"I'm sorry, Ogata-kun, but we can only send you here, the next road...... You'll have to go on your own. ”

"Hmm." Ogata nodded slightly, "Thank you for coming to see me off, I wasn't alone until I left the Hirose Domain...... It makes me happy. ”

"Ogata-kun, let me ask." Kuranaga said softly, "Have you figured out where you're going after leaving the Hirose Domain?" ”

"Well...... I haven't thought about it yet, so let's leave the Hirose Domain first. ”

"The world is so big, don't worry about having nowhere to go."

"If you're lucky, you might even find a new place to stay."

"Anyway—"

Ogata raised his hand and put it on the blade of the knife on his left waist.

"In this day and age, as long as there is a knife, you can go anywhere."

"Huh." Kuranaga chuckled, "That's right. ”

With that, Kurayong slowly knelt on the ground.

He raised his hand and grabbed the two plackets of his kimono, then pulled them neatly to the left and right, revealing his chest and abdomen.

"So...... I'm almost on my way......"

Kuranaga pulled a sword from his waist.

Unsheath your sword.

The sharp blade reflected a dazzling light in the sunlight, and Ogata couldn't help but squint his eyes slightly.

Kneeling on the ground, exposing his belly, pulling out his sword—it was self-evident what Kuranaga was going to do.

“…… Kuranaga-sama. ”

Ogata said softly.

"You told me before...... Regardless of whether the assassination attempt against Gennai Matsudaira is won or lost, you will commit suicide by disembowelment...... I thought you were joking with me......"

"I'm not kidding." Kuranaga smiled, "I'm serious. ”

"For the sake of justice, I planned the assassination of the sovereign."

"But I can't completely let go of my samurai identity, let go of the bushido ......"

"Since I was alive, I didn't have the means to carry out the 'loyalty' of bushido."

"At the very least, then—let me die as a samurai when I die."

"At the end of my life, be a samurai again......"

"And...... With the shogunate's ability, it was only a matter of time before I found out that I was behind this assassination......"

"Anyway...... In the future, the shogunate will definitely order me to apologize for my sins. ”

"Since sooner or later you are going to die, it's better to cut your stomach neatly now."

"It's better to take the initiative to disembowelize than to be ordered by the shogunate to have a caesarean section......"

"My family has been entrusted to trusted friends."

"Ogata-kun, your injuries have largely recovered now, and you can leave the Hirose Domain."

"I'm ...... now There are no worries anymore, nothing that can't be let go. ”

“…… The eldest of the family. Ogata raised his left hand and pressed his knife blade, "Do you need me to make a mistake for you?" ”

"No need." Kuranaga smiled bitterly, "There are too many innocent people who have died because of me......"

"So many people died because of me, and I killed so many people indirectly, how can I die happily alone?"

“…… I know. ”

Ogata sighed lightly and lowered his left hand, which was holding down the sword.

"That'...... My lord, I'll go first. ”

"We'll ...... in the future See you again in Yellow Springs. ”

"Hmm." Kuranaga nodded slightly, "Ogata-kun, I wish you - Martial Luck Prosperity!" ”

"Well, I wish you good luck too."

“…… Ogata-kun. The flying ape, who had not spoken since just now and had been standing silently next to Kuranaga, suddenly said in a voice, "Goodbye......

"Flying Ape, you have to take care."

"I will."

Speaking of which? The flying ape paused.

Subsequently? As if remembering something, Asakira said:

"Ogata-kun? Let me give you a piece of advice......"

"After leaving the Hirose Domain? You have to be careful - don't provoke the ninja who doesn't know the fire. ”

"I didn't know where I was born."

"So I know better than anyone what a terrifying force is in the fire......"

"In the future, if you encounter a ninja from Shiranui, please remember to be vigilant."

"Don't you know the fire......" Ogata chewed on the word? " Okay, I will. ”

And then ...... I don't have anything else to say. "Tell me? The flying ape slowly knelt down on one knee beside Kuranaga? "Ogata-kun, I wish you the same ...... Wu Yun Changlong. I must live, until I die of old age. ”

Ogata smiled, "I'll borrow your good words." ”

……

……

Kuranaga didn't immediately stab the sword into his belly.

Instead, he silently watched Ogata leave.

As Ogata's figure was about to disappear into the horizon, Kuranaga noticed Ogata's figure and paused.

According to Kuronaga's guess - this could be because Ogata is stopping? Look back at them.

After looking back at them for a while? Ogata's figure, which was blurred by distance, sank into the horizon completely.

Kuranaga looked at it.

All that was left was sunlight, wind, grass, dirt, himself, and the flying ape beside him.

“…… Flying Ape. Kuranaga said softly, "You...... Free. ”

"You don't have to die with me."

"Leave the Hirose Domain like Ogata-kun and live freely, or find another lord to serve."

"Nope." The flying ape shook his head gently, "Lord? I will not leave the Hirose Domain, or yours. ”

"I haven't repaid your kindness yet."

"How can I leave you without permission?"

"My kindness to you? You're done paying it off a long time ago. Kuranaga said helplessly.

"Nope." The flying ape shook his head solemnly, "Not yet." ”

"My lord, your kindness to me? The flying ape has not been able to pay it off for several lifetimes. ”

Speaking of this, a reminiscence and ...... appeared on the ape's face The color of loneliness.

"In the ignorance of the fire? Only those who are good at assassination and good at fighting can get ahead? in order to gain everyone's respect. ”

"Male ninjas who are not good at assassination and fighting will be spurned, despised, and bullied."

"A female ninja who is not good at assassination and combat will be captured and used as a fertility tool? Or be given to a meritorious ninja as trophies. ”

"I'm just a loser and ......runaway who can't master the art of assassination and can't stand the bullying of the rest of the ninjas in Shiranuihuo."

"It was your lord who gave me a place to stay."

"Gave me the meaning of this loser's existence."

"Your kindness to me is inexhaustible no matter what."

"I will always serve you."

"Follow you to the ends of the earth."

"Even if you want to go to Huangquan, my lord, I will help you open the way on Huangquan Road without hesitation."

With that, the flying ape pulled out the wakicha he had with him.

"So—my lord, I'll go first."

After saying this, the flying ape stabbed the hypochoke in his hand to his throat without any hesitation.

The blade pierced through the ape's throat and then through the back of the ape's neck.

After collapsing to the ground and spasming for a while, the flying ape slowly lost its life......

“…… Alas. Kuraga let out a long sigh.

The expression on his face was quite ...... It's complicated, I don't know if I'm laughing or crying.

"What a ...... Stupid...... Why do you want to be my burial companion......"

After this exclamation. Kuranaga took a deep breath.

Then slowly raise your head and look at the blue sky overhead.

“…… It's a nice day. ”

"There's no chance to go to next year's cherry blossoms...... Is...... It's a pity......"

With that, Cang Yong stabbed the sword in his hand into his left abdomen without any hesitation.

Then, with both hands, he cut the sword inserted into his left abdomen little by little to his right abdomen......