Nobuyuki Sanada, Koyasan, Kiikuni, September 11th, 1908
After all the crying while holding the child, I left the scene with the child in my arms. The only ones left were the medics and the Red Devils who came to help. They are going to dig the graves of the victims. Of the victims who have become completely altered.
If it were to come true, I would have taken their remains and gone down the mountain. Even if that wasn't possible, at least I wanted to bury them properly at Ponkawa-ji Temple. If I could explain the situation, the Pink River Folk would have been happy to take it on.
But it didn't come true. Their remains are too poor to even carry. All we could do was bury them so they could sleep peacefully.
(I didn't make it. I missed it. could not be saved)
With such carelessness, I had to quickly return to the main hall. I wanted to help, too, but I still had work to do, and above all, I didn't want this boy to see any more of his people's bodies.
This child is just not good at expressing emotions, it doesn't mean that he doesn't feel anything. If you look at the changed appearance of the companions who have slept and eaten together, any human being will suffer emotional distress. I didn't want this child to suffer any more.
Thinking that far, I suddenly turned my gaze to the child.
"I can't believe I'm so emotional..."
No, it's nothing.
Have you noticed my gaze? The child leans his neck in wonder. I stroked his head gently over and over again.
(Ah, really... even though it was just a once-in-a-lifetime relationship, I risked my life as a soldier to save the child. Whether this child lives or dies, even though it should have nothing to do with the Maeda family, I was so impressed that I knew that this child was alive that I was shedding tears. If... my father saw me now, what would he say?)
Now I look at my father from afar and ask him about his huge back. I wonder if he would be surprised. Would you mourn? Will he get angry? Or will you laugh and forgive me?
"He who is sufficiently samurai shall not so easily utter a weak voice. Not to mention the language of tears in public."
One of the knowledge of samurai who was taught at a young age. My father told me to brush up on my martial arts and grow up in the flesh, but there is no point in growing up. If I take it this way, I will have broken one of my father's teachings.
But my father gave me other teachings.
"He who is a samurai must never step out of the path of others." Protect people, help people. Stretch your chest and go straight. "
The sight of that day passes through my head.
My father had no choice but to take measures to destroy his enemies if he wanted to leave his house. Some criticized his father, but he lived with his noble aspirations as the core of his body.
I admired the way I lived. I sincerely wished to become a samurai like my father.
Then, looking at me now, I knew what my father would say.
-Good for you, you've pierced the right path. Pride! That boy is a testament to Genjiro's righteousness!!
"... Yes, Father."
I nodded to my father's figure, laughing loudly, and gently embraced the child in my heart. Don't let this little warmth go away. Just to confirm the life I've spun.
Then we walked for a while, and when we got to the main hall, we were in the middle of post-processing. No rage or screams were heard, and everyone was silent about his work. They are busy cleaning up the bodies and exhuming the books buried in the rubble.
Suddenly, looking around, the flames that were so violent had already been extinguished, and the cloudy clouds that were about to fall in the sky were already spreading.
(Cheng Jo, I really have to hurry if it's this weather...)
After confirming the situation for now, I immediately rendezvous with Saito-sama, who had taken charge of the command. Despite leaving the scene selfishly, Saito-sama greeted me with a smile. When I saw the child held in my chest, he tilted his neck slightly, but he accepted me without saying anything.
The little kindness stained my chest.
"... no particular problems have occurred in China, and the suppression is proceeding smoothly......"
"Hmm. Some of them were captured by ambushers, but that shouldn't be a big deal." Even if you call it an ambush, it's the last fart of a cornered monk. I immediately took revenge on him. There were about fifty people heading towards the Akimoto team, but they had already dealt with it. I don't think there's any more enemies in the area. "
"... I see. Thank you very much."... now, let's gather all our troops here once. If we're going to retreat, we're going to have to clear this place out. Please also send a message to Lord Kanzaki. "
Hmmm! Got it!
Saito-sama nodded vigorously and called his maiden name away from the formation. He looked up at the sky, exhaling deeply as he saw off his back.
This will bring everyone together for about half a minute. When it rains, it becomes difficult to go down. Some of them were wounded. In such a burnt down temple, you won't even be able to sleep in the rain. Let's get rid of the Nankai tactics.
Planning for the future, the curtain suddenly shifted and someone came in. When I turned my gaze, Saito-sama left earlier. Behind them was a small man.
"I ran a message to Kanzaki." We'll be there in about a half an hour. "
"Thank you.... By the way, are you Saito-sama's servant?"
As he turned his gaze to ask, the man bowed down in apathy.
"I will report. After searching the burnt down main hall and the buildings on the premises, I was unable to find books and books that I thought were strange." I also discovered the hold where the books were allegedly controlled, but it was already burned down and there was no more ash left. ”
"I see......"
When he dropped his shoulders to the report as expected, the man rubbed his forehead against the ground without worrying about getting his face dirty.
"I'm so sorry!" Even though it was a direct order from Masaru Omi, I was unable to meet that expectation! So... what do you mean by this...? At the very least, I apologize for breaking this belly as a atonement!! "
Saying or not, a man with a strong outburst of anger. Seeing that, I and Lord Saito hurriedly seized the man.
"Wait, wait, wait! You did a good job. I gave up when the fire broke out in the first place. Because things are things. Besides, if you are kind, even if you can't find the object, you won't let your dedication go down."
"That's right, that's right! He is not such a small artifact! You may be discouraged, but you will not be punished! I'm gonna make a move, too! So don't worry!"
”Uu... uuuu... really... uuuuu”
When Saito-sama and I encouraged him, the man expressed his gratitude in tears. To be honest, I think I'm worried too much, but I've never even seen your face in a regular soldier like this. If you don't know what it's like to be human, you may not be able to help yourself even if you feel fear from the impressions of your predecessors.
Saito-sama bowed as he clasped the shoulder of a man who was crying and left the formation. He sighed deeply and deeply as he watched the figure behind him.
"I see... you didn't find it, did you?"
If you say you're not discouraged, you're lying. After all, it was the final goal in this Koyasan attack.
Of course, it is also important to rescue the captive children. It is by no means taken lightly. However, in order to solve the problem from the root, you wanted the books that Koyasan would hide. If they're profiting from human trafficking, there's always a book there with records.
That's right... this is what Keiji-sama said was necessary to cut down Daemon. It was absolutely necessary to clarify their evil and demonstrate the legitimacy of the Oda family.
But it burned.
It was a fire, so I had no choice... but I still sighed as I dropped my shoulder.
At that time, I was suddenly pulled from the bottom.
"Hmm? Is it a child... what's wrong?"
As she stroked her head, the child opened her mouth with her neck tilted.
“Yes, is the book important?”
"Yeah. That's right... money is important, isn't it?" If we don't manage it well, life will soon be in trouble. That's why large organizations like Koyasan keep records of money movements in their books. You know what I mean? "
"Yes, is it something to hide?"
"... yeah. I'll hide it somewhere out of sight." If a spy sees you, your enemies will steal your valuable information. So, there will be only a very small number of people who know about it.... do you have any idea? "
As she joked and asked, the child nodded tinyly.
"Yes, there is."
The words sounded like a glimmer of hope.