(Recently, I've been reading The Record of Immovable Wisdom by Zen master Takuan Sōhō, and I feel a sense of spiritual purification. Transforming frustration into motivation, here's another chapter. Truly, I am a great, noble, single dog!)
The Isshin Dojo was located outside Shimotsuki Village, nestled among neatly arranged rice fields like a checkerboard. From a distance, the courtyard, with its blue bricks and white tiles, exuded an air of tranquility and charm.
The courtyard was designed in a Japanese style, surrounded by a single-layered wall that securely enclosed it. From within, the rhythmic chants of students practicing swordsmanship could faintly be heard.
William and his companions were neither the first nor the last group of young men to come here seeking to learn swordsmanship. The four of them approached the dojo respectfully, explaining their intentions. A middle-aged man with a full beard, dressed in a kimono, led them to the largest building within the courtyard.
The building housed a spacious hall, where over a dozen children in training uniforms were practicing the basic movements of swordsmanship under the guidance of an elderly instructor. Each move was executed with precision and discipline.
However, as young children are wont to do, their focus wavered when William and the others entered the hall after removing their shoes. The sight of four outsiders not wearing training uniforms inevitably drew their attention away from their practice.
Aramis's eyes had been darting around ever since they entered the courtyard, taking in every detail. When he saw the uniform green training outfits worn by the dojo students, he smacked his lips in dissatisfaction, clearly unimpressed by the design.
The person leading the children's training was none other than the dojo master, Koushirou. He was tall and wore a simple kimono. The loose-fitting garment made his frame appear somewhat slender. With his round glasses, black hair tied into a ponytail, and gentle demeanor, he looked more like a middle-aged scholar than a swordsmanship instructor.
Koushirou didn't seem bothered by the children's momentary distraction. After the bearded man explained William and his companions' purpose, Koushirou dismissed the children for a break. The kids, who had been sneaking glances at the newcomers, cheered at the mention of a break and dashed out of the hall in the blink of an eye. Only two particularly curious ones lingered by the doorway, peeking inside to observe the visitors.
Koushirou paid no attention to the lingering children. Instead, he carefully studied William and his group, while William discreetly observed him in return.
Koushirou appeared kind, with a constant smile on his face. His eyes, perhaps due to nearsightedness, were habitually squinted. Despite his gentle demeanor, William's preconceived notions made him suspect that Koushirou was far from ordinary.
Of course, no matter how extraordinary Koushirou might be, it was impossible for him to discern William's identity as a transmigrator. There would be no sudden reverence or dramatic gestures of recognition. Instead, Koushirou focused on examining the calluses on their hands and inquired about their prior experience with swordsmanship.
Agin, Aramis, and Vallon had relied on street-fighting tactics and practical combat experience in the past. Since joining William, they had picked up some rudimentary swordsmanship techniques from him, but they were far from proficient.
William, on the other hand, had received some formal swordsmanship training in the past, though his original self hadn't been particularly diligent. Nonetheless, he had a basic foundation, which meant he wouldn't have to start from scratch when learning again.
If Koushirou truly was a master swordsman, such details would be impossible to hide. If he were mediocre, there would be no need to hide them. Thus, William chose to be honest about their abilities. Koushirou didn't seem like someone who cared about rigid traditions or elitism; his questions were merely to determine the appropriate starting point for their training.
After chatting with the four young men for a while and learning that they were from out of town, Koushirou kindly offered them accommodations at the dojo. However, William politely declined.
They planned to stay here for an extended period to train and improve. William knew that Koushirou was not as simple as he appeared. Staying at the dojo would mean living under Koushirou's watchful eyes, which would be inconvenient.
Koushirou didn't press the matter further.
The group, led by the bearded man, paid their tuition fees, received their training uniforms, and were briefed on the dojo's daily schedule and rules. With the day growing late, they took their leave to find a place to stay.
Once outside the courtyard and away from prying eyes, Vallon finally voiced the question that had been bothering him. "That was the dojo master, Koushirou? He didn't look the part. He seemed more like... more like..."
Vallon struggled to find the right words, and Aramis stepped in to help. "Like a schoolteacher!"
Vallon clapped his hands in agreement, but he noticed that neither William, Agin, nor Aramis looked convinced.
Aramis pointed out, "Didn't you notice the calluses on his hands? You don't get those from just flipping through books."
Vallon fell silent. The group then discussed their accommodations. Aramis argued that their living quarters should be comfortable, especially since their training at the dojo was likely to be grueling. Agin, however, believed that their resources should be spent wisely, given that they didn't know the full extent of Danton's treasure.
As always, Vallon had no strong opinions, leaving the final decision to William, who chose a compromise.
Having navigated the complexities of society in his previous life, William and Aramis, the son of a merchant, quickly found someone akin to a real estate agent in the village. They arranged to view potential properties the next day and temporarily stayed at a relatively clean-looking tavern.
The following morning, the four of them spent the entire morning touring properties with the agent. They eventually settled on a small courtyard on the outskirts of the village. Though somewhat remote, it was reasonably priced due to its distance from the bustling dock area. Its proximity to the Isshin Dojo made it an ideal choice for them.
William, not one to fuss over trivial matters, didn't haggle much and paid for the property outright.
By the time all the paperwork was completed and the courtyard officially became theirs, it was already afternoon.
Aramis tried to use the day's busyness as an excuse to skip training at the dojo, but one sharp glare from William silenced him.
When they arrived at the dojo, they spotted a red-haired boy about their age standing near the entrance, craning his neck like a statue as he stared down the road leading to the gate.
At first, William thought the boy was waiting for someone else. But as they approached, the boy's head turned to follow their movements, his body remaining still. The sight was comical.
The red-haired boy widened his eyes but said nothing. Just as William and the others were about to pass him and enter the gate, the boy deliberately cleared his throat loudly.
William quickly pieced things together and turned around with an amused expression. Extending his right hand, he said, "My name is William. I'm guessing Koushirou-sensei asked you to wait here for us?"
The red-haired boy grinned, stepped forward, and shook William's hand. "Edmond. You guessed right. Sensei asked me to help you learn the basics of swordsmanship for a while... By the way, you're from out of town, right? Just wondering—are you pirates?"
The atmosphere froze instantly.
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