Because the Bushi had acquired combat techniques, they could skillfully use weapons, making their combat power immeasurably higher than that of ordinary Kabaneri who only charged recklessly.
Furthermore, many Kabaneri had entered the Iron Fortress. As the people in the back cars moved to the front, they informed those ahead of the situation.
The Bushi blocked the front with sturdy stones, while other Bushi formed two rows behind them: one row in front holding shields to resist the Kabaneri's attacks, and the Bushi behind using steam guns to attack.
However, the number of Kabaneri was too great, and the steam guns could not inflict effective damage.
After a period of time, the Bushi holding shields in the front would inevitably be grabbed by Kabaneri due to exhaustion.
While the people in the front were fighting the Kabaneri, Inaba Tsukiyo, who was in the rearmost car, also began to act.
Because the car doors were locked, everyone was planning to go over the roof to help.
"Hey, the front door is already locked! No matter how good your swordsmanship is, you can't cut through such a thick iron door!"
To prevent Kabaneri invasion, these iron doors were made of high-quality materials; how could they be cut so easily?
"Clang! Clang!"
Although he said that, Inaba Tsukiyo ignored him. She simply swung mikazuki munechika a few times at the iron door, then kicked the door hard, and the iron door broke into three pieces and fell to the ground.
Suzuya, who had just reminded her that the iron door was very thick, widened his eyes, unable to believe what he had seen.
He ran over and tried to lift a part of the iron door, finding that its quality was perfectly fine; it was not shoddy construction.
Since the iron door was not the problem, then the person who was the problem... Suzuya glanced at Inaba Tsukiyo, who was sheathing her sword, and silently stood aside, saying nothing.
Such a formidable person was beyond his comprehension; he just needed to cling to her and cheer her on.
The civilians who had just been attacked had all turned into Kabaneri. After Inaba Tsukiyo broke open the iron door, they reached out, wanting to pounce.
"Since they are no longer human, then it doesn't matter."
One person, one sword, as if strolling through her own garden to prune flowers and plants, each swing of her sword could easily kill a Kabaneri.
Slowly moving to the front car, the Bushi had by now reached the foremost car and was fighting Kujin Kurusu.
As a human, Kujin Kurusu was clearly no match for the Bushi. He had already expended too much stamina in battles with other Kabaneri.
The dual-wielding Bushi swung the katana in its hands, attacking Kujin Kurusu one after another.
"Clang!"
Kujin Kurusu blocked the Bushi's blade with his own, the collision between weapons creating a shower of sparks.
Just as Kujin Kurusu was about to slide past the Bushi's attack, the Bushi preemptively kicked Kujin Kurusu, sending him flying.
"Pfft!"
Kujin Kurusu, who slammed hard against the wall, coughed up a mouthful of blood. He grabbed his blade, wanting to get up, but the pain in his abdomen made him realize several of his ribs were broken, and even breathing became somewhat difficult.
'Is this the end?'
Kujin Kurusu thought despairingly as he watched the Bushi approach the other Bushi.
The Kabaneri were able to break in because the Six Leaders stole Six Leaders's key and opened the train doors, giving the Kabaneri a chance to enter.
Steam guns were useless against the Bushi, and even he had been defeated by the Bushi. There was no one left who could fight.
"There is no hope left..."
"Giving up hope so quickly? It seems your resolve isn't as high as I imagined."
Just as everyone watched in despair as the Bushi approached, Inaba Tsukiyo walked in from the other side of the car.
With her came the others who had been locked in the rear car.
Except for Inaba Tsukiyo, Ikoma, and Mumei, everyone else rationally retreated a few steps upon seeing the Bushi.
Mumei raised her twin guns and charged towards the Bushi. Taking advantage of the Bushi's evasion of the bullets, Mumei instantly rushed in front of the Bushi.
'...Forget it, letting her deal with the Kabaneri should make the others in the car accept her.'
As Mumei approached, the Bushi swung its katana, intending to finish her.
Facing the Bushi's attack, Mumei ducked, dodging the Bushi's strike. Finally, a folded blade emerged from the front of her twin guns.
With a turn of her body, the blade, carrying the force of inertia, fiercely pierced the Bushi's heart.
With a squelch, the sound of the blade entering flesh and blood rang out. Mumei delivered a kick, sending the Bushi flying out of the Iron Fortress.
This Bushi, which had brought despair to everyone, was defeated with Mumei's help, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Every time these Kabaneri passed through a tunnel, there was a lot of noise from the roof of the train.
But the matter was not over yet. Inaba Tsukiyo stepped past the Bushi and came before Ayame-sama.
"Why did you give those people the key? Do you know how these Kabaneri got in?"
Inaba Tsukiyo deliberately raised her voice to attract the attention of others.
Although Inaba Tsukiyo's way of speaking to Ayame-sama displeased the other Bushi, her words made them stop and want to hear what Inaba Tsukiyo had to say.
"Eh? You said the key... but I gave the key to..."
Ayame-sama looked in confusion at the person hiding at the very back of the crowd, one of the Six Leaders who had taken the key from her hand.
"Oh? It wasn't you? I see. Then I'll tell you why these Kabaneri appeared here. It's because those guys who got the key wanted to separate the last carriage from the front carriages. Then, when passing through the tunnel, the Kabaneri ambushing above jumped down and walked right in through the opened door."
"Because that person gave the key to those people, the people in several carriages died. And this person is still hiding at the very back, truly impressive."
Inaba Tsukiyo walked step by step towards that person. This time, no one stopped Inaba Tsukiyo; they silently watched Inaba Tsukiyo approach the person.
"You! What are you doing?!"
