For some reason, tonight's Bishamon acquisition commemoration party was a bit of a quiet affair.

　Silvia and the others didn't attend, perhaps out of concern, Akaneko retired to her room early due to the pain of defeat, Eco was full and sleepy, and Nova returned to the hotel with tears of blood and steel self-control.

　As a result, left in the living room were Masamune and Azami, Kanbei and Mamushi, all members of the Touhachi no Kuni (Tohachino Kuni).

　There should be no shortage of topics to talk about among the samurai, but they all refused to open their mouths much, instead just sipping their drinks in a small way.


...... It's quiet.

　I muttered to myself, and the two men responded.

''Mr. Second. No, Second Bishamon. Why have we been invited to this party, sir?
That's obvious, Master Musc, isn't it? To rub salt in our wounds, of course.

　The pit bull postures straightened up and spoke with a serious face.
　To that question, Cambei replied hatefully.

　Oh, I see, you're frustrated. That's why you're so quiet.


''Then you should have just said no.''

"No!　You're a Bishamon!
That's right. Second Bishamon, this is all just as you requested, Lord Kanbei.

　I can't refuse the invitation. I'm sure you'll find that Bishamon is such a high status in the land of the sword.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work for you.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.


I'm sorry.

No problem. But not tonight, see you next time.
I'll leave you to it.

　They seem to be leaving. They're not in the mood to drink and eat and have a good time right now.

　I was more than a little sad ...... but more than that, I was happy to see them.

　They're dragging the "loss" into their daily lives. In other words, they are that passionate about the title fight. It's proof that they are betting a lot on the title fight.

　If it was me in the past, I would have said, "You haven't switched over yet. But now that I've been around real samurai, I couldn't stop them from leaving.


Hey ...... have you guys had a good few days?


　I ask them a few words as they leave.

　This is the first time for them to take part in a title fight, a first for the sword Hachinokuni. Was it a positive thing for them? As the person who destroyed the traditions of the island, I'm very concerned about this.

　Then they stopped, turned around and said, "Yes.


Yes. That's also ...... the biggest one.
...... It's an experience you never get from being on an island all the time. Thank you, sir.


　Honest words, I guess.

　That's probably why they left our house quietly, with an embarrassed look on their faces.


"Oh, thank God.

　Suddenly, relief came out of my mouth. It had been on my mind for a long time.


'Because. How are you guys doing?

　After the two men left, I also asked the two remaining Masamune and Thistle.

　They have a feud with the sisters. I know that. You can't blame them for being silent when they're together.

　But I wanted to ask them exactly what happened after everything was destroyed.


'Hey ......'

　It was Thistle who opened her mouth first.


"...... You really, really, really ...... have been doing that for a long, long time, .......

　He stares at his empty glass and speaks to no one.


'I've learned a lot of things in the six months I've been in this city. And of course, I've learned a lot about you.

Me?

'Yes. You said that you've been doing it ...... just because you like it. You said you've been doing it all along just because you like it.

...... Yeah, you said it.

It was true. It was true, honestly and completely true. I've spent the last six months finding out that you've been doing this all this time for the sole reason that you love me.


　I don't know where in King's Landing she heard me, but she may have touched on something that she can master in her own way, Thistle.

　She must know better than anyone else how difficult it is to continue doing something just because you love it. She must have struggled more than anyone else, as I felt when I played in a match once.

　But now, she dares to say it. You were not lying," she admits. No, you have to admit it.

　...... It's hard, isn't it? I've been shown inexplicably how someone else could and couldn't do it for me.

　But it was also a sign of change. She used to get hysterical just by being pointed out to her, and she would have hated to even say it in words, but now she is able to say it in words, and that is a sure sign of change. And right now, she seemed to be struggling desperately to change on her own.


'I used to love my mother very much. Even though I was very young, I worked hard every day to meet her expectations as the heir to the Kisshou School. But, you know, I didn't have any talent. I tried harder than anyone else, but it was no good. As time went on, Mom's expectations shifted more and more to my sister and not to me. It was ...... a painful way to die. Maybe that's when I started to hate battling the sword.

Sis Thistle: "Sis Thistle: ......

Hey, Masamune. You knew about this, didn't you?　What your mother expected of you alone.

I knew ...... that I was going to be hard on you. I knew that my mother-in-law was being hard on me, which was the opposite of what I expected ...... to see. But I couldn't help but think of it as a cruelty to my mistress's children, because I hated them so much. Because that's all my parents had done. I was raised to serve a dirty purpose. I shouldn't have been born.

You ...... didn't leave the Kissho School and your mother for revenge, did you ......?

I'd rather not have ...... me following in my footsteps. I'm not going to be the only one who can do this. I've been so focused on the art of battling the sword that all I could see was my talent. That's not good enough. So, that's why I'm going to .......

