DS Chapter 76: A Poison-Infused Blade Ring! Ren's Gift to Shinobu
Ren examined the Nichirin Blade in his hands.
With the knowledge he had gained from mastering swordsmithing design, he immediately noticed every detail of its construction.
It was an ordinary Nichirin Blade.
There was little to distinguish it from the one Tanjiro had originally received.
Forged from Scarlet Crimson Ore, it was a standard Demon Slayer sword.
The only notable feature was the large crimson flower engraved on the tsuba.
Ren gave the blade a light swing.
The weight felt just right.
For someone using Flame Breathing, it comfortably met the minimum requirements.
Standing beside him, Shinobu smiled.
"This Nichirin Blade was forged by Haganezuka-san."
"What do you think?"
"Does it feel comfortable?"
"Haganezuka?"
Ren blinked.
"You mean... that short-tempered Haganezuka?"
"That's right~"
Shinobu's eyes curved into a smile.
"So Ren knows him?"
"Hehe..."
Ren laughed awkwardly.
After a brief silence, he couldn't help saying,
"Shinobu..."
"Could you ask for a different swordsmith next time?"
Shinobu blinked in confusion.
"A different swordsmith?"
"I think you've misunderstood."
"Haganezuka-san isn't the one assigned to forge your personal Nichirin Blade."
"The one responsible is Kanamori-san."
She smiled brightly.
"It's just that you're competing against Sanemi today, so we borrowed the blade Haganezuka-san had already finished."
"It was originally forged for Tanjiro."
"But since you needed one immediately..."
"Kanamori-san borrowed it first."
Ren's expression instantly darkened.
Good grief...
That's practically stacking Haganezuka's anger buffs.
Isn't this even worse...?
Fortunately...
He kept those thoughts to himself.
Even if he explained them, Shinobu wouldn't understand.
Since he already had the blade...
He would simply make sure not to damage it.
With that thought, Ren slipped on his shoes and climbed out of bed.
Taking advantage of the soft light of dawn...
He gently took Shinobu's small hand and led her toward the Butterfly Mansion's backyard.
The fragrance of wisteria drifted through the morning air.
Her butterfly-patterned haori fluttered gently in the breeze.
Walking toward the rising sun...
Ren's figure seemed bathed in golden light.
Quietly following behind him, Shinobu watched his back.
Her heart beat a little faster.
She softly pursed her lips.
"Ren..."
"Where are we going?"
Ren suddenly stopped.
Squatting down, he drew the Nichirin Blade she had just given him.
"Here is fine."
Looking up at her, he smiled.
"Shinobu."
"May I borrow your Nichirin Blade for a moment?"
"Of course~"
She immediately unsheathed it and handed it over.
After receiving it...
Ren placed his own sword on the ground.
Using Shinobu's blade like a precision carving tool, he carefully began drilling several small openings into his own blade.
His movements were slow and meticulous.
Bathed in the gentle morning sunlight...
He looked more like a dedicated swordsmith than a Demon Slayer.
Shinobu quietly watched him.
Completely captivated.
She crouched beside him, silently enjoying the rare moment of peace.
Some time later...
Ren finally stopped.
Holding up the blade, he carefully inspected it beneath the morning light.
From tip to base...
Six circular blade rings had been added.
Three near the tip.
Three near the guard.
Each opening measured roughly one centimeter across.
Satisfied, Ren nodded before crouching down once more to continue working.
Shinobu said nothing.
She simply watched with bright, curious eyes.
The sun gradually climbed into the sky.
Warm golden light illuminated Ren's face.
Without realizing it...
Shinobu hugged her knees and quietly stared at him.
Lost in thought.
Eventually...
Ren finished.
A trace of excitement appeared in his voice.
"It's done."
Shinobu looked up.
The moment she saw the completed blade...
Her eyes lit up.
"Ren..."
"What is this?"
Ren gently touched one of the newly crafted rings.
"These are blade rings."
"I drilled six openings into the blade."
"Then I reinforced them with copper rings."
"The metal around each ring is hollow."
"They can store poison."
"Store... poison?"
Shinobu's eyes widened.
Then realization dawned on her.
"Ren..."
"Does that mean your Nichirin Blade has already been infused with poison?"
Ren nodded.
"That's right."
"Ever since I saw your sword..."
"I've been thinking about how to make it lighter."
"And now..."
"I've finally found a solution."
As he spoke...
He picked up Shinobu's Nichirin Blade as well.
It, too...
Now possessed six blade rings.
Each reinforced with beautifully polished purple-tinted copper rings.
Only then did Shinobu realize...
While she had been secretly watching him...
Ren had quietly modified her sword as well.
He gently handed it back.
"Your blade is lighter now."
"I also hollowed out the sections around the blade rings."
"So it can carry even more poison than before."
Pointing toward the purple copper rings, Ren smiled.
"I borrowed a few copper rings from Aoi's tool shed earlier."
"Then I polished them and treated them with wisteria."
"So..."
"What do you think?"
"Do they look nice?"
Shinobu remained silent for a moment.
She slowly accepted the sword.
Holding it carefully...
Almost as though it were something irreplaceable.
Her eyes shimmered softly.
"They're beautiful..."
"Really beautiful."
As her fingers gently brushed across the copper rings...
She could still feel a faint lingering warmth.
The warmth left behind by the boy who had crafted them beneath the morning sun.
Without warning...
Her eyes began to sting.
When Ren had once said he could redesign Nichirin Blades...
She had thought he was joking.
She never imagined...
He had remembered.
Nor that the very first thing he would do after recovering from serious injuries...
Was solve her problem.
Ren...
Why do you always do things like this?
Your injuries had only just healed...
Yet instead of resting...
You came here to help me.
What am I supposed to think...?
Her heart was already in complete turmoil.
The mask she had worn for so many years...
Began to crack.
Little by little.
Her happiness.
Her sadness.
Her embarrassment.
Her quiet thoughts.
Even the innocence and bashfulness an eighteen-year-old girl should have possessed...
Emotions long buried beneath the surface surged upward like bubbles rising through water.
Once they reached the sunlight...
There was no hiding them anymore.
"...You're so unfair."
Lowering her head, Shinobu quietly hid her expression.
Tiny tears clung to her eyelashes.
The tip of her nose had turned slightly red.