To defeat the Ishikawa Dojo at the Shrine Exhibition Match, Sakakibara Hanbei always selected the winner of June’s dojo tournament to represent his school in July.
Ogata knew that custom, which made him even less interested in the upcoming rankings.
He had no desire to fight in the Shrine Exhibition Match.
Admittedly, facing one of the Ishikawa Dojo’s experts might grant him a considerable amount of Experience.
Makino noticed his lack of enthusiasm and asked, “Ogata-senpai, you don’t seem to possess much fighting spirit for the dojo tournament.”
“I wouldn’t say I have no desire to compete.” Ogata gave a wry smile.
“If possible, I would gladly place near the top.
I would rather win than lose, after all.
“I simply have no interest in the Shrine Exhibition Match in July.
“As you know, whoever wins the June tournament must represent our school at the exhibition the following month.”
“Ah.” Realization dawned on Makino.
“So you’re worried that if you take first place, you’ll be forced to participate in the Shrine Exhibition Match.”
“Exactly.” Ogata nodded.
“The Shrine Exhibition Match…” Makino murmured.
He turned his head toward one corner of the dojo.
“Now that you mention it, Mikami-senpai has been practicing exceptionally hard lately.”
Ogata followed his gaze.
Mikami, currently the foremost disciple of the Sakakibara Dojo, was training alone in the corner.
Sweat spattered the floor for several paces around him.
He had taken first place in three consecutive dojo tournaments: the competition held two Decembers ago, and both the June and December tournaments of the previous year.
Watching him train, Makino whispered, “Perhaps Mikami-senpai intends to participate in the exhibition again and wipe away the humiliation he suffered against Tōyama last year.”
“Yes,” Ogata agreed.
“That is very possible.”
Mikami had won last June’s dojo tournament, which meant he represented the Sakakibara Dojo in the Shrine Exhibition Match that July.
The Ishikawa Dojo’s representative had been Tōyama Ren’ichirō, a swordsman hailed as a genius seen only once in ten years.
Tōyama Ren’ichirō was unquestionably the strongest of the Ishikawa Dojo’s disciples.
Although Mikami stood first among the Sakakibara disciples, he could not guarantee victory in every match against the school’s other strong swordsmen, including Ogata.
Tōyama was different.
According to rumor, he had remained undefeated within the Ishikawa Dojo for two consecutive years.
Not one of its many disciples could contend with him.
That alone revealed how terrifyingly capable he was.
Last year had been Tōyama’s first appearance in the Shrine Exhibition Match.
The confrontation between him and Mikami attracted enormous attention.
Everyone wanted to witness what kind of magnificent battle would erupt when the greatest swordsman of the Ishikawa Dojo faced the finest of the Sakakibara school. This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
The result bitterly disappointed them.
The match was not magnificent at all.
Only a few breaths passed between its beginning and end.
Tōyama brought Mikami down with a single technique.
Mikami never had the chance to execute even one sword art before he was defeated.
Last year’s Shrine Exhibition Match became a thorn buried in the heart of every member of the Sakakibara Dojo.
The humiliation had been overwhelming.
Their strongest disciple had been destroyed in an instant.
Mikami remained despondent for a long time and needed more than two months to recover.
It was now the middle of May.
Neither the dojo tournament nor the Shrine Exhibition Match was far away.
Mikami’s fierce training might be intended to secure first place again next month, earn another opportunity to fight Tōyama, and wash away the disgrace of the previous year.
Ogata had little interest in either event.
For now, he wanted only to practice quietly and become stronger without attracting attention.
He had already accepted one fact: even though he did not know where his future would lead, strengthening his body and refining his swordsmanship could never be the wrong choice.
* * *
That evening—
As usual, Ogata went to Nagareya and guarded the izakaya’s peace.
People throughout the surrounding area now knew that a formidable samurai remained at Nagareya every evening.
Consequently, almost no one dared behave outrageously there anymore.
Ogata’s work as its “security guard” had become considerably easier.
Most nights, he merely sat near the entrance while O-Saki and O-Fuku hurried about serving customers.
This evening was no different.
Ogata sat at the doorway with his daishō cradled in his arms while examining his current status.
Name: Ogata Issei
Level: LV 8 (670/700)
Personal Attributes
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Reflexes: 5
Stamina: 5
Vitality: 5
Sakakibara Ittō-ryū: Rank 4 (620/700)
Remaining Skill Points: 2
Sakakibara Ittō-ryū Rank 4 Techniques
Ascending Tower: Beginner
Waterfall: Intermediate
Bird Thrust: Beginner
Dragon Tail: Beginner
Studying the screen, Ogata murmured too softly for anyone else to hear, “I’m still just short of enough Experience…”
Both his Personal Level and Sakakibara Ittō-ryū rank were close to advancing.
He needed thirty more Personal Experience and eighty more Sakakibara Ittō-ryū Experience.
If he fought and defeated another one or two people, both would rise.
Then he would possess a more comfortable supply of Skill Points.
Once my Personal Level and Sakakibara Ittō-ryū both advance, I’ll receive another three Skill Points.
Together with the two points I have saved, that will give me five.
With that many Skill Points, it will finally be time to spend some of them.
While Ogata considered how to distribute the points, a startled cry from O-Fuku suddenly rang through the izakaya.
He immediately abandoned his thoughts and looked toward the sound.
O-Fuku stood with her cheeks flushed, one hand covering her backside as she glared furiously at the customers beside her.
Ogata’s brows drew together when he saw the men at that table.
They were different from Nagareya’s usual clientele.
Nearly everyone who visited the izakaya was a farmer, artisan, or some other commoner.
Every man at this table, however, wore a neatly shaved sakayaki.
And beside each man’s knee lay a samurai sword.
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