Volume 1: Re:Zero -Starting Life as a Samurai Chapter 44: Demolishing the Ishikawa Sword Hall (Part 2)
In Edo period Japan, samurai were the ruling class and enjoyed many privileges.
Unless they have a mental problem, ordinary civilians simply don't have the courage to charge into a samurai with two swords hanging from his waist.
Even if the samurai in front of you is a pauper whose living standard is far less prosperous than yours, you still have to respect the samurai in front of you.
The reason why the sturdy man was so frightened that he quickly swallowed back all the dirty words that were about to come out of his mouth was not just because Ogata was a samurai.
The main reason he was frightened was that the expression on Ogata's face was quite scary.
His face was expressionless and so dark that it looked as if ink was about to drip out.
This look, as if... as if... as if he was going to kill someone...
The strong man's instinct was telling him frantically - don't, don't mess with this person...
The sturdy man obediently stepped aside, not daring to say another word, and silently watched Ogata continue walking forward.
Even when Ogata disappeared from his sight, the strong man still felt a lingering fear...
…
…
"Ogata! Ogata! I finally found you!"
At this moment, an old male voice that was extremely familiar to Ogata sounded not far from Ogata's side.
Ogata looked in the direction of the voice.
The owner of this old male voice was Ogata's master, Sakakibara Hanbei.
Behind Hanbei were several of Ogata's fellow disciples.
After learning that Ogata had left Sakakibara Sword Gym, Hanbei, worried that Ogata might do something stupid, hurriedly led several disciples out of the sword gym, looking for Ogata everywhere.
Perhaps it was because of good luck that Hanbei actually found Ogata.
Hanbei strode up to Ogata and blocked his way.
This forced Ogata to stop.
"Okay, Ogata, stop hanging around outside. Come back to the dojo with me."
Ogata spoke in a low voice, his face solemn.
"...I don't have the time to hang around outside. I have to go somewhere next."
Hanbei sensed that something was wrong with Ogata.
"Um... Ogata, where are you going?"
"Ishikawa Sword Hall." Ogata casually said this name which made many disciples of Sakakibara Sword Hall frown after hearing it.
"Ishikawa Sword Hall...?"
Hanbei's expression began to become complicated, and a look of astonishment began to appear in his pupils.
He asked Ogata in a much harsher tone than before:
"Ogata! I will personally go to Ishikawa Heima to ask him about what happened today! So..."
"Ask me something?" Ogata interrupted Hanbei. "Master, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"What……?"
"How can we just let today's events go like this?!"
A terrifying shadow appeared on Ogata's face.
"Master, do you know what my rules are? Repay kindness with kindness, and repay evil with justice."
"Whoever dares to spit at me, I will spit back at him. Whoever dares to draw a knife at me, I will draw a knife at him."
"Everything that happened today...I will never let it go!"
"Even if there is any misunderstanding, I will resolve it after I have avenged myself!"
Hanbei, who had a strong sense of foreboding in his heart, changed his usual calm demeanor, raised his hand to grab Ogata's shoulder, and roared:
"Ogata! What are you going to do?!"
When Hanbei's hand was about to grab Ogata's shoulder, Ogata turned his body and cleverly avoided Hanbei's hand.
The scary shadow on Ogata's face had not yet dissipated, and he said in a calm voice:
"Master, didn't I just tell you that I want to go to Ishikawa Sword Hall?"
"You..." Hanbei frowned.
This was the first time Hanbei saw Ogata like this, and he was a little overwhelmed.
The noise made by the two of them has attracted the attention of many people around them.
Around the two of them, there were already many men, women, old and young who came to watch the fun.
"Master, please go back first. I will be back to the dojo soon... or maybe I won't be back."
Hanbei saw a determination in Ogata's eyes that he had never seen before.
These are the eyes that only people who have made up their minds and are fully prepared can see.
Hanbei looked at Ogata with a complicated expression.
"Ogata...you said you were going to the Ishikawa Sword Hall. Are you...going to tear down the Ishikawa Sword Hall...? Are you...alone...?"
