My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 464: Chapter 165: The Law Punishment Faction’s New Cadre: Wind Demon Scythe Weasel [6500]

"This..." Hearing Sazanoko’s words, Chiba Shigetarou’s expression and tone showed a hint of losing control, "Sazanoko, do you really intend to remain single forever?"

"Brother." Sazanoko paused, and then when she lightly parted her red lips again, she still showed a gentle smile to Chiba Shigetarou, with a hint of humor in her tone, "Matters of emotions can’t be forced."

"You can’t force me to love someone, or directly force me to marry someone, right?"

Chiba Shigetarou was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to say anything in response to Sazanoko.

He could only recommend to Sazanoko the men he thought were very outstanding and do his best to try to match them up, but he absolutely could not force Sazanoko to marry someone — this was the absolute line Chiba Shigetarou would never cross.

Chiba Shigetarou’s brow, at this moment, uncontrollably furrowed slowly.

Although the country had long opened its doors, and the Edo Shogunate had completely opened itself to foreign exchanges, the current Japanese society still largely remained feudal.

Under the premise that one’s conditions aren’t problematic, practicing celibacy in a feudal society... Such thinking is somewhat ahead of its time.

At least Chiba Shigetarou found it difficult to accept his sister living unmarried and childless, lonely till old age.

This era doesn’t have any pension or welfare system.

Chiba Shigetarou couldn’t help but think deeply: If Sazanoko really does not marry... how will she spend her later years?

Parents are still alive, I’m also still young and able to protect and care for Sazanoko, but I and our parents can’t look after Sazanoko forever.

The more Chiba Shigetarou thought about it, the more deeply his brow furrowed.

At this moment, Sazanoko used her fair hand to hold onto the hem of her kimono and slowly stood up.

"Brother, I’ve said all I wanted to say."

"In short, please don’t add any more names to this book, Brother."

Having said that, Sazanoko turned around, her softly red and white feet moving gracefully beneath the hem of her kimono as she walked towards the room’s exit.

Watching Sazanoko’s departing back, Chiba Shigetarou, feeling somewhat stifled because of Sazanoko’s previous remarks, couldn’t help but twitch his lips, then, while adopting a sort of resigned "Ah, I don’t care anymore" stance, he said to Sazanoko in a muffled voice with a tone that carried a hint of grievance and discontent:

"No interest in matters between men and women... Hmph, remember, that’s what you said."

"Just don’t come running mysteriously one day in the future to ask me for help with some strange questions."

Saying this, Chiba Shigetarou cleared his throat vigorously, then pinched his voice, making an effort to imitate a very girlish, shy tone.

"’Brother, brother, do men generally like women who are good at cooking?’"

As soon as Chiba Shigetarou finished speaking, Sazanoko, who was almost out the door, suddenly stumbled, nearly falling.

She quickly stabilized herself, then turned her head to glare at her brother behind her.

Sazanoko, who was usually serene and composed, was now unable to maintain her usual dignity due to her emotional turmoil.

Her beautiful eyes were wide open, glaring fiercely at Chiba Shigetarou, with a kind of angry and embarrassed look deep in her pupils as if her mortifying memories had been revealed.

The delicate and fair face and ears showed an obvious flush of embarrassment at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Seeing his sister whose ears had turned red, Chiba Shigetarou grinned, showing a smile of "mission accomplished."

Being someone who grew up together and shared a deep bond, how could Chiba Shigetarou not know what kind of personality his sister had?

Sazanoko was strong-willed and, despite often putting on the stance of a "strong woman," her skin was surprisingly thin, with even the simplest words or gestures capable of making her face blush completely red.

Sazanoko’s moist red lips moved continuously, as if she wanted to say something to Chiba Shigetarou, but ultimately seemed to give up the idea of speaking to him.

She drew back her gaze, turned her head, and after a heavy "hmph," continued to walk outside the room.

However, she had just managed to take two steps forward when Chiba Shigetarou’s voice sounded again.

"Um... Sazanoko."

Sazanoko paused again, the blush on her face not yet completely subsided, and without turning her head, she replied in a displeased tone, "Anything else?"

Since Sazanoko did not turn her head to look at Chiba Shigetarou this time, she did not notice—her brother had slowly withdrawn the "mission accomplished" smile that he had just had.

"Before you leave, I just... want to make sure."

Chiba Shigetarou sighed heavily, then lifted his gaze, casting a complex look at Sazanoko.

"Did you really mean it when you said you don’t like anyone, including Sakamoto Ryoma... Is that true?"

"Do you really not like Sakamoto Ryoma anymore?"

Always carefully observing Sazanoko’s movements and demeanor, Chiba Shigetarou sharply noticed—before his words had even fully landed, Sazanoko’s body visibly stiffened.

Sazanoko did not make Chiba Shigetarou wait long for her response.

Just a moment later, Sazanoko gently moved her lotus steps and slowly turned her body to face Chiba Shigetarou.

"What I said is, of course, true."

She showed her brother a smile once again... It was a smile reminiscent of rain clouds.

Presumably recalling... no, it didn’t seem that way. Deep in Sazanoko’s eyes, as if gazing into the distant horizon, there seemed to be some emotion of melancholy hidden.