Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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In the early morning mist, dew dampened the broken ruins of the Swordsmith village.
Houses destroyed by the demons' attack were everywhere.
Because of Tecchin's quick reaction, the village was alert almost in the first moment the demon was discovered.
The swordsmiths had long since taken refuge in the shelters that had been built in advance.
As a result, the Swordsmith village only suffered collateral damage to properties.
They had long anticipated a demon attack on the village; thus, there were already several empty and obscure villages for the swordsmiths to settle in various locations in Japan.
So, the damage tonight is practically zero.
---
On the ruins of the village,
The people wearing the Fire God masks were searching through the rabble for anything useful. With the crisis over, they can start cleaning up.
-Location: The Swordsmith Village Chief House-
After absorbing the energy of resurrection from Hantengu and Gyokko, Tanjuro and the others returned to the village together.
Everyone was gathered at the chief's house.
"Thank you very much for your help this time, Hashira-sama!"
The chief of the village is a small and thin man. He has a head of white hair and is kneeling on a cushion. His old and dry hands are full of calluses.
His voice was old and sharp, and he also wore a fire god mask.
"None of the swordsmiths were injured or dead, thanks to you."
As he spoke, he put his head down again in a bow of thanks. "Thank you very much!" The gratitude in his voice was clear.
Gyomei sat cross-legged in front of everyone as he moved his prayer beads.
"Namu... This is the least of what we should do." He nodded slightly. Two lines of tears were visible on his face.
Tanjuro and Shinjuro didn't say anything.
The Tokito family of three were sitting together, looking on at the conversation with great interest.
"Chief, I also made a contribution!" Tecchin couldn't sit still as he quickly raised his voice and patted his chest. "I evacuated everyone!"
The village chief glanced at Tecchin beside him and took a deep breath.
His eyes radiated a look of disappointment.
Tecchin wilted immediately and lowered his head sheepishly and stopped talking.
"Ah, yes." The chief seemed to remember something and raised his head.
His blurred eyes distinguished the strong Gyomei and the bright-haired Shinjuro.
Finally, he looked at Tanjuro. "You must be Kamado-san."
He put his hands together and rubbed them slightly.
"I will forge your Nichirin blade."
"If you have any requirements, designs, or needs in terms of swordsmanship, please tell me without hesitation."
"Of course, I already know Kamado-san's previous request."
"You want a blade that is very durable, right?"
At this point, the chief's eyes lit up, and his gaze locked on to the sword at Tanjuro's waist. His excitement could be seen through his mask.
"Since Kamado-san has a katana now..."
"You can lend it to me for an inspection; it will be convenient for the forging of the Nichirin blade."
He rubbed his hands more thoroughly, like a merchant trying to sell you useless things; eagerness flooded from his very being.
'Ah, here it comes again.'
Beside the chief, Tecchin shook his head and covered his forehead with his hand. There was a helplessness in his motion.
Whenever the chief would forge a sword for the Corps, he would always want to compete with the swordsman's previous blacksmith.
After all, as the chief of the Swordsmith village, he received the most ridiculous and absurd requirements for forging a Nichirin blade, and only the most skilled blacksmith could forge it.
The chief naturally compares the quality of their works to his own.
'How to say it... it's the chief's special hobby?'
Tecchin thought and secretly glanced at Tanjuro.
"Of course." Tanjuro agreed easily and picked up Kusabimaru from his waist and presented it to the chief.
The chief took Kusabimaru with both hands carefully and nodded to Tanjuro.
Click.
He gripped the hilt and gently drew the blade from its sheath.
The black blade of Kusabimaru was reflected in the chief's eyes and his mask.
The traces of lightning reversal and red-hot fire roasting the demon flesh are still faintly visible to the trained eyes.
The chief's expression froze under the mask.
Seeing the chief holding Kusabimaru freeze in place, Tecchin stretched his hand and called out in a low voice.
"...Chief?"
The chief seemed to come back to his senses, blinking his eyes as he concentrated on the present.
"Excuse me." He quickly stood up and walked out of the room. The morning sun greeted him on his way.
The chief held up Kusabimaru facing the sun and observed the blade back and forth through the light.
From time to time, he would take out tools such as an iron rod and tap the blade in several places.
The chief seemed to be in a trance as he held Kusabimaru in the air and slowly walked back into the room.
He sat back down on his cushion and placed Kusabimaru horizontally in front of him. He looked at Tanjuro with a solemn expression.
"Kamado-san..."
The chief said cautiously, as if trying not to sound offensive. "How often do you maintain this blade?"
Tanjuro blinked his eyes. He straightened up and answered casually. "I haven't had the time to maintain it."
"Oh, is that so?" The chief's voice hides the surprise he is feeling. His expression gradually turned into admiration. "I... may I know who the blacksmith who forged this sword is?"
'Forged in fire...'
Tanjuro mulled in thought for a while, and his master, Kuro, flashed through his mind, handing him the sword.
And the words that his Lord had once told him.
"It's been passed down from my ancestors." Tanjuro replied.
He wasn't lying.
Kusabimaru, the katana, has been passed down through the Hirata family in Sekiro's world before finding its service with Tanjuro.
The chief remained silent for a while.
Then, he held the blade with both hands and handed it back to Tanjuro. "I understand; I will try to forge a durable Nichirin blade for you."
The chief then looked to Tecchin.
"Tecchin, take the guest to their quarters and leave me."
"I'll be busy for a few days."
This was the first time Tecchin had seen the chief act like this, and he quickly nodded. "Yes, sir."
...
With the room now empty, the chief released his breath and was shocked at what he discovered.
"...unbelievable, simply unbelievable."
He propped his chin with his hand as his brows furrowed.
"That kind of blade... in theory..."
"It's a miracle that it can still be used..."
"How did you forge that..."
This was the first time in his life that the chief felt his world view of blacksmithing had been severely flipped upside down.
---
---
Tecchin walked in front of the group, leading them around the village.
"Kamado-san, right?"
He turned around and faced Tanjuro.
"I wanted to ask you before." He then pointed to the earrings on Tanjuro's earlobes.
"My family also has a pair of hanafuda earrings like you." Tecchin began as he looked at the accessory; his confusion was visible on his mask.
"But we did not dare to wear it."
"How did you get your earrings?" Tecchin asked curiously.
"It's been passed down from my ancestors."
Again, Tanjuro answered the same as before.