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

"From now on, whatever I do, I hope... you won't interfere."

Saigo Moritaka looked at the man who was on the verge of collapse and nodded silently.

Zuocun turned and left.

"I will cease operations after this operation."

He looked at Saigo Moritaka: "...Don't let Ryoma down."

Zuocun stepped out of the room and jumped high into the air.

His goal... is Edo.

Zuocun's departure did not bring about any changes.

After the Battle of Koshu and Shinshu, the pro-war faction of the shogunate was finally crushed by the new government forces.

On March 14, after intense and fierce negotiations, the new government began talks with the remnants of the shogunate.

Ultimately, both sides reached an agreement.

Edo Castle was surrendered without bloodshed.

The shogunate unconditionally handed over all its warships and weapons to the new government army, and at the same time, decided the fate of the shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu.

Tokugawa Yoshinobu will be sent to Mito to "live in seclusion".

In reality, it's just house arrest.

Sitting in the carriage on his way to the Mito Domain, Tokugawa Yoshinobu's eyes were unfocused, and it was unclear where he was looking.

"it's over......"

"The Tokugawa clan... is finished..."

He sat in his seat, covering his face with his hands.

"Two hundred and sixty years of glory, two hundred and sixty years of glory—"

He shouted at the top of his lungs.

"It's all over now..."

The sound returned to a faint whisper as Tokugawa Yoshinobu lay back in his seat.

They handed over Edo Castle and all its weapons and equipment.

The Tokugawa Shogunate has already fallen.

Even the position of head of the Tokugawa family has been lost. The new head of the Tokugawa family is named Tokugawa Ietatsu.

He is now nothing more than a discarded tool.

"Yes... the shogunate is over."

Zheng—

The carriage carrying Tokugawa Yoshinobu suddenly lurched, as if it had fallen to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, a scream came from outside.

There are people and horses.

"What's wrong? What happened?!" Tokugawa Yoshinobu was startled and stood up in a panic, but suddenly felt his hair stand on end and instinctively squatted down.

Zheng—

The carriage was cut in two.

Samura kicked away the severed upper half and looked at Tokugawa Yoshinobu, who was squatting on the ground.

Tokugawa Yoshinobu raised his head and looked at Samura.

"...You've come to assassinate me?" Tokugawa Yoshinobu's voice was filled with barely suppressed fear.

Zuo Cun shrugged expressionlessly: "Isn't it obvious?"

Tokugawa Yoshinobu looked around.

His dozens of guards, whom he had been keeping at home, had all been beheaded, and even the six horses that had been pulling the three carriages were no exception.

The only living people left are him and Zuo Cun Anuo in front of him.

Tokugawa Yoshinobu slumped into his seat.

"Killing me now is useless. I am neither the Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate nor the head of the Tokugawa family. I am just a discarded object about to be placed under house arrest."

"...Abandoned...?" Zuo Cun's eyes dimmed for a moment.

“I know, but… I’m still going to kill you.” Zuo Cun’s hand climbed onto the hilt of Zhi Yu’s sword.

"Kill them." Tokugawa Yoshinobu slumped back in his seat, his tone... carrying a hint of relief, "Take my last possession too."

"The demon-slaying samurai who assassinated the former shogun Tokugawa Iemochi—Hagiri Zanzaimura Anno."

"Take my last possessions too."

"...Ah, that's natural."

Zheng—

Tokugawa Yoshinobu's head rolled to the ground, his eyes wide with rage.

Samura picked up Tokugawa Yoshinobu's head and stared at the lifeless skull.

"..."

"puff--"

"Pfft!"

"Haha ...

Zuo Cun couldn't help but burst into laughter.

How ridiculous! It turns out your bones aren't much stronger than others'.

How ridiculous...

Samura carried Tokugawa Iemochi's head to the shore.

"Dragon Horse—"

With a shout, Samura kicked Tokugawa Yoshinobu's head into the sea.

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

Chapter 418 There are still things that should be done

Zuocun walked along the road in a daze.

He now feels that his life has no sense of reality.

It's very unreal.

In just two years.

The four-man alliance each performed their duties, developing the economy of the Choshu and Satsuma domains, carrying out military reforms, eliminating dissidents, and moving towards a better tomorrow.

Then Takasugi Shinsaku died of illness, and the Choshu Domain lost its military power.

Following the assassination of Sakamoto Ryoma, the plan to peacefully overthrow the shogunate failed, leaving Katsura alone to shoulder the burden, and Samura's relationship with Satsuma soured due to Ryoma's passing.

Then came the outbreak of war.

Even now, there are still people who are unwilling to embrace the new era, who band together and rebel against the new government.

"Ryoma... our path is not wrong."

Zuocun walked slowly, choosing not to leap through the treetops.

"But... I can no longer continue down this path..."

Zuocun, accompanied by the bright moon, seems to be telling its story to no one in particular.

He had nowhere else to go.

Now... he wants to go home.

......

Okita Souji leaned against the wall and walked step by step.

Her body was already very weak, but she could still barely walk while holding onto things.

"Kana, good morning—cough cough—" Ms. Okita covered her mouth with her hand and greeted Kana, who was sitting in front of the loom.

"Oh! Okita-nee, please find a place to sit down." Kanna quickly sat up and helped Okita to a chair not far from her.

"Tell me about what happened between you and Samura." Okita's voice was a little weak, but he had a smile on his face.

She's come to terms with it.

I don't have much time left in my life.

So why can't we add a little warmth and smiles to these remaining moments?

If the only time left in life is filled with melancholy and self-pity, then it would be such a pity.

“Okay, where did I leave off yesterday?” Kanna nodded. She was pleased to see Okita’s mood improve, and her hands didn’t slow down.

“The part of your father’s letter you read.” Okita leaned against the wall, his hands at his sides.

"Oh, okay." Kanna nodded.

"That was probably the only time Mr. Samura and I ever argued..."

Kanna looked somewhat guilty.

She slowly recounted what had happened between herself and Zuocun.

“Mr. Samura did not choose to blame me... It was then that I realized I was wrong.”

"Mr. Samura is not the one who should be blamed; it's just that my father made the choice he had to make."

“Ever since that incident… Mr. Samura seems to have become somewhat afraid of me.”