[Harada Sanosuke branch line was reached, and the branch line was successfully closed.] 】

[Yongcang New Eight Branch Line was reached, and the branch line was successfully closed. 】

[Fujido Heisuke side line reached, which was closed due to the death of the plot character [Fujido Heisuke] 】

[Isamu Kondo's side quest has been reached, which has been closed due to the death of the plot character [Isamu Kondo].] 】

......

I read everyone's names almost one by one...... Even if someone is alive and someone is gone, it still makes people feel a sense of nostalgia.

Liu Quan thought, probably because six years is really a long time, and in this time of time we spent together, whether it was laughter, fighting, hardship, or pleasure, it seemed so precious now...... And even if she didn't deliberately brush it, she had actually accumulated a high friendship value with everyone in the time spent together.

Immediately after, the name of the person she was expecting appeared.

[The Okita branch line was reached, and the branch line was successfully closed.] 】

...... and names of people that were not expected in advance.

[The Snow Village Chizuru branch line was reached, and the branch line was successfully closed.] 】

Liu Quan: "......"

Maybe it's because I've been the only female team member in the Shinsengumi over the years.,I've been assigned to take care of Xiao Chizuru It's been very easy.,So I've also gained a very high friendship value from Xiao Chizuru.。

However, anyway, the general secretary is still alive, so it's already good.

Don't die, Chief Executive...... You have to work hard and fight hard to survive. Just like when we parted, we agreed.

[After the calculation of the system, the necessary conditions have been met, but because the plot character [Yamanan Keisuke] has died, the player will automatically lose the opportunity to say goodbye to the plot character before leaving this world.] The branch line is closed. 】

Willow Springs: !!

The system bacteria suddenly mentioned Shannan's name, and its unheard of way of announcing it once again stirred up the reality of Shannan's death and spread it out in front of her cruelly.

Liu Quan was silent for a moment, and then secretly complained about the system bacteria in his brain.

［...... Can't you not poke the player's fragile little heart at such a sad moment. Do you want to be happy to see players cry uncontrollably, what kind of bad fun is this...... ］

The system bacteria did not answer her.

Of course, as an excellent player who has gone through three worlds, a mature woman who has grown to the age of 25+ in this world, Liu Quan does not need the comfort of the system bacteria to be able to better adjust to his feelings.

What's more, there are new things to say about the system.

[After the system calculates and determines that the Saito branch has met the necessary conditions, the player can get a chance to say goodbye to the character in the story before leaving this world.] When the player leaves the world, the quest will close successfully. 】

Liu Quan: "......"

For some reason, she wasn't very surprised this time. When she heard the announcement of the system, there was more of a sense of "ah, it is so......" in her chest, but this announcement almost made her wry smile on her face, if it were not for the thought that the deputy chief was by her side.

[But I only have 24 hours, right?, and where the hell is Ichi-kun now...... She silently asked in her mind.

The phylogenetic bacteria still did not answer.

...... Because that's what it's going to say next.

[After the calculation of the system, the three branches of the Hijikata Year have met the necessary conditions, and the player can get a chance to say goodbye to the characters in the story before leaving this world.] When the player leaves the world, the quest will close successfully. 】

...... It's finally here. Ultimatum.

Liu Quan closed his eyes, and then opened them quickly.

There seemed to be melancholy and sadness in her chest that could not be dissipated, but at that moment, she had already figured out how to exit this world.

“...... The qiē that Jiujo Daoqing said is all true. ”

She said quietly, raising her head, turning her face slightly, looking at the handsome side face of the earth.

"I was in Edo...... It is true that there is no intention to try to rescue Director Kondo. Because I knew from the beginning that it wasn't feasible...... Whether it's Sacho, Tosa, or even those who are avoided by the big names of the shogunate...... They all want Director Kondo dead. For such a powerful force, I alone is not enough. Not even the power of the Kujo family...... So I simply gave up on this futile attempt. ”

In a tone that was so calm that it was almost hollow, she began to complete her exit words in this world.

"I did accept the secret order of Kujo Michikiyo in the first place, so I infiltrated the Shinsengumi disguised as a man. Even Takasugi Shinsaku of the Choshu Domain, I once let him go twice in Kyoto. ”

"In the vicinity of Shijo-dori in Kyoto, there is a bookstore. That's where we contact privately. ”

"I did this qiē for my sister. I thought that if I did this, Kujou Daoqing would let her go, but it didn't ...... However, I don't think that's a justification for myself......"

