Tanjiro stood rooted to the spot, somewhat bewildered, watching Muichiro Tokito's retreating figure, like a lone silhouette in the mist, his heart filled with conflicting feelings.
This Mist Hashira struck him as impossible to fathom. At times, he was like a child who would forget everything; at others, like an incomparably sharp blade that could pierce anything.
He shook his head and decided to take care of business first.
"Mr. Haganezuka-! Where are you-!"
Calling out, Tanjiro continued his search along the village paths.
However, before he had gone far, the tearful sounds of a child arguing came from a clearing a short distance ahead.
"No! Absolutely not! I won't give you the key!"
"You'll break it! This is our village's most important treasure!"
Tanjiro's heart tightened, and he hurried toward the voices.
In a wide clearing, a small boy wearing a Hyottoko Mask stood with his arms spread, desperately shielding a strange object behind him, his face covered in tears.
Standing before the little boy was none other than the Mist Hashira who had just passed Tanjiro, Muichiro Tokito.
Tanjiro's gaze passed over the two of them and settled on the object the boy was protecting.
It was a puppet.
An extremely old, life-sized mechanical combat puppet.
It sat cross-legged, dressed in old-fashioned clothing, with a mask on its face as well. Most striking of all, it had six arms, each holding a rust-covered Nichirin Blade.
Even sitting motionless, the puppet exuded an unnerving aura, like that of a truly powerful warrior.
"Yoriichi Type Zero..."
Muichiro Tokito looked at the puppet, and for the first time, a trace of longing appeared in his vacant eyes.
It was the legendary combat puppet modeled after the swordsman of the first Breathing Style. Its strength was said to surpass that of the