My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 62: Chapter 45: Acquired Talent: [Lone Brave]!

Ansei Year 7 (1860), January 16th—

Edo Magistrate’s Office’s holiday system is ”work two, rest one.”

That means working two days, resting one day.

While this seems quite delightful, you can only enjoy such a humane holiday system if you’re relatively lucky.

For samurai like Aoto, who are part of the ”Three Times,” encountering a big case and going for dozens of days, or even over a month without a break, is perfectly normal.

Fortunately—Aoto is having quite a bit of luck right now.

On his second day at work, besides encountering Mukiwa’s ”meow meow meow meow” incident on the patrol route, nothing else happened.

The second day at work passed in peace and tranquility.

As someone eager to quickly enhance his own strength, Aoto was undoubtedly looking forward to the holidays the most.

Because then, he could go to Shiwei Hall and practice swordsmanship.

With no cases or important matters at hand to handle, after working for two days and welcoming the eagerly awaited holiday, Aoto excitedly grabbed the lunch Kyūbē prepared for him and headed straight to Shiwei Hall.

As soon as he reached the gates of Shiwei Hall, Aoto noticed that the place seemed quite lively today. From outside the gates, he could already hear the rising and falling shouts and the sounds of bamboo swords clashing inside.

Entering the dojo and glancing around, Aoto found the familiar tall figure.

”Mr. Kondo.” Aoto smiled as he quickly walked towards the familiar tall figure, who was Kondo Isami, instructing an apprentice on how to grip a sword.

”Oh oh!” Kondo raised an eyebrow at Aoto and laughed, ”Mr. Tachibana, you’ve come to practice swordsmanship? Haha, I don’t know why it feels like I haven’t seen you in ages. Don’t you need to serve at the Magistrate’s Office today?”

”There’s nothing on hand that needs handling, so I can enjoy the holiday today.” With that, Aoto glanced around the dojo again, ”There are quite a few people here today...”

There are about ten apprentices practicing swordsmanship in the dojo now.

To have so many people come to practice swordsmanship early in the morning was indeed a bit surprising for Aoto.

”Yes.” Kondo sighed, ”Occasionally, there are days when more people come to the dojo to practice swordsmanship.”

”Haha... It would be great if it could be this lively every day.”

”Hmm? Why don’t I see Mr. Chokata?” Aoto noticed that the dojo lacked the presence of the handsome youth.

”Oh oh, Toshisuke has gone to buy gold flat sugar.” Kondo smiled helplessly, ”Toshisuke is a big glutton, especially loves eating gold flat sugar.”

”He eats gold flat sugar more often than he eats rice.”

”Last night, he saw that the gold flat sugar stored at home was running low, so this morning, he hurried off to the confectionery shop he frequently visits to ’restock.’”

”He probably won’t be back for a while.”

At this point, Kondo placed his hands on his hips and sighed lightly.

”It’s surprising he can eat so much gold flat sugar every day and not have his teeth rot...”

Kondo turned his gaze back to Aoto.

”Alright, let’s not worry about Toshisuke.”

”Mr. Tachibana, you’ve come at the perfect time today.”

”Come at the perfect time? What do you mean?” Aoto looked puzzled.

”My father... ah, our master returned yesterday.” Kondo smiled, ”I’ve already told him about you.”

”He’s been saying since yesterday that he wants to meet you, our new apprentice, as soon as possible.”

”I thought it might take you a few more days before you make time to come practice swordsmanship again.”

”Didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

The current Hall Master of Shiwei Hall: Kondo Shuuzo, was someone Aoto had heard greatly of but hadn’t met yet.

When he first came to Shiwei Hall two days ago, he missed meeting Shuuzo because he was away on business and not at the dojo.

Aoto was quite curious about this master he hadn’t had a chance to meet yet.

”Mr. Kondo, since the master is back, where is he now?”

Aoto had just asked this question when—

”Hohoho, you must be that Tachibana Aoto?”

The gravelly, aged voice that could evoke thoughts of ”withered branches” suddenly caught Aoto’s attention.

Aoto quickly turned in the direction of the aged male voice, which was behind him.

As soon as he turned around, what he saw made a hint of surprise appear on Aoto’s brow.

Standing behind him... was a hunched-over, rather short old man.

The elder had his hands clasped behind his back, smiling warmly at Aoto.

”Father!” Kondo quickly walked over to the elder’s side.

The apprentices in the dojo all ceased their practice, bowed to the elder, and uniformly greeted, ”Master, good morning.”

The one Kondo Isami called father and the apprentices called master... there was only one such person they addressed so.

Realizing who this elder was, Aoto quickly followed the lead of the other apprentices, bowed, and loudly responded to Shuuzo’s earlier question:

”I am Tachibana Aoto!”

While greeting this elder... that is, Kondo Shuuzo, Aoto couldn’t help slyly examining his master out of the corner of his eye.

—This person... is Kondo Shuuzo?

At first glance, the first impression Kondo Shuuzo gave Aoto was... his short stature.

However, this ”short” stature was only in comparison to the likes of Aoto and Kondo Isami, who stood close to 1.8 meters tall.

Compared to most men of that era, Kondo Shuuzo’s height was quite average.

His second impression... was those small eyes.

