I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 1156 Bowing to the Sword! Ogata Itsuki Presents the Sword!

"Glug...! Glug...! Glug...! Glug...!"

The chief was like a starving ghost, desperately shoveling food into the steaming hot porridge.

Of course, calling them starving ghosts is not entirely wrong.

She had been in a coma for more than half a year since she started drinking Ogata's blood.

For the past six months, she has only been able to drink some easily swallowed thin porridge or soup when she regains consciousness slightly, relying on her instincts... enough to keep her alive, but not enough to fill her stomach.

The accumulated hunger erupted like a volcano on this day... truly a case of being starved and desperately waiting to be fed!

The image she carved seems to wish she had more mouths to eat and more hands to hold the bowls and chopsticks.

In the blink of an eye, the bowl of hot porridge in her hand was completely devoured.

She held the empty bowl, licked her lips, and her eyes shone with a lingering sense of satisfaction.

"Um... can I have another bowl?"

She turned her head to look at Kinoshita Rin and the others beside her, revealing a shy expression.

Six clean, empty bowls were placed beside her bed—a meal she would never have dared to imagine under normal circumstances!

Kinoshita Rin smiled:
"of course."

The next moment, another bowl of hot porridge was handed to the commander.

As Mr. Kiryu served the porridge, he said softly:

"Xiao Si, eat slowly, no rush. If you finish eating, I can cook some more."

"Huh? Mr. Kiryu, did you cook this porridge?"

"I used to study cooking in Osaka. Does it suit your taste?"

"It's so delicious! I thought this porridge was made by the chef of some high-class restaurant!"

After saying that, she put her hands together, quickly said "I'm starting," and then went back into "whirlwind" mode.

As Souji wolfed down her food, Ogata, Omachi, Kiryu, and Kinoshita Rin sat around her, watching her with varying emotions.

Suddenly, Kiryu tapped Ogata's side with the tip of his right elbow and whispered:

"Is she... alright now?"

Ogata curled the corners of his mouth into a smile:

"Isn't it obvious?"

Upon hearing this, Kiryu couldn't help but raise his gaze and cast a look of half delight and half amazement at Souji in front of him.

Another person who successfully absorbed the "power of immortality" appeared before him... The feelings he had were truly indescribable!
A short while later, an eighth empty bowl appeared beside the chief's bed.

Mr. Kiryu asked enthusiastically:
"Xiao Si, would you like another bowl?"

The commander quickly waved his hand:

"No, no, I'm full. This is the most filling meal I've ever had in my life!"

With her hunger gone, her spirits lifted, and her mind became much clearer. The lingering confusion on her brow since she woke up gradually faded away.

She looked around, then at the unfamiliar ceiling, then at the unfamiliar walls... "Confusion" replaced "bewilderment".

"Where am I...?"

Kinoshita Rin answered softly:
"This is Osaka."

"Osaka? How did I get to Osaka? What's the date? Where's Aoto? Sanako? Mai? Where's everyone?"

Following "confusion," "fear" crept onto the chief's cheeks.

Kiryu's boss, on behalf of Kinoshita Rin, replied:
"Xiao Si, you don't need to worry."

"Many things happened during the time you were in a coma, too many to explain in a few words."

"We will patiently answer your questions."

……

……

Mr. Kiryu recounted in detail the changes in the world after Souji fell into a coma.

The establishment of the Southern Court, the Empress's ascension to the throne, Aoto becoming the supreme ruler of the Northern Court, the confrontation between the North and South, the Southern Army's large-scale attack, and the outbreak of the Battle of Toba-Fushimi...

The commander listened attentively, his facial expression constantly changing.

Because her memory was still stuck at the moment she "swallowed Ogata's blood", she was speechless with shock when she learned that she had been in a coma for several months and that it was now the second year of the Kuoten era, and even the emperor had changed (Katsu-no-miya ascended the throne).

At this moment, she felt as if she had been transported to another world.

She felt like the protagonist in the fairy tale "Urashima Taro," who had traveled in the Dragon Palace for several days and returned to shore after decades had passed in the human world.

Although her feelings were mixed and unpleasant, her sentiments lasted only a moment—her entire attention was instantly taken over by the ongoing battle.

Upon learning that Aoto was leading the Shinsengumi to block the "Southern Army" along the Toba-Fushimi line, she involuntarily clenched her fists, her knuckles turning slightly white, and her face filled with a solemn expression.

Finally, Mr. Kiryu finished speaking.

Souji, who had listened to the last words, touched his chest thoughtfully, then turned to look at Ogata.

"...Now that I've woken up, that must mean I've succeeded, right?"

She emphasized the word "success".

Ogata shrugged and joked:

"You should know more about the changes in your own body than I do, right?"

Upon hearing this, the commander instinctively took a deep breath, continuing until his chest was full and his lungs were bulging before stopping.

"My chest doesn't hurt anymore... Is this what it feels like to breathe freely...? I've almost forgotten what this feeling is like."

