Chapter 42

In the silent forest, darkness swallowed everything, with not a single source of light or the slightest sound of birds or beasts.

In such a situation, where humans fortified themselves behind steel walls, confining themselves to the stations, the creatures outside had no such ability.

In other words, on this land, almost all the birds and beasts had become food for the Kabane. Even if they weren't completely extinct, it was rare to see them outside the stations.

However, even without the threat of dangerous birds and beasts, this forest was far from a safe place.

After all, compared to birds and beasts, the Kabane, which could attack humans at any time, were even more terrifying.

Under such circumstances, logically, no one would be willing to walk alone in such a forest.

But at this moment, a person appeared in the forest.

It was a pregnant woman.

Judging from her large belly, she must have been pregnant for quite some time, and it wouldn't be long before she gave birth.

Unfortunately, before that, the Shinagawa station had fallen.

Therefore, the pregnant woman could only bring her unborn child to live in the Koutetsujou, drifting along with the tide.

Of course, this was not the most serious problem.

As long as they were still alive, there was hope.

Moreover, the Koutetsujou had many samurai, led by the eldest daughter of the Shikigawa family, so the future was not entirely hopeless.

At least, that was the case for the other residents of the Koutetsujou.

As for the pregnant woman, she had to face a more immediate issue.

Not for her own survival.

"For the child in my belly..."

The pregnant woman hugged her belly, as if embracing the child inside.

Then, she continued to walk forward.

The surrounding darkness made her heart tremble, evoking an instinctive fear.

Humans are inherently afraid of the dark.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have invented lamps to drive away the darkness.

Moreover, with the possibility of man-eating monsters appearing at any moment, the pregnant woman couldn't help but feel afraid.

But even so, she had to keep moving forward.

"For the child in my belly..."

As she said this, the pregnant woman couldn't help but recall the prayer she had just made by the campfire.

She clearly remembered that when the man passed by her, he said to her:

"If you really want to give birth to the child in your belly, then come find me."

After saying this, the man walked into the forest.

To be honest, the pregnant woman, who understood her situation, knew that the man's words had no credibility at all.

It wasn't just a matter of being suspicious, but whether it was even possible.

But the pregnant woman still clung to a glimmer of hope.

Because, apart from this, she didn't know what else she could do to save herself and the child in her belly.

"I must find him..."

With this hope, the pregnant woman began to look around.

She didn't notice the figure standing behind her.

If she had turned around at that moment, she would have been terrified.

Not because of the figure's presence.

But because in the figure's eyes, a pair of ice-blue iridescent eyes were shining, becoming the only source of light in the darkness.

And these ice-blue eyes were fixed on the pregnant woman.

No.

More accurately, they were focused on something deeper within the pregnant woman.

These eyes, which could see death, were now staring at the non-human presence inside the pregnant woman—death.

"Focus your mind..."

This would make the object of focus clearer.

"Lock onto the target..."

This would make the hidden presence within the human body unable to hide.

"There is only one thing to do..."

Holding the weapon that could accomplish this task in his hand, Furi could...

"Kill 'you'!"

Thus, the killer in the darkness pounced on the pregnant woman walking in the forest.

In the next second, the dagger, gleaming with a cold light, pierced the pregnant woman's back.

...

Not far from the Koutetsujou, Shikigawa Ayame was discussing future plans with Kuze Raiko and Arakawa Kibito.

"The food and water reserves on the Koutetsujou will not last long," Kuze Raiko said to Shikigawa Ayame. "Lady Ayame, shouldn't we decide on the final destination for the Koutetsujou?"

"I have already made a decision on this matter," Shikigawa Ayame said with a serious expression. "The final destination for the Koutetsujou will be Koubu."

"Koubu?" Kuze Raiko was somewhat surprised.

"Isn't that the headquarters of the shogunate?" Arakawa Kibito said bluntly. "The shogun, who rules the shogunate, lives there. It is the center of the country and even the front line against the Kabane. If we go there directly, will they accept us?"

"They will," Shikigawa Ayame said softly, clasping her hands in front of her. "My uncle is in Koubu, currently serving as a roju."

Upon hearing this, Kuze Raiko and Arakawa Kibito's eyes lit up.

The highest ruler of the shogunate was naturally the shogun.

Below the shogun, the position responsible for assisting the shogun and overseeing all affairs of the shogunate was the taiko.

This was an important position that could only be set during extraordinary times.

If the shogunate were compared to a dynasty, and the shogun to the emperor of that dynasty, then the taiko would be like the prime minister by the emperor's side.

When the taiko was not set, all affairs of the shogunate were managed by the roju.

In other words, in the absence of a taiko, the roju was the second-highest position in the shogunate, just below the shogun.

"If Lady Ayame's uncle is indeed serving as a roju in Koubu, then with Lady Ayame here, Koubu will certainly accept us," Kuze Raiko said solemnly. "In that case, going to Koubu is indeed the best choice."

"Agreed," Arakawa Kibito nodded.

As the three were discussing this, a person slowly approached them.

"Hmm?" Shikigawa Ayame noticed the person first and exclaimed in surprise.

"Mr. Furi?"

Kuze Raiko and Arakawa Kibito's expressions tightened as they looked over.

But all three saw that the person approaching, Furi, was carrying a sleeping pregnant woman in his arms.

Shikigawa Ayame, Kuze Raiko, and Arakawa Kibito were instantly stunned.

Seeing their reactions, Furi spoke directly.

"Don't worry, she's just scared."

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