After they stepped out of the house, all three stopped. The brothers turned for one last look at their home. Tetsu no Sosuke gave them a moment, then said, "Let's go."
The three of them set off!
At noon the next day, Tetsu no Sosuke told them about himself as they traveled along a mountain path.
"You already know my name. Kawahara Iron Pillar was fake. My real name is Tetsu no Sosuke. I might not look it, but I'm one of the strongest fighters in the Demon Slayer Corps. If you come with me, you'll be my students, my apprentices, starting today. In Demon Slayer Corps terms, you'll be my foster sons."
"Foster sons?"
Yuichiro thought that sounded strange.
Tetsu no Sosuke smiled. "It's just a title. Don't worry about it. I'll train you and teach you everything I know. Oh, and by the way, I'm from the Swordsmith Village. I could have lived an easy life, forging weapons until my days were done... There might still have been danger now and then, but life would have been peaceful most of the time."
"Then why did you join the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Yuichiro asked.
Tetsu no Sosuke smiled. "Because you should hold your fate in your own hands."
The words struck both boys. For a moment, their blood surged with excitement.
Then Tetsu no Sosuke laughed. "Well, that's the inspiring version. The truth is, I fell for a girl. If I joined the Demon Slayer Corps, I could be with her. Every single day!"
The brothers' faces darkened. Was it too late to find a different teacher?
"You said you already had a wife. Was that a lie too?" Yuichiro suddenly asked.
"Of course not." Tetsu no Sosuke tapped him on the forehead. "How else could I