"I wonder if the former Water Pillar knows about this?"
Curious, he quietly left the clearing and hurried to Urokodaki Sakonji's house.
The old man in the Tengu Mask sat by the door weaving a basket, seemingly unaware of Tetsu no Sosuke's arrival.
But as Tetsu no Sosuke drew closer, he said calmly, "The Hammer Pillar pays a sudden visit without even sending word ahead?"
"It was a spur-of-the-moment trip." Tetsu no Sosuke smiled. "There wasn't time to write. I might have arrived before the letter anyway."
Urokodaki Sakonji nodded, reached behind him, and set a small stool opposite his own. "Have a seat."
Tetsu no Sosuke set down the Sunflare Hammer and sat across from him in silence.
"If you came in such a hurry, it must be urgent." Urokodaki Sakonji glanced up at Tetsu no Sosuke. "Go on."
"I've been working on something," Tetsu no Sosuke said. "I need a vial of Nezuko's blood."
He saw no reason to beat around the bush, so he stated his purpose outright.
"I see," Urokodaki Sakonji said. "No wonder you came yourself. I heard the Flower Pillar is pregnant?"
"...Yes." Tetsu no Sosuke was momentarily speechless. That was quite a change of subject.
A chuckle seemed to come from behind Urokodaki Sakonji's mask. He nodded. "That's wonderful. But it isn't my decision to make. Talk to Tanjiro when he gets back."
"All right." Tetsu no Sosuke understood and sat quietly to wait.
Urokodaki Sakonji seemed curious about none of it. He didn't ask why Tetsu no Sosuke needed the blood so urgently, or what he meant to do with it.
After preparing so many explanations, Tetsu no Sosuke felt as though he had thrown a punch at empty air.
At last, he couldn't help asking quietly, "Aren't you curious why I