"No." Kawahara Chintetsu shook his head. "It's a boy from the village. He isn't qualified to forge Nichirin Blades yet. But he has been working very hard lately, and I wanted to see how far his skills had come, so I sent someone to fetch it."
"I see." The Flower Pillar nodded. "Why not bring the blade in so we can take a look together? I'm curious about a Swordsmith who's still developing his skills, too."
Kawahara Chintetsu hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Very well."
He called out to someone outside, and soon, "Sun" was brought in.
Looking at its pitch-black scabbard, Kawahara Chintetsu shook his head helplessly.
It was only a weapon made for practice. Why go to all this trouble?
The Flower Pillar watched eagerly as "Sun" was brought before Kawahara Chintetsu.
He paused slightly as he took it in hand. "So light."
He gripped the Sword Hilt, and the blade slid free. Only an inch was exposed, yet its keen edge was already unmistakable!
His eyes flashed with surprise beneath the Fireman Mask, while the Flower Pillar's eyes lit up. "It looks quite good."
"This certainly is unexpected."
Kawahara Chintetsu drew the blade all the way out and set the scabbard aside. With its pitch-black body and chilling edge, he could sense its sharpness just by holding it.
He held the blade horizontally before him and flicked it with a finger. As his fingertip struck the steel, the blade gave a resonant hum!
"This..." Kawahara Chintetsu was momentarily stunned. This blade had exceeded his expectations!
Did Tetsu no Sosuke really forge this?
The boy's progress was almost frightening!
"May I take a look?"
The Flower Pillar spoke.
Only then did Kawahara Chintetsu come to his senses. He nodded. "Forgive my manners."
He sheathed the blade and had someone bring it to the Flower Pillar.
Her eyes brightened slightly the moment she took it in hand. With a metallic ring, she drew the blade.
The impression this blade gave in Kawahara Chintetsu's hands was entirely different from the one it gave in the Flower Pillar's!
Kawahara Chintetsu was undoubtedly a master among Swordsmiths. Many of the blades wielded by the Demon Slayer Corps' Nine Pillars had been forged by him.
But ultimately, he was only a Swordsmith, not a Swordsman.
The Flower Pillar was different. She fought on the front lines and possessed extraordinary Swordsmanship. The moment the blade entered her hand, its sharp presence shone through!
"This blade... I like it very much."
She swung it gently. "It's so light. The feel of swinging it makes me want to keep going. What a shame it isn't a Nichirin Blade... Village Chief, could I ask this Swordsmith to forge a Nichirin Blade for me?"
Kawahara Chintetsu was at a loss for words. After a moment of silence, he finally said, "Since the Flower Pillar, one of the Nine Pillars, has made the request, there would ordinarily be no reason to refuse. However, Tetsu no Sosuke has never forged a Nichirin Blade. Whether he is capable of the task remains in doubt. Although this blade is indeed a fine piece of work, a single blade can hardly establish his current level of skill."
The Flower Pillar looked disappointed, but then Kawahara Chintetsu continued, "Still, if you truly wish for him to forge a Nichirin Blade for you, we can first let him familiarize himself with the material used to make one. You happened to bring your damaged Nichirin Blade with you this time, so let Tetsu no Sosuke repair it for you first. If he succeeds, it will show that his command of forging techniques has matured. Then we can have him forge you a new Nichirin Blade. If he fails... would you agree to give up on the idea?"
"Of course!"
Before you continue