I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 1102 Kondo Isami's Inferiority Complex and His Apprenticeship [5300]

Kondo Isami's hand, which was holding up a glass, froze.

Before he could recover, he heard the people at the table continue speaking:
"Although Kondo Isami is the director of the Shinsengumi's Surveillance Bureau, and is nominally on par with Vice-Commander Hijikata and Commander-in-Chief Yamanami, compared to these two lords, Director Kondo's achievements are indeed far inferior!"

"Yes, Chief Yamanami is Lord Niou's strategist. Whenever there are crucial matters, Lord Niou always consults with Chief Yamanami. Vice-Chief Hijikata is Lord Niou's right-hand man. Apart from Lord Niou, the most outstanding talent in the Shinsengumi is Vice-Chief Hijikata! In comparison, Chief Kondo is much less noticeable!"

"That's not how you should put it. Don't underestimate Chief Kondo. Have you forgotten the 'Ikedaya Incident' last year? Chief Kondo, with only Captain Okita, Captain Nagakura, and Captain Inoue, dared to storm Ikedaya, killing countless enemies and making a great contribution!"

"Yes, Chief Kondo is very powerful. He is the fourth head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu main family. In terms of personal bravery, even in the Shinsengumi, where there are many strong people, few can compare with him."

"Alas, all he has left is bravery. Think about it, besides bravery, what else is there to praise about him? In terms of knowledge, he is not as good as Director Yamanami; in terms of military strategy, he is not as good as Vice-Commander Hijikata; even if we only consider his most outstanding bravery, he is not as good as Captain Okita."

"That's right. How can such a reckless man who only knows how to wield a sword be compared to Vice Commander Hijikata and Commander-in-Chief Yamanami?"

"Speaking of which, it seems that Director Kondo is Lord Niou's senior apprentice."

"Yes, they are fellow disciples. When Lord Niou became a disciple of the Shieikan, Director Kondo was the Shieikan's instructor and taught Lord Niou swordsmanship. So, in addition to their brotherly bond, they also have a master-disciple relationship."

"Ha, the swordsmanship of my junior brother, who has received my guidance, far surpasses mine, and Captain Okita, who is from the same school, is also stronger than me. His title of 'Fourth Head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu Main Family' is truly just a name."

"He should hurry up and hand over the position of 'Head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu Main Family' to Lord Niou! Lord Niou is more suitable to be the head of the family! Under Lord Niou's management, the name of 'Tennen Rishin-ryu' will surely become even more renowned!"

"Isn't the 'Tenzen Rishin-ryu' famous because of Lord Niou? Without Lord Niou's efforts, who would know about this rural school of martial arts?"

"I think it's probably because Lord Niou values ​​his deep friendship with Director Kondo that he gave him the position of 'Director of the Censorate'."

"That's right, that's right! That's what I think too!"

"Even a genius like Lord Niou can't escape these worldly affairs."

The group became increasingly engrossed and excited as they talked, completely oblivious to the fact that Kondo Isami behind them had suddenly turned pale.

Just a minute ago, he was all smiles because of his rare day off and because he heard others praising the Shinsengumi.

But now... the smile vanished, replaced by anger.

His face was exceptionally ugly, incredibly gloomy, and filled with terrifying dark clouds, as if black ink might drip from it at any moment.

Crackling sounds emanated from his hand holding the wine glass, which trembled slightly.

"Sir, here's the sake you ordered... uh...!"

A handsome young man, carrying two bottles of sake in his hands, ran swiftly and steadily to Kondo Isami's side, his footsteps barely touching the small pieces of cloth.

The corners of her mouth were originally curved in a professional, formulaic arc.

Upon seeing Kondo Isami's incredibly ferocious expression, she was terrified. Her face was dominated by intense fear, and the rest of her words were stuck in her throat. She hurriedly put down the two bottles of sake in her hand and quickly fled in a flurry.

Kondo Isami was unaware of Teshiro's arrival, nor did he notice the two extra bottles of sake beside him—at this moment, his mind was completely immersed in unbearable indignation!

In that instant, he really wanted to draw his Nagasone Kotetsu sword, hold it to the table in front of them, and ask them, "You seem to be having a good time. May I, Kondo Isami, join in?"

As a dignified samurai, how could I remain indifferent to such an insult?

In order to avenge himself, he was willing to risk violating the Shinsengumi Law by using force against civilians!

