Master Blacksmith in Demon Slayer

"This..." Tetsu no Sosuke's face carried a hint of embarrassment at being caught out. "I thought you'd prefer me to forge a blade—one like the Flower Pillar... milady's Nichirin Blade."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya's face broke into a faint smile. "Are you willing to forge more Nichirin Blades like that?"

"Of course I am!"

There was no need to hesitate over that. A blade that could weaken demons—why wouldn't he be willing to forge it?

Was he tired of seeing tragedy happen again and again?

Severing the chain of sorrow—he couldn't claim he'd succeed, but he'd spare no effort to contribute his share.

No matter what, whether he truly became a member of the Demon Slayer Corps or not, at the very least, he was still a swordsmith—a swordsmith supplying Nichirin Blades to the Corps!

"In that case, why would I need to stress it specifically?"

As Ubuyashiki Kagaya said this, he suddenly broke into a fit of coughing he couldn't suppress. Ubuyashiki Amane gently patted his back.

He smiled, took his wife's hand, shook his head, and then said to Tetsu no Sosuke, "Then go. Go learn, go experience, go grow. Whether it's pain, sorrow, or torment, you can write to me and tell me about it."

Tetsu no Sosuke was a bit slow to react. That was it... over?

He wouldn't ask how he knew about Doma's Blood Demon Art?

He wouldn't ask how he'd managed to forge a Nichirin Blade that could suppress demons?

He wouldn't ask how a mere swordsmith had shattered Doma's weapon in the midst of a fierce battle?

He'd thought Ubuyashiki Kagaya would ask all of this. He'd already prepared various answers in his mind, but not a single one had been used.

The man had only asked if he was willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps, and had assigned Kochou Kanae to teach him swordsmanship.

Nothing else. Not a single question.

But seeing Ubuyashiki Kagaya's coughing worsen, Tetsu no Sosuke knew he should take his leave.

"Please, take care of yourself."

His voice carried a sincerity he hadn't expected from himself.

"Go on." Ubuyashiki Kagaya's voice reached his ears, and Tetsu no Sosuke rose and left.

The opened door closed again. Once his coughing had settled a little, Ubuyashiki Kagaya let out a long breath. "You've worked hard."

Ubuyashiki Amane shook her head, then turned her gaze to the door and said softly, "This should be enough for now. Temporarily under the Flower Pillar's protection, learning some swordsmanship to defend himself—his safety is at least guaranteed."

"The Swordsmith Village itself is hidden. They'll have a hard time finding it."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief. "But even if the worst happens and the village is found, they'd never think I'd hide him within the Demon Slayer Corps."

Ubuyashiki Amane said quietly, "Do you really not need to ask about those things?"

"At first, I was a bit curious. But now, it seems none of it really matters."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya shook his head. "No matter how secret Upper Moon Two's Blood Demon Art is, there's always a chance it could be known. It just so happens that none of the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen knew it. Regardless of how Tetsu no Sosuke learned of it, at least that intel helped us slay an Upper Moon. So the channel itself no longer matters—the result is already clear."

"Cough... As for the forging method of the Flower Pillar's Nichirin Blade, that's up to the boy himself. If he's still devoted to forging blades even after becoming a Corps member, I believe that if others could use that method, he wouldn't hoard it. And even if we did know, what would it matter? Someone will ask him about it..."

He paused here. "What I'm more curious about, by comparison, is what Breathing Technique he used."

"According to the Flower Pillar's description, the power he showed when shattering the Upper Moon's weapon could only be achieved through a Breathing Technique."

Ubuyashiki Amane said, "Village Chief Kawahara Chintetsu's letter mentioned that he had an accident while going up the mountain. Could it be that he obtained it then?"

"That's something we'll have to wait for him to tell us himself... Or perhaps the Flower Pillar will discover something?"

Ubuyashiki Kagaya said quietly. "For now, let the Pillars who want new Nichirin Blades start visiting him one by one."

Ubuyashiki Amane: "..."

Walking out of the room, Tetsu no Sosuke felt the sunlight bright above him, and the wind in the courtyard was as soft as Kochou Kanae's hand.

But his mood was even brighter than the sun.

No matter what, being trusted felt really good.

He looked up. Under the tree, Kochou Kanae was waiting there. Perhaps she'd heard the door open, and just happened to turn back with a smile.

Tetsu no Sosuke instantly wished he could paint the scene before him.

Afternoon, sunlight, warm breeze, big tree, courtyard, a beauty...

As he sketched the lines in his mind, the beauty was already in front of him.

"What's your choice?"

She looked at Tetsu no Sosuke, trying to keep her voice calm, but it seemed to carry a hint of tension.

"You knew?"

Tetsu no Sosuke suddenly realized—had Kochou Kanae come out today because of this?

"Your choice!"

Kochou Kanae had no intention of answering his question. She repeated her own, her tone firmer.

"I... choose to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps."

Tetsu no Sosuke's feelings were complicated as he said this, then added, "From now on, I'll be in your care."

Kochou Kanae let out a quiet sigh of relief, then her expression settled into perfect calm. "I'll be very strict!"

"Mm." Tetsu no Sosuke nodded.

"Then let's go." Kochou Kanae turned around, and once she was out of Tetsu no Sosuke's line of sight, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted. A flicker of delight in her eyes went unnoticed by anyone.

Tetsu no Sosuke watched Kochou Kanae walking ahead, and for a moment, he considered taking this chance to ask for that answer.

But the thought had barely surfaced before it faded away.

Why ask now, at a time like this?

From here on, perhaps there would be plenty of time—enough for him to slowly decipher and understand that answer on his own.

Looking back now, he had been far too impulsive back then.