After crossing the विशाल Lake Kurokawa and climbing back up the ridge, the five of them arrived beside the thatched hut.
"A thatched hut? What about it?"
Hijikata circled the hut twice, scratching his head.
The hut was not large, seemingly only a few square meters in size.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
Sakumura knocked on the hut's door. It was locked from the outside with a massive chain, one that looked far sturdier than the hut itself.
Fujimaru Ritsuka pressed himself against the crack in the door and peered inside, but he could see nothing. It was pitch-black within, and there was no telling what was going on.
"The door is locked from the outside. How could there possibly be anyone inside?"
Mama Bear looked at the three humans as though they were idiots.
"If there were someone inside, wouldn't that definitely be a murder case?"
".Seems like it, yeah?"
Sakumura scratched at his lips.
"Why not just chop it open! This whole place!"
Hijikata had already placed his hand on his sword hilt, looking eager to give it a try.
"Better not, Mr. Hijikata. This is the summit of Black River Mountain, and we have no idea who built a thatched hut here."
Fujimaru Ritsuka hurriedly stopped Hijikata Toshizo.
Splitting the hut open with one slash was certainly an option, but it definitely was not the option right now.
If they truly ran out of options, it would not be too late to find a way to open the hut then. Clearly, they had not reached that point yet.
".All right."
Hijikata Toshizo pondered for a moment before sheathing his sword.
"Let's search the surrounding area some more. We can expand the search range a little. If we still can't find Lady Nobunaga, we should head down the mountain