I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

After seeing the figures of the three Ogatas about to sink into the distant horizon, Skulucci turned his head and said loudly to Vasili who was not far away:

"Vassily! Are you ready?"

"Boss! Just finished preparations!" Vasily said loudly, "Everything has been loaded into the car, and I have checked it! There is nothing missing!"

After the war, Chanup also kept his promise and donated half of Heyezhe's property to Skulucci.

Because of his excessive possessions, Chanup also generously donated several sleigh carts to Skulucci, so that they could use the sleigh carts as wagons.

Hearing what Vasili said, Skulucci nodded: "Very good! Then let's go back too!"

Skulucci got on his horse and said, "Mr. Chanup, we are leaving first too. Take care of yourself and see you again if there is a chance in the future."

Chanup nodded vigorously: "You too! Take care!"

After saying goodbye to Chanup, Skulucci turned his gaze and looked at the subordinates who were all ready to go: "Let's go!"

Skulucci took the lead in knocking on the horse's belly, and steered the horse under his crotch to move forward slowly, moving away from the Red Moon Fortress.

Vasily and the others followed closely, and after a short while, a long snake formation crisscrossing forward appeared on the snow field.

Skulucci took a deep breath of the cold morning air, and then slowly exhaled: "The weather today is quite good. Vasili, look at the sun, today will be a very sunny day."

"That's right." Vasily let out a sigh of relief after agreeing, "I can finally go back..."

"What? Are you not used to living in an Ainu house?" Scruucci asked.

"Well. I have never been used to the living and eating habits of the Ainu people." After that, Vahiri turned his head and glanced at the fortress that had been gradually thrown behind them, "I didn't expect... The Cossacks, who are famous for 'doing no evil', would risk their lives to help a group of Ainu people."

After all, Vasily showed a helpless smile, and turned his gaze back to Skulucci who was on the side.

"Boss, you really are a weirdo."

"Hahahaha." Skulucci looked up to the sky and laughed, "Thank you for the compliment. You don't think I'm a traditional Cossack—this is a great compliment for me."

"Boss,

I still don't get it. Why on earth did you come to help those Ainu people? Although we received a very generous reward in the end, the price of obtaining this generous revenge is too high. If one is not good, we might all die. "

"Every time I ask you this question, you slam it with 'because that's what I want to do', can't you explain it a little more clearly?"

"Can you explain it more clearly..." Skulucci repeated in a low voice what Vasily said just now, and then smiled, "Okay, while I am in a good mood today, then I will explain it more clearly .”

"Vassili, do you know Don Quixote?"

""Don Quixote"? Isn't this the novel you always read, Boss? It's the one used to fight knights, isn't it?"

"That's right." Skulucci cleared his throat, "The protagonist of that book lives in an era where knights have been extinct for more than a century."

"In this era when there were no knights, the protagonist of that book lost his mind because of reading knight novels. He decided to follow the knights in the novel. He gave himself a new name: 'Don Quixote' De', then rode on a broken horse, put on a tattered suit of armor, and started to go around fighting for justice."

"Ah? From your description, this Don Quixote seems to be a fool." Vasili expressed his opinion.

"If you think so, then you're right." Scruzzi cast admiring glances at Vasili, "What that Don Quixote did, in the eyes of others, is indeed no different from a fool."

"But I really appreciate Don Quixote's stubbornness in wanting to imitate the knight-errant and go around doing justice."

"Vassili, you just need to interpret me who decided to help those Ainu people as a fool like Don Quixote."

"Huh?" Vasili opened his mouth wide, "What is this all about? After you explain it like this, I can't understand it even more..."

"Hahahahaha." Skulucci looked up to the sky and laughed loudly, "If you don't understand, just understand slowly!"

...

...

Red Moon Fortress——

"Ogata-kun and the others left... As expected, they are still very reluctant..." Aizan let out a long sigh.

Ahili, who was walking beside Aizan, nodded in agreement.

Counting this "Battle of Red Moon Fortress Attack and Defense", Ogata has already saved China Village twice. So when Ogata and the others left, almost all the villagers in Kina Village came to see Ogata and the others off.

