As night fell, the Iron Fortress stopped.
The residents inside the Iron Fortress disembarked one by one and gathered in a relatively open space.
Under Shikomorikawa Ayame's command, some people went to find a water source to add the necessary cooling water to the Iron Fortress.
The remaining people gathered in the open space, built a bonfire in the middle, and everyone knelt around the bonfire, closed their eyes, and began to pray.
They were praying for those who had died earlier in Aba Station. Although it was unknown whether doing so would have any effect, it could at least make these people feel a little more comfortable.
The samurai formed a circle around the civilians, vigilantly observing the surroundings.
Inaba Tsukiyo and the others were looking at the people praying outside through the window.
"What are they doing?"
Mumei asked, bewildered, as she watched the people praying around the bonfire.
Ikoma fell silent as he watched the praying people.
"These people are holding a funeral for the deceased. Perhaps they want their departed loved ones to rest in peace before they go too far... But I think doing this is more for their own comfort."
Mumei didn't speak either, she put down her book and silently watched the people gathered around the bonfire outside.
As the people prayed, remembering their absent loved ones, tears involuntarily flowed, and soft sobs began to rise.
The residents of Aba Station gradually could no longer suppress their inner sorrow and began to weep.
They had been enduring it, and only now did they release their inner sadness.
Facing such a scene, even the vigilant samurai felt their spirits sink; they too had lost so much.
Everyone present had lost something important, and even Inaba Tsukiyo had lost the most important Victorica.
But unlike these people, in her later life, she had long since put that sadness behind her.
Constantly dwelling on the past is merely a sign of immaturity; one can occasionally reminisce, but repeatedly bringing it up is simply a display of weakness.
Mumei and Ikoma were both somewhat affected by this sorrowful mood, but only Inaba Tsukiyo remained quietly seated on a box, saying nothing.
"Hey, why aren't you reacting at all? Don't you feel sad?"
Seemingly noticing Inaba Tsukiyo's demeanor, Mumei couldn't help but ask her.
Inaba Tsukiyo turned her head, her eyes slightly open, looking at Mumei who was very close to her.
Her crimson pupils were exceptionally dazzling, just like Mumei's when she entered a certain state.
Despite wearing a miko outfit, Inaba Tsukiyo wasn't like those miko who served gods; she was more like a miko who rebelled against gods, which is to say... a God-Defying Miko?
"Everyone has bad memories, and I too have lost the most important person. But what's the use of constantly dwelling in past sorrow?"
"Can sadness bring the dead back to life? If it could, then I would immerse myself in sorrow every day, but it has no effect whatsoever."
Inaba Tsukiyo's words made Mumei and Ikoma look at her involuntarily.
Ikoma had a memory he couldn't bear to recall; for a long time in the past, he had been consumed by self-blame because of that incident.
Even now, whenever he remembers that incident, he falls into self-blame.
"Think carefully about those who have died. Do they wish for you to live your entire life burdened by this sad memory and guilt? Or do they wish for you to let go of the past and start your lives anew?"
"If they truly loved you, they wouldn't want you to grieve over their affairs. This world is cruel; because of monsters like Kabaneri, many people have lost their cherished treasures. Those treasures might be lovers, or family, or even close friends, but those who continue to live clinging to that sad past are nothing but cowards."
These words made Ikoma widen his eyes, looking at Inaba Tsukiyo with some displeasure.
Mumei also felt some emotion, but she still looked at Inaba Tsukiyo expressionlessly, waiting for her to continue.
"So what if they died? I once heard a legend that when people die, they go to a country that only the dead can enter. That country of the dead is incredibly beautiful; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it paradise."
Inaba Tsukiyo simply recounted the legend, and Ikoma and Mumei, who had never heard such a tale, both showed curiosity.
At the same time, the beautiful world Inaba Tsukiyo depicted also made them yearn for it; compared to this cruel world, that country of the dead was indeed a paradise.
It's just… "Even the dead are not immortal. The dead in that country also die; if no one remembers her who has already died, then she will die once again. This is true death."
Inaba Tsukiyo jumped down from the wooden box and, facing the completely stunned Ikoma and Mumei, continued.
"Remembering the dead is to keep them alive in your hearts. But this isn't about making you live with sad memories; they might be watching you from the country of the dead right now. Watching you live an undignified life, saddened by their deaths. If you don't want them to worry, then smiling and living for their sake too is what you, the living, should do."
Leaving these words, Inaba Tsukiyo left the carriage and went to the front car, leaving only Mumei and Ikoma behind.
She knew that both Ikoma and Mumei had memories they couldn't tell others; if they accepted her words, they might feel a little better.
If they couldn't accept it, she couldn't force them; if they couldn't let go themselves, how could anyone else help them?
