Whether it was Mikami or Sawamura, the expressions on their faces at this time were surprisingly similar - full of panic.
Mikami looked at Hanbei at a loss.
Hanbei is the only one among everyone present who can give Mikami a sense of security.
Compared to Mikami, Sawamura, who was standing opposite Mikami, not only looked panicked, but also had a particularly strong look of fear on his face. His body was shaking constantly and he couldn't even hold the knife steadily.
Nanabahara, who was kneeling next to 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... are also samurai after all... If we let civilians and criminals compete in a 'competition', that's all. Let samurai who have done nothing wrong also compete in a 'competition'. This is really... I'm worried."
If this matter reaches Edo, it will easily arouse the dissatisfaction of the shogun..."
As soon as Nanabahara finished speaking, Matsudaira Gennai said nonchalantly:
"What are you afraid of? If it causes the general's dissatisfaction, then let him be dissatisfied."
"I don't care about what happens in 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"Whether the Hirose Domain will be renamed or withdrawn in the future has nothing to do with me."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 currently busy working on some reforms with that old man Matsudaira Sadanobu."
"That reform has made the general very anxious. Where can he find the energy to take care of my affairs now?"
"Stop telling me these disappointing things, Qiyuan. If you keep talking nonsense, even you, I won't be able to spare you."
"...Yes." Qi Yuan responded softly, and a trace of loneliness flashed across Qi Yuan's face.
After scolding Nanabahara, Matsudaira Gennai returned his attention to the dojo.
Looking at Mikami, Sawamura and Matsudaira Gennai who had not moved yet, a look of impatience began to appear on their faces.
"Why don't you start soon?"
"If you don't start the competition, I will chop off both of your heads."
Just now, Gennai Matsudaira said something that made the masters and disciples of the Sakakibara Sword Hall headed by Hanbei unable to remain calm.
"You, and you."
Matsudaira Gennai randomly selected two people among the disciples of Sakakihara Kenkan.
And these two people were none other than Mikami and Sawamura.
"You two, bring me real swords for a duel."
"Only when one side is dead does the other side win."
"If you don't do this, I'll chop off all your heads."
So——there was a scene where Mikami and Sawamura faced off with knives...
After Matsudaira Gennai urged Mikami and Sawamura to start the competition quickly, Hanbei gritted his teeth, mustered up his courage, and placed the earth seat towards Matsudaira Gennai, and then said loudly:
"Lord! Please let these two children go!"
"If we use real swords to compete, there will definitely be casualties..."
"shut up."
Before Hanbei finished speaking, he was interrupted by Matsudaira Gennai.
Matsudaira Gennai's tone was still so unhurried, and the expression on his face was still so careless.
He said softly as if he was talking about a very common thing:
"Old man, if you keep talking nonsense, I will chop off your head."
Having said that, Gennai Matsudaira turned his attention back to Mikami and Sawamura on the court.
Looking at the two people who were still motionless, the impatience on Matsudaira Gennai's face became even more intense.
"I changed my mind!"
"If you don't start the competition soon, I will not only chop off both of your heads."
"And take this old guy's head off."
Matsudaira Gennai glanced at Hanbei.
"And these brothers of yours."
Matsudaira Gennai turned his attention to the other disciples kneeling beside the dojo.
"They were all beheaded!"
Matsudaira Gennai's words immediately caused low gasps and painful groans to be heard among the other disciples who were kneeling at the edge of the dojo.
Mikami, Sawamura, Hanbei and others also became even more ugly because of what Matsudaira Gennai said just now.
"M-Senior Mikami..."
Sawamura tried hard to make his voice calmer and normal.
But no matter how hard he tried, the words coming out of his mouth always shook.
"Kill 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 wanted to pretend to be upright and open-minded, not afraid of death.
But it's obvious - he pretended to fail.
Although he tried hard to smile.
But his trembling voice and 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.
The word "complex" alone to describe Mikami's expression at this time is somewhat inadequate.
"……I see."
After saying this in a deep voice, Mikami tightened his grip on the katana in his hand and assumed a standard middle stance.
Sawamura, who was determined to exchange his own life for everyone's lives, stood in a flawless upper stance and waited for Mikami's sword to take his life.
The other disciples in the audience had different expressions.
Some of them looked relaxed and felt lucky that Sawamura knew the current situation.
Some buried their heads low, unable to bear to watch the cruel scene of fellow disciples killing each other.
There are more people with anxious faces like Makino.
I want to do something, but I don’t know how to resist Matsudaira Gennai.
Especially Makino - Makino is sweating profusely now with anxiety.
Mikami and Sawamura are not only Makino's fellow disciples, but also close friends with Makino.
Not long ago tonight, Sawamura was chatting with him about "What kind of girl does Ogata-senpai like?" and other various strange and bizarre topics.
And Matsudaira Gennai, whose face became more impatient, shouted again:
"Hurry up! Don't waste time! I want to watch a few more shows!"
As soon as Matsudaira Gennai said this, Mikami, Sawamura...all the disciples of Sakakihara Kenkan and Hanbei all looked at Matsudaira Gennai in shock, astonishment, and panic.
"Lord..." Hanbei's lips trembled, "You, you...how many more shows do you want to watch?"
"Of course." Gennai Matsudaira said with a matter-of-fact attitude, "I didn't catch any prey today, so I'm feeling depressed."
"These disciples of yours should work hard and try their best to make me happy."
"Let's do 10 competitions first. After I watch 10 competitions, I should feel better. Anyway, you have more than 20 disciples, so 10 competitions - it's more than enough."
"10 games...?!" Hanbei groaned in pain.
According to Gennai Matsudaira's rule that only one person can survive in each competition, after the 10 competitions are over, there will be at least 10 more corpses on the floor of the dojo...
"Lord!"
Hanbei, who was still in the earth seat posture, suppressed his tears and shouted again, planning to make a final effort.
But - before Hanbei could say a complete sentence, a calm word that seemed to be without any emotion interrupted Hanbei's words.
"I advise you to stop talking nonsense."
"Just shut up and watch the competition...I'm doing this for your own good..."
The owner of this voice is none other than Qi Yuan.
After saying this, Qi Yuan lowered his eyes.
Not looking at the Hanbei beside him, nor at the "competition" that should start soon in the dojo...
…
…
Matsudaira Gennai's words just now made Mikami, who had a complicated expression on his face, become even more complicated...
Mikami lowered his head slightly, seeming to be thinking about something.
But because he lowered his head, no one could clearly see Mikami's current expression...
After a while, Mikami raised his head again.
Mikami raised his head again, with a strange light in his eyes%
Mikami held the sword in his hand again, moved slowly, and leaned towards Sawamura in front of him.
Little by little, the distance between myself and Sawamura is getting closer...
Soon - Sawamura had already come within enough distance to kill Mikami with his sword.
Sawamura seemed to have resigned himself to his fate, closing his eyes tightly and quietly waiting for the sword blade that was about to hit him.