My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 595: Chapter 189: Accepting a Disciple! Aoto’s First Female Apprentice and the Miss Arrive [7200]

To impart knowledge and resolve doubts for others... this in itself is an act that allows both parties to grow together.

Therefore, for Aoto, the greatest benefit of accepting Elodie as his disciple is that in the process of passing on the Natural Reasoning Heart Stream to her, he can also progress along with her, indirectly enhancing his own swordsmanship skills.

But compared to the ”gaining,” the ”losing” of accepting Elodie as a disciple is also quite evident.

The greatest ”loss” is, of course, the cost of time.

Aoto is not unemployed, nor a swordsmanship master who exclusively teaches others for a living; he has a formal job at the North Guard Station.

The leisure time he can freely allocate is not exactly plenty, but not scarce either.

Although being Elodie’s teacher has certain benefits for his own swordsmanship practice... spending that large chunk of time directly training hard at Shiwei Hall seems to better promote his swordsmanship progress.

Can the benefits I gain compensate for these losses?

Rationality churns in his mind...

Perhaps Aoto’s prolonged silence has made Elodie nervous... Aoto hears her breathing grow heavier.

Turning his head to look, Aoto sees Elodie’s body now tense.

Her neck, shoulders, arms, waist... every part from head to toe is in a state of ”tension.”

Her wide-open eyes continue to stare directly at Aoto.

Despite her efforts to control her emotions, Aoto’s silence has allowed anxiety and nervousness to climb uncontrollably into her eyes.

The slightly flickering gaze conveys the message, ”I don’t want Aoto to refuse.”

Aoto quietly meets Elodie’s gaze... and at this moment, a strange scene unfolds.

Another emotion outside of ”rationality” appears in Aoto’s mind.

Once this new emotion appears, that emotion called ”rationality” quickly hides like snow in sunlight or ice encountering fire.

No.

It’s not hiding away.

It has been defeated.

”Rationality” is captured by the new emotion... by the emotion called ”sensibility” and is utterly defeated.

A similar phenomenon seems to have occurred before.

Aoto quickly recalls—just a few months ago, when Mukiwa revealed the true identity of ”Cat Monk” and requested Aoto to assist in her ”phantom thief operation,” he encountered this situation where ”sensibility overpowered rationality.”

Back then, it was entirely from a standpoint of sensibility that he chose to lend Mukiwa a helping hand and has been silently supporting her ”phantom thief career” as the hidden ”Fox Monk” ever since.

Is it because of the friendship between him and Elodie?

Is he moved by Elodie’s determination to learn martial arts and protect her family?

Or is it because of Elodie’s conveyed admiration making Aoto hesitant to respond negatively?

Aoto can’t quite figure out his current thoughts.

All he knows at this moment is: he cannot dismiss the passion of the young girl before him.

He only knows: some things need not be concerned with rationality, gains, and losses.

In this instant, Aoto makes his decision.

Though he isn’t sure why, when he regains his senses, there remains only one answer in Aoto’s mind.

If someone asks Aoto later: why did you make this choice... Aoto should only respond: there’s no particular reason, just that I really wanted to do it at that moment.

”...Mr. Angoulême.”

Aoto lifts his gaze, looking at Anthony with seriousness on his face.

”What do you say?”

Of course, Aoto’s ”What do you say” means ”Are you willing to let me be Elodie’s swordsmanship private tutor.”

Anthony lowers his eyelids, glancing at the Elodie beside him.

”...If Mr. Tachibana is willing to teach Elodie... then I have no objection.”

Touched by Elodie’s heartfelt words, Anthony no longer shows his inflexible side; he solemnly nods to Aoto.

Aoto smiles slightly, then shifts his gaze to Zhouzhu.

”...Master. Though I don’t have Master of All Techniques yet... could you make an exception this once and let me take on a disciple?”

Only those who achieve Master of All Techniques can open a hall and take on disciples—this is the rule of the Swordsmanship World of this era.

According to this rule, Aoto, who has not yet gained the Natural Reasoning Heart Stream’s Master of All Techniques, has no qualification to take on disciples.

”Uh... well...” Zhouzhu lifts his hand, habitually stroking his bare chin. An indecisive expression tugs repeatedly at his brow.

Standing on Zhouzhu’s left and right sides, Kondo and Chokata both turn their faces to Zhouzhu at this time.

”Father.”

With a gentle call to Zhouzhu, Kondo then says nothing more, only locking eyes with him with a smile on his face.

The words Kondo wants to say are conveyed entirely through his eyes and his smile.

”Master.”

At this time, Chokata also smiles while looking at Zhouzhu, expressing all he wants to say through his gaze and smile.

Whether influenced by Kondo and Chokata’s gaze and smiles, or perhaps he’s come to terms on his own. In any case, after hesitating for less than half a minute, Zhouzhu sighs with a hint of helplessness.

”Though it’s against the rules... a few exceptions here and there are harmless.”

Zhouzhu subtly indicates his stance.

”Master, thank you.”

Aoto lowers his head, expressing his gratitude to Master.