"It was the work of those Heroic Spirit Swordmasters."
The chilling aura around Sakumura was almost overflowing.
"Though there's no conclusive evidence, they're basically the only possible culprits."
"There's one more thing worth noting. At the time, one ashigaru was found to have survived. But after being rescued, he ran madly across the Arakawa. After reporting what had happened, he suddenly died on the spot."
"...According to his last words, the culprits seemed to be two beautiful women. He knew nothing else."
Senji Muramasa revealed all the information he knew.
"Women... I recall that, counting Mr. Hozoin Inshun, the Heroic Spirit Swordmasters we encountered in the bamboo forest consisted of three men and four women."
"We've already dealt with two of the women: Archer Inferno Tomoe Gozen and Assassin Paraiso Mochizuki Chiyome. So..."
"It should be the remaining two."
Fujimaru Ritsuka went over all the information they could currently use and analyzed it seriously.
Musashi nodded.
"Two women... then there's no mistake. It was them."
"There's more to this."
Muramasa continued.
"After midnight passed and dawn arrived, following the slaughter at the banks of the Arakawa, Sagami Province was destroyed."
"W-What!?"
Kotarou shot to his feet, his eyes filled with horror. His eyes even emerged from beneath his bangs.
"Destroyed... Lord Muramasa, please explain."
Sakumura sat up straighter as well, his pupils trembling slightly.
"I mean exactly what I said."
"Everything vanished."
Even under these circumstances, Muramasa retained his usual level of composure and gently shook his head.
"First, everything was burned to ashes. Then it was dissolved by something."
"You've probably heard the story. Hakone used to produce abundant timber, so the imperial court kept requisitioning wood without end. In the end, scenic Hakone was forcibly turned into a barren mountain range."
"That's what Sagami Province feels like now."