Before long, the dumplings in Kanzaki Kumo's hand were gone as the two of them took turns eating them.
Meanwhile, Haganezuka, who was no longer in the mood to savor his food, finished his remaining dumplings in a few bites. He brushed off his backside, stood up, and said to Kanzaki Kumo, "Remember to come get your sword from me tomorrow."
"And if I ever catch you cutting down trees with a sword I forged again, I absolutely won't let you off easy!"
Having delivered his threat, Haganezuka strode away without waiting for Kanzaki Kumo to respond.
Kanzaki Kumo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Being chased by a top-tier Vengeful Spirit was something you had to experience to understand.
With Haganezuka, that glaring third wheel, gone, the onlookers around them also withdrew their gazes, having had their fill of the couple's public displays of affection.
Now, at last, it was truly time for Kanzaki Kumo and Kanae to be alone together.
So, what were they going to do now?
Naturally...
"Kanzaki-kun, could you show me around the Swordsmith Village?" Kanae asked softly, holding Kanzaki Kumo's hand.
"Of course."
Kanzaki Kumo readily agreed.
Although Kanzaki Kumo had visited the Swordsmith Village twice before, once to commission a Nichirin Blade for Mitsuri and once to bring Butterfly Zemu to treat Haganezuka, that did not necessarily mean he was particularly familiar with the village.
After all, whenever Kanzaki Kumo went shopping alone, he always had a clear objective. Once he found out where to buy what he needed, he went straight there and left as soon as he was done, never lingering in other shops.
His visits to the Swordsmith Village were the same: arrive at the village entrance, find the Village Chief, settle the various arrangements, and leave once everything was