With this thought in mind, Kondo Isami slammed down the wine glass in his hand and made a move to draw his sword.

However, just as his right hand was about to grasp the hilt of Nagasone Kotetsu's sword, his body suddenly stiffened.

He wasn't the kind of person who would easily lose his temper and act recklessly.

In this critical moment, reason regained its advantage.

Drawing a knife in anger is simple, but it's nothing more than a matter of being utterly humiliated and enraged.

The best way to shut these guys up is to present facts and deliver a resounding rebuttal that leaves them speechless!

After regaining his composure, Kondo Isami took a deep breath and began to formulate his words.

However... after a moment of contemplation, his expression subtly changed—simply because he couldn't think of any words to refute the other person.

His achievements are far inferior to those of Hijikata Toshizo and Yamanami Keisuke...

Despite being the fourth head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu main family, his swordsmanship was far inferior to that of his fellow disciples, Aoto and Souji. In fact, it was only thanks to Aoto's efforts that the Tennen Rishin-ryu shed its derogatory reputation as "peasant swordsmanship" or "countryside swordsmanship"...

Although these guys' words were harsh, there was no denying that everything they said was true...

Both the evaluation of his personal achievements and the assessment of his martial arts accomplishments are correct!

Faced with this undeniable fact, Kondo Isami had no room for rebuttal!
From a certain perspective, those people did not insult Kondo Isami—they were merely stating the facts. Can that be called an insult?
Kondo Isami grew angrier and angrier, feeling increasingly frustrated. He gritted his teeth, lost all interest in drinking, hurriedly left the money for the drinks, and fled the store as if escaping.

……

……

Kondo Isami wandered the streets like a zombie.

Unconsciously, he wandered into a bustling commercial district.

The vendors' energetic shouts, the incessant footsteps, the chattering... all sorts of sounds surrounded him.

Despite being in the midst of a bustling city, Kondo Isami could not hear a single sound.

He felt as if an invisible barrier had been erected around him, shutting out all sounds from the outside world.

Even though he had escaped the izakaya, the group's sarcastic comments kept haunting him, echoing endlessly in his ears.

Suddenly, the faces of Qing Deng, Hijikata Toshizo, and others appeared in his mind one by one.

Then, he suddenly recalled the past—once upon a time, he lived under the same roof with Qingdeng and others, spending every day together, living together, and studying swordsmanship together.

Looking back, those days were so wonderful.

Apart from Qing Deng, who held an official position, everyone else was a low-ranking samurai with little power or influence.

At that time, he was the undisputed elder brother among them, and even Qingdeng respected him as his elder brother.

And now... everyone has spread their wings and taken flight.

Needless to say, Qing Deng is now a man of many honors and is undoubtedly the "Number One Warrior in the World".

Hijikata Toshizo, Yamanami Keisuke, and others have also made great strides.

Just by looking at his official rank, one can see the gap between him and Hijikata Toshizo and Yamanami Keisuke.

In the recent "Imperial Court Grand Rewards", Hijikata Toshizo (Junior 7th Rank, Lower Rank, Dazaifu Doctor) and Yamanami Keisuke (Senior 8th Rank, Upper Rank, Junior Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat) both held higher positions than him (Senior 8th Rank, Lower Rank, Eighth Ministry of Justice, Senior Secretary).

As for Nagakura Shinpachi, Saito Hajime, and others, they also made immortal contributions.

When people talk about the Shinsengumi, the first names that come to mind are Tachibana Aoto, the "Niou," and Okita Souji, the "Heavenly Sword." Then there are Nagakura Shinpachi and Saito Hajime, and only then does he, the "fourth head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu main family," come into the picture...

For no apparent reason, Kondo Isami kept thinking:
—How do Tachibana-kun and the others view me now?
—The names "Nioh", "Tenken", and "Demon Vice-Commander" have spread far and wide.

—And me… all these years have passed, and I am still that reckless man who only knows how to wield a sword.

—Even his only strength, swordsmanship, may have not improved for a long time.

—How can I still pretend to be a big brother in front of Qingdeng and the others?
—Will they...dislike me?
—Will they, like that group just now, think I'm a worthless scoundrel who doesn't live up to his reputation?

Just as Kondo Isami was lost in deep thought, a gentle male voice suddenly rang out from directly in front of him:

"Huh? Isn't this Chief Kondo?"

The sudden call startled Kondo Isami.

