My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 121: Chapter 82: Let the Name of Tachibana Aoto Be Known to All!

Remembering the memories triggered by Mr. Kiryu’s question just now, Aoto couldn’t help but silently ask himself the question he had recited several times over the past few days:

Have I... awakened the hidden personality of a ”Combat Fanatic”?

In the time after the great battle, every time Aoto recalls the beginning and end of his fight with Mogami, he can’t help but feel astonished.

When did I become someone with this kind of personality...??

In the past, during various martial arts sparring sessions, I’ve never experienced this feeling of getting more excited the more I fight, as if my whole self were floating on clouds.

Could it be because my previous fights were too ”low-end,” not the kind of deadly duel that requires my whole body to be tense, so my emotions weren’t stirred?

In this way... it does seem a bit perverse...

For the first time in his life, Aoto doubted whether there was any hidden perverse element in his personality...

While Aoto’s thoughts were wandering somewhere unknown, Kiryu’s sudden question pulled Aoto’s mind back to reality.

”...Mr. Tachibana, are you interested in Iaido?”

”Huh?” Aoto turned to look at Kiryu, who was helping him wrap gauze, ”What’s up? Why did you suddenly ask me this?”

”Nothing much,” Kiryu said with a smile, ”When I was changing medicine for others just now, I happened to hear them discussing topics related to Iaido, so I just casually asked you.”

”Oh, I see.” After hearing Kiryu’s thoroughly reasonable explanation, Aoto didn’t give much thought to why Kiryu asked him this question.

”Iaido... I am quite interested in it.”

”I’ve always liked those moves that can take down an enemy with one strike.”

”And Iaido happens to be a technique that pursues ’one-hit kill.’

”If I can master Iaido, then the available means of attack will instantly become more diverse.”

”If I have the chance, I’d quite like to learn Iaido.”

”But what I’m currently studying, the Natural Reasoning Heart Stream, doesn’t teach Iaido.”

At this moment, Aoto spoke in a half-joking tone.

”So for now, I probably won’t have the opportunity to encounter Iaido.”

”Mr. Tachibana, you like those moves that can take down an enemy with one strike...” Kiryu said with a smile, ”What a coincidence, I also like those kinds of moves.”

”When I used to... learn swordsmanship with my father, I loved practicing those ’one-hit kill’ moves.”

”Hmm? Boss Kiryu, you know swordsmanship?”

”Yes.” A slight smile appeared at the corner of Kiryu’s mouth, ”I used to study swordsmanship in Edo, so I’m sort of familiar with swordsmanship.”

”Boss Kiryu, the range of skills you possess is truly vast... So which school did you follow, Boss Kiryu?”

”...Flying Swallow Mindfulness Style.”

—Flying Swallow Mindfulness Style?

Having never heard of this school name, Aoto couldn’t show a confused expression before Boss Kiryu quickly added:

”Mr. Tachibana, you’ve probably never heard of this school because it’s extremely niche, hardly anyone learns it, and few people know about it.”

Aoto nodded: ”Flying Swallow Mindfulness Style... The name sounds quite impressive.”

”As people get older, they increasingly feel like time passes quickly.” Kiryu’s cheeks at this moment showed a hint of melancholy, ”In the blink of an eye... it’s been seventy or eighty years since the time I painstakingly practiced the ’Flying Swallow Mindfulness Style.’

”Seventy or eighty years... Speaking of which, Boss Kiryu, I still don’t seem to know your age.”

”I’m already 92 years old this year.”

”92 years old...” Aoto clicked his tongue, ”Boss Kiryu, regarding your spirit and demeanor, I feel some people in their 30s or 40s can’t measure up to you.”

”Hahaha, thank you for the compliment. Alright, the gauze has been wrapped, you can get dressed now.”

”Mr. Tachibana! Mr. Tachibana! Are you there?!”

At this moment, a loud voice came from outside the room.

”Mr. Oomura?” Aoto raised an eyebrow towards the door, ”I’m here, please come in.”

As soon as Aoto finished speaking, the sliding door of the room was unceremoniously opened, and Mr. Oomura’s stout figure appeared before Aoto.

”Mr. Kiryu, you are here too.” Seeing Kiryu present, Oomura also quickly gave a bow to Kiryu.

”Mr. Oomura, visiting suddenly, what brings you?” Aoto asked.

Oomura laughed heartily a few times: ”Hahaha, no particular matter! I just finished visiting Mr. Angoulême, feeling bored, so I thought to come visit you as well, Mr. Tachibana.”

With that said, Oomura walked to opposite Aoto, sat down cross-legged.

Aoto, who had helped them repel the attacking ’Anti-foreigner Warriors,’ counted as their comrade and savior.

Consequently, for the past few days, Oomura and others treated Aoto almost with incense and worship.

Their address for Aoto changed from the original ”Tachibana” or ”Mr. Tachibana” to ”Mr. Tachibana,” using the highest level of honorific language when speaking to Aoto.

Thanks to the respect Oomura and others had for Aoto, their relationship with him also became much closer.

It became one of the most common scenes in recent days for Oomura and others to ”visit” Aoto.

Aoto leaned back, providing more spacious room for Mr. Oomura who was sitting cross-legged in front of him, then asked:

”Mr. Oomura, you just finished visiting Mr. Angoulême, huh?”

”Yes, I did.”

”So how is Mr. Angoulême now? Has his mental state improved any?”

”Well...” Oomura scratched his shiny scalp due to the Tsukushi Haircut, ”It’s improved somewhat, but it should take some time before he fully recovers.”