My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 483: Chapter 169: Copying the Talent [Plentiful Bosom], Beep! Incompatible with Host [7200]

”You want me to practice swordsmanship with you... what exactly do I need to do?” Aoto asked back.

”Just spar with me.” Elodie replied with a smile, ”It’s been so long since I’ve sparred with anyone... I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to spar with something or someone other than air.”

Elodie’s current expression... made Aoto unavoidably recall the expression Mukiwa had shown when she revealed Cat Monk’s hidden identity and asked for his help to deal with the Man-Slayer Group that specifically used Hieda for Test Sword — it was the same expression of hope and expectation mixed with a bit of concern.

She feared that Aoto would refuse them.

Thoughts and barely noticeable confusion flickered in Aoto’s eyes... these emotions combined into what was known as ”hesitation.”

Aoto was not usually a person who was indecisive.

He didn’t leave Elodie waiting for too long—

”...I understand.”

Aoto raised his head, looking at the ceiling, and let out a sigh.

When he lowered his gaze to once again meet Elodie’s eyes, his face now wore a gentle smile tinged with a bit of helplessness.

”Alright, I’ll practice sword with you for a bit... but just for a little while, okay.”

—As a way to thank this child for defending me and Miss Kinoshita in front of everyone just now.

Elodie had just been in the study, arguing based on reason to Anthony and others about the goodness of Fox Monk and Cat Monk, striving to protect their image... this made Aoto feel a bit embarrassed and somewhat moved.

This was the first time Aoto had heard someone in person praising the current deeds and achievements of him and Mukiwa openly.

It felt like everything he and Mukiwa had done so far was indeed paying off.

After all, Miss Angoulême’s request was not something too excessive or difficult to handle, so let’s fulfill this little fan who just helped me and Miss Kinoshita... maybe by practicing sword with her, he might even learn some useful talent from her—this was the mindset Aoto held at the moment.

Talents are independent of age or gender.

Who knows if there might be some very useful talent hidden within this child?

Aoto found that Elodie’s speaking skills were quite good, so he guessed that perhaps he could replicate some talent related to eloquence from her.

Perhaps because she didn’t expect Aoto to agree so easily... Elodie now looked as if her ’thought process had stopped.’

She stared dumbfounded at Aoto.

Then... she said nothing.

She just clenched her fists, and while foolishly grinning, she jumped in place several times, her cheeks slightly reddened by excitement.

So happy that she was jumping on the spot... her actions spoke more than a thousand words.

...

...

The place Elodie chose to practice sword was a wide corridor adjacent to the dining room.

According to Elodie, this was the widest corridor in their house.

This corridor could accommodate three large adults walking side by side... serving as a place to practice sword, it was more than sufficient.

”Miss Angoulême, all I need to do is spar with you, right?” Aoto softly reiterated Elodie’s request.

”Yes!” Elodie stood across from Aoto, nodding vigorously, bending down, and taking off her white velvet slippers, designed with high heels making them inconvenient for running, revealing her fair, pink, delicate feet with ten toes as fresh as white lotus shoots.

Aoto nodded, signaling to Elodie with his actions that ”I understand,” and glanced at Elodie’s robe: ”Miss Angoulême, aren’t you going to change your clothes?”

”It’s too troublesome to go back and change.”

When mentioning ”changing clothes,” a bit of dread and annoyance swept across Elodie’s cheeks.

”Mr. Tachibana, you might not know... our country’s women’s clothing is so complicated.”

”Many clothes take a long time to put on properly even with the help of maids.”

”I’m fine like this.”

With that, Elodie waved her left hand, giving a vigorous flick to the corner of her white robe, and then picked up her wooden thrusting sword with an imposing manner.

Elodie’s posture was a quite standard Thrusting Swordsmanship stance — raising her sword-wielding right arm forward, stepping her right foot out two foot-lengths. Her body weight was evenly distributed on both feet, her right foot pointing forward, and her left foot pointing left. Her sword-wielding right arm was half-bent, elbow facing her right side, the sword tip in line with her right eye, her gaze fixed unyieldingly on Aoto.

Once Elodie had assumed her stance, her whole aura changed slightly, a heroic air appearing between her brows.

”Mr. Tachibana, I’m ready now!”

Aoto smiled faintly, then drew the Ghost-Slaying from his waist.

Of course, he wasn’t going to use a real sword to practice with Elodie.

Elodie’s family didn’t have wooden or bamboo swords, so Aoto could only draw the Ghost-Slaying, then set the sword aside on the ground, using its empty scabbard to substitute for a sword.

With both hands gripping the sword... oh, no, gripping the scabbard, Aoto with Elodie shouted, ”Bring it on!”

Elodie smiled charmingly at Aoto.

Then quickly withdrew the smile from her face, stepped forward, and proactively launched an attack on Aoto.

Aoto’s vision was instantly filled with the fluttering white robe.

Using thrusting swordsmanship, Elodie’s attacks were naturally mostly thrusting techniques.