Now that Ogata and the others have left, those who came to see him off also naturally disbanded.

Aizan and Ahili walked at the back of the villagers of China Village who returned to their residence.

The two of them are the two Ainu who Ogata and Atachi are the most familiar with each other in the Red Moon Fortress, so they naturally have mixed feelings about Ogata and Atachi's further journey.

"I don't know if there will be a chance to see them again..." Ashley muttered softly.

"I think—maybe we can meet Ogata-kun again soon, but in a different way." Aizan showed a meaningful smile.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Ashley asked back.

"Ogata-kun is a great hero who saved us all." Aizan said with a smile, "I have a hunch—I'm afraid it won't be long before a brand new heroic epic will appear."

Ahili showed a look of understanding, and then the look of understanding slowly turned into a look of hesitation: "But... Mr. Ogata is Kazuto. Can Kazuto become the protagonist of our heroic epic?"

"It is true that there is no such precedent. But—since there is no precedent, wouldn't it be enough to create a precedent?" Aizan put on a serious tone, "Ahili, if there is no such thing as Ogata-kun in the future If it's a heroic epic, then it's up to the two of us to set the precedent."

"Me?" Ashley had a look of surprise on his face.

"You and I have been together with Ogata-kun for a not-too-short period of time, and it is perfect for the two of us to compile it." Aizan said seriously, "Ogata-kun has saved our Qina Village twice, I don’t want our descendants to remember forever—there was such a hero who could eclipse the heroes of other heroic epics.”

"...I see." Yahili nodded vigorously, smiling brightly, "Mr. Aizan, when you decide to start compiling a heroic epic with Mr. Ogata as the protagonist, please be sure to let me participate!"

"Then let's put it that way." Aizan also showed a bright smile like Ahili.

...

...

After Ogata and the others left, Chanup and the others were also on their way home.

"Raitannoe, I didn't expect that you really came to see Ogata-kun and the others off." With a helpless expression, Chanup looked at his son who was wrapped like a rice dumpling and was surrounded by his son: Pucci Retannoe supported by Nana.

"They are our benefactors." Lei Tannoe said indifferently, "The benefactor is leaving, if I don't get up and send him off, it would be too rude... Hiss! Puccina! You touched my wound just now! "

"Yes, I'm sorry!" Puccina, whose body was also wrapped in large and small linen cloths, hurriedly said.

"Father." At this moment, Asuma's voice sounded from behind Chanup.

"What's the matter?" Chanup turned his head to look at Aisuma who was quickly approaching behind him.

"Father, if you have time, go talk to Otumpuyi." Asuma said in a low voice, "He's been taciturn and weird recently."

"He has always liked Ogata-kun before. When Ogata-kun first came to us, he always pestered Ogata-kun and asked Ogata-kun to introduce Kazuto's life to him."

"But when I went to see off Ogata-kun just now, I almost didn't say anything, I just said to Ogata-kun and the others, 'I wish you all the best of luck'."

"I asked him what was the matter and he didn't say anything."

Hearing this, Chanup raised his eyes and looked at Otongpuyi who was walking behind them, not a short distance away from them.

Farewell to Ogata—Chanup and his family have all gone.

For the strangeness of Otunpuyi in the recent period, Chanup actually also noticed it. At first he only thought that Otunpuyi was too tired to speak because he was busy assisting Kunoya to treat the wounded, but now it seems that this is not the case.

After pursing his lips, Chanup nodded, "I see. I'll go and talk to him now. I may walk slower with Otunpu later, so you don't have to pay attention to us."

After finishing speaking, Chanup turned around and walked towards Otongpuyi behind.

"Otumpui."

"Father?" Otunpuyi, who was walking with his head down, raised his head and cast a puzzled look at Chanup, who was walking quickly towards him.

"Is there anything on your mind recently?" Chanup and Otunpuyi walked side by side, "I've been seeing you looking depressed recently."

"I'm fine..." Otto Puyi whispered.

