My Girlfriend is an Evil Woman

“Swordsman?” Kitahara Hideji straightened his posture slightly, recalling the words his wife, Yukari, had passed on from her mother – a top-notch drunkard, a second-rate Swordsman, a third-rate doctor, a fourth-rate cook, and a fifth-rate husband.

The term “second-rate Swordsman” from his wife’s jesting was playful banter between them, but to place “Swordsman” ahead of the other professions indicated some level of skill.

However, as he carefully observed Fukuzawa Naotaka for a moment, he couldn’t sense any ferocity emanating from him. His aura was entirely different from that of a ronin swordsman in a Meditative Battle. Could it be that he wasn’t just strong, but had achieved a level of simplicity and purity in his swordsmanship?

Seeing that Kitahara Hideji was lost in thought and not responding, Fukuzawa Naotaka chuckled softly and said, “Still don’t understand?”

Kitahara Hideji adjusted his posture and politely said, “Please enlighten me.” After all, there’s no shame in asking when there’s something you don’t know.

Fukuzawa Naotaka pointed to his head and smiled, saying, “A Swordsman needs to use their brain, Kitahara-kun! There are only so many people in this shop. The Three Ladies bear a grudge against me, so they won’t come to me. Other than you, who do you think is left to knock on my door?”

Kitahara Hideji felt a lump in his chest and abdomen, feeling stifled for a moment. So, this middle-aged uncle’s supposed powerful aura or secret techniques, like the ability to sense things within ten meters or hear falling leaves, were nothing more than him taking care of a bunch of unruly daughters. None of them had any manners.

This really left him speechless! However, he then felt a bit sympathetic. Dealing with a group of daughters like that must be quite a hassle. It’s really not easy.

“Just a joke, Kitahara-kun! Come, have some!” Fukuzawa Naotaka laughed at his reaction, raising a sake bowl as a gesture for them to drink together. Kitahara Hideji picked up the cup and glanced at the murky sake inside. It was filled with numerous greenish cotton-like particles that glimmered, giving the sake a glassy appearance. Seeing that Fukuzawa Naotaka had already taken a sip, his eyes closed in ecstasy, he also took a small sip.

The taste was sour and astringent at first, but then it gradually turned sweet on the tongue, lingering for a long time. It reminded him somewhat of Chinese rice wine lees. Perhaps unfiltered rice wine was what they called “Nigori Sake.” It’s rice wine that hasn’t been filtered or distilled after undergoing liquid fermentation, containing some solid particles.

It is said that children used to drink this stuff as a beverage, and it really doesn’t have much alcohol content.

He took a small sip, mostly out of politeness. As a person with strict self-discipline, he generally wasn’t interested in tobacco or alcohol. Fukuzawa Naotaka, on the other hand, enjoyed them a lot. He closed his eyes for quite a while before saying, “Can you handle it? Unfortunately, I can’t offer you sake. My eldest daughter only allows me to drink this…”

Kitahara Hideji placed the sake bowl down and politely remarked, “It has a unique flavor, not bad.” His expression became more sympathetic as he spoke – even you have to be managed by that tyrant of an eldest daughter? You really have it tough. Although I guess she probably hasn’t gone crazy enough to start hitting you, she’s probably been the most unfortunate for those few younger ones.

“As long as you like it,” Fukuzawa Naotaka seemed to have an interest in conversation. He poured a bit more sake into Kitahara Hideji’s cup and then asked with a smile, “By the way, Kitahara-kun, have you practiced Sword Technique?”

“For a while,” Kitahara Hideji replied vaguely.

“At which dojo did you train? I heard from my second daughter that Kitahara-kun’s Sword Technique is quite diverse, having practiced in many dojos. Is that true?”

“No, I’ve been self-taught by reading books.”

“Self-taught?” Fukuzawa Naotaka’s expression became more serious. He straightened his posture a bit and asked softly, “Which books?”

Kitahara Hideji casually listed some book titles, including works like “The Book of Five Rings.” They were modern printed materials. While not exactly common, they certainly weren’t obscure either. There was no need to conceal them.

Fukuzawa Naotaka nodded slowly as he listened, and after Kitahara Hideji finished, he fell into deep thought. After a while, he murmured to himself, “So, I really can’t even be a proper teacher?”

Perplexed, Kitahara Hideji called out softly, “Fukuzawa-san?”