She grinned as she spoke, and took several deep breaths, just like a child excitedly playing with a new toy.

There was a time when she didn't dare to speak much, or even laugh much, because if she did, she would cough uncontrollably...

She thought she would never experience the feeling of "deep breathing" again.

Even now, just a moment ago, the crisp air flowed through her throat and into her lungs... There was no severe chest pain, no unbearable itching in her trachea.

This feeling is something I haven't experienced in a long time.

For the first time in her life, she felt that being able to breathe freely was an incredibly wonderful and blissful thing!

After a half-joking sigh, she stretched lazily, then her expression turned solemn again, and she murmured:

"...I woke up at just the right time."

The next moment, with a soft "whoosh," she suddenly threw off the quilt covering her.

"Miss Lin, Mr. Kiryu, where is my knife?"

After Kashuu Kiyomitsu's sword was damaged in the Battle of Ikedaya, Aoto helped her find a new one. Although it was made by an unknown swordsmith, it was a high-quality sword.

As she asked the question, she suddenly sprang to her feet—

"what?"

With a surprised exclamation, her body shook violently like a roly-poly toy, and then fell straight to the ground.

Fortunately, Atachi, who was closest to her, reacted quickly and nimbly stepped forward to support her precisely and promptly.

"Xiao Si, are you alright?"

Atachi asked with concern.

"I...I'm fine...I'm just a little unsteady on my feet..."

Souji blinked a few times, then lowered his head in a daze, looking at his legs.

The Kiryu boss said calmly:
"Of course."

“You’ve been lying in bed for so long, all your muscles have weakened.”

"Right now, you even have difficulty standing up."

"You will need some time to recover and regain your former health."

Upon hearing this, Souji immediately puffed out his cheeks like a squirrel, revealing a defiant expression.

Without a word, she broke free from Atachi's embrace, spread her legs, and exerted force with her waist—her body swayed a few times before regaining its stability.

"Mr. Kiryu, please take a look!"

As she spoke, she opened her arms, making a "How about it?" gesture.

"My legs are perfectly fine!"

"I just got up too quickly and lost my balance!"

"I'm in a really good state right now!"

Looking at the steady-standing Souji, Mr. Kiryu's eyes widened in surprise.

Although he was not a professional doctor, he had studied some medical skills—he had previously studied some traditional Chinese medicine in Nara and some Western medicine in Nagasaki.

In his mind, a person who has been lying in bed for more than half a year could not possibly stand up.

Let alone standing up, it's already quite difficult to even sit up.

Unexpectedly... today, he witnessed a "medical miracle" firsthand.

This unexpected slap in the face plunged him into a brief state of confusion...

Suddenly, Ogata, who had been silent until now, interrupted abruptly: "...Tsukasa, you're not going to Toba or Fushimi, are you?"

The commander answered without hesitation:

"Of course! I am the captain of the first division of the Shinsengumi! Now that my illness is gone, what reason do I have not to fight?"

Ogata spread his hands:

I advise you to rest for a few days first.

"Although you are physically fine, there is no way you could have avoided the negative effects of being in a coma for so long."

No sooner had Ogata finished speaking than Kinoshita Rin added:
“That’s right. You’ve only just woken up, so you should rest for a while longer.”

"It's a pity I didn't bring a mirror, otherwise I would really like to show you—you don't look well right now."

"I'll have a doctor come and give you a full check-up in a bit."

Ogata and Kinoshita Rin's coordinated efforts... had absolutely no effect.

"No! I can't wait even a second longer!"

The commander-in-chief cast a straight, unwavering gaze at them, his voice rising inch by inch.

"Qingdeng and his men are fighting a bloody battle! How can I stand idly by? If something terrible happens on the front lines while I'm enjoying my leisurely life here, I'll never forgive myself!"

Kinoshita Rin lowered her eyelids, her expression and tone becoming stern:
“You’re not living a leisurely life; you’re recuperating. When you’re sick, you need to recover; when you’re injured, you need to heal. That’s only natural.”

She paused briefly, then spoke slowly and deliberately, in a serious tone:
"...Tachibana-kun entrusted you to me. If something happens to you, I won't be able to face him in the future."

Instantly, a tense atmosphere filled the room and the surroundings.

Souji and Kinoshita Rin stared intently at each other, neither willing to give in.

Kiryu looked at Souji, then at Kinoshita Rin... a meaningful expression lingered on his face.

A moment later, he slowly raised his left leg and assumed a kneeling position.

Then--

call out!
He suddenly pulled out the wakizashi from his waist!

The sharp blade, flashing with a cold light, sliced ​​through the air, drawing a beautiful fan shape, and swept towards Souji's body!
The sudden and unexpected attack caused Souji's pupils to shrink to pinpoints instantly.

Kiryu's strike was swift.

But the commander-in-chief reacted even faster!

In a split second, she instinctively leaped backward, narrowly avoiding Kiryu's slash.

"what……?"

