My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 636: Chapter 4: Female Chokata Toshisuke [Release Burst 10,000 Words]

Although in terms of pure talent level, Elodie cannot be compared to super geniuses like Chokata Toshisuke and Chiba Eijiro, compared to ordinary people, Elodie can be considered a little genius.

Despite Elodie’s lack of understanding of Japanese Swordsmanship, she had previously learned Thrusting Swordsmanship in depth, so she has a certain foundation in step technique and posture.

Her outstanding talent, the foundation she built while learning Thrusting Swordsmanship, combined with her diligent daily practice... all these factors contributed to Elodie’s progress, which can be described as Divine Speed.

In just two months, she has gone from someone who knew nothing about Japanese Swordsmanship to now being a Little Swordsman wielding a bamboo sword with considerable momentum.

Elodie’s talent and effort brought a different kind of motivation to Aoto—absolutely must teach this promising student well!

——The time is almost up...

Aoto glanced at the clock hanging not far away.

Feeling that Elodie had rested enough, Aoto gently cleared his throat.

”Elo...”

”Master!”

Just as Aoto was about to let Elodie resume practice, Elodie interrupted him by speaking first.

Although by relationship, Aoto is indeed Elodie’s master, he didn’t care much about such titles and had clearly told Elodie that there was no need to respectfully call him ”master” and she could simply call him ”Mr. Tachibana” as usual.

However, Elodie insisted on observing the master-disciple etiquette and calling Aoto ”master.”

”What’s wrong? Why the sudden serious expression? Is there something important you want to tell me?”

Aoto looked at Elodie, who was suddenly staring straight at him, seeming like she wanted to say something significant.

”No, there’s nothing particularly important...” Elodie pursed her lips and cautiously asked in a quiet voice, ”I just wanted to ask... has the date for this year’s Edo fireworks festival been set?”

”Hmm? Oh, the fireworks festival, is it? Yes, it has been set. This year’s fireworks festival will be held on the nights of August 23rd to August 25th.”

The fireworks festival—one of the most important events of the Edo summer, and the most popular among Edo’s people, with no exception.

The official name of Edo’s fireworks festival is ”Ryogoku’s Kaichuan Fireworks Festival.”

As the name suggests, the festival is held near the Ryogoku Bridge, which spans the Sumida River.

This grand event, which attracts the attention of Edo citizens every summer, originated in the early 18th century.

In the early 18th century, Edo was plagued by cholera, which killed many people. Thus, in July 1733, the 8th Shogun of the Edo Shogunate, Tokugawa Yoshimune, held a ”River Seance” on the Sumida River, the widest in town, to mourn the deceased.

In July the following year, during the Water God Seance held for memorial and exorcism, fireworks were set off for the first time. This became a regular event and quickly developed into a cooling-off event strongly supported by the common people of Edo.

Unlike the Plum Blossom Festival, which has a clear time and duration, the Ryogoku’s Kaichuan Fireworks Festival doesn’t have a set date or duration.

Each year, the festival is held on selected auspicious days from late May to the end of August.

Sometimes, fireworks are set off for just one night, and other times, for several consecutive nights.

This year’s fireworks festival was confirmed a few days ago—to be held from August 23rd to August 25th, lasting three nights of fireworks.

The reason this year’s fireworks festival lasts for three days, it is said, was the Edo Shogunate’s idea.

In recent years, Edo has been plagued by misfortunes, with hardly any good news.

To ward off bad luck and to relieve the suppressed feelings of the Edo citizens, the Edo Shogunate specifically authorized the extension of the duration of this year’s fireworks festival as much as possible.

”August 23rd to August 25th...” Elodie lowered her head, thoughtfully staring at her toes.

Aoto deeply looked at Elodie, who unexpectedly asked about the timing of the fireworks festival.

”...Elodie, are you thinking about going to watch the fireworks festival?”

”Yes!”

Elodie nodded vigorously without hesitation, a bright, innocent smile on her face.

”I want to go see!”

”When I was still living in Osaka, before moving to Edo, I was already very enamored by the ’Ryogoku’s Kaichuan Fireworks Festival,’ the origin of fireworks festivals!”

Edo’s Ryogoku’s Kaichuan Fireworks Festival, being the earliest of its kind, brought the trend of ”fireworks shows” and ”fireworks festivals” across the nation as soon as it was held.

To this day, important cities like Kyoto and Osaka hold fireworks festivals in summer.

”I want to admire Edo’s fireworks festival this year at the Ryogoku Bridge with Grandpa and Miss Leroy!”

”Hmm... that might be a bit difficult.” No sooner had Elodie finished speaking than Aoto smiled wryly, ”Although the ’extreme anti-foreigner’ wave in Edo has calmed down a bit, the streets of Edo are still not safe enough for Westerners to roam freely.”

Ever since Aoto killed Shinno, toppling the Anti-foreigner Group’s pillar, the group fell into complete disarray without Shinno’s leadership.

The Anti-foreigner Group’s overall quality was never very high to begin with, with most members being ignorant and rough lower and middle-ranking samurai. Without Shinno’s iron-fisted rule and strong leadership, the scattered remnants of the Anti-foreigner Group were left to be eradicated.