“…… What the hell is going on!"

"Yes, the man who was sent to collect the Golden Valley came back and said...... No more levy!"

"The soldiers, too...... The villagers have fled into the deep and deep mountains......"

"It's ...... The war has lasted a little too long! The villagers in the vicinity have already been exhausted of their rice, food, and assets by the officials and soldiers who have been requisitioned and looted again and again...... Even if you have the heart to support Saigo-sama, you ......!"

The dimly lit room was filled with shouting and shouting, so noisy that it didn't look like the scene of a military meeting.

In the corner of the room, a young man stood up sharply, walked out of the crowd that was noisily reporting the situation everywhere.

Although the thatched hut was poorly lit, the sky was clear when I stepped out of the door. The sun shone into the small courtyard, and a banner with the words "New Deal and Virtue" and "Respect for Heaven and Love" in huge calligraphy leaned against the trunk of a large tree in the courtyard, and a person sat in the corner of the corridor outside the door.

The young man who had come out of the house looked around, as if he felt that there was really no better place to go, so he walked up to the man who was sitting under the porch, his legs still dangling lightly outside the porch, and said, "...... Can I sit here?"

The man turned his head and glanced at him, a look of astonishment on his face.

“…… Murata-kun?!please. He nodded to the latecomer, and even moved symbolically to the other side, as a gesture of politeness to get out of the way.

The latecomer, known as "Murata-kun", smiled, pulled the long back of his black coat, and sat down.

And they're sitting in this direction, just enough to get the sun on their faces. "Murata-kun" raised his face slightly and squinted his eyes in the sun.

"Isn't Miss Kujou going to participate in today's military meeting?" he asked as if nothing had happened.

The person who had been sitting here before—Miss Kujo, aka Yanagiquan—smiled when he heard this.

"The movements of the officers and soldiers are no secret now. …… They chased us all the way. She said bluntly.

"Miyazaki, Takabe, Mimitsu, Nobeoka...... How many places have we lost since Renji, and how many places are full of traces of them now......"

Murata smiled bitterly.

"Ahh He replied, hesitated, but brought up another topic.

Speaking of which, Mr. Saigo said that day...... At this point, there's nothing you have to ask you to do. In terms of intelligence, you don't need to spy to know that they have laid a net......"

The topic sounded too sharp, and Miss Kujo raised an eyebrow, but didn't make any comments, or simply nodded in agreement with his remarks.

Murata-kun didn't seem to mind much of what helpful reaction she could make, and continued: "...... Mr. Saigo, it seems that he has come to a corresponding realization. ”

Hearing this, Miss Kujou finally reacted - she answered with an "oh".

Murata Jun still narrowed his eyes, tilted his head slightly to meet the bright afternoon sun, and then, in the warm sunlight, he curled the corners of his lips and smiled.

"If you want to leave, leave now. He said.

Mr. Saigo didn't say it explicitly, but I think he must have thought so...... The officers and soldiers should not embarrass a woman, how should things be judged in the future...... Let's take care of it. ”

After he finished speaking, Miss Kujou was silent for a long time.

Finally, she sighed.

"Murata-kun used to be the heir that Okubo-sama valued very much. As soon as she opened her mouth, she said a topic that was enough to puncture the lung tubes.

That's right, this "Murata-kun" is named Murata Shinhachi, who once accompanied the Iwakura mission to Europe and the United States, and is one of Okubo Ritsu's most optimistic successors, but he is bent on following Saigo Takamori, and finally ruins his glorious future - at least, this is what history is.

Murata Shinhachi couldn't help but chuckle, and finally lowered his head and stared at his clasped hands as if in disguise. The thumb of his left hand stroked the back and forth of his right hand seemingly casually.

“…… Unfortunately, I have my own ambitions. I'm really embarrassed to disappoint Okubo. He replied scribbly.

In this way, he was actually a rather handsome young man, with a short trimmed sideburns that extended from his sideburns, and there was nothing unkempt about the rest of the place, and the Western-style dress seemed to fit him well, with the silver chain of his pocket watch hanging from his chest, and even the neckline was meticulously tied with a bow tie, and even at the end of his rope, there was still not a single detail wrong in his clothing.

Miss Kujou smiled.

"That's impressive...... Murata-kun firmly followed Saigo-sama's mood. She finally commented, and naturally turned her face to look at him.

"If you put it nicely, it's 'Murata-kun is not afraid to gamble on the rest of his life to follow Saigo-sama to the end, and I can't lose to Murata......-kun,'" she said with a smile.

