"Aju is most afraid of the dark, and she definitely doesn't want to be buried in the dark and cold Chai Mountain alone!"

Lying on the edge of the straw mat, staying up all night guarding the petite body, the boy's tearful face was full of reluctance and pity: "No, I have decided, you will stay at home..."

"With your favorite doll, and everyone... just like before!"

"Since it's the same as before...why is Yongji-san crying so sadly? 』

The days of "the same as before" are not too long.

Injuries, wars, hunger, disasters, accidents, ghosts, grievances...

In the world where Ah Ju left before she could understand, there were always too many things of this kind that could make the warm faces in front of the altar disappear one by one.

"Aju, your doll's hair has grown longer again. You must have been attached to it, right? It's good, let me comb it for you..."

"Aju, I heard that wars are taking place all over the world, and the lunatics of the military are recruiting soldiers everywhere. Last night, they posted the draft order on their door."

"Aju, they said that if I didn't go to serve in Sakhalin, I would kill the people in the village."

In such a large family, unconsciously, only the young man was left in front of the Buddhist altar day and night, telling "new things".

"But as soon as I leave, there's no one in the house, and I can't take you with me... If a thief comes in, what should I do?"

"Aju, are you finally going to part with Brother Yongji? 』

Looking at Brother Yongji's vicissitudes of life and thin, smiling but always warm face, Ah Ju, who was in a daze and hid in the doll, felt the long-lost "pain" in his "heart" for the first time.

"Aju, I have already agreed with the host of Wannian Temple, you are safe here..."

"Also, with your favorite doll, you will neither be lonely nor be afraid of thieves coming in."

Wannian Temple, in front of the Buddhist shrine, Yongji, who was dressed in military uniform, bowed slightly, and then turned back and left in three steps under the farewell of the bald-headed host.

"You have to be obedient and wait for your brother to come back to pick you up."

"Aju, I will wait until Brother Yongji comes back, no matter how long..."

This parting is seven years.

"Aju, my brother came back and bought you a new kimono..."

"However, the host said that in your current state, it would be better to continue to stay in Wannian Temple... Anyway, the house collapsed for too long, and I can't live in it now..."

The one who returned to the temple is Brother Yongji, who has experienced hardships and is far more vicissitudes than his actual age.

"Don't worry, my brother won't go to the military, and will come to see you every day."

"Welcome back, Yongji-san..."

Looking at this familiar face, the doll's stiff and cold ceramic face on the altar, the corners of his mouth arched slightly, as if he was smiling happily.

"In the past seven years, Aju has been very good... Not only has she learned to take care of herself, but she has also taken care of many children like Aju! 』

The days with Brother Yongji are far warmer than before.

Although Aju couldn't make an expression or "speak" a word, it seemed that he had returned to "before".

However, just like the "but" that always appears, the happy time is always short.

"Aju, the doctor said, I'm not here for a few days... If I leave, you have to listen to the host... Even if there are people who don't know who are afraid of you, you don't have to mind too much."

"Look, now there are so many believers who come to visit Aju and entrust the most precious child to you... Aju is no longer a little girl, you are now a big man that everyone can trust..."

"You must bless everyone who believes in you and likes you."

On that day, Brother Yongji's old face disappeared into the wind and snow and was never seen again.

Aju's only regret is that no matter how hard she tried, she failed to smile and say "thank you" and "good luck".

"Ms. Aju, as long as you recite the Buddha devoutly, one day, you will be blessed by the Buddha and take you to the other side to reunite with your brother."

The only people who accompany Aju are the old hostess, the old host and the old host who sit in front of the altar every day, chant sutras and worship the Buddha, grow old and disappear.

...

"No, Aju can't fall here... Aju promised Brother Yongji...Aju said with a stubborn expression."

At the bridgehead on the south side of Goryokaku, the stump of Aju's humanoid slowly wriggled, trying to put it together.

"Aju, cheer up..."

"Don't try to bully Aju!"

The black hair and the mutilated puppets all around were struggling to gather around, trying their best to protect her.

"It seems that the doll you possess is unexpectedly fragile... It's obviously a little girl who has never done anything with anyone, so why are you fighting against me..."

Looking at the broken puppets, ghosts and gods in front of him, Mr. Okita, who was standing in the hail of bullets, sighed slightly, and Kaga Kiyomitsu split into two, and cut out with a single sword without pity!

"It's over, little girl Aju!"

"Brother Yongji, these years, Aju has been alone... so lonely... Aju, I miss you so much..."

Looking at the light of the sword that penetrated everything in front of him and struck like an electric light, a line of blood and tears dripped down the snow-white half ceramic face of the human figure of Aju.

"Aju has always listened to your words... Guarding everyone to the end...Aju said with a relieved expression."

"Boom boom boom boom!"

At the same time, harsh sound waves sounded from the side of the moat...

"Whee."

Hearing this voice, the weak power of ghosts and spirits on Aju Humanoid's body immediately shook.

"Aju doesn't know what war is about, and doesn't understand your world... But Aju knows that obedient children will be blessed by the Buddha...Aju prayed with a sincere expression."

"This is……"

Everyone followed the sound and saw a black and white heavy locomotive, rising like a cheetah, crossing the moat, and rushing towards the arch bridge...

A vigorous figure sprang out from the back of the locomotive in mid-air, and jumped head-on towards the dolls of Chief Okita and Aju!

"Oh, is there another one to die?"

Glancing at the figure in the air, Chief Okita smiled slightly, and Kaga Kiyomizu continued to hand out to the gradually recovering Aju doll in his hand.

Like the dozens of wastes on the bridge deck, he could not sense the slightest "power" from the figure in the air.

"However, you have to queue up."

As long as you cut off this annoying puppet in front of you first~lightnovelpub.net~, no one can stop you from moving forward!

"Ok?!"

For some reason, the smile on Mr. Okita's mouth suddenly froze.

"wrong……"

As if he was stimulated by something, he twisted back against the laws of physics, flew back dozens of meters, and returned to the city gate...

"Snapped."

At the same time, the figure in the air had already landed in front of the figure of Aju, where Chief Okita was standing.

"Yo, a big man, isn't it ashamed to bully a little girl with a knife?"

A black-haired man wearing a cold-proof suit, with a blindfold slanted on his forehead, and a wooden knife in one hand, straddled the bridge in a "Slavic squat" posture.

The wooden knife in his hand sank straight into the stone bridge deck at some point, bringing out a large crack!