Ogata stared at Hanbei without saying a word.
After a while, he walked around Hanbei in front of him and continued walking straight forward.
The common people who came to watch the excitement moved to the sides and made way.
"Ogata!"
Hanbei turned around and shouted at Ogata's retreating back:
"Have you forgotten what I taught you before?! Violence cannot solve any problem! Do not use violence unless it is absolutely necessary!"
As soon as Hanbei finished speaking, Oben responded without even turning his head:
"Maybe. But - violence makes me feel better."
Soon, Hanbei could no longer see Ogata.
Although Ogata's figure had completely disappeared, Hanbei was still staring blankly in the direction where Ogata's figure disappeared.
"well……"
Hanbei stamped his feet.
"What a...silly disciple...!"
"master!"
Several disciples who had come out with Hanbei to look for Ogata immediately surrounded him.
"Shouldn't we stop Ogata-senpai?"
"You can't stop him..." Hanbei said in a deep voice, "A person with such eyes cannot be stopped unless you kill him with one sword..."
… …
…
Hirose Domain, Ishikawa Sword Hall, inside the dojo.
An old man over fifty years old glanced with an intimidating look at Itagaki and others who were kneeling in front of him.
"Itagaki...Where are Toyama and the others?"
"Master..." Itagaki, with cold sweat dripping from his forehead, said tremblingly, "Senior Toyama...took people to other places to look for Ogata Noriyoshi..."
"snort!"
The old man, who was over fifty years old, snorted heavily, and Itagaki and others trembled with fear.
"Let's just forget about it now that Yuanshan is not here! I'll teach him a lesson when he comes back! I'll teach you bastards a lesson first! You made such a big fuss today, what are you trying to do?!"
This middle-aged man who is over fifty years old is none other than the current owner of Ishikawa Sword Hall and the master of Toyama and others - Ishikawa Heima.
"Master... Senior Toyama has some conflicts with Ogata Issei of Sakakibara Sword Hall, so we are going to settle accounts with Ogata Issei..."
"Contradiction? What kind of contradiction is that?"
"…Sorry, Master, I can't say it."
"If you don't want to say it, that's fine!"
"Since it's Toyama who's having a conflict with that Ogata, then why are you guys accompanying Toyama in making trouble?!"
"Master!" Itagaki said urgently, "Senior Toyama's business is our business! So we..."
“Nonsense!”
Before Itagaki could finish his words, Bingma shouted angrily, interrupting him.
The soldiers' beards and eyebrows seemed to be standing up in anger.
"Reckless! What you did today was simply reckless!"
"No matter how big the conflict is, can't it be resolved privately? Is it necessary to mobilize such a large force and directly break into Sakakibara Sword Hall to look for someone?!"
"Now that you have injured so many people from Sakakibara Sword Hall, tell me! How are we going to end this now?!"
"What should we do if Hanbei Sakakibara from the Sakakibara Sword School comes to us about this matter?!"
"A full-scale war with Sakakibara Sword Gym?!"
“You guys really disappoint me!”
As the owner of Ishikawa Sword School, Ishikawa Heima certainly does not like Sakakibara Sword School which has snatched away students from their Ishikawa Sword School.
But even though he disliked it, Ishikawa Heima didn't want to have any deep grudges with Sakakibara Kendō.
If they make enemies with Sakakibara Sword School, Ishikawa Sword School will not gain much benefit.
Keeping out of the way of the Sakakibara Sword School - this is the situation that Ishikawa Heima would like to see most.
So just now, when he learned that his most proud disciple, Toyama Renjiro, had actually led a large group of other disciples in the sword hall, broke into the Sakakibara Sword Hall, and injured a large number of disciples in the Sakakibara Sword Hall, Ishikawa Heima was so angry that he almost vomited blood.
The sword hall was forcibly broken into and a large number of disciples were injured - no one could endure such a humiliation.
Ishikawa Heima felt overwhelmed when he thought that if he didn't handle today's matter well, it might lead to a complete hostility between the two sword halls.
