Volume 1: Re:Zero -Starting Life as a Samurai Chapter 65: The death battle begins!
Kuranaga will come to watch the game today.
The high-ranking officials in the domain would not miss such a great opportunity to get close to Kuranaga and curry favor with him.
After learning that Kuranaga was coming to watch the festival, these people immediately rushed to Hachiman Shrine one after another like cats smelling blood.
Of course, these high-ranking officials who were able to come to Hachiman Shrine were those who had successfully adjusted their schedules this morning.
Some people who were unable to turn down their work this morning could only let this great opportunity to curry favor with Cang Yong slip through their fingers with resentment.
The competition venue has been surrounded by white curtains.
The people from Sakakibara Sword Hall stood at the easternmost part of the competition venue.
The people from Ishikawa Sword Hall stood at the westernmost part of the competition venue.
As for the spectators who came to watch the game, they all stood or sat at the northernmost part of the venue.
The audience has almost arrived.
Those who came to watch the battle this time were basically high-ranking officials at all levels within the domain.
They sat on small stools, chatting and laughing, waiting for the competition to begin.
At the same time, they were also waiting for Cang Yong's arrival.
The most famous spectator of this sacrificial competition has not arrived yet.
There is less than an incense stick of time left before the competition officially begins.
However, at this critical moment when there was not much time left before the competition began, something unexpected happened at Ishikawa Sword Gym.
…
…
Hirose Domain, Hachiman Shrine, the westernmost part of the competition venue—
"Master! Why?!"
Yuanshan was already dressed neatly at this time, with his cuffs tied early and a protective iron plate on his forehead.
He is ready to play at any time.
But at this moment, his master Ishikawa Heima suddenly told him that he didn't need to go on stage.
He has arranged for one of Yuanshan's senior brothers to replace Yuanshan.
Yuanshan, who didn't understand why his master did this, naturally roared at the soldiers and questioned them why they did this.
Facing the roar of the distant mountains, the soldiers and horses simply said in a calm tone:
"Yuanshan, do you think I can't see? You are almost unstoppable in your murderous aura!"
"What do you want to do? Kill Ogata Issei in the god festival?"
"I would rather lose the God Sacrifice Contest than let my disciples kill anyone in it!"
"Master..." Yuanshan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, "Are you worried that if I kill Ogata Issei in public, it will cause trouble for our sword hall...?!"
"..." The soldiers remained silent and did not respond to Yuanshan's answer.
But his silent reaction was equivalent to answering Yuanshan's question.
"Master! Please let me go!" Yuanshan's face was full of reluctance, "I really can't bear not to let me go and compete with Ogata Issei!"
"I said no, and that means no!" Ishikawa Heima rejected Yuanshan without hesitation in a much harsher tone than before, "You just stay on the sidelines today! I will not let you play no matter what!"
"Master..." Yuanshan clenched his teeth even tighter.
Just as Yuanshan was racking his brains, thinking about how he could convince Ishikawa Heima to let him play, a strange voice suddenly sounded from beside him and Heima:
"Ishikawa-kun, let him play!"
This voice was quite unfamiliar to Yuanshan.
But for Ishikawa Heima, this voice was very familiar.
Because he had just heard this voice yesterday.
He hurriedly looked in the direction of the voice and confirmed that the person coming was indeed that person. He immediately knelt on the ground and shouted in a respectful tone:
"Family elder!"
This person was none other than the patriarch of the Hirose Domain, Kuranaga Saemon.
Cang Yong walked slowly towards the soldiers and others alone.
After the soldiers knelt on the ground and shouted "Family elder", Toyama and the other disciples of Ishikawa Sword Hall also knelt on the ground and saluted Kuranaga respectfully.
After walking up to Bingma and the others, Cangyong repeated what he had just said in a calm tone:
"Ishikawa-kun, let this disciple of yours take the field."
"Family elder!" Ishikawa Heima asked anxiously, "Why..."
Before Ishikawa Heima could finish his words, Kuranaga spoke again, interrupting him:
"Ishikawa-kun, I don't want to say anything more. Anyway, let your disciple take the field."
Kuranaga's tone was calm, but his tone was very firm.
There is no room for maneuver in this matter.
Ishikawa Heima's expression was quite complicated at this time.
His complicated expression revealed his inner struggle.
After struggling fiercely in his heart for a while, Ishikawa Heima sighed lightly as if he had given up resistance.
“…Yes…I understand…”
Compared to the complicated expression on Ishikawa Heima's face, Toyama's expression at this time was much simpler.
Yuanshan's face at this moment was filled with pure ecstasy.
…
…
The easternmost part of the competition venue——
Almost all the disciples of Sakakibara Sword Hall gathered here at this time.
Even Makino, whose injuries had not yet fully recovered, forced himself to come here to cheer Ogata up.
Ogata had already fastened his cuffs and put on a protective iron plate on his forehead.
His two swords were temporarily handed over to Makino for safekeeping.
The incense sticks inserted in a corner of the venue for countdown were almost burning out.
Ogata's fellow disciples came forward one by one to give him their blessings and encouragement .
The last person to walk up to Ogata was Sakakibara Hanbei.
However, Sakakibara Hanbei, who came up to Ogata, did not say inspiring words to cheer Ogata up like the others did.
Instead, he said in a deep voice:
"Ogata...you can't play!"
"Master?" After hearing what Hanbei said, Ogata raised his eyebrows and cast a puzzled look at Hanbei, "I can't play? What do you mean?"
The other fellow disciples who were surrounding him all looked at each other, completely confused by what Hanbei had just said.
"I just secretly took a look at Toyama Renjiro. That Toyama... was full of murderous intent."
At this point, Hanbei's expression became even more serious.
"Competing with someone like this... is too dangerous!"
"Ogata, stay here and don't move."
"I'm going to try to see if I can cancel today's sacrificial contest."
"...Master. Thank you for your kindness." After a pause, Ogata put on a smile, "But - I will definitely play."
"You can't hide if you keep hiding."
"Even if I can hide today, there's no way to guarantee that I can hide forever in the future, right?"
"Since I can't avoid it, I might as well settle the feud between Yuanshan and me today!"
After saying that, Ogata looked at the incense stick that served as a countdown.
The incense stick that served as a countdown had just burned out.
Ogata picked up the wooden sword and walked slowly towards the competition arena.
"Ogata! Wait a minute!" Hanbei shouted and stepped forward to stop Ogata.
However, a figure took the lead and blocked Hanbei's way, separating him from Ogata.
"Master..." Mikami said in a deep voice, "Ogata-kun is right... Instead of constantly avoiding him, we should take advantage of today to settle the feud between the two of us in one fell swoop..."
"You..." Hanbei's beard stood up in anger.
But——because Mikami stopped Hanbei, Hanbei had missed the best opportunity to stop Ogata.
At this time, Ogata and Toyama had already walked to the center of the competition venue almost at the same time.