Murata was silent for a moment, a look of incredulity on his face.

But before he could speak, Miss Kujou continued quite naturally.

“…… But, if you want to hear the truth, that's—"

"'So far, my father has changed his allegiance several times due to speculation, and finally one day he will never have the opportunity to change his court again, so he can only grit his teeth and follow Saigo-sama to the end.'" ”

Murata: "......"

For a moment, his face had a somewhat complicated look, similar to a toothache.

Miss Kujou watched him quietly, and suddenly grinned.

"How's that? the truth doesn't sound so good, does it?" she laughed. A gust of wind blew the tips of her long hair up over her cheeks, and the hem of the banner that read "Respect Heaven and Love" leaned against the trunk of the tree in front of them swayed and fluttered.

"The patience of those officials and lords for him has probably come to an end, and they will not allow him to run to the past again at such a moment, even if he kneels down and humbly pleads...... Then, we can only continue to follow his original choice - to follow Saigo-sama until the final moment comes. She said.

Murata was silent for a moment.

"That makes sense. He agreed.

"Indeed...... I've heard before that those adults don't say very politely about Mr. Kujo, saying that he doesn't have the talent to match this surname, and sooner or later he will not be able to catch up with the times and be abandoned by others. ”

Although this comment doesn't sound very friendly, Miss Kujou doesn't seem to be angry at all.

"Well...... That's pretty much it. She actually nodded and agreed.

"The good fortune of the Kujo family is probably coming to an end. …… What will happen to my father who remains in Tokyo? Will he be arrested and imprisoned like Mr. Oyama...... However, at that time, I can't take care of it. Her eyes flickered, and then she said cheerfully.

Murata took a hissed breath, as if the bright sunlight had suddenly dazzled his eyes.

"He can't even do more than you do...... From this point of view, maybe the adults in the government will spare his life. He barely managed to find an excuse that would almost comfort her.

“…… Is it. After hearing this, Miss Kujou actually muttered seriously for a moment, and then nodded very seriously.

Murata coughed.

“…… Maybe he's the longest-lived one of us. He said half-jokingly, half-seriously.

She replied very seriously, "Then we don't have to worry about him." ”

Murata: "......"

He choked and turned his face to stare at her. A moment later, the two of them burst out laughing together.

The laughter was a bit out of place, but none of them stopped quickly. When the laughter finally stopped, there seemed to be a much more harmonious atmosphere than before, and it was faintly diffused between the two of them.

Then, Miss Kujo said abruptly, "What about Murata-kun's accordion, and why don't you play a song for us in this last leisure before the Great War?"

Murata was slightly stunned, revealing a wry smile similar to a toothache.

"You're really in a good mood...... If it were an ordinary woman, she might be so scared that she would cry, right?"

Miss Kujou snorted.

"That's too much to underestimate me...... As an orphan girl on the street back then, how could the Kujo family be willing to adopt me as an adopted daughter if I didn't have any skills? Even if it's a declining branch, I can't climb it at the beginning......" she said with a sigh.

Murata: "...... I can't believe that there is such a twist and turn story behind you. ”

Miss Kujou chuckled. "As Saigo-sama's valued right-hand man, it's hard to imagine that you don't know about these terrible things about the Kujo family...... After all, if we want to cooperate, the Kujou family didn't send the next head of the family, Mr. Michiji, but let me, my adopted daughter, come to serve - isn't that enough to explain something?"

Murata choked on the knot, grabbed his hair and laughed.

"I'm sorry about that......"

Before he could finish his words, a shout came from the gate of the courtyard.

"Young Master, is the young master here!"

Miss Kujou and Murata looked at each other in amazement for a moment, and Murata was the first to stand up suddenly.

But before he could speak, someone from the house had already rushed out of the house.

"It's Kumayoshi!sir, it's Kumaji!"

It was Kirino Toshiaki who came out. When he followed Saigo to the Quartet, he always called him "Mr" in front of Saigo.

Sure enough, then Saigo Takamori walked out of the house. His face lit up at the sight of the two men standing in the courtyard, but his face darkened again when his eyes fell and he saw the missing right calf of the boy who was barely standing there in his arms.

Carrying the boy was a middle-aged man with a simple face, who looked like a loyal domestic servant, and at this moment he looked at Saigo Takamori with tears in his eyes, and his voice trembled a little.

"Young master, it's okay if you're okay...... As you can see, Master Kikujiro has survived......"

