I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

When was the last time I spoke to Master Kondo?

He had two teachers: Kiryu, who taught him sword-drawing techniques, and Kondo Shusuke, who taught him the Tennen Rishin-ryu style.

It's no exaggeration to say that his achievements today are all thanks to the meticulous guidance of Shusuke Kondo!

This old man was both his mentor and an elder he relied on immensely.

Why...why...why didn't I talk to him more before?

—I still have so much more to say to him…

After crossing the Akasaka Gate and rushing into the Sannomaru of Edo Castle, he met Shimada Kai.

Shimada Kai told him that three enemy generals had broken into Edo Castle, and Chiba Eijiro, Chiba Michisaburo, and Chiba Jutaro had gone to pursue them.

Upon hearing this, he dared not be negligent in the slightest.

For three people to dare to attack such a large castle as Edo... there are only two possibilities.

Either these three are all idiots, or they are all top-notch experts!

He sped forward... and in no time, he encountered Chiba Michizaburo and Chiba Jutaro in Ninomaru.

Although the two had successfully defeated the powerful enemy, they were exhausted and unable to move. So they asked him: "Chiba Eijiro has gone to chase after the enemy's general. Go and help him."

He continued forward, forward...

Soon, he found Chiba Eijiro in the citadel.

Chiba Eijiro leaned against the wall, his head drooping.

If it weren't for his resentful eyes, he would have looked as if he were asleep at first glance...

The person with whom he had the deepest friendship in the Chiba family was undoubtedly Sanako's older brother, Chiba Jutaro.

Although his relationship with Chiba Eijiro wasn't particularly deep, he always liked him very much, admiring this pure and ambitious swordsman.

(Kid Tachibana, let's have another match sometime if we have the chance.)

After witnessing Kondo Shusuke's body, his heart fell into a strange numbness.

There was no time for sadness; he sped toward the castle tower, following the scattered limbs and broken bones.

--It's fine.

He said to himself silently.

—I have done everything I could.

—I rushed back to the capital region from Choshu at top speed, captured Sekigahara at great cost, and then rushed to the aid of Kanto at top speed.

—I'm sure I'll catch up.

—I won't let anything happen to you!

Holding onto this seemingly self-deceiving belief, he gripped the reins tightly with both hands, his fingers digging deep into his flesh without him even realizing it.

Finally, he arrived at the castle tower.

He hurriedly jumped off the bull's back, threw away the long spear in his hand, and pushed his running speed to the limit, heading straight for the top floor of the castle tower.

—I can make it!

With his speed, it would only take him a dozen seconds to get from the foot of the castle tower to the top of it.

And then, a dozen seconds later... he saw Tokugawa Iemochi and Elodie lying in a pool of blood.

……

……

"Your Highness, please take them to get treatment immediately."

As Qing Deng spoke, he slowly stood up, his eyes fixed on Shuten-dōji in front of him.

The look in his eyes... even the most extensive human language cannot find a precise description of it.

In short—his eyes at that moment seemed to hold the breath of a thousand troops eager to go into battle!

At that moment, a faint, weak voice drifted from beside his feet:

"master……"

It's Elodie's voice.

Shuten-dōji glanced at Elodie, then silently took two steps back and gestured for her to leave.

In fact, his actions were completely unnecessary.

Qing Deng ignored him completely, keeping an eye on Shuten-dōji's every move while glancing sideways at Elodie's current situation.

Elodie struggled to open her eyes... her weak body could no longer support her opening her eyes wide, so she could only barely open them halfway.

She stared straight at Qingdeng, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Master...you've come..."

Qingdeng lowered himself again, hugged Elodie tightly, and said quickly, half helplessly and half anxiously:

"I'm sorry I'm late... Stop talking, you need to conserve your energy."

Ignoring Qingdeng's advice, Elodie continued speaking on her own:

"Great... I can finally... hand over... 'this'... to you..."

After saying that, she laboriously took the knife off her back and handed it over with both hands.

"This is……"

Qingdeng unconsciously reached out and took the knife, lifting the cloth covering it—a black and purple scabbard, a sharply curved blade, and simple, ancient-style ornaments…

“Vairocana…”

He softly uttered the name of his long-lost old partner.

Looking at the Vairocana in Qingdeng's hand, Elodie chuckled twice.

"Master... I've been very content these past few days..."

"I have finally realized... my... 'dream of becoming a knight-errant'..."

"I held off the formidable enemy..."

"I bought time for the evacuation of millions of people..."

"I fought bravely to the very end..."

"Even if Robin Hood were to be reincarnated... he would have to admit defeat before me..."

After making a small joke, she looked back at Vairocana in Qingdeng's palm.

"I'm sorry... Master... my blood... has stained your knife."

"My dream of becoming a chivalrous knight... has been realized..."

"I have no regrets..."

"If I had to say what I regret... it would be... not having the chance to see this sword drawn..."

"If I could... I really want to... see with my own eyes... what kind of light this black sword, which embodies my dreams, will emit..."

"But... unfortunately... my vision has become very blurry since just now..."

"I can't even see your face clearly anymore, Master..."

"It's really... such a pity... such a pity... such a pity..."

She spoke incoherently, only repeatedly vibrating her vocal cords.

A layer of moisture rose to her eyes, and she looked on the verge of tears.

Qingdeng stared blankly at the girl in his arms.

“…Elodi, thank you.”

The sound that finally rang out made him realize his own existence again.

The instant his consciousness returned to his body, he hugged Elodie tightly.

"Thank you for the 'Ten Thousand Refined Steel' you gave me."

"Thank you for personally delivering this knife to me."

"Although I haven't pulled it out yet, I can tell it's a good knife!"

"I will use this sword to defeat Shuten-dōji, defeat Ōtakemaru, and defeat all future enemies!"

"So, just you wait and see!"

"The brilliance of this sword will pierce through heaven and earth!"

Even if the vision is blurred, you will definitely see it... you will definitely see its brilliance!

After saying that, he silently handed Elodie in his arms to Tenshōin to take care of, and then got up and walked towards Shuten-dōji.

Looking at Aoto walking towards him, Shuten-dōji asked indifferently:

"Are you finished talking?"

While waiting for Qing Deng and Elodie to finish speaking, Shuten-dōji did not just sit idly by.

He removed his tattered armor and went into battle lightly equipped.

Qingdeng casually tossed aside the nameless sword at his waist and transferred the Vairocana sword from his right hand to his left.

"You must be Shuten-dōji, right? I've long heard that you have the ability to freely enter the 'state of no self'. If that's the case, then don't waste any more time, hurry up and enter the 'state of no self'."

Shuten-dōji chuckled dismissively.

"You want to witness my 'state of selflessness'?"

"That's certainly possible."

"However... given your current state, it seems you don't have that opportunity."

In terms of appearance, Qing Deng is in very bad condition.

Since the start of the "Second Great Return to China," he has hardly rested and exudes a strong sense of fatigue.