HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

"Ah, what a beautiful woman!"

"You fool, it's a monster! Run!"

"What does a monster scare you? Our boss has slain plenty before. With such a pretty one, wouldn't it be more fun to play around?"

"Hurry and tell the boss—a gorgeous monster in a shrine maiden outfit is coming."

The frenzied bandits robbing and setting fires watched as a beast-eared girl dressed like a shrine maiden approached, carrying a peculiar katana.

Far from being afraid, they grew even more excited.

All but one stayed behind, moving closer with weapons drawn toward the beautiful beast-eared girl, while the lone figure went to fetch their leader.

This band of raiders had over a hundred members. Led by someone powerful enough to slay monsters, they plundered village after village across several countries, even hitting small towns.

They operated with impunity; none of the regional lords could bring them under control.

It wasn't that these raiders were stronger than all the lords combined. Rather, they struck fast and moved on quickly. After robbing one village, they'd immediately disappear to another location.

Their formidable strength meant local leaders couldn't easily get rid of them.

Besides... spending resources to fight off raiders didn't really benefit those lords much.

"Come on, catch her..."

Following their leader, the bandits had seen him cut down a "frighteningly powerful" great yokai with a single stroke. Their hearts swelled with confidence.

If that's all these monsters can do, they thought, we've got this in the bag.

Blinded by lust and desire, they grabbed their weapons and charged straight at the Bestial Eared Miko.

"Foolish mortals..." she muttered.

Watching the bandits rush towards her, the Bestial Eared Miko smiled bloodthirstily. She raised her katana high.

"Die!"

There was no sword glare; it was just an ordinary Iaido slash!

The first bandit to charge at her... was neatly sliced in half from top to bottom...

Her face splattered with fresh blood, but instead of disgust, the smile on the Bestial Eared Miko's face grew even more twisted.

Yes! This is it... This feeling... I'm truly insane...

Her eyes turned crimson as she looked at the remaining bandits. With a mouthful of blood, she rushed forward.

She didn't use any sword aura, just simple sword techniques.

Nothing like those intricate and elaborate blade styles from a murim novel.

Most Tōei swordsmanship was similar to what you'd see in "Sekiro"... Draw your sword! Put it away!

Simple and direct.

She aimed for a single fatal blow, moving with extreme speed, no fancy tricks.

Slash! Chop! Thrust! Hook!

"A monster..."

"She's a monster! Run away..."

Seeing the beast-eared shrine maiden slaughtering, the surviving bandits couldn't bear it any longer. They turned to flee, some even throwing down their weapons in fear of running too slowly.

But at that moment they turned to escape, the beast-eared shrine maiden's katana pierced into one of them.

"Big... Big sister, you... okay?"

Looking at Yae Sakura's sickly state, Higokumaru finally couldn't hide her worry anymore.

"..."

Yae Sakura turned to look at Higokumaru, startling her.

Her eyes... were bloodred.

"Oh no, Pseudo-Herrscher... Big sister, don't get lost in killing again. You'll turn into a Herrscher once more. Wake up!"

Higokumaru rushed over to Yae Sakura, shaking her body.

"What are you doing, Higokumaru...?"

Because of Higokumaru's actions, the bloodred color vanished from Yae Sakura's eyes. She quickly pushed Higokumaru aside.

"You're fine now, big sister? That's great!"

"What do you mean 'fine'? I'm perfectly alright."

-

"Boss, it's her..."

At that moment, the bandit who had gone for help returned with a man who looked like a warrior.

The man had a long scar on his right eye, about three inches long, shaped like a centipede. It was very frightening. He held a strange samurai sword in his hand, and near the front of the hilt... there seemed to be an odd eye-like shape.

"A demonic blade..."

No wonder it felt so eerie—the strange energy came from this sword. This was indeed a demonic blade.

-

"A demon donkey? You killed all of them?" The bandit chief's face darkened as he looked at the bodies of his men lying next to Yae Sakura.

He gripped his sword tightly, veins bulging on his arm, eyes turning bright red.

"So what... even if I did?"

Yae Sakura stepped over the bandits' corpses, slowly approaching the bandit chief with an unconcerned expression.

It's just a demonic blade with evil power, she thought.

"So what? I'm going to cut you down!" The bandit chief charged forward, holding his demonic blade in both hands.

Since obtaining this blade, he had used it to slay countless monsters. Even the most terrifying ones fell with a single strike.

And this monster before him was no different from a human.

In fact, it might be weaker than those "terrifying" monsters, he thought.

"Boss, don't kill her outright! This is the first time we've encountered such a beautiful monster. Why not chop off her arms instead? Whether we use her ourselves or sell her to nobles, it'd be a good deal!"

The bandit henchman watched his boss charge forward and hastily called out a warning.

Monsters they'd encountered before were always terrifyingly ugly. This was their first time seeing such a beautiful one.

"..."

The bandit chief didn't respond, but he adjusted his aim slightly. Instead of Yae Sakura's head, he now targeted her arm.

"You want... to duel?"

As she looked at the bandit wielding his demonic sword, Yae suddenly didn't want to just cut him down with a single blow anymore.

Iaido slash!

When the bandit got close enough, Yae, holding her blade in one hand, swung it swiftly towards him.

Clang!

But then... the attacking bandit instantly turned into a defender. The collision between the void blade and the demonic sword sounded like metal striking against metal.

After missing her first strike, Yae quickly sheathed her sword, changed positions, and drew it again.

Clang, clang, clang...

Every attack was blocked. Despite taking so many blows from the Void Blade, the bandit's demonic blade remained perfectly intact.

Wait! The real threat is that demonic sword...

After several exchanges, Yae finally realized what was going on!

It looked like the bandit was wielding the demonic sword, but in reality, the sword was controlling the bandit.

No matter what move she made, the demonic sword could instantly adjust and block it. Otherwise... no human could react fast enough.