………

……

After Kubu's parents left the house for a while...

"Ugh..."

Hirohiko Okubo finally woke up.

Moving his head only and looking over the room, apparently the watchmen are caught off guard and drinking outside the house as well.

Only noisy voices are being heard.

And a short distance from him, Taisuke is still tied up with his hands and feet, and he's got a monkey groove on his mouth.

But was it judged that Hiroshigami's body could no longer move?

Tied hands were seen untied.

"Tasuke... I'm coming..."

His breath also constantly manages to squeeze his voice, Hinko Gate.

As he managed to move his whole body numb and uneasy, crawling all the way to Tasuke's place, he untied the rope that bound his hand.

Then intact Tasuke quickly untied his feet and mouth.

But he is also aware, of course, that there are guards outside. With his mouth shut tight, he wept a large tear and rubbed the body of Hiroshigami.

Then…

He took one small wrap out of his nostrils with trembling hands and gave it to Taisuke.

Tasuke softly opens it, crying.

Then there was the candy that fell apart.

"Ha... La... you've lost...? Eat..."

With a smile on his swollen face, Hiroshigami handed the wrap to Taisuke. That was that treat he brought up when he had a quarrel breakup with his neighbor at Okubo Mansion.

It's no longer like powder and I have no idea what the prototype is.

Still, Taisuke had never spoken of anything so savory.

Maybe I won't be eating anything more thankful in the future.

"Thank you. Thank you…"

Taisuke repeated over and over with a small voice. He chewed and tasted the confectionery several times when it was in his mouth.

When Tasuke finishes eating confectionery, Hiroshigami smiles satisfactorily again.

And in his ear, Hiroshigami put one thing in his ear.

"Get out of here... and tell your loyal neighbor in the castle... that the mansion is in danger..."

When Tasuke had a hazy face, Hiroshigami instructed him with trembling fingers as he stood against the wall of the front door.

Tasuke didn't have time to hesitate to do that either. When he nods cocklessly, he does what he says so as not to softly make footsteps.

And when Tasuke stood on the wall...

Yan Left Guard, who breathed heavily in, came from the bottom of his belly

"Wow!!!

And he raised his voice for granted.

The kind of voice that reaches to that heaven is enough that Taisuke accidentally suppressed his ears as well.

"What!? What the fuck!?

Unexpectedly, two of the watchmen came into the house to roll, gazing at Hiroshigami, who raised a high oddity.

As if attacked by something possessed, Yan Left Gate raises his mad voice.

That was when the sight of the men watching him round his eyes was filled only with the odd Hinko Gate.

And it was at this moment that Hiroshigami was waiting.

"Not yet. Ahhh!!!

Yan Left Gate shouted at Taisuke, as he remained odd.

Tasuke went outside the front door so that he could be caught in the voice, and went straight out like the wind.

"Hey! Here! Wait!!"

One of the watchmen accidentally tries to chase Taisuke, but by then, Taisuke had already disappeared into the dark night, so much so that he can't even tell where he was headed.

When this happens, the spearhead of his anger will naturally be directed at Hiroshigami.

"Eh...!! Damn you!!

The men on the watch, with their teeth clenched with remorse, approach the Hinko Gate with their fists ringing.

But it didn't have to be for them to assault, and it seemed like the last force for Hiroshigami to raise that odd voice. When he smiled satisfactorily, he fell unconscious with Batan.

◇ ◇

Keio 11 (1606) March 30 (approx. 6: 00 pm) -

About half an hour (about an hour) has passed since the reception of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Chihime began, but I am worried about Hiroshigami, so I can't afford to taste the food or enjoy the feast.

Still, only his expression was calm as usual, and he managed to do it while talking to his stepfather, Hideyoshi Tokugawa.

And if you look at Fufu Okubo parents and children, apparently they feel the same way. The atmosphere was completely different from the surroundings that were floating around, and the mind was not here and so on, and he was just carrying the dish pale into his mouth.

... and then.

When one small surname snuck into the room with a blue face, he knelt between Okubo's parents and children and whispered something to them so as not to disturb the feast.

At that moment, Tadashi Okubo and Tadashi will have a tougher look than just now. And his neighbor grabbed his sleeve and desperately stopped his loyalty, which he still sought to rise.

Obviously, it was obvious from the side of the eye that something was wrong, but in a situation where there was no feast, we all didn't seem to realize it.

- As the owner of Okubo, your Lord will strive to do his job.

