None of this should have happened! Kondō Isami lamented inwardly. If it had not been for the organization's usual ways, perhaps he would not have made an enemy the Shinsengumi absolutely could not afford to provoke.
"I wonder if you are satisfied..."
Kondō Isami forced out an ugly smile. His body was still trembling, and sweat had soaked through his back.
"Satisfied." Hebe spoke unhurriedly. "I am very satisfied with how you 'care for your subordinates.'"
Kondō Isami suddenly felt an indescribable chill.
Hebe's voice sounded beside his ear. "Since you care so much for Miss Okita and seek my forgiveness... then step down as commander of the Shinsengumi and start over as a gatekeeper."
Everyone was stunned.
Yet before anyone could move, a grim chill silently crept up their necks.
—Do not move. Move, and die.
Kondō Isami remained kneeling there, blankly watching Hebe walk out the door.
The ends of her flaxen hair swayed behind the girl like a fox's tail flicking through the dark night.
The Shinsengumi leader who had assassinated the previous commander now had blue lips. He wanted to fight to the death, but his heart was utterly empty, incapable of producing even a shred of courage.
"Demon fox... Demon fox!" That was the only thought left in his mind.
"Miss Sōji, how should we settle our rent?"
With both hands tucked into her sleeves, she turned and smiled brightly at the somewhat surprised young swordswoman.
"Even after such a conflict, you do not feel bothered in the slightest?" Okita Sōji let out a breath. "You are far too broad-minded, aren't you?"
Naturally, the Shinsengumi members inside did not think so.
Hebe smiled. In her eyes, the entire Shinsengumi was merely a group of cats arching their backs and puffing up their fur.
Good