My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 321 - 130: Mukiwa’s Request: Taking on the Man-Slayer Group Together with Her

"For instance, during the ’Red Moon Battle’, the ’Asura’ Ogata Isseki broke through seven formations and killed nine generals, relying on just a few dozen riders to defeat the Shogunate’s army of ten thousand, earning the title of the ’Unrivaled Eternal Sword Saint’."

"I grew up listening to these hero stories, so naturally, I gradually came to admire these heroes and valiant figures."

"Mr. Tachibana, do you remember what Mr. Kiryu previously told you about my past? It was a year ago, under my grandmother’s request, to start ’training from the bottom’, that I left Osaka and came to Edo to work as Mr. Kiryu’s Shodai."

Aoto nodded, recalling the stories about Mukiwa that Mr. Kiryu had once shared with him.

"I am from Osaka."

Mukiwa continued.

"Before coming to Edo, I lived in Osaka, learning various things with my grandmother, her friends, and subordinates."

"Sinology, history, arithmetic, martial arts..."

"At that time, under my grandmother’s protection, the ’world’ I could see was always very small."

"Every day, I was well-protected by Mr. Makimura and Mr. Asai, allowed to move only within the house and very limited areas."

"It wasn’t until I left my grandmother and came to Edo that the ’world’ in my eyes finally broadened."

"Then... as the ’world’ I saw expanded, I also encountered many sights I had never seen in Osaka."

At this point, Mukiwa paused, then let out a low self-deprecating laugh.

"Before coming to Edo, I didn’t know that in this world, there were so many people so poor they couldn’t even guarantee one meal a day..."

"Mr. Tachibana, you probably don’t know that places like our Thousand Affairs House see many visitors every day... visitors who make one’s heart ache."

"A young woman whose husband was persecuted to death by the Yakuza, having to raise three children on her own and holding four jobs a day."

"Someone gravely ill, yet gritting their teeth and dragging their frail body to the Thousand Affairs House to find work for the sake of their family’s livelihood."

"A child not even as tall as my waist, yet because the family is so poor, crying and begging for me and Mr. Kiryu to find her a job someone her age can do, just to relieve her parents’ burden."

"So many pitiful people living in such dire circumstances... it pains me to see it."

"Perhaps it’s because I’ve admired those heroes and valiant figures since childhood that I’ve always aspired to become a hero who can do something real for the people!"

"So, at the end of last year, I finally made up my mind—I want to use my abilities to help these poor and suffering people to the best of my ability!"

"This is how the great Phantom Thief ’Cat Monk’ came to be."

After patiently listening to Mukiwa’s story, Aoto remained silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

"...So why did you suddenly come to find me tonight, without regard for your identity being exposed?"

Another very serious question.

This time, without much thought, Mukiwa answered immediately:

"Mr. Tachibana, the reason I came to find you tonight is to ask for your help!"

"I want to ask you to join me in dealing with a Man-Slayer Group that has recently been frequently using Hieda to test their swords!"

*******

*******

Asking for monthly votes! Asking for recommendation votes! (Crying leopard.jpg)

Here’s an abandoned concept: Mukiwa’s thief’s outfit was initially designed to have no sleeves, with both arms completely exposed and only black wrist guards worn.

But considering Mukiwa’s personality, wearing something so revealing would be impossible, so it was scrapped.