She had no standout talents that could make her stand out, neither in literature and arts nor in martial arts.
More importantly—the Tachibana family wasn’t wealthy enough.
Although Tachibana Ryuzo’s position as a “Three Times” samurai could earn a considerable extra income each year, this money was completely negligible compared to the wealth of the Ozuki family.
However, things had changed now.
It had merely been a little over a year since she’d last seen Aoto, and the young man she used to look down on seemed like a completely different person.
His eyes had become spirited and sharp, and when Aoto turned his face upon hearing her call, Ozuki Minoru felt as though she was being targeted by a fierce beast...
His physique had become much sturdier, with strong muscles making his figure appear significantly more erect.
The previous timid and unconfident aura had vanished entirely.
There was an intense aura of confidence radiating from his every gesture.
Moreover, she noticed that Aoto’s outfit had changed.
His clothes had become considerably more upscale.
Although Ozuki Minoru didn’t understand weapons, as a consummate gold digger who had seen various luxury items, she vaguely sensed that the sword (Ghost-Slaying) at Aoto’s waist wasn’t an ordinary item.
Was it that the position of the Fixed Town Patrol Dōshin was so refining? Such a person could have such a transformative change!
“Alright, alright, stop talking about ‘Blockhead Don.'”
At this moment, Ozuki Minoru’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the voice of Chang Ci.
“The annual fireworks festival, if all the time is spent discussing a dull person, wouldn’t that be a waste!”
“...Hmm.” Ozuki Minoru nodded in agreement, “That’s true! Let’s go, let’s go, we haven’t toured that place yet, let’s go over there!”
—Forget it! Whatever! It doesn’t matter what ‘Blockhead Don’ has become, it’s none of my business!
Ozuki Minoru decided to stop pondering the reasons behind Aoto’s sudden great change.
While they had once grown up together as childhood friends, they were now people of two different worlds.
She was now the young lady of the wealthy Ozuki family, and Aoto was most likely still a minor Fixed Town Patrol Dōshin.
In these times, hit by materialism and extravagance, wealthy merchants disdain subordinate samurai who have merely a military family name but lack money and power, which has gradually become the societal norm.
Although the Fixed Town Patrol Dōshin had the authority to manage the town safety of Edo-cho, fundamentally, it was just a low-level minor official position.
Having married into the Ozuki family and feeling her outlook has significantly broadened, Ozuki Minoru really looked down on a mere ‘Three Times’ at the Magistrate’s Office.
The reason she had initially taken the initiative to talk to Aoto upon their chance encounter was partly to confirm whether she had recognized the wrong person, and partly out of a desire to proudly flaunt her success to an old acquaintance.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t succeeded in flaunting anything.
Aoto’s attitude towards her was cold the entire time, with an aloof demeanor that made Ozuki Minoru feel particularly stifled.
It was like unleashing a full-force punch, only to hit cotton.
There was no need to pay any further attention to a person with whom she likely wouldn’t have any future interactions.
Ozuki Minoru intimately walked alongside Chang Ci, gently advancing amidst the bustling crowd in the street center.
“Tsk tsk, so many people...” Chang Ci sighed while leading Ozuki Minoru and their friends, “It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to Edo; it doesn’t seem to have changed much.”
Just after Chang Ci finished speaking, a friend of his behind him seized the conversation:
“That’s not entirely true. Apparently, there have been quite a few major events in Edo recently. Last night, I overheard the inn attendants chatting and said those Anti-foreigner Warriors who advocated aggressive expulsion of foreigners had been causing quite a stir until recently they quieted down a bit thanks to the suppression by ‘Niō’.”
“‘Niō’?” Ozuki Minoru was taken aback, blinking a few times in surprise, “What’s that?”
Chang Ci turned his face as well, casting a puzzled look at his friend.
“Specifically... I’m not sure either. I only know it seems to be the title of a very skilled samurai. It’s because of their power being as formidable as Niō that they got this title.”
“‘Niō’...” Chang Ci smirked, “That’s such a majestic title.”
Ozuki Minoru nodded in deep agreement.
She suddenly realized: In just a little over a year away from Edo, the city had become much more unfamiliar to her.
The old acquaintance ‘Blockhead Don’ had undergone a massive transformation, seeming like a completely different person.
There had also arisen figures such as “Niō,” whom she had never heard of before.
“As formidable as Niō, huh...” Ozuki Minoru murmured.
Chang Ci’s friend’s description sparked a bit of curiosity in Ozuki Minoru about this “Niō” whom she had never met before.
Such formidable skills must someone possess to be bestowed such a mighty title—Ozuki Minoru couldn’t help but contemplate.
The past between Ozuki Minoru and ‘Original Tachibana Aoto’, and those disparaging remarks Ozuki Minoru made about ‘Original Tachibana Aoto’, were all based on real-life prototypes. The plot of this chapter is basically a faithful adaptation of stories that truly happened.
As for who these real-life prototypes were... the author won’t say... (leopard dead.jpg)
In short... the author first seeks to request some monthly votes... QAQ
Requesting monthly votes! (leopard heads weeping.jpg)

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