The same goes for Mr. Takahashi. The same goes for Okan-san. And Miroku is the same.

　Miroku is the crystallization of those who wanted to do whatever they wanted to do, however they wanted to do it.
　A thousand years of regret is condensed in his soul.

　If you can't do what you want to do as you please, what is the Battoujutsu?

　If I can break that thing, I want to break it.
　All right, let's break it.


"I don't want you to have a monopoly on it. You can't monopolize the fun of the Battoujutsu, even if you want to keep it to yourself. From now on, the Battoujutsu will be enjoyed by everyone in the world. From now on, everyone in the world will enjoy the Battoujutsu, so if you're going to dignify yourself, dignify yourself after you've captured the top spot on that. Do you understand?

　I'll explain it to you carefully.
　Then a group of samurai, who didn't know what school they were from, started to squeal.

"Why did you blabber (・・・・・)?
"You are fooling with our history!
That is unacceptable!

　From their point of view, what I'm talking about is "unforgivable".
　Well, it's understandable, since their interests are at stake.

　The important thing is what is not allowed. Does this guy know what he means?

Not allowed?
Lefty!　They wouldn't allow it!
Guys?　Not you, but they won't let you?
This is unforgivable!
Yeah. Then I won't forgive you either.
...... ha!

　War.
　Since the ancient times, it has been decided that there is no better way to deal with a disagreement than to physically persuade the person you are disagreeing with.

"Come on, I'll give you the initiative. "Come on, I'll give you the initiative, and you can have all of them come at me at the same time.
...... .......

　I say provocatively, and the samurai-kun looks left and right to check on everyone. His companions all seem to be unarmed.

　I glanced at Toukichirou and saw that he had a very pale face. That guy must have known. That I'm not just a [Battoujutsu].

''You're not coming?''

　Final check.

　Samurai-kun turned over and closed his mouth in frustration.


'...... you, what are you not forgiving me for?　Are you really not going to forgive me for the sake of this island?　Or do you not forgive me because you don't like me yourself?
It's .......
You didn't even know it was there before you took a bite out of me. I don't know what you're talking about. Did you contribute anything to the history of the island that you can't talk about in the first place?　What are you from the Eight Kingdoms?　Aren't you just trying to prevent your own interests from being threatened because of convenient history?
No, no!　I really think about the history of the island for a thousand years!
You really think I'm afraid of change,
......, you're on your left!
It's ridiculous.

　If you really think we should "keep the status quo" for the sake of this island, ...... there is no way to save it anymore.


It's a good thing that I'm not the only one. I have a thought for you.
What?

　As I was sighing in disgust, Miroku suddenly began to speak.

'What's the matter with you? The other day, that samurai said.
Yeah, you said that.
I've been watching over this island for a thousand years. When I think about it, all the samurai were doing things on their own. They have taken the liberty of starting their own school, cutting off all ties with the outside world, and making the island a place of battling swordsmanship.

　Miroku looks the nameless samurai squarely in the eye and quietly releases the words.


'Born as you please, grow as you please, live as you please, and die as you please. It's perfectly natural. All people are selfish. It is not necessary to be bound by any destiny. It's a good thing that you have the ability to do what you want to do, because it is the Lord's will that you do what you want to do.


　...... That's a heavy word. It's a heavy word.

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

　It is Miroku who has been bound by the harshest fate on the island, and yet he says there is no need to be bound by fate.

　It's not something I can say with a half-hearted heart.


............

　The samurai were silent.

　The weight of this would not really be conveyed. But perhaps the passion that exuded from Miroku, the deep sadness that exuded from them, made them do so.


　Thus, despite the many objections that remained, the Eighteenth Country of the Sword was able to communicate with the continent.

　Toukichirou is breathless that they will soon increase the number of ships. After all, he has a messenger in the port of Coola.
　When I told him not to worry about the money, he laughed with a twitchy face and said, "I'm afraid of the rest, aren't I?





''--Then, when the opening of the Eighteenth Country is decided, let's have a demonstration.

　Now, here's the thing.

　Recruitment (...).

