Seiji basically had to load every time that he took a serious attack.

The most dangerous part about singlehandedly trying to break past so many monsters was that if he took a single serious attack, he would soon be swarmed, which would obviously result in death—if it wasn’t for his save and load ability.

Seiji abused his save and load ability to the fullest in order to progress. He once more personally experienced just how truly powerful this ability was.

Even though he already had this realization before, it still gave him an impact when he personally experienced it yet again. This impact wasn’t the type that affected his knowledge. It was an impact that touched upon something deeper within him… If he had to use an analogy, it would be the difference between reading a harem manga and personally establishing a harem in real life.

Cough, cough, maybe that wasn’t such a good analogy. Seiji was just trying to understand his own feelings.

Seiji now clearly understood just how powerful saving and loading could be. But even with his ability, it was still difficult to break through so many monsters. This powerful ability protected his life, but he still needed to slowly progress through all the monsters.

Meanwhile, his only spectator Kazuko was already completely stunned by Seiji’s dangerous run with so many close calls.

Seiji was surrounded by countless spiritual monsters big and small. He trudged onward all by himself, several times… no, continuously surpassing every situation that seemed incredibly dangerous! Kazuko couldn’t even begin to imagine how this was possible!

Kazuko had felt countless times already that Seiji was about to die. Yet, he managed to win the battle in the end each and every time. He made it look easy. Still, Kazuko knew that every single situation was definitely extremely dangerous!

There was no mistaking the danger!

If Seiji made even a single mistake or reacted slowly by a single second, he would have taken an attack and been overwhelmed… but, Seiji somehow made zero mistakes and maintained a constant state of incredibly agile reactions!

Kazuko felt like she was watching artistry in motion.

Right, artistry. Kazuko felt that the leader of the knight order’s abilities had already reached the realm of artistry. She didn’t know how to clearly explain it. Regardless, she was absolutely stunned.

White mist slowly started gathering.

No, it was actually that Seiji had gradually entered a place filled with white mist.

As the mist kept thickening, Seiji’s vision was obstructed. However, the number of spiritual monsters also began to decrease, so it actually became easier to break through the monsters.

Seiji was almost there.

He could sense this without Kazuko needing to tell him.

Finally, he saw a deep-red torii.

This torii gave off a sense of divinity, but also seemed ominous at the same time. Three full rows of Samurai Demons were guarding this torii.

Seiji unhesitatingly used his [White Calamity] ability! He used his full force to try and break past this final line of defense.

He failed.

Seiji loaded.

He used what he learned from the first attempt and succeeded on the second try!

After he entered the torii, Seiji felt as if he had fallen into the bottom of a deep, dark, and icy ocean. He was significantly pressured.

Seiji gritted his teeth and continued onward while [White Calamity]’s effect was still active. With the protection of the White Sakura Goddess, he was able to resist the pressure and continue onward.

Kazuko seemed to say something to him, but he couldn’t hear her clearly.

It was already an ordeal to maintain his consciousness in close proximity to the Evil Goddess’s power.

[White Calamity]’s effect then wore off. He suddenly felt a much greater pressure upon him. It was as painful as if he was being crushed.

But he could still go on!

Since he had promised to try his very best, he absolutely couldn’t retreat at this critical junction.

Yet, there seemed to be no end to the darkness.

Just as Seiji felt like he was truly reaching his limit, a warmth suddenly welled up within him, giving him the strength to go on.

This strength came from Yomi… as well as Shinobu.

He was never alone to begin with.

“OHHHHHHH!!!”

Seiji roared while spitting blood. He stubbornly persisted onward despite the pressure of the darkness that threatened to tear him into pieces…

…

Snow kept fluttering everywhere in this frigid land.

This was obviously not good weather. But for the coal seller Koutarou, this counted as good weather because coal would be easier to sell in such weather.

His father had passed away due to an illness long ago. Koutarou, who was the oldest son, became the main support of the family. He wanted to earn more money so that his mother and younger siblings could eat their fill. Since the snow wasn’t too large today, Koutarou wanted to go into town to sell some coal.

“I think the snow will get much larger judging from the weather. You shouldn’t go into town today.” His mother tried to convince him otherwise.

“No worries. This amount of snow is no big deal. I’ll be fine.” Koutarou gathered all his coal into a basket and smiled at his mother.

Koutarou then carried the coal basket on his back as he took a mountain path into town.

After he walked for a while, he saw a dense white mist before him.

Why was there mist here? Koutarou found this rather strange, but he didn’t think too much about it. He simply concentrated more so that he wouldn’t slip on the mountain path.

Unexpectedly, Koutarou encountered a person who wore strange clothing and a strange helmet.

This strange person was collapsed on the mountain path. There was some blood near his face, and he was holding a sharp longsword!

Koutarou was scared by the scene to the point where his entire body tensed up.

“Who… is that?”

Was that person dead? Why had he collapsed here?

Koutarou was highly nervous. After looking at this person for a while, Koutarou gathered his courage and slowly walked over.

“Hey… are you still alive?”

There was no response.

“Hey!” Koutarou walked closer and shouted out in a louder voice.

That person suddenly lifted his head and turned to look at Koutarou!

Koutarou was scared yet again to the point of shouting loudly. He took two steps back, and painfully fell butt-first on the ground.

That person slowly stood up while facing him by using his longsword as a support. The longsword had a powerful glint.

Only then did Koutarou notice that some strange words were carved into that sword. These words gave the sword a mystical impression.

A strange sword, along with strange clothes. Just who exactly is this completely strange individual…? Koutarou wondered as he instinctively felt fear that made him want to run away. However, he was unable to move his body.

“Hello.” He was greeted gently.

“Eh?” Koutarou was surprised by this.

He then saw the strange person taking off his helmet, only to reveal an incredibly handsome face!

Koutarou was stunned. This was the first time in his life that he had seen someone so handsome. He received a huge impact from learning that a man could actually be so handsome.

“May I ask where this is?” the handsome young man, or Seiji, inquired.

There was no reaction. The other person only looked at Seiji in stunned silence.

Seiji furrowed his eyebrows slightly as he repeated his question.

Koutarou finally regained his senses, and answered, “Oh… we’re on the mountain!”

“A mountain… what mountain?”

“The mountain… is the mountain.”

“I’m asking about the name of this mountain.”

“Name… I don’t know.” Koutarou shook his head.

Koutarou had been born on this mountain. To him, the mountain was simply the mountain. He never knew, or even considered, that this mountain might have a name.

“I see… May I ask your name then?” Seiji asked this question next.

“My name is Koutarou.”

“Koutarou… what about your family name?”

“Family name?”

“Your last name.”

“I don’t know what a last name is. My name is simply Koutarou.”

No last name… Seiji blinked.

“Ah, sorry. My name is Harano.”

“Harano?”

“That’s right, Harano. Nice to meet you, Koutarou-san. May I ask where you were going?” Seiji put away his sword and offered his hand to Koutarou, who was still sitting on the ground.

“I… I’m going to the town to sell some coal.” Koutarou hesitated for a moment, but still accepted Seiji’s hand and allowed the other party to pull him up.

“To the town… are there many people in that town?”

“Of course.”

“I’d like to go there as well. May I travel together with you?”

“I suppose so… But, just who are you, Harano-san?”

Seiji fell silent for a moment.

“I am a ronin who is lost.”