On the road to the castle town.
"Are O-Nui and Tasuke coming with us too?"
Musashi looked somewhat helpless.
This time, O-Nui and Tasuke had followed along as well.
They had originally been headed for the castle town of Toke Castle. They had only escaped disaster because they encountered the strange creatures along the way and happened to run into Fujimaru Ritsuka, Musashi, and the others.
"O-Nui, what kind of castle is Toke Castle?"
Musashi bent down and asked O-Nui curiously.
"Um, it's a really, really big castle, and there are lots and lots of people inside."
"Um, is this really okay? Even if Mr. Senji Muramasa did ask us to bring them along."
Fujimaru Ritsuka still seemed to feel it was inappropriate to bring O-Nui and Tasuke out with them.
Muramasa had to bury the villagers who had died because of Hozoin Inshun, so he could only entrust O-Nui and Tasuke to their care. But under the current circumstances...
"Anyway, as long as we get into the city before nightfall, it'll be fine, right?"
After a moment of silence, Musashi could only speak in a deliberately cheerful tone.
No matter what, they couldn't let the children see their troubled expressions.
Sakumura, on the other hand, did not seem particularly concerned. A sparrow rested on his hand, and he was playing with it.
He liked birds. If he had lived in a peaceful era, he certainly would not have taken up the sword. Instead, he would have become someone involved with birds.
Perhaps a scholar who studied birds? Of course, he might also have become a painter specializing in birds.
"Mr. Sakumura really does attract birds easily."
Fujimaru Ritsuka noticed the sparrow on Sakumura's hand and could not help but remark on it.
There were many records concerning Sakumura and