Master Blacksmith in Demon Slayer

Kanroji Mitsuri quickly said, "Before that, please take a look at this blade."

As she spoke, she drew her Nichirin Blade with a metallic ring and handed it to Tetsu no Sosuke.

Tetsu no Sosuke, still simmering with anger, took it grumpily. With a flick of his wrist, the blade clattered and dragged along the ground...

Chapter 36: Let's Be Good Friends!

Tetsu no Sosuke felt he must be muddled with rage.

Otherwise, how could he have forgotten that the Love Pillar's Nichirin Blade was a soft sword personally forged by Kawahara Chintetsu?

Yet, staring at this blade, Tetsu no Sosuke fell into hesitation.

"What's wrong?"

Kanroji Mitsuri noticed the difficulty on his face and couldn't help asking softly, "Did something happen?"

He glanced at her, then shook his head. "This... I can't do it."

"Huh?"

Kanroji Mitsuri blinked. "Why not?"

Tetsu no Sosuke fell silent. She leaned in. "Why not?"

He turned away. She shifted direction. "Why not?"

"..." His face flushed red. "I don't know how!"

How was he supposed to forge a soft sword? He had no clue about the craft, alright? He'd have to ask Kawahara Chintetsu how it was done.

Kanroji Mitsuri clearly hadn't expected that answer. After a pause, she clapped her hands. "Can't you ask? You can write to the Village Chief! I'm sure he'll tell you, right?"

"...You're not in a hurry?" Tetsu no Sosuke glanced at her.

"Not at all!"

Kanroji Mitsuri shook her head. "My current Nichirin Blade is still perfectly usable for a long time. But I heard you can forge one that swings without any effort, so I thought I'd ask you to make me one. You know, women's strength is always a bit weaker."

You're the last person who should say that, you know?

Apologize to my nearly broken bones, you jerk!

Tetsu no Sosuke's mind was a storm of complaints, but his face remained calm. "Alright, I'll write to the Village Chief about the technique. But if it's new knowledge, I won't use Nichirin Blade materials right away at first—that's to avoid wasting precious resources if I fail. So, back and forth, your blade will take at least half a month before it might be ready."

"Got it!"

Kanroji Mitsuri agreed cheerfully. "As long as I don't have any missions during that time, I'll be your sparring partner!"

"...I absolutely don't need that!!!!"

Tetsu no Sosuke gritted his teeth. Why did she have to push him to his death?

"Huh? Am I being rejected?"

Kanroji Mitsuri looked dazed, instinctively grabbing his wrist. "Why are you rejecting me? Did I do something wrong? I want to get along with you, to be good fri—"

Before she could finish, Tetsu no Sosuke heard a voice dripping with murderous intent from the other side.

"Tetsu no Sosuke!!!"

His neck stiff as he turned, he saw someone standing in a corner of the yard.

Eyes of different colors blazing with equal fury, the White Snake on his shoulder craned its neck, tongue flicking, as if ready to strike.

Iguro Obanai!!!

Why was he so angry?

Huh???

Wait, was Iguro Obanai already secretly in love with the Love Pillar at this point?

Hey, what she just said wasn't what you're thinking at all!

What she didn't finish was definitely 'good friends'—don't misunderstand!

Tetsu no Sosuke's nerves tightened.

He watched Iguro Obanai step closer, each footfall seeming to weigh a thousand jun.

Staring at Tetsu no Sosuke, he said, word by word, "Where's my Nichirin Blade?"

He'd received Tetsu no Sosuke's letter yesterday and come eagerly today to pick it up—who'd have thought he'd witness this scene?

Tetsu no Sosuke sighed. "I'll go get it."

With that, he hurried inside.

He retrieved the finished Nichirin Blade for Iguro Obanai and stepped out to find Kanroji Mitsuri blushing, fidgeting, occasionally stealing glances at Iguro Obanai—her earlier cheerfulness gone.

Iguro Obanai, too, had lost his earlier fury, his eyes darting everywhere, afraid to look at Kanroji Mitsuri.

These two...

Tetsu no Sosuke's face darkened. Thinking it over, Iguro Obanai really was secretly in love with the Love Pillar.

And as for the Love Pillar... the reason she became a Pillar was to find herself a good husband.

Her standards were simple—strength was enough!

So, among the Pillars, basically any man met her criteria. That's why when she looked at Iguro Obanai with coyness, it wasn't necessarily genuine affection—she acted the same way toward every other male Pillar... because they were all candidates.

However, if she chose Iguro Obanai, it would probably be a mutual selection.

The others... well...

Tetsu no Sosuke pondered the Pillars: a monk with an overactive tear duct, a ninja with three wives, a senior disciple with a fragile heart beneath an icy exterior, a brother-con...

At that thought, Tetsu no Sosuke couldn't help but sigh. He felt that among these Pillars, the only normal one might be his future wife.

The two before him—one was as sinuous as a snake, the other a husband-obsessed maniac.

Then there was that overly passionate youth, burning so hot he was practically on fire...

As for the Mist Pillar, it seemed he hadn't arrived yet.

Gently tapping his own forehead, Tetsu no Sosuke thought, Iguro Obanai, you'd better wise up.