Inaba Tsukiyo arrived at the top of the Iron Fortress and enjoyed the breeze. Just as she was savoring her solitude, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching.
Turning her head, she saw five commoners, each holding tools like hoes and kitchen knives, walking towards the carriage where Ikoma and Mumei were.
People who were so afraid of Kabaneri that they couldn't move were now daring to provoke Kabaneri; what on earth happened?
Behind these five people, a very short fellow wearing a purple headscarf was watching them advance.
Needless to say, Inaba Tsukiyo understood that these people must have been incited by this fellow.
Besides the five somewhat influential people who wanted to cause trouble, there were also commoners who wanted to kill the Kabaneri.
It was just that this fellow was clearly no match for Mumei and Ikoma, and perhaps out of fear of death, he could only let those commoners cause trouble.
"Seriously… there's always someone looking for trouble. Don't they realize this just causes problems for others?"
Leaping down from the roof, Inaba Tsukiyo stood in front of these armed commoners.
Inaba Tsukiyo's sudden appearance made these stealthy commoners stop in their tracks, raising their weapons and pointing them at Inaba Tsukiyo.
"It's you! You, who protect the Kabaneri! You're not a good person either!"
"Exactly! Exactly! They're all monsters, so why do you protect those Kabaneri!? You're also a monster's companion!"
"Monster! Monster!"
Even standing still, these people's mouths were not idle, constantly spewing unpleasant words, which made Inaba Tsukiyo, who originally just wanted to stop them, somewhat annoyed.
Placing mikazuki munechika on her waistband, she slowly opened her eyes, and these commoners immediately felt a bone-chilling cold penetrate their bodies.
Although the evening wind was indeed biting, cold sweat uncontrollably streamed down their faces.
Under this terrifying pressure, these commoners, who had lost their composure, finally realized what kind of monster they were facing.
The fear of death constantly spread through their bodies; some commoners couldn't even grip their weapons, dropping them to the ground.
"You truly disappoint me. I thought you might have some brains, but I didn't expect you to be so easily incited by others."
Inaba Tsukiyo did not immediately draw her sword, but instead voiced her displeasure.
Shikomorikawa Ayame, who had arrived, saw no sign of Inaba Tsukiyo making a move and did not interrupt her. Instead, she waited for Inaba Tsukiyo to continue, along with Mumei and Ikoma who had also come out.
"Kabaneri? Kabaneri? In your eyes, these two things are the same, but what's the point of coming here with these weapons? Can these weapons of yours break through the Kabaneri's steel membrane?"
Even steam guns couldn't easily break through the Kabaneri's membrane, so how could the farm tools and kitchen knives in these fellows' hands be of any use?
And these fellows even brought these farm tools with them during the evacuation; how idle must they be?
The calmed commoners looked at each other, recalling what the samurai had told them about Kabaneri, and then looked at the weapons in their hands, realizing they were indeed useless.
"Even if the weapons are useless, why did you act? The person who told you to act must have told you that Kabaneri are very dangerous and might harm the people inside the Iron Fortress. But is that person here?"
Alright, now the most important question has arrived: where is the person who incited them to cause trouble?
He clearly told them about the potential dangers he believed Kabaneri could cause, but where did he himself run off to?
"Think carefully about why that person sought you out? Because your family members were harmed by Kabaneri, he used your fear of Kabaneri to make you come here and cause trouble. But have you ever considered why he would do this?"
"His purpose in doing this is simply to use you, who are still somewhat capable. The reason that person didn't dare to come over is also because he is afraid of death."
These words immediately made these confused people realize that something was amiss.
Everyo ne turned around, only to find that the old man who had called them over earlier had already fled towards the dense crowd.
It would be too foolish not to realize they were being used by now.
Without shedding blood, but simply through words, she made these guys leave and go settle scores with that old man.
Shikomorikawa Ayame, Mumei, and Ikoma, who witnessed all of this firsthand, were stunned.
Even Ikoma had thought that Inaba Tsukiyo would beat these people to the ground to teach them a lesson not to cause trouble.
She didn't even lift a finger; she just scared them first, then used words to make them abandon the idea of causing trouble.
"What's wrong? Do you think I'm the kind of person who uses her fists to talk at the slightest provocation?"
Noticing the gazes of Shikomorikawa Ayame and the others, Inaba Tsukiyo stood with her hands on her hips, looking a bit displeased.
"I'm not like these barbarians; as a civilized person, I prefer to solve problems in a more civilized way."
Miss Mumei was thus labeled a barbarian by Inaba Tsukiyo.
Of course, what Inaba Tsukiyo would do when she was uncivilized didn't need to be said; everyone knew very well.
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