Good night
In the corridors of the Ooku, Ritsuka retrieved a camera from somewhere and followed Bai Mo into the Tokugawa Kaiten Labyrinth. Kama had already been defeated, and the maze would soon disappear.
Before that, we need to find the remaining members of A-Team.
As for why I took a camera to search for it...
"Hehehe, what led those seniors to their downfall? I'm going to film their shameful behavior; I'll keep this secret for the rest of my life!"
Seeing Ritsuka's wicked smile and eager expression, Bai Mo could only feel sorry for Kadoc and his gang.
"You have a good junior."
Soon, Kasuga-no-Tsubone found the floor where A-Team had failed. Not long after they reached the fifth floor, a familiar voice came from behind. Footsteps echoed on the tatami mats, and a woman in a gold kimono rushed over.
"You lot have some nerve! Daring to break into Hinako Tokugawa's room."
Everyone looked at Hinako Akuta; she was clearly just like Goredolf —the more she broke the rules, the more severe the Tokugawafication influence became. At this moment, she had completely become the volatile princess of the Tokugawa Clan.
"This guy seems to have broken quite a few rules, hasn't he?"
"Yes, like Mr. Goredolf, she's followed all five commandments. Plus, she seems to have some strong desire within her, which is probably a great tonic for Kama."
Parvati answered Bai Mo's question with a hint of helplessness, while Ritsuka to the side, had already started taking pictures non-stop.
Seeing that the group seemed to completely disregard her, Hinako Akuta drew her twin swords and roared, "You have some nerve, daring to ignore me. It seems I've been silent for too long, to the point that the outside world has forgotten how terrifying I am..."
Before he could finish speaking, Bai Mo rushed up to Hinako Akuta, grabbed her face with one hand, and stuffed the flower card in his hand into her mouth.
"Okay, stop fooling around, time to take your medicine."
"Gurgle gurgle..."
Bai Mo casually made some wine and then poured it down his throat. The damage from the Hinako Akuta was severe, but considering the characteristics of its spirit form, this oral medication should help it heal faster.
"Pfft, Bai Mo... and Ritsuka, what brings you two here?"
"Since our senior has been confirmed missing, it's finally my and Brother Bai's turn to step in. How are you feeling? I was so worried."
Ritsuka quickly put away her camera and immediately adopted the demeanor of a kind-hearted junior. Seeing Ritsuka's concern for her and recalling her bold words when she set off, Hinako Akuta couldn't help but feel a little shy and embarrassed, and turned her head away.
"... I'm sorry, in the end I had to rely on you to save me."
"It's alright, as long as you're safe, senpai." Ritsuka hugged her with a bright smile. Hinako Akuta was taken aback by this and didn't know what to do, but she didn't push her away.
Where she couldn't see, Ritsuka smiled victoriously.
Plan pass.
"Don't worry about it this time, senior. After all, the opponent was Beast of Love and Desire, and it shouldn't have been you who had to deal with it. Next time we encounter danger, let's go together to resolve it."
Bai Mo wondered to himself: How did this guy maintain that expression and say such warm words?
Hinako Akuta blushed slightly upon hearing these comforting words.
"Yeah, that's it. After all, I'm not really suited to dealing with that guy. I'll show you what I'm capable of next time, then you can rely on me without worry."
Kasuga-no-Tsubone and Parvati, among others, couldn't say anything, watching as Ritsuka Fujimaru's opportunistic advance progressed significantly.
On the fourth floor, the group found Kadoc, who was also confused by the Tokugawafication influence, but not to the point of directly becoming a Tokugawa Clan prince.
After using the flower cards to wake him up, he finally understood everything that had happened.
Originally traveling with Ophelia, he quickly discovered, through Sigurd's skill [Crystallization of Wisdom], that the labyrinth was tempting them to break their vows.
Then, after confirming that their opponent was the Beast, Ophelia and Kadoc immediately understood something.
"We're really unlucky. We ran into the Beast on our first mission. Ritsuka, were all the Singularity you encountered like this? Even if Kama didn't have Magnetic Field Power, we probably still wouldn't have been able to win."
Kadoc sighed, rubbing his head, Ritsuka shook her head as well.
