Master Blacksmith in Demon Slayer

Who doesn't know who you are?

So what if you're a girl? Does having a killer figure make you that great? Kanae's figure is just as impressive, you know? Why should I let you knock me over with a grin and then sit here chatting with you like nothing happened?

"You... mistook me for someone else?"

Kanroji Mitsuri was stunned. "S-sorry! Because this is near the Butterfly Estate, and most people there are women—hardly any swordsmen in training—so I thought you were... Sorry, really sorry."

Tetsu no Sosuke nodded. "Since you apologized so sincerely, I forgive you. Next time, don't mistake me for someone else."

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm." Kanroji Mitsuri's eyes welled up with emotion. "You're really a good person."

The legendary "good person" card?

Getting handed that card by you—honestly, I don't feel the least bit disappointed!

"Hey, I've got things to do, so I'll head out. Next time, I can spar with you."

With that, she leaped high into the air and bounded off toward the Butterfly Estate.

Tetsu no Sosuke watched her go. It was obvious—she'd come looking for him to forge her a sword.

"The Love Pillar—Kanroji Mitsuri, huh?"

He rubbed his chin. "Probably here for the same reason as the Serpent Pillar? Speaking of which, are all the Pillars going to line up to get me to forge their swords?"

His first thought was annoyance, but then he reconsidered. It didn't seem so bad.

To him, forging swords was training.

And with mornings for forging and afternoons for swordsmanship, nothing was wasted.

He stopped dwelling on Kanroji Mitsuri and focused on swinging his blade!

As for what happened after she reached the Butterfly Estate—what else could it be? Either she'd come back looking for him, or she'd wait there obediently.

The whole afternoon, Tetsu no Sosuke spent in the bamboo grove.

As dusk approached, he turned back toward the Butterfly Estate.

He arrived just in time for dinner. But with Kochou Kanae not home, he hesitated about whether to join everyone for the meal.

When Kanae was around, things between him and Shinobu were already explosive—sparks flying, on the verge of chaos!

Now that she wasn't home... it might escalate from glaring matches to actual physical fights.

"Forget it. Harmony, harmony is key!"

Tetsu no Sosuke decided to eat in his own room.

On the way, he flagged down a Hidden member to let them know he was back—so no one would think he wasn't returning for the night and assume he'd run into a demon again.

If they all went out searching for him while he was asleep in his room, that'd be a disaster.

Dinner was brought to his room, and he ate there.

The night passed without incident. By morning, Tetsu no Sosuke had just washed his face when he heard someone at the door: "Is Tetsu no Sosuke home?"

He recognized the voice immediately.

Tetsu no Sosuke replied grumpily, "Not home. Please close the door on your way out. Thanks."

"Oh, that voice—it really is you?"

The door slid open with a bang, and a face caught between delight and annoyance appeared at the entrance.

Wait, shouldn't she be angry that I messed with her? Why that expression?

Tetsu no Sosuke couldn't quite follow Kanroji Mitsuri's train of thought. He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, it's me. What's up?"

"Oh, thank goodness! I was worried Tetsu no Sosuke might be hard to get along with."

Kanroji Mitsuri laughed heartily, slapping his shoulder. "What's the big deal? It really is you!"

Tetsu no Sosuke's body jolted with each slap. He quickly waved his hand. "Stop!"

Kanroji Mitsuri obediently froze mid-swing, looking puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Do you even know your own strength?

If you keep hitting me, I'm dead!!!

Tetsu no Sosuke felt like he was already nursing internal injuries. Sure, his stats had gone up, but compared to a true monster like her, he was still way behind!

He took a deep breath, straightened his expression, and said, "Alright, what do you want from me?"

"A sword forged!"

Kanroji Mitsuri grinned. "Actually, I hadn't figured out what I could give you in return for forging my sword. But now I've got it—I'll be your sparring partner. How about that?"

Tetsu no Sosuke figured he'd like to live a few more years. If he had to die, it'd be perfect only if it happened in Kanae's arms.

If he trained swordsmanship with this reckless, muscle-bound girl, he'd probably get accidentally pummeled to death.

With that thought, he shook his head immediately. "I don't practice swordsmanship while I'm forging!"

"But yesterday, Shinobu told me you forge in the morning and practice swords in the afternoon." Kanroji Mitsuri added, "That's how I found you in the bamboo grove yesterday."

Tetsu no Sosuke thought for a moment and said, "I have the Flower Pillar to spar with."

"Flower Pillar, she's too gentle—I'm afraid it'll be hard for you to understand the cruelty of battle!"

Kanroji Mitsuri forced her expression into a stern, rigid mask: "But I will show you what cruelty means!!!"

Why would I need to know something like that??

Tetsu no Sosuke took a deep breath and fell into silence.

Then he quietly looked at Kanroji Mitsuri: "Go on. Your terms."

"What?" Kanroji Mitsuri thought for a moment, then said: "How about this—within three days, can you withstand one minute of my attack?"

"I'm talking about the requirements for the Nichirin Blade!!!!!"

Tetsu no Sosuke roared.

"Ohhh, right."