Volume 2 The Executioner Chapter 84: Playing Games (Part 2)

Whether it was Mikami or Sawamura, the expressions on their faces at this moment were surprisingly similar - full of panic.

Mikami looked at Hanbei at a loss.

Hanbei is the only one among all the people 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 an extremely strong look of fear on his face. His body kept shaking and he couldn't even hold the knife steadily.

Nanahara, who was kneeling beside Matsudaira Gennai, had a complicated expression on his face.

He spoke to Matsudaira Gennai in a voice that only he and Matsudaira Gennai could hear:

"My lord... these people... are samurai after all... It would be fine if civilians and criminals were allowed to compete in a 'competition', but to allow samurai who have done nothing wrong to compete in a 'competition' is really... I am worried that if this matter spreads to Edo, it will easily cause dissatisfaction from the shogun..."

As soon as Nanahara finished speaking, Matsudaira Gennai said nonchalantly:

"What are you afraid of? If it causes dissatisfaction to the general, then let him be dissatisfied."

"I don't care about the future, I just want to be happy now."

"Whether the Hirose Domain is renamed or abolished in the future has nothing to do with me."

"Besides, the general is currently busy carrying out some reforms with that old man Matsudaira Sadanobu."

"The general is so overwhelmed by the reform now, how can he have the energy to take care of my affairs?"

"Don't say these spoiling words to me anymore, Nanahara. If you keep talking nonsense, I won't forgive you even if it's you."

"...Yes." Qiyuan responded softly, and a trace of loneliness flashed across Qiyuan's face.

After reprimanding Nanahara, Matsudaira Gennai turned his attention back to the dojo.

Looking at Mikami and Sawamura who had not made any movement, impatience began to appear on Matsudaira Gennai's face.

"Won't you start soon?"

"If you don't start the competition, I will chop off both of your heads."

Just now, Matsudaira Gennai said something that made the masters and apprentices of Sakakibara Sword Hall, led by Hanbei, no longer calm.

"You, and you."

Matsudaira Gennai randomly picked two people from among the disciples of Sakakibara Sword Hall.

And these two people are Mikami and Sawamura.

"You two, bring real swords and duel."

"One side is victorious only when the other side is dead."

"If you don't do as I say, I'll chop off your heads."

So - there was a scene where Mikami and Sawamura confronted each other with knives...

After Matsudaira Gennai urged Mikami and Sawamura to start the match quickly, Hanbei gritted his teeth, mustered up his courage, and took the doge seat towards Matsudaira Gennai, then shouted:

"My Lord! Please let these two children go!"

"If we use real swords to fight, there will definitely be casualties..."

"shut up."

Before Hanbei could finish his words, he was interrupted by Matsudaira Gennai.

Matsudaira Gennai's tone was still as unhurried and the expression on his face was still as nonchalant.

As if he was talking about something very ordinary, he said softly:

"Old man, if you keep talking nonsense, I will chop off your head."

After saying that, Matsudaira Gennai turned his attention back to Mikami and Sawamura on the field.

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 chop off both of your heads."

"And the old fellow's head."

Matsudaira Gennai glanced at Hanbei.

"And your fellow apprentices."

Matsudaira Gennai turned his attention to the other disciples kneeling at the edge of the dojo.

"Kill them all!"

Matsudaira Gennai's words immediately caused the remaining disciples who were kneeling at the edge of the dojo to gasp and groan in pain.

Mikami, Sawamura, Hanbei and the others looked even uglier because of what Matsudaira Gennai had just said.

"San-Sankami-senpai..."

Sawamura tried hard to make his voice calm and normal.

But no matter how hard he tried, the words that came out of his mouth were always trembling.

"Just kill me..."

"If you kill me, you can save the lives of others...it's really a good deal."

After saying that, a smile appeared on Sawamura's face.

Sawamura wanted to pretend to be righteous and open-minded, not afraid of death.

But it was obvious that he had failed in his attempt.

Although he tried to force a smile.

But his trembling voice and red eyes betrayed his thoughts and revealed the deep fear in his heart.

Looking at Sawamura who was ready to die heroically in front of him, Mikami pursed his lips.

The word "complicated" is not enough to describe Mikami's expression at this moment.

"……I see."

After saying this in a deep voice, Mikami clenched the katana in his hand and assumed a mid-section stance that couldn't be more standard.

Sawamura , who was determined to exchange his own life for the lives of everyone else, took a high-level stance with many flaws, waiting for Mikami's sword to take his life.

The other disciples off the field had different expressions.

Some of them looked relieved and felt fortunate for Sawamura's ability to know the current situation.

Some of them lowered their heads, unable to bear to watch the cruel scene of their fellow disciples killing each other.

Most people were as anxious as Makino.

I wanted to do something, but I didn't know how to resist Matsudaira Gennai.

Especially Makino - Makino was now sweating profusely from anxiety.

Mikami and Sawamura are not only fellow students of Makino, but also close friends of Makino.

Just before tonight, Sawamura was chatting with him about various strange topics such as "What kind of girls does Ogata-senpai like?"

Matsudaira Gennai, whose face showed even more impatience, 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 Sakakibara Sword Hall and Hanbei, all looked at Matsudaira Gennai with shock, astonishment and panic.

"My lord..." Hanbei's lips trembled, "You, you... want to watch a few more games?"

"Of course." Matsudaira Gennai said as a matter of course, "I didn't catch any prey today, and I'm feeling depressed."

"Your disciples should try their best to make me happy."

"Let's have 10 matches first. After I finish watching 10 matches, I think I'll feel better. Anyway, you have more than 20 disciples. 10 matches is more than enough."

“10 games…?!” Hanbei groaned in pain.

According to Matsudaira Gennai's rule that only one person can survive each match, after 10 matches, there will be at least 10 more corpses on the floor of the dojo...

"My Lord!"

Still maintaining his dogeza posture, Hanbei suppressed his tears and shouted once more, intending to make a final effort.

But - before Hanbei could even utter a complete sentence, a calm voice without any emotion or color interrupted him.

"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 Nanahara.

After saying this, Qiyuan lowered his eyes.

He didn't look at Hanbei standing beside him, nor did he look at the "competition" that was about to begin in the dojo...

…

Matsudaira Gennai's words just now made Mikami's already complicated expression even more complicated...

Mikami lowered his head slightly, as if thinking about something.

But because he lowered his head, no one could see Mikami's expression...