I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

"I was a swordsman in ancient Japan ()"

"Join...you...?" Heijuro hesitated.

"Brother." The man who called himself Shichiemon walked slowly under the shade of the tree where Heijuro was, and then smiled, "Before we formally discuss this matter, can you tell me your name first?"

"...My name is Heijuro."

Heijuro saw that the group of uninvited guests did not draw their swords, so he gradually relaxed, and his body and voice no longer trembled.

"Heijuro." Nanaimon said softly in his unhurried voice, "Yes, that's it. Don't be afraid or nervous."

"We are friends, companions, not enemies."

"You just said...'Join you'..." Heijuro asked cautiously, "What does that mean?"

"It's literally." Shichiemon said, "Heijuro, do you want to regain your freedom and leave this broken island?"

"Of course I want to!" Heijuro said without thinking, "I want to get out of this ghostly place as soon as I dream!"

"That's right." Shichiemon nodded.

"It's not just you who think so. Me, and everyone."

While saying that, Nanaemon spread his hands to the rest of the prisoners standing behind him.

"Everyone wants to get out of here and be free."

"However——if we want to regain our freedom, our only choice is to obediently follow what the government says."

"Go drag 3 'ogre', or dig out an important piece of information related to 'ogre'. Get the qualifications for pardon."

"If there is no pardon from the government, even if we flee back to the mainland, we will still be wanted by the government."

"Although we still don't know what the 'ogre' is, but since it involves things related to killing, it is bound to get twice the result with half the effort with the help of partners."

"With companions, we can kill that 'ogre' more easily, and at the same time drag the body of the 'ogre' to the coast more easily."

"If you're alone, it's a question of whether you can kill that 'ogre'. Just dragging its body to the coast may exhaust you."

"These people of us are sticking together in order to be able to get a better, safer and quicker eligibility for pardon."

"Besides, if we stay together, we can effectively prevent attacks from other prisoners."

Speaking of this, Shichiemon frowned slightly, and his expression became a little serious.

"Now on this island, there are all kinds of prisoners."

"There are bandits, there are robbers, there are arsonists, there are burglars..."

"At the same time, there are also powerful murderers."

"Most of the prisoners who landed on the island are people like me who are not good at fighting."

"So people like us who are not good at fighting should stick together to prevent being violated by other prisoners."

Heiichiro listened quietly to Shichiemon's speech.

Shichiemon's tone was cadenced and soft, which sounded particularly friendly.

And what he said is very reasonable.

Heiichiro was already moved by what Shichiemon said just now.

"But, but..." However, Heiichiro still raised his doubts, "Although the government said they would grant us a pardon, but... will they really keep their promise?"

"We can only choose to trust the government first." Shichiemon said in a deep voice, "In our current situation, we have no other choice but to trust the government."

"At this stage, we should first try to fulfill the government's requirements."

"What will happen later, we can only leave it for later."

"...I see." After being silent for a while, Heijuro nodded gently, "Okay... Then I will join you! Please give me your advice for the future!"

"Welcome to join! Heijuro!" Nanaimon had his signature soft smile on his face while opening his arms,

"On behalf of the rest of the companions, welcome to join us!"

...

...

That night——

As Ogata, A-Machi and the others speculated—the rain today showed no signs of stopping until nightfall.

"It seems that we really have to spend the night in this cave..." After looking at the rain curtain outside the cave, Ogata turned his head and said to A-cho, "A-cho, you go to bed first. I'll watch before midnight, You come to watch after midnight."

"it is good!"

A-Ming did not make any excuses, and moved a stone of moderate height, using this stone as a pillow, and using the cold rocky ground as a bed.

Ogata looked at Machi who was lying on his side on the ground.

Machi is now facing away from Ogata.

So her smooth back and shoulders were unobstructed in front of Ogata's eyes.

Looking at A-Machi who was dressed so coolly, Ogata couldn't help asking:

"Is it okay for you to dress like this? Don't you feel cold?"

"This is the uniform of the female ninjas in Shiranui." A-Ming replied, "I've long been used to the chilly back and shoulders. Although it is indeed a bit cold tonight..."

"Of course it's cold." Ogata said helplessly, "The place we live in is a cool cave. It's still raining outside, so it's no wonder we don't feel cold."

After finishing speaking, Ogata took off the light green haori on his body, walked slowly to A-Ming's side, and gently covered A-Ming's body.

"...Thank you." As Machi thanked, she tightened Ogata's haori covering her body.

"I will borrow this haori from you temporarily." Ogata said softly, "If you still feel cold, then there is nothing I can do. After all, if I take off my clothes again, I will be naked."

"Thank you." Ah-Ming thanked again.

She opened her originally closed eyes, and glanced down at the light onion-colored feathers on her body.

An inexplicable smile appeared on A-Machi's face.

"This haori is very warm..."

...

...

at the same time--

On the coast facing Butterfly Island across the sea——

Inamori, wearing a bamboo hat and coir raincoat, stood on the shore with his guards and subordinates.

On the sea in front of them, two small boats... No, it should be a small boat dragging the other small boat, slowly approaching the coast against the wind and rain.

Of all the small boats that took the prisoners to the island today, one of them was missing.

After hearing the news, Inamori immediately dispatched a large number of search teams to find the missing boat with an ominous premonition.

And just now, a messenger finally told him that the missing boat had been found, and the soldiers who found the missing boat were dragging the missing boat back.

After hearing the news, Inamori immediately led his guards and subordinates to the coast to see with his own eyes what happened to the missing boat and why it did not return on time.

Although wind and rain hindered the movement of the small boats, it was very difficult, but the two small boats finally landed smoothly.

After the two small boats docked, Inamori immediately rushed forward and looked at the small boat that had just been recovered.

As soon as his gaze fell on the small boat, Daomori's face instantly turned livid.

On this small boat lay the bodies of 18 soldiers.