He couldn't help smiling before returning to admiring his Nichirin Blade.
Naturally, he had forged this blade for himself. Now that he had made a breakthrough, how could he not put himself first?
Holding the Nichirin Blade and studying the patterns on it, Tetsu no Sosuke gradually grew thoughtful.
His knowledge of inlaying told him that drilling holes would compromise the blade's structure. Yet that knowledge contained no mention of anything called "flame stone." There were, however, names such as "crimson bloodstone" and "supreme yang stone."
That thought brought the contents of the Silk Scroll back to mind.
"I can't shake the feeling that something about this is strange..."
Sliding the blade into the Hammer Sheath, Tetsu no Sosuke went looking for Kanae. But after making the rounds without finding any sign of her, he began to worry.
Only after stopping someone to ask did he find her.
He opened the door, and a strong medicinal smell hit him.
Kanae was sitting inside, directing Kiyo Terauchi as she mixed and adjusted the medicines: how much of one ingredient to use, how much of another to take, how to combine them, and so on.
Tetsu no Sosuke watched in bewilderment, then frowned and asked, "Why aren't you getting proper rest?"
Kanae smiled brightly at him. "Lying down all day isn't good for me either. Doing a little work while I'm feeling well helps keep my mind clear."
"The smell in here is far too strong," Tetsu no Sosuke said. "Why not move somewhere else?"
"Some medicinal ingredients are delicate. They either can't be exposed to drafts or can't be left in direct sunlight," Kanae said. "So it's better to keep the door closed."
Tetsu no Sosuke's brow remained furrowed. "If you keep this up, I really will get angry. What's so