My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 80: Chapter 62: Aoto: If Only I Could Find Something More Impressive

Fujisawa Inn, inside a certain tea house—

”Come, come, esteemed guests!” The Shodai, with a face full of a warm smile, carried a tray with four cups of hot tea and a plate of bean paste buns, briskly walking to a rectangular table where four samurai were seated, ”Your tea and snacks are here!”

As the Shodai deftly placed the tea and snacks on the table, he naturally started chatting with the samurai.

”Distinguished guests, judging by your accents, you are from Osaka, aren’t you?”

”Oh? You can tell we’re Osaka people?”

”Of course!” The Shodai grinned, ”This is Fujisawa Inn on the Tokaido, a place full of travelers from all over the country!”

”I’ve been working here for eight years! I’m used to people nurtured by different lands! Over time, I’ve gotten to know the dialects from all over the country!”

”Not only can I recognize them, but I can speak them too!”

”How’s my Osaka dialect?” The Shodai’s words were delivered in a perfectly fluent Osaka dialect.

”Hahaha! Your Osaka dialect is quite standard!”

”Heh heh, thank you for the compliment! Now, enjoy slowly, my dear guests! I must get back to my work!”

The Shodai, holding the now empty tray, quickly returned to the kitchen.

And the samurai at this table began to enjoy their tea and buns.

”Master Oomura, tea.”

”Oh, thank you.” Oomura took the tea passed by his attendant, took a large gulp, then pulled out from his robe a handkerchief already soaked with his sweat to wipe the new sweat off his brow.

Oomura hated physical activity.

Because he was the kind who sweats heavily; the kind who, after just a few steps, would begin to sweat profusely.

”Master Oomura, our escort mission is finally coming to an end...” The attendant who handed Oomura the tea sighed gently, ”In three or four more days, we’ll reach Edo.”

”Indeed.” Oomura set down his teacup and echoed, ”Escorting that grandfather and grandson to Edo, finally coming to an end, from Osaka to Edo... it’s truly exhausting...”

Saying this, Oomura took another substantial sip of tea, as if to wash away his fatigue.

”Master Oomura, I don’t get it, why would Anthony and Elodie, those Barbarians, choose to take a carriage to Edo instead of a ship? It’s not like there aren’t any direct vessels from Osaka to Edo.”

”Who knows what’s on their minds.” Oomura rolled his eyes, ”I can’t comprehend the ways of the Barbarians.”

”Ah yes... to be honest, I feel somewhat reluctant now that the task of escorting Anthony and Elodie is ending.” Another attendant of Oomura chuckled, ”I quite like that Elodie.”

”That child is quite endearing.”

”I think it was about ten days ago, wasn’t it? When that guy Ooka twisted his ankle?”

”Anthony’s granddaughter personally brought her maid to visit Ooka after learning of his injury.”

”We were all surprised when Elodie brought her maid to visit Ooka.”

After hearing the attendant’s words, Oomura gently nodded.

”Yes... Elodie is indeed quite decent.”

”It’s just a pity that among the Barbarians, people like Elodie are still a minority...” Oomura laughed at himself and then drained what was left in his cup.

”Alright, have we rested enough?”

Oomura grabbed the Sword next to him and slowly stood up.

”Let’s go, it’s time to get back...”

”Master Oomura! Master Oomura! I’ve finally found you!”

A young samurai, around sixteen, burst through the tea house’s curtain, covered in sweat and clearly anxious.

Upon seeing Oomura’s slightly plump figure inside the tea house, the young samurai raced towards him, almost on the verge of tears.

Before Oomura could ask ”What happened,” the young samurai urgently whispered something into his ear, in a voice only Oomura could hear.

The young samurai’s words were simple.

But those simple words drastically changed Oomura’s expression, making him feel as if he’d fallen into an ice cave.

”Elodie and her maid are missing.”—that is what the young samurai told Oomura.

...

...

To pass the time at Fujisawa Inn... Fujisawa Inn’s most famous tourist spot: Ejima Shrine is undoubtedly the best destination.

Aoto and Saito Ichiro walked in single file along the river adjacent to Fujisawa Inn, heading downstream.

In Ancient Japan, the main religions were two—Shintoism, native, and Buddhism, foreign.

And the Shrine was a building for worship and rituals for the deities of Shintoism, similar to Buddhist temples.

Before long, Aoto saw the vermilion Bird House strung with Shimenawa.

The so-called Bird House is a structure every shrine must have—a large gate shaped like the mathematical symbol ”π”.

The Bird House represents the entrance to the Divine Domain, separating the domain of the divine from the secular world of humans.

The existence of the Bird House serves to remind visitors that stepping through it means entering the Divine Domain, so all actions should be conducted with particular attention.

The Shimenawa is a straw rope adorned with white zigzag-shaped paper strips, marking sacred boundaries, often hung on Bird Houses, Divine Halls, divine trees, Divine Stones, and other spiritually powerful objects.

As the most famous tourist attraction in Fujisawa Inn, Ejima Shrine naturally attracted many people.

So, many vendors seized the business opportunity and set up stalls selling various small goods outside Ejima Shrine.

Selling water, selling rice dumplings and snacks, selling masks, selling Kantou specialties...

Since they cannot sell these goods within the sacred grounds of the Shrine, these vendors crowded their stalls outside the Bird House.

Aoto led Saito through the vendors outside the Bird House, and not finding anything particularly interesting, prepared to pass through it and formally enter Ejima Shrine for a look around.

Just as Aoto stepped towards the Bird House—

Crack.

Aoto suddenly felt like he had kicked something.

He looked down, moved his foot, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

”Oh... this hairpin is quite beautiful.”

What Aoto had kicked was a rather pretty hairpin.

Although the hairpin was beautiful, it was broken down the middle and could no longer be used.

A broken hairpin... completely useless, Aoto took one look and then looked away, continuing to lead Saito deeper into the Shrine.

Because of the many vendors outside, the area outside the Shrine was busier than inside.

With hands folded in the sleeves of his Feathered Robe, casually observing the surroundings, Aoto once again felt like he had kicked something.

He moved his foot—revealing a Seal Cage, a simple object commonly found on the streets.

The Seal Cage Aoto kicked had a large hole at the bottom, and it was no wonder, as a fully intact Seal Cage would have long been picked up and used.

”Why am I always coming across weird trash on the ground?”

Aoto smiled at Saito behind him, jokingly saying,

”Can’t I come across something a bit more valuable? Like money or something, I’m pretty broke right now.”

Saito, as usual, remained silent, only giving a slight nod to show he was listening to Aoto.

Aoto was already used to Saito’s taciturn nature, so he didn’t expect any response from him.

After making a small joke with Saito, Aoto placed his hands back into the Feathered Robe sleeves and continued to stride deeper into Ejima Shrine...

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