This Is Bad!

A cold gleam flashed from the blade, sharp enough to make anyone flinch!

The sword... had actually been repaired. And the workmanship was superb!

Anyone would believe it was a newly forged Nichirin Blade.

Tetsu no Sosuke flew into a rage at his words. Forgetting all about rank, he turned and snapped, "If you won't give it back, then just say so! Why insult me? What do you mean, 'the sort of thing I repair'? What sort of thing do I repair?"

"How dare you!"

The two men beside the Village Chief erupted in anger.

Rank and seniority mattered more than anything in the village. No one was allowed to disrespect the Village Chief.

"You... you..." Kawahara Chintetsu repeated, then examined the Nichirin Blade in his hands. At last, he said slowly, "You did a fine job repairing it."

"Huh?"

Of.

Chapter 9: This Is Bad!

"Not a mark on the blade. Did you use Ironstem Grass juice? You reground and tempered the edge, too. Has your control of the heat really become this precise? After being reforged, the blade shows no trace of repair. It's seamless. If someone called this a brand-new Nichirin Blade... yes, I think people would believe it."

Kawahara Chintetsu inspected it with great care. Hearing his assessment, the swordsmiths nearby began to look at Tetsu no Sosuke differently.

Tetsu no Sosuke was baffled. What was going on? A moment ago, the man had made him sound utterly worthless. Now he was praising him to the skies?

A slap followed by a sweet treat?

"Most impressive of all, you managed such a masterful repair in so little time."

Kawahara Chintetsu looked at Tetsu no Sosuke. "You've grown."

"...I guess." Tetsu no Sosuke scratched his head. "Um, can I have my solar power back now?"

"..."

Kawahara Chintetsu was speechless for a moment. He shook his head. "Take this blade to Kyakkyo Inn and find our guest. If she's satisfied, you can have back the blade you practiced on."

"Huh? Oh."

Tetsu no Sosuke nodded and took the Nichirin Blade Kawahara Chintetsu had someone bring over. Then he froze.

Take this blade to meet that guest?

What guest?

Thinking about it, it had to be the blade's original owner, right?

And who was that?

The Flower Pillar... Kochou Kanae!

Were they about to meet again? Would it be awkward?

"Come to think of it, I was wearing a mask back then. She shouldn't recognize me that easily, right?"

He mulled it over, then nodded. "All right, I'm going."