She mentioned me!
And she must have said something, or the girl before me wouldn't be acting like this.
Like a little girl whose most precious thing had been taken away?
Suppressing his delight, he smiled and said, "I am."
"Are you here to deliver my Older Sister's Nichirin Blade?" Shinobu Kocho felt not the slightest bit of goodwill toward the man before her, but she forced herself to remain polite.
There wasn't a trace of a smile on her face, though.
Ever since Older Sister had returned from Swordsmith Village, she had been acting strangely.
Sometimes she would smile to herself for no apparent reason. Other times she would study a painting closely, as if she were looking at a priceless treasure!
Granted, the person in the painting was Older Sister, so calling it a priceless treasure wasn't an exaggeration.
But who had painted it?
Curiosity got the better of Shinobu. She pestered Older Sister until she finally heard the name Tetsu no Sosuke.
Older Sister had then given her a brief account of her trip to Swordsmith Village, but the rest of it had sounded flat and lifeless. Only when she mentioned Tetsu no Sosuke did her eyes light up.
That wretched man must have done something to Older Sister!
Shinobu was angry, though she didn't know why. So when she learned Tetsu no Sosuke had come to deliver the blade, she couldn't quite hide it.
And she wanted to take a good look at him and see what was so special about him!
But on closer inspection, there was nothing remarkable about him.
Like every other swordsmith, he wore a Fireman Mask. The hat set beside him was dusty, and so was his Sword Case. Its strap was even broken.
As Shinobu Kocho studied Tetsu no Sosuke, his voice reached her ears.
"Yes, the Nichirin Blade I forged for the Flower Pillar is finished."
Despite saying that, he made no move to take out the Nichirin Blade for Shinobu to inspect.
Shinobu Kocho nodded. "All right, I understand. I'll take the blade and pass it on to Older Sister."
With that, there seemed to be nothing more to say.
Shinobu Kocho waited for him to take his leave. Swordsmiths in the past had always done so. Once they delivered a Nichirin Blade, they never stayed any longer.
But Tetsu no Sosuke did not. He remained seated and said calmly, "There are a few things about this blade that I need to tell the Flower Pillar in person."
Irritation flared in Shinobu Kocho for no reason she could name.
She frowned. "Is there something you can't tell me? I'm Older Sister's sister."
"So you're the Flower Pillar's sister."
Tetsu no Sosuke smiled faintly, as though he had only just learned that, then shook his head. "There's something special about this blade. It won't work unless the Flower Pillar hears what I have to say with her own ears."
What utter nonsense!!!
That damned man really does have designs on Older Sister, doesn't he?
Before you continue