Tokyo Sword Saint Online Dealing

"Didn't you want to ask me why I'm so indifferent to the deaths of these people?"

"Okay, I'll tell you."

"Because... I've seen too much!"

Miyagawa Isamu's expression turned solemn, and he subconsciously straightened his back, his whole being like an ancient sword that had experienced vicissitudes, stubborn, old, full of decay, yet still showing its sharpness.

"When I was young, I roamed the world with my sword, always ready to kill evil. I was full of vigor and pride, and I was a righteous man. I was incredibly successful."

"At that time, I had just joined the Shinsengumi. In terms of swordsmanship, no one of my peers could match me. I had slain demons and exorcised monsters, and had countless merits. I could be called the number one among the Mibu Wolves."

"I am somewhat arrogant, but I don't think my arrogance is wrong."

"Isn't a sword meant to uphold justice?"

"Until one day, while I was on patrol, I happened to witness a superhuman attempting to molest a young girl who had just started middle school."

"Back then, there were plenty of scoundrels like that. I knew that guy; he was a spoiled brat who was lucky enough to connect with a heroic spirit. Relying on his somewhat powerful father, he often acted lawlessly. I've disliked him for a long time."

“I’ll run into him. I can’t let him be so presumptuous. I’ll just take action and cut his Achilles tendon and kick his manhood. This guy is crippled.”

"Back then, I was just like you, hating evil as if it were my enemy, wanting to uphold justice for anyone I saw, and not tolerating even the slightest injustice."

Uesugi Kiyoshi remained silent, but Azuma Maki, standing to the side, was intrigued by the story.

She asked softly, "And then?"

"Then?"

Miyagawa Isamu chuckled a few times.

"I am the Shinsengumi's supernova swordsman, a strong contender for the future Shinsengumi leader. That spoiled brat's father is just a high-ranking government official—indeed a huge obstacle for ordinary people, but even if he had a hundred lives, he wouldn't dare to seek revenge against me."

"But they can play dirty tricks."

"Shortly after that, an unusually large gathering of occultists broke out in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, which was my jurisdiction, accompanied by ritualistic activities of a vile nature."

"I could have arrived in time to prevent the disaster."

"But I was tripped up by that spoiled brat's father. He bribed the operator in my jurisdiction, slowing down the flow of information by five minutes."

"In just five minutes, do you know how many people died?"

"After the sacrificial ceremony was completed, the avatars of the ghosts and gods descended, and a fierce battle destroyed a block and a half. Countless mortals were killed or injured. Just suppressing the incident afterwards took countless methods and efforts from the government and the superhuman organization."

"Those who became sacrifices, men, women, and children, totaled more than seven hundred people."

"Three thousand people died in the fighting."

"The reason is simply that I offended a high-ranking official because his son committed a crime and was punished without mercy. Because of this, he wanted to retaliate against me, to make me make a mistake, to suspend me from my post, and to ruin my reputation."

"That's why."

“Thousands of people died.”

"At that moment, I finally understood that sometimes it is difficult for people to understand each other. What is of utmost importance to you may be insignificant to some people. Reaching a consensus is a very difficult thing."

"After that, I was held accountable, dismissed and exiled, going from a supernova to a criminal, but I don't care about any of that."

"Under the cover of night, I sneaked into that high-ranking official's house, personally killed his son who was barely clinging to life in bed, and then hung up his father, letting him experience every kind of torture I could inflict."

"He begged me to kill him in the end, but what good would that have done?"

Can the dead come back?

Who will be held responsible for those people's deaths?

"I gradually came to understand that a grand and righteous heart is useless."

"To save people, a sword alone is not enough."

“I gradually tempered my temper and climbed up the ranks within the system step by step. I greeted my superiors with a smile, was humble and polite to my colleagues, and cared for and recognized my subordinates. It took me nearly twenty years to go from a sinner to the commander of the Shinsengumi.”

"Now, I lead over a hundred swordsmen of the Shinsengumi, guarding Kyoto. I dare not say I have made any great contributions, but at least I can protect the peace of this region. What's wrong with that?"

"I know that Matsubara Tadari is greedy, hostile to other superhuman organizations, arrogant, and looks down on them. But he is extremely powerful and influential in the Fourth Division, and his word is law. He is always at the forefront when fighting against demons and gods, and never backs down. Over the years, how many lives has he saved and how many demons and gods has he killed?"

"Can I just fire him and kill him because he took some bribes? How can the Shinsengumi function if we lose a squad?"

"You ask me if I know about the unusual situation here? I do know."

"Two weeks ago, I felt something was off about this area, and sure enough, not long after, your president was attacked."

"But you need to understand, this is Shinkyogoku, Kyoto's largest shopping district, bar none!"

