"What's wrong, Zuo Cun, you guy, you obviously weren't injured in the battle just now, right?"
"Or - using the power of life as a blade is something that will make you feel hurt and painful."
Such a sound rang in Zuo Cun's ears.
"...Kondo."
He opened his eyes with a complicated expression.
The scene that caught my eye was not the rustic city filled with roaring demonic magic, but——
Yellow sand.
It's still a deserted wasteland.
However, compared to the beginning, this place looks...even more empty.
"I thought that if I saw him again, it would be the DG."
"Haha... I'm not in the mood to disturb your husband and wife's reunion, but you also know that since you have already met her, it means that the memory with her has passed, right?"
"Now, you can't even remember what she looks like."
"Actually, I'm even more surprised that you can still remember her name."
Kondo Isamu sat opposite Zuocun and looked at Zuocun with a smile.
"...who knows."
"So, are you going to leave next?"
"Why, don't you want to see me?"
Kondo shook his head helplessly.
"You guys, it's true. Don't forget that when we were still in the training hall, you played really well with us."
"We drank together, practiced swordplay together... and sometimes we even went to Edo Castle to buy meat together. Every time we brought it back, Hijikata's guy ate the most."
As he said this, Kondo curled his lips and seemed quite unhappy.
"Hey, Director, I can hear you."
Hijikata's stinky face suddenly appeared, glaring at Isamu Kondo with dead fish eyes.
"You don't understand this, deputy chief - it's precisely because he can hear that the director said these things."
I don't know when Saito Ichi also appeared, sitting next to Kondo Isamu with a carefree attitude, and waved to Samura.
"Ah, long time no see."
Just saying that——
Saito looked at Zuocun, but there was a strong sadness in his eyes.
He was the one who died for Zuo Cun.
He was the one who watched Zuo Cun jump off the cliff.
I still remember the time when Zuo Cun raised his wine glass high and paid tribute to everyone who was struggling in that era, and then he jumped into the air and was shattered into pieces——
At that time, Saito stood up immediately.
stood up.
He did not go to the edge of the cliff, did not look at Zuo Cun's body, or the sea water dyed red, nor did he go for the last flight like Zuo Cun.
He just raised the wine bowl in his hand like Zuo Cun.
Then——[Respect, all those who struggled in that era].
The three people in front of me were not the only ones who appeared.
People who have not experienced that era will never know how heavy this sentence is.
"I always feel that we shouldn't be enemies."
Zuo Cun looked at this group of people and said subconsciously.
"...You guys, do you want to fight?"
Nagakura Shinpachi blew his beard and stared at Zuomura.
As one of the Shinsengumi members who has the worst relationship with Samura, there is no doubt that Nagakura Shinpachi hates this guy Samura very much.
but--
I also sincerely feel sorry for this guy.
Nagakura Shinpachi managed to survive at least, but he knew how painful and difficult the days after surviving would be.
Especially people like Zuo Cun who managed to survive would only have to bear more than Nagakura Shinpachi.
"I met a swordsman."
Zuo Cun didn't answer Nagakura Shinpachi's question and just said to himself.
"That guy's swordsmanship talent is really strong. She completed the most important step in front of me - stepping into the Sky Realm. Even though she is young, she is indeed a unique sword master."
"So - I would like to think this way, what if we don't have any conflicts in our positions, and we are just a group of people who can calm down and pursue the path of swordsmanship wholeheartedly... What would happen?"
"...Then I might as well stop practicing sword practice."
Genzaburo Inoue said with a sad face.
"That is to say, let's just practice for a while."
Hijikata Toshizo's face looked quite foul.
"You, Souji, Saito, and Nagakura, no matter which of the four of you is a swordsman capable of ruling an era, right? If it were really like that, the few of us would have done nothing.
sword."
Zuo Cun was speechless.
It's true.
In fact, if that is the case, there is probably one more person who needs to be included, and that is Okada Izo. Although this guy looks ugly, his talents are quite terrifying.
He only learned half of it and went to kill people. If Okada Izo can concentrate on truly studying a kind of swordsmanship, Samura feels that Izo's achievements will be even greater than the four people Hijikata just mentioned.
high.
but--
It's all nothing but paradox.
"Hey, don't hang around, we're leaving."
Kondo called out.
Zuo Cun subconsciously raised his head, only to find——
This group of Rensheng wolves has already stood up.
"Keep fighting with your sword, Zuomura. Many times what you represent is not just you - but our entire era!"
Stretching out his hand, Kondo Isamu pulled Zuo Cun up from the ground, smiled, helped Zuo Cun tidy up his collar, and patted his clothes.
"It is precisely because of the reason you wield the sword and the meaning it represents that we will show respect for the sword you wielded."
"After all - you've always been like this, haven't you?"
"...I have to leave."
Zuocun's tone still contained reluctance and relief.
He knew that after bidding farewell, there would be no more records about them left in his spiritual body.
I am really fighting with my own life.
"Um."
"Remember to fight well. Your battle is not over yet."
Zuocun was stunned for a moment.
How do you feel——
There seems to be some other meaning in Kondo’s words?
"You mean - ah..."
When he raised his head, Zuocun couldn't see anything clearly.
Memories in my mind - I can't recall anything.
Just remember one sentence.
【Your battle is not over yet】
Zuocun opened his eyes again.
"How's it going? Is the breath adjustment completed?"
Muramasa asked Zuocun.
After defeating the unknown Caster, everyone was exhausted, and a short adjustment was necessary for the next battle.
Zuo Cun also felt weak at this time...that's why the scene just happened.