Strangely, though he had only said that, almost instantly, she realized what he really meant.

The whole face felt stiff. The body seems to be frozen, too. There is no way to move, speak, or react.

She just stood there with a blank expression, and even carried the empty basket that had not been returned to her master's house.

Hijikata stared at the ground at her feet, his face gloomy, as if every word he had to say was extremely difficult.

"I beg you to ......"

“...... Why?!"

Without warning, Liu Quan, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke.

"Don't you know...... Do you know I escaped from that house!?"

Although in the knowledge of the original fandom that she was instilled in her mind, the complex background behind "Qingyuan Snow Leaves" is not deep, but as a Su Shuang female partner with a dark and complex background, and a three-dimensional character design to 3D, [Dark Past] is undoubtedly a plus for her to add chips.

...... From this point of view, the author of the master is just to set off the heroine Xiao Qianhe, so he created the three-dimensional and eye-catching Su Shuang female supporting role in his own milk teeth without hesitation, and sure enough, it ...... It's true love for little Chizuru.

Liu Quan was very strange, at this moment, his thoughts were so boundless. Probably because the brain was hit hard by unexpected blows, it suddenly became dazed, and it couldn't contain the chaotic thoughts at all.

...... Such a request was received, visually inspected...... Isn't this a harbinger that Kiyohara Yukiye will be cannon fodder again.

Deputy Chief...... Could it be that all the words you have said, the late-night visit when I was sick, the harsh words to Aqin in order to defend me when I was in Tama, the vow to "never die, come to see me alive", the hand that gently covers the back of my hand on the slope of the outskirts of the Drifting Mountains, are all false?

...... No, it's not fake. It's just that no matter how many cannon fodder female supporting roles there are, they can't catch up with Kondo-san's status in his mind.

Hijikata lowered his gaze, as if he was in a loss, and seemed to bow his head slightly to show a gesture of request and please.

“...... I'm sorry. He said.

"But...... You're my last hope, Kiyohara...... No one wants to help intercede...... I can't even send a message to the other party asking for negotiation to see how harsh the other party intends to put forward in order to release the person......"

The frustrations, cold receptions, blank eyes, and insults he had received over the past few days all came flooding back, along with some deep apologies for the girl in front of him, and the sense of powerlessness and self-loathing that had to force her to do bad things, which almost overwhelmed him for a moment.

I actually did such a thing...... It's impossible to get the other party's forgiveness.

Actually, even he hates himself. At the beginning, no matter what the reason, he finally left Kondo-kun and left him alone to face the wolf-like Tosa and Sachoto of the new government army......

But what if...... If he can save Kondo-kun, it is not impossible for him to cut his own stomach! If she agrees to help if he has to give up his life, he will not hesitate to give her his life.

It's because I'm so desperate...... Because for a long time, my life has been built on the foundation of "supporting Kondo-kun to move to a higher place".

Without Kondo-kun, perhaps he was still the son of a pharmacist in the village of Tama who inherited his father's business and traveled around the nearby villages and towns to sell medicines, and met those samurai with swords...... No, the ronins have no power to resist and can only be bullied by the other side, and without Kondo-kun, he would not have become one of the leaders of the Mibu wolves that roamed Kyoto, he would not have become the vice-chief of the demons, and he would not have become the samurai he is now who can attract the admiration, respect, and followers of others with a powerful and awe-inspiring posture - let alone her following and care.

Kondo-kun is the basis for his life to move from mediocre to extraordinary. However, now, when the foundation of Yiqiē has collapsed, his once glorious life from the poor villagers step by step to the level of the flag is like a gorgeous pavilion with a collapsed foundation, without solid support, it will definitely collapse into a pile of ruins in the next moment. And the self who has lost this qiē should not be followed by anyone...... I don't know where my future path will be.

Without Isamu Kondo, what kind of person would he have become, and what kind of Hijikata Suizo would he have become? Frankly, he didn't have the confidence that he would still be able to become the deputy head of the Shinsengumi who was worthy of being followed by others...... However, this is just my own weakness, and I can't talk about it to others.

But...... I can't convey this qiē to her, right...... It's like when she turned around and left, how much she longed to see her come back alive, it was impossible to convey it to her......

In front of him, the girl slowly sneered.

"Deputy Chief...... It's desperate to do that, isn't it?" she asked, in a fluffy tone.

Hijikata was silent for a long time.

“...... Yes. He frankly admitted his uselessness and cowardice.

Liu Quan felt that everything that was happening in front of his eyes was so unreal, it was unbelievable.

"What makes you think my uncle is useful when he speaks? You don't even know who he is, what his identity is, and what his relationship is to Choshu......" she said incredulously.

Even I don't quite know what kind of person the so-called uncle is hidden behind the dark background set by the original author for "Kiyohara Yukiro...... How can you have so much confidence in him, Vice-Chancellor? Was it the blindness of rushing to the doctor, or was the shogunate completely cut off all hope of rescuing Kondo-san?

Hijikata was silent for a moment, then slowly raised his head, his gaze meeting hers for the first time after making this excessive request. There was a deep sadness hidden in his eyes.

“...... Because I have no other way to go. He frankly admitted it.

