"What on earth am I doing?"
Katō Danzō's expression carried a trace of bewilderment and confusion.
She did not understand why she was doing these things. For a mechanical puppet, this should have been something "impossible" in a sense.
And yet—
"That is an enemy."
"I am actually worrying about an enemy's physical condition."
"No... Perhaps I am merely considering whether the enemy ninja possesses some technique capable of healing most injuries or even restoring stamina in a short time, and whether that might pose a threat to our side. That is all."
"This is simply one way for me, as a ninja, to gather information. Yes, that is all."
She seemed to be trying to convince herself.
But—
"Clearly... it should be like that."
As she spoke, she gritted her teeth and even stamped her foot.
"What is going on? Is some component inside my body about to break down?"
"Or was I attacked by demonic energy last night?"
As she spoke—she recalled what had happened the previous night.
Berserker Crushing Hell was a troublesome opponent even among the Heroic Spirit Swordmasters. Last night, she had appeared before her.
"Come now, come now, do not leave behind even the slightest bit. Suck it all up, every last drop."
Crushing Hell held her sake gourd in her hand—pinching it like that, the gourd seemed to generate some kind of suction, drawing all the invisible remnants from the ground into itself.
"Hey, do you know?"
"My sake gourd is not something that only pours out, you know? If I absorb emotions like hatred, pain, and regret into the gourd, they will be transformed into delicious sake."
"Hehehehe, how about it? Would you like a cup as well? It will surely be delicious. It will make you so drunk that you will