1 [The person who can make people bear sins and become evil ghosts return to humans at the last moment is not the evil ghosts who cut off their heads, nor the god of death with many souls. Only those who cut off their souls and save that soul. No matter how many sinners are cut off their heads, they cannot lose their redemption heart. This is the teaching of the previous executioner of Gongyi, Ikeda Yaemon.

The technique of "soul washing" we use when executing is a manifestation of this spirit. In order not to make the head dirty and we just take his life and send his soul to heaven with caution... When adopted by the master, as the executioner of the Gongyi, I have always followed the teachings and used the sword in my hand to punish countless sinners.

But that day, when I had to execute the master who was found to release the death row prisoner privately, I... suddenly didn't understand. What is sin? What is sanction? Because to me, that sinner is like a "Dharma". If I can't forget everything and turn into an evil ghost, I can't cut it down, nor can the most important person return to humanity when I die.

I gave up my life not for the Ikeda family, but for knowing that I am the evil ghost who deserves sanctions. Please tell me... Is my master really a sinner who has committed a heinous crime and is not worth merciless to die?]

The day after the meeting with the general Tokugawa Shigeshiro, Himemura Kensuke, as promised, began the general's escort work, while Leeds left the Kamiya Dojo early and returned to the "God of Fortune". Ikeda Asuimon, who had been taken in for a night, finally told about his past and explained why he had asked a stranger to help her make mistakes.

Leeding on the sofa, Leeds said with a listless look similar to Afutu, "In short, it is an executioner girl who has been instilled with quirky beliefs and has no idea of ​​the essence of her work. When she was executed on her adopted father who had violated the law, she did not show her strength because of her father-daughter relationship, which made her adoptive father's head fall to the ground, and began to question her own beliefs. In the end, she felt that she was guilty and was better to die?"

"Why did it become like that?" shouted at Eemon.

"Huh? Did I summarize wrongly?" Leeds asked responsibly without answering.

"All!...Large, probably..." When Eemon wanted to list the explanation, he suddenly found that he had no idea what to say. He couldn't even say it at all, and his fair face turned red.

"Your Ikeda family's teachings~" Leeds then began to try to solve the psychological problem of the Death Girl who was seeking the wrong introduction to him. Of course, he started with a spiritual blow as before. "Sorry, you can ask so many people present, who can accept the statement that is very cool but has a similar content to religious doctrine~"

"Killing is killing people. How did it become a soul-saving?" Zhang Jing said bluntly.

"It's not important to be bored, whether your head falls down or not." Murong Jiu said this a bit rudely.

"...what is truly redeemed is not the soul of the sinner, but the soul of the executioner." Wang Yuanji shook his head.

"Can this really be called 'redemption'..." Liu Mengli sighed lightly.

"The soul is not purified by death." Sakiya's answer is much more professional.

"The knife is cut quickly, and people will suffer less when they die. Asahimon, your work is great..." Aoi Ryuu, who was once burned to death in the sword-casting furnace, tried to encourage him.

He said nothing to Eemon, but just lowered his head and clenched his fists. She grew up in the Ikeda family, and she was destined to have a difference in her values ​​with ordinary people. Zhang Jing and others represent that she could understand the views of ordinary people, but could not accept them.

Leeds disregarded and continued, "Besides, the executioner is the executioner, just the executioner. Why do you take the blame for the legislators and other law enforcement officers? Are you clear about the content of your work?"

"What's the job?" said to Eemon in confusion.

"Take your adoptive father as an example," this example is not a casual choice. It is obviously a psychological shadow of Asugeemon. "Suppose the crime he committed was to "insult the general behind the scenes" and the law at that time was to "death the general who insulted the general," then he would have to die; but if the law at that time was to "insult the general who insulted the general was fined", then he would not have to die. The 'law' is made by people. In addition to their own actions, the deaths of criminals, including your adoptive father, are also affected by laws enacted by the shogunate legislators. Whether the crime is extremely evil sometimes depends on whether you look at it from the shogunate perspective or from a personal perspective."

"…!" Asaemon finally remembered the last question he raised when he recalled, and understood what point Leeds was conveying.

Leeds clapped his hands and woke up to Yuemon with a sound. "In addition, the police who captured the prisoners and the police who interrogated the prisoners, compared to you, the executioners, are the culprits of the death of the criminals. At best, you are just performing the most superficial and dirty work. Even if the criminals turn into great revenge, they will not give priority to your troubles."

"Then, what are our Ikeda family sticking to!? Why did his father die for!" Under the "Flying Sword Stream-Raven Mouth Flash" in Leeds, a crack began to appear in the faith towards Eemon.

"Glory, wealth, status, tribe members, right? Don't the three words "Ikeda Family" tell everything? And the teachings you said at the beginning." There is also spiritual belief in addition to material things.

"!!!" Asaemon easily accepted this view. Didn't she wander outside on the charge of killing her adoptive father just for the sake of her family? It is normal for people who grew up in a big family to have a strong sense of family in their hearts.

"Okay, the psychotherapy for the immature executioner has ended here," Leeds felt that he had said everything he should have said, and he had no choice but to Eemon still wanted to commit suicide, "I have something else now to ask you."

"...what, what's the matter..." It's obvious that Yuemon has not completely escaped from the previous topic.

"If you chop someone else's head and take someone else's life, you can still keep your head from falling off. When the epidermis heals, that's your Ikeda family's 'soul washing'?" Leeds once joined in the fun and took a look. It was really a magical technique. The key is that this is still a pure sword technique, without any supernatural powers.
Chapter completed!