Guided by the girl, Sosuke carried the Sword Box and sat in a large room to wait.
After serving tea, the girl left to attend to her duties.
Sosuke glanced around the room, placed the Sword Box on the tatami mat, and rose to walk to the other side of the room. He slid open the door, revealing a courtyard.
A fragrant breeze drifted in.
The sky was high and clear, dotted with white clouds that danced in harmony with the gentle wind.
'This is exactly the kind of place she should live,' he thought.
A faint, pleased smile curved his lips, as if recalling something pleasant.
Yet in an instant, his expression turned anxious.
The image of her collapsing into Shinobu's arms, uttering her final words, resurfaced in his mind.
He shook his head. "Don't dwell on such ominous thoughts. She should be back by evening. I wonder if she'll be happy to see the weapon I made for her?"
Turning around, he sat down again, his heart stirring with conflicting emotions—anticipation for their reunion and dread of the unspoken answer.
Yet compared to the former, the latter seemed insignificant. Just being able to see her again was all that mattered.
"It hasn't even been a few days, but it feels like we haven't seen each other in ages."
Just as he was about to dismiss his thoughts as absurd, the room's door suddenly slid open.
Another young woman entered, her features bearing a striking resemblance to Kanae's, and her attire nearly identical.
Only her face appeared more youthful.
"Tetsu no Sosuke?"
Her tone wasn't particularly friendly. Though she tried to restrain herself, Sosuke detected a hint of hostility in her voice.
'Why would a stranger be hostile toward me?'
Amid his confusion, a flicker of joy rose in his heart.
'She mentioned me!'
And she must have said something, otherwise the girl wouldn't be acting this way.
It's like... a little girl whose precious treasure has been stolen?
Suppressing his elation, he smiled and said, "I am."
"Are you here to deliver my elder sister's Nichirin Blade?" Shinobu felt no warmth toward the man before her, but she forced herself to maintain a polite demeanor.
Yet not a trace of a smile touched her face.
Ever since her sister returned from the Swordsmith Village, she had been acting strangely.
Sometimes she would giggle to herself, and other times she would meticulously examine a painting as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
Well, the person in the painting was indeed her elder sister, so calling it a priceless treasure wasn't an exaggeration.
But who had painted it?
Driven by curiosity, Shinobu had pestered her sister until she finally heard the name Sosuke.
Shinobu's elder sister briefly recounted her journey to the Swordsmith Village, but the rest of her story was vague and unconvincing. Only the name Tetsu no Sosuke made her eyes light up whenever she mentioned it.
'That wretched man must have done something to my sister!'
Shinobu felt a surge of anger, though she couldn't quite pinpoint why. So, when she learned that Sosuke was coming to deliver the sword, her simmering fury inevitably surfaced.
Moreover, she wanted to scrutinize this man thoroughly to see what made him so special.
But upon closer inspection, she found nothing remarkable.
Like all swordsmiths, he wore a Mask, and his straw hat, lying nearby, was dusty—even the Sword Box bore traces of dirt, and its strap was broken.
As Shinobu studied Sosuke, his voice reached her ears.
"Yes, the Nichirin Blade I forged for the Flower Pillar is complete."
Despite his words, he made no move to present the blade for Shinobu's inspection.
Shinobu nodded. "Very well, I understand. I'll accept the blade and pass it on to my elder sister."
With that, there seemed to be nothing left to say.
Shinobu waited for him to take his leave, as swordsmiths usually did. Once they delivered the Nichirin Blade, they never lingered.
But Sosuke remained seated. He quietly said, "Regarding this blade, there are some things I need to tell the Flower Pillar personally."
Shinobu's heart suddenly filled with inexplicable agitation.
She frowned. "Is there something you can't tell me? I am her younger sister."
"So you're the Flower Pillar's younger sister," Sosuke said with a slight smile, as if he had only just learned this. He shook his head. "This blade has a special property. It will only be effective if the Flower Pillar hears my explanation directly."
'What utter nonsense!'
'This damned man... he really does have designs on my sister, doesn't he?'
Otherwise, how could he shamelessly utter such absurd nonsense?