Miss Kujou let out a silent sigh and said in a low voice, "...... He's the son of Saigo-sama...... It's too ...... to lose a leg just like that."

"What's going on?" she didn't say.

Murata sighed, but seemed to say nothing because Saigo Takamori was standing not far from them.

Then, Takamori Saigo spoke up.

"Everyone, come and sit down. ”

Miss Kujou looked at him in surprise.

“…… Isn't it a military discussion?" she muttered again.

Murata smiled bitterly.

“…… Perhaps, there is something more important to say than the military council. He replied in the same low voice.

Then, Saigo Takamori sat down cross-legged on the porch, pondered for a moment, and said, "This battle, everyone is really fighting very well-"

Miss Kujou complained in an angry voice, "Doesn't that sound like a good start?"

Murata: "......"

Saigo Takamori smiled briefly, and then said, "But, that's the end of it. ”

Murata: !!

Everyone:!!!

Miss Kujou shrugged her shoulders and let out an indecipherable sigh.

"From now on, we will officially disband. Saigo Takamori said solemnly—and in a heavy tone.

There was a dead silence in the courtyard. Only unknown birds skimmed the sky overhead, making a hoarse and desolate call.

After a brief silence, Toshiaki Kirino was the first to jump.

"Sir, how can you say that!"

The rest of the crowd followed suit angrily.

"Yes, sir, we still have people who are willing to follow him!"

"Sir, you can't do that, because Sir is the one who wants to change the country! How can you say something discouraged! We're all willing—"

Saigo Takamori simply interrupted them.

"Enough is enough. ”

He said in a deep voice, with a refreshing expression on his face—a look of realization.

"Tokyo, we can't go there. …… In fact, everyone knows it in their hearts. ”

Another brief dead silence descended on this small, dilapidated courtyard. Everyone lowered their heads, and some people couldn't help but sob, and big tears crossed their faces blackened by the artillery fire, leaving two dirty traces.

Toshiaki Kirino also lowered his head in pain.

Murata Shinpachi was very calm throughout. Even at such a moment, he only gritted his teeth, and a faint green tendon was throbbing on his cheek, but he did not cry and weep like the others, and he looked broken and desperate.

Miss Kujou was expressionless, and there was not even a trace of muscle twitching on her face, as if she had been covered with an unbreakable iron mask.

Saigo Takamori didn't even bother to look around at the expressions of these loyal followers around him, and continued to say word by word:

"Our army has been forced to be impoverished to this point, and today there is only a decisive battle to the death. On this occasion, the teams will descend to those who descend, and may the dead die—"

"Everyone, do what you want in your heart. ”

As soon as his words fell, the sobs below suddenly rose an octave.

Kirino Toshiaki's face was tense, as if if he didn't do this, his expression management would collapse completely, and his facial features would melt like a sandcastle in a rainstorm.

Murata Shinhachi's expression was a little strange, as if he wanted to laugh and sigh, but as if he wanted to shed tears, because his mood was so complicated that his expression was distorted, and he couldn't accurately express his current mood.

Miss Kujou quietly stood beside him, slightly raising her eyes and glancing at him. A moment later, amid the sobs of the rude and young warriors, she suddenly turned her head back to look ahead, and said softly:

“…… Now, I'm afraid it's time for your accordion to play. ”

Murata's face twitched. He didn't answer.

In front of their line of sight, the dilapidated banner that had been stained with blood and smoke and that read "Respect God and Love People" still stood quietly.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

September 19:

After thinking about it, let's move on to the final battle.

Because at first glance, the deputy chief line has also written more than 30 chapters

Of course, there will be candy after this! The abuse is someone else, and if the deputy chief appears, he will not abuse the deputy chief!

I'm a little late for today's update, I'm sorry [Tsuchisa Seat.]

A little note:

Kikujiro, who is missing a leg in this chapter, is Saigo Kikujiro, the son of Saigo Takamori.

Mr. Oyama, who was arrested as mentioned by the sister, was Tsunara Oyama, an official like a counselor in Kagoshima, so he was beheaded after the end of the Southwest War.

Murata Shinhachi in this chapter,In the Taiga drama "Saigo Palace", he is a handsome guy, he can speak French and play the accordion, the general background has been introduced in this chapter, in short, although he is a talent, but in the end he died in battle.

Next update: Every other day, the 21st w

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Thanks to the little angel who threw [Mine]: Immortal Limit, Meow Meow 1;

Thanks to the little angel who irrigated [the nutrient solution]:

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!