Master Blacksmith in Demon Slayer

The room was slightly dim, but not oppressive.

Light streaming in from a side window only brought brightness to half the space.

In the shadowed portion sat two people.

A man and a woman: Ubuyashiki Kagaya and his wife, Ubuyashiki Amane.

From what Tetsu no Sosuke knew, Ubuyashiki Amane was of priestly blood—in fact, throughout the generations, the wives of the Ubuyashiki family heads had always been from such a lineage.

She was a woman of striking beauty, with hair as white as snow.

She sat quietly beside her husband, her gaze also resting on Tetsu no Sosuke.

As for Ubuyashiki Kagaya, Tetsu no Sosuke had imagined many things before meeting him.

But now, he felt those imaginings had all missed the mark.

The nearly ulcerated skin on his face delivered far less visual impact than the gentle smile at the corner of his lips.

He sat there like an approachable, trustworthy older brother, as if you could quietly pour out anything to him.

And he would respond with that same smile, embracing it all.

Tetsu no Sosuke didn't let his gaze linger on their faces too long—that would be rude.

He lowered his head slightly; basic courtesy was still necessary.

"Sit."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya's voice reached his ears. Tetsu no Sosuke hesitated briefly, then sat down.

Then he heard Ubuyashiki Kagaya say, "My body has been worsening lately. One eye can no longer see clearly. But luckily, the other still works, so I can make out your face. Tetsu no Sosuke, there's something I must ask you in person. Please answer me honestly, will you?"

Tetsu no Sosuke was startled. So serious?

Was he going to ask how he knew Upper Moon Two's Blood Demon Art?

Kochou Kanae had never breathed a word about that, and he'd been agonizing over how to bring it up.

Or maybe this man simply wanted to hear the answer directly from him?

His thoughts churned for a moment, then he nodded silently. "Alright."

"Are you willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Ubuyashiki Kagaya's voice came calmly, yet it caught him off guard.

Willing to join... the Demon Slayer Corps?

Tetsu no Sosuke instinctively looked up at Ubuyashiki Kagaya. The gentleness on that face was genuine, and the hesitation in his eyes was equally sincere.

He... was serious?

"Why...?"

Tetsu no Sosuke was bewildered. What traits of his made Kagaya think he was qualified to join the Demon Slayer Corps?

"In the battle against Upper Moon Two, the fighting spirit you displayed was astonishing."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya said with a smile. "Facing one of the Twelve Demon Moons, you still kept a clear head, saved my swordsman, and with a severely wounded body, destroyed the demon's weapon, turning the tide. Your clarity, your resolve, your performance in the heat of battle—these are what I value!"

He paused briefly here, then lowered his voice slightly. "However, this means you'll no longer have the safety of the Swordsmith Village. The dangers you face will multiply. And that is something I absolutely do not wish to see. You are a rare talent. I've also seen the Flower Pillar's Nichirin Blade; the ability you possess could even change the current landscape."

"And that is what truly troubles me. You have the potential to become a powerful swordsman, yet you're also an exceptional smith. The final choice..."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled faintly. "We believe it should be yours."

Tetsu no Sosuke felt flattered. That was no small praise.

But a thought suddenly struck him: "We?"

Ubuyashiki Amane took a letter from her bosom and handed it to Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

"This is a letter the Village Chief, Kawahara Chintetsu, wrote to me after you were injured."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya said. "Part of it concerns you. It seems you've been very eager to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps."

Tetsu no Sosuke finally understood why Ubuyashiki Kagaya was asking him this.

He recalled how, right after he'd transmigrated, he'd pestered the Village Chief every few days about joining the Demon Slayer Corps. No doubt, in the chief's mind, he had an obsessive fixation on becoming a member.

But back then, hadn't he yet awakened his golden finger?

His desire to join the Demon Slayer Corps had been to learn a Breathing Technique and gain the ability to protect himself.

Now... well, he had a Breathing Technique, but he didn't know how to use a sword.

Everything his golden finger had given him so far was about forging and enhancing his physical abilities. Sword techniques? That didn't seem to be in its plans.

Could he join the Demon Slayer Corps without knowing sword techniques?

He wrestled with it for a long time before finally voicing the question.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya laughed. "You seem to have a good relationship with the Flower Pillar. She's already agreed to teach you basic sword techniques. The only question is—are you willing?"

"I'm willing!"

Without a second's hesitation, Tetsu no Sosuke agreed immediately.

The speed was so fast that even Ubuyashiki Kagaya felt a bit dazed—had he accidentally flipped some strange switch?

But then he saw Tetsu no Sosuke, who had just sworn his agreement, growing conflicted again. After a long pause, he asked in a low voice, "Then... can I still forge blades?"

Ubuyashiki Kagaya seemed to let out a sigh of relief at this, smiling as he said, "Of course you can! And if you want to forge a Nichirin Blade, you won't have to take on any missions during that time. That said, I'm not saying you have to become a Demon Slayer Corps member right now. First, follow the Flower Pillar to learn basic swordsmanship. When the right time comes, you'll still need to undergo a trial before officially joining the Demon Slayer Corps."

Chapter 28: Intent

So that meant he'd first learn swordsmanship from Kanae, and then still have to go up Fujikasane Mountain for a trial?

Tetsu no Sosuke nodded thoughtfully, but suddenly realized something else.

He'd been so focused on the part about following Kochou Kanae to learn basic swordsmanship that he'd overlooked an important detail.

But he didn't know if now was the right time to ask.

"Is there something you're finding hard to bring up?"

Ubuyashiki Kagaya noticed Tetsu no Sosuke's hesitation and smiled. "Whatever it is, you can tell me."