"Ogata-kun......"

Kuranaga wanted to say something to Ogata.

But the words came to his lips, but he couldn't spit out anything.

He didn't know what he could say to Ogata now......

Any words of comfort are now extremely pale......

Ever since last night, after checking that there wasn't a single living person in the dojo, Ogata's expression had been strange.

Kuranaga couldn't think of any words to describe Ogata's expression.

On the surface, it is expressionless.

But underneath this expressionless exterior, Kuranaga could clearly feel that there was a surging emotion and power lurking within......

As Kuranaga hesitated to say something to Ogata, Ogata suddenly grabbed the knife in his arms and stood up.

“…… My lord, I'm one step ahead. ”

After that, without waiting for Kuraga to make any response, Xu Yi walked straight to the outside of the Xuanzhen Temple, and after a while, he completely disappeared within Kuraina's field of vision.

“…… Flying Ape, are you there? ”

"Yes, I'm here."

The flying ape dodged out of the bushes on the side at this time, and then stood at Kurunaga's side, waiting for Kurunaga's dispatch.

"Flying Ape...... I'm feeling more and more ...... I'm such a cruel person......"

"After seeing the Sakakibara Sword Pavilion destroyed by the lord, I felt sympathy and ...... at the same time Somewhat happy ......"

"Because in this way, the possibility that Ogata-kun will join us will be greatly increased......"

With that, Kuranaga raised his head and sighed.

"Huh...... I think I'm cruel myself......"

"Lord ......" the flying ape searched his stomach and thought of the right words, "It is thanks to your cruelty that the Hirose Domain can maintain its current stability......"

“…… Let's go, let's go home. With that, Kuranaga stepped away and walked down the stairs, "Next...... Let's wait for Ogata-kun to come to his senses......"

……

……

The next morning—

Hirose Domain, Ogata's home-

Ogata is now sitting upright on a tatami mat in the center of the room.

Two sabers were placed neatly on the right side of his body.

Also neatly placed on the tatami mat on the right side is the cheats book of "No Self Two Knife Streams", as well as the Sakakiwara One Knife Stream Exemption Certificate.

Ogata, who was dressed in clothes that had obviously been washed for a short time, was combing his hair.

After combing his hair and pinning it in a bun, Ogata picked up the saber at his side, stuck it back into his waist, and took the two things that were his only precious possessions besides the saber, the secret book of "No Self and Two Knife Flow" and the certificate of Sakakihara One Knife Flow, into his arms, and then walked slowly towards the dirt room of the house.

After putting on his straw sandals, Ogata turned his head and took a closer look at the small dilapidated house he had lived in for a while.

The interior of the house was spotlessly clean.

Ogata had cleaned the house thoroughly yesterday.

Ogata carefully examines everything in the house, as if he wants to engrave all the things and details in the house.

"Farewell......"

After whispering this, Ogata opened the door without any nostalgia and left the small dilapidated house that had been with him for many days......

……

……

Hirose Domain, Ryuya.

"Ah Fu!"

Misaki frowned and said to Ah Fu next to him:

"Did you hear anything strange outside the kitchen?"

"Huh? Have it? I didn't hear that. ”

“…… Let's go out and have a look. ”

Misaki and Afu walked out of the kitchen one after the other.

When I came out of the kitchen, I didn't see half a figure.

But Misaki had a letter on the table closest to the door.

"It's ...... What the......? ”

Misaki muttered as she walked to the table, then picked up the letter and unfolded it.

The letter contained only one simple sentence:

(Misaki-sama, Afuku-sama, I'm sorry, but you need to hire a new samurai to guard the ryuya, and I'm probably going to leave the Hirose Domain forever because of something, so-goodbye.) ）

The signature in the lower left corner of the letter is - Ogata Esse.

"Osika-sama......" Aki muttered Ogata's name, a look of unease gradually appeared on her face, "happen...... What's wrong? ”

"Miss Misaki, what's written in the letter?" The uneasy look on Aki's face made Ah Fu anxious.

"Ah Fu! Drift House is closed today! The two of us went to Ogata-sama! ”

……

……

Hirose Domain, Kuranaga's Mansion -

"Wait!"

The two gatekeepers of the Kuranaga Mansion looked at the young samurai in front of them with a wary gaze.

"No one is allowed to approach!"

"Please report to the eldest of the family." The young samurai said softly, "Just say—Ogata Yossei is coming." ”

"Ogata?" The two gatekeepers exclaimed in unison.

The two of them had already received instructions to report any visit from a young samurai who called himself Ogata Isse.

“…… I see, please wait here for a moment. One of the gatekeepers left these words and hurried into the mansion.

Not long after the gatekeeper left, the heavy wooden door was slowly opened, and the magnificent mansion of Kuranaga appeared in front of Ogata again.

……

……

"Ogata-kun......"

In the reception room of the mansion, Kuranaga and Ogata sat opposite each other.

Seeing Ogata again, Kurunaga didn't say much to Ogata.

"You...... Are you ready to become enlightened? ”

"I'm ready to come to my senses." Ogata replied without thinking.

"If you become an executioner, your fate after that will be nine deaths." Kuranaga stared at Ogata, his sharp gaze as if he wanted to see through Ogata's inner thoughts, "Even so, are you willing to work with me to help the cause?" ”

And Ogata did not show weakness and looked at Kuronaga with a powerful gaze.

"I don't really care about the big things."

Ogata Masa.

"Scrape Matsudaira Gennai with a thousand cuts - that's all my purpose!"

"Even if my body and body are destroyed, I will definitely kill the traitor!"

Kusunaga, who was looking directly at Ogata, was still expressionless.

But after hearing Ogata's words, a vague smile appeared from the corners of Kuraga's slightly upturned mouth.

"Flying Ape!"

Kuranaga shouted outside the room.

As soon as Kuranaga's voice fell, the flying ape who had been waiting outside the room immediately opened the paper sliding door.

"Go tell Ichiro about them - there's a new one joining us!"

"Yes!"

After the ape walked away quickly, Kuranaga turned his gaze back to Ogata.

"Come on, Ogata. I'll take you to meet the other aspirants. ”

……

……

Kuranaga led Ogata down the winding corridors of the mansion towards the depths of the mansion.

Ogata, who obediently followed behind Kuranaga, asked Kuranaga:

"My lord, I remember you told me before that besides me, there are only six people who are willing to wield swords in order to kill Matsudaira Gennai, right?"

"That's right."

"6 people...... With me, there are only 7 people in total...... My lord, the number of people on our side is too small, right? ”

“…… Now that the world has been peaceful for a long time, the samurai are gradually slacking off in the practice of martial arts. ”

"In this day and age, it's not easy to find a reliable samurai."

"And it is even more difficult to find samurai who are not only reliable, but also willing to sacrifice their lives for the cause......"

"These 6 people besides you are also the people I finally found with a lot of effort."

With that, Kuranaga stopped in front of a large paper sliding door.

"Ogata-kun, we're here."

"The rest of the warriors are practicing swords inside."