Kuina and Koshiro

"One year ago, he passed away of old age..."

Louis fell into thought.

The master swordsmith who had forged the two Great Grade Swords, First Generation and Enma, had already passed away. The news caught Louis completely off guard.

He had originally planned to ask the man to reforge a suitable weapon for Yelena, who was growing stronger by the day. He hadn't expected that he was already a year too late.

Watching Louis lost in thought, Koshiro couldn't help feeling curious. "Mr. Louis, were you hoping to ask my father to forge a sword?"

Louis came back to his senses and explained, "I'd heard that the swordsmith who forged First Generation and Enma in Wano Country had retired here, so I wanted to ask him to make a weapon for me."

Koshiro's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected Louis to know more than just his father's name—he'd already learned all about their family's origins.

But since Louis hadn't come with ill intentions, Koshiro decided not to dwell on it.

He picked up the teacup before him, took a sip, then sighed softly. "My father forged countless blades in his lifetime, but in the end, only those two swords became famous across the seas."

"If a third sword could earn renown in your companion's hands, that would be a blessing for my father, too."

"Unfortunately, my father stopped forging swords long ago, and the blades he left behind are all of mediocre quality."

"But if your companion doesn't mind, you could choose one of them to use for now, and replace it when you find a suitable famous blade."

In Koshiro's view, Louis was powerful, so naturally his companions couldn't be weak, either.

Exchanging a blade that was merely well-made for Louis's friendship was a worthwhile trade.

However, under Koshiro's gaze, Louis shook his head and politely declined. "My companion is more skilled with heavy weapons like warhammers than with swords."

Koshiro's expression became quite remarkable. For a moment, he even wondered if he'd heard correctly.

Someone who used a heavy warhammer wanted a swordsmith to forge them a weapon... Wasn't that a little absurd?

As long as the materials were good enough, couldn't any factory capable of making a ship's anchor do the job?

And if all else failed, wouldn't wielding a large ship's anchor be about the same as using a warhammer?

Drawing on his good manners, Koshiro replied with a smile, "A warhammer? That doesn't seem to be my father's area of expertise..."

"What a shame..."

Just then, Kuina emerged carrying a teapot. She had changed into another kimono bearing the Shimotsuki Family Crest.

She looked at Louis, seated across from her father and chatting with him, and a flicker of confusion passed through her eyes.

After the few previous times someone had come to challenge the dojo, shouldn't they have been dueling in the side courtyard by now?

Why had they been sitting and talking for so long this time?

Then she took a deep breath, stepped forward gracefully, and refilled their teacups.

As she turned to leave, her gaze happened to pass over the Seven Star Sword resting off to the side.

"Is that... a Cursed Blade?" Kuina blurted out.

The sword lying quietly on the ground gave off a faint, eerie, ominous aura. It seemed to glare at them like a vengeful ghost, making anyone nearby feel uneasy in both body and mind.

If Kuina wasn't mistaken, only a legendary Cursed Blade could make someone feel that way.

Instead of hurrying off as she usually did, she turned and knelt beside Koshiro, then skillfully poured herself a cup of tea.

She decided to stay a while longer. As the heir to Isshin Dojo, she had every right to remain there.

But she didn't immediately ask about the sword. Instead, she settled into the pose of a quiet listener.

She knew that sooner or later, the conversation between the two men would turn to that sword. Everyone who came here carrying a blade with even a little renown had done the same.

After all, what swordsman wouldn't feel proud to own a famous blade?

Besides, she'd heard that many swordsmen on the seas even had a tradition of loudly introducing their swords before a duel, hoping to crush their opponent's spirit.

So if you wanted to learn a sword's history, all you had to do was stand nearby—or take a casual glance at it.

Most swordsmen were even more eager to talk about owning a famous blade than you were to hear about it!

At least, that was what Kuina had learned.

Koshiro looked a little awkward at Kuina's arrival. He could tell what his daughter was thinking, but didn't want to embarrass her by sending her away.

He simply believed that girls were at a disadvantage in the way of the sword. He had no intention of criticizing her thoughts or actions.

With a sigh in his heart, he smiled and asked Louis, "Mr. Louis, is that sword a Cursed Blade?"

At that, Louis reached out and picked up the Seven Star Sword, showing it to the two of them. "It's the Seven Star Sword. As you can see, it's an ominous Cursed Blade."

"The Seven Star Sword?!" Koshiro, who had been wearing a faint smile, sobered. His expression turned serious as he murmured, "So the legendary Cursed Blade really does exist?"

"May I have a look?" Koshiro asked Louis, his tone earnest and respectful.

"If you can guarantee it won't take control of you, I have no objection."

"I'm deeply grateful." Koshiro thanked him, then looked at Kuina and instructed, "Kuina, step back a few paces."

"All right."

Kuina slowly rose, carrying First Generation, and moved to stand beside Louis. She watched in silence.

"Shing..." Koshiro slowly drew the Seven Star Sword.

In an instant, a ghostly green light blossomed, enveloping the blade. An eerie, ominous aura spread through the side courtyard.

Koshiro's eyes took on a red glow, and his expression grew even more solemn. But an aura this weak couldn't affect his mind, so he could still examine the sword.

Off to the side, Kuina felt the thick stench of blood rush toward her. Then the ominous aura spread, assaulting her senses.

In an instant, she instinctively stumbled backward.

But it seemed she was standing in a stream that reached above her ankles. No—that wasn't a stream. It was blood flowing beneath countless corpses, stretching as far as the eye could see.

She looked up. A blood-red moon hung in the sky, and fierce fighting raged in the distance. Blood and bodies covered the ground.

At the very center of the battlefield stood an altar, with the Seven Star Sword embedded in it, radiating an endless, eerie, ominous aura.

"Kuina!" A sudden shout jolted her awake. Her face was pale, and sweat had soaked through her kimono. Cold sweat beaded across her face.

Koshiro had already returned the Seven Star Sword to its sheath. He looked at Kuina with an apologetic expression.

"I'm sorry. I underestimated this sword. Its sinister nature seems to be just as the legends say: it doesn't only affect the person holding it—it can affect others, too."