Volume 1: Re:Zero -Starting Life as a Samurai Chapter 34: Muga Nito-ryu (Part 2)
"That's right." Asaki put his hands together, "Although I do have this plan, I don't have enough money..."
"The day before yesterday, a friend I hadn't seen for a long time came to see me. I treated him to a great reception and spent quite a bit of money, so... I'm a little short of money now..."
"Ms. Asaki..." Ogata gave a helpless smile, "You should learn more about how to manage your money properly in the future..."
"Okay, I'll lend you the money. But I don't have much savings."
Although Ogata lived a very poor life, he still had some savings.
To Ogata, the mother and daughter, Asaki and Fuku, are already very important acquaintances and friends.
Let's not talk about anything else - Ogata eats and drinks so much for free on weekdays, and now Asaki asks Ogata to borrow money. If Ogata hesitates and is reluctant to take out the money, that would be really unreasonable.
So for such a small matter as borrowing money, Ogata nodded and agreed without any hesitation.
Ogata reported the amount of his current savings and asked Asaki if it was enough.
And Asaki quickly nodded, indicating that enough was enough.
Then he made an agreement with Ogata - tomorrow night, Ogata would bring his savings.
The day after tomorrow during the day, Asaki took the money from the two of them to the kimono shop and personally selected the kimono that Ah Fu might like.
…
…
at the same time--
The homes of many sword gym masters are integrated with the sword gym.
In other words - many sword gyms are divided into two parts.
One part is open to all disciples and is a place for them to practice sword skills and rest.
The other part is the residence of the owner himself.
But that's not the case with Hanbei.
His home and his sword gym are separate.
Hanbei's house was built some distance away from Sakakibara Sword Hall.
As the head of a house, Hanbei naturally has no shortage of money for daily expenses.
But his home was surprisingly simple.
It's just an ordinary house, not too big or too small .
At this time, Hanbei was staying at home, holding an oil lamp with a serious face.
Walk slowly towards your room.
After opening the door and entering the room, Hanbei walked straight towards the small cabinet placed at one end of the room.
This dark red wooden cabinet is quite old.
When Hanbei pulled out the bottom cabinet, there was a series of creaking sounds and some dust was raised.
After pulling out the bottom cabinet, the scene inside the cabinet was revealed - the cabinet was filled with thread-bound books.
"The Analects of Confucius", "The Book of Songs", "The Book of History", "The Spring and Autumn Annals", "The Great Learning"... These thread-bound books are basically all the Four Books and Five Classics.
Hanbei took out all the volumes of the Four Books and Five Classics from the cabinet.
Revealing a book placed at the very bottom.
This book is also a thread-bound book.
However... judging from the yellowed cover and pages, this thread-bound book is already quite old.
Hanbei placed the oil lamp he had been holding in his left hand on the ground at his feet.
With the help of the dim light, Hanbei used both hands to take out the old book from the cabinet.
The cautious movement was as if he was holding something fragile.
After taking the book out of the cabinet, the dim light of the oil lamp swaying in the wind was projected onto the cover of the book.
Illuminating the five Chinese characters on the cover of this book - Muga Nito-ryu.
Looking at the five Chinese characters on the cover, a hint of nostalgia appeared on Hanbei's face.
He raised his right thumb and gently stroked the old, yellowed cover.
As if recalling something.
After an unknown amount of time, Hanbei, who had been silent from the beginning, finally whispered to himself:
"With Ogata's talent... is he capable of comprehending this sword technique..."
Hanbei's tone was as if he was asking someone else.
It's like asking myself.
…
…
Hirose Domain, Toyama Jinshiro's home——
The Toyama couple, who had just finished dinner, were now sitting on the tatami, each doing their own things.
Ah Shi knelt aside and practiced calligraphy.
Japanese calligraphy is actually calligraphy.
Practicing calligraphy is one of the few pleasures that Ashin has in his daily life.
Yuanshan was refilling the oil on his two swords.
The samurai sword is a very delicate weapon.
They need careful care and maintenance every day.
If you neglect to maintain your sword, rust will quickly form on the blade.
"Ashi." Yuanshan continued to apply oil to his sword and suddenly said, "The Sakakibara Sword Hall's internal competition is over. Guess who will be the top of the Sakakibara Sword Hall this time."
Ash stopped writing with the brush in his hand.
After thinking for a moment, he hesitated and said:
"Is it Ogata Issei?"
"Yes, it's Ogata Noriyoshi. Just as I guessed - the person who won the top spot this time is indeed him."
"...So... the one who will face Dana in the Shinto Festival Competition will be Ogata Issei?"
"That's right."
At this time, Yuanshan
Yuanshan looked at the blade of his sword.
"I really hope the day of the festival competition will come soon... This time, I must defeat Ogata Noriyoshi beautifully!"
Compared with Toyama who was full of fighting spirit, after learning that Toyama's opponent in this year's festival competition was actually Ogata Noriyoshi, an obvious look of disappointment appeared on Ashin's face.
"... Dana." Ah Shi said to Yuanshan in a cautious tone, "Are you...really sure you can defeat that Xu..."
Before Ash could finish his words, she quickly shut her mouth.
Because Yuanshan was now looking at her with displeasure .
In order to avoid being slapped by Yuanshan like last time, Asi quickly shut up and dared not say anything more.
"snort!"
After a heavy "snort", Yuanshan said in a deep voice:
"Don't ask me such stupid questions again."
"I said it last time - if Ogata and I were to compete again, I would definitely be the winner!"
"If you dare to ask me such boring questions again in the future, I will not be polite."
After saying that, Toyama put the katana with the blade oiled back into the scabbard, then pulled out his wakizashi and began to apply blade oil to it.
Although Yuanshan confidently said that "he will never lose", Ash's face was still filled with deep worry.
Ash lowered his head slightly, as if thinking about something.
After a long while, Ah Shi finally seemed to have figured out the answer to some question, and the "cloud" that had been accumulating on his face gradually dissipated.
…
…
2 days later——
Hirose Domain, Nagaya——
At this time, Liuwu is temporarily closed.
Ogata, Asaki, and Fuku-chan gathered in the stream house.
"How, how is it..." Fuku-chan asked cautiously to Asaki and Ogata in front of him with a timid but excited tone, "Does it look good...?"
“It’s so beautiful!”
As soon as Fuku finished speaking, Asaki began to praise him.
At this time, Ah Fu was wearing a cherry blossom colored Wufu.
This cherry blossom-colored kimono was a gift purchased for Afu with the funds of Ogata and Asaki.
