Once the mess hall work was completely finished, Loxi took the key and headed for their quarters. Bai Ina, however, was kept behind by Head Chef Cook on the grounds that "new cooks should do more work." He was assigned to collect the soldiers' leftovers into the slop bucket and take it to the stern to dump into the sea.
Bai Ina did not resist. Since he had chosen to live here, he could not rely entirely on Loxi to support him. It was good to do whatever he could.
After everyone had left, Bai Ina placed the slop bucket on a serving cart and pushed it toward the kitchen's back door.
Squeak.
Pushing open the door and stepping onto the stern, Bai Ina was met by the sea breeze. He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked out over the boundless ocean, his gaze somewhat lost.
Over the past two years, he had thought about nothing and remained in a muddled state. Yet after listening to Loxi speak yesterday, he had begun thinking for the first time in two years.
But he had no plans whatsoever for his future. At this moment, he did not even know what meaning there was in his being alive.
If his original purpose had been to carry Kuina's name to the pinnacle of swordsmanship, then... the memories from five years ago still felt as though they had happened yesterday. They made it impossible for him even to hold a sword steady. How could someone like him possibly reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship?
As for revenge?
Bai Ina gave a self-mocking laugh. Sometimes, he did not even know whom he should seek revenge against. If it was the murderer who killed his teacher... then the only person he could think of was himself!
However, if