My Gang of Swordsmen

Due to the quite considerable distance and the noisy banquet scene, Mukiwa couldn’t clearly hear what Aoto and Toshisuke were discussing.

She only saw Toshisuke flash a bright smile at Aoto and throw an unreadable glance full of emotion in Aoto’s direction.

Aoto, locking eyes with Toshisuke, slowly revealed a gentle smile as well.

Although one could barely use “they have always had a good relationship” to explain it… Mukiwa somehow felt inexplicably uneasy and restless…

At that moment, a particularly terrifying thought floated into Mukiwa’s mind…

——Could it be… no way…?

In an instant, Mukiwa turned pale.

Despite her lack of worldly experience, and not being particularly knowledgeable about matters between men and women due to her naturally shy nature, Mukiwa knew what “shudo” meant…

Since the Warring States Period three hundred years ago, shudo has been very popular among the Military Family.

Aoto and Mr. Chokata are both samurai…

The two have lived under the same roof for a long time…

Both are handsome, with Toshisuke being especially a beautiful young man with a touch of feminine delicacy in his appearance…

…

——Impossible… impossible…!

Mukiwa shook her head vigorously like a cat just out of water, trying to “shake” these terrifying thoughts out of her mind.

“Young Master, what’s wrong?”

Kiryu, sitting beside Mukiwa, asked in confusion.

Mukiwa couldn’t be bothered to respond to Kiryu.

She took several deep breaths to calm herself down.

But her mood could not be placated at all…

Mukiwa just felt a heavy weight hanging in her heart, pulling her body down…

She involuntarily cast a complex glance full of hidden meanings at Aoto…

…

…

Edo, on a certain street returning to Shiwei Hall—

Nagakura: “Ugh…!”

Hijikata: “Hey! Don’t you dare throw up! If you puke on me, I’ll use you as a test sword practice!”

Harada: “Look at this Nagakura… hic…! Just drank a little… hic…! And got this drunk… how pathetic!”

Inoue: “Your drinking capacity doesn’t seem much better than Mr. Nagakura’s…”

Harada: “Who said that! I’m a great drinker! Even if you give me Lucian’s wine, I won’t get drunk!”

“Quiet down…!” Zhouzhu said helplessly, “Look at the time. Making a ruckus… don’t disturb the residents.”

It’s now around 9 in the evening.

The lively celebration banquet had just ended.

The banquet had dispersed, and everyone was heading home.

Because it got too wild, Nagakura and the others got very drunk.

Nagakura was completely unconscious.

Harada was talking nonsense.

Kondo and Hijikata were wobbling as they walked.

Toshisuke, although his wine cup was timely snatched away by Aoto preventing him from getting as drunk as a skunk, was in a half-dazed state and needed someone to support him to walk steadily.

The inn where Chokata Mitsuo and his wife stayed was near Shiwei Hall. So, as Chokata Mitsuo and his wife headed back to the inn, Aoto and others returning to Shiwei Hall went along with them, and the task of supporting Toshisuke naturally fell to Chokata Mitsuo.

Only Aoto, who adhered to the principle of “never get drunk when drinking,” as well as Saito, Inoue, and a few others remained sober.

Like Hijikata, who was responsible for supporting Nagakura, Aoto also had a task at hand — he was responsible for keeping an eye on Harada, who, although already quite drunk, insisted he wasn’t and kept spouting nonsense and behaving oddly.

Earlier, Harada, thinking he was walking straight but was actually veering off, nearly fell into the drainage ditch on the side of the street. If he wasn’t watched closely, who knows what strange antics he might pull off.

“Urgh… right…”

At this moment, Harada suddenly turned his face and said to the surrounding mates.

“Almost… forgot to mention…”

“What are you trying to say again?” Aoto smacked his lips.

Since leaving the restaurant, Harada hadn’t stopped talking.

“This year’s… fireworks festival… is about to start… urgh… shall we… go watch the fireworks together?”

“Fireworks festival?” Aoto was caught off guard.

Kondo and the others, attracted by Harada’s words, turned their attention to him.

“The annual grand event… it would be such a shame not to join in the fun…”

Perhaps because he was talking about something he was interested in, Harada’s mouth started working more efficiently.

“To attend such an event… the more people, the merrier… what do you all think?”

Harada rolled his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the faces of Night Vision, Toshisuke, and others one by one.

