"The Warring States period? Isn't that over 300 years ago?!"
"That thing's ancient!"
"Needing six arms… Was that warrior really that powerful?" The group burst into amazed chatter.
"Hehe, actually, it has a name. It's called Yoriichi Type Zero," Kotetsu said, clearly pleased that everyone was admiring the puppet.
"Yoriichi Type Zero, huh? Let me confirm something."
Yohan walked toward the mechanical puppet. This was the likeliest target for his mission so far—now it all depended on the system's response.
Kotetsu didn't try to stop Yohan from approaching the Yoriichi Type Zero. Since he had already brought it out, it wasn't like he was planning to keep it hidden. He just hoped Yohan would keep his word and not destroy it.
Kotetsu watched Yohan with unease.
The moment Yohan's hand touched the mechanical puppet, the system's voice rang out:
[Ding!]
[Follow-up Mission: Memory That Spans a Century (Completed)]
[Mission Reward: Teigu - Demon-Bound Armor (Control Suit)]
[Reward can be claimed at any time. Keep up the good work, Host.]
Teigu - Demon-Bound Armor. This was a suit-type Imperial Arm from Akame ga Kill!, forged from the ferocious dragon-type Danger Beast "Tyrant." In its default form, it appeared as a sword—when stabbed into the ground, it summoned an armor that enveloped the user completely.
Once summoned, the durable armor would automatically fly onto the wearer, drastically enhancing their physical abilities. It boasted defense levels akin to an iron fortress and came with a secondary weapon: the "Redback Shrike."
Its only downside? The immense strain it placed on the wearer. For an ordinary person, equipping it would be a death sentence.
But Yohan wasn't exactly ordinary.
Still, just to be safe, he asked, "System, I'll be fine wearing this Teigu, right?"
[Rest assured, Host. All products from this system are green-certified and 100% safe.]
Hearing that, Yohan finally relaxed. This mission had actually been pretty easy. He originally thought he might have to destroy the puppet—and if that had been the case, he would've had to wait till Nightfallt and act alone.
After all, with this many people watching, it'd be awkward bullying a kid.
"Mhm, not bad for a puppet," Yohan muttered, patting the mechanical shoulder before turning away from the Yoriichi Type Zero, no longer interested.
Kotetsu let out a long breath. Yohan had kept his word.
"T-Thanks… really."
"Here, I'll share a little secret with you guys," he said, pulling a small box from his pocket.
"This is a yosegi zaiku box. Unless you open it in the correct sequence, it won't budge."
"Same thing applies to this." Kotetsu twisted the puppet's wrist and fingers.
"Hehe… The Yoriichi Type Zero can change its combat modes by adjusting the number and direction of wrist and finger rotations."
"If I hadn't decided you were good people, I wouldn't have revealed that even under torture."
As he shared the secrets passed down from his ancestors, Kotetsu's excitement visibly grew.
"Wow, that's amazing!"
Mitsuri and Tanjiro's eyes sparkled like stars.
"All right, Kotetsu, put it away now."
Yohan had no further interest in the broken-down puppet. As for what was inside, he figured it might as well be left for Tanjiro.
"Eh? Yohan, you're done already?" Mitsuri hurried to catch up to him as he started heading back down the mountain.
"Yeah. Mission complete."
Hearing this, Mitsuri didn't ask for any details. She had spent the most time by Yohan's side and understood that he had his secrets. But she also trusted that he would one day tell her of his own accord.
Back at their lodging in the village, the group's little treasure-hunting adventure had come to an end.
Yet discovering that the Swordsmith Village held such a "secret weapon" left everyone feeling rather satisfied with the day.
Kanae, however, still couldn't let it go. "Yohan, why did you just confirm the puppet and then leave?"
"Wasn't that the thing you were looking for?"
"It was, Kanae."
"Then why—?"
"The rest is a secret. You really want to know?" Yohan gave her a mysterious smile.
There was no way he could reveal the system to Kanae here. If he ever did, it would mean…
Seeing Yohan flash that strange grin, Kanae decided to drop the topic—for now.
Hmph! One day, I'm definitely going to uncover your secret!
It was the first time the always-composed Kanae felt such a strong sense of personal determination.
"Oh, and Tanjiro—maybe in the future, you can go back and find Kotetsu again."
Yohan knew his involvement had already caused the story to diverge from its original path. He couldn't be sure whether Tanjiro would return to the Swordsmith Village anymore. But as far as he was concerned, the puppet and what it held inside were of no use to him. Mitsuri and the others didn't need it either. He could give them much better things.
"Yohan-kun, you mean…?"
"You want to join the Demon Slayer Corps, right? You could ask Kotetsu to train you using that puppet."
"Ah, I don't know if that's okay…" Tanjiro looked conflicted. He did want to grow stronger, but he also understood how important that puppet was to Kotetsu.
"It's fine. Just a suggestion."
Yohan had no intention of pressing the issue. Whether Tanjiro followed through or not wasn't his concern. He only looked after the people closest to him—and as much as he got along with Tanjiro, the boy wasn't in that circle.
As for the Nichirin blade hidden inside the puppet, forged over 300 years ago?
Yohan had no need for it.
He was now a man armed with an Imperial arm.
Let the next lucky one find that sword.
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