HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

"As expected, you possess quite a number of warriors here. Excellent! Come, let us engage in battle!"

The girl surveyed the assembled samurai and the Great Lord, her face splitting into a radiant smile brimming with the desire for combat. It was, unexpectedly, a vision of beauty.

"Who are you? How dare you slay my men!"

Standing behind his warriors, the Great Lord Suino found his courage bolstered by their presence. He faced the girl without fear, and perhaps... even harbored thoughts of capturing her for himself. tolerate tolerate

"Harken well, all of you! I am a first-rank rōnin, Hokushin Mei. Come, let us have a proper match! I do hope you don't disappoint me now!"

The maiden... no, Hokushin Mei, drew her katana with a single motion. Faced with row upon row of samurai, she showed not a hint of fear. Instead, she charged forward, exhilarated.

"How bold of you!"

"Do you think you can face all of us alone?" The lord watched as the lone samurai charged without hesitation.

Feeling deeply insulted, the samurai rushed towards Hokushin Mei with unchecked fury. As they closed in, they drew their swords, ready to strike.

But...

Before they could slash, their heads flew off, leaving their bodies to crumple to the ground.

"Ah..."

"Satisfying!"

Faced with so many assailants, Hokushin Mei showed no intention of defense. She moved with deadly efficiency, slaughtering the samurai before her in a relentless onslaught.

And... each strike was fatal, leaving no need for a second blow.

In less than five minutes, the ranks that once stood before her had been whittled down to mere three. Meanwhile, Daimyo Suino, once so imposing with his katana, now cowered on the ground, terrified.

"Demon! You are a demon!"

"Monster..."

The sounds of terror echoed incessantly, but Hokushin Mei remained unfazed.

"Too weak... truly too weak. Can't even block a single sword strike. You're not even worth my effort to slay. Is there really no one in this world who can face my sword?"

"Is it so hard to find someone for a truly satisfying fight? You, tell me... where can I find powerful experts?" Hokushin Mei, bitterly disappointed, lamented while wielding her samurai sword. She had expected a thrilling battle, but why were they all so pitifully weak?

"You wicked demon..." The paralyzed daimyo, upon hearing Hokushin Mei's words, managed to stammer out.

"Perhaps! Go ask Lord Yama in hell. He might tell you where to find someone worthy of facing my 'Hokuto Ichidoryu'!"

With that, Hokushin Mei made short work of the warrior and the daimyo.

Ay! What lonely nobility must I endure... Does this world truly hold no one worthy of crossing swords with me?

Standing amidst the pool of crimson, Hokushin Mei gazed at the sky and, once again, couldn't help but sigh through clenched teeth.

After musing for a while, Hokushin Mei turned and walked away from the scene.

I must find an opponent worthy of a truly exhilarating battle. Only a glorious death on the battlefield - a noble way to perish for a samurai. And thus... I, Hokushin Mei, shall definitely find someone even stronger than myself!!

After slaying Daimyo Suino and his samurai soldiers, Hokushin Mei had initially prepared to depart Shinano for other lands, seeking worthy adversaries. Yet, for some inexplicable reason... she now felt that Shinano might indeed harbor a master worthy of her challenge.

Having been unable to find him thus far, Hokushin Mei decided... that she would not leave Shinano just yet.

Abandoning her plans to travel to Suruga, she remained in Shinano.

[Hokushin Mei, a renowned swordsman from the Far East during the Warring States period. She traveled the length and breadth of the land in search of a single defeat.]

[Upon realizing her invincibility, she retreated to the mountains, changed her surname to Raiden, and codified her lifetime's worth of swordsmanship knowledge into a style known as "Hokuto Ichidoryu."]

However... this chaotic neutral female warrior was far from a good person!

She didn't merely slaughter skilled warrior; she showed no mercy even to ordinary people.

Once, when Hokushin Mei was crossing a river by boat, the elderly ferryman's son, a young and inexperienced boy, challenged her to a duel.

As a samurai, she could not refuse, so she immediately accepted.

Then... she unhesitatingly beheaded the old man's only son, showing not a shred of compassion.

In a samurai duel, defeat meant death - this was Hokushin Mei's unyielding belief. It mattered not who the opponent was, even if they were a child.

Yae Village...

In Yae Village, there was a small river whose waters were exceptionally clear and pristine, a stark contrast to the rivers of the modern world.

No matter how clean the rivers might seem in today's world, their water is never safe to drink directly (aside from a few exceptions in the 90s). In contrast, the water from the river in Yae Village was perfectly potable, much like natural spring water.

Beside this scenic river stood an enormous cherry blossom tree. It was the season of full bloom, with delicate pink petals fluttering down onto the grassy riverbank or drifting atop the crystal-clear waters, carried away by the gentle current.

The scene was as idyllic as a picture-perfect painting.

This idyllic spot was where Yae Sakura had first brought Serenade and Yae Rin when they arrived in the village. It bore little resemblance to the area during times of drought.

The trio were the only ones who visited this place regularly. Most of the other villagers were unaware of its existence, and those who knew were strictly forbidden from approaching.

As a result, it remained a tranquil oasis...

As the cherry blossoms bloomed, Yae Sakura, Serenade, and Yae Rin frequented this spot... to admire the blossoms.

On occasion, they would even bathe directly in the nearby river.

This was one of the reasons why the villagers were barred from approaching this area.

However, today... only Serenade had come here. The sisters were still getting familiar with their newly obtained weapons, and they didn't need Serenade's help for that; they could manage on their own.

Besides, Yae Rin had her very own Honkai Beast, albeit not particularly well-suited for combat, it accompanied her playtime. Although not the most formidable of creatures, it was given to her by Serenade, so Yae Rin still adored it dearly.

Moreover, Serenade had fully transferred control of this Honkai Beast to Yae Rin, allowing it to serve not just as a companion, but also as a formidable ally in battle.

Serenade had been holed up in the shrine all day, feeling somewhat stifled. Deciding to seek solace in nature, she ventured out, hoping to... take a refreshing dip in the river as well.