My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 70: Chapter 52: Acquiring the Talent [Left-Handed] and Going on a Business Trip

Since traveling through time, Aoto had always been thinking about ”getting his hands on” his friends and family around him.

Who knows, maybe someone among them hides a powerful talent.

But because he never found the opportunity or time, Aoto had only successfully ”gotten his hands on” Kyūbē among this group of friends and family so far.

Aoto had sparred with Kyūbē in martial arts under a casual pretext the night before last.

And as expected by Aoto: this seemingly ordinary old servant didn’t have any special talent.

Now that there was a new member in the family, how could he not quickly check if this person had a special talent inside?

Aoto had already practiced swordsmanship all day at Shiwei Hall today and really couldn’t muster the energy or mood to fence with someone else again.

But fortunately, copying talents from others doesn’t necessarily require a serious spar in martial arts.

Previously, when he copied the ”Sword Genius” from Chokata, it had already proven that using some not-so-serious means, he could also copy talents from others.

”...” Looking at the hemp rope in Aoto’s hand, Saito slightly furrowed his brow.

Seeing Saito furrow his brow, Aoto suddenly realized—this seemed to be the first time he saw Saito make an expression other than ”expressionless.”

”Don’t worry, it’ll be quick.” To persuade Saito to quickly be tied up by him... Oh no, to persuade Saito to quickly help him ”test moves,” Aoto quickly said, ”As long as you practice one move with me, it’ll be enough.”

”... What do you want me to do?” Saito asked.

”You don’t need to do anything. Just pretend to be a fugitive and attack me with fists and kicks.”

”I don’t know hand-to-hand combat.”

”It’s okay. Just swing at me casually.”

”...Alright, I will accompany you for a short while.”

Seeing Saito finally nodding in agreement, Aoto beamed with joy: ”Then come with me to the courtyard.”

The 60 ping courtyard at Aoto’s home was more than enough for two people to spar and duel in.

After untying the sword at his right waist and standing in front of Aoto, Saito assumed a clearly amateurish fighting stance.

Looking at Saito’s stance at this moment, Aoto couldn’t help but remark inwardly:

—The fighting stance of a lefty is indeed completely different from that of a righty...

Whether in his past life or this one, it was the first time Aoto saw a left-handed martial artist.

Seeing a left-handed martial artist for the first time, Aoto couldn’t help but gaze at Saito a few more times with curiosity.

—I wonder if I’ll be able to copy the talent of becoming left-handed from him...

After contemplating this inwardly, Aoto tightened the hemp rope in his hand.

”Alright. Saito, you can attack now.”

Seeing that he could start, Saito nodded and then launched a punch towards Aoto’s chest.

Hmm, from Saito’s actions it was evident—he wasn’t very serious.

He was completely in a ”just going through the motions” mindset.

But this actually made things easier for Aoto.

—3...4...5...6...

While dodging Saito’s incoming punches, Aoto silently counted the time in his heart.

Copying talents requires fighting with the other person for at least 10 seconds, so Aoto couldn’t subdue Saito immediately.

After counting to 10, Aoto took a deep breath, dodged another attack from Saito, then launched himself towards Saito and began to tie the hemp rope around Saito’s body.

Saito was really taking it easy; after Aoto lunged at him, he didn’t struggle much and let Aoto tie him up tightly.

[Ding! Talent detected]

[Successfully copied talent: ”Left-Handed”]

[Talent description: The left side of the body becomes more agile]

—I really copied the talent to become left-handed...

Aoto blinked several times in disbelief that he guessed the talent he would copy.

At this moment, a warm current surged from Aoto’s Dantian, enveloping the left side of his torso.

Once the warm current receded, Aoto clenched his left hand a few times.

The hand was still the same hand, and the foot was still the same foot.

But Aoto could distinctly feel that his left side became much more agile.

—Did I become ambidextrous...

Aoto chuckled silently.

The left side now as agile as the right side... it was actually a very useful talent.

Now that he’s ambidextrous, it’ll be easier to gain advantages in both daily life and combat.

Especially in battle, having both hands equally agile enriches the combat styles and techniques available.

Aoto was starting to get used to the system’s existence; after exposure to top-tier talents like ”Sword Genius” and ”Sleep God,” a not-so-special talent like ”Left-Handed” couldn’t stir any excitement in Aoto’s heart.

