Otherwise, how could he say something so unreasonable with a straight face?
The atmosphere froze. The two of them seemed locked in a contest of wills.
One tried to show him the door; the other refused to leave.
The trouble was, her delicate relationship with the swordsmith still kept Shinobu Kocho from saying, "Please get out."
And so the standoff continued.
A little later, the door opened again. It was lunchtime.
Tetsu no Sosuke was astonishingly thick-skinned. Ignoring Shinobu Kocho's murderous glare, he calmly announced that he would stay for lunch.
Since she couldn't drive him away, she had no choice but to let him eat.
Even after the meal, he still wouldn't leave.
Tetsu no Sosuke said he had traveled without sleeping or resting and was exhausted. He needed to rest before he left.
Gritting her teeth, Shinobu Kocho arranged a room where he could rest for the time being.
She knew, too, that she probably wouldn't be able to get rid of him today.
By the time he woke up, it would likely be evening.
And at night... there were demons!
Seething with inexplicable anger, Shinobu Kocho resolved that if he still refused to leave tomorrow, she would throw him out.
She didn't care if he was a swordsmith!
But Tetsu no Sosuke couldn't sleep at all in his room.
Thoughts came at him from every direction—excitement, joy, worry, fear. The sky grew darker and darker, but Kochou Kanae still hadn't returned.
When night fell, Tetsu no Sosuke could no longer sit still. He went to find Shinobu Kocho. "When will the Flower Pillar be back?"
Shinobu Kocho didn't look especially worried. "Maybe something delayed her on the road? My sister is a powerful swordswoman. Nothing will happen to her."
She was worried too, and the last sentence slipped out before she could stop it.
But Tetsu no Sosuke's face went pale. He seized Shinobu Kocho by the shoulders. "Which... which direction did she go?"
"What are you doing?" Shinobu Kocho frowned. His hands felt like iron clamps. How was he so strong?
"Tell me! Now!"
Tetsu no Sosuke was genuinely frantic. This might be a misunderstanding. The worst might not have happened as he feared.
But he couldn't sit there waiting any longer. He had to do something!
Startled by his reaction, Shinobu Kocho raised a hand and answered without thinking. "East..."
As soon as she spoke, Tetsu no Sosuke turned and went back into his room. When he emerged, he was carrying the Sword Case, with a hammer strapped to his back, and hurried out.
"Wh—what just happened?"
Shinobu Kocho stared after him, baffled. Seeing that he was about to rush into the night, she grabbed her Nichirin Blade and followed. "Hey! Don't go out at night without thinking!"
Before you continue