Ryuizumi was stunned for a moment, but saw Hijikata standing up silently from the hiding place in the shadows outside the hall, and reached for the hilt of the knife at his waist.

Liu Quan understood what he meant in an instant. She immediately followed and stood up, ahead of everyone, and rushed into the hall a few steps ahead.

“...... It's unfortunate that even a fool like me isn't that easy to clean up!" she cried out, a mocking, fearless smile on her face.

In the next second, Heisuke's energetic voice followed.

"That's it! and...... I'm life or death, don't decide for me so casually!"

The person who followed closely behind Heisuke was Okita.

"Chizuru, are you alright?"

He didn't make a handsome appearance like Yanagiizumi and Heisuke, and after breaking into the hall, his eyes quickly locked on Chizuru's position. When he saw Chizuru standing by unharmed, and nodded his head quickly, he replied "It's okay" with a heartfelt sigh of relief, but then turned his angry gaze on Yukimura Tsunado and Yamanan.

"Why...... Why do you want to do such a thing?!" He squeezed a sentence out between his teeth, not knowing who he was asking.

Shannan didn't answer him, and with that incomprehensible soft smile still on his lips, he stood there quietly, watching their group of uninvited guests who dared to break into this place.

The last person to come in was Hijikata.

His appearance was even more low-key, and after he came in, he just stood silently beside Liu Quan, his hand pressed on the handle of the Taidao knife at his waist, and his eyes looked at Shannan and Yukimura Tsunado indifferently and calmly.

“...... Won't you say something, Hijikata-kun?" sensing his gaze, Shannan suddenly laughed, and asked defiantly in the gentle tone he had before.

Hijikata was silent for a moment, and then said lightly, "Who are the people in the Shinsengumi station you want to attack?" ”

...... Shannan knew that during the day, Liu Quan, who acted as the leader of the Ichiban team, was usually likely to patrol the streets, but he was not in the station. From the time when he was a deputy director, until now he has been promoted to the director of the bureau, he has always been bound by heavy desk work, and often stays in the station.

He originally wanted to attack, not Yanagiquan, but Hijikata?!

...... There's really no better way to show your surrender to the new government forces......

The smile on Shannan's face has not disappeared.

"Oh, who do you think it should be?" he didn't answer Hijikata's question, but asked Hijikata rhetorically with another question.

Hijikata did not speak.

At this time, it was Liu Quan beside him who suddenly interrupted the vague verbal wrestling between Shannan and Tufang.

"Anyway, those improved rakshasas are also very enjoyable to chop. ”

This sentence seemed to shatter Yukimura Tsunamichi's full confidence in an instant, and he asked rhetorically in a very stunned manner, "Could it be that my improved Rakshasa team was defeated by a few Rakshasas and a few weak humans?!"

This question made Hijikata laugh slightly.

"I don't know about the modified type or anything. However, if you want to defeat our Shinsengumi, even ten times the strength is not enough. ”

Yukimura Tsunado was speechless for a moment.

"Well, forget it. Shannan didn't look surprised at Hijikata's words, and showed a gentle smile that didn't change as usual.

"I think you're almost here......" he said to Hijikata, "and you didn't bring any other men...... If it's Hijikata-kun, it must be like this. ”

Hijikata snorted, counting as an answer.

"The appearance of Fujido-kun and Okita-kun is a little surprising. Shannan continued to say diametrically opposite words with an expression of no surprise.

“...... However, the most surprising thing is to see Kiyohara-kun appear here. His gaze finally fell on her for the first time after Willow Spring rushed into the hall, and his eyes were calm.

"Let a woman who is not a Rakshasa break into the enemy's camp...... And there are only four of you in total, don't you think it's too hasty?"

His definition of Yanagiquan caused Yukimura Tsunado to let out a sigh of surprise.

"Oh?" Yukimura seemed to be looking directly at the woman who was an unknown team member when he left the Shinsengumi for the first time, as if he was struggling to find information about her in his mind. "Kiyohara...... You're a Kiyohara Yukiya of the Ichiban group?!"

Liu Quan didn't bother to pay attention to him at all, and reluctantly nodded to him in response for Chizuru's sake.

"Remarkable, isn't it?...... Kiyohara-kun was a woman dressed as a man and joined the new selection group after the exam. Now, during the period of Okita-kun's recuperation, she is already the acting leader of the Ichiban group. However, Shannan unexpectedly introduced Willow Spring to Tsunado in a tone of praise that was as insincere as an advertisement.

When Shannan explained the origin of the willow spring to Yukimura Tsunado, Hijikata always looked straight at Shannan. Regarding Shannan's question just now, he did not say anything. At this time, he suddenly spoke, and asked in a calm tone in a low voice, "...... Tell us a little bit about the situation. Why don't you contact us?"

Shannan looked a little surprised for a while, but soon lowered his eyes as if he was a little sad.

"There is nothing you need in Sendai...... The Ou Alliance wants to avoid war. Hearing Aizu's repeated defeats, Sendai seemed to cringe. ”

These are all messages that Heisuke brought to you earlier, and even if you don't go into too much detail, you can almost guess how things are developing. Now Shannan's words once again confirm this cruel reality.

There was a brief and embarrassing silence in the hall.

Probably because there was no need to hide anything anymore, Tsunado opened his mouth.

"I was instructed by the new government forces to come to Sendai. His tone was a little low, without the smug and arrogant he had just had.

"The instructions say that he will lead the Rakshasa team to capture Sendai and completely destroy the Ou Alliance. His brow furrowed suddenly, "But, that's not what I intended. In any case, I can't keep up with the ideas of the new government army. ”

Shannan's eyebrows also frowned deeply, and a grim look appeared on his face.