The atmosphere froze as the two seemed locked in a silent battle of wills.
One tried to usher him out, while the other stubbornly refused to leave.
The crux of the matter lay in Shinobu's delicate relationship with the Swordsmith, which prevented her from uttering the words, "Please leave."
In the end, they remained locked in this stalemate.
A moment later, the door creaked open again—it was lunchtime.
Sosuke's audacity reached new heights. Completely unfazed by Shinobu's murderous glare, he casually announced his intention to stay for lunch.
Unable to force him out, she had no choice but to let him eat.
Yet even after finishing his meal, he showed no signs of leaving.
Sosuke claimed he had been traveling nonstop without rest, and was simply too exhausted to continue without a break.
Shinobu gritted her teeth and reluctantly assigned him a room for temporary rest.
She knew... it would be nearly impossible to get rid of this man today.
After all, by the time he woke up, it would already be evening.
At night... demons lurk!
Shinobu, her heart simmering with inexplicable anger, secretly resolved that if he still lingered tomorrow, she would drive him away, even if he was a Swordsmith.
Sosuke, however, remained wide awake in his room, his mind racing with a torrent of thoughts—excitement, joy, worry, and fear. As the night deepened, Kanae still hadn't returned.
When darkness finally fell, Sosuke could no longer contain himself. He sought out Shinobu. "When will the Flower Pillar be back?"
Shinobu's face betrayed little concern. "She's probably just been delayed on the road," she replied. "Elder Sister is a powerful Swordsman; nothing could have happened to her."
Yet even as she spoke, a flicker of worry crossed her eyes, betraying her subconscious anxiety.
Sosuke's face paled. He gripped Shinobu's shoulders. "Which... which direction did she go?"
"What are you doing?" Shinobu frowned, feeling the grip on her shoulder tighten like an iron clamp. How is this guy so strong?
"Tell me now!"
Sosuke was truly desperate. Even if this was just a misunderstanding, even if the worst-case scenario he imagined hadn't actually occurred, he couldn't bear to sit here and wait any longer. He had to do something!
Startled by Sosuke's intensity, Shinobu instinctively pointed. "East..."
As soon as she spoke, Sosuke turned and rushed back into the house. When he emerged, he was carrying his Sword Box and had a hammer strapped to his back. He charged out into the night.
"Wh-what's going on?" Shinobu stared in bewildered confusion. Seeing Sosuke about to plunge into the darkness, she quickly grabbed her Nichirin Blade and hurried after him. "Hey! Don't just go out at night!"
How could Sosuke possibly heed Shinobu's calls?
At that moment, his heart felt as if it were sealed behind a layer of paper labeled 'anxiety.'
"But... there's still time! No matter what's happened, there's still time!"
As he sprinted, he desperately tried to clear his mind. "She's one of the Nine Pillars. In the manga, she fought Doma until dawn, ultimately dying in Shinobu's arms. So, I have to find her before midnight, no matter what. Give her this sword, then... get as far away as possible!"
"Damn it! Why do I have to run away?!"
Sosuke gritted his teeth, knowing full well that he was just a swordsmith.
Even defeating an ordinary demon required him to exhaust every trick in the book, ultimately relying on sunlight to kill it.
Against Upper Moon Two, Doma, his existence was utterly meaningless.
If he didn't distance himself, he'd only become a burden to Kanae in battle, potentially worsening the situation.
But... he still couldn't accept it!
Though he had long accepted his role as a swordsmith, though he knew his battlefield was confined to the forge, he still couldn't resign himself to this!
If he could, he would rather be the one fighting, not the woman who haunted his dreams.
But now was not the time for such thoughts.
Whether the situation was as he imagined or not, the most crucial thing was to find her.
'I need run, run faster!'
Why was he still so slow?!
The trees blurred past, yet he felt his movements were sluggish, even though he was already moving at breakneck speed.
Shinobu was nearly frantic!
'What the hell is this guy?'
After spouting so much nonsense and adopting such a terrifying demeanor, he had suddenly bolted off like a madman.
This is night!
Who knows what horrors lurk in the darkness?!
She had to catch him and drag him back!
That was