The Human Butcher and the Blind Swordsman

This young lady was incredibly arrogant; even her posture for drawing the sword exuded a haughty confidence.

‘Maple, you absolutely cannot let her intimidate you!’ I quickly cheered him on.

“Maple, go! Don’t lose to her!”

‘This Princess has never been a cheerleader for anyone before!’

Though I hadn’t cheered for Maple during the martial arts tournament, I was making up for it now.

Instantly, the two figures, shrouded in moonlight, vanished from my sight.

“!?”

‘Was it that my eyes simply couldn’t keep up with their speed?’

In the blink of an eye, their sword and katana clashed violently. Sparks flew like a blacksmith’s forge.

I… I felt as though I was witnessing a battle among deities!

My gaze darted left and right, following them as if watching two spinning tops collide. My eyes were filled with the arcs of blades and the scattering of sparks.

Minutes ticked by.

‘What was going on? Why hadn’t Maple instantly defeated her yet? Why was he fighting her for so long?’

Unexpectedly, I heard the other side speaking, “How can this person endure for so long against our young lady?”

“Exactly! The last person who interested the young lady enough to personally engage didn’t last ten seconds before her.”

Another person was timing the duel with a stopwatch.

‘It seems Maple has encountered someone formidable this time,’ I thought, filled with worry.

“It’s unbelievable! During the Millennium War, the young lady single-handedly challenged all the human masters. She’s known as the ‘Human Butcher’!”

“Alas, I truly feel sorry for the young lady. She won the battles but lost the war.”

‘…! Hearing them, doesn’t that mean Maple is in grave danger?’

After countless rounds, neither seemed to gain an advantage. The ‘Human Butcher’ young lady leapt back, creating distance.

“The last person worthy of making me draw ‘Tsukuyomi’ was someone I met during the Millennium War,” she said, a sinister smile playing on her lips. From the sleeve of her haori, she revealed another katana!

“Stop spouting nonsense. Bring it on. My fiancée is waiting for me.”

The young lady froze for a moment. Someone like her certainly couldn’t tolerate anyone being more arrogant than she was. Her eyes burned with a desire to kill Maple right now! Immediately! At once!

“Today, I will definitely see an expression of despair on your face!”

Clutching her twin blades, she appeared before Maple in a whirlwind. What followed was a dazzling display of swordsmanship!

Maple’s sword, however, moved like a kaleidoscope, or perhaps a peacock fanning its tail. In any case, their battle was inextricably fierce.

Suddenly, her ‘Tsukuyomi’ blade, like an octopus, spewed a jet of ink-like liquid! It struck Maple’s eyes!

I gasped. “Maple!!!”

Maple leapt back, putting distance between them. He plunged his sword into the ground and knelt beside me.

“Your eyes—”

“I’m fine.”

“You say you’re fine! Your eyes are bleeding!” My face paled, and my voice trembled with fright.

At the same time, the young lady’s triumphant, cold laughter echoed from the other side.

I glared at her hatefully. “You’re despicable! To resort to such underhanded tricks!”

“There’s nothing despicable or not despicable in a life-or-death battle. The important plan hasn’t been completed, so I won’t waste any more time here with you.”

She spoke brazenly, then gestured to her subordinates with a flick of her blade. “You may take the Princess away.”

Upon hearing this, Maple immediately pulled his sword from the ground and stood before me.

“You want to take the Princess now? Our duel hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Don’t try to be a hero!” I said, my heart aching as I looked at his bleeding eyes.

The opponent scoffed. “What can you possibly do when you’re blind?”

Maple smiled nonchalantly, even surprising me that he could still manage a smile.

“It’s true that I can’t see. But didn’t you say you absolutely wanted to see an expression of despair on my face today? Yet, my current situation feels as ordinary as drinking a Fubai.”

The young lady ground her teeth, a look of annoyance on her face. “You scoundrel… Today, I’ll make sure you experience what despair truly means!”

Woah! Why did Maple have to taunt her? She charged towards us, twin blades in hand!

Maple gripped his sword with both hands, adopting a stance as serene as bedrock. Even though he couldn’t see, his sheer aura was enough to deter anyone from approaching, as if entering his attack range would result in being cleaved by a single stroke.

The young lady didn’t rush in recklessly. Instead, she stood outside his attack range, quietly observing and awaiting her moment to strike.

Suddenly, she slyly kicked a pebble on the ground!

“!?” Maple’s attention was immediately drawn to the sound of the rolling stone.

Taking advantage of his distraction, she slashed down with her blade!

Be careful!!!!

I covered my mouth to stifle a cry. Maple had secretly instructed me not to make a sound, no matter what, as it would distract him. But tears were almost welling up in my eyes from anxiety.

“Hehe! I win!” The opponent revealed a triumphant smile.

Just as the blade was about to strike Maple, his figure blurred into an afterimage, dodging the attack! It merely grazed a strand of his hair!

“???” The young lady was stunned! Her momentary slip-up caused her to wear an incredulous expression.

A sharp silver light flashed! Maple’s sword severed her arm!

“Ahhhhhh!”

The young lady clutched her severed arm, writhing in agony. Her left hand flew through the air, still gripping ‘Tsukuyomi’.

I stared at Maple, dumbfounded. He was incredibly impressive.

The young lady was utterly bewildered! “Your eyes aren’t supposed to see???? How could you still dodge????”

Maple said earnestly, “I can’t see, it’s true. But when a blade cuts through the air, I can sense the wind’s flow. Well, I suppose you wouldn’t understand even if I explained it.”

“????” She knelt on the ground, her face a picture of disbelief.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re just too weak! My Maple can beat you with his eyes closed!”