Chapter 196: Yoriichi Type One

Chapter 196: Yoriichi Type One

In the deep woods, a clearing awaited.

As the day broke, this once deserted clearing, where no one dared to tread, now welcomed an unexpected visitor who had caused quite a stir here just yesterday.

*Ka-Ka!*

Under Kotetsu's control, Yoriichi Type Zero slowly entered the clearing and stood motionless, resembling a samurai awaiting orders from their lord.

Tanjirou and Kotetsu arrived early and were waiting for Riezel's arrival.

"He hasn't come yet?"

Kotetsu impatiently scanned the other end of the forest path, eagerly anticipating Riezel's arrival.

"He might not be here so soon."

Ready for combat with his sword in hand, Tanjirou answered, but upon seeing Kotetsu's impatience, he added.

"Morning is when Big Brother and the Hashira train. Perhaps he'll come after their training, which is in the afternoon."

"Afternoon..." Kotetsu couldn't hide his disappointment. "Do we really have to wait that long?"

Before Tanjirou could respond, he suddenly sniffed the air curiously, his nose twitching slightly.

"It seems Big Brother is here..."

Tanjirou remarked as his nose caught Riezel's scent.

"Really?" Kotetsu's spirits immediately lifted.

Before long, they saw Riezel slowly approaching from the end of the path.

Indeed, he had arrived as Tanjirou said.

Surprisingly, before beginning his training session with the Hashira, Riezel had made his way here first.

However, he wasn't alone.

A figure followed closely behind him, resembling a subordinate.

Upon seeing this figure, both Tanjirou and Kotetsu exchanged surprised looks.

"Yoriichi Type Zero?!" Kotetsu exclaimed in shock.

"Mr. Tsugikuni..." Tanjirou murmured, staring in disbelief at the figure.

Of course, Tanjirou wasn't addressing Riezel but rather the swordsman who shared a deep connection with his ancestors and left behind Sun Breathing and the hanafuda earrings to his family, the actual Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

Standing behind Riezel, the figure resembled Yoriichi Type Zero but lacked the mechanical appearance, appearing more akin to a living human—a swordsman with a gentle demeanor.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting."

Riezel greeted Tanjirou and Kotetsu with a wide grin.

Although he seemed to be in a good mood, neither Tanjirou nor Kotetsu noticed, their attention wholly captivated by the figure that stopped beside him.

"Wh-What's going on?"

Kotetsu was utterly confused.

"Big Brother?"

Tanjirou looked at Riezel, then glanced at the figure by his side, which closely resembled Yoriichi Type Zero, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Let me introduce it to you. Its name is 'Yoriichi Type One'."

Riezel explained to Tanjirou and Kotetsu, who looked puzzled.

"Since the first-generation model is called Type Zero, I named this one 'Type One'. How is it? Not too bad, right?"

Upon hearing this, Kotetsu regained his spirits.

"Can you fix it?" Kotetsu hurriedly asked.

"No problem." Riezel smiled at him. "I can even upgrade it if needed."

Since Riezel could use his magic to create Type One with higher performance than Type Zero, he naturally could use his magic to upgrade Type Zero to have the same performance as Type One.

"N-No need..." Kotetsu shook his head. "Just fixing it will be enough."

He was actually a bit afraid that Type Zero would be transformed by Riezel into something completely unrecognizable. After all, it was an heirloom left by his ancestor, the masterpiece of his family.

For this reason, rather than treating Type Zero as a combat mechanical doll, he actually saw it as a spiritual support and a symbol of his family.

It would have been fine if only minor improvements were made, but Riezel's modification was almost like creating a new and different mechanical doll, which frightened him.

As a result, he declined Riezel's offer.

"Okay." Riezel shrugged casually. "Just fix it directly then."

"What do you need me to do?" Kotetsu asked eagerly. "I have tools at home and a workshop. If you need anything, you can come over."

"No, none of those are necessary." Riezel shook his head. "We'll do it right here directly. Just wait for me."

With that, he walked over to the center of the clearing and approached Type Zero.

At the same time, Type One immediately followed him like an emotionless personal attendant.

It was yet another thing that shattered Kotetsu's worldview.

No choice.

A mechanical doll was, after all, just a doll—without the necessary controls, it wouldn't move at all.

However, Type One was clearly different.

It didn't need Riezel to control it, nor did it require any buttons or switches on its body. If he stopped, it stopped, if he walked, it walked—it was almost like it had a mind of its own.

'So this is the mechanical doll created by the master of the divine sword...?'

Kotetsu began to understand why the swordsmiths in the village, usually so full of themselves, had been so ecstatic upon seeing Riezel's sword.

Surely that sword was just like Type One, a creation that surpassed any human understanding or imagination.

With their skills, those swordsmiths could never have imagined why such a sword could exist in this world and must have seen it as a divine creation, a divine sword.

Now Kotetsu felt the same way.

He could hardly imagine why a mechanical doll like Type One could exist in this world, almost thinking Riezel had created life itself.

Unaware of Kotetsu's thoughts, Riezel observed Type Zero for a moment, then suddenly used the Transparent World.

'As expected, it's in here...'

Having confirmed something, Riezel reached out and grabbed Type Zero's head, giving it a firm twist.

*Snap!*

With a crisp sound, Type Zero's head was twisted off.

"AAAAAAHHHHHH—!"

Seeing this scene, Kotetsu touched his two cheeks and let out a scream of sheer terror.

Riezel extended his hand again, this time reaching into Type Zero's neck and through its body.

Before long, he pulled a sword out from inside Type Zero.