He quickly looked up and was surprised to see a familiar, tall figure.

"Mr. Ito?"

Master Ito – namely, the master of Todo Heisuke and the head of the Edo Ito Dojo, Ito Kashitaro.

Long before Aoto formed the Shinsengumi, Shieikan Gunei had interacted with Ito Kashitaro—who at that time had not yet changed his name and was still called "Ito Daizo"—because of this connection with Todo Heisuke.

After the Shinsengumi marched to Kyoto and launched the "First Great Conscription," he changed his name to "Ito Kashitaro," closed his own sword-fighting school, and led a group of outstanding disciples to join Aoto.

Given his outstanding talent, Qing Deng promoted him to "Assistant to the Chief of Staff"—which can be understood as the adjutant of the General Affairs Department and the deputy of Yamanami Keisuke—entrusting him with important responsibilities.

Because he kept a low profile and disliked showing off, he was not well-known, and many people outside the Shinsengumi did not know that there was such a person in the group.

In addition to serving as "assistant to the chief," he also held the position of "literature professor," occasionally offering "cultural classes" to teach those soldiers who were not highly educated but eager to improve their knowledge to read and write.

He became famous very early; when Seido was still an unknown figure, he already had a name in the martial arts world of Edo.

Regarding his personality... simply put, he's like a carbon copy of Keisuke Yamanami.

Yamanami Keisuke is a "dual practitioner" proficient in both Hokushin Itto-ryu and Ono Itto-ryu; he is a "dual practitioner" proficient in both Hokushin Itto-ryu and Shinto Munen-ryu.

Yamanami Keisuke was well-versed in literature and had profound knowledge in various fields such as Sinology and Mito studies; he was also well-versed in literature and had profound knowledge in various fields such as Sinology and Mito studies.

More importantly, the two are remarkably similar even in terms of their gentle personalities and handsome appearances.

For this reason, people often jokingly refer to Yamanami Keisuke and Ito Kashitaro with the phrase "you two are like brothers." However, whenever someone brings up this joke, Yamanami Keisuke always smiles modestly.
"You flatter me. Mr. Ito's talent far surpasses mine. I only joined the Shinsengumi earlier, which is why I had the honor of becoming his superior."

Whether Yamanami Keisuke truly believed that Ito Kashitaro's talent surpassed his own is unknown to outsiders.

However, it is true that Yamanami Keisuke respected Ito Kashitaro both in public and in private, and rarely acted like a superior in front of him.

As it turns out, Ito Kashitaro's reputation for talent was well-deserved.

From any perspective, Ito Kashitaro's performance after joining the Shinsengumi was remarkable.

He was like an old ox, working diligently and selflessly.

With his assistance, Keisuke Yamanami's workload was greatly reduced.

The rapid development of the Shinsengumi was inseparable from the efficient operation of the General Affairs Department, which was in charge of document work.

The efficient operation of the General Affairs Department is inseparable from the outstanding talent of Ito Kashitaro.

Although Kondo Isami never wanted to admit it, he always harbored a strong sense of inferiority about his peasant background.

As a result, he has always held cultural figures—especially outstanding ones like Ito Kashitaro—in high esteem.

Although he didn't have a deep relationship with the other person, their relationship was fairly harmonious, and out of respect, he always addressed the other person as "teacher".

Upon seeing Ito Kashitaro suddenly appear before him, Kondo Isami, after a brief moment of surprise, rushed to his side.

"Mr. Ito, what are you doing here?"

Ito Kashitaro smiled slightly:
"Today is my day off, so I came out for a stroll. Director Kondo, are you off today too?"

Kondo Isami's expression became somewhat unnatural—he was reminded of the unpleasant experience he had just had.

"Uh, yeah."

Ito Kashitaro flashed a bright smile:
"Oh, what a coincidence! Since we've met by chance, how about we grab a drink together? I know a really good place."

Kondo Isami blinked, hesitating and wavering.

He's in a bad mood right now and doesn't want to stay out any longer; he just wants to go home and lie down as soon as possible.

However, today is a rare holiday, and it would be a shame to go home early.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally made up his mind—he nodded:

“Okay, Ito-sensei, let’s go grab a drink.”

……

……

Otsu, a private room in an izakaya (Japanese pub).

Kondo Isami looked around in astonishment, glancing at his surroundings.

"Mr. Ito, this shop is really great."

After accepting Ito Koshi's invitation, Kondo Isami obediently followed behind him.