　It's a shame to keep these talented and motivated people in here forever.
　I'm going to recruit them and take them to the Kingdom of Castal. That's what I've been trying to do for a long time.


Miroku, don't skimp on the details.
You're kidding.
Okay.

　This is a great opportunity.

　Here, I'm going to show you a match (...)

　A match between the best of the best (・・・・).


Hang on, Second. What the hell do you want to do now?

　Me and Miroku, facing each other, were stopped by Akaneko.

　This is the opponent I want to show her the most matches right now. If my eyes aren't crazy, her sense of Battoujutsu is comparable to mine in the past. Her reflexes and dynamic vision are unquestionable.

　I looked briefly around the dojo at the crowd, then fixed my gaze on Akaneko and said, "You don't need to say a word.


'No words are needed. What do you think when you see this? That's all you need to decide if you'll follow me or not.

　Akaneko is looking very surprised.

　She can't even imagine what's going to happen next.


　She doesn't know yet how much "up" there is on .......

　I want to show her.
　I want to broaden her horizon, and that of the samurai.

　I want her to know that the highest level of Battoujutsu, Bishamon, is not a simpleton like your father.


　The real thing is more, more ...... interesting.



　　* * * *.



Nice to meet you.
Please.


　Second and Master Miroku bowed to each other and confronted each other.

　Immediately after, the match began.


　--What happened? No, what is happening? I can't understand it at all.

　A battling technique I've never seen before sparks between the two men.

　Impressive is a lukewarm word.

　Perhaps tomorrow and the day after, I will remember every detail of this match and study its every move.

　It was such a dense and vivid game.


　It's here, a tremendous battling sword.
　Let's go to ...... to work on it next.

　Nah, you're lying!　This is it!
　Oh, yeah, ...... sure. No, but .......

　I see, if this is what you're aiming for and ......, you were reading this from the third silver general!
　......, but I didn't know it would be so easy to accept this. Terrible response.

　What's going on here?　Both of them have skills that you wouldn't expect from the same person.
　Their accuracy is outstanding, as is their sharpness. What kind of training does it take to achieve this?
　Great, great, great!

　I'm done with the sword, and it's time to start over. ...... Now, what happens next?


............!

　Ha.
　Unbeknownst to me, I was watching with my mouth gaping open.

　When I look closely, I see that everyone around me is as well.

　All of us are enthusiastic about the game. To the game between the two of them.


　...... frustrated.
　It's frustrating, but interesting.

　I've never seen anything so interesting.
　I've never seen battoujutsu so interesting.

　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.
　I was a fool. I was shallow.

　I had never had a match that I found so interesting.
　I lost. Defeated. I have to admit.

　That big smile on Second's face. Miroku-sama's smile. The enthusiasm of the Samurai.

　It's fun to do. It's fun to watch. There's nothing else like it.


　I finally understand what the Second was talking about.

　The meaning of continuing the Battoujutsu.
　If it doesn't make you laugh, it doesn't mean anything.

　...... Exactly.


　I want to continue with the Battoujutsu.

　Like Second, like Miroku-sama, I want to enjoy and be entertained by Battoujutsu ......!



I'm here.

　The second sword is stopped short at the throat and Miroku-sama resigns.


'Thank you.'

　The second smiled and delivered the sword and thanked him.


　Immediately afterwards - out of nowhere, a round of applause erupted.

　I am no exception.

　I'm not sure I'll ever be able to call myself a samurai if I can't applaud this wonderful match.


............

　As I continue to clap, I think.

　I decide. I'm going to follow the second.



　　* * * *



　While receiving applause from all over the dojo, I think.

　For now, the recruitment to the continent could be considered a success.
　However, I also felt that there was one more push that was not enough.

　Fortunately, there is time. We can do at least one more thing. So, what would be the next demonstration?


...... How is it done?

　When I glanced at the side, Miroku opened his mouth with his meditating eyes.

　Somehow, he looks like he's in a bad mood.


　Haha, I see. Well, this guy is bending his navel after being defeated in front of everyone, isn't he?

　All right, we'll talk about it sooner rather than later.



So, whoever's in charge of training Miroku is going to be the one to do it.

!