"It may sound ridiculous to say 'I've never done anything dangerous to the Shinsengumi' just now......"

"Still, I think so. ”

Her eyes were so clear, almost transparent, that they were staring at Hijikata's face. However, he tensed his jaw the whole time and remained silent without turning his face.

A dazed sense of powerlessness slowly welled up and spread across her chest.

In this world, she herself really saw the scene of Hijikata for the first time, and suddenly floated from the depths of her memory.

It was the scene when the truth about her as a woman was revealed and she was still locked up, and he slammed open the door of her room and ordered her to wait and let her go on a mission with him.

...... As a result, I went to Shimabara to talk about business. The name of this place doesn't match the word "talk about business" at all, but fortunately, it ended up happily in the end.

How long has it been since then?

Isn't it the pain and warmth of life and death, difficult choices in the troubled times, with a passion and fearless strong faith, a desperate situation against an upcoming new era, a forest of swords and bullets and a valley of death?

People who have been able to come to the present side by side with such a strong determination will slowly let go of their hands when the end of the day has ended...... This really can't be a worse clumsy plot? So in the end, she can only be a cannon fodder female supporting role who brushes out BE, isn't it?

"Mr. Hijikata...... I'm very sorry about this qiē. ”

She said lightly, and there seemed to be no deep sadness in her tone, only powerless sighs and helplessness.

"In the months before I crossed the sea to Ezo, I used to look in the direction of Ezo in the north. ”

"I won't be able to see Mr. Hijikata for the time being, but I firmly believe that Mr. Hijikata will be working very hard to survive under the same sky. ”

"Mr. Hijikata is still alive somewhere under the same sky, and in my opinion, it's better than anything else......"

Hijikata's breathing seemed to be much heavier for a moment, as if trying to hide the many emotions that were surging in his heart, but he remained silent and did not look back at her.

Liu Quan took a deep breath.

Very good. Let's separate now.

"I didn't do my best to rescue Director Kondo, and I deceived everyone for so long...... I'm so sorry for that. ”

"I'm not in a position to defend myself, but for the sake of the fact that I've risked my life for the Shinsengumi, I hope you'll grant me a request......

"I know it's a very wayward statement...... I'm probably not qualified to say that...... But—"

Liu Quan took another deep breath and finally said the most crucial sentence with difficulty.

"Even if we can't meet again......"

“...... I also hope that Mr. Hijikata will live well somewhere under this sky and live forever. ”

"Until, everybody acknowledges the faith and spirit of the Shinsengumi, and remembers the days when the Shinsengumi were a signpost for the samurai......"

"The Shinsengumi will one day regain everyone's respect, admiration, and nostalgia. At that time, someone must be able to re-convey the noble, beautiful and admirable things represented by the Chengzi Banner in a dignified manner...... In my opinion, there is no better candidate than Mr. Hijikata. ”

"For the sake of this goal, please live well. 'Spend your life on something more meaningful,' didn't you once say to me?"

“...... So, even though I didn't do what I agreed with you at the time, I hope you will grant me this wayward wish. ”

Even though she said so much in one breath, Hijikata remained stubbornly silent. As her voice fell, the silence that permeated them suddenly widened and became awkward.

Hijikata lowered his gaze slightly, his brows furrowed, and his expression grim, as if he was faced with a difficult problem that was so large that it was difficult to decide and unable to respond lightly. This kind of expression rarely appeared on his face even in the era of the deputy chief of the ghost who crisscrossed Kyoto.

Looking at him with such a look, a certain apologetic pity appeared in Liu Quan's heart for a moment, almost overcoming the unspeakable helplessness and pain of parting.

Deputy Chief...... Originally, I didn't expect to hear such words, but I wanted to hear her say that everything Kujo Michikiyo said was a despicable slander, and it was all a lie that tried in vain to shake and split the strong bond between the two of them.

She almost had to see the clear subtext in his face - what he wanted to say was, "I believe it as long as you say it's a lie, but why do you say that?"

His breathing was also heavy, showing that he was struggling with all kinds of pain, contradictions, and difficulties that were surging in his heart, and he even pursed his lips slightly, his expression was like that of a stubborn and helpless teenager, knowing what kind of important matter he was about to face, but he did not know how to deal with it correctly, and did not know what choice he made so that he would not regret it.