The words of this Hinko Gate must be stuck in his loyal head. As the chief minister of Hideyoshi Tokugawa, he was desperate to fulfill the duties of one of the entertainers of this response.

- Then as the head of the Toyotomi family, what should I do...

I ask myself again.

But the answer is simple.

- As the head of the Toyotomi family, completing this response without delay is the job that must be accomplished.

But I know that well in my head, but I'm not convinced in my heart that I keep banging my heart cage with cancer.

Get him out of here, and we're going to help Hiroshigami and Tasuke...

Still, there's nothing I can do.

There's nothing better than giving up...

It was exactly the same as my situation today, nothing more than looking at the sadness of a rich minister swallowed up by the "gear of history" without being able to do anything.

However, no matter how sorry and upsetting you are, you can't change your destiny.

It was certainly due to simple emotions that if you string it well too, you would be afraid to force it and turn it against the worse.

But it was at that time that one word turned its head.

- Protect anything you decide to protect once and for all! That's what a true samurai is!

That's a word with the determination of Hiroshima Okubo's soul… I asked myself again.

I wonder what I decided to "protect"...

Toyotomi, Chihime, Yodo...

No! They shouldn't be the only ones!

It was then...

Another word came to me...

It's...

One sentence of the last letter entrusted by Rushui Kuroda...

Why my father, Hideyoshi Tai, was able to become a heavenly man...

- It's all about the result of wanting to make someone smile in front of you and never giving up that 'dream'!

At this moment, a thick wall standing in front of me with a slight crack did enter my ear.

Yes...

How much do you want to hit? How much did they kick?

I learned the soul of Sakichi Ishida in Sawayama, who kept his promise even after dying through his faith.

I learned the soul of Princess Turtle in the face of turbulent waves to protect my family while being flirted with by my destiny.

I learned the soul of Nagata's elder father in Chingzhou, who never gave up in any despair.

They were all not afraid.

Failure, frustration, and even death.

Weren't you just pushing your feet forward for what you believed in?

Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid!

I shouldn't be afraid to make that person smile in front of me!

Because I...

I like people's smiles more than anything else!!

I want to be more than heaven, and more than my own fame and honor, I want to be fully committed to making the person in front of me smile!

That's what I need to protect!!

"Everyone!! I want you to listen a little!!

I had a loud voice that echoed all over the room with nature.

Suddenly he opened his mouth halfway up to my voice, where everyone on the spot spoke, staring at me round his eyes.

And then I hardened my mind and started talking all at once.

This is what I should do...

It's about protecting what I want to protect.

"During my visit to Edo, everyone was very helpful, including this response!! I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude once again!

Therefore, I would like to repay my father-in-law (of which) from the Toyotomi family!!

May I?!? Father in law!!

"Oh! I'm glad to hear that! What can I get you?

Hideyoshi Tokugawa, sitting beside me, raised his voice with surprise and joy.

And I went on.

"Would you like to drop by Edo for a temple?!?

"Temple..."?

It would have been such an unexpected suggestion that everyone was looking at each other in my words.

And I went on.

"I want that temple to be the place for the children who lost their way in this turbulent world!!

"Kids who lost their way..."

"Yes! Father-in-law! You're right!

As a matter of fact, I was invited to Tadashi Okubo's mansion today.

I was amazed at the sight you saw there!

How many children of executed or self-inflicted sinners lived there so that they could be hidden!

The occasion came to pass for this word. Loyalty stares at me, Loyalty stares at me with a blue face.

I couldn't care less about my surrounding voice and gaze, and I kept going even louder.

"When I saw how it was, I was very impressed and at the same time envied my father-in-law!!

Seems to surprise Hideyoshi, who is just as good at this word.

"Duh... what does that mean..."

"I know that in this world, sinner children have a tendency to be sinners!

But would that really be the right thing to do!?

Then the grudge of sinners will last until the last generation! Only then could that be the seed that creates the great evil!!

But those here like Tadashi Okubo, Tadashi, and Hiroshigami are defending and upbringing their children well prepared to be punished!

Whatever the hell it is that comes from here!

Needless to say, a smile!!

Would a smiling man have a grudge or something!

No matter, no!!

Namely, at Okubo Mansion, we are trying to turn a seed that could be a scourge for Tokugawa into rather a seed of permanent prosperity for Tokugawa!

Don't be impressed with this, I don't know what to do!!

Soon the room turns to silence, and everyone on the spot peeks into my face so much that a hole opens up.

At that time...

The air has changed.

