I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

　　Hanbei wanted to make the final struggle and called Ogata back, who had already played.

　　 But before he could speak out, a big drink enveloped the whole competition field:

　　 "The rites of worship begins now! Irrelevant people are prohibited from making noise! ​​It is forbidden to disturb Ogata and Toyama's contest!"

　　 This is Kuranaga's shout.

　　 When Kuranaga yelled these words, he glanced at Hanbei specifically.

　　 Kuranaga’s big drink made Hanbei completely helpless, and he could only stand anxiously outside the competition arena, looking at Ogata on the field.

After 　　 made this loud shout, Kuranaga sat down in the auditorium on the north side of the competition arena.

　　 After Kuranaga came to the auditorium, there was an endless stream of people who came to treat him with courtesy and curry favor.

　　 For these people, Cura Naga always smiles politely, constructs a solid wall with "polite", protects himself firmly, and isolates everyone.

　　 After sitting down on his small stool, Kuranaga stared at Ogata and Toyama who were already in the center of the competition field.

　　 The other people in the audience saw that Kuranaga could only watch the sacrifice to the gods seriously, so they were very sensible and did not disturb Kuranaga anymore, and went to Kuranaga to cast their serious or meaningless eyes on the competition field together.

　　 After walking up to the center of the competition field, Ogata and Toyama followed the rules and respected the nobles in the audience, and then faced each other.

　　 "...Ogata Yishi, I didn't expect-the time for the festival to be held earlier."

　　 "...Yes." Ogata said in a nonchalant tone, "It's really... people are not as good as heaven."

　　 "The sacrifice to the gods is held in advance...just to my liking!" A terrifying shadow appeared on Yuanshan's face, "I must... kill you!"

"Before the start of the competition, let me ask for the first time--" Ouyan asked expressionlessly, "Why did you bring a bunch of people to my sword hall to find me before? What did I do? What offends you?"

　　 Toyama did not answer Ogata’s question.

　　 Or rather-disdain to answer Ogata's answer.

　　 just silently tightened the cuff on his body, made the final preparations, and continued to cast hatred at Ogata.

　　 "...Forget it, you don't want to say, I don't bother to ask any more. Anyway, I was not interested in the truth or anything."

　　 After that, Ogata raised the wooden sword in his hand and set the posture in the middle section.

　　 However-Toyama did not hold up the wooden sword in his hand like Ogata did.

　　 Instead, he glanced at the wooden sword in Ogata's hand and threw it aside.

　　 "I went to the martial arts field with the determination to kill you here."

　　 "So-throw this toy aside."

　　 "Sato!"

With this loud shout from the distant mountains, the disciple named Sato who stood in the ranks of Ishikawa Sword Museum at the westernmost side of the competition field immediately went out of the line and walked quickly to the center of the competition field, and then took his hand to the center of the competition field. Handed things towards the distant mountains.

　　 And this kind of thing is exactly-Toyama's knife.

　　 "Far mountain! What are you going to do!" On the westernmost side of the competition field, Ishikawa soldiers and horses shouted in horror, "It is forbidden to use real swords in the sacrifice to the gods!"

　　 However-Yuan Shan ignored the master's shout.

　　 Binocular eyes are still locked firmly in front of Ogata.

　　 "Come on, Ogata." Toyama said while taking his saber from Sato's hand, "A game like a wooden sword contest, let's just skip it."

　　 "Either you die or I die today."

　　 "Anyway, someone is going to die. It's more convenient to use a real knife. It's much easier to kill people."

　　 Seeing that Toyama didn't care about him at all, Ishikawa gritted his teeth angrily, turned his head and looked towards the auditorium.

　　 "My old man! The use of real swords is forbidden in the sacrifice to the gods! Please send someone to stop Toyama Shichiro!"

　　 Ishikawa Heima thought Kuragara would help him.

　　 After all, using a wooden knife to compete or using a real knife to compete, they are two completely different competitions.

　　 If a real sword is used for a competition, the two in the competition field will definitely be injured or killed.

　　 As soon as Ishikawa Heima’s words fell, Sakura Hanbei, who was on the easternmost side of the competition field, also hurriedly echoed, asking Kuragara to come forward and stop Toyama Kanchiro’s extremely absurd behavior.

　　However—Kurayaga did not come forward to stop Toyama from using the real sword as Hanbei and Heima expected.

　　 instead, said in a loud voice without expression:

　　 "Let them use real swords!"

　　 When Kuranaga said this, not only the people at Sakura Sword Hall and Ishikawa Sword Hall were shocked, but the nobles in the audience also looked at Kuranaga with a miserable face.

　　 "Ogata-kun!" Kuranaga yelled at Ogata Ishito in the arena, "Go get your saber out!"

　　 "My old man!" Hanbei was horrified, "For..."

　　 "Don't talk nonsense!" Kuranaga interrupted Hanbei in a much harsher tone than before, "Let them fight with a real sword! No one is allowed to say anything!"

　　……

　　……

　　 Ogata looked at Kuranaga who ordered him to take out his saber.

　　 Then he looked at the distant mountain where he had inserted the saber back to his waist.

　　 then——

　　 "Makino!"

　　 Ogata yelled the name of Makino, who was responsible for keeping the sword for him.

　　 "Yes!" Of course Makino knew what Ogata suddenly called his name.

　　 Makino is holding Ogata's saber, looking around, his eyes are full of anxiety, and he doesn't know what to do.

　　 Makino actually longed for someone to stop him from sending Ogata's sword.

　　Because he doesn't want Ogata to be injured or die in the competition field.

　　 However, whether it is the master or the other brothers, the expressions on their faces are surprisingly consistent--heavy.

　　 They are all the same as Makino-I don't want Ogata to fight Toyama with a real sword in a battle that is destined to cause death and injury.

　　 But... Kuranaga has ordered, and they have to follow...

　　 Kuranaga in the audience saw Makino's hesitation, so he roared with a tone of impatience:

　　 "What are you doing in a daze?! Don't hesitate to send Ogata-kun's sword up!"

"Yes Yes!"

　　 Makino, who was frightened by Kuranaga’s oppressive roar, took Ogata’s saber and walked quickly to the competition arena.

　　 handed the saber back to Ogata, leaving a sentence "Senior Ogata, please be careful", Makino quickly escaped from the competition field as if fleeing.

　　 "...Toyama, I'm ahead of you by ugly words."

　　 Ogata put his saber back to his left waist, and said calmly.

　　 "I am not a very kind person."

　　 "If someone wants to take my life, then no matter what his reason is, I won't wait and die."

　　 "So-since you want to kill me, then you can only trouble you to prepare me to be killed by me."

　　 "Heh!" Yuan Shan sneered, "Just what I want!"

　　噌!

　　 Yuanshan pulled out the knife from his waist in one breath.

　　 and Ogata also followed closely, pulling out his saber.

　　 There are two people in the middle posture, the knife in their hands is reflecting dazzling light in the bright sunshine.

　　 It is clear that the sun is so warm, but the light reflected by the white blade is so cold and crippling.

　　 Both of them didn't bother to play the trick of self-reporting their homes anymore, and decided to start a death fight where only one person can live.

　　 Under the blue clear sky, there were no flowing clouds, and even the wind was still.

　　 Whether it was the competition field or the auditorium next to the competition field, it was completely silent, and even the slightest cough was not heard.

　　 Then--

　　 Click!

　　 Click!

　　 The two footsteps on the ground sounded almost at the same time, breaking the silence.

　　 Ogata and Toyama rushed towards each other.

　　 clang——!

　　 The two knives collided in mid-air, making a deafening sound of gold and iron.