"You don't look like you're okay at all." Chanup said quietly, "Your sister is quite worried about you. Just now she ran to me with an anxious face and told me about you. I'm worried."

Otunpuyi, who lost his mother since childhood, has always regarded his sister as his mother. After hearing Chanup mentioning his sister, his expression changed slightly.

"If you have something on your mind, just say it. Now there are only you and me nearby, and you don't have to worry about being overheard." Chanup added.

Chanup, father and son, are now far behind Lei Tannoe and others who are walking in front of them. There is no one else around.

Chanup's voice fell for a long time.

And Aotongpuyi was silent for a long time.

Finally—Otongpuyi gritted his teeth as if he had made up his mind, and said slowly:

"Father...I used to...have always liked Heren, and yearned for the life of Heren."

"Father... I won't hide it from you... When I first fought with someone, I was actually more inclined to surrender..."

"I don't think there's anything wrong with surrendering Kazuto and then being forced to become a 'naturalized Ezo'... You can live an advanced life based on this, and you don't have to rely on hunting in the mountains for a living..."

"However... After treating the wounded with Miss Kunoya, and witnessing many familiar people around me become extremely miserable due to the aggression of Heren, I found that... I seem to be gradually becoming indifferent to Heren I like it so much..."

"I feel that Kazuto is not as kind, cordial, and worthy of my vision as I imagined..."

"I don't know how to use specific words to describe my current state...I'm...maybe I'm at a loss..."

"I used to dream of going to Heren, but now... I can't like Heren anymore..."

Chanup listened quietly, nodding now and then.

After the voice of his son, who was only over ten years old, fell, Chanup said without thinking:

"Otongpuyi, do you hate Kazumi?"

"……Maybe."

"If what you hate is Kazuto, then you hate the wrong person."

Otunpuyi turned his head and cast a puzzled look at Chanup.

"The thing you want to hate should be the 'something' that makes us and people have to fight each other. As for what this 'something' is, you have to think hard, think hard, and use your strength. Go think about it." Chanup said unhurriedly, "After you think about the answer, come to me and tell me your answer."

Having said that, Chanup showed a slight smile at Otunpuyi.

"When you figure out what the answer is, you will no longer be the kid who easily likes a certain nation and then casually hates a certain nation."

"I look forward to your answer and your growth."

After speaking, Chanup strode away from Otunpuyi, leaving Otunpuyi to continue to move forward thoughtfully.

"Father, how are you talking with Otumpuyi?" After Chanup came back, Aisuma couldn't wait to ask Chanup.

"The chat is okay." Chanup smiled, "Let's wait slowly."

"Wait? What are you waiting for?" Aisuma asked.

"Wait for Otongpuyi to realize his own answer."

"Father, what are you talking about?"

"Hmm... Where should I start to explain..." Chanup smiled wryly.

...

...

In Ezo, on a snowfield not far from the Red Moon Fortress——

Ogata's group of three people and two horses, on this snowy field, followed Lin Ziping's command, and marched towards the northeast at a leisurely speed.

Ah Ding rides on Grape alone.

The radish has to work harder, and it has to carry Ogata and Lin Ziping at the same time.

"Today's weather is really nice." Ogata rested his right hand on his eye socket, looking at the bright sun above his head.

"Yes." Lin Ziping, who was sitting behind Ogata, said calmly, "It's really a suitable day for going out for a long trip."

Speaking of this, Lin Ziping paused, and after a while he let out a sigh of relief, and said in a joking tone:

"I didn't expect... that I would have a day to travel with the famous executioner Yidao Zhai..."

Lin Ziping is one of the only two people who know Ogata's various nicknames together with Shendu in the Red Moon City Fortress. Together with Shendu, he helped Ogata keep the secret of his identity in a very tacit understanding.

But now, there were no outsiders around, and Lin Ziping could finally boldly call him the famous name "Executioner Yidao Zhai".

"Speaking of this kind of thing, I'm afraid it will make many people envious." Lin Ziping continued at this time, "Mr. Ogata, I don't know if you are clear-you are among the general public, but you are affected by many people. You are welcome."

Ogata heard similar things in Shendu last night.

