Nichirin Blades

"Time to eat, children."

"Coming!"

Just as an odd silence settled over the four of them, Sakonji Urokodaki's call broke the deadlock.

Dinner had just ended when Kanzaki Kumo's Kasugai Crow returned.

After completing the "arduous" task of choosing a name, Kanzaki Kumo had found time to send Ink Shadow to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters. Kagaya Ubuyashiki needed to be told about the Hand Demon, too.

It would not have been appropriate to discuss something like that in public at the end of the selection. If word spread, it could very well undermine Kagaya's credibility. But he could not leave it unmentioned either, or Kagaya would still think the issue Kanzaki Kumo had raised was merely a possibility.

Although no one wanted to see something like this happen, now that the problem had arisen, the head of the family needed to find a solution. That was his responsibility as its head.

Of course, Kanzaki Kumo had also taken the opportunity to mention his requirements for his Nichirin Blade. He had forgotten to bring that up earlier. He did not particularly like curved blades and found them awkward to use. By comparison, he preferred the style of the Tang Dao from his memories of his previous life.

Now Ink Shadow had returned with Kagaya Ubuyashiki's reply, along with a separate letter of apology addressed to Sakonji Urokodaki.

Even excluding the Kasugai Crow's travel time, nearly a full day and night had passed. That also showed how guilty Kagaya felt about the matter and how much of a headache it had given him.

However, he had also mentioned a feasible solution in his letter.

During each selection, two Cultivators or currently unoccupied Swordsmen of Kinoe rank or above would serve as examiners. They would intervene when necessary to save those participating in the trial, and score the participants assigned to them as a reference for the final results.

The final selection results would be announced on the spot, and any objections could be raised and resolved there.

Although it was far from perfect, it would at least help avoid problems with the Final Selection as much as possible.

Over the following days, Kanzaki Kumo lived and trained alongside Urokodaki and his three students.

Since Kanzaki Kumo had already mastered Total Concentration: Constant, and Makomo had already passed the trial on Mount Fujikasane, neither of them participated in the physical conditioning and reflex training.

It was the same training that had inspired Jigoro Kuwajima-climbing to the mountaintop and then coming back down, with all kinds of mechanisms and traps carefully prepared by Sakonji Urokodaki along the way.

Although Giyu and Sabito were very talented, they had practiced Breathing Styles for too short a time, and every training session left them in a sorry state. Watching the two stumble their way through training counted as one of Makomo and Kanzaki Kumo's daily amusements.

Kanzaki Kumo's proficiency in Water Breathing steadily improved, and inspiration for refining Thunder Breathing gradually began to come to him as well.

Just like that, nearly half a month had passed since the Final Selection ended. The Nichirin Blades Kanzaki Kumo and Makomo had so often looked forward to finally arrived, accompanied by a figure wearing a Hyottoko Mask who climbed Mount Sagiri.

After Kanzaki Kumo and Makomo welcomed the swordsmith delivering their blades inside, he began talking as he handed over the Nichirin Blades.

"My name is Hotaru Haganezuka, the swordsmith who forged the blade for Demon Slayer Corps member Kanzaki Kumo. As for Makomo Urokodaki's blade, Village Chief Tetchikawahara Tecchin forged it personally."

"Nichirin Blades are made from..."

Hotaru Haganezuka explained the materials used in Nichirin Blades, the forging process, and so on. Although Kanzaki Kumo did not know what use there was in telling two laypeople like himself and Makomo all this, it seemed to be a required procedure, so he might as well listen first and treat it as a story.

After all, details such as the materials coming from mountains bathed in sunlight year-round, which gave Nichirin Blades a portion of the sun's power and allowed them to kill Demons, along with the repeated folding during forging, made for a decent story.

Still, Kanzaki Kumo was a little surprised that this particular swordsmith had forged his blade. He privately resolved to take good care of his Nichirin Blade. He did not want to end up being chased down and slashed at by a swordsmith who valued blades as much as his own life.