After slightly calming his emotions, Aoto untied Saito while thanking him for being a sparring partner.

...

...

A new member had joined the family—but their home didn’t become any livelier because of it.

Even though, at first glance, Aoto could tell Saito was a young man who didn’t smile much.

But he did not expect him to be so humorless to this degree...

If you don’t speak to him first, he’ll never speak to you.

Even when he does speak to you, he won’t use a fifth word if four suffice to convey his message.

During dinner, he quietly eats alone and does not join Aoto and Kyūbē in conversation.

By the way—although Saito is quite tall, his appetite is astonishingly small.

According to Aoto’s estimation, Saito’s food intake seems to be only half of his.

After dinner, Saito holds his sword and sits by the entrance, helping Aoto guard the door.

In the time from finishing dinner to going to bed, Saito initiates conversation with Aoto only once.

Upon seeing Aoto begin to exercise, he asks: What are you doing?

Upon receiving the reply ”I am honing my body,” he falls silent again, continuing to guard the door quietly for Aoto...

”Sleep God” allows Aoto to sleep only 4 hours a day, yet to be so energized the next day that he does not need a nap.

Aoto’s schedule now is to sleep at 10 p.m. and wake up at 2 a.m., after which he goes to the yard to practice swordsmanship or exercise.

At 2 a.m., after waking up refreshed, Aoto, as usual, picks up his sword and enthusiastically heads down to the yard on the first floor.

As he assumes a stance, ready to begin today’s ”morning practice”—

”...What are you doing out here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”

Saito’s voice suddenly rings out from Aoto’s side.

”Hmm?” As Saito’s question falls, Aoto quickly turns his gaze toward the sound.

He sees Saito holding his sword, standing on the corridor connecting the house and the yard.

Although his expression remains impassive, a hint of confusion is visible between his brows.

”Ah, did I wake you?”

Out of necessity, Saito does not sleep in a room but instead hugs his sword and sleeps by the door, leaning against the corner of a wall.

”If you’re not able to wake at even the slightest disturbance, you wouldn’t make it as a bodyguard,” Saito says flatly, ”Did you always have this habit of waking up at 2 a.m. to practice swordsmanship?”

This was the longest sentence Aoto had heard from Saito today.

”Hmm... more or less.” Aoto smiles wryly, ”I only need two hours of sleep to restore my energy.”

”So I’m generally used to waking up at 2 a.m. and training in the yard until daybreak.”

”...Not needing long hours of sleep... quite a convenient talent.”

Saying this, Saito hugs his sword to his chest, sits cross-legged on the ground, leans back against the wall behind him, and closes his eyes.

”You’re going to sleep here?” Aoto is taken aback.

”My duty is to protect you,” Saito says without lifting his eyelids, ”Therefore, wherever you go, I follow.”

”Don’t mind me.”

”You just do your training.”

Since Saito said so, Aoto no longer pays him much heed.

Retracting his attention from Saito, he focuses wholeheartedly on today’s ”morning practice.”

...

...

The next day——

Year 7 of Ansei (1860), January 17th——

Saito, having officially assumed the position of Aoto’s personal bodyguard since the day before, naturally accompanies him to ”work.”

However, since he is not an official serving at the Magistrate’s Office, he cannot enter and exit freely, so after accompanying Aoto to the North Guard Station, he stands alone at the base of a brick wall opposite the North Guard Station, quietly waiting outside.

This time, Aoto does not encounter Inagawa or Ushiyama on his way to Arima’s office.

He approaches Arima alone, and after reporting in, he hears Arima say sternly:

”Mr. Tachibana, you’ve arrived quite early today.”

”But that’s good.”

”You have a new mission, Mr. Tachibana.”

”Go home and get ready immediately.”

”There’s been an incident at the Fujisawa Inn on the Tokaido.”

”You have to take a trip to the Fujisawa Inn.”

”Fujisawa Inn...?” Aoto’s eyebrow twitches slightly.

——Isn’t that... the place where Mukiwa is going to greet her friend...

*******

*******

New book launch!

Requesting monthly tickets! Requesting favorites! Requesting recommendation tickets!

The author feels a thrill like firing a shot upon completing this Chapter.

Because the plot of this book is finally about to unfold with the ferocity of the previous work ”Hundred People Slayer of the Ogata Hyakuren Clan.”