After watching the figures of Ogata and his three companions sink into the distant horizon, Skulucci turned around and shouted to Vasili who was not far away:
"Vashili! Are you ready?"
"Boss! We've just finished preparing!" Vasili shouted, "Everything has been loaded onto the truck, and I've counted it! Nothing is missing!"
After the war, Chanup kept his promise and gave half of their Heyezhe's property to Skulucci.
Because they had too much wealth, Çanup generously gave Skulucci several sleighs so that they could use them as freight wagons.
After hearing what Vasili said, Skuluch nodded: "Very good! Then let's go back too!"
Skulucci got on his horse and said, "Mr. Chanup, we are leaving now. Please take care of yourselves and we will meet again if we have the chance in the future."
Chanup nodded vigorously: "You too! Take care!"
After saying goodbye to Chanup, Skulucci turned his gaze to his subordinates who were ready to go: "Let's go!"
Skulucci was the first to hit the horse's belly, and then he controlled the horse under his crotch to move slowly forward, moving away from the Red Moon Fortress.
Vasili and others followed closely, and soon a long snake-like formation appeared on the snowfield.
Skulucci took a deep breath of the cool morning air and exhaled slowly: "The weather today is quite good. Vashili, look at the sun, it will be a very sunny day today."
"Yes." Vashili agreed and let out a long sigh, "Finally I can go back..."
"What? Are you not used to living in an Ainu house?" asked Sculucci.
"Yeah. I can never get used to the living and eating habits of the Ainu people." After saying that, Vasili turned his head and looked at the fortress that was gradually being left behind them. "I never thought that the Cossacks, who have always been known for their evil deeds, would risk their lives to help a group of Ainu people."
After saying that, Vashili showed a helpless smile and turned his gaze back to Skulucci who was standing beside him.
"Boss, you really are a weirdo."
“Hahahaha.” Skulucci laughed up to the sky. “Thank you for the compliment. You think I don’t look like a traditional Cossack - this is a great compliment to me.”
"Boss, I still don't understand. Why did you come to help those Ainu people? Although we received a very generous reward in the end, the price of this generous revenge was too high. If we are not careful, we might all die."
"Every time I ask you this question, you always answer with 'because I just wanted to do it'. Can't you explain it more clearly?"
"Can you explain it more clearly..." Skullucci repeated what Vasili had just said in a low voice, and smiled. "Okay, I'll explain it more clearly while I'm in a good mood today."
"Vashili, do you know Don Quixote?"
"Don Quixote? Isn't this the novel you always read, Boss? It's the anti-chivalry novel, right?"
"That's right." Sculucci 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 the book had his brain damaged by reading knight novels. He decided to imitate the knights in the novels. He gave himself a new name: 'Don Quixote', then rode a broken horse, put on a tattered suit of armor, and began to travel around doing justice."
"Ah? From your description, this Don Quixote seems to be a fool." Vashili expressed his opinion.
"If you think so, then you are right." Sculucci cast an admiring look at Vashili, "What Don Quixote did is indeed no different from that of a fool in the eyes of others."
"But I really admire Don Quixote's stubborn desire to emulate the knight-errant and do good deeds everywhere."
"Vashili, just think of me as a fool like Don Quixote for deciding to help the Ainu."
"Huh?" Vashili opened his mouth wide. "What the hell is this? After you explain it like that, I don't understand it even more..."
“Hahahahahaha.” Skulucci laughed up to the sky. “If you don’t understand, just try to understand it slowly!”
…
…
Red Moon Fortress——
"Ogata-kun and the others have left... I'm really reluctant to see them go..." Ayizan let out a long sigh.
Yashili, who was walking beside Ayezan, nodded in agreement.
Including this "Red Moon Fortress Attack and Defense Battle", Ogata has saved China Village twice. So when Ogata and his team left, almost all the villagers of China Village came to see them off.
Now that Ogata and the others had left, those who had come to see them off naturally dispersed.
Ayizan and Yashili were at the end of the villagers from Qina Village who were returning to their homes.
The two of them were the two Ainu people who were most familiar with each other in the Red Moon Fortress, so they naturally had mixed feelings about Ogata and Atachi's another long journey.
"I don't know if I'll have the chance to see them again..." Yashili muttered softly.
"I think - maybe I will be able to meet Ogata-kun again soon, but in a different way." Ayizan smiled meaningfully.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Ashley asked back.
"Ogata-kun is a great hero who saved all of us." Ai Zan said with a smile, "I have a feeling that it won't be long before a brand new heroic epic will appear."
A look of understanding appeared on Yashili's face, and then this understanding slowly turned into hesitation: "But... Mr. Ogata is Kazuto. Can Kazuto be the protagonist of our heroic epic?"
"There is indeed no precedent for this. But - since there is no precedent, why not create one?" Ai Zan changed his tone to a serious one, "Yashili, if there is no heroic epic with Ogata as the protagonist, then let the two of us create this precedent."
"Me?" Surprise appeared on Yashili's face.