After her feet landed back on the ground, Souji blinked her beautiful eyes a few times, her face showing surprise.

Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt that... her reaction speed seemed to have increased.

If she had been healthy before her illness, she could have easily dodged the attack.

However... they wouldn't have such keen reflexes...

Just as Souji was still confused, Kiryu had already sheathed his sword, turned his gaze, and looked at Kinoshita Rin with a serious expression.

"My lord, since Xiao Si was able to dodge my attack just now, she should be fine."

Souji was taken aback for a moment, then immediately reacted. He first gave Kiryu a grateful look, and then cooperated with him, applying "pressure" to Kinoshita Rin with a firm gaze.

Looking at Kiryu, who was "siding with outsiders," Kinoshita Rin twitched her lips a few times, glaring at him with a mixture of displeasure and helplessness.

Just then, Kinoshita Rin seemed to realize something, frowned slightly, and looked around.

"...Huh? Where are he and Atachi?"

Because Souji didn't know Ogata's true identity—only that he was a reclusive master with "miraculous blood" who usually disguised himself as a "wagashi master"—Kiryu and Kinoshita Rin were both careful not to call Ogata by his real name in front of Souji, only referring to him as "he".

A single sentence awakened them from their reverie. Souji and Kiryu, the shopkeeper, belatedly realized that Ogata and Omachi had both disappeared.

They left at some unknown time; the couple was no longer in the room.

Speak of the devil and he appears—as they searched for Ogata and his wife, Ogata's voice drifted from outside the house.

"Oh, thank goodness, you're still here."

Ogata pushed open the door and returned to the sight of everyone.

Compared to before, he now carried something extra—a knife tightly bound with old strips of cloth slung over his shoulder.

"Xiao Si, here you go."

He threw the knife as he spoke.

The commander exclaimed "Huh?" and hurriedly raised his arms to catch the knife without any real danger.

"This is……?"

Ogata smiled:

"As you can see, this is a knife. It's been with me for quite a while, and I've always wanted to give it away, but I haven't found the right person. Somehow, I feel that you'd be a good match for it, so I've decided to entrust it to you."

"knife……?"

As a samurai who is obsessed with swords, Souji is naturally interested in all kinds of swords.

She lowered her head and stared intently at it.

"Can I remove the strips of cloth?"

"Of course. This knife is yours from now on, and you can do with it as you please."

Upon hearing this, the commander-in-chief did not delay any longer. He hurriedly untied the strips of cloth and peeled them off one by one, like unwrapping a bandage... Soon, the full appearance of the knife came into view.

This is a typical katana, with a large curve in the blade and an extremely long edge, nearly 80 centimeters long.

At first glance, it seems to have no other distinguishing features besides its exquisite knife fittings.

However, with careful observation, one can discover that the area near the handle is decorated with a sixteen-petaled chrysanthemum pattern and a horizontal line.

Although Souji is not a professional sword appraiser, he has basic sword appraisal skills and at least knows the appearance of various famous swords.

Therefore, upon seeing this unique pattern, her expression immediately changed, her cheeks filled with disbelief.

"This...this knife, could it be..."

She raised her eyes and looked at Ogata, unable to contain her excitement.

"As far as I know, this knife has long been lost, but there are rumors circulating in the city that it is being kept by a hermit..."

Ogata shrugged, his expression playful.

"Yes, this rumor is true; it was indeed kept by a samurai."

The excitement and disbelief on Souji's face had reached an unprecedented level.

She gripped the knife tightly, her eyes swirling with a variety of emotions.

After a brief silence, she opened her lips, as if preparing to say something.

Before she could speak, Ogata saw through her intention and interrupted her preemptively:

"Don't tell me, 'This is too valuable, I can't accept it.'"

"Swords are tools. Only when they are used to cut can they truly become swords."

“A dusty object left in the attic cannot be considered a sword.”

"Take it without worry. And then... let it become a real sword."

Ogata's tone was full of unyielding force.

He was saying cool things just a second ago.

However, in the next second—

"...How long are you going to stand at the door?"

"Ah, sorry sorry."

Ogata smiled apologetically and obediently stepped aside.

Ogata, who had been kept out of the door, stepped on the small pieces of cloth and placed the stack of clothes she was holding at Souji's feet.

The commander recognized them immediately—these were her clothes.

A purple kimono, white hakama, black tabi socks, a purple ribbon specifically for tying hair... and the most important piece, a light blue haori.

One delivered weapons, the other brought clothes... Watching the couple working together so well, Kinoshita Rin, who was being "isolated," looked puzzled.

"Hey, are you guys serious? You really want Tsukasa to go to Toba and Fushimi?"

She gave Ogata a special look.

"Didn't you just advise Xiao Si to rest quietly?"

Ogata smiled:
"In my personal opinion, I do tend to prefer that she stay in Osaka."

"But...you saw the look in her eyes just now, didn't you?"

"A half-baked person wouldn't have that kind of look in their eyes."

"What right do we old people have to point fingers at young people who follow the right path?"

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