I Formed the Strongest Swordsman Group-Chapter 68: King of Benevolence

"Hmph... Perhaps I, Suehiro Moritoyo, could even compete with Lord Nobunaga, Lord Shingen, and Lord Hideyoshi for supremacy over the realm!"
After saying this, Suehiro smugly held his spear, Wind Cutter, across his chest, half-closing his eyes as he fantasized about wearing sturdy armor, charging into battle formations, slaying enemies, and establishing glorious achievements.
"Ah... Born in the wrong era, born in the wrong era indeed."
After letting out another heavy sigh, Suehiro turned a stern face toward Yamada.
"Alright, let's end the small talk here."
"You came looking for me probably not just to watch me practice spear techniques, right?"
Yamada's expression also turned serious: "Mr. Suehiro, all personnel have been assembled! Exactly 203 people, not a single one missing!"
"Everyone's assembled then..." Suehiro grinned, "Excellent..."
Suehiro retracted his spear.
"Have everyone rest well tonight!"
"We depart at first light tomorrow!"
"Yes!" Yamada responded loudly before sighing, "Ha... I'm a bit nervous... This will be our Anti-Foreigner Squad's first attack against foreigners since our establishment..."
"Hahahaha!" Suehiro laughed heartily, "No need to be nervous, Yamada."
"This operation will succeed easily—failure is impossible."
"For this mission, we've gathered exactly 203 patriots and brought 12 firearms."
"The guards protecting those foreign barbarians Anthony and Elodie number only 36 total."
"Our forces are 203 against their 36—the advantage is ours!"
"Not to mention we're prepared striking against the unprepared!"
With that, Suehiro shouldered his two-ken spear named Wind Cutter and swaggered down the hillside.
"Mr. Suehiro, where are you going?" Yamada asked.
"My spear practice is about done. I'm going back to pay respects to my Nio statue."
"Mr. Suehiro, you're really quite devout toward that Nio statue of yours." Yamada smiled helplessly. "You never miss paying respects to that statue both morning and evening, rain or shine."
"This Nio statue of mine is very powerful! Ever since I started paying respects to it, I've been protected by this Nio statue and escaped danger multiple times! It's truly miraculous! Yamada, would you like to come pay respects with me?"
"Haha, I'll pass."
......
Fujisawa-shuku, inside a room at an inn——
"...I believe I understand the specific circumstances now."
"That is to say... LeRoy, Elodie begged you to take her to that Enoshima Shrine to play. You softened for a moment, couldn't refuse her, and together with that Kinoshita Mai, secretly took Elodie away from the inn. Is that correct?"
"...Yes. Mr. Angoulême, all responsibility for today's incidents lies with me."
"If I had remained firm in my convictions and refused to work with Miss Kinoshita to sneak the young lady out for entertainment, none of today's series of mishaps would have occurred."
"I am willing to accept any punishment..."
At this moment, Elodie and her maid, LeRoy, stood one behind the other before an elderly gentleman.
This gentleman appeared to be around 70 years old.
He maintained carefully trimmed mustaches above his lips and on his chin.
His not-too-long hair was combed diagonally backward, with both hair and mustache completely white without any remaining color.
His figure was somewhat portly, and even extremely loose clothing couldn't conceal his belly that seemed large enough to hold two basketballs.
His features were deep-set, particularly his eye sockets, which were so deep they could probably hold two eggs.
His nose was high and prominent, with a slightly fleshy tip, and he wore thin-framed glasses on his nose bridge. Behind the lenses were blue eyes that currently glared at LeRoy with overflowing anger.
Anthony de Angoulême—this was the old man's name.
"Grandfather!" Elodie, who had been keeping her hands clasped before her with her head bowed, suddenly raised her head. "Please don't punish Miss LeRoy! Today's incidents have nothing to do with Miss LeRoy! Nor with Miss Mai!"
"It was my desire to have fun—I wanted to visit Enoshima Shrine, whose great reputation I've long heard about, so I begged Miss Mai and Miss LeRoy to take me to visit that shrine!"
"Miss LeRoy was coerced by me before she reluctantly helped me sneak out of the inn!"
"The primary responsibility for today's events lies with me!"
"If Grandfather wants to punish Miss LeRoy, then punish me first!"
"Young lady..." LeRoy, standing behind Elodie, raised her head and cast a look at Elodie filled with gratitude, guilt, and other complex emotions.
"Elodie..." Anthony looked at his granddaughter with a helpless expression. "Be quiet. No matter how you defend LeRoy, the fact remains that she failed to fulfill her duties as a maid—this is an ironclad truth."
"Before leaving Osaka, I should have given repeated strict orders, shouldn't I have?"
Anthony turned his anger-filled gaze back to LeRoy.
"This country still doesn't welcome us foreigners right now."
"Under no circumstances should you leave the inn without my permission!"
"LeRoy, as Elodie's maid, no matter how much Elodie begs you, you shouldn't have taken her outside without authorization!"
"By doing this, you essentially pushed both Elodie and yourself into danger!"
"You've committed the serious offense of dereliction of duty—I trust I haven't wrongfully accused or mistaken your actions?"
"Grandfather..." Hearing Anthony's severe scolding, Elodie bit her lip.
Just as Elodie was about to say something more to Anthony, LeRoy buried her head even lower:
"...Yes. I admit my guilt."
"I neglected my duties, causing the young lady to nearly encounter danger today."
"Young lady." LeRoy raised her head and showed Elodie a grateful smile. "Thank you for defending me."
"But Mr. Angoulême isn't wrong—I do bear undeniable responsibility for today's series of incidents."
"I willingly accept any punishment."
"Hmph." Seeing LeRoy's sincere admission of guilt, Anthony's expression softened slightly. "It's good that you admit your fault."
"I'll determine your punishment later."
At this point, Anthony seemed to remember something and asked LeRoy:
"How is that Tachibana Aoto doing now?"
"He's currently receiving treatment from Mr. Kiryu in the next room," LeRoy answered.
"Kiryu..." For some reason, Anthony's mouth twitched when he heard the name "Kiryu."
After a long moment, Anthony sighed softly: "Today can be considered fortunate amidst misfortune... Thankfully, two samurai appeared in time when Elodie was attacked and repelled the assailants."
"Otherwise..."
As he reached this point, Anthony closed his mouth tightly as if unable to bear continuing the thought.
"...Come with me, all of you." Anthony straightened his posture somewhat. "Let's go meet the samurai who has shown us great kindness."
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