto Musashi: "..."

Tomoe Gozen: "..."

Princess Kiyohime's expression froze the moment she saw the two additional women suddenly appear in the room.

(Who are these two vixens?!)