Misono Mika returned to the interior of the Koutetsujou from the roof, glancing at Mumei, who had already fallen asleep in the corner.
She always kept her word. Since she said she wouldn't give Mumei her blood, she definitely wouldn't.
If she went back on her word halfway through, she would lose a lot of face.
Besides, Amatori Biba had already developed a serum anyway. When the time came, the worst-case scenario was simply helping Mumei snatch a vial.
'Speaking of which, Mumei and Ikoma haven't eaten in a long time.'
Mika withdrew her gaze from Mumei and turned to Yomogawa Ayame and the assembled retainers behind her. "There should be some medical equipment prepared on the Koutetsujou. So, who among you is willing to donate some of your blood for them?"
If a Kabaneri goes without food for a long time, they become uncontrollable and have a high probability of turning into Kabane.
"Blood? Mumei and the others can no longer eat normal food?"
Ayame looked at Mumei with sympathy. The metallic taste of human blood wasn't pleasant, and it would draw strange looks from others.
Ayame nodded and agreed without hesitation. "Let me provide the blood for them."
"How can we let Lady Ayame do all the work? The Kabaneri have indeed helped us a lot lately. I am also willing to provide blood for them."
Seeing Ayame agree, the retainers all rolled up their sleeves, revealing their thick arms with an energetic air.
Mika didn't know how much of this was genuine sincerity, but at least she didn't have to worry about the food source for Mumei and Ikoma for a while.
"Miss Ayame, if Mumei wakes up, tell her to find me in the back. I'm going to see how Ikoma's training is progressing."
Mika thought of Ikoma, whom she had momentarily forgotten, and decided to find some entertainment at his expense to pass the time.
Bang! Bang!
Just as Mika stepped into the carriage where Ikoma was, the sharp sound of wooden swords colliding rang out. Nearby onlookers let out occasional shouts, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Take this!"
Ikoma gripped the wooden sword with both hands and delivered a diagonal slash at high speed.
Kurusu Konochi, standing opposite him, hurriedly swung his sword to parry.
In a short amount of time, the two exchanged dozens of blows.
"Is all you can do mimicry?!"
Facing Ikoma's rain-like offensive, Kurusu's expression turned solemn. He held his wooden sword horizontally in front of him, employing a blade-vibration technique.
Clang!
The moment Ikoma's wooden sword was vibrated away, Kurusu's blade broke through his defense and came to rest against Ikoma's throat.
"Damn, I lost again!"
Ikoma lowered his wooden sword in frustration.
"If you only use swordsmanship rigidly without flexibility, you will never defeat me."
Kurusu retracted his wooden sword coldly, though he was secretly shocked by the look in Ikoma's eyes.
Swordsmanship that usually takes months to learn was being mastered by Ikoma in just a few hours. Were Kabaneri really this unreasonable?
"You two seem to be getting along well. Ikoma now has the aptitude of a swordsman; the progress is good."
Mika clapped her hands as she walked down the center aisle toward the two of them.
When the nearby people saw her, they all quieted down, watching the scene with curiosity.
"I will work even harder!"
"May I ask if Lady Mika has any instructions?"
Both Ikoma and Kurusu spoke with serious expressions.
"Actually, I happen to be a grandmaster swordsman myself, and I've been feeling a bit restless lately."
Mika reached out and picked up a wooden sword nearby. After a casual swing, she faced the two of them. "Why don't we spar? Tell you what, so I don't bully you, both of you can come at me together. Don't even think about holding back."
"S-so Lady Mika even had this kind of identity? That's amazing!"
Ikoma immediately cast an admiring gaze her way.
"...You are truly a grandmaster swordsman? Apologies, I am not doubting you. Please forgive my lack of insight for being unable to see through your profound swordsmanship."
Kurusu bowed his head in apology, looking quite chagrined.
He had seen Mika's swordplay—it was sharp and decisive. He assumed its depth was simply beyond the reach of a mere mortal like him, which was why he had been fooled by appearances.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have thought Mika didn't know swordsmanship at all, or that her movements were no different from a commoner swinging wildly.
"I don't mean to blame you. As for being a swordsmanship master... I think I am."
Mika chuckled, holding the sword with one hand in a draw-stance. She announced, "Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. Please, instruct me!"
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu?!
Just the name sounded incredibly powerful!
Ikoma and Kurusu felt their hearts tremble. After exchanging a glance, they both saw the nervousness in each other's eyes.
"Ikoma, get ready. Don't drag me down!"
"I'm giving those words right back to you!"
Kurusu and Ikoma also took their stances, staring at Mika with total concentration.
The next second, both sides moved simultaneously.
Mika exhaled a breath of turbid air and struck first. "Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Battojutsu, Soryusen!"
"Ryutsui Shosen!"
"Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Secret Technique, Kuzu-ryusen!"
"Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Ultimate Secret Technique, Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki!!!"
...
"With sword and heart, a life spent in battle—this is the answer I've found."
Mika muttered Kenshin's lines under her breath. Standing with her back to Kurusu and Ikoma—who were lying on the ground unable to get up—she made a sheathing motion with a wooden sword that had been broken down to nothing but the hilt.
The onlookers: "..."
Was... was that actually swordsmanship?
Are we sure she wasn't just relying on her powerful physical attributes to hack around blindly?
Or was Mika's swordsmanship so profound that they, as bystanders, simply couldn't comprehend it?
From start to finish, the combined efforts of Kurusu and Ikoma couldn't even touch the hem of Mika's clothes.
It was a pathetic sight.
"Kurusu Konochi, do you really think I know the so-called Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu?"
Mika turned around, looking at Kurusu as he struggled to crawl up from the ground.
"...My apologies, I cannot see through your school, so I dare not make reckless guesses..."
"I don't know swordsmanship at all."
"..."
Kurusu's eyes widened, his expression one of someone questioning their very existence.
He was just about to go back and contemplate the lesson deeply, only to hear this devastating news.
Ikoma, who managed to climb up in pain, was also deeply shocked.
"I really wonder what you two were imagining just now."
Mika casually tossed away the hilt and spoke seriously to the two. "Take this as a lesson. Remember, I am not as all-powerful as you imagine. Occasionally, I tell lies and play little jokes."
"For now, you two will stay by my side. To make future operations easier, I've even given you each a cool code name!"
"They are Peppa and Litchi!"