My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 47: Chapter 33: Tachibana Aoto (Smiling Kindly): Open the Door!

”How could this happen... How could this happen...”

Jinzāburō, with colorless cheeks and lips, packed his clothes and belongings onto a large sheet of cloth spread out in front of him, while continuously repeating the same words in a trembling voice, like a mournful lament.

How could this happen...

He was a diligent and honest person — this was how most people who knew Jinzāburō would describe him, this old man of 65.

Yet, it was this diligent and honest man who brutally murdered Granny Ping last night.

Jinzāburō had a secret buried deep in his heart, one he had never shared with anyone.

He and Aping were childhood friends, and he had always harbored feelings for her.

He loved Aping.

He wanted to grow old with Aping.

But his feelings were ultimately unrequited...

At 15, he confessed his love to Aping.

But Aping... did not accept Jinzāburō’s love.

By then, she was already acquainted and in love with Kotaro, who was not yet a doctor.

The year following Jinzāburō’s confession, Aping married Kotaro.

The beloved girl married another, and though Jinzāburō was disheartened, he did not give in to despair.

He wholeheartedly wished for the woman he loved to find happiness.

But he couldn’t let go of his love for Aping.

If... one day, Kotaro were to suddenly die... would that give me another chance?

Ah... if such a day truly came... I must be ready...

Unable to relinquish his love for Aping, he chose to wait.

To wait for the day when the position of ”Aping’s husband” would be vacant.

To wait for the day he might replace Kotaro...

With the hope of splendidly marrying Aping when the opportunity arose, Jinzāburō worked tirelessly, saving his earnings.

Strangely, since he could remember, he never needed long hours of sleep, nor had he ever been unable to sleep.

For decades it was this way — as soon as his head hit the pillow, he would fall asleep instantly, never experiencing restless nights.

While most people needed 3 to 4 hours of sleep, he didn’t need nearly as long, requiring just about 2 hours each day to refresh himself fully.

Thanks to this unique physical trait, Jinzāburō could dedicate more time to work and earning money.

At his busiest, he juggled four jobs at once in a single day.

He maintained his connection with Aping and worked feverishly, earning and saving.

Never married, never started a family.

He waited for decades.

Finally... he had waited all this time, and the day had come — Kotaro’s passing.

Even after decades had passed, his love for Aping had never wavered.

Even though Aping had grown old and her youthful beauty faded, he still loved her.

His decades of hard work had accumulated in a considerable fortune.

The long wait finally bore fruit, and Jinzāburō could hardly wait to rush to Aping’s side.

But considering Kotaro had only recently passed, understanding that Aping would be grieving, Jinzāburō restrainingly waited another two months before seeking her last night.

Last night, Jinzāburō knocked on Aping’s door, wearing a brand-new outfit.

Though surprised by Jinzāburō’s unexpected night visit, Aping hastily invited her enduring childhood friend inside.

After conversing in the living room for a while, Jinzāburō mustered his courage, once again after decades, to completely confess his love to Aping.

Her childhood friend, now with gray hair like herself, was professing love; Aping was taken aback.

Aping had never considered finding a new partner at her age.

So... she gave Jinzāburō the same answer she did decades ago.

Rejected once more by the woman he loved.

In that moment, Jinzāburō felt... as if the whole world had ”stopped”.

The eerie ”stillness” lasted only a second.

After a second, a rush of emotions surged into Jinzāburō’s chest and mind.

Resentment, unwillingness, anger...

Why... would you reject me? Why... couldn’t you accept me?

When he knocked on Aping’s door, Jinzāburō had already prepared himself mentally for being rejected by Aping once again.

Even though he believed he was prepared, for some reason, hearing Aping’s rejection again, he couldn’t suppress the negativity within him.

He felt... as if he had lost control over his body.

Anger, unwillingness... these negative emotions were like rampaging beasts, devouring Jinzāburō.

When these emotions reached their peak — he drew the waist sword he carried for self-defense...

