I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

Whether it was Mikami or Sawamura, the expressions on their faces at this time were surprisingly similar—full of panic.

Mikami looked at Hanbei in bewilderment.

Hanbei is the only one who can give Mikami a sense of security among all the people present.

Compared to Mikami, Sawamura, who was standing opposite Mikami, not only looked panicked, but also had a strong look of fear on his face, his body was shaking constantly, and he couldn't even hold a knife steadily.

Nanahara, who was kneeling beside Matsudaira Gennai, had a complicated expression on his face.

He said to Matsudaira Gennai at a volume that only he and Matsudaira Gennai could hear clearly:

"My lord...these people...however you say they are warriors...it would be fine if civilians and criminals are allowed to have a 'competition', but let warriors who have not committed any mistakes also come to a 'competition', this is really...I am worried If this matter spreads to Edo, it will easily arouse dissatisfaction from the general..."

As soon as Qiyuan's voice fell, Matsudaira Gennai said nonchalantly:

"What are you afraid of? If the general is dissatisfied, let him be dissatisfied."

"I don't care about the future, I just want to be happy now."

"Whether the Hirose Domain will be renamed or withdrawn in the future has nothing to do with me."

"Besides, the general is busy making reforms with that old man Matsudaira Sadanobu."

"The reform has caused the general to be in a state of distress. Where does he have the energy to take care of my affairs?"

"Don't say such disappointing things to me again, Qiyuan. If you talk nonsense, even if it's you, I won't spare you."

"...Yes." Qiyuan agreed softly, a trace of loneliness flashed across Qiyuan's face.

After reprimanding Qiyuan, Matsudaira Gennai turned his attention back to the dojo.

Looking at Mikami and Sawamura who had been silent for a long time, Matsudaira Gennai began to show impatience on his face.

"Aren't you going to start soon?"

"If you don't start the competition again, I will cut off the heads of both of you."

Just now, Matsudaira Gennai said something that made the masters and apprentices of the Sakakibara Sword Gym headed by Hanbei no longer calm.

"You, and you."

Matsudaira Gennai randomly selected 2 of the disciples in the Sakakibara Sword Gym.

And these two people are Mikami and Sawamura.

"You two, give me a real sword for a duel."

"One side won't win until the other side is dead."

"If you don't do it, your heads will be cut off."

So—there was a scene where Mikami and Sawamura confronted each other with knives...

After Gennai Matsudaira urged Mikami and Sawamura to quickly start the competition, Hanbei gritted his teeth, mustered up his courage, and placed Dogeza towards Gennai Matsudaira, and then said loudly:

"My lord! Please spare these two children!"

"If you use a real sword to compete, there will definitely be casualties..."

"shut up."

Hanbei hadn't finished speaking when he was interrupted by Matsudaira Gennai.

Matsudaira Gennai's tone was still so unhurried, and the expression on his face was still so careless.

As if talking about a very common thing, he said softly:

"Old man, if you talk nonsense again, I will cut off your head."

After all, Matsudaira Gennai turned his attention back to Mikami and Sawamura on the field.

Looking at the two people who were still motionless, the impatience on Matsudaira's inner face became more intense.

"I've changed my mind!"

"If you don't start the competition soon, I will not only cut off the heads of both of you."

"And take the old guy's head."

Matsudaira Gennai glanced at Hanbei.

"And your brothers and sisters."

Matsudaira Gennai turned his gaze to the other disciples who were kneeling on the edge of the dojo.

"Everything was beheaded!"

Matsudaira Gennai's words immediately caused low gasps and painful groans among the remaining disciples who were kneeling on the edge of the dojo.

And Mikami, Sawamura, Hanbei and others also became more ugly because of Matsudaira Gennai's words just now.

"Three, senior three..."

Sawamura tried hard to make his voice calm and normal.

But no matter how hard he tried, the words that came out of his mouth were always trembling.

"You killed me..."

"As long as you kill me, you can save other people's lives... It's really a good deal."

After saying that, a smile appeared on Sawamura's face.

Sawamura wants to pretend to be an open-minded person who is righteous and not afraid of death.

But it was obvious—he had failed.

Although he managed to force a smile.

But his trembling voice, as well as the red eyes, still betrayed his thoughts, revealing the deep fear in his heart.

Looking at Sawamura in front of him who wanted to die generously, Mikami pursed his lips tightly.

Mikami's expression at this time, just using the word "complex" is not enough to describe it.

"……I see."

After Shen Sheng said this, Mikami clenched the knife in his hand, and assumed a standard middle-section posture that could no longer be standard.

And Sawamura, who is determined to exchange his own life for everyone's life, is full of flaws in the upper stage, waiting for Mikami's sword to take his life.

The rest of the disciples in the field had different expressions.

Some looked relieved, feeling grateful for Sawamura's knowledge of current affairs.

Some buried their heads low, unable to bear to watch the next cruel scene of brothers from the same sect fighting each other.

More people are anxious like Makino.

I want to do something, but I don't know how to resist Matsudaira Gennai.

Especially Makino——Makino is now sweating profusely from anxiety.

Mikami and Sawamura are not only Muye's fellow apprentices, but also close friends with Muye.

Not long ago tonight, Sawamura was chatting with him about "what kind of girl Ogata-senpai likes" and other various and weird topics.

And Matsudaira Gennai, whose face became more impatient, shouted again:

"Hurry up! Don't waste time! I want to watch a few more games!"

As soon as Matsudaira Gennai said this, Mikami, Sawamura...all the disciples of Sakakibara Sword Gym and Hanbei cast shocked, astonished, and panicked eyes on Matsudaira Gennai.

"My lord..." Hanbei's lips trembled, "You, you...how many more games do you want to watch?"

"Of course." Genuai Matsudaira took it for granted, "I didn't catch any prey today, and I'm feeling depressed."

"Your disciples should work hard and try to make me happy."

"Let's compare 10 games first. After watching 10 games, I should feel better. Anyway, you have more than 20 disciples. 10 games are more than enough."

"Ten games...?!" Hanbei moaned in pain from his throat.

According to Matsudaira Gennai's rule that only one person can live in each competition, after the 10 competitions are over, there will be at least 10 more corpses on the floor of the dojo...

"My lord!"

Hanbei, who was still maintaining the position of Dogeza, suppressed his crying and shouted again, intending to make a final effort.

But——Hanbei didn't even have a complete sentence to say, a calm sentence that seemed to contain no emotional color interrupted Hanbei's words.

"I advise you to stop talking nonsense."

"Shut up obediently and watch the competition...I'm doing this for your own good..."

The owner of this voice is Qiyuan.

After saying this, Qiyuan lowered her eyes.

He didn't look at the Hanbei next to him, and he didn't look at the "competition" in the dojo that was supposed to start soon...

...

...

What Matsudaira Gennai said just now made Mikami's already complex expression even more complicated...

Mikami lowered his head slightly, as if he was thinking about something.

But because his head was lowered, no one could clearly see Mikami's expression now...

After a while, Mikami raised his head again.

Mikami raised his head again, a strange light appeared in his eyes%

Mikami gripped the sword in his hand again, moved slowly, and leaned towards Sawamura in front of him.

Little by little the distance between himself and Sawamura...

Soon—Sawamura had come within a distance enough for Mikami to slash with his sword.

Sawamura seemed to have resigned himself to his fate, closed his eyes tightly, and quietly waited for the sword blade that was about to strike him.