When the sun rose high, Qianxin Jiang and Chu Xuan, who had been galloping for a long time, also had to stop and rest.

Although the distance from Harumayama Castle to Lake Nojiri was not far in terms of geographical area of China, it was actually from the center of Echigo's rule to near the border between Echigo and Shinano, which was equivalent to a quarter of the length of Echigo, and even if the two of them were not dragged down by a large army, it would be impossible for them to complete this distance in one go.

"Humility, give you rice balls and water."

When he got off the horse to rest, Chu Xuan took out a few rice balls from his arms, as well as a bamboo tube containing water, and handed them to Qianxin Sauce, who hung his head and said nothing.

"You...... I still remember to bring food and water out, it's really heartfelt. ”

Although his heart was very heavy, Kenshin-chan still took the rice balls and bamboo tubes.

The surface of the bamboo tube has become a little warm, and the rice balls don't seem to be so cold, which must be covered by Chu Xuan's body temperature.

Kenshin-chan was silently eating the rice balls, and suddenly thought of this in his heart.

However, she didn't think how disgusting it was to be holding the rice ball in the man's arms, and she didn't think that the salty taste in the rice ball might not be the salt crumbs sprinkled when kneading the rice ball, but Chu Xuan's sweat or something.

- Of course, this is because the rice balls are tightly wrapped in bamboo leaves, and it is definitely not because Qianxin-chan is full of love for Chu Xuan or anything.

But for some reason, eating the rice balls that had just been a little warm, Kenshin-chan felt as if a little warm current flowed down her esophagus to the bottom of her heart, soothing her heart that trembled with fear.

"Whew~"

After slowly eating the three rice balls and feeding the necessary "fuel" to his stomach, which had not eaten breakfast but did not feel hungry at all, Kenshin-chan held the bamboo tube with water in both hands, looked at the continuous green peaks in the distance, and let out a long breath.

After crossing the simple road between those mountains, she will soon reach Lake Nojiri, but "looking at the mountains and running a dead horse", she and Chu Xuan have already advanced to those mountains about half an hour ago, but it will take another half an hour to really reach the foot of the mountain.

It would take about two hours to cross the mountain road—in fact, the same distance would have taken half an hour or even a quarter of an hour on the plains, but as he got closer and closer to his sister, whose fate was uncertain, Kenshin-chan's mind unexpectedly calmed down.

"Chu Xuan, in the future...... Let's just live quietly together. ”

Qianxin-chan, who was in an unusually quiet mood, looked at the vibrant verdant peaks, and suddenly said lightly without looking back.

She didn't know why she had the idea of retreating to the mountains and forests at this time—perhaps she was tired of the retainers who fought and fought for their own gain, without thinking about the people under their rule.

But Qian Xinchan clearly knew that after saying this to Chu Xuan, she felt a lot more relaxed all over, as if the burden that had been pressing on her shoulders for a long time disappeared all at once.

At this time, Kenshin-chan suddenly remembered that the reason why she picked up the sword and became the head of the Uesugi family was only to support their family in place of her mother, who had to go to the Haruma Taisha to serve as a shrine maiden, so that her sister could continue to live in the "home" in peace.

Because her sister, who has always protected her, can't do this, so this time she can only protect her sister who has been protecting her.

As for the other "righteousness", "the world", "the people" or something, in fact, it is just the ideal she "set" for herself later, just so that she can take it more natural to deal with the murderous things that will cause people to bleed and die.

If...... If she can really live in seclusion this time, then hasn't she also achieved the original intention that she finally achieved with great difficulty?

As long as I can ...... with my sister and Chu Xuan, the three of them have been living quietly, so she can give up her ideals, ambitions, or whatever.

- Although she did think that she could be fearless and sacrifice everything for the sake of all the people of the world, when it came time for her to make the "right" judgment, she found that she was very afraid of losing her sister, and would rather give up the suffering people of the world in order to save her.

She's not as strong as she thinks, and she's just an ordinary girl.

After realizing this, Kenshin-chan felt a little frustrated, but also extremely relaxed.

Maybe I'm sorry for everyone who has always looked forward to her, I'm sorry for the soldiers and people who have always believed in her, and I'm sorry for my mother who fought in the north and south in order to make the Uesugi family the ruler of Echigo, and finally died in ambush, but Kenshin-chan still feels that being able to stay with her family all the time is more important to her than anything else.

Anyway, even without her and without Chu Xuan, this world will still continue to run along its due trajectory, and one day, all the people in this world will rely on their own will, their own hands, and their own bloody sacrifices to obtain a new world where no one will be oppressed and exploited!

There has never been a savior, and it doesn't depend on the Immortal Emperor!

It is up to us to create human happiness!

"Looks like you've come to your senses - about seclusion."

Chu Xuan walked unhurriedly to Qian Xinchan, who was sitting on the big stone, also looked at the green mountains in the distance, pushed down his reflective glasses expressionlessly, and asked lightly.

"Hmm...... I'm sorry. ”

Although Kenshin-chan hesitated for a few seconds, he nodded firmly, and his voice was full of tenderness for the first time.

But Chu Xuan knew that this gentleness was not for him, nor for Ayagozen, but for Qianxin-chan himself.

This girl who has been harvesting life with a sword in her hand for "other people's business", this girl who is willing to sacrifice everything for "all the people of the world", that is, many people in the world who have nothing to do with her, has finally learned to think about her own happiness.

"There is no need to apologize.

You are able to make that decision...... Very good.

I also hope that you can live the life you really want. ”

Although Chu Xuan still had that poker face, he nodded very seriously.

"I'll take care of the rest."

“……”

Qianxin-chan's heartstrings were quietly plucked, she turned her head, quietly stared at Chu Xuan's resolute face, and after a long time, she said softly:

"If possible, I would like to ...... with my sister And you go to the Spring Shrine to see my mother. (To be continued.) )