The Shieikan, which Kiryu had just recommended, had deeply moved Aoto.
However, Kiryu’s last words, “I have a deep connection with Shieikan,” still caused Aoto some apprehension.
He worried that Kiryu might be exaggerating the attractiveness of Shieikan to benefit his acquaintance’s sword school, thereby luring him to enroll.
Such acts of supporting a friend’s business were not uncommon.
Therefore, to be safe, he decided to first verify if Shieikan was truly as good as Kiryu claimed.
How could he verify the truth of Kiryu’s introduction to Shieikan?
Aoto actually had a very good way to check.
He, or rather, Tachibana Aoto, happened to have a close friend studying at Kochiba Sword School.
…
…
Aoto sprinted through the streets, and many commoners along the way quickly moved aside, clearing a path for him.
Commoners making way for samurai was an extremely common sight in Edo Period Japan.
During the Edo Period, apart from the special class of Kuge nobles, society could generally be divided into two types of people: the ruling class of samurai, and the ruled class of commoners.
As the ruling class, samurai, whose social status was above commoners, could be said to possess quite a few audacious privileges.
One major audacious privilege that samurai possessed was “Kiri-sute Gomen” (right to cut down and leave).
The so-called “Kiri-sute Gomen” meant that when a samurai with the “right to carry swords” felt that a commoner had insulted him, the samurai could directly draw his sword and kill the commoner without bearing any criminal responsibility.
Because of this, many commoners held a sense of fear towards samurai, and when they encountered a samurai on the street, they would generally automatically clear a path to avoid trouble.
In the eyes of many commoners, a samurai running quickly on the street was like a speeding bomb.
Accidentally bumping into a samurai, knocking his sword askew or dirtying it, and the samurai shouting, “You insolent person!
You have defiled my soul!” then drawing his sword and cutting down the commoner who bumped into him, killing the person, and the samurai facing no consequences, perhaps even being praised as “Well done, a true samurai!
A samurai should be so dashing!”—such incidents were common in the Edo Period.
The ruling class in feudal times could be this unreasonable.
…
…
Aoto ran directly to a samurai residential area, then skillfully turned onto a small path, finally stopping in front of a seemingly unremarkable small house.
“Yamanami!
Yamanami!
Yamanami Keisuke!
Are you there?”
“Coming, coming.”
As Aoto’s call faded, a leisurely baritone voice sounded from behind the door.
After a moment, the slightly old door was slowly pulled open.
The person who opened the door was a very young samurai.
He had slightly pale skin, slightly long and narrow eyes, and two tear moles at the corner of his right eye.
These two tear moles stood out particularly against his pale skin.
He was slightly shorter than Aoto, about 165cm, with a slender build.
If one were to describe this young samurai in one word, there would be no more suitable word than “delicate.”
Not overly handsome, but still a face that many girls would find attractive.
Besides his decent looks, there was another outstanding aspect of this young samurai’s appearance—his exceptionally good temperament, possessing a quiet and gentle demeanor.
A faint smile always lingered on his face, his eyes held a scholarly air, and every gesture exuded an aura of gentleness and refinement.
This person must be a highly learned talent—many people would surely have such a thought upon first meeting this young samurai. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“Aoto, what’s wrong?
Why are you looking for me so early in the morning?” The young samurai moved aside, making way at the door, “Anyway, come in quickly first.”
“Yamanami, I came to ask you some questions.
I’ll leave once I’m done, I won’t stay long.”
This young samurai, whom Aoto called “Yamanami,” had the full name Yamanami Keisuke.
He was a friend Kitsutachibana Aoto had met a year ago through various coincidences.
Although they hadn’t known each other for long, they got along surprisingly well for some reason, and in just one year, he and Tachibana Aoto had become extremely close friends.
“Something to ask me?” Yamanami’s face showed some confusion.
“Ask away.”
“Yamanami, you are currently studying at Kochiba Sword School, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I want to ask you: Do Kochiba Sword School and Genbukan often engage in sword art exchanges with a Shieikan that teaches Tennen Rishin-ryu?”
Aoto’s friend, who was currently studying Hokushin Ittō-ryū at Kochiba Sword School, was precisely Yamanami Keisuke.
“Shieikan?” Yamanami’s slender eyebrows raised slightly.
“Why are you asking about that?”
Explaining slowly would take too much time, so Aoto spoke vaguely, once again half-truthfully: “The world has been getting more and more chaotic lately, and as an officer responsible for catching thieves, I’ve been working harder and harder.
So I decided to seriously study sword arts to avoid being accidentally cut down by some villain one day.”
“I just heard someone say that Shieikan is a good choice.
Not only are the sword arts taught there not just for show, but the school also has good relations with Genbukan of Hokushin Ittō-ryū and Kochiba Sword School.