"Putting aside the fact that this is Matsubara Tadari's jurisdiction, and it would be against the rules for me to interfere without authorization, even if I came here to quell the evil spirits, do you know how serious the consequences could be?"

"You were lucky today, you encountered a corrupt superhuman and quickly subdued him—but have you considered that he might have some hidden tricks up his sleeve?"

"What if he can summon demons and gods? What if he possesses the means to cause massive destruction? What if he destroys Niikyogoku?"

Who will take responsibility for this?

"You?"

"You dare to take action without being fully prepared? Is this how sloppy your Collectors Association is in its work?"

"You unruly brat! Humph!"

Uesugi Kiyoshi clenched his fists, looking like he wanted to hit someone, but in the end he didn't. His gaze toward Miyagawa Isamu was now full of pity.

"So, that's why you've become like this?"

"Boring, boring, shameless."

"It must be really tough for you to say such things so confidently, Commander-in-Chief Miyagawa."

"Hehe. Hahaha."

Uesugi Seiichi raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a sword.

"Think about it carefully. Right now, for the sake of so-called superficial peace, you're willing to ignore the plight of a small number of people and allow them to sacrifice themselves to ensure a stable life for the majority—"

"How are you any different in essence from that official who concealed information and caused the deaths of thousands in order to avenge his son?"

"It's just sacrificing others for the sake of some people, why make yourself sound so noble?"

Seeing that Azuma Maki seemed lost in thought, Uesugi Kiyoshi, fearing that his nominal disciple might be getting stuck on something, patted her on the shoulder and shook his head.

“Maki, I haven’t been teaching you swordsmanship for very long. Although I am your teacher, I haven’t taught you much about how to conduct yourself in life.”

“You’re not an unreasonable person either. I always feel that values ​​can’t be imposed on others. For example, this Chief of Staff Miyagawa thinks he did nothing wrong, but I think he’s a complete scoundrel.”

"But there are some things I have to say."

"Remember this."

"Equality for all is nonsense; there is no true fairness in this world."

"People are born with different social classes. A young lady from a prestigious family and an orphan who grew up in poverty will be seen differently by everyone."

Upon hearing this, Maki Azuma glanced at Kyoko not far away, pursed her lips somewhat aggrievedly, lowered her head, and inappropriately thought of something else.

Sometimes, a daughter from a prestigious family might not be as good as a girl from a humble background.

That's what she was thinking.

Uesugi Kiyoshi didn't care about that.

He spoke to Maki Higashimoto, but his eyes were fixed on Yu Miyagawa, and every word he uttered was firm and resolute.

Even so, no one in this world is obligated to make an involuntary sacrifice for another person.

"I come from a humble background, so I am selfish and have very low moral character."

"I believe that everyone, regardless of their background, has at least the right to choose to live."

"So I'm furious that monsters eat people."

"Miyagawa Yu, how are your actions any different from those of demons?"

"Aren't they both cannibalism? It's just that one is blatant, while the other is disguised with a layer of righteousness."

"When faced with the trolley problem, shouldn't we do everything in our power to save everyone, even if it means dying on the tracks, instead of pulling the gates on a whim and letting some people sacrifice themselves?"

That's what the Lord of a Hundred Demons did, and Uesugi Kiyoshi's philosophy was the same. Call him naive or stubborn, he was extremely disgusted by this kind of "abandonment".

Perhaps it's because I've lost too much in the past.

"."

"I'm asking you one last time."

"So, for the sake of the safety of your Fourth Division, and to prevent the possibility of Shinkyogoku falling into chaos, here, because of your dereliction of duty, oh no, because of your deliberate indulgence, those who died unjustly, those innocent souls who, in your eyes, are only a small part, are now dead."

"Did they deserve to die?"

Miyagawa Yu was silent for three seconds, then suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with deep obsession.

How easy is it to correct a person's deeply ingrained ideas that have been formed over decades?

He nodded firmly.

"A worthy death!"

The heartfelt roar that burst from his throat stunned Uesugi Kiyoshi for a moment.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sakura Okita standing to the side, her eyes filled with the fervor of a believer for their master, like a devotee to a god.

It seems that the master and apprentice are of the same ilk, or rather, this young girl who looks quite young was raised with this kind of thinking by Miyagawa Isamu.

Uesugi Kiyoshi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then felt that saying anything would be a waste of breath.

He sighed and slowly opened his clenched fist.

Onikiri answered his call and leaped into his palm.

"As expected, it's better to say nothing when you don't see eye to eye."

"So that more people don't die a worthy death."

"I'd rather kill you."

Chapter 343 Broken Jade

Miyagawa Isamu merely twitched his brow slightly, his expression remaining expressionless.