"No way, before I met Brother Bai, I had never encountered an enemy with Magnetic Field Power. Even the Uruk Singularity, which was suspected of having a Beast, was dealt with by Senior Manaka and Brother Bai."
"I see. If you're always facing enemies like this, I'll have to ask the director to give you a proper vacation. Ophelia should be under Sigurd's protection."
I came to the fourth floor intentionally to steal some flower cards, hoping to offer you as much help as possible. They're all scattered in unguarded corners.
Ritsuka recalled that when she first came to the fourth floor, she did indeed pick up some flower cards from time to time.
"Thank you so much, you've been a great help, senior."
Seeing this, Hinako Akuta couldn't help but turn her head away.
Bai Mo quickly found Ophelia and Sigurd on the third floor, and with Goredolf included, Chaldea had completed this Singularity.
Everyone left in this manner, with Bai Mo being the last to depart.
Aren't you leaving yet?
An elderly woman asked, her face bearing a kind smile. Parvati, having exhausted herself, had to return to Chaldea, and Kasuga-no-Tsubone no Tsubone had naturally reverted to that frail old woman.
According to history, today is the day she departs.
"No rush, you should know..."
"I know that with your power, it would be easy for me to regain my youth, but wouldn't that affect my future?"
Bai Mo shook his head and said, "Kasuga-no-Tsubone will die today. I can create a corpse to leave behind. You just need to swear not to reveal these secrets, not to interfere too much, and to just be a country bumpkin."
So, for an ordinary Saitō Fuku, the times would still allow her to have a simple and happy life.
Saitō Fuku, being the descendant of a traitor, lived a life of hardship from a young age. When he was forced to enter the Ooku, he was constantly suppressed, as the ruler's harem could be very cruel.
It can be said that by the time Saitō Fuku was able to rest, she had already endured countless hardships and become Kasuga-no-Tsubone.
Upon hearing Bai Mo's words, Kasuga-no-Tsubone revealed a genuine smile.
"You're a very gentle person. Sometimes you could try not to always have a cold face; you'd be very popular."
Kasuga-no-Tsubone Tsubone longed for the new life that Bai Mo had described, but she also knew very well that she couldn't bear to watch Tokugawa decline. Kasuga-no-Tsubone shook her head and took out a packet of tea from the cabinet.
"That's enough. After all, even a strict person like you from later generations praised Kasuga-no-Tsubone no Tsubone. What more could I possibly want in my life? For me, death is just a rest."
But when can you rest? Please take this; I always liked to brew this tea when I felt tired in the palace.
"To have such a beautiful dream before dying, Ofuku is already very lucky."
Upon hearing Kasuga-no-Tsubone's words, Bai Mo did not insist. He placed his hand on Kasuga-no-Tsubone's shoulder, and the power of the Asura Way surged. Then, he took the tea leaves and gently made a farewell gesture to Kasuga-no-Tsubone.
Everything is back on track.
On the night of October 26, 1643, Kasuga-no-Tsubone felt a sense of ease. Although she still looked old, she felt a gentle strength within her that made her feel no pain.
The maids were overjoyed and happily went to cook her a bowl of her favorite porridge. Looking at the young women, Kasuga-no-Tsubone seemed to see herself forty years ago.
The gentle power of the Asura Way made her body even stronger than when she was young. With the help of her maids, Kasuga-no-Tsubone walked through every corner of the Ooku, and even met her adopted son.
After speaking with everyone she wanted to talk to, and even playing games with the maids, Kasuga no Tsubone accepted everyone's blessings and said Kasuga-no-Tsubone to everyone before returning to her bedroom and drawing back the screen.
A Mingyue hangs high in the night sky.
Dynasties rise and fall, the world changes, but this Mingyue remains unchanged.
Perhaps one day, the end of the Tokugawa will be inevitable, but in the end, the Tianxia will still Tianxia to the Tianxia, and the moon will still be the same moon. Looking at the bright moonlight, this legendary woman no longer held onto her attachments.
As the moon sets in the west, remember that the Buddha's teachings are truly worthy of reliance. The three realms are like a burning house; today we can finally leave.
She fell asleep. The power of the Asura Way flowed through her bones and blood, but it did not change the fact that her body was aging. Instead, it slowly covered her with a warm quilt.
This time, she fell asleep and never opened her eyes again.