12. The First Disciple
12. The First Disciple
If it had been a worthless opponent, I would have cut their throat on the spot.
I was not the type to take in someone with nothing to offer.
However, Shingen saw potential in her.
While she had many shortcomings, he acknowledged one ability: she could skillfully control her emotions and calm herself down.
If he were to forge her, a rough gemstone, what kind of jewel would she transform into?
Would she shine brilliantly? Or would she shatter into useless trash?
That depended entirely on her own choice.
"...Disciple?"
Kaede tilted her head with a doubtful expression, wondering if she had heard correctly.
It was understandable to be flustered when the opponent she was just fighting to the death suddenly proposed recruitment.
"That's right. I judged that taking you in would be more beneficial than killing you here."
It was a situation where he couldn't afford to waste even one person, given the absolute lack of talented personnel.
"Of course, I have no intention of offering poor treatment. While I don't have much to offer right now... there is one thing I can certainly give you."
"What... is it?"
"It's strength."
He looked at her with eyes that glinted with a hint of madness.
"Haven't you thought about wanting to become stronger? Did you truly think it was okay to be satisfied here?"
"......."
"No, absolutely not. We, people who eat the sword for a living, always desire more powerful strength."
With power, one can obtain what they want.
They can take money to live in affluence, or perform dirty and dangerous requests to simultaneously gain both fame and money.
Of course, for most, it would be fame limited to the underworld, but they would be satisfied with just that.
If they were suited for the legitimate world in the first place, they wouldn't have even considered entering the shadows.
"You don't seem much different to me. Even after experiencing defeat, you desire to advance further."
"......."
"You may lose, but you don't break. As long as you don't break, you can always challenge again."
It wasn't as if Shingen was strong from the beginning.
He had often risked his life to snuff out the breath of low-ranking yakuza, and he had experienced countless situations where a sword grazed his heart.
But he didn't break.
He didn't give up.
That's how he was able to reach this place.
"Don't you want to see it? The sight of yourself as a jewel."
"Jew...el."
Kaede bowed her head with a complicated expression and fell silent.
She still seemed to have a lot to think about.
"Of course, the choice is free. I have no desire to force my opinion on you."
"...Then."
The hesitant flower finally opened her mouth.
"Disciple. Become like you. Strong power. Reach. Possible?"
"I only guide the path. Walking that path is entirely your responsibility."
He wouldn't say she would definitely become strong.
Because nothing in this world is certain.
"Still, one thing I can assert is that if you follow the path well, you will become stronger than you are now."
"Than now... more...."
He would make Kaede, who had killed two S-ranks, even stronger.
Ordinary people would have laughed it off.
What more could be taught to someone already the strongest?
But that's by this Earth's standards.
By Noir World standards, Kaede is on the weaker side.
Not a low-level organization member, but not even a low-level executive level either.
It means the number of people at the level of this Earth's strongest are so numerous in the Noir World you could trip over them.
"It will take a long time to reach the same realm as me, but if you follow without giving up until the end, you might just reach it."
"......."
After continuing her silence, she slowly raised her head and looked up at Shingen.
"Disciple. I'll do it."
Kaede, who had finally made a decision, also looked somewhat relieved.
"Of course. Get rid of all the small fry and come. You're the only one who passed here, after all."
Most of the rest were guys rotten to the core from their personality.
"Understood. I'll clean them all up."
As Kaede rose from her seat, her split kimono immediately began to slide down.
Shingen swiftly draped his suit jacket, which he was wearing, over her shoulders, hurriedly covering her body.
"This. Why?"
"...Are you really asking because you don't know?"
Was it obliviousness? Or just a lack of thought?
It was slightly absurd, but he had to tolerate even those quirky aspects.
Kaede turned her body and pointed her sword toward her watching organization members.
"O, Oyabun! What is the meaning of this...!"
"Snap out of it!!!"
They denied reality.
They thought their boss couldn't possibly have betrayed them.
But sometimes reality is more cruel.
Even if something unbelievable happens, it is an undeniable reality.
"Be quiet."
Kaede charged at them without hesitation.
Unlike when she faced Shingen, she lightly dodged all the attacks of the organization members and slashed them down.
Against the sword swung like flowing water, they had no choice but to be helplessly defeated.