"I have always felt sincere and sincere about this." Ogata smiled helplessly, "I have never felt that what I have done so far deserves such respect from others..."

"Mr. Ogata, you are too modest." Lin Ziping shrugged, "In the eyes of many people who dislike the shogunate, you are a hero who stood up to the sky and did what we have always wanted to do but dare not do— Just like me."

"Oh?" Ogata glanced at Lin Ziping behind him, and said in a half-joking tone, "Do you admire me too?"

"It's more about respect than worship." Lin Ziping smiled. "At the beginning, when I learned that you had breached one of the symbols of the shogunate—the Nijo Castle, I was so excited that I danced with my arms and legs."

"It's been too long since anyone dared to challenge the authority of the shogunate." Lin Ziping put on a serious face, "According to my judgment, the current shogunate has reached a state of indestructibility."

"For me, the more people like you who dare to challenge the authority of the shogunate, the better! In this way, maybe the shogunate can be forced to make new changes!"

"Brave man?" Ogata laughed dumbly, "It's the first time I've heard someone call me a man of the day..."

"I'm sure - if the Edo shogunate doesn't try to change, there will be more and more people who have fallen behind the shogunate."

Speaking of this, Lin Ziping paused, and then changed his tone half-joking.

"By that time, those shogunate warriors might respect you as the 'ancestor of the shogunate warriors', thinking that you were the first person who dared to challenge the authority of the shogunate."

"That's terrible..." Ogata twitched the corners of his lips, "I don't want to see my name being used as a banner..."

"Mr. Lin." At this moment, Ah Ding suddenly interjected. "Isn't it just a matter of walking straight ahead?"

"That's right." Lin Ziping nodded, "According to the current speed, it will take about 3 days to go straight forward."

"That weird and human doctor is quite far away from here, you have to be mentally prepared."

"We're not afraid to spend time." Ogata sighed softly, "We're just afraid that we'll be in vain in the end..."

...

...

Edo, the mansion where Gourdya and his party lived——

call--! call--! call--!

In the huge courtyard, Lin is the only one now.

Lin stood alone in the middle of the courtyard, holding a wooden knife tied with many large stones, practicing Suzhen there.

Because of the many stones tied to it, the weight of this wooden knife has reached an astonishing value.

However, Lin swung such a heavy wooden knife very steadily. When he slashed the wooden knife forward heavily, there was no mess in the path of the knife.

Just when Lin was silently practicing swordsmanship alone, she suddenly heard footsteps coming from beside her.

"Katsurokuro?" Lin put down the wooden knife in her hand, turned her head to look at her subordinate Shimada who was walking towards her quickly.

"My lord," Shimada Masashiro said, "I've made up my mind—before we leave Edo, I've decided to visit my father."

"Have you finally decided..." Lin cast a somewhat gratified look at Shimada, "Then you can find a good time to go home later."

"If you want money to buy some souvenirs or something, just come to me and ask for money."

Shimada: "Yes!"

...

...

at the same time--

Edo, in a dark, deserted alley——

"Ha ha ha ha……"

In this gloomy, dirty alley where no one would normally come, there was a girl's panting suddenly.

A young girl wearing a dirty and old cloak ran hurriedly through the alley.

While sprinting, he looked back from time to time.

"what!"

At this time, her foot accidentally kicked a protruding stone on the ground.

Subconsciously, she let out a scream, and fell forward heavily, and a big dog eating shit came.

"it hurts……"

The girl got up from the ground, and there was a little cry in her voice.

She looked down at her left arm - when she fell down just now, her left arm was accidentally scraped by some sharp stones on the ground with bloodstains.

However—these bloodstains only appeared for a moment.

When the girl lowered her head to look at her wound, the bloodstains recovered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In just a few breaths, her arm was back to normal.

*****

*****

Originally, as expected, this chapter was the last chapter of Volume 7. It not only gave an explanation to all the main characters in Volume 7, but also laid a new suspense in the final part. It is the most perfect "final chapter".

But after various considerations, it was finally decided to list the last three chapters in the final volume.