The gear of history has gone crazy.

"It's just that the number of children in your possession will be limited, even if you call it the mansion of the Otakubo family!

Therefore, I would like to send Lord Okubo to Edo to help Tokugawa, if he is strong!!

And I want you to pick up the kids who lost their way there for all sorts of reasons!

I only want you to be a fine adult and a vibrant presence in this Edo town!!

When I said that, I lit a strong light in my eyes and looked around.

Loyalty stares at me with her eyes bright red, Loyalty is crying and shaking her shoulders.

In silence...

Hideyoshi Tokugawa suddenly stood up and turned to me standing beside him.

And...

- Gassi...

And when he hugged me hard, he said it out loud.

"I'm impressed!! Lord Hideyoshi!! Well said!!

Good! That's a great idea!! Happy to get that temple!!

And as Lord Hideyoshi put it, why not accept those who have lost their way!! Ha ha!!

- Waaaaaa!!

The people of the Tokugawa family, all together in the words of Hideyoshi.

But I had one more thing to do.

Of course it is...

It's about helping Hirohiko Okubo and Tasuke.

"Father-in-law!! As a matter of fact, one of those children and the Hatoshimon Hall of Okubo is being attacked by a werewolf!!

Hideyoshi, away from me by that word, must have squeezed his expression and looked at his neighbor.

"Are you serious?!? Loyalty!! What do you think!?

"Ha!! You are right about His Excellency Minister Toyotomi Right. Now the wolves are slaughtered in my mansion!

As for this, I know it's very disrespectful, but please forgive me for resigning here and putting it on the mansion immediately!

With that said, Loyalty and Loyalty tried to fly and left the room.

I can't believe they're raiding the mansion...

Still, was a man named Tadashi Okubo biting his lips trying to get his job done...

And my body was moving naturally.

If Toyotomi Hideyoshi was caught up in the noise in Edo, the public might make a fuss.

But that doesn't matter.

Didn't I make up my mind...

At a wedding with a thousand princesses...

When you make the person in front of you smile!!

"Lord Kofi!! All Deng!! Will you follow me!!!

When I spoke loudly to Princess Kofi and all Akashi sitting in the last seat, we both nodded forcefully.

"Father-in-law!! On my mother-in-law (haha yeah)!! I need a thousand!!

"Hideyoshi... no way..."

"Oh! A thousand! I'm coming! To make everyone in the Okubo family smile!!

When I declared this, the next moment I was out of the room as a result of the disease.

………

……

Taisuke kept running with all his might. Did the blood vessels run out somewhere because I was so desperate... it tastes like blood mixed in my mouth.

Still, he keeps sending those legs forward.

- Something to lose! Something to lose!

To put it into words no longer, my breath is too high. Still in his heart, he kept running, screaming so.

The soles of the feet are scratched because they run with dashi. A little distraction would cause severe pain. His little footprints are stained with blood.

But now he never felt pain or suffering.

Anyway, forward.

To protect the "family" that his esteemed Okubo-hiko Left Gate wanted to protect until he risked his life.

Yes, he's on his way...

Okubo Mansion.

Tasuke told the gatekeeper of Edo Castle that Okubo Mansion was under attack, and then went straight to Okubo Mansion without resting.

I would have already been running for half an hour (about an hour).

If you stopped this leg now, you must fall in at that moment.

I may not make it anymore. The inside of the mansion may be stained with family blood.

When the body fails to do what it says, such a weak bug bursts out.

But he wasn't going to lose. Even if the dog died, even if there was a tragedy going on in front of him, he couldn't have lost to protect what Hiroshigami wanted to protect.

It was then.

- Dodd! Dodd! Dodd! Dodd! Dodd! Dodd!

One grand horse ran past him, wondering if the running sound of the horse approached him from behind.

And...

"Loyalty!! Taisuke, please!!

and a man riding that horse shouted out of his back.

"Ta-da... Ta-da..."

Tadashi Okubo, that's exactly who he was.

... and that moment when Tasuke was as comfortable as she dreamed of anything. When his light body was lifted a little, he was put on the back of his horse.

"Hold on tight! Let's go!"

It was Okubo loyal.

And...

About that arrow tip once the horse stopped...

One white horse and two chestnut hairs passed beside them like the wind.

"That's..."

Then Loyalty said with a clear face.

"Lord Hideyoshi, Minister Right of Toyotomi... No way..."

Toyotomi Hideyoshi's unswerving wish, the march has now begun -