Perhaps Gushan had already sensed that he was dead. Rather than voicing his feelings, the words he spoke now were meant to comfort Ei.
"Before long, I will have to bid the Shogun farewell. My only regret is that I will never see the Inazuma she rebuilds after this calamity."
"But that is all right."
Gushan chuckled cheerfully. "Everyone says Inazuma has turned black, but to these old eyes, Inazuma has always been black!"
"After calamity, new life is sure to follow. Even if I were lucky enough to live until then, I would probably be nothing more than an old blind man who couldn't appreciate it. Hahaha, best to leave it at that."
"Ah..."
Hearing those words, Ei let out a long sigh.
Ellin's expression was complicated as well.
Although Gushan acted relaxed, neither Ei nor Ellin was a fool.
The Shogun was right beside him, yet Gushan still said he would soon have to bid her farewell, and that he would never see the rebuilt Inazuma.
He was already hinting that he knew he had died.
Having followed the Shogun for many years, he understood her tenderness and vulnerability.
He did not want the Shogun to grieve over his death, so he did his best to comfort her, telling her that he did not fear death and had died without regrets.
Now, upon hearing Ei's sigh, Gushan immediately changed the subject.
"Oh dear... My apologies. This old man has grown muddleheaded. I've gone on talking all this time without even serving the tea."
"With the Shogun herself visiting, how could I possibly fail to offer tea?"
As he spoke, Gushan reached out to search for his tea set.
But Ei stopped him.
"Gushan, the surroundings here are rather complicated. There is no tea set within your reach."
Ellin