The Furious Swordsmith

After hearing Hinaki's words, Chiba Yo felt his nose sting, and for a long time, he could not speak.

He now fully understood why all the Hashira respected Oyakata-sama so deeply. When a leader went that far for his subordinates, how could any of them fail to respect him?

Besides, he did not see the members of the Demon Slayer Corps as subordinates. He always called them his children, and he treated every member of the Corps as his own child.

He offered guidance when they were troubled, lent a hand when they suffered, mourned their deaths, and felt genuine joy when they grew stronger.

But that was not all. What Chiba Yo did not know was that Kagaya remembered the name and life story of every Corps member who had died since he took charge. He loved every swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps from the bottom of his heart.

"I hope the Master takes good care of himself." Chiba Yo remained silent for a long time, and in the end, those were the only words he could offer.

Hinaki smiled at his words and lowered her head slightly. "Thank you."

The two left the Master's residence in silence. Tanjiro, too, had been deeply moved just now, and his impression of Oyakata-sama had become much richer and more profound.

As they walked slowly along the path, Chiba Yo momentarily forgot what he had wanted to say after watching Tanjiro perform Hinokami Kagura.

Just then, a Kasugai Crow flew overhead.

"Caw! Caw! The swordsmiths forging blades for Tanjiro Kamado and Inosuke Hashibira have arrived! Tanjiro's and Inosuke's blades are ready!"

The Kasugai Crow circled overhead, calling loudly and breaking the somber atmosphere.

"Our Nichirin Blades are finally ready! Mr. Haganezuka is here, too! I'll go tell Inosuke, then come back to greet Mr. Haganezuka."

The news from the Kasugai Crow immediately lifted Tanjiro's spirits. He spoke happily, then ran toward the quarters he shared with Inosuke and Zenitsu.

...The swordsmiths who forge Nichirin Blades must treasure their work, right? Tanjiro broke his blade, so that swordsmith definitely won't be happy. Why does Tanjiro look so excited?

Chiba Yo could not quite understand Tanjiro's reaction.

As Tanjiro disappeared from sight, Chiba Yo suddenly remembered that he still had some thoughts about Tanjiro's Hinokami Kagura that he had not shared with him.

Oh well. He'll be coming back to greet his swordsmith anyway. I might as well wait for him at the entrance to the Butterfly Mansion.

With that thought, Chiba Yo headed toward the entrance to the Butterfly Mansion.

Come to think of it, I haven't heard anything about Mr. Tetsumaru-yama in a while. I wonder how he's doing...

A few minutes later, Chiba Yo reached the entrance to the Butterfly Mansion. Tanjiro and the others had not arrived yet, but two people wearing Hyottoko Masks were slowly approaching in the distance.

Those two must be the swordsmiths who forged Tanjiro's and Inosuke's Nichirin Blades. I'll ask them how Mr. Tetsumaru-yama has been doing.

That was what Chiba Yo thought.

Then a burst of noise reached him.

"Hurry! Hurry!"

It was Tanjiro's voice.

"Yahoo!"

It was Inosuke's voice.

The two came bounding over happily.

"You're here too, Yo."

Tanjiro looked surprised to see Chiba Yo, then noticed the two swordsmiths in the distance.

"There were still a few things I wanted to tell you earlier..."

Chiba Yo began speaking to Tanjiro, but Tanjiro was too excited to notice what he said.

"It's Mr. Haganezuka!" Tanjiro cried delightedly.

He waved at the swordsmith wearing a woven hat in the distance and called out, "Hey! Heeey! Mr. Haganezuka! It's been so long!"

The swordsmith in the woven hat seemed to notice Tanjiro as well. He shoved what he was carrying into the other swordsmith's hands, then sprinted toward them.

...What he's holding...is a sword, isn't it...?

After Tanjiro interrupted him, Chiba Yo held off on saying anything more. He turned to see the swordsmith in the woven hat racing toward them, gripping a sword in both hands. Veins bulged on his arms, and he looked absolutely furious.

"Have you been doing wel-"

Tanjiro had been too far away to see what Haganezuka was doing. Halfway through his greeting, he realized that Haganezuka was charging straight at him with a sword in both hands.

Huh?

The smile froze on Tanjiro's face.

With an enraged shout, Haganezuka dashed up to Tanjiro and thrust his sword at him. Tanjiro hurriedly dodged.

"M-Mr. Haganezuka..."

Trembling all over, Tanjiro turned to face Haganezuka, still shaken by the close call.

Chiba Yo figured a swordsmith could hardly hurt Tanjiro, so he stayed where he was and watched the spectacle.

"You dared to break my sword... How dare you... How dare you!" Haganezuka roared at Tanjiro, so furious that he seemed ready to burst into flames.

That swordsmith really is in a bad mood. Or rather, an absolutely terrible one.

Chiba Yo gave Tanjiro a sympathetic look.

Tanjiro now understood how serious the situation was and hurried to explain. "But really, um... I nearly died, too, and my opponent was incredibly strong..."

In his nervous haste, Tanjiro could barely get his words out.

As expected, Haganezuka did not readily forgive him after hearing that. He stepped up to Tanjiro and rapidly jabbed his face with a finger, shouting angrily, "No! What does that have to do with anything? It's your fault! It's all your fault! The sword only broke because you're too weak! Otherwise, how could my sword possibly break?"

Haganezuka jabbed faster and harder. Unable to resist at all, Tanjiro could only try pitifully to defend himself.

"But..."

Before he could offer any explanation, Haganezuka raised his sword again. Tears streamed from the eyes of his Hyottoko Mask, and his whole body trembled as he declared with heartfelt sincerity, "I'm going to kill you!!!"

Having said that, Haganezuka began demonstrating his resolve through action, slashing rapidly at Tanjiro with his sword. Tanjiro had no choice but to flee.

The two began a chase outside the entrance to the Butterfly Mansion.

Shinobu Kocho, who had come outside at some point, smiled curiously. "Is this some new kind of training?"

Beside her, Aoi Kanzaki said rather helplessly, "I don't think so."

Haganezuka's chase after Tanjiro lasted nearly an hour. During that time, Chiba Yo recalled the Sword Techniques Tanjiro had demonstrated earlier and felt that he had already grasped the essentials of those moves. For the time being, however, he was certainly more practiced with the Sword Techniques he had created himself, and they would be more effective in his hands.

Later, he might try combining his own Sword Techniques with those twelve forms. Of course, he would ask Tanjiro's permission first.

Once their chase ended, the two went into the Butterfly Mansion together. Seeing this, Chiba Yo did not follow them. Instead, he drew his Nichirin Blade in the courtyard and practiced his swings while waiting for Tanjiro and the others to finish talking.