"So I joined forces with him, who was dissatisfied with the new government army, and together I took control of Sendai. He added, "On the condition that they would not attack Sendai Castle, those people in the Sendai Domain, who were greedy for life and afraid of death, actually acquiesced in Tsunado-kun's stay here. During this time, the Rakshasas continued to accumulate strength. ”

At this time, Chizuru, the target of their invasion of Sendai Castle tonight, suddenly spoke out on the sidelines.

"Father...... Are you a companion of the old shogunate?"

Probably because in the arguing between the few people just now, Okita had quietly and secretly moved to a position close to Chizuru, and Chizuru was much more relieved, so a look of hope appeared on his face at this time, and he regained the courage to ask her father, who had reappeared after a long disappearance, but had become unrecognizable.

Yukimura Tsunado smiled softly at his daughter.

"I'm your companion, Chizuru. I'm not going to get involved in the struggle between humans. Let's take revenge on the humans who wiped out our people, and use our hands to create the kingdom of the oni race. ”

His contempt for humanity is unreservedly revealed in his tone.

The faces of everyone in the hall were different. Chizuru seemed to want to say something, but at this moment, countless black shadows suddenly broke into the hall from outside.

They all have crimson eyes and silver-white hair.

Shannan smiled softly, "Ah, they seem to have noticed the intruders too." ”

"In this city, there are not only the Rakshasas of the new government army, but also the Rakshasas of our new selection group who remain here. He smiled as if he were explaining the situation to the first few intruders.

"All the rakshasas in the country are now gathered here. ”

Including the new Rakshasa that was improved by Yukimura Tsunado, the original members of the Shinsengumi, and the cadres of the Shinsengumi, who drank the water on their own - Shannan, Okita, and Heisuke......

In the brightly lit hall, Shannan, who was dressed in a dress, seemed to be smiling very happily.

I have to say that the dress is more suitable for his clothing, which sets off his handsome temperament well. He doesn't look at all like a dangerous man driven by the toxicity of turning water, or a crazy careerist who can abandon his long-standing beliefs and join hands with ghosts and enemies.

...... Now, he still looks like the one she is familiar with, and she misses deeply, the former head of the Shinsengumi, who is gentle and powerful, full of confidence and strategy to control the situation, Keisuke Shannan.

This thought suddenly made Liu Quan feel a little sad for a moment.

She silently looked away, her right hand quietly touching her waist, touching the hilt of the sword stuck in her belt.

"Against the new government forces with Western-style weapons, this is the ultimate weapon that can defeat them. Shannan still said with a smile in that confident and proud tone.

There was no trace of rationality in the eyes of those rakshasas. They are just made, pure tools of killing. Such a creation, as Shannan said the night before leaving Shirakawa Castle for Sendai, is a failed work.

A twisted smile of excitement and madness appeared on Yukimura Tsunamichi's face.

"Come on...... Help me, Chizuru. For our chiefs, your saves are necessary. Use these rakshasas to revitalize the oni clan. ”

Hearing this frantic speech, Chizuru visibly flinched. Not because of fear or fear, but because of extreme sadness.

"I think you're wrong, father......" she replied bravely, and said loudly to the closest relatives in front of her, whom she was looking for at the cost of her life, "I will never approve of sacrificing others for the sake of creating my own country!"

...... Well said, Chizuru.

Liu Quan thought silently on the side.

is worthy of being an important person who should be the heroine. It deserves to be loved and protected by everyone in Shinsengumi...... As Shannan said, Chizuru's gentleness does not bring pain to others, but only encouragement and support......

Although weak, though gentle, although not very powerful...... But the person who has always adhered to his principles like this and supported everyone he values is the little girl Chizuru.

Even Yanagizumi couldn't help but applaud Chizuru's courage and determination.

For the sake of these people who have only been with them for a few years, it is not easy to abandon their father, who has nurtured them and has always relied on them for their lives. But Chizuru didn't seem to hesitate to do it.

This kind of noble gentleness is completely different from the stubbornness and bravery of "Kiyohara Yukiba" that is twisted in the dark.

As far as the original author's "Kiyohara Yukiba" is concerned, what she has abandoned is the dark past that has never been better for her than even a little bit, and the twisted family that has given her deep suffering and fear. She didn't need any struggle or contradiction to make such a decision, she just didn't hesitate to run towards the best light of her short life so far.

Therefore, the stubbornness and courage possessed by "Qingyuan Snow Leaf" are just the shell of the color and inwardness. It's just the price she tried to get in exchange for that little bit of good light. She had to fight with her life to get that qiē, so she only knew a way to fight for her life to pursue and obtain.

[That's why everyone treats you completely differently than they treat Yukimura-kun.] 】

Mr. Shannan, who smiled so gently in front of him, had once said such cruel and true things to her.

...... Mr. Shannan, who said this to her at the time, pierced the myth covering her eyes, even if he knew that saying this would cause her loss and pain...... Is it out of his own gentleness?

Liu Quan didn't know, and he didn't have an answer.

And at this moment, Shannan's attention doesn't seem to be on her.

He cast his gaze on the earth.

“...... It's also possible to help the Shinsenku. That's what Tsunade said. He said in a solemn tone, as if persuading.

"How's it going, Hijikata-kun, wouldn't it be good to lead these rakshasas to fight against the new government army together?" he raised his voice slightly, and his eyes seemed to glow with longing.

Hijikata answered him calmly and briefly.

My answer was already decided. ”

He has always respected Shannan and is faintly wary of Shannan. They often disagreed, long before Shannan became a rakshasa, but now Hijikata's purpose was clearer - to stop Shannan's near-frantic research on rakshasas and the changing water no matter what.

Shannan obviously knew this qiē as well.

With a choking sound, his sword came out of its sheath and was held in his hand, the tip of which pointed at the earth.