It didn't take very long to dispose of the organization members she had brought.
Since most of them were non-awakened ordinary people from the start.
After lightly shaking off the blood and organ fragments clinging to the blade, she sheathed the sword.
"You handled it well without hesitation. Good job."
Shingen approached her and gently patted her head.
"...?"
Kaede, who had raised her head, tilted her head in confusion once again.
"The corpses just need to be moved to the incinerator for disposal, so there's nothing more for us to do."
"...How on earth did you tame her so thoroughly that she'd turn on her own side while fighting?"
A-young, who had been watching all this from behind, carefully approached and asked.
"When swords are exchanged between warriors, sometimes they just connect."
"...I simply can't understand it. Neither Oppa nor that woman."
"Don't try to understand it. Just feel it in your heart."
Shingen tapped A-young's shoulders a couple of times and exited the factory first.
"......"
Kaede also looked at her with her crimson eyes for a moment, then moved to follow Shingen.
"...I really don't get it, even when I think I do."
We were two when we left, but we returned as three.
...And it's not like we're a newlywed couple back from a honeymoon.
"But is it really okay? Betraying your organization isn't something they'll let slide easily."
Shingen asked Kaede, who was blankly staring out the window from the back seat.
No matter if she's an Oyabun, if she killed her own members and abandoned her organization, it's unlikely the subordinate organizations would just stand by.
"If they. Come. I'll just. Kill them all. Then it's over."
"...Well, if no members are left, there won't be anyone left to take revenge, I guess."
"Is that really the right way...?"
A-young, who had been listening to Shingen and Kaede's conversation, interjected with a tone of disbelief.
"It's not a perfect method, but it's the simplest. So, are you planning to have a chat with them or something?"
"...If we somehow talk it out well, isn't it possible?"
"You must have flower fields in your head."
"What? Are you crazy right now!"
She looked ready to grab his hair and pull it right then and there, but she didn't.
"Those yakuza bastards will talk about honor, samurai spirit, and other nonsense even on their deathbeds, and they're the type who will seek revenge. They're not people you can reason with."
The yakuza on this side and the yakuza on that side probably don't think all that differently.
They will definitely come to punish the traitor.
He was certain of this.
"Of course, they won't come right away. But they'll come eventually."
"...Still, it's a relief they probably won't come immediately."
Choi A-young was finally able to calm her excitement a little.
"It feels like we've just started and already made a bunch of enemies."
"Good things can't happen all the time. That's just how it is."
They came here to deal with the matter involving the guys from Japan, but somehow ended up taking on a disciple.
Even back on that Earth, he only thought about taking disciples but never actually took one.
'I kept putting it off because it seemed bothersome... I didn't think I'd end up doing it here.'
Since talent was so scarce here, raising those who showed promise was the best course.
After taking Kaede in, there was finally a chance to catch their breath.
Even though she was still quite lacking, by this Earth's standards, she was at a level where she could claim to be the strongest in the world.
That's why Shingen originally handled the training of the members himself, but now he passed the task to Kaede.
Wielding a sword, she chases the members around, and if they get caught, she prods them with the tip of the sword just enough to not break the skin, pressuring them.
"Waaaaaaaaah!!"
"I can't, I can't run anymooore...!"
The field was still filled with the sound of wails, but Shingen actually liked it.
Training must be undertaken with pain that scrapes away flesh and blood.
That's how one grows.
After briefly checking the scene, Shingen returned to the office.
"Welcome back, Chairman-nim."
Eom Pil-gu happened to be sitting at his desk, diligently handling his work.
"Yeah. You're working hard again today."
"Not at all. I'm just doing what I need to do."
"Still, your hard work doesn't go unnoticed. I'll give you a card next time, so take the kids and go get some food and drinks on me."
"Thank you...!"
It might not be the best in the industry, but he tries to look after them as best he can.
In the end, what remains till the very last are the human connections between people.
"By the way, I didn't expect you to take that woman as your disciple."
"You mean Kaede?"
"Yes. The rumors are rampant that her temperament is so fierce and cold that no one could tame her. How on earth did you convince her?"
He also seemed curious about how on earth he managed to persuade her.
Shingen answered Eom Pil-gu's question just as he had the last time.
"When swords are exchanged between warriors, sometimes they just connect. That's all."