My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 534: Chapter 179: The Niō Riding a Bull Charges onto the Battlefield

The ”Scarred Warrior” finished speaking.

A deathly silence instantly enveloped the alley where everyone stood...

...

—What... did he say?

...

Although the ”Scarred Warrior”’s voice was small just now, his words were clear enough, at least Mukiwa heard clearly what he was saying... But even so, Mukiwa couldn’t help asking herself in her mind, ”What did he say?”

A pair of beautiful eyes, flawless in size, shape, and proportion to her face, stared wide, their pupils as beautiful as black gems, losing their original luster as her focus wavered suddenly.

Mukiwa felt as though a thread was hooked at the back of her head... Even though she heard every word the ”Scarred Warrior” said without missing a single one, her brain couldn’t comprehend... No, it was because the words of the ”Scarred Warrior” were too horrifying; under the influence of fear, her mind subconsciously refused to think deeper.

The tremor was sluggish and long.

A strange feeling of paralysis spread throughout her body, her soul seemed to have lost control of her body; she couldn’t speak or move even a single finger.

Thump, thump, thump, thump... Her heart felt like it was being heavily pressed from outside, beating so fast and so hard.

Though it was her own heart beating, Mukiwa thought the sound seemed to be coming from somewhere outside her body.

It truly felt as if her soul had lost control of her body, starting to drift away, and Mukiwa had the illusion that her vision turned into a bird’s-eye view, as if she could see herself standing on the ground, beside Aoto.

After what seemed very short yet also quite long, Mukiwa felt her soul returning to her body.

Only then did Mukiwa realize her back was soaked with cold sweat, wetting her entire yukata.

Her eyes were dry from forgetting to blink just now.

Scene after frightening scene uncontrollably appeared in Mukiwa’s mind, then rushed past her eyes one by one.

Towering flames engulfing the settlement...

Countless people screaming, scattering and fleeing...

The Anti-foreigner Group members, grinning like hunters pursuing prey, chased down the fleeing people with knives...

Elodie, her closest friend, looked terrified at the flames engulfing her and her family...

...

—No...

The horrific images drained the color from Mukiwa’s once rosy and delicate face and enticing red lips at a speed visible to the naked eye.

She wanted her mind to stop these terrifying imaginations, but the horrifying images continued to swirl and entangle in her mind.

—These lunatics must be stopped!

Mukiwa finally shouted clearly in her mind.

But her panicked emotions didn’t ease or come under control.

She was, after all, just a 15-year-old girl who hadn’t experienced much turmoil.

The plan that the Anti-foreigner Group intended to execute tonight already surpassed Mukiwa’s psychological tolerance.

She knew clearly what she needed to do now, but her thoughts were a tangled mess in her mind.

So much she wanted to say... So many things she wanted to do urgently... but her brain, unable to resume normal operation, couldn’t sort out these chaotic thoughts.

Mukiwa was at a loss due to panic and fear... At this time, Nakamura Chouhachirou was also wide-eyed, full of disbelief.

Already vaguely sensing that these people were planning something terrible when forced to hand over the sake ordered by Bright, Nakamura Chouhachirou had not expected the audacity of these people so far exceeded his imagination...

The silent atmosphere gradually became dense, then heavy, making the air in the alley feel as if it had solidified into an exceptionally heavy liquid.

But at that moment, someone’s voice shattered the stillness and weight of the moment.

”... When do you plan to set the settlement on fire?”

Aoto’s tone was very calm... causing Mukiwa to turn her gaze to Aoto in surprise, and she saw Aoto’s unusually calm face.

—Mr. Tachibana... did he hear what this person just said?

Because Aoto was so calm, Mukiwa couldn’t help but murmur this in disbelief in her mind.

”At... at 10 p.m...” the ”Scarred Warrior” said.

p.m... which converts to modern time as 22:00.

The current time is around 20:30... meaning there are about an hour and a half until the Anti-foreigner Group launches the attack.

”You better make sure everything you just said is true. If I find even half a lie later...”

Before Aoto could finish his sentence, the ”Scarred Warrior” hastily spoke up:

”Everything I just said! Every word is true! I’m not lying!”

After loudly emphasizing his ”honesty,” the ”Scarred Warrior” suddenly pressed his lips tightly, his face complex.

Then, in a pleading tone, he cautiously said to Aoto:

”I... I provided so much information...”

”Afterward... can you give me... leniency...?”

This man, who had previously arrogantly shouted about ”Celestial Punishment,” ”national traitors,” and ”only baring fangs at national traitors, barbarians, and those who must devote themselves to the Anti-foreigner Cause,” was now pathetically begging Aoto to help him and leniently judge his crimes.