The izakaya they were heading to wasn't far; it was just two blocks away.

Ito Kashitaro, who led the way, lifted the curtain, greeted the receptionist, and then skillfully opened a private room and ordered a few bottles of shochu.

As soon as Kondo Isami entered the izakaya, he was immediately struck by its elegant decor and the subtle fragrance in the air.

Upon entering the spacious, comfortable, and exquisitely furnished private room, he could no longer contain himself and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

After hearing this, Ito Kashitaro gave him a look that said, "I wasn't lying to you, was I?"

"How about it? This place is pretty good, isn't it? I just discovered this great place recently. Not only is the atmosphere fantastic, but the drinks are also quite good."

Kondo Isami nodded in agreement:

"Yes, it's really good. I've lived in Otsu for so long, but I didn't know there was such a good shop. I'm really ashamed."

As the two chatted, a hand-held bottle of wine was quietly brought to them.

Ito Kashitaro swiftly grabbed one of the bottles, filled the glasses next to the two men with drinks, and then raised a toast to Kondo Isami.

"Come on, Director Kondo, let me toast you first! This meal is on me! Let's drink to our hearts' content!"

Kondo Isami smiled sheepishly.

"Mr. Ito, you're too kind. I'll toast you too!"

Because it was a private setting, the two of them didn't put on any airs and drank and chatted freely.

The things they talked about were mostly trivial and mundane matters.

We talked about everything from the construction progress of Otsu Castle to the starting to cool down the weather, from our favorite alcoholic beverages to the stray cat we encountered yesterday…

They became more and more engrossed in their conversation and more and more enthusiastic about drinking... Before they knew it, their table was piled high with empty wine bottles.

Kondo Isami began to feel the effects of the alcohol rising, and his face became hot.

Just as he half-closed his eyes, savoring the intoxicating pleasure—

"Director Kondo, may I ask if something is troubling you?"

The unexpected question caught him off guard and left him speechless.

He subconsciously raised his gaze and stared intently at Ito Kashitaro across from him.

"...Mr. Ito, what makes you say that?"

Ito Kashitaro smiled:
"When I ran into you on the street just now, you were practically wearing the word 'sadness' on your face. How could I not notice? If you don't mind, you can confide in me. Maybe I can help."

Kondo Isami pursed his lips, his grip on the cup tightening and loosening repeatedly.

Then, he spoke softly:

"To be honest, I do have some worries. But... I can't tell you."

"Oh? Is it a private matter that cannot be known to outsiders?"

"Roughly the same……"

Suddenly, Kondo Isami seemed to realize something, and his expression changed slightly.

"...Professor Ito, I have a favor to ask, and I wonder if you would be willing to grant it."

"But it doesn't matter."

"Teacher Ito, please teach me!"

Ito Kashitaro was startled:
"Teach you knowledge? Which specific area of ​​knowledge do you mean?"

"Chinese studies, Mito studies, military science... please teach me anything that can increase wisdom!"

Ito Kashitaro put down the wine glass in his hand and looked Kondo Isami up and down with a face full of curiosity.

"Director Kondo, what's wrong with you? Why have you suddenly become interested in academic research?"

Kondo Isami's expression darkened slightly:
"I have always revered swordsmanship and despised scholarship."

"Now, I feel more and more that I absolutely cannot continue like this!"

"Times are changing... It's no longer an era where you can make a name for yourself just by wielding a sword."

"I am deeply ashamed of my own shallow knowledge and lack of manners!"

"Therefore, I want to learn from Lü Meng of the Wu Kingdom back then! I want to improve my own wisdom!"

After hearing this, Ito Kashitaro asked in return:

"Mr. Kondo, why don't you ask Mr. Yamanami for help? Mr. Yamanami is your close friend, and his scholarship and cultivation are no less than mine. Wouldn't it be more convenient to ask him for advice?"

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Kondo Isami's cheeks:

"Uh, this, this..."

Before Kondo Isami could explain himself, Ito Kashitaro continued on his own:

"Never mind, no need to explain. I understand what you're thinking—you don't want to show weakness in front of your friends, and you want to always present an image of 'being in control,' right?"

Kondo Isami smiled helplessly, tacitly agreeing.

*******
*******
It's almost the end of the month again! Readers with monthly passes, please be sure to vote for this book! (crying leopard head.jpg)

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

(End of this chapter)