2 - First Sword

Finally it’s time. 

I’m already outside of the Government of the Time building. I doubt it a little because I can’t see any building names that can be seen outside. But once I’m inside, I can see why this place is the Government of the Time building. There is a big set of complicated mechanical clocks behind the front desk. I don’t know what time is shown on that clock, it’s not local time for sure. 

It’s weird, I don’t think anyone here is a guest like me. It seems like I’m the only volunteer here. 

“Excuse me, I’m the one who registered for volunteering. My name is Shiromi Matou, should I show you the invitation email?” 

I asked the lady at the front desk. 

She glanced at the clock behind her. 

“Oh, you’re 2 minutes early. No need for the email, thank you. Welcome to the Government of the Time. Here’s your ID Card. You can follow me.” 

She put an identification card with a lanyard on the desk with my photo, my name, and the number, 11✕✕69. 

Oh wow, there are already a hundred thousand people volunteering in this place? 

I quickly followed her, “Is this number the number of current volunteer participants?” 

“Oh yes, that’s right. This is not the first time this kind of incident is happening. But not all of them are active, so we need to recruit new volunteers continuously.” 

So my guess is right, they recruited everyone, but not everyone stays. A few multiverse scenarios flashing through my mind. It’s a possibility that we have other timelines.

“I see. I hope I can help for a long time.” 

“I hope for the same.” 

She smiled and took something from a locker with my number, 11✕✕69. 

It looks like a remote, as small as a car remote, with a few buttons in it. 

“We are developing a new system for this programme, so please be careful and follow the tutorial thoroughly. This switch will connect you to our system. Please don’t lose this switch. You can’t have a replacement for this switch.” 

She passed the switch to me. It has green and red buttons. 

“If you lose this one, you won’t be able to continue your work, and lose all your achievements. We will be designing better devices so you can access your work more conveniently, but until then, please take care of that.”

“Here’s a manual for your work. It’s a simple guide before you start, and there will be more explanation in your headquarters. Please read this first. I will prepare your final registration before you can start the tutorial.” 

She handed me a piece of paper. There is not much stuff written there.

Touken Danshi - Saniwa Project

Time criminals who proclaim themselves as "Historical Revisionists"　with the aim to correct the rightful history, form the "History Retrograding Force" and repeatedly go back in time to stage attacks upon Japan's history.

To take down the History Retrograding Force, the Government of the Time sends out those known as Saniwa to protect all history. Nevertheless, there is no point in just defeating the History Retrograding Force if history is disturbed as well. Therefore, only the smallest of troops are sent to protect history and the methods of sending are strictly restricted.

The opposing History Retrograding Force brings in unlimited troops from the future and sends them to the past. It is said that there are 840,000,000 of them. The numbers far surpass all the humans born on the eight Japanese Isles.

While it seems clear as to whom will be victorious, the Government of the Time has one trump card up its sleeve; and that is the skill of the ones known as Saniwa: the ability to manifest the hearts of objects; to awaken the thoughts and heart of sleeping items and grant them the power to fight on their own and to wield themselves.

You will be registered as a Saniwa and will be sent to the past in order to protect history together with the strongest Tsukumogami, the Touken Danshi, who are born from the swords that are the crystallization of ancient spirits and techniques.

Upon bestowed with this power, you should manage your Headquarters or Honmaru inside the time void. You will be able to connect to your headquarters using the switch we provided.  The green button is to access your headquarters, and the red one is to go back to this world.

The time spent in the time void is 10 times faster than in the real world. So, if you spend 10 hours in the headquarters, it’s only 1 hour passed in the real world. So, please rest assured, managing your headquarters will not affect your daily life. The maximum limit in one time login is 24 hours void time, if you already spend more than 24 hours in the Honmaru, you will be logged out automatically. We can’t monitor all the Saniwas around the world, so we set this up to ensure your safety.

Further information will be explained in the tutorial.

This seems more interesting than I thought. I will be able to summon sword spirits and manage a headquarters. It certainly doesn’t seem like the usual volunteer work. 

“Miss Shiromi, the preparation is completed. If you’re sure to join us as a Saniwa, please enter this room.” 

