In order to become a Heroic Spirit, I had no choice but to cause trouble in history.

He needed to make sure Tokugawa Iemochi wouldn't run away.

Before long, a commotion arose outside.

Zuo Cun breathed a sigh of relief and rushed into the house.

Outside the courtyard, the Shinsengumi had already clashed with the Tenchu ​​Corps.

"Don't underestimate them, these guys are Mibu Wolves!" Okada Izo shouted to his team. "Protect yourselves, don't get killed. All we need to do is buy time!"

"Buying enough time is enough!"

Okita Souji coughed angrily: "Cough cough—you guys!"

Nagakura Shinpachi's eyes were icy as he slashed down a member of the Heavenly Punishment Team with a single blow: "Seriously, I thought this would be an easy job, but this kind of trouble has happened—are those guards at Ximen incompetent?"

"Let's focus on defense first. We can't let these people break in." Saito Hajime, still bandaged, joined the battle with a wry smile.

However, the target they want to protect—

Zuo Cun held the poison feather and looked at the woman blocking his way.

"I won't let you pass!" Her eyes were filled with tears of fear, but she resolutely opened her arms in front of Zuo Cun.

In front of her was Samura Anno holding a poison feather, and behind her was her husband, the husband she hated, Tokugawa Iemochi.

“And the palace.” Zuocun frowned.

"Shut up—you have no right to call me Your Highness, you traitor!" Kazumi shouted in fear and anger.

"Kamiya, it's unnecessary, you didn't need to... stand in front of me." Tokugawa Iemochi looked at the woman who was standing in front of him, tears welling in his eyes.

He was very weak, like the previous Tokugawa shoguns, he was a sickly man.

"Shut up, Iemochi!" Kazuya shouted sternly. "I'm not protecting you, I'm protecting the Emperor's face."

“Kazunari…” Tokugawa Iemochi stared blankly at Kazuunari.

"Please step aside, Your Highness. My only target is Tokugawa Iemochi," Samura sighed.

He had promised Mutsuhito that he would not harm his aunt and Princess Gong, and he could not break his promise.

“I know what you’re thinking, you despicable assassin.” Kazumiya trembled, trembling violently. “You’re going to kill my husband, and I won’t let you succeed—I absolutely won’t let you succeed!”

"You think you can gain the world by killing Jiamo? — Wishful thinking!"

She was so terrified that tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

She asked herself in her heart:

Oh no, what's wrong with me?

Don't I really dislike Tokugawa Iemochi?

He couldn't stabilize the situation in Japan, never won a war, and wasn't particularly tall.

I really hate him!

Why am I standing in front of him like this?

"Kami-no-miya—!" Tokugawa Iemochi forced himself to sit up and roared in grief and indignation.

Kazumi turned her head slightly, a fearful smile on her face.

"Get back!" Tokugawa Iemochi slammed his fist on the ground weakly. "His target is me, not you. Get back—"

thump.

"what......"

Zuocun withdrew his fist and looked at Kazumiya, who had collapsed to the ground unconscious.

"...You won't kill Kazumiya, promise me." Tokugawa Iemochi said through gritted teeth, looking at Samura.

He knew why all of this was happening, or rather, he had long anticipated this day.

Zuo Cun nodded silently.

When Tokugawa Iemochi saw that Samura had agreed, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"No... kill... Jiamo..." With a sliver of consciousness remaining, Kazumiya grabbed Zuocun's leg, still trying to stop him.

Samura ignored the palace and walked towards Tokugawa Iemochi.

"You are a wise ruler."

He said this as he walked.

"It's a pity you were born in the wrong era, an era that destined you to be unable to fully display your talents."

Tokugawa Iemochi felt no fear.

He lay down.

"I am killing you today not because of hatred."

"But it is to free this country from its shackles."

The poison feather was placed on Tokugawa Iemochi's neck.

"No—no!"

Kazumiya wanted to go in the direction the two were heading, and cried out at the top of her lungs.

Zheng—

Tokugawa Iemochi's head rolled to the ground.

He looked at the ceiling, a smile in his eyes.

That was mockery, mockery of oneself.

What a mess! We haven't accomplished anything.

"May you be a truly wise and virtuous ruler in your next life."

Ignoring the crying and screaming Kazumiya, Zuocun kicked open the door of the house.

With all his might, he roared, "Tokugawa Iemochi is dead—!!!"

Okada Izo is entangled with Saito Hajime. Although Saito Hajime is injured, Okada Izo still cannot gain the upper hand.

Hearing Zuo Cun's roar, he smiled and then roared back, "Retreat! Heavenly Punishment Team!"

The Tenchu ​​Squad, who were fighting against the Shinsengumi, fled as if their lives depended on it the moment they heard the order.

"What, General?!" Okita Souji felt his heart stop for a moment.

"You go after them! I'll go inside and check!" she quickly ordered.

"Understood, go after them!" Saito Kazuya felt utterly hopeless.

If the general fails to protect the guards, he will face severe punishment.

Okita Souji led a few men into the mansion, while the rest went after the Tenchu ​​Squad.

When Okita rushed into the house and opened the door, he saw Samura Anno sitting on the steps.

—And the head of Tokugawa Iemochi, which he was holding in his hand.

------------

Chapter 402 Shinsengumi - Okita Souji

"Saku...mura?" Okita Souji looked at Saku, who was sitting in the courtyard, in disbelief.

Zuocun did not respond.

In this operation, he had the most to do.

Holding Tokugawa Iemochi's head, Samura jumped up.

He wanted to draw attention and ensure that there wouldn't be too many casualties at the end of the operation.

Okita Souji quickly chased after him in the direction of Samura.

Shrinking the earth—!

The people chasing the Heavenly Punishment Team suddenly saw someone fly over their heads and were stunned for a moment.

Then Okita Souji's voice was heard: "That man is carrying the Shogun's head—go after him!"

"What?!" The squad leaders were all startled.

"...Toudou, you take the team and continue chasing those thugs. The rest of you—follow me!"

Okita Souji's expression was terrifying.

She didn't understand why this had happened, but she knew that if even the general's body couldn't be protected, the entire Shinsengumi would be doomed.

Toudou Heisuke led a group of his team members to chase after the Tenchu ​​Squad, while the remaining five squad leaders—Okita Souji, Nagakura Shinpachi, Saito Hajime, Inoue Genzaburo, and Harada Sanosuke—chose the figure in the air.

"—I'm fast, I'll speed up first, you guys hurry up and catch up!"

Okita Souji immediately activated the Shrinking Earth technique.

“Okay, you go first,” Saito Hajime replied.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After fleeing for some time, Zuocun Anuo suddenly stopped at a location outside the city.

Okita Souji appeared behind him.

"Aren't you planning to escape anymore, Samura-Anno!" Okita Souji looked at the figure with his back to him with anger and incomprehension.

"I'm not running away anymore." Zuo Cun smiled.

He placed Tokugawa Iemochi's head on the ground: "You are faster than me. Even if I move first, you can still catch up. I can't escape."

"Give me an explanation as to why you wanted to assassinate Tokugawa Iemochi," Okita Souji said angrily.

“He has become a stumbling block to the new era and must die.” Zuo Cun’s hand was already on the hilt of He He’s sword.

Okita Souji, having already drawn Kashuu Kiyomitsu, said, "I won't let you go."

"...Come and fight!" Without hesitation, Samura drew his sword, Tsuruha. "You are the Shinsengumi's number one genius swordsman. Let me see how you've grown over the years!"