I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

……

(Damn bastards! Do you think I'm blind? Do you think I can't see that this play is mocking me?! Disrespecting superiors is a capital offense! Arrest them all!)

(Father!!)

……

(Who are you? You're not a jailer, are you?)

(...)

(Hey! I'm talking to you!)

(...)

(Are you deaf?)

(Oh, I'm so sorry! He really is deaf, please forgive him!)

(And who are you? Why are you standing in front of my cell door?)

(Sorry for the late introduction! I am Orochi, and this is my adopted son, Ōtakemaru!)

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Chapter 966 Copying the [Eternal Talent] "Heartless Demon Child"! [4300]

(Yamata no Orochi? Ōtakemaru? What kind of weird names are these? Are you kidding me?)

(This is our code name, used to demonstrate our determination to "become a demon if necessary to achieve our goal.")

(...Fine, whatever. This is a prison, how did you get in here?)

(Of course, he swaggered in.)

("Walking in with an air of superiority"? There are many jailers outside.)

(What's the big deal? Just kill all the jailers blocking the way, and you can swagger in, right?)

(...)

(Bai He, there's no need for that expression. Didn't you do something similar a month ago? You single-handedly killed more than a dozen constables.)

(...That's because they wanted to kill my father.)

(What a pity... your desperate gamble ultimately failed. Not only did you fail to rescue your father, but you also ended up imprisoned yourself.)

(...Shut up. Did you go through all this trouble to barge into this place just to mock me?)

(“Mocking”? No, no, no, how could that be! It’s quite the opposite! Baihe, we respect you very much! Your courage and your father’s courage are truly admirable! If everyone could be as brave as you and your father, this world would surely have become a paradise long ago.)

(...My father and I had hoped to use this play to inspire the villagers to fight against the magistrate's tyranny. However...let alone resist the magistrate, when my father was taken away by the magistrate's evil servants, they stood at a distance and watched coldly...)

(Bai He, don't resent those people. Not everyone has the courage to "jump straight off a cliff.")

(...I wanted to hate those people, but my heart told me I was hating the wrong people. Even hating these bystanders wouldn't help. In the end, I was filled with grief and indignation, but I didn't know where to vent it.)

(Ha ha……)

(why are you laughing?)

(It's nothing, just a feeling of nostalgia... There was a time when I had similar thoughts. I wanted to hate someone, but didn't know who to hate; I wanted to kill someone, but didn't know who to kill.)

(Heh, looks like you've got quite a story to tell.)

(My story is long, and I'll tell you it slowly when I have the chance. Time is of the essence right now, so please allow me to get straight to the point—Bai He, would you like to join us and become one of us?)

("Join you"? Who exactly are you people?)

(We are righteous men who punish evildoers according to the law, using the laws of heaven and earth to eradicate wickedness, hence the name 'Punishing According to the Law'. We strive to create a new world, and to create this ideal world, the most urgent task is to overthrow the Edo Shogunate.)

(Down with... the Edo Shogunate...? Hey, are you guys serious?)

(Of course we're serious! To achieve this goal, we're currently recruiting top talent. And you, Bai He, are exactly the kind of talent we want to bring under our wing!)

(...This is truly amusing. I am but a lowly court jester, of humble status. What merit do I possess to participate in the great cause of overthrowing the shogunate?)

(No, Baihe, that's a misconception! You are a gifted genius! You possess extraordinary talent! If I could gain your assistance, it would be as if I had the strength of ten thousand men!)

(...)

(Of course, I won't force you to do anything. I won't tolerate anyone with a weak will under my command. Next, I will open the prison door for you and give you a knife. If you want to become our partner, then pick up this knife and kill the official who ruined your family, and show me your determination. If you don't have this intention, then you may leave directly, and we will not stop you.)

(...I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should.)

(Speaking.)

(When I witnessed my father's arrest, I was terrified... Even with my sword drawn, I couldn't shake the fear. I was afraid of the shogunate, afraid of the magistrate, afraid of the prison, afraid of death... It wasn't until I easily killed more than a dozen constables that I belatedly realized—these seemingly terrifying fellows were nothing special. At the same time, I also realized: the clanging of swords was far more effective at getting the villains' attention than the lyrics of a play. So... open the prison door, and give me the sword.)

……

……

The voices of the past are gradually fading away...

Shuten-dōji felt as if a long time had passed... His consciousness seemed to have gone through several years along with his memories.

In reality, it all happens in the blink of an eye.

—I...abandoned everything...

—I...it took me so long to get to this point...

—How could I possibly give up halfway through...?

With this thought in mind, he gritted his teeth, used his knife as a support, and struggled to his feet.

As he stood up, he suddenly felt a blur before his eyes.

Then, to his astonishment, he discovered that the space beneath his feet had undergone a tremendous change!

It is no longer the castle tower of Edo Castle, but a magnificent theater!

"This is……?"

Shuten-dōji looked around, his eyes revealing undisguised surprise.

As a former Kabuki actor, he recognized it at a glance—this was a Shibaju-ya (traditional Japanese theater)! A theater specifically used for Kabuki performances!

There is a spacious stage beneath my feet.

Above us was a high ceiling.

Next to it is a flower path for actors to enter.

The surrounding area was densely packed with seats.

The warm yellow candlelight filled the field of vision.

Before he could think further, Shuten-dōji noticed that, following the change in the ground beneath his feet, both his and Aoto's clothing had undergone significant changes.

He saw that he was wearing a black firefighter's uniform with white mountain-shaped patterns on the cuffs.

On the other side, Qing Deng was wearing a plain white robe.

Both of these costumes are from the play "Kanatemoto Chushōzō".

In this drama, the protagonist, Daihoshi Yuranosuke, wears this black outfit to kill the treacherous minister, Koji Naoki, who is dressed in white.

"Kanatemoto Chushingura" and Oohoshi Yuranosuke... these are his best plays and the roles he is most skilled at.

In order to perform this role well, he specially honed his martial arts skills.

His portrayal of Yuranosuke Oohoshi always garners overwhelmingly positive reviews from viewers.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked around blankly.

In the blink of an eye, the seats that were once empty were now all packed with audience members.

They cheered, screamed, and shouted, their faces beaming with smiles.

A barrage of excited or expectant gazes shot in from all directions, focusing on him.

Cheers filled his ears... he was surrounded by a crowd of spectators... everything was just like before.

Shuten-dōji blinked in confusion at first, then slightly curved the corners of his mouth, his eyebrows trembled slightly, revealing a complex expression that was neither a smile nor a cry.

Kabuki... I really miss it...

If those events hadn't happened back then, I'd probably still be striving to "become the best actor" and "make my own name known throughout the world."

Oh, I see... I'm back again...

I am back!

I'm back on stage!

With this thought in mind, he slowly spread his arms and assumed a fighting stance—

……

……

The timing of their getting up was so similar that it was difficult to tell which one got up first.

Qingdeng silently straightened his upper body, then straightened his back and stood upright in one go.

My lungs are bloated... my head is spinning... all my muscles are protesting silently...

Under the dual stimulation of "fatigue" and "pain", "strength" had long been exhausted, and only "perseverance" was struggling to keep going!

Qingdeng steadied himself, assumed a mid-level stance, and prepared for a new round of fierce fighting.

However, at that moment, something unexpected happened—Shuten-dōji opposite him suddenly struck a strange pose.

He squatted down, his expression solemn.

Immediately afterwards, he was heard reciting in a skilled singing voice: