My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 613: Chapter 193: Aoto’s New Title: [Niō]! [Volume 1 Finale] (2)

”You misunderstood.” Kiryu shrugged, ”Our Gourd House is not that easy to join.”

”Whether to recruit you or not requires the personal decision of the Lord, I can’t make that call.”

”There’s no special reason for telling you so much.”

”I think you deserve to know, and I trust you won’t betray us. After getting the Lord’s permission, I decided to tell you everything—it’s that simple.”

”...Alright, I understand.” Aoto let out a sigh, ”Then do you know why the Scythe Weasel, one of the Law Punishment Faction cadres, suddenly appeared that night and drew a deadly blade against me and Awu?”

”Ah... you’ve stumped me with that question.”

Kiryu’s smile turned into a wry smile.

”I also don’t understand why the Scythe Weasel suddenly showed up and attacked you that night.”

”Though I hate to admit it... the intelligence control of the Law Punishment Faction is superb, our Gourd House can only look up to it.”

”I’ve been ordered to Edo for quite some time now.”

”Spent so much money and effort staying in Edo, yet still couldn’t trace any movements of the Law Punishment Faction.”

”The night we encountered the Scythe Weasel was the first time I saw someone from the Law Punishment Faction since I opened the Thousand Affairs House in Edo.”

”The cadres of the Law Punishment Faction are incredibly loyal to it.”

”Loyal to the point of being willing to die for the Law Punishment Faction at any time, unimaginably.”

Kiryu opened his mouth, raised his right hand, and pointed to the molars in his mouth.

”The cadres of the Law Punishment Faction have a hollowed-out false tooth installed at their molars, inside which they put a specially made poison that causes instant death without cure if swallowed.”

”When they need to commit suicide by poison, they use their tongue to open the false tooth in their molars and swallow the poison.”

”We’ve had two chances to capture the Law Punishment Faction cadres alive, but each time they swiftly committed suicide and we couldn’t capture them.”

”During the fight against the Scythe Weasel, I had already learned that the cadres of the Law Punishment Faction would not hesitate to commit suicide, and after disabling Scythe Weasel’s ability to resist, I immediately reached into his mouth to try to remove the false tooth with poison.”

”Unfortunately... I was still half a step too late.”

”If the Scythe Weasel was trying to protect that Kamino Tatsugorou, it doesn’t seem likely either.”

”Before he appeared, Kamino Tatsugorou, who had suffered your fatal blow, was already beyond saving.”

”He didn’t show up earlier or later, but only showed up when Kamino Tatsugorou was doomed... it really doesn’t seem like he wanted to come out to protect Kamino Tatsugorou.”

”The people of the Law Punishment Faction act bizarrely; no matter how strange or unbelievable their actions are, it’s not surprising.”

”’Just passing by, decided to kill Mr. Tachibana on a whim because he didn’t like officials,’ or ’wanted to kidnap the Young Master home because the Young Master was good-looking’... these are things that the people of the Law Punishment Faction might do.”

”In short, I am still investigating why the Scythe Weasel suddenly appeared that night and attacked you.”

”If I find out anything, I’ll let you know as soon as possible.”

Aoto nodded solemnly, ”Thank you for your trouble...”

”Is there anything else you want to ask?” Kiryu inquired.

”...No more.” Aoto shook his head.

Kiryu turned his gaze to Mukiwa.

Noticing Kiryu’s gaze, Mukiwa pondered for a moment, then gently shook her head as well.

”Then...” Kiryu revealed a pleasant smile, ”let’s return to the topic we put aside earlier.”

Kiryu placed his hands, which were on the counter, on his legs instead, sitting with an exceptionally straight and solemn posture.

”Mr. Tachibana, I don’t insist you must become my disciple.”

”If you’re willing to inherit my teachings, I warmly welcome it.”

”If you’re not willing, I won’t force you.”

”So... what’s your intention?”

The ”disciple” issue that had been set aside not long ago was once again before Aoto.

Kiryu’s expression was very calm... his tranquil gaze conveyed the message that he was ready to accept any answer from Aoto.

Mukiwa turned her pretty face to look at Aoto, her red lips pinched into a tense arc.

She was also awaiting Aoto’s reply.

”...” Aoto lowered his gaze, looking at the sword Orange Water placed on the ground to his right.

—Iaido, huh...

Aoto softly recited the name of this renowned martial art in his heart.

Because he was so focused on thinking, Aoto felt as if the gravity around him had disappeared, sitting there but feeling a sense of floating.

The reason Aoto asked Kiryu whether the move that killed the Scythe Weasel was the legendary ”Flowing Light” was purely out of curiosity.

The moment Kiryu struck and killed the Scythe Weasel with one blow was the first time Aoto saw Iaijutsu since he traveled to this era.

Kiryu’s swift and mighty draw killed the Scythe Weasel; by the time Aoto came to his senses, all that was left were the lingering light of the blade and a fading afterimage on the sword blade... this scene left a very profound impression on Aoto.

Even after more than 20 days have passed, he still feels this stunning scene is vivid before his eyes.

So there really are such cool and strong techniques in this world...

...

Aoto couldn’t quite recall what he did or thought in the time afterward.

He felt like he thought about many things, but couldn’t remember exactly what they were.