It was the first time Aoto had seen such tiny, squinted eyes, making it unclear whether they were open or shut.

As for the third impression... the man seemed quite gentle.

His mouth constantly turned up slightly in a warm smile, looking like someone easy to get along with.

Zhouzhu raised his hand, signaling the people around to dispense with formalities, then smiled and looked up, examining Aoto from head to toe.

”Ho ho ho ho... so you’re Tachibana Aoto, quite tall indeed.”

Zhouzhu stood on tiptoes, humorously comparing his height with Aoto’s.

Seeing Zhouzhu’s somewhat amusing gesture, Aoto couldn’t help but laugh silently.

”I already heard about you from Yong yesterday.”

”According to Yong, you’re not only talented in swordsmanship, but also quite skilled in hand-to-hand combat.”

”Skilled, I wouldn’t dare say that,” Aoto replied modestly.

Zhouzhu let out a few chuckles and then put his hands behind his back.

”Even though Yong checked your strength when you first came to Shiwei Hall.”

”I haven’t seen for myself how capable you, this new student, really are.”

”If it’s convenient, could you show me your current strength?”

Aoto was startled, then quickly replied, ”Of course, no problem.”

Zhouzhu nodded, ”Then... I’d like to start by seeing your hand-to-hand combat skills.”

”You want to see my hand-to-hand combat?” Aoto was taken aback.

”In this era, samurai skilled in hand-to-hand combat are quite rare,” Zhouzhu chuckled. ”I really want to see how good your hand-to-hand combat is. May I? If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you.”

”Of course,” Aoto nodded eagerly, ”I’d be delighted.”

To test strength, naturally, Aoto would have to spar with someone.

To spar with someone reasonably, and using one’s most proficient hand-to-hand combat skills—there was no reason Aoto could think of to refuse such an exciting opportunity.

”Okay, then—Yong.” Zhouzhu glanced at Kondo standing beside him, ”You spar with Mr. Tachibana.”

”Me?” Kondo was startled, pointing a finger at himself.

”You’re the only one here who knows a bit of hand-to-hand combat,” Kondo Zhouzhu replied plainly, ”Who else would I choose if not you?”

”Alright, I understand.”

Seeing that Zhouzhu sent Kondo to spar, Aoto was delighted.

To spar with Kondo—he couldn’t ask for more.

Three days ago, Kondo had to rush back to Tama to visit Hijikata Toshizo, causing Aoto to miss the chance to spar with Kondo and potentially detect any talent within him.

Now, having the chance to make up for this regret, Aoto couldn’t help but smile with joy.

The apprentices in the dojo quickly retreated to the sides, giving space to Aoto and Kondo.

Meanwhile, Zhouzhu sat cross-legged at the main seat of the dojo, watching the two as they began to salute each other with great interest.

After the salute, Kondo took a deep breath and spread his legs.

—Jujutsu, huh...

In his past life, passionate about hand-to-hand combat skills and having various degrees of knowledge about major hand-to-hand combat skills, Aoto recognized at a glance the martial art Kondo was using just from his stance.

Aoto not only recognized that Kondo was using jujutsu, but he also noticed that Kondo’s level wasn’t great.

With such an awkward stance... Aoto guessed that Kondo’s jujutsu was probably only at the ”Three-legged Cat” level.

If it were swordsmanship... Aoto was sure he would be easily crushed by Kondo, the deputy master of the sword dojo.

But if it were hand-to-hand combat...

Aoto let out a breath, raised his hands, and assumed a grappling stance.

Confident in every move!

”Ha—!” Kondo shouted vehemently, advancing towards Aoto with a powerful and intimidating qi union.

Though Kondo stood nearly 1.8 meters tall and was quite hefty, he wasn’t so massive as to ”outweigh” Aoto by a whole class.

Thus, as Kondo charged, Aoto didn’t dodge but boldly sidestepped, stepped forward, and grabbed hold of Kondo.

Kondo reacted extremely quickly; after Aoto embraced him, the jujutsu level ”Three-legged Cat” Kondo immediately began to struggle, trying to break free of Aoto’s grip using sheer force.

Kondo’s strength, like his build, indeed surpassed Aoto’s.

However, the difference in strength and weight between them wasn’t so vast as to prevent Aoto from compensating with techniques!

Aoto took a deep breath and, like performing a precise magic trick, swiftly locked Kondo’s arms using grappling techniques.

Kondo instinctively resisted, but to his surprise, he found that his strength was completely ineffective.

The more he struggled and tried to free his arms from Aoto’s control, the more intense the pain spread from his arms throughout his body.

He felt that if he forced his arms out of Aoto’s grasp, his arms would certainly dislocate.

Seeing Kondo so quickly subdued by Aoto, Zhouzhu raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Then, a slight smile emerged from the corner of his mouth.

”Alright, that’s enough!”

Hearing Zhouzhu call for a stop, Aoto promptly let go of Kondo’s arms.

And at that moment—

[Ding! Talent detected]

[Talent successfully copied: ”Lone Brave”]

[Talent Description: The more numerous and powerful the enemies are, the more one’s fighting spirit ignites, allowing one to perform beyond their usual strength. (Note: The exceptional performance has its limits.)]

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