The Taira Clan was brutal.
If this continued, perhaps it would not be Kyoto alone that fell to ruin.
Someone had to step forward.
Someone had to step forward and choose to fight them.
Not for the Genji Clan.
But for the people of the realm.
—Kiso Yoshinaka had once said these words before Tomoe Gozen.
"That is truly admirable, Lord Yoshinaka."
To be honest, Tomoe Gozen had not really understood the meaning behind Kiso Yoshinaka's words. She had simply thought that what he said was admirable, so she said as much.
"Admirable?"
Kiso Yoshinaka seemed somewhat at a loss in the face of Tomoe Gozen's praise.
He gave a wry smile.
"Haha. Those words certainly sound admirable, which is why I said them."
"Those words are merely for show. They are what I would say no matter who asked me."
"Lord Yoshinaka?"
Tomoe Gozen looked up in confusion, gazing at her Lord Yoshinaka.
She did not understand why Kiso Yoshinaka did such a thing.
Just as she did not understand the meaning of the words he had spoken.
"I will tell you my true feelings, Tomoe."
"The reason I fight the Taira Clan is not for anything else."
Kiso Yoshinaka closed his eyes.
"All I desire is a tomorrow that I can spend with you."
"So that, even after the flames of war, I can still spend tomorrow with you—that is all, Tomoe."
That scene—
Why had that scene vanished from my sight?
Tomoe Gozen questioned herself.
It was not as though there had only been resentment.
It was not as though there had only been hatred and anger. I had clearly received something far more precious from him—
And so—I survived.
In the first year of Genryaku, when Lord Yoshitsune, acting on Lord Minamoto no Yoritomo's orders, gradually