"Doing what? Because of you, many people died. If I'm not mistaken, you should have some prestige at Aba Station, right? But did you use all your prestige for crooked schemes?"
"Since you made a mistake, you need to pay the price. I believe the others on the Iron Fortress don't want a brainless person like you to lead them."
She kicked the old man who tried to escape, grabbed the back of his collar, and walked towards the gap where the carriage had been blown open.
Grabbing the back of his collar, she dragged him to the vicinity of the gap and propped him over it.
When Ayame-sama, hearing the old man's pleas, softened and wanted to stop her, she was held back by Kujin Kurusu, who had woken up.
"Ayame-sama... I think she's right. These are the people who caused this incident. For the sake of those who died, they must be punished."
Kujin Kurusu took a deep breath, and after slightly adapting to the pain in his chest, he said to Ayame-sama.
These guys were of no help to the situation, they didn't even have authority, they just used their mouths to incite other commoners and create unnecessary trouble.
Kujin Kurusu had seen everything these people did, but he couldn't stop them. Given Ayame-sama's personality, it was impossible for her to suppress them. It was better to deal with them while their standing among the commoners was at its lowest.
After hesitating for a while, Ayame-sama still agreed with Kujin Kurusu's opinion.
Although, to be a qualified leader, she needed guidance from others.
But the people to guide her didn't need to be those who only talked but had no ability.
With several desperate screams, the old man, who was held by the back of his collar, was thrown out by Inaba Tsukiyo.
Several of the Six Leaders had been killed by the Weapon Skills Kabaneri when the Kabaneri entered, leaving two of the Six Leaders.
These two wanted to blend into the crowd so Inaba Tsukiyo wouldn't find them.
But as Inaba Tsukiyo searched for them, the other commoners automatically parted, exposing the hiding Six Leaders.
These people, who had been causing trouble on the Iron Fortress, finally paid the price for their actions.
After all the Six Leaders had been thrown out, Inaba Tsukiyo came before Ayame-sama.
"Miss Ayame, as the leader of the other survivors of Aba Station, I want to tell you that some people can be pitied, but certain people will only take your sympathy as weakness. Although your kindness can save people, it can also kill many. Just like tonight, many people were implicated."
"...I'm sorry."
Ayame-sama lowered her head; facing Inaba Tsukiyo's accusations, she had no rebuttal.
It was indeed because she had given the key to the Six Leaders that the Kabaneri had the opportunity to enter the Iron Fortress. If it weren't for Inaba Tsukiyo and their help, perhaps everyone on the Iron Fortress would have died.
Kujin Kurusu tried to comfort Ayame-sama, but he was glared at by Inaba Tsukiyo, who gestured with her eyes for him to shut up.
As the leader of the Iron Fortress, Ayame-sama had to grow up. In times of peace, Ayame-sama's kindness was not wrong, but at such a moment, kindness often only led to tragedy.
Kujin Kurusu and Ayame-sama's father had protected her too much, causing her to be too kind and lack the awareness of a leader.
"Besides Miss Ayame, you all listen to me too. Don't turn your heads away, look at me. Look at the Kabaneri you fear. If it weren't for her intervention this time, you would all be dead."
Pointing at Mumei, who was checking her weapon, Inaba Tsukiyo shouted at the commoners hiding in the corner.
"You disappoint me greatly!"
"You abandoned him at Aba Station, but he, to allow the Iron Fortress to leave Aba Station, pulled the drawbridge lever amidst the Kabaneri's encirclement, allowing you to safely leave Aba Station."
"To reassure you, he even stayed in the last carriage. Even though he has the constitution of a Kabaneri, he is the one who saved everyone. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a hero. But with what attitude did you repay him?"
"Alienation! Indifference! These are the things you are best at! Why do you think they are here? Isn't it to protect you?!"
Well, Mumei only wanted a ride, which is why she boarded this Iron Fortress, but she couldn't say such things now. At least, she had to phrase things positively.
Mumei, who was about to interject and say she was just hitchhiking, was stopped by Suzuya, that guy who couldn't read the atmosphere.
All the commoners lowered their heads; being scolded, they had no rebuttal. As long as they had a little conscience, they knew that Inaba Tsukiyo's words were correct.
They had always been protected. They had always been protected by Mumei, Ikoma, and Inaba Tsukiyo, but they had no gratitude, even harboring animosity towards them.
"Now I tell you, the reason this guy attacked Miss Ayame is that after becoming a Kabaneri, she must survive by sucking blood. If she doesn't suck blood in time, she will turn into a Kabaneri after a period."
"Hey, you..."
Ikoma didn't expect Inaba Tsukiyo to talk about such a sensitive topic.
He wanted to stop Inaba Tsukiyo from continuing, but he was stopped by Biba and Suzuya.
They saw what Inaba Tsukiyo wanted to do and couldn't miss such a good opportunity.
"Now I ask you, facing your benefactors, facing those who want to protect you. Will you be able to offer your blood, allowing them to continue fighting as your heroes?"
Everyone looked at each other; for a moment, no one raised their hand.
Just as Mumei and Ikoma lowered their heads in some disappointment, Ayame-sama raised her right hand.
"Ayame-sama!"
"I will provide the blood those two need."
With one person taking the lead, the others who were still hesitating raised their hands one after another.
"They will become a fighting force, and... I trust them."
"Me too, I... want to try to trust them. I... don't want to be useless."
"Me too."
"Me too."
More and more people raised their hands. Finally, everyone in the carriage raised their hands, indicating their willingness to provide blood to Mumei and Ikoma.
Mumei and Ikoma hadn't expected things to develop this way, and for a moment, they didn't know how to react.
Seeing this scene, Inaba Tsukiyo nodded with satisfaction.
"This is good."
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