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I do not remember if this character is from a manga or anime. However, I think
he was a side-character who told his story to the main character, or at least
a character of some importance.

His story goes somewhat like this: He is fascinated by fighting and trains in
the sword techniques. One night, he witnesses a man killing someone with
sword. Upon closer inspection, it is revealed that the facial expression of
the slain man has a calm feeling to it. The character deduces that the killing
must have been so swift that the slain man had no time to notice it.

Years after the man has been practicing his sword techniques, he encounters
the man whom he has admired since that night. The character succeeds in
decapitating the killer almost effortlessly. However, he then realizes that he
has been mistaking about the facial expression that night, and that there was
no such sword technique.

He then returns to his hometown to learn that the girl who mas madly in love
with him has died while waiting for his return. The man regrets his life.

I'm thinking of something along lines of _Samurai Champaloo_ or _Rurouni
Kenshin_. However, there was no mentions on the characters lists for those
descriptions. It could be an entirely different show. It could also be from
_Blood and Steel_ , _Vagabond_ or other samurai/sword-themed show.


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2015-03-23T19:51:54.577
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rurouni-kenshin
In which anime or manga was there a man who admired a fast killing sword technique but was mistaken


What you saw was an episode of Rurouni Kenshin

Specifically, [63: "The Legend of the
Fireflies"](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rurouni_Kenshin_episodes_%28season_3%29)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UUgCe.jpg)

The episode is a perfect match to your description.

In that episode, Kenshin, the protagonist, encountered an old man who told him
the exact story that you laid out in your post.

The man was already a hobbyist in swordsmanship, and participated in
competitions with a wooden sword.

He saw a robber who killed some people with a technique as "fast as lightning,
never eve realizing that it was over for them"

He killed a person, and left his love interest behind because she disapproved
of the killing.

He killed more people, and eventually cut down the robber with ease.

When the robber died, the man saw the exact same expression on the robber's
face, and he realized that he had surpassed him long ago and that the
technique was just imagined, and not even real.

When he got back to his home town, he learned that his love interest was dead.


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answer