The powerful and wise man who had always confidently and methodically given orders even in the face of adversity, commanding the entire Shinsengumi, seemed to have disappeared, and now the man standing in front of her was anxious, irritable and at a loss, with the anger of being abandoned and trampled on by both sides of the war, and having lost his best leader, brother and friend all along, and wondering where to go in order to win back this qiē -

Liu Quan's eyebrows slowly furrowed.

She looked at him with a hint of sadness, sympathy, and pity, as if she had simply given up arguing with him about whether she should return to the family she hated. The expression on her face gradually changed from shock and disbelief to calm and indifference.

“...... What if I refuse?" she asked in a low voice, in a manner that seemed to be a casual chatter, not a provocation or a temptation.

Hijikata seemed to choke on her question. He took a deep breath, then looked at her apologetically.

“...... Please be sure to do so. He whispered, probably because he knew that making other desperate gestures, such as bowing down or kneeling, would irritate her in front of him even more, so he didn't do that. But his eyes shone with sadness and determination.

“...... After that, I am willing to fulfill your wishes. He gritted his teeth as if saying something like that would kill him. "I can grant you any wish......"

Liu Quan suddenly raised his right hand, blocking him from continuing.

"Yes......" she said lightly, as if her mind was not on his promise.

"Don't embarrass yourself, Deputy Chief?" she actually smiled, as if there was a subtle hint of sarcasm in her smile. "I don't want to be a bad subordinate who threatens my general?"

Hijikata: "No...... I didn't ......"

“...... Okay, I promise you. Liu Quan quickly interrupted him and said in a very strange tone.

"But I can't guarantee a good result...... Because, as I said earlier, my uncle's family was not of such a high status enough to influence those who really made the decision...... But if such an effort can reassure you, then I will do it. ”

Her tone was as soft and cold as snowflakes falling on the surface of a frozen lake.

"I will do my best to ask him with all my sincerity...... But after that, will he be able to exert all his abilities, and will he be influential enough to ensure that the director is released safely...... I can't guarantee that. "All I can guarantee is that I will fight hard for the best possible outcome for the director." Because this is the first time you've asked me to do something from the bottom of your heart, honestly, and frankly. ”

Hijikata was silent, then said briefly, "...... Thank you so much. ”

Liu Quan gave him a subtle look.

"Mine, uh...... 'uncle', is a very dangerous man. She thought for a moment, and then added faintly, with a hint of warning, "Even I can't figure out which side he's on......"

Hijikata paused before speaking.

"If I'm not mistaken, you said you ran out to join the Shinsengumi because you wanted to get rid of your uncle's control, right? ”

Liu Quan did not answer.

“...... So far, for the sake of the new selection group...... No, it should be said, it was for my own selfish desire to force you to go back there, and I am very sorry. Hijikata said, frowning, and an apologetic wry smile appeared on his face. He didn't bow down to apologize, though—because he knew that doing so would undoubtedly hurt her in front of him.

Liu Quan still didn't speak.

A suffocating silence enveloped the room.

After a long while, Liu Quan finally curled the corners of his lips and smiled softly.

“...... It's nothing. For such an ending, I have long been ready to realize. She replied lightly.

"I know it's not going to last long to disguise myself and join the Shinsengumi...... The fact that I was able to stay after the truth was exposed was because of everyone's tolerance and protection of me. Now, it's time for me to report back to the new selection. Her tone fluctuated a little at first, but by the end, all that was left was the cold, mechanical emotion.

From beginning to end, although her reaction also had the original intention of following the setting of "Kiyohara Snow Leaves", she was not shocked when she heard that Hijikata really made such a request. Then I felt a wave of incredible irritation and frustration.

After battling for so long, I also got some memories and CG of events that I thought were very beautiful, and there were moments when she thought she could touch the heart of the deputy chief, but Kondo's arrest instantly made all her previous efforts come to naught.

...... So, sure enough, the director is his true love, her biggest rival?

Frankly speaking, after Kondo's arrest, she didn't predict such a possibility - after all, even without her setting of "her uncle's house is a Choshu chef", when she attacked Nishi Honganji Temple at night in Kazama, she actually took out a letter that Takasugi asked him to give her, wasn't this incident enough to remain deep in the heart of Deputy Chief Zài, and make him suspicious, shocked, and angry? In fact, people who have met twice in total, even if they are friends, don't necessarily have to send her a letter at the end of their lives, do they? And she can't explain why she, as a member of the Shinsengumi, has repeatedly let go of Choshu's military commander and naval governor.

So at first, she thought that the problem would be "Takasugi sent her a letter". However, the deputy minister did not mention it - should I say that this is the demeanor of the deputy chief that would appear in strange places.

Liu Quan finally raised his eyes and quietly looked back at the earthwork in front of him.

Although he was the one who made such a willful and excessive request, he now looked like he was in pain, but she, the person who was embarrassed, looked extremely calm - maybe because he hadn't really been abused by the "uncle" in that setting, so it was impossible to empathize with the pain of the real "Kiyohara Yukiba" when facing the same plot.

"Well, then, I'll take my leave now. She said crisply, in a very calm tone.

"Until I come back, don't die, Deputy Chief. I'm still waiting to receive the good things you promised in exchange. ”

Although she talked about something like a joke, her face was expressionless, as if she were talking about someone else's business.

"I'm looking forward to what you're willing to do for me. ”