But that Village Chief actually forged Makomo's blade himself... Could it be because he heard Makomo was a beautiful girl?

While Kanzaki Kumo listened to the story and let his thoughts wander, Haganezuka finished his standard speech. Next came the part both Kanzaki Kumo and Makomo had been looking forward to.

"Now, please draw your Nichirin Blades, and allow me to witness the sacred moment when they change color."

When a Nichirin Blade was drawn for the first time after being forged, its blade would change color according to the characteristics of its owner's Breathing Style. Even among people who practiced the same Breathing Style, there would be slight differences in color.

Kanzaki Kumo had seen Jigoro Kuwajima's blade. Its bright yellow lightning pattern was striking, matching the bright yellow electricity that appeared around Kuwajima when he used Thunder Breathing.

Filled with anticipation, Kanzaki Kumo and Makomo each drew their Nichirin Blades.

Kanzaki Kumo had to admit that Haganezuka's sword-forging skills were truly exceptional. With nothing more than a written description, he had perfectly recreated the Tang Dao style Kanzaki Kumo had hoped for.

The blade was straight, with an edge that angled near the tip before finally meeting the spine.

Under Kanzaki Kumo's expectant gaze, the blade slowly began to change color. Starting at its base, a pure white lightning pattern gradually spread toward the tip, eventually forming a blade that seemed wreathed in lightning.

"A pure white blade, a color I've never seen before... And this lightning pattern. How beautiful..." Haganezuka also seemed very pleased that the blade he had forged had taken on this color, his words full of admiration.

Kanzaki Kumo was also very satisfied with his Nichirin Blade's appearance, then turned to look at the blade in Makomo's hands.

Makomo's Nichirin Blade had already finished changing color. Its entire blade had turned aqua blue, a normal color for a Water Breathing user. But on closer inspection, Kanzaki Kumo noticed a faint hint of green in that aqua blue. It was not pure blue.

Makomo herself was very pleased with her blade, too. She examined it over and over for quite a while before shifting her gaze to the Nichirin Blade in Kanzaki Kumo's hands.

"Oh, Kumo, your blade is so unusual..."

To Makomo, Kanzaki Kumo's Nichirin Blade was unique in both shape and color.

"Your blade looks lovely, too."

"Well, the blades have been delivered, and my task is complete. It is time for me to leave. I hope you will both treasure the swords you carry and slay Demons. May fortune favor you both in battle."

"Goodbye, Mr. Haganezuka."

Their uniforms arrived shortly after the Nichirin Blades. Apparently, Demon Slayer Corps uniforms were woven from a special fiber that could even withstand the tearing of weaker Demons without being damaged.

The Demon Slayer Corps uniforms were designed with snug cuffs, trouser hems, and collars, while the rest was relatively loose. They were also very stretchy overall and did not hinder movement at all.

At his request, Kanzaki Kumo's uniform was solid black, with a white character meaning "destroy" on the back. The buttons on the front bore the character for "Mizunoto," indicating that Kanzaki Kumo was currently a Swordsman of the lowest rank, Mizunoto.

Makomo's uniform was the standard dark brown, with the same character on the back and buttons on the front as Kanzaki Kumo's uniform.

From the style of Makomo's uniform, Kanzaki Kumo knew that the bespectacled tailor who liked providing fan service had not joined yet.

That was just as well. Female Corps members fighting in somewhat revealing uniforms felt wrong no matter how he thought about it.

Once all their equipment had arrived, their mission followed close behind.

"Matsuda Village, Matsuda Village! Suspected signs of a Demon! Mizunoto Swordsmen Kanzaki Kumo and Makomo Urokodaki, investigate! Investigate!"

"There go our easy days-" Kanzaki Kumo stretched and turned to look at Makomo beside him.

"We happen to be going together on our very first mission? Well then, I'm counting on you, Kumo~"