Shimosa Province, Toke Castle.
Not a soul in sight.
Not a single thing in sight.
"What's wrong, Sakumura? You weren't injured in that battle just now, were you?"
"Or is using the power of your life as a blade something that makes you feel wounded and suffer?"
That voice rang in Sakumura's ears.
".Kondo."
He opened his eyes, his expression complicated.
What met his gaze was not Toke Castle, filled with roaring demonic mana, but—
Yellow sand.
It was still that barren, empty wilderness.
Only, compared to before, it seemed... even hollower now.
"I thought the next person I saw would still be Souji."
"Haha. I have no intention of interrupting a reunion between husband and wife, but you know it too—since you've already seen her, that means your memories of her have faded away, right?"
"By now, you can't even remember what she looked like, can you?"
"Honestly, I'm more surprised that you still remembered her name."
Kondo Isami sat across from Sakumura, watching him with a smile.
".Who knows."
"So, you're leaving next too?"
"What, you don't want to see me?"
Kondo shook his head helplessly.
"You really are something else. Don't forget, back when we were all still at the Shieikan, you got along with us just fine."
"We drank together, practiced swordsmanship together. Sometimes, we'd even go into Edo Castle together to buy meat. Every time we brought some back, Hijikata was always the one who ate the most."
As he spoke, Kondo curled his lip, looking distinctly displeased.
"Hey, Chief, I can hear you."
Hijikata Toshizo's sour face suddenly appeared, glaring at Kondo Isami with dead-fish eyes.
"You don't understand, Vice Chief—precisely because you can hear him, the Chief says things like that."
Saito Hajime appeared at some point as well. He sat down casually