I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"It's nothing." Qing Deng stood on his right leg. "My right leg only has some minor scratches."

"Don't exercise too strenuously, just make sure the wound doesn't reopen."

The medicine Kiryu applied to his wound was indeed very effective.

Although I still feel some pain when I put my right foot on the ground because the muscles around the wound are being pulled, the pain has been greatly reduced compared to the day before yesterday and yesterday.

"Hmm? By the way... Miss Angoulême, where is Miss Kinoshita?" Qing Deng looked up and around, and couldn't help but ask Elodie in return.

After casually brushing off the topic of his leg injury, Qing Deng realized that he couldn't see Kinoshita Mai anywhere in his field of vision.

This surprised Qing Deng...

For the past two days, Kinoshita Mai and Elodie have been inseparable, like conjoined twins... Wherever Kinoshita Mai is, Elodie is sure to be there, and wherever Elodie is, Kinoshita Mai is sure to be there too...

At this moment, Kinoshita Mai was nowhere to be seen beside Elodie... This made Qing Deng unable to help but ask Elodie about Kinoshita Mai's whereabouts...

"Miss Dance? Miss Dance is currently looking for a suitable place to build a snowman at the other end of the camp!" Elodie said excitedly.

"...Snowman?" Qing Deng tilted his head.

"The snow today is perfect for building a snowman!" Elodie bent down, grabbed a handful of snow from the ground, and then threw it forcefully over her head in a "snow shower." "It's wet and sticky, perfect for building a snowman!"

"Miss Wu and I have made a promise to have a snowman-building competition tonight!"

"We are now splitting up to look for suitable locations to build a snowman."

"Miss Wu went to the other end of the camp to search, while I searched in this direction!"

After saying that, Elodie added:

"Tonight, I'm going to build a giant grandfather!"

Elodie spread her arms wide and swung them forcefully, drawing a huge circle in front of her—she was probably trying to represent Anthony's big belly.

Elodie's sapphire eyes were sparkling with a beautiful light.

This is a radiance that only children with innocent minds possess.

Seeing the light in Elodie's eyes, Qingdeng subconsciously revealed a faint smile.

“Miss Angoulême, if you’re looking for a suitable place to build a snowman…” Qingdeng looked up and around, “There doesn’t seem to be a suitable place around here. The snow is either too little or too dirty… Hmm?”

Qingdeng, who was looking around, suddenly stopped.

Looking straight ahead into the distance... to the east of the camp.

"Hmm? Mr. Ju, what's wrong?" Elodie followed Qingdeng's gaze and looked towards the east of the camp with him.

"...It's nothing." Qingdeng's eyelids drooped slightly, and his eyes narrowed. "It's just that I...I think I saw a figure moving around to the east of the camp just now..."

"A figure?" Elodie was taken aback, then struggled to stand on her tiptoes and peer towards the east of the camp. She blinked a few times in confusion, "...There's nothing there."

Suddenly, Qingdeng felt a chill on the back of his neck.

I reached up and touched the back of my neck—my fingertips touched a small patch of melted snow.

"It's snowing...?" Qingdeng looked up at the sky.

Fine snowflakes drifted and danced down from the thick clouds.

It was dotted with dark, ominous clouds.

The snowflakes, fluttering like willow catkins, brought a refreshing chill.

……

……

At this very moment—

North of the camp —

call……!

A sudden gust of cold wind blew up.

It stirred up the snowflakes that were falling from the clouds.

The hem of Suehiro's haori was rolled up.

Standing upright on a high slope, Suehiro gazed with an extremely serious expression at... the camp of Seito and the others in the distance, illuminated as if it were daytime by the scattered torches...

His right hand slammed his beloved gun, the Wind Cutter, heavily against the ground.

In his left hand, he held a matchlock gun with the fuse already lit...

The cold wind... was blowing harder and harder...

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Chapter 74 Fight against the foreigners! Fight the barbarians! Fight the barbarians!

"Mr. Kiryu! Elodie and I want to build a snowman! Would you like to come?"

"Build a snowman? Now?" Kiryu asked Kinoshita Mai, who was standing in front of him.

