Nobuyuki Sanada, Koyasan, Kiikuni, September 11th, 1908
Follow the mountain trail after the men who act as guides while floating on the long-awaited report. My legs are light only when I do it. I ran along the mountain road with all my strength, and even though I was at the forefront, I didn't feel any wonders or tiredness.
Lord Saito was pleased to take over the command of the scene. It was forbidden to be alarmed, but there was no reason to lose to an opponent who was unwilling to fight. It's impossible to recover from that. Barely ready to fight, let alone a monk with no energy or health left to fight against a fully armed samurai. I underestimated the samurai who was training every day.
... well, only the presence of the monks was an element of anxiety, but there were no shadows or shapes. He must have escaped with the high ranking monk. I can imagine it even if I don't like it.
Damn it, they leave a dangerous fire to someone else to evacuate to safety on their own. You'd better relearn the path of man before you learn the path of Buddha.
When I was badly lying in my heart, I suddenly felt a gaze from the front. Speaking of which, it seems like you've been talking too much earlier... "
Although such a question arose, it disappeared at the same time as my gaze disappeared. I didn't feel bad, and above all, I couldn't care less about such trivialities.
There's the answer I've been looking for. For the first time, there was a child who wanted to save herself, not out of family profit or sympathy. I myself am puzzled by my thoughts. The first emotion I felt. I don't even know its name. The samurai's soul is the first thing about the house, and the survival of the house is the samurai's soul. Because that was common sense.
Therefore, my desire to risk my life for someone seemed very beautiful. In fact, some people volunteered hoping to pursue that glorious ideal together without thinking deeply about the Red Devils' synchronization.
But I wanted to understand. I wanted to see the same scenery as that one. I was convinced that there was an answer I was after.
I wanted to give this thought a name. I wished to save the child with all my heart. I wanted to hold on to the body. I wanted to light my hopes on my eyes, which knew nothing but despair.
What awaited me was a reality that turned away from me.
"... Mr. Mayuda, this is the cabin where we found the captives." We are putting a little effort into it, but please understand that the situation is an emergency. "
A subordinate who bows his head deeply and then lies down. On the other side of his body was a terribly dirty hut. It looks like it's been abandoned for decades. Soldiers rushing in and out of a collapsing hut. If you look closely, it was the medic I brought in. They headed for a piece of plank that they had brought from somewhere, and the people lying there.
"Oh no......"
The worst imagination ran through my head.
I was missing it. It was floating.
It feels like your feet are crumbling. I moved forward with a wobble at my feet. In such a state, I naturally fell down -- just before that, my subordinate who acted as a guide supported my body.
"... Mr. Mayuda, please don't do anything you can't do." Let's get out of here and calm down a bit. ”
A gaze of exertion is directed at him. But I shook my head small and looked forward.
"... no, it's okay. Let's keep going."
Even as you sweat coldly, your gaze does not divert from the front.
It's just that...
A subordinate who roughs his voice. Thinking that this is something that comes from the kindness of my labor, I will pass through him with my gaze.
"Please."
"...... I understand"
Perhaps he felt a short but definite resolve, and as he sighed deeply, he stepped forward with his shoulders bent. Slowly, slowly. I'm going to bite you one step at a time.
And I got there.
Maida-sama!?
You didn't think I'd come to this place, the rushing medics. I dominated the solo while holding back my fluttering body.
"Don't be so afraid. I am your colleague and not your boss. As a matter of fact, I have borrowed from you. Therefore, it is not necessary to lie flat on the ground like that. Besides... I'll be even more troubled by this awe."
Hah, hahaha
With a troubled face, the medics also stood up, lowering their brows. I feel my tone is hard, but there is something I need to be sure of now.
I slowly drop my gaze.
It was barely a woman lying there. My face does not hold the original type, and my cheeks are bruised and my hair and teeth are missing. The deformed limbs were stretched black, and the left arm did not extend from the elbow.
".........!"
She was naturally clenching her teeth in such a miserable state. She is not the only one. There were many similar sights all around the hut.
I sit quietly beside her as everyone keeps their mouth shut.
"... have you been able to identify yourself?"
"...... no, unfortunately"
"...... I see"
Looking sideways at the Medic who shakes his head carelessly, I look at her face. What does this girl say she did? But have you sinned that you will not even be allowed to live your days with discretion? You were destined to die in despair.
Well then, isn't it too rewarding?
I murmured as I gently closed her eyelids, which were open. On the ground, it was moist and damp with constantly pouring water.
Honestly, I was giving up at this time. "That girl is already dead..."
Even though I didn't confirm all of them, the number of bodies lined up here was almost the same as the number of captives I heard from the children that night.
I don't want to think about it, but even if there is some variation in the number of people, the range of error is. Once I checked the identity of the body, I clearly remembered the girl's appearance there.
─ ─ Therefore, the words cast a ray of light into the dark, sunken heart.
"... I wonder if this is all the people in the cabin?" Were there any survivors? "
I questioned the medic with the hope that I would be able to resist the straw. The medic then opened his mouth while lying face down.
"There was only one... but there was a child alive." However, it seems that you had a horrible experience, and you shut your mouth with a look like a noh face. Such a young child... I'm really sorry for your troublesome behavior. "
"... what?"
In unbelievable terms, he stood up and jammed up. The medic opened his eyes in amazement at my actions, but clenched his shoulders.
"What are the characteristics of that child!?" Where are you!? "
"Yes, I am. I am probably less than ten years old, and my black hair is stretching messily to my shoulders, and I have a thin body that barely could have fed meals." There are no visible injuries, and I wonder if the customer has been subjected to violence every day. Currently, the dirt is being removed in the shade. "
"......!"
I walked wildly in the direction the medic pointed. The information I just told you was consistent with the characteristics of the child I knew. Of course, it might be someone else's pseudo, but it still didn't stop me.
As I gradually approached, I heard a little voice. One of the medic must be wiping his body in the stream ahead of him.
Stop with a little hesitation. Only the sound of the heart stops in your ears. Many times, my right hand blew through the air. Once I took a deep breath and regulated my mind, I never crossed the bushes.
There was a little girl wiping her body hard and a toddler like Noh who looked at the void. When the woman who noticed me panicked and laid flat, the young child turned to be caught by it.
Those pitch-black eyes that don't let anything pass are exactly like the children I met that night. I leaned down slowly and put my trembling hand on the baby's cheek.
"...... Do you know who I am?"
She asked in horror, and the child nodded tinyly.
"Yes, it's been a long time." Genjiro Suzuki, Yukimura "
"...... ah, ahhh"
The name is a pseudonym that I used when I visited Koyasan. Only a few know his name. At least, the one who knows the name of such a child is the only child he met that night.
”Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!”
Holding the child in tears. A hint of heat tells me this isn't a lie. It's true that the small, already fading strawberry is in my chest.
"Ah... I'm glad I'm alive." I'm glad I was able to save the child alone.... thank you. Really... thank you.... thank you. "
Repeat "Thank you" over and over again. Actually, I wanted to say a lot more. I wanted to apologize. I wanted to apologize for leaving you that night. However, only "Thank you" came out. When I look at the figure that sticks with my small hand, "Thank you" comes out instead of "I'm sorry".
That's why I keep saying 'thank you'. Don't let this warmth go away.