My Gang of Swordsmen

Those who did not know Aoto or were unfamiliar with him, such as Saito Mijuro and others, showed expressions of surprise and anticipation.

Throughout the “audience seats,” only Kiryu and Mukiwa’s expressions were entirely different from everyone else’s.

Mukiwa was first startled, then delighted.

“Oh…” Kiryu raised an eyebrow, a mysterious smile appearing on his face.

The reason everyone in the “audience seats” was reacting this way was because Aoto on the field had assumed… the stance of Iaido!

…

…

“…Toshisuke, can you help me knock one of Chiba Daisaburo’s swords out of his hand? Either sword will do. Wakizashi, Tachi, both are fine.”

“Hmm?”

Just as Toshisuke turned his face in confusion, he saw Aoto placing his left palm on his left waist, using it as a scabbard, then slightly lowering his waist, flipping his right wrist to twirl a fancy sword flower, and then in an underhand grip, lithely sheathing the bamboo sword in the “scabbard” at his left waist.

“Mr. Tachibana, this is…?”

Before Toshisuke could be shocked by Aoto’s sudden Iaido stance that he had never seen before, he heard Aoto continue:

“Chiba Daisaburo’s Beichen Dual Swordsmanship Style can attack and defend, allowing one sword to attack and the other to defend at the same time. If we let him keep wielding two swords, it will be very tough for us. But conversely—if we can reduce the swords in his hands to just one… our chances of winning will greatly increase.”

As he said this, Aoto exhaled deeply, his eyelids lowered, his face quickly taking on the most serious, grave expression possible.

“I’ve recently come up with a move that’s tentatively quite powerful… a Profound Technique.”

“The remaining stamina I have isn’t enough to let me engage fiercely with Chiba Daisaburo for much longer.”

“So I plan to stake the outcome on this Profound Technique of mine.”

“Toshisuke, help me knock one of Chiba Daisaburo’s swords out of his hand. Then leave the rest to me!”

Aoto’s tone overflowed with unpretentious solemnity, confidence… and determination!

Toshisuke blinked her big eyes a few times, looking straight at Aoto’s side profile, whose facial lines were made sharper by his solemn expression.

Moments later, the dazed look in Toshisuke’s eyes gradually dissipated.

Replacing it was a gentle smile.

“Alright.”

There was almost no hesitation or any superfluous words. Just a simple “Alright.”

That was enough.

Her simple “Alright” perfectly expressed an abundant trust in Aoto!

Toshisuke slowly moved her gaze from Aoto’s side profile to Chiba Daisaburo facing opposite.

She stared intently at Chiba Daisaburo for a moment with a thoughtful look, then—

“A Profound Technique, huh…”

Gently chewing on the word Aoto had just mentioned, she smiled as if recalling something amusing.

“Mr. Tachibana, what a coincidence… I recently also realized a brand-new Profound Technique.”

Upon saying that, Toshisuke exhaled deeply with a “Hoo.”

Then, she quietly assumed the Flat Cyan Eye stance, placing her bamboo sword in front of her!

Seeing Toshisuke’s stance, Aoto suddenly recalled something she had told him earlier:

I based it on Flat Cyan Eye and Unconscious Sword and came up with a new ultimate move!

“Mr. Tachibana, I will use my ‘Flat Cyan Eye Three-Stage Thrust’ to secure the best attack opportunity for you.”

Aoto and Toshisuke had been conversing in a volume only they could hear… now, Toshisuke lowered and deepened her already soft speaking volume further.

“The stamina I have left is only enough for me to use my Profound Technique once.”

“So both you and I must give it our all, and neither of us can afford to fail.”

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Initially, I planned to update with 10,000 words today, finishing the duel with Chiba Daisaburo in one go, but last night something unspeakable and unavoidable happened… (dying laugh.jpg) Despite that, I still want to ask for a wave of monthly tickets! (crying with a leopard-head.jpg)

Please vote for monthly tickets! Please recommend votes!

For those who can’t remember when Toshisuke told Aoto about realizing a new ultimate move, you can review Volume 2, Chapter 2.