Kiryu is one of the few people Kinoshita Mai can communicate with at a normal volume.

Mai Kinoshita nodded vigorously: "Today, the snow on the ground is unusually thick and wet enough! Elodie and I are going to have a snowman-building contest! Kiryu-san, come and play!"

"Building a snowman..." Kiryu smiled helplessly, then shook his head. "I won't be coming. Young Master, you and Miss Elodie go and have fun..."

Before he could finish speaking, Kiryu abruptly stopped.

As if sensing something, the old man's expression suddenly changed, and he looked up and gazed in all directions.

"Kiryu-san?" Kinoshita Mai was startled when she saw Kiryu's sudden change in expression. "What's wrong?"

"..." Kiryu did not respond to Kinoshita Mai's question.

His bright eyes, hidden behind his glasses, stared intently at the surroundings outside the camp with a serious expression.

……

……

"Mr. Suehiro," Yamada said respectfully to Suehiro as he climbed the hill, his hand on his katana at his waist, "everyone...is ready and can begin the attack at any time!"

"Hmm..." Suehiro nodded. "I understand."

After saying "Thank you for your hard work" to Yamada, who was acting as his deputy and assisting him in commanding tonight's battle, Suehiro raised his head and let out a long breath.

Despite having mentally rehearsed similar scenarios and scenes countless times, Suehiro couldn't help but feel nervous at this moment.

Leading more than 200 warriors to launch a thunderous attack on the barbarians... This was something he would never have dared to imagine a few years ago when he first embarked on the "great cause of repelling the barbarians".

But while feeling nervous... Suehiro also felt a little excited.

Ever since he became a disciple of the Hozoin-ryu school and mastered its spear techniques, he has longed to be like the generals of the Warring States period 300 years ago, achieving fame and glory solely on horseback! To command thousands of troops and accomplish feats that will shake the ages!

And now, he has accomplished a small part of his dream.

He was about to lead more than 200 passionate "patriots" to launch a fierce attack on the barbarians who were harassing their country!

Although he wasn't commanding a massive army or waging a major battle that could influence the world's situation or the course of history, Suehiro still couldn't help but puff out his chest with pride.

Everyone... is ready for battle.

The time... is ripe!

it's time!

The spirited Suehiro imagined the blood-red haori he was wearing as the battle haori often worn by military commanders, and threw it off forcefully.

Suehiro turned around to face his companions who were lying in ambush below the hill.

Along with Suehiro and Yamada, there were a total of 42 members of the Exile Group who were infiltrating this area.

They all wore blood-red haori, like Suehiro and Yamada, to make it easier to distinguish friend from foe at night.

"Gentlemen!"

Suehiro forcefully thrust the wind-cutting sword in his palm toward his side.

"I've already said everything I needed to say to you!"

Fine snowflakes danced in the air.

Amidst the swirling snowflakes that drifted like willow catkins, Suehiro slowly shifted his gaze, letting it sweep across the faces of his companions.

"I believe I no longer need to say anything to you to inspire your fighting spirit!"

Suehiro held his head high, exuding an air of arrogance.

At this moment, he felt exactly like the commander-in-chief of an army! He was giving his generals a final pep talk before the battle!

"Grasp your knives! Hold your knives tight!"

"The barbarians who have invaded our land are now right before our eyes!"

"Tell me—can we just let these barbarians, and these scoundrels who serve them, escape right under our noses?!"

Tell me—will we return empty-handed tonight?!

"Gentlemen!"

"Come with me and slay the barbarians!"

"Tonight, let those barbarians who still run rampant on our land see our might, let them witness our determination to defend our nation! Let them see the spirit of our warriors!"

"Tonight, let the name of our Extermination Group spread throughout the entire nation!"

"Tonight, let all the barbarians who set foot on our land be terrified and their livers and gallbladders tremble at the mere mention of the name of our Extermination Group!"

With that, Suehiro suddenly turned around! He aimed the matchlock gun, which he had been holding in his left hand and which had already lit the matchlock and was ready to fire at any moment, at the distant camp!

"Exterminate the barbarians—!"

With all his might, he uttered this roar and then slammed the trigger.