She opened the door to a room. It’s a small white empty room inside. 

“Please give me your wrist, I will add an identification barcode.” 

She held out one hand and held a weird machine with the other hand. I held out my right hand and she pressed the machine to my inner wrist. I saw a brief flash through the machine and she released my hand. I saw nothing on my wrist, but then she lit up a weird red flashlight, and I could see the barcode with my ID number there. 

“This is to make it easier to identify our Saniwa. We respect all of our Saniwas’ privacy, so don’t worry, it can’t be seen without this light.” 

She turned off the flashlight. 

“Okay, I understand.” I nodded to her. 

“Alright, now you can go in. We will give you the power of Saniwa inside that room.” 

She made a way so I could enter the room. 

“You can just stand in the middle of the room and the system will guide you then.” 

She bowed to me. 

I stepped into the room and the door behind me closed. I hope the procedure won't hurt or anything. I walked to the middle of the room and looked around.

「Please look at the red dot in front of you.」

I heard the system’s voice. 

I reflexively search for the red dot. It’s like a dot you would see from a laser pointer at a presentation.

「Please stay still and keep your eyes open.」

I obeyed and suddenly a red light flashed before my eyes. I couldn’t help but wince and closed my eyes at the sudden light. 

I blinked a few times, it needed a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the room’s lighting. 

When I finally got used to the light, the room I’m in is no longer a white room. 

The room suddenly changed to a Japanese-styled room, and I see 5 swords floating vertically in front of me.

「Please choose your first sword companion as a Saniwa.」

From the leftmost, I see a sword in red scabbard, an elegant stone-colored scabbard, a glossy black scabbard, a sword in gold scabbard with fancy carving, and the last sword is in a dark brown-ish scabbard. 

There’s no time limit to choose this, right? How can I make this important decision in a short time?! 

You should at least give me a hint of what I am choosing! I frowned in frustration.

「Touch the sword to summon their spirit.」

Oh no, I can’t even try swinging them first? 

At least I want to try it… 

Oh well. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly I started walking towards the gold sword. As if entranced, I grabbed the gold sword. A burst of sakura petals seems like exploding from the sword I’m holding. A gust of wind blows across the room and makes me squint my eyes. I reflexively shielded my eyes with my arms and let go of the sword.

“I'm Hachisuka Kotetsu. I am most positively, most definitely, 100% NOT a fake. Understand?” 

A man half a head taller than me looked at me and gave me the biggest smile. 

I quickly took a few steps backwards and bowed to him.

“N-nice to meet you! My name is Shiromi Matou. Please take care of me!” 

I think I stuttered a little. 

The gold armored man with long flowing purple hair chuckled. 

“No need to be nervous, Master, I’m glad you chose me as your first sword.” 

He reached for my hand and kissed the back of my palm. 

Blood rushed to my cheek. 

“Thank you. I will do my best to do my job as a Saniwa!” 

I try to reassure him. But, before we are able to talk further, I can hear the system’s voice again.

「Congratulations for obtaining your first Touken Danshi. Please press the red button to go to your Honmaru.」

Hachisuka Kotetsu smiled at me and held my hand tightly. 

“Let’s go, Master!” 

He encouraged me to press the button. 

I look at the small switch in my hand and press the red button. Suddenly, I no longer stand on the floor. The room turned black– or it’s like I’m floating in space. I screamed and held on to Hachisuka tighter. 

“Master, don’t worry, this is normal” Hachisuka whispered in my ears. 

I tried to take a deep breath and looked around. 

I saw something in front of us, it’s like a loading bar on a screen. The text keeps changing.

≪Configurating…≫

≪Assigning Saniwa to a territory…≫

≪Please choose your territory≫

There are two choices available in front of me. 

“Bizen Province” and “Sagami Province”. 

Bizen Province has a picture with a large castle, meanwhile Sagami Province has a flower, torii, and river illustration. 

Wanting to leave this place sooner, I reached my hand to the left one, Bizen Province. 

“Bizen Province! I chose that one!” I shouted. 

≪Assigning Shiromi Matou Saniwa to Bizen Province…≫

≪Assigning completed≫

≪Moving to Honmaru≫