I was cuckolded by my childhood friend, but I want to create a harem in a world where chastity is reversed and be happy. - Chapter 138: So I Didn't Blink Today

Chapter 138: So I Didn’t Blink Today

 For the next 15 minutes, I forgot that I was even breathing.

 My identity as a participant faded from my mind, and all I could do was follow Kogarasu’s every move.

 It felt like my entire being had turned into eyes, observing her intently.

 Ching!

 The moment the last ring of the bell faded away, a deafening cheer erupted, shaking the entire venue.

 Everyone was clapping so hard I wondered if their hands would hurt.

 It seemed odd to have a standing ovation for the dedication dance, but Kogarasu stood motionless in the center of the stage, quietly regulating her breathing.

 I quickly set up eight rolls of straw, two at each corner of the stage.

 Then, kneeling in front of Kogarasu, I presented the Kogarasu-made long sword, passed down in the Kogarasu family.

 From the sheath I supported, Kogarasu, still dressed as a shrine maiden, gracefully drew out the sword, its blade reflecting the light.

 As I prepared, the chattering in the venue gradually diminished, and when Kogarasu drew her sword, the audience fell completely silent once again.

 I thought no one was paying attention to me as I left the stage… But then, I felt someone’s gaze.

 When I turned around, I saw Hina in the audience, a short distance from the stage. She was watching me intently, her hands clasped together in front of her chest as if in prayer. When our eyes met, she nodded at me.

 From that moment on, Kogarasu’s performance surpassed the dedication dance. Although only five minutes were allocated for the sword dance, she used the entire stage, showcasing her sword skills and, at key moments, skillfully cutting down the rolls of straw with her real sword.

 The most impressive moments were when she cut down two rolls of straw placed side by side with a single swing and when she performed a double cut on the straw in an instant.

 As Kogarasu finally stopped, holding the sword in a frontal stance, it was my turn to take the stage.

 I stood in front of Kogarasu, also in a frontal stance, holding a wooden sword. Just like the first time I held a bamboo sword at the Kogarasu Dojo.

 Trusting in Kogarasu, I gripped the wooden sword tightly. The first time, I couldn’t see her bamboo sword at all, probably because I blinked and she took advantage of that fleeting moment.

 So, today, I decided not to blink. I wanted to sense Kogarasu’s movements as much as possible.

 As Kogarasu inhaled and began to move, I thought she was about to strike, but in that instant, my wooden sword was cut down, and the tip of her sword was pressed against my throat.

 Her sword technique was so exquisite that no one in the audience even realized the danger of what we were doing. Instead, they responded with the loudest cheer and applause of the day.

 Fuu… Kogarasu and I exhaled simultaneously.

 It’s hard to believe that we were allowed to perform with a real sword; it doesn’t seem like something that should be permitted. I’m grateful for Madam Kotono’s strong-arm tactics in pushing this through as a religious ritual, but it also makes me a bit fearful.

 And so, Kogarasu’s dedication dance and sword dance came to a close.