Before Ogata entered the bathhouse, Isshiki had already soaked in the bathhouse for a long time.

When taking a bath, because the water temperature is too high, the blood vessels throughout the body will expand, and the blood supply to the skin will increase. Relatively speaking, the blood supply to the brain will decrease. Therefore, if you take a bath for a long time, it is very easy to

Symptoms of dizziness occur.

Isshiki felt his head getting more and more dizzy. Due to dizziness and panic, his cheeks slowly turned pale again.

——Trouble...

——Gotta... think of a way to get Ittosai out of here... otherwise... I'm going to faint in the bath...

Soaking in the bath until fainting - this is a mistake that only children can make, and Isshiki doesn't want to make it even if he dies...

At this time, Ogata didn't notice anything strange about Isshiki - it would be strange if he could notice it. He is now facing away from Isshiki, and Isshiki is also facing away from him. The two have their backs to each other, and Ogata can notice that

Isshiki's physical discomfort is the reason why.

Ogata, who didn't notice that Isshiki was ill, continued to talk to himself:

"Even if you don't talk about these virtual things and just talk about the real things, I still feel that I'm still far from the best in swordsmanship."

"As far as I know, there is one person in this world whose attainments in swordsmanship are far greater than mine."

The surprise that had just dissipated appeared on her face again.

"Is there anyone who has a higher level of swordsmanship than you?"

Isshiki has an almost endless interest in topics related to swordsmanship. After hearing what Ogata said just now that she could not ignore no matter what, Isshiki could not ignore her dizziness for the time being.

"Yes." Ogata nodded, "The senior I just mentioned named that wonderful state 'Transparent Realm'."

Kinoshita Genichi's posture, leaning against the corner and drinking in a very cool manner, appeared in Ogata's mind.

"As for his name, I won't say it for some reasons."

Genichi is a troublemaker with enemies all over the world. If you just report Genichi's name casually, you might cause avoidable trouble. Therefore, in order to avoid trouble, Ogata chose to conceal Genichi's name.

"He can be considered my teacher for the time being. In terms of his attainments in swordsmanship, I'm sure he is only a step ahead of me."

The creation of the "Musoku Two Swordsman Style" and the "Breath of the Source" - these two achievements alone are enough to make it difficult for Ogata to compare with Source One in terms of swordsmanship achievements.

Isshiki's cheeks were now filled with shock.

In Isshiki's eyes, Ogata, who had accomplished the two miraculous feats of "killing the tyrant with one against a hundred" and "defeating Nijo Castle", was already well-deserved to be unparalleled in the world and unmatched by anyone.

But at this moment, he heard from Ogata that there was actually someone in the world whose swordsmanship was superior to Ogata's - the impact this had on Isshiki was close to destroying his three outlooks.

"Can you tell me where this person is now?" Isshiki shot a fiery gaze at Ogata, "I really want to see him!"

——This guy is really obsessed with swordsmanship...

Ogata shook his head:

"Sorry, for some reason, I can't just tell you where he currently lives."

"Is that so..." A flash of loneliness flashed in Isshiki's eyes, "Then...can you ask me another question that may be a little rude?"

Ogata: "Just ask."

"Since you said that your master's swordsmanship is better than yours..." Isshiki asked in a cautious tone, "then isn't your master the most powerful swordsman in Japan?"

"Well..." Ogata laughed dumbly, "In terms of swordsmanship, he should be the most powerful one in Japan right now."

"But if we just talk about combat power, it's hard for me to say."

"In terms of combat power alone, I have never played against him, but I think he and I should be on par."

"Although his swordsmanship is better than mine, he is old after all. He is over sixty years old this year."

"Although he usually doesn't look like an old man at all, aging must have reduced his physical fitness to some extent."

"And I am young. In terms of physical ability, I am more confident than him."

"Besides - in terms of persistence in winning or losing, he may not be as good as me."

"Persistence on winning or losing?" Isshiki asked doubtfully.

"The path I am taking is completely different from the path my teacher is taking." Oufang sighed, "I pursue victory, but my teacher pursues enjoyment."

"In my eyes, as long as you can win when fighting with others, it's fine. As long as you can win, you can use any tricks or weapons."

"If swordsmanship is good, use swordsmanship; if jujitsu is good, use jujitsu; if firearms are good, use firearms... All weapons and skills should be used according to local conditions, all for the sake of victory."

"But my teacher is not like this."

"For him, winning is secondary, being able to swing the sword to his heart's content is the most important thing."

"He improved his skills and fought with others just to enjoy the feeling of wielding a sword."

"So even if he knew that he could win more easily with other weapons and other techniques, my teacher would definitely insist on fighting with the sword."

"If I were to duel with him, this would probably be the scene: I frowned, thinking of ways to quickly defeat him, while he smiled, expressing the purest joy of being able to swing his sword to the fullest."

"I pursue victory far more than he does. This difference in mentality can also give me an advantage in the duel with him."

"Of course - what I just said are just lies on my part."

Ogata shrugged and smiled.

"I haven't set foot on every piece of land in the world and met every person. Who knows if there will be anyone in this world who is stronger than me and my teacher?"

"Is that so..." Isshiki had been listening carefully to what Ogata had just said.

Her expressions and expressions also changed rapidly as Ogata spoke.

"Is everything just for winning..." Isshiki whispered.

——No wonder...he said something like "all swordsmanship should be eliminated"...In his eyes, firearms are far easier to defeat enemies than swordsmanship, so that's why he said such words...

——But... no matter how much I think about it, I can't imagine that firearms have any potential to replace swordsmanship...

——Ah, no good...I feel even more dizzy...

A sudden and severe dizziness interrupted Isshiki's thoughts.

Isshiki had temporarily forgotten his dizziness because he was "listening" carefully just now.

After Ogata's "lecture" ended, the dizziness immediately hit Isshiki's brain with an even stronger force.

——We can’t delay it any longer... We must find a way to lure Ogata Ittosai out of this bath as soon as possible...

Before Isshiki finished speaking, Ogata's voice suddenly sounded:

"By the way, I haven't asked you yet." Ogata asked, "Your grandfather told me before that you run a sword gym in Osaka. Why do you guys who run a sword gym in Osaka appear here?

Here?"

Having just had a casual chat with Isshiki, the atmosphere between the two became much more harmonious. Ogata was also happy to chat with others while taking a bath, and his "desire for chatting" was also aroused.

——Why are you asking me questions at this exact moment...

Isshiki can be said to be on the verge of crying without tears.

As she was anxious to get out of the bath, Ogata asking her questions would undoubtedly disturb her thoughts.

And she had to answer the questions Ogata asked.

After all, if Ogata asked her a question and she remained silent, it might attract Ogata's attention.

What Isshiki fears most right now is that Ogata's attention is drawn to her and he discovers her true gender...

It would be fine if he discovered her true gender on other occasions, but if he discovered her true gender in the bathtub where both of them were naked, it would be a big deal.

Not only might her body be exposed, but it would also easily cause Ogata to misunderstand her, causing him to mistakenly think that she was a pervert who came to the men's bath to spy...

By then, Isshiki may even have the intention of committing suicide.

Therefore, Isshiki, who had to answer Ogata's question, could only suppress the dizziness in his head and answered:

"Grandpa and I... can be considered a study tour."

"My grandfather wanted to see with his own eyes how miserable the people were in all parts of the world now ruled by the Edo shogunate."

"Since I was born, I have almost never left Osaka. So in order to broaden my horizons, I pestered my grandfather and asked him to take me to travel around the world."

"How long have you and your grandfather been studying abroad now?" Ogata asked.

"It's been about half a year. After we set off from Osaka, we headed west all the way until we reached Matsumae Domain before turning back. We must have visited all the important places in Western Japan."

“Because the Matsumae Domain is close to the territory of the Ezo people, there are many sights that cannot be seen in mainland Japan.”

"My grandfather and I originally wanted to live in Matsumae Domain for a while and take a good look at these sights that we can't even see in Japan."

"But it's a pity - our sword hall's annual 'Grand Trial' will begin soon."

"Although my father is basically taking care of the sword hall now, my grandfather is the nominal master of the sword hall after all, so he cannot miss the 'big trial'."

"Therefore, I can only cancel my plan to stay in Matsumae Domain for a while and set off to return to Osaka."

"In order to rush for time, we took a stowaway boat that can leave quickly. Then, we met you in the cabin."

"'Grand Trial Combination'? What is that?" Ogata asked.

"It is a trial jointly held by our Isshiki Sword Hall and several other sword halls with good relations, allowing the apprentices in each hall to compete in order to test the level of the apprentices in their respective halls."
To be continued...