The three sword schools often gather to exchange sword arts.”
“So I wanted to come and confirm if these things are true.”
“Oh, I see.” Yamanami nodded gracefully, then the corners of his mouth turned slightly upward, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.
“All those things are true.”
“Genbukan and Kochiba Sword School, where I am currently studying, do indeed frequently engage in sword art exchanges with Shieikan.”
“About six days ago, people from Shieikan just visited Kochiba Sword School, and we had a hearty sword art exchange with their apprentices.”
“I have also had the good fortune to witness the impressive skills of Shieikan’s disciples several times because of this.”
“The person who recommended Shieikan to you spoke the truth.”
“From my observation, Tennen Rishin-ryu is indeed a style with true skill, not just a flashy style with no substance.
Its sword style is fierce, with every strike drawing blood.”
“In terms of practicality, I personally believe Tennen Rishin-ryu is no worse than Hokushin Ittō-ryū.”
“Moreover, Shieikan’s teaching quality is also very good, and many of its apprentices have considerable strength.”
“Especially a young man named Soji Okita, who at a young age possesses formidable strength and talent that even his master praises profusely.”
“Aoto, if you are learning swords with the goal of ‘being better able to subdue petty thieves,’ then Shieikan is indeed a good place to go.”
Aoto naturally knew Yamanami’s character.
He was honest and upright and would not lie to Aoto, nor did he have any reason to lie to Aoto.
Yamanami’s identity as a “sword master” made his recent praise of Tennen Rishin-ryu particularly credible.
As far as Aoto knew, Yamanami had considerable skill in sword arts.
Aoto, who was not skilled in sword arts, did not know exactly how strong he was, but he knew that Yamanami had always been somewhat famous for his strength in the Kochiba Sword School, which was full of strong individuals.
Even Yamanami, a skilled and reliable swordsman, praised the practicality of Tennen Rishin-ryu, and Aoto’s last bit of doubt about Tennen Rishin-ryu and Shieikan vanished.
“Aoto, I never thought that you, who have always been uninterested in sword arts, would have a day when you want to go to a sword school to learn swords.” Yamanami sighed with a joking tone, then said seriously, “The choice of a sword school must not be taken lightly.”
“I also know of some other sword schools that are very good.”
“If you are interested, I can introduce these sword schools to you.”
Among the good sword schools you know, are there any that offer opportunities to spar and exchange techniques with many, many people?
Like Shieikan, which can compete with the apprentices of Genbukan and Kochiba Sword School, the two major sword schools?” Aoto asked.
“Hmm?
It seems…
no.
Among the good sword schools I know, the one with the most apprentices only has about a hundred people.
Unless they are sword schools with very strong mutual affection, there is very little frequent exchange between sword schools.”
“Then forget it.” Aoto smiled at Yamanami, raising an eyebrow.
“I’ve decided—I’m going to Shieikan.”
“You’ve decided?” Yamanami let out a low exclamation.
“Are you sure?
Aren’t you being too hasty?
Won’t you consider more carefully?”
“No need.
In all of Edo, there shouldn’t be a sword school more suitable for me than Shieikan.
I’m going to Shieikan to become a disciple right now.”
With that, Aoto raised his hands and patted Yamanami’s shoulders forcefully:
“Yamanami, thank you!
You’ve helped me a great deal.
I’ll treat you to drinks when I’m free later!”
Aoto bid Yamanami farewell, then hurriedly left Yamanami’s doorstep.
Looking at Aoto, who had appeared unexpectedly and then left in a rush, Yamanami smiled helplessly: “To say he’ll treat me to drinks, that’s rare…”
…
…
Aoto galloped through the streets, pulling out the paper with Shieikan’s address that Kiryu had given him earlier from his Arms, and followed the address written on the paper to make his way.
Now that his doubts about Tennen Rishin-ryu and Shieikan had dissipated, there was no need to hesitate further in choosing a sword school.
A sword school that could spar with people from three sword schools at once—just as Aoto had told Yamanami earlier: in all of Edo, there should be no sword school more suitable for Aoto, who possessed the “Replication Talent System” within him, than Shieikan.
—I hope to quickly replicate some powerful talents after joining Shieikan…
After silently praying this in his heart, Aoto quietly quickened his pace.
[Japanese History Classroom is now open!]
Although in the Edo Period, samurai could indeed use the “Kiri-sute Gomen” privilege to kill commoners who disrespected them, this privilege was not absolute.
After a samurai used “Kiri-sute Gomen” to kill a commoner, he had to have sufficient evidence to prove that the commoner he killed had insulted him.
If evidence could be provided, then it was easy, and the samurai would face no consequences.
If no evidence could be provided, then the samurai would also be arrested for murder.
Therefore, many samurai would abandon “Kiri-sute Gomen” due to the perceived hassle.
****
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