Afternoon
Comics' Monthly Mangabon
October
1998
Summary
Background
This continues the story of Anotsu's life in the mountain dojo.
The Master of the sword school asked Anotsu to get married to his only
daughter, Hisoka. Here we find out why.
The Story
You want to live hardcore? Try Master Ibane's workout- get up at
the break of dawn and practice swordfighting, then dowse yourself in cold
water. That's what he was up to when Anotsu comes over to see him.
Anotsu tells Ibane that he was thinking about what Ibane was proposing.
He wants to know why he would give his only daughter, plus his sword school,
to a guy he barely knows. Ibane tells him that he did a little looking
into Anotsu's affairs. Anotsu did some incredible things in a very
short period of time. In just two years, he destroyed over fifty
sword schools and/or claimed them for Itto-ryu. In other words, he
is a very strong and powerful man, as well as a good leader. Anotsu
asks him what if he knows what kind of people Itto-ryu are. Ibane
knows what kind of people that Itto-ryu employs, but it doesn't matter
to him. To Ibane, Anotsu is a strong man who has the good of the
country as one of his highest values (Anotsu's main goal seems to be to
strengthen Japan from within against attack or invasion).
But something
that Anotsu doesn't have is a successor. Itto-ryu is like a giant
house with one strong support beam. If Anotsu, that central beam,
is taken out at this point, there is no one who could keep Itto-ryu stable.
It would completely fall apart. Ibane thinks that Anotsu is destined
for great things. But he thinks that he should have some children,
some descendants who will be able to help him when Anotsu is older.
Finally, Ibane simply bids Anotsu to have a talk with Hisoka to see
what she's like. Then he's on his way...
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