"You and I have both spent quite a while with Mr. Ogata, so it is most appropriate for us to compile the story," Ayizan said solemnly. "Mr. Ogata saved our Qina Village twice. I don't want our descendants to remember forever that there was such a hero who could make all the heroes in other heroic epics pale in comparison."
“…I understand.” Yashili nodded vigorously and smiled brightly, “Mr. Ayizan, when you decide to start compiling a heroic epic , please let me participate!”
"That's it." Ayizan also smiled brightly like Yashili.
…
…
After Ogata and others left, Chanup and others also went on their way home.
"Retanoe, I didn't expect you to really come to see Ogata-kun and the others off." Chanup looked at Retanoe, who was wrapped up like a dumpling and supported by his son, Puccina, with a helpless expression.
"They are our benefactors." Reitannoe said calmly, "If I don't stand up and see them off, it would be really rude... Hiss! Puccina! You just touched my wound!"
"Yes, I'm sorry!" Puchina, whose whole body was wrapped in large and small sackcloths, said hurriedly.
"Father." At this time, Aisuma's voice sounded behind Chanup.
"What's wrong?" Chanup turned his head and looked at Aisuma who was approaching him quickly.
"Father, if you have time, go talk to Otunpuyi." Asuma whispered, "He has been very quiet and strange recently."
"He has always liked Ogata-kun. When Ogata-kun first came to us, he always pestered Ogata-kun and asked him to introduce him to Kazuto's life."
"But when I went to see Ogata-kun off just now, I said almost nothing. I just said to Ogata-kun and the others, 'I wish you a safe journey.'"
"I asked him what was wrong, but he said nothing."
Hearing this, Chanup raised his eyes and looked at Aotongpuyi who was walking behind them at a considerable distance.
To see off Ogata-Chanoop and his entire family went.
Chanup had actually noticed Otunpui's recent abnormality. At first, he thought that Otunpui was too tired to talk because he was busy helping Kunoya treat the wounded, but now it seems that this is not the case.
Chanup pursed his lips and nodded: "I understand. I will go talk to him now. Otunpu and I may walk slower later, you don't have to bother with us."
After saying that, Chanup turned and walked towards Aotongpuyi behind him.
"Otungpui."
"Father?" Otongpuyi, who was walking with his head down, raised his head and cast a puzzled look at Chanup who was walking quickly towards him.
"Have you been worried about something recently?" Chanup and Aotongpuyi walked side by side. "I have seen you look depressed recently."
"I'm fine..." Aotongpuyi whispered.
"You don't look like you're okay," Chanup said quietly. "Your sister is very worried about you. She just ran to me with an anxious look on her face and told me how worried she was about you."
Otunpuyi, who lost his mother at a young age and had always regarded his sister as his mother, had a slightly changed expression when he heard Chanup mention his sister.
"If you have anything on your mind, just say it out loud. Now it's just you and me around here, so you don't have to worry about being overheard," Chanup added.
Chanup and his son were now far behind Retannoy and his companions who were walking in front of them. There was no one else around.
Chanup's voice fell silent for a long time.
And Aotongpuyi also remained silent for a long time.
Finally, Aotongpuyi seemed to have made up his mind, gritted his teeth, and said slowly:
"Father... I have always... liked Kazuto and yearned for Kazuto's life."
"Father... I won't hide it from you... When the enemy first attacked me, I was actually more inclined to surrender..."
"I think there's nothing wrong with surrendering to the Japanese and then being forced to become a 'naturalized Ezo'... I can live an advanced life and no longer have to rely on hunting in the mountains for a living..."
"But... after following Miss Kunoa to treat the wounded, and witnessing many familiar people around me become miserable because of the invasion of Kazuto, I found that... I seem to be slowly becoming less fond of Kazuto..."
"I feel like people aren't as kind, friendly, or worthy of my admiration as I imagined..."
"I don't know how to use specific words to describe my current state... I am... probably confused..."
"I've always dreamed of going to Kazuto, but now... I don't like Kazuto anymore..."
Chanup listened quietly and nodded from time to time.
After his son, who was only a little over ten years old, finished speaking, Chanup said without hesitation:
"Otongpuyi, do you hate Kazuto?"
“…Maybe.”
"If you hate 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 forced us to fight with the Japanese. As for what this 'something' is, you should think about it carefully, think hard, and think hard." Chanup said calmly, "Once you have figured out the answer, come to me and tell me your answer."
Having said that, Chanup gave Aotongpuyi a faint smile.
"When you figure out the answer, you will no longer be the kid who easily likes a certain ethnic group and then easily hates another ethnic group."
"I look forward to your answers and your growth."
After saying this, Chanup strode away from Aotongpuyi, leaving Aotongpuyi alone to continue walking slowly forward, deep in thought.
"Father, how was the conversation with Otunpuyi?" After Chanup came back, Aisuma couldn't wait to ask Chanup.
"The conversation went well, didn't it?" Chanup smiled. "Let's just wait slowly."
"Wait? Waiting for what?" asked Asuma.
"Wait for Aotongpui to figure out his own answer."