“Do you all want to go see the fireworks at this year’s firework festival?”

“Firework festival…?” Kondo mumbled, then grinned, “I have no objection.”

“A bunch of guys going to watch fireworks… well, I don’t mind.” Hijikata said blandly, “But I’m booked on the 23rd and 24th, won’t be free until the 25th.”

As soon as Hijikata finished speaking, Night Vision immediately spoke up.

“Me too. I’m booked on the 23rd and 24th, won’t be free until the 25th.”

On the 23rd, I have a date with Mukiwa, and on the 24th, I will perform swordsmanship with Sazanoko, Chiba Shigetarou, and others at the site of the firework festival.

The schedule for the two days before the firework festival is fully booked.

“Hahaha, all the residents of Shiwei Hall going to the firework festival together… sounds quite interesting,” Inoue said with a gentle smile, “but let’s discuss this later… once Toshisuke and Mr. Nagakura sober up.”

After saying that, Inoue cast a bitter smile at the two companions beside him, one half-dazed and the other completely unconscious, Toshisuke and Nagakura.

These two are in such a drunken state that discussing anything is impossible — Inoue’s glance conveyed this implication.

“Ugh… that’s true…” Harada vigorously scratched his head, “Let’s discuss it slowly later then…”

Afterwards, perhaps from exhaustion or some other reason, Harada, who had been chattering nonstop, finally quieted down.

With Harada’s silence, the noisy group quickly became much quieter.

Unknowingly, they had already entered the territory of Little Ishikawa Hoshimura Willow Street.

Climbing the large slope where Shiwei Hall was located, the square shadow of Shiwei Hall gradually appeared in Night Vision and their sight.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Inoue murmured in doubt.

“Is there someone at the gate?”

As soon as Inoue said this, everyone quickly looked up, gazing toward the gate of Shiwei Hall.

Sure enough, there were several indistinct figures outside the gates of Shiwei Hall.

Utilizing the ability granted by the talent “Night Vision” to see clearly in dark environments, Night Vision was the first to discern who these figures outside were.

“Eh?”

Night Vision let out a surprised murmur.

“Lord Arima…?”

Turning his gaze, accompanied by attendants like Box Carrier and Spear Holder, Arima saw them.

“Oh!” Arima showed a relieved expression, “Mr. Tachibana, what a coincidence.”

…

…

Shiwei Hall, Living Room—

“Please have some tea, Mr. Arima.”

“Thank you kindly.”

Arima politely bowed in thanks to Abi, who handed him hot tea.

After returning a bow to Arima, Abi left the room with the tea tray, leaving Night Vision and Arima space for their conversation.

With Abi’s departure, the fairly spacious living room was left with only Night Vision and Arima.

Due to recovering at home from an injury, Night Vision had fewer opportunities these days to meet with the three elders, Arima, Inagawa, and Ushiyama.

Night Vision first engaged in friendly small talk with Arima, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, and then, seizing the moment, directly asked Arima about the reason for his unexpected late-night visit.

“… Mr. Tachibana,”

Arima sighed deeply with mixed emotions.

“The reason I came unexpectedly tonight… is to inform you of important news as soon as possible.”

“I’ll immediately share the important matter with you without delay.”

“The reward for your great contributions over two months ago at the diplomatic quarter has finally been approved.”

“Mr. Tachibana, congratulations.”

Saying this, Arima took on a solemn tone, imbued with a sense of the sacred, and straightened his back, always at a perfect 90-degree angle with the ground, even more.

“The Shogunate, appreciative of your significant achievements, has increased your family salary by 500-koku and elevated your family rank.”

“From today on, you are a Hatamoto Samurai with a 1000-koku family salary!”

“Besides family salary and rank, your official position has been promoted several levels at once.”

“You’ve been directly appointed ‘Captain of the Arson and Theft Magistrate Third Squad and Leader of the Seventh Bow Squad’ and will officially assume the position on November 1st.”

“Also, Duke Dashu seems to want to meet with you and has requested you to enter the castle on August 28th.”

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October is coming to an end, so if any readers still have monthly votes, please be sure to cast them for this book! It would be a waste not to use them.

Seeking monthly votes! Seeking recommendations! (Leopard head crying.jpg)

PS: The story about Hijikata and the Edo courtesans is planned by the author to be released as a side story, see more in the “Author’s Words” below.