Only after Haruto had spent a full half month in the Swordsmith Village did Hotaru Haganezuka come down from the mountain with his new blade.
Well, the muscle-bound hulk looked pretty intimidating with a Nichirin Blade in one hand and a kitchen knife he had forged himself in the other, threatening him: "If you ever dare again..."
"I understand! Mr. Haganezuka!"
Smiling, Haruto stuffed the leftover Mitarashi Dango he had swiped from the village kitchen into his hand and successfully obtained his new blade.
If this had been a game, a line like this would have popped up above his head.
Obtained Nichirin Blade ×1
With his equipment secured, Cang Kong, who was circling overhead as usual, brought word of a mission.
"Under attack, under attack!" Cang Kong's voice tore through the peaceful skies over the Swordsmith Village. "The Butterfly Mansion rescue team was attacked by the Twelve Kizuki on its way to the Suzuki District!"
Haruto frowned. After returning to his room to say goodbye to Godogawa, he threw on his haori and patted Kotetsu's shoulder. "Young Kotetsu, we'll talk about developing that mechanical puppet when I get back."
Kotetsu nodded vigorously. "You have to fight those demons bravely, Haruto!"
"That's right! Use the Nichirin Blade I forged to lop off plenty of those foul demons' heads!" Hotaru Haganezuka stuffed the last rice-flour dumpling into his mouth. "If you dare mistreat the weapon I forged, I'll hunt you to the ends of the earth!"
"Uh..." Haruto's face fell.
Why are you stacking debuffs on me right before I leave...?
Worrying about the blade will only make fighting harder.
Watching the White-Haired Swordsman disappear beyond the village entrance, Hotaru Haganezuka clapped his hands and stood up, turning his strange Hyottoko Mask toward Kotetsu.
"What was that mechanical puppet