What happened then, Jinzāburō could hardly remember.

As if he had lost his memory, Jinzāburō couldn’t recall what happened after he drew his waist sword.

He only remembered... when he came back to his senses, he was lying on top of Aping.

In his hand, he grasped the waist sword stained as red as his palms.

Underneath him, Aping... had no breath of life left.

Her lifeless eyes met Jinzāburō’s eyes, filled with terror.

How could this happen...?

In everyday life, he clearly didn’t even have the courage to argue with someone on the street.

Why did he suddenly act as if possessed and kill Aping?

After the shock, fear quickly flooded Jinzāburō’s cheeks.

I killed someone...

I mustn’t be caught by the ”Three Times” people...!

I have to escape... can’t be caught by the ”Three Times” people!

His instinct for self-preservation overpowered his remorse and guilt for killing Aping.

Even though his mind was filled with fear, Jinzāburō hadn’t completely lost his sanity.

To buy time for a night escape, when fleeing from Granny Ping’s house, Jinzāburō deliberately extinguished the remaining stub of candle to create an illusion that Granny Ping was asleep, thus delaying the discovery of her body.

After stumbling back home, preparing to pack and leave Edo under the cover of night... he regretted.

Edo was his hometown.

Leaving Edo... where could he go?

Nowhere to go.

A glimmer of hope emerged at that moment and quickly occupied his mind.

Considering the inefficient and luck-reliant investigation methods of the Magistrate’s Office... there’s a good chance the ”Three Times” might not catch me!

As long as he stayed at home calmly, eating and drinking, it wouldn’t take long before his life returned to normal!

Driven by this hopeful thought, Jinzāburō abandoned the idea of fleeing overnight and stayed at his home.

Usually, he would fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but for the first time, he was sleepless all night...

In the end, Jinzāburō’s psychological resilience wasn’t that strong.

Despite constantly reassuring himself that there’s a high chance ”Three Times” won’t catch him, he couldn’t maintain his composure upon hearing the news that Aping’s body had been discovered.

Ah... although the ”Three Times” aren’t very efficient, they certainly don’t leave any cases unsolved...

Such thoughts kept swirling in Jinzāburō’s mind.

Indecisive, battling internally with anxiety and fear, he finally decided earlier - he must escape!

Escape from Edo, flee to anywhere else, and never return to Edo!

Money, clothes... all essentials were packed...

After checking his luggage, Jinzāburō realized he missed something important—

”Medicine... medicine...”

He rushed in hurried steps to the cabinet nearby and dug out a bottle filled with small pills of purple and red.

Perhaps due to working too hard in his youth, after aging, Jinzāburō often felt pain in his waist and shoulders.

About a year ago, Jinzāburō was recommended these oddly colored pills, said to have pain-relieving effects.

Upon taking them once, Jinzāburō found them surprisingly effective, needing only one pill to significantly reduce pain in various parts of his body.

Since then, the fairly priced medicine became a necessity for Jinzāburō’s life, taking a pill whenever pain arose.

Pocketing the medicine bottle, Jinzāburō slung his luggage over his shoulder and hurriedly fled outside.

Wow...

Upon opening the wooden door, no bright sunlight cast on Jinzāburō.

Because a tall figure stood at his doorstep, blocking the sunlight.

Stunned, Jinzāburō raised his gaze—the man was backlit, blinded by the sunlight, Jinzāburō couldn’t see his face clearly, only noticed a gentle smile on his face...

”Oh, oh... you must be Mr. Jinzāburō?”

”Didn’t expect you to come out yourself... good, saves me from opening the door to find you.”

”Greetings, I am North Guard Station Town-Patrol Dōshin: Tachibana Aoto. I have many questions to bother you with.”

”Firstly, the first question—where are you planning to go with the luggage you’re carrying?”

Jinzāburō watched the gentle smile slowly turn into cold lines.

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Today, there are three updates!

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