"Father, what are you talking about?"
"Well...where should I start explaining..." Chanup said with a wry smile.
…
…
In Ezo, on a snowy plain not far from the Red Moon Fortress—
Ogata and his group of three people riding two horses were moving on this snowy field in a northeasterly direction at a leisurely pace, following Lin Ziping's command.
Ating rode alone on Grape's horse.
But Radish had a harder time, as he had to carry both Ogata and Hayashi Shiping at the same time.
"The weather is so nice today." Ogata put his right hand on his eyes and looked at the bright sun above his head.
"Yes." Lin Ziping, who was sitting behind Ogata, said calmly, "It's really a good day to go on a long journey."
Having said this, Lin Ziping paused for a moment, and after a moment he let out a long sigh and said in a joking tone:
"I never thought... that I would have the chance to travel with the famous executioner Ittosai..."
Lin Ziping is one of the only two people in Red Moon Fortress who knows Ogata's nicknames, along with Shen Du. Together with Shen Du, he helps Ogata keep his identity secret.
Now, there are no outsiders around, and Lin Ziping can finally feel free to boldly call out the famous name "Executioner Ichidaosai".
"If you tell others about this, I'm afraid many people will envy you." Lin Ziping then said, "Ogata-kun, I don't know if you know that you are very popular among the general public."
Ogata had heard similar words at Shendu last night.
"I have always felt extremely terrified about this." Ogata smiled helplessly, "I have never felt that what I have done so far is worthy of such respect..."
"Ogata-kun, you are too modest." Lin Ziping shrugged. "In the eyes of many people who dislike the shogunate, you are a hero who has done what we have always wanted to do but dared 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?"
"Rather than admiration, it's more like respect." Lin Ziping said with a smile, "When I learned that you had conquered Nijo Castle, one of the symbols of the shogunate, I was so excited that I started dancing with joy."
"It's been too long since anyone dared to challenge the authority of the shogunate." Lin Ziping slowly put on a serious expression, "According to my judgment, the current shogunate has reached a state where it must be broken down before it can be rebuilt."
"For me, the more anti-shogunate patriots like you who dare to challenge the authority of the shogunate, the better! In this way, maybe we can force the shogunate to make new changes!"
"Anti-shogunate patriot?" Ogata laughed dumbly, "This is the first time I've heard someone call me an anti-shogunate patriot..."
"I dare to conclude that if the Edo Shogunate does not try to reform, more and more anti-shogunate patriots will emerge."
Having said this, Lin Ziping paused, then changed his tone to a half-joking one.
"When that happens, those anti-shogunate patriots may even respect you as the 'ancestor of anti-shogunate patriots', believing that you are the first person who dared to challenge the authority of the shogunate."
"That's too scary..." Ogata curled his lips, "I don't want to see my name being used as a banner..."
"Mr. Lin." At this time, Ating suddenly interrupted. "Do we just need to keep moving forward?"
"That's right." Lin Ziping nodded. "According to the current speed, it will take about 3 days to keep going forward."
"That weird Dr. Kazuto is quite far from here, so you should be prepared."
"We are not afraid of spending time." Ogata sighed, "We are just afraid that in the end, we will get nothing..."
…
…
In Edo, the mansion where the group of people from Gourd House lived—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Now Lin is the only one in the huge courtyard.
Lin was standing alone in the middle of the courtyard, holding a wooden sword with a lot of big stones tied to it, practicing Su Zhen.
Because a lot of stones were tied to it, the weight of this wooden sword had reached an extremely astonishing number.
But Lin wielded such a heavy wooden sword very steadily, and when he chopped the wooden sword forward heavily, there was not the slightest disorder in the path of the sword.
Just as Lin was practicing swordsmanship silently alone, she suddenly heard footsteps beside her.
"Katsurokuro?" Lin put down the wooden sword in her hand and turned to look at her subordinate, Shimada, who was walking towards her quickly.
"My lord," Shimada said solemnly, "I have made up my mind - before we leave Edo, I have decided to go see my father."
"Have you finally decided..." Lin cast a look of relief at Shimada, "Then you can find a good day to go home later."
"If you want money to buy some souvenirs or something, just come and ask me for money."
Shimada: “Yes!”
…
…
at the same time--
In a dark, deserted alley in Edo——
"Ha ha ha ha… … "
In this dark alley, full of sewage and where no one usually comes, there is suddenly the sound of a girl's panting.
A young girl wearing a dirty and old cloak was running hurriedly in the alley.
While running, look back from time to time.
"ah!"
At this moment, her foot accidentally kicked a protruding stone on the ground.
She screamed subconsciously and fell forward heavily, landing on her face like a dog eating shit.
"it hurts……"
The girl got up from the ground, and there was a hint of crying in her voice.
She looked down at her left arm - when she fell just now, her left arm was accidentally scratched by some sharp stones on the ground, leaving bloody marks.
However - these bloodstains only appeared for a moment.
When the girl lowered her head to look at her wounds, the bloodstains were recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye.
In just a few breaths, her arm was back to normal.