My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 614: Chapter 193: Aoto’s New Title: [Niō]! [Volume 1 Finale]_3

Not knowing how much time had passed.

Just remembering that when I came to my senses, I softly said to Kiryu—

”... From that day onwards, I entrust my training to you, Boss Kiryu.”

Aoto’s response was quite brief.

But it was enough.

”...” Kiryu smiled silently.

With a smile of comfort blossoming on his cheeks, the wrinkles on his face smoothed out, making him look much younger.

Kinoshita Mukiwa’s expression was full of charm at that moment.

I saw her blink thoughtfully, and then, as if she had thought of something pleasant, she wore a somewhat foolish smile.

— I’m going to learn Iaido from Boss Kiryu...

Thinking of this, Aoto, overwhelmed by complex emotions, couldn’t help but ask:

”Boss Kiryu, when will I be able to start training Iaido?”

”No rush for this.”

Kiryu waved his hand with a slightly bold gesture.

”You’re still recovering from your injuries, aren’t you?”

”Once your body has fully healed, I will formally start teaching you Iaido.”

”Before then... I’ll teach you something else.”

”Something else?” Aoto raised his eyebrows lightly in puzzlement.

”Mr. Tachibana, do as I say next. Just do whatever I tell you.”

”Straighten your waist, stretch your shoulders back, and slowly inhale through your nose.”

Kiryu demonstrated as he spoke, standing straight, spreading his shoulders, and slowly inhaling through his nose.

Aoto didn’t completely understand but obediently followed suit.

”You should now feel your abdomen puffing out; that’s your lower lungs filling with air.”

”Don’t stop, keep inhaling. Fill the upper lungs with air as well.”

”Keep inhaling until your ribs lift, your chest expands, and you can’t take in any more air.”

”Once your lungs are full, hold your breath, maintaining it for five seconds.”

”After five seconds, slowly exhale, releasing the air in your lungs bit by bit.”

”Pause for a moment once your ribs, sternum, and abdomen return to their original position, then start over, inhaling and exhaling slowly again.”

”Mr. Tachibana, from today onward, you must spend at least two quarters of an hour each day practicing this breathing technique repeatedly.”

”After a period of practice, you can gradually increase the duration of holding your breath from five seconds to ten seconds, and then even more.”

”Ah?” Aoto’s face displayed a curiosity that could hardly be concealed, ”Boss Kiryu, why practice this technique?”

”This technique effectively enhances your lung power.”

”Lung power?”

”Times, also go for runs or swim regularly; running and swimming will greatly enhance lung power.”

Lung power... must mean lung capacity.

”Does the strength of Iaido relate to lung power?”

”Unrelated. The strength of lung power does not relate to the strength of Iaido. The reason for daily lung power training is to prepare you for something powerful I’ll train you in later.”

”Something powerful?” Aoto’s puzzled expression became more pronounced.

”You don’t need to know what that is currently. Just follow my instructions, training your lung power daily without slackening.”

”When your lung power reaches a certain level, I will tell you what this ’powerful thing’ is.”

Kiryu chuckled softly a few times.

The laughter was intriguing.

...

...

Edo, somewhere—

”Eiichi, still haven’t found Scythe Weasel?”

”No... I’ve already sent out everyone I could to look for Lord Scythe Weasel, but...”

”... Tut.”

Standing by the window, peering out the scenery, Rakshasa clicked his tongue forcefully, interrupting Shimizu Eiichi’s respectful words as he stood behind him.

”Neither seen alive nor dead...” Rakshasa half-closed his eyes, rhythmically tapping his right index finger on the window frame.

”... Lord Rakshasa, why not...investigate Tachibana Aoto?” Shimizu Eiichi cautiously suggested, ”You sent Scythe Weasel to secretly protect Kamino Tatsugorou. As a result, Kamino Tatsugorou was killed by Tachibana Aoto, so perhaps...”

”No.”

Shimizu Eiichi’s suggestion was once again interrupted by Rakshasa.

”Do not act rashly.”

Rakshasa’s tone held neither sadness nor joy, making it difficult to gauge his mood or thoughts.

”The disappearance of Scythe Weasel... perhaps Gourd House is secretly playing tricks.”

”Scythe Weasel was originally demoted to me by Lord Orochi due to insufficient caution in action, making a mistake and almost being caught by people from Gourd House.”

”We can’t rule out the possibility that Gourd House successfully tracked Scythe Weasel’s movements and sent people to assassinate him.”

”When it comes to matters related to Gourd House, caution is never excessive. We have suffered many losses at their hands already.”

”Do not act rashly.”

”Continue to secretly send people to investigate Scythe Weasel’s whereabouts.”

”Report to me immediately if there are any results.”

”Yes.” Shimizu Eiichi nodded with such force it seemed he was trying to pull off his head.

”What’s the current situation of the Anti-foreigner Group?” Rakshasa posed the next question.

”Facing imminent collapse.” Shimizu Eiichi’s response was quite swift and straightforward, ”Without the leadership of Kamino Tatsugorou, the remnants of the Anti-foreigner Group are completely disorganized.”

”Judging by the current intensity of suppression from the Magistrate’s Office and the Arson and Theft Magistrate, the collapse of the Anti-foreigner Group is merely a matter of time.”

”Whether one month or three months, there soon won’t be any Anti-foreigner Group in the world.”

”...What a pity.” Rakshasa’s right index finger once again rhythmically tapped on the window frame, ”The Anti-foreigner Group dissolving like this... wanted to exploit them a bit more.”