Michikatsu had now completely understood why Mitsuba had insisted on binding him together with this Miss Amei tonight.
This younger sister of his simply wanted him to comprehend the lesson of "looking forward" through the process of helping this Miss Amei.
To let him put down his obsession with catching up to Yoriichi, and then during this almost infinitely long time, reopen a new chapter in his own life.
[To think that I would make my younger sister worry about me time and again—Michikatsu, Michikatsu, you truly are a worthless elder brother...]
"..."
"Alright~ Class time~ Hurry up and change into your keikogi~ Did you hear me~"
A new day, and Master Mitsuba of the Centenarian Dojo was ready to begin new lessons.
Ever since successfully meeting and conversing with that mysterious wealthy merchant last night, Mitsuba had completely relaxed.
For now, regarding the investigation of the Blue Spider Lily, she had done everything she could. Next, she only needed to patiently wait for news from that mysterious wealthy merchant's side.
As short as one month, as long as one or two months—anyway, it wouldn't be long before the mysterious person behind all this commotion would actively come to contact her.
At that time, Mitsuba could officially wrap up this matter.
Who would the mysterious person hidden beneath the谜底 be~
Mitsuba was already somewhat looking forward to it.
Of course, for now she still needed to continue enjoying her peaceful life.
"So, elder brother, why are you two appearing here?"
At the Centenarian Dojo, Mitsuba—wearing her keikogi—looked at Michikatsu who had suddenly appeared at the doorway, and Amei beside him who was lowering her head with an embarrassed expression, the corner of her eye twitching.
What was going on?
Why had these two come to find her together?
"Because I thought, Mitsuba, you might be able to provide Miss Amei with a new place to stay."
Michikatsu held his umbrella, speaking seriously with a solemn face.
The moment his voice fell, a group of children instantly poured out from the dojo behind Mitsuba, surrounding the three of them and chattering noisily.
"Where where? Is this Sister Mitsuba's elder brother?!"
"And who is this other big sister?"
"How come I never heard that Sister Mitsuba had an elder brother?"
"He doesn't look like Sister Mitsuba! Sister Mitsuba's hair is so white! His hair is so red!"
"Hello brother-in-law! I'm Sister Mitsuba's disciple!"
"Brother-in-law my head! You brat, what nonsense are you shouting?! All of you get back inside!"
Waving to disperse these little ones, after exchanging a glance with the smiling old centenarian sitting in the courtyard, Mitsuba helplessly beckoned to the two of them:
"Anyway, you two come in with me first..."
"..."
"So, what elder brother means is that last night, in a fit of anger, you killed Miss Amei's husband.
Then because you were worried Miss Amei would be wanted by the magistrate's office as a result, plus you couldn't find suitable accommodations, so you simply brought Miss Amei along to seek refuge with me?"
In a room inside the dojo, after hearing Michikatsu recount the whole story of last night, Mitsuba felt her head swelling.
"Please~ my dear elder brother~ have you been squatting in that cave so long that your brain has rusted?
Don't you see what era we're in now? Over a decade ago, the shogunate already issued edicts prohibiting any samurai from casually killing commoners on the streets for any reason!
You just killed a living person so casually, without even disposing of the body—if the magistrate's office investigates later, this will be really troublesome..."
"I believe that with your abilities, Mitsuba, you can handle this matter."
Hearing this irresponsible statement from her elder brother, Mitsuba instantly sucked in a cold breath.
"No! Elder brother, last night I only asked you to help Miss Amei, I didn't mean for you to kill someone directly!
Do you know what the word 'help' means?
It means going to help others resolve the difficulties they encounter, it means going to solve problems, not going to solve the people too!
This is the Edo Shogunate era, not the era of the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven from a hundred years ago!
Even the samurai class must abide by laws and regulations, be good citizens, do you understand?"
Facing Mitsuba's lengthy rant, there wasn't the slightest hint of regret on Michikatsu's face. He merely spoke indifferently:
"Scum like that, his death is not to be regretted. He deserved to be killed."
"Very well, elder brother, you win."
Mitsuba was completely speechless.
As expected, trying to reason with this old antique from the Sengoku era whose brain only knew how to draw his blade was useless...
"Um..."
Taking advantage of this brief silence between the siblings, Amei—who had been sitting quietly nearby—carefully spoke up:
"Little Sister Mitsuba need not trouble yourself so much. I could actually try to seek refuge with my parents..."
Actually, from the beginning, she had been somewhat unable to understand the conversation between Mitsuba and Michikatsu.
What cave-squatting, what over a hundred years ago, what Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, and why was Master Yoriichi so certain that Little Sister Mitsuba could definitely settle a wanted notice from the magistrate's office...
Speaking of which, she felt that Master Yoriichi's personality seemed somewhat different from a few days ago.
He didn't seem as cheerful and outgoing as before, becoming slightly more silent and cold, but still full of charm...
"Ah, that won't be necessary."
Instantly returning to her senses, Mitsuba looked at Amei and said with a smile:
"If it's just about finding a place to stay, that's actually completely fine.
I remember the old man over there still has a small vacant house in this town that can be rented to you at any time. I'll go talk to the old man about it later.
You don't need to worry about rent either—the old man has already earned enough money. As long as you come help out at the dojo occasionally when you have free time..."
"V-very well! Thank you, Little Sister Mitsuba..."
Looking at Mitsuba's confident expression, Amei subconsciously nodded and thanked her.
[Speaking of which, Little Sister Mitsuba actually directly calls that elderly gentleman outside who is said to be over a hundred years old "old man"?]
[It sounds like how peers would address each other...]
"Of course, I also have a small condition."
Suddenly turning to look at Michikatsu sitting beside Amei, Mitsuba cracked open a grin, that utterly wicked smile once again appearing on her face.
"My requirement is that you, elder brother, must also stay in this town together with Amei."
---
(Michikatsu's fate had already quietly changed long before he failed to encounter Yoriichi at his deathbed meow~)
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