'After losing you, your mother must have lost the meaning of ...... life. It wasn't until she was dying that she finally saw me.

...... .......

Now that I think about it, ...... sad person.

...... Yeah, I know. Maybe the sword drove me crazy.

That goes for you and me too: ......


　Azami and Masamune let out a shaky sigh and quietly wiped the drops that floated to the corners of their eyes.

　Then, huffing and puffing heavily, Azami looked up.


'No, when you talk about the old days (...)'

!


　Masamune's eyes widen.

　It was a long time ago ...... she could no longer talk about it as a long time ago.

　How wonderful (...) it was - she would know best when she couldn't wipe it away and tears rolled down her cheeks.


'Masamune, Second-kun. Try this.

　With a chuckle, Thistle held out a loaf of bread to us.


　It's the "kuriimu-pan" that seems to be popular in the royal capital right now.

　Masamune and I took one at a time and bit into it.

　Soft and fluffy bread with sweet custard cream inside.

　It's nothing special, just cream bread.

　For some reason, it had a simple taste that reminded me of my childhood.


'Mr Second. Have you had a good few days? I'll answer that question.

Yeah.


　Thistle turns to me and Masamune, who is chewing on a cream bun, and smiles as best he can.

　How do you see that!　I've changed so much!　And, as a child would be proud to say - "I'm so proud of you.


'It was really, really, really ...... awesome!　It's been six months since I left the island, and it's been a long, long time, a lot of fun!　The baking that I love to do, the swordfighting that I hated so much, meeting the people of this proud town, all of it, it was all so much fun!

　Thistle says with a big smile, letting tears fall from her eyes.


'This is my answer to this bread. The taste of bread, as pure as it was back then. The taste of the bread that I ate with Masamune that day at the harbor. My, my favorite flavor ......!

...... ummm ...... ummm ......!


　Masamune nodded with tears and said, "It's good," she said, chewing on it in a scratchy voice.


　Masamune ate the bread that Azami had baked.

　How could it be that just that much, and why did it make her eyes burn so hard?

　Yes, it's not just the cream. It's filled with more feelings than words can describe.


'Thank you, Second-kun. I, Kissho-ryu Iemoto Thistle, am now a baker ......!


　Thistle was able to become a baker.

　I couldn't help but chuckle at the report, and it resonated deep in my chest.


"Yeah.

　It's really good, this bread.


　Hey ....... Hey, Thistle.

　You're doing what you love to do: ......!








'Master?　You haven't had a break yet?
Oh, yeah, Yukari.

　After the party and getting ready for bed, I was cooling off on the balcony when Yukari came over.
　Yukari let out one light sigh and slowly lined up next to me.

'Are you tired?'
No. I just wanted to reassure you that ...... is safe.

　No worries. ...... I see.

"Seventh-generation zero-ring.
Yes, sir.

　About six months were spent on the restoration work. It must have been a lot of pressure.

　But Yukari did it. It was a complete revival. The comfort is outstanding. There were no signs of damage to the sword during the Bishamon battle. As expected of the world's leading blacksmith. It's a perfect job.


...... I see.

　Suddenly, I remember.
　It's something I've been thinking about doing for a long time.

What do you need?
No, no.
...... is suspicious.
Don't worry about it, let's get to bed. I've got a lot of work to do tomorrow, getting the bingo prizes ready and all.
Yeah.

　It may have been a bit of a forced deception.


　It's a position that doesn't see the light of day very often, the position of blacksmith.
　It's just as well that Mine seems to have started trying a lot of new things this season.

　The closing ceremony was days away.
　I'm also looking forward to the 8th crown party.

　Hope everyone's happy about it: .......



　　* * * *



Best Contestant, Rookie of the Year, Fighting Spirit, Special Prize, and Greatest Game, right?" ......

　At the Royal Palace, King Mein Kastal of the Kingdom of Castal was in the midst of contemplation.

"Your Majesty, it's time for you to decide how many days until the closing ceremony.
I'm aware of that, Klaus. But this, however, is: ......
.......... although I'm sure it's more than I can say for certain.

　Yes. Mein had been struggling to decide on each of the newly created awards in a big way.

　Normally, Klaus, who should be giving good advice as a follower, is also troubled by the fact that once he starts to think about it, he ends up worrying about it all together.


Hmm ......

　The last winter and this summer title fight was one of the most exciting ever.
　It's a great honor for me as King Castal.

　That's why I've started trying new things to make it even more exciting: .......

'...... Brother, what should I do? I can't decide at all .......
'You said it yourself, take responsibility ...... and I would have said the same thing.

　I just can't decide.
　I've been worrying about it night after night for several days now, but I still can't decide.

'Hah!　What am I going to do, Second-san~......!
This is a problem: ......

　I wish someone else would have chosen it already, I thought, and that was Mine.