The silence between the two of them gradually stretched indefinitely, seemingly covering the whole world and suffocating.

Finally, he finally squirmed his lips slightly, and tried to make a sound.

"You're always ...... like this"

His voice was hoarse, and his voice was low and indecipherable. After saying these words, he paused again, as if he had been thinking for a long time, searching for the exact words that would express his feelings, and at last, as if he had given up, he spoke again, and went on.

"What do you want to make with me...... Then, I believed you......"

He paused.

Liu Quan: !?

After a moment of consternation, she already realized that he probably remembered that in the last battle of Hakodate, she used the excuse of "swearing to hit gold" to trick him into going to Bentendaiba to spy on the news.

A faint wry smile appeared on the corner of her lips.

Suddenly, Hijikata turned sharply and stared straight at her face. There was a look of despair on his face.

“...... I'll ask you again--...... in Edo You really, didn't have any intention of rescuing Kondo-kun, and didn't really try to save him?!"

His voice was like a string that was taut and vibrated by excessive exertion, as if it were about to break in the next second. His eyes gleamed with a desperate glint of pain.

Liu Quan felt his heart thump and skip a beat.

There was a terrible tremor in the heart, as if it was about to crack through the chest in the next second, and as if it was about to explode with a bang, bursting out a large amount of hideous scarlet blood.

Hijikata stared at her like a trapped beast in a trap, and his eyes were red, as if there was a savage pain in his chest that was struggling and rampage, and if he didn't try to suppress it, the next moment that pain would burst out and destroy the world.

The deep pain and sorrow in his body was conveyed to her, and she even wavered for a moment, wanting to answer the answer he longed to hear, wanting to hug his bloodied and even wounded body from the bitter battle of one enemy just now, wanting to kiss those desperate, fragile, and unwilling eyes.

...... But she couldn't.

At such a time, she could do nothing but say goodbye.

[I'm such a scumbag...... ］

Such thoughts came to her mind blankly.

Because if she hadn't been desperately chasing him, he would have been able to reach his personal line HE with the truly gentle and considerate heroine Xiao Chizuru now, right?

But what is she doing now? In order for the world not to destroy Miè, she destroyed his chance to realize his ideals, deprived him of the opportunity to be happy, and then in the name of saving the world, she selfishly walked away, leaving him alone in this desolate world where the general, brother, friends, companions and subordinates have all left, thinking that this is the best ending?!

Now, she finally understood.

Hijikata Suizo is not a Muneakata Reiji. He will never become a sectarian reito. Just as Reiji Munakata will never be able to become Hijikata Suizo.

It is also a sacrifice, and for Munakata Reiji, his great righteousness is to maintain the justice, peace, and well-being of the vast majority of people in the whole world, and in order to achieve this goal, whether it is a lover, a companion, a friend, or oneself, every one can be sacrificed. In his view, both beliefs and ideals exist for the sake of maintaining the world. Out of the general interest of maintaining world peace, he can temporarily put aside his ideals, give up his friends, and even sacrifice himself.

However, Hijikata is not the same. In other words, his righteousness is diametrically opposed to that of the Sect Statue Reiji. For him, his beliefs and ideals, as well as the generals and companions of the new selection group he established, are more worthy of hard work, and the existence of this world is not so important, but the important thing is to prove that his beliefs and ideals are above this qiē exists, are shining, and are recognized and admired.

For Munakata Reiji, the world is greater than the ideal and the individual. So although he wanted to save her life, when she was taken away by the Colorless King and could be in danger of coming to this world, he gritted his teeth and endured the pain to destroy her, just as in the projection she watched in the Endless Palace, although he wanted to save Zhou Fangzun who was about to lose his sword, he still chose to defend this world at the last moment, and a sword passed through Zhou Fangzun's chest.

However, for Hijikata Suizo, the ideal or the individual is greater than this world. He did not really intend to investigate whether his determination to defend the shogunate's beliefs was contrary to the correct direction of the world's development, but whether his faith and justice could be implemented, propagated, and upheld from beginning to end.

Therefore, she took her understanding of Munakata Reiji to face the person Hijikata Suizo, which was in itself unfair to both of them.

Liu Quan looked back deeply at Hijikata's handsome face, which looked haggard and painful, shook his head, and said softly, "...... I'm sorry. ”