Fukuzawa Naotaka came back to his senses, poured himself another drink, and sighed, “Kitahara-kun, you truly have great talent. It’s admirable…” He paused for a moment, carefully observing Kitahara Hideji, and continued, “Kitahara-kun, defeating my eldest daughter doesn’t surprise me. Despite her competitive nature, she lacks talent. At least in the path of Sword Technique, no matter how hard she tries in her lifetime, she won’t achieve any noteworthy accomplishments. However, I didn’t expect you to surpass my second daughter. Aside from her being a girl, I always thought she was the most perfect achievement of my life, but now…”

He seemed a bit lost in thought towards the end, shaking his head slightly. Kitahara Hideji instinctively replied humbly, “Actually, Yukari-san is far more skilled than I am. Fukuzawa-san, she was only at a disadvantage due to a momentary lapse in judgment. If we were to compete again, I might not necessarily be her match. Your words are too heavy.”

Fukuzawa Naotaka continued shaking his head gently, “No, Kitahara-kun, I’ve thoroughly discussed the circumstances of your fight with my second daughter. Although she rambled a bit, I could tell you have strength. The reason I say this is… do you know how long my second daughter has been practicing Sword Technique?”

“I’m not quite sure.”

“Eleven years and two months. Since I discovered her talent, I’ve been carefully teaching her for eleven years and two months. Yet Kitahara-kun, with just a few books for self-study, managed to surpass her. Did your self-study start during your adolescence? Has it been more than three years?”

Kitahara Hideji hesitated for a moment and then shook his head lightly. He didn’t lie; he had only been practicing for a little over a month. Although he had endured some hardships and practiced diligently, it was really just a shortcut.

This involved his greatest secret to staying alive, something he couldn’t openly share with others. All he could show was a face full of apology.

Fukuzawa Naotaka gazed at him silently, a complex expression in his eyes. Finally, he softly said, “To achieve what you have in less than three years of self-study, comparable to my over a decade of instruction – talent truly is admirable!” As he spoke, a deeper sense of desolation emanated from him. His face, already pale yellow, now had a tinge of grayish-blue, as if he had aged several years suddenly. After a long while, he continued slowly, “I am a person without talent, truly inept. I haven’t achieved anything in my life. I really envy someone like Kitahara-kun who possesses talent. I must seem quite pitiable to you.”

He started to reach for the sake pitcher, wanting to pour himself another drink, but Kitahara Hideji stretched out his hand to stop him and whispered, “Fukuzawa-san, I’m sorry, but please don’t drink anymore.”

Fukuzawa Naotaka appeared as though he could use a couple more drinks, but whether due to a lack of natural tolerance, his current physical weakness, or perhaps having already consumed a fair amount, the Nigori Sake that was barely stronger than beer seemed to have gone to his head. His statement about lacking talent might hold true, especially in the realm of being a seasoned drinker.

Fukuzawa Naotaka had a good temperament, perhaps the many significant failures in his life had drained him of his fire. He didn’t get angry when Kitahara Hideji, this young man, stopped him from drinking, nor did he seize the opportunity to go on a drinking spree. He sighed instead, allowing Kitahara Hideji to move the sake pitcher aside.

After a moment of silence, he turned around and reached for a white envelope from a shelf behind him, handing it to Kitahara Hideji. He spoke softly, “Let’s skip the gloomy talk. It’s not suitable for a determined young man like Kitahara-kun. Let’s get to business… You’re here to bid farewell, right? This is the previously agreed-upon letter of recommendation from your employer, along with a small severance payment. It’s not much, so please don’t refuse.”

Kitahara Hideji hesitated for a moment, then accepted the envelope with both hands and lowered his head, saying, “Thank you very much, Fukuzawa-san.” Dealing with smart people really saved time and effort. If it weren’t for his daughter being so troublesome, working here would have been quite enjoyable.

“Once again, please accept my daughter’s apology on my behalf, Kitahara-kun.” Fukuzawa Naotaka switched to a formal sitting position and bowed deeply.

Kitahara Hideji quickly returned the gesture, lowering his head and saying, “You’re too kind. Your politeness is almost making me uncomfortable. Fukuzawa-san, please don’t go to such lengths.”

He was someone who responded better to softness than harshness. When others extended three feet, he would give them a yard in return. Seeing Fuyumi’s parents adopt such a humble posture, much of his lingering resentment dissipated.

Given Fukuzawa Naotaka’s advanced age, his humility was truly remarkable. He raised his head again and regretfully said, “I had hoped that Kitahara-kun and my daughter could become friends. My eldest has a difficult temperament and has never had any friends since childhood. She’s managed to accumulate enemies filling over thirty pages. While Kitahara-kun is of similar age, he’s far more mature and stable, with strengths that surpass hers in various aspects… I apologize, this is just a small selfish wish of a father. I had hoped that Kitahara-kun could influence her behavior a bit, teach her some manners. Over time, they might discover each other’s virtues and develop a friendship. However… it’s truly a pity.”

Kitahara Hideji nodded slightly and whispered, “I apologize for not meeting Fukuzawa-san’s expectations. I’m truly sorry.” He hadn’t found a single virtue in Fuyumi, seeing her as nothing more than a ticking time bomb. In fact, most of the time, the explosion occurred before anyone even got close to her – she was like a mental case. Unreasonable, aggressive, impolite, lacking manners, narrow-minded, and willful… She possessed every flaw a human could have, making her a textbook example of what not to be.

“It’s my failure as a parent that led her astray and allowed her temperament to become so difficult,” Fukuzawa Naotaka appeared genuinely regretful. “When she was young, I was too absorbed in my own affairs and didn’t pay enough attention to her. Her upbringing was mainly handled by her mother, who was an extremely gentle lady. She couldn’t be strict with her. Back then, it was still manageable; there was at least some restraint. But after her mother passed away, her temperament grew even more eccentric. By the time I wanted to discipline her, I didn’t know how to talk to her anymore… It’s all my fault.”

Kitahara Hideji nodded once more, remaining silent. There wasn’t much to say. When a father criticized his daughter, he couldn’t just agree and say, “You’re absolutely right. Your daughter is a pain in the neck!”

If he did that, even with Fukuzawa Naotaka’s good temper and broad-mindedness, he’d likely get punched.

Fukuzawa Naotaka also halted his train of thought; it was too late for anything more now. He could also understand Kitahara Hideji’s position. It wasn’t easy to deal with someone who went around provoking others for no reason, especially when that person was the employer’s daughter. When the eldest daughter fought with Kitahara Hideji, the fourth and fifth daughters were quick to run and tattle. He didn’t intervene, letting the young people sharpen each other, much to the disappointment of the fourth and fifth daughters.

He asked in a soft voice, “Is Kitahara-kun planning to resign immediately?”

“I can wait until a replacement is found,” Kitahara Hideji replied. He was a person who liked to finish what he started. Moreover, with such a conscientious boss in front of him, he was willing to endure a few more days even if he really didn’t want to share the same air as Fuyumi anymore.

Fukuzawa Naotaka smiled, “It’s really not a problem. We just need to cancel their rotating days off. But thank you, Kitahara-kun. It’s been a fateful encounter, and if I may boast a bit, I can consider myself half an elder to you. Well, then, you better think carefully about this parting gift…”

Kitahara Hideji hurriedly intervened, “I’ve already received your care for a long time. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself further.”

As Fukuzawa Naotaka’s considerate words washed over him, Kitahara Hideji felt a subtle wavering within himself. He began to feel a sense of remorse for having hit Fuyumi so hard. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone so far; that girl would probably be walking around with a swollen face for the next four or five days.

The principle of using softness to overcome hardness was indeed powerful. Not only had he lost all his anger, but he also started feeling like he had committed some guilty act. Truly, the adept warrior wins without seeking fame.

“It’s not something valuable, just a small token of appreciation,” Fukuzawa Naotaka turned around and searched through the bookshelf for a moment before pulling out two paperback books and handing them to Kitahara Hideji. “If you don’t mind, please accept this. It would ease my mind a bit.”

Seeing that they were books, Kitahara Hideji felt relieved. He could accept something of lower value. He gently took the books, pondering how to repay this favor. Aside from the annoying Fuyumi, if Yukari encountered any troubles at school, he could lend a hand. Perhaps this middle-aged man had a similar intention – to help defuse his anger towards his eldest daughter and avoid becoming genuine enemies. At the same time, he might be looking out for his second daughter.

Sighing, he realized that dealing with these troublesome daughters was quite a burden for Fukuzawa Naotaka.

However, he thought the father before him was overthinking things. Yukari probably wouldn’t run into any major issues. For her, not picking fights with others would be considered a positive outcome. Nobody would dare to mess with her. Fortunately, she was a kind-hearted girl. If she had Fuyumi’s temperament, she might have already become a schoolyard bully.

After expressing his gratitude, Kitahara Hideji examined the cover of the paperbacks. He was immediately surprised – “Ono Ittō-ryū Ougi Explanation” and “Rigid Taijutsu,” both written in handwritten brush strokes that resembled sword strikes, sharp and imposing.

This doesn’t seem right!