My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 539: Chapter 180: Though Surrounded by Thousands, I Go Forward

Even just a single burning sleeve of a woman’s kimono could destroy more than 80% of Edo’s buildings... let alone an entire burning district.

As soon as Sazanoko finished speaking, Aoto, who had just withdrawn his gaze to the front, turned his head back with a meaningful look at Sazanoko.

"What’s the matter? Why are you suddenly looking at me like that?" Sazanoko promptly asked Aoto, who was fixing her with a peculiar gaze.

"It’s nothing, I just suddenly realized... Though I’ve known Miss Sazanoko for quite some time, I still don’t really understand Miss Sazanoko."

"Just now, I’ve gained new insights into you, Miss Sazanoko."

With that, Aoto adopted a tone of deep admiration.

"I’m increasingly impressed by the upbringing of the Chiba family."

Understanding what Aoto was implying, Sazanoko lifted her delicate hand to hold down the right lock of hair that was being blown onto her pretty face by the wind.

"After all, I am the daughter of the Samurai family," Sazanoko said softly, "If I don’t even have the courage to resist treachery, then I might as well give up martial arts early."

"The Chiba family’s upbringing is indeed extraordinary..."

Perhaps because the current speaking atmosphere was just right, Sazanoko, influenced by it, hesitated for a while before her red lips opened again:

"... Mr. Tachibana, if we reach the settlement and find that the governmental forces haven’t arrived yet, but the Anti-foreigner Group has already started the attack... how do you plan to act?"

"At that time, could you please take care of Rōbā for me?"

Aoto’s reply... was without a moment’s hesitation.

His answer was so swift, so unthinking, that it caught Sazanoko off guard and left her astonished.

Though Aoto’s answer was brief... it was full of information and clear.

"You want to single-handedly confront the entire Anti-foreigner Group attacking the settlement?" Sazanoko couldn’t help but ask urgently, her voice slightly out of control and high-pitched.

"I can’t just sit idly by and do nothing, can I?"

Aoto’s words left Sazanoko speechless.

"As you said earlier, Miss Sazanoko, if we let the Anti-foreigner Group run amok like this, I’m afraid the whole of Edo would be ruined."

"Shiwei Hall is my only place of refuge now."

"If the unchecked fires set by the Anti-foreigner Group cause an uncontrollable blaze that burns down the Shiwei Hall too, I cannot accept such a consequence."

"Moreover..."

Aoto’s words suddenly halted.

Murmuring "moreover," a hint of recollection appeared on his cheeks.

A petite figure with bright golden long hair flashed through Aoto’s mind.

"...I also promised a child living in the settlement that I would come to play with her again when I had the time."

Aoto’s cheeks and mouth relaxed... The relaxed facial lines turned into a gentle smile.

"I don’t want to break my promise."

Surprise and shock... as if hearing some incredible news, emotions appeared on the face. Sazanoko’s face was covered in expressions of mixed emotions.

Her gaze, originally quite mature and composed, now seemed unfocused.

She looked at the tall figure of Aoto, so close yet seeming so far, with an expression as if gazing into the distant void, her red lips slightly moving.

She seemed to want to offer some comment on Aoto’s words just now.

After a good while, finally, a murmur filled with various emotions floated from between Sazanoko’s alluring red lips and white teeth.

"... Mr. Tachibana, you... are so brave."

After a few thoughts, Sazanoko finally could only think of "brave" as the adjective.

Apart from "brave," she truly couldn’t think of a more appropriate adjective to properly evaluate Aoto’s current words and actions.

"Brave..." Aoto softly repeated the adjective Sazanoko had just given him, then smiled wryly, turning his head with a smile to look at the beauty behind him once more, "Thank you for the compliment."

"Miss Sazanoko, you are also very brave."

"Though you yourself are injured, you still dare to lend a hand and assist me in going to the settlement."

"Most people wouldn’t have your courage, regardless of gender."

Regardless of gender... Hearing this unintentional compliment from Aoto, Sazanoko’s fingers, previously pressing her right locks of hair, suddenly relaxed slightly uncontrollably, and her beautiful hair lifted, slightly covering her delicate face that now showed a meaningful expression.

Unfortunately—Aoto didn’t get the chance to appreciate Sazanoko’s new expression.

At this moment, Rōbā finally reached the small path Sazanoko had mentioned earlier as "the shortcut to the settlement if followed all the way."

Aoto looked forward, gently pulling the reins in his hands to guide Rōbā into this path.

"Charge, Rōbā!"

"Moo~~"

Rōbā seemed to have fully embraced the name "Rōbā," and upon Aoto’s full-throated shout, it lifted its head and let out a strong "moo" in response.

At that moment, the male head of a nearby household was awakened by the sudden sound of galloping hooves and the mooing.

"Why is there a cow mooing..." The man rubbed his drowsy eyes vigorously and, with a face full of bewilderment, opened the window.

And then he saw a samurai and a very beautiful woman riding a large black cow galloping through the streets of Edo.

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