I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

"Shiranui is a place where the weak prey on the strong...In Shiranui, ability and status are directly linked..."

A look of reminiscence gradually appeared on A-Ming's face.

"The more outstanding a ninja is, the higher the status and rights he can enjoy in Shiranui."

"In contrast, ninjas with weak abilities can hardly move an inch in Shiranui..."

"In our Shiranui, there are 4 classes. A cruel class promotion system is implemented."

Machi held out 4 fingers.

"These 4 classes from top to bottom are-Junin, Zhongnin, Lower Ninja and...Guu."

"Those who perform superiorly have the opportunity to be promoted in class. The lower ninja can be promoted to the middle nin, or the middle nin can be promoted to the upper nin."

"On the other hand, if someone performs poorly, they will be downgraded, from the top ninja to the middle nin, or the middle nin to the lower nin, or... be demoted to the dirt..."

"Ku is the most special class in Shiranui..."

A wry smile appeared on Ah-Ming's face.

"A person who has been degraded, no matter what great contribution he makes in the future, it is impossible to get a promotion in class."

"That is to say—once you are degraded as a filth, you will never be able to stand up again for the rest of your life. You can only be a filth for the rest of your life..."

"Male ninjas who have been demoted to dirt will no longer have any tasks assigned to them. They can only do chores, dirty, tiring, and hard work in the village throughout their lives."

"As for the female ninja who was degraded as filth... Ayi, you said that you used to have a companion from Shiranui who was born in Shiranui, and he told you what would happen to the female ninja who was relegated to 'filth' in Shiranui Is it treated?"

"No..." Ogata shook his head, "He never said that."

"Didn't he tell you... Really... I really don't want to tell you what kind of treatment a female ninja will receive when she is degraded..."

After sighing lightly, A-Machi continued with a wry smile and said:

"A female ninja who is relegated to dirt has two fates."

"One is to be sent to the 'Flower House'."

"The name 'Flower House' sounds nice, but it's actually a free pavilion..."

"A free profile for the enjoyment of upper, middle and lower ninjas..."

"The female ninja who was sent to the 'Flower House' will be a free wandering girl in this room for the rest of her life, until she dies..."

"There is another fate, which is to be used as a prize and rewarded to those male ninjas who have made great achievements as wives."

"This is better. At least you only have to face one man, and you don't have to go to the 'Flower House' to entertain different men every day..."

"It's just that...after being assigned to a meritorious ninja as his wife, he was forced to leave Shiranui for the rest of his life..."

"Ayi... Guess what class I am in Shiranui now?"

"... Xiaren." Ogata said softly, "Am I right?"

"That's right." A-Ming smiled sweetly, but there was a bit of sourness and bitterness in her smile, "To be precise, it's because of lack of ability and merit, and she may be demoted to a trash at any time. , the ninja of the ninja..."

"That Soutaro and his brother Aotaro were originally the Chunin in my Shiranui."

"I defected to Shiranui two years ago because I committed some crimes and feared punishment."

"Since they defected to Shiranui, I haven't received any news about the two of them. I didn't expect that they would also become prisoners and be caught on this island..."

"Before the two brothers defected to Shiranui, they liked to make trouble for us ninja and rou."

"After going back and forth, they gradually recognized me as a ninja who has been around for ten thousand years..."

"I... don't want to be degraded..."

A-Ming slowly tightened his arms, and hugged the legs that were encircling him even tighter.

"Even if you can never become a top ninja or a middle ninja, it doesn't matter if you can only be a low ninja for a lifetime, as long as you don't become a filth..."

"So I cherish my mission this time..."

"Ayi,

I should have told you too, right? How did my task of 'investigating ogres' come about..."

"The appearance of this mission is purely on the whim of our leader..."

"Because I learned that there are unkillable cannibals haunting Butterfly Island, I was curious about it, so I sent me to take a look..."

"A mission born purely out of curiosity..."

"So it doesn't matter whether this task is successful or not for the leader and for the whole Shiranui..."

"This kind of insignificant task that just satisfies the leader's curiosity is most suitable for an insignificant half-ninja like me."

"It's like asking your own dog to help clean up the poop you just pulled..."

"Because of this, my mission is full of randomness from the beginning to the end... I decided to come to Butterfly Island on a whim, and didn't provide any helpers to support me, nor did I provide any weapon support. ...nothing, just me alone to carry out this mission..."

"However... even if I know that this task is the lowest level task, I still have to do my best to complete it, and do my best to complete it."

"Because... this may be the last chance to save me from being degraded and prove that I am still a useful ninja..."

"So... I really, really cherish this opportunity and this task... After taking this task, I secretly made up my mind that I must complete this task beautifully."

"...Ayi, am I particularly ugly..."

"The master just threw you a stinky poop, and you, the dog, have to eat it excitedly. You have to pinch your nose to eat the poop clean, in exchange for the master's favor..."

Although A-Machi's movements were very subtle, Ogata still noticed it keenly - when he said the words just now, A-Machi quietly stretched out his fingers and wiped the corners of his eyes.

After pursing his lips and staring at A-Machi silently for a while, Ogata slowly walked up to A-Machi and knelt down on the ground.

"Machi." Ogata pointed to his right, "Look this way."

"what……?"

"Don't ask so many questions, just look this way."

Although he was full of doubts in his heart, A-Machi finally chose to obediently follow what Ogata said, and looked in the direction Ogata pointed.

Because he was looking towards Ogata's right hand, Machi showed his right cheek.

After staring at Machi's right face for a while, Ogata turned the direction of his lower finger and pointed to his left.

"Machi, look this way next."

"What the hell are you going to do..."

While Machi muttered in such an annoyed manner, he continued to follow Ogata's instructions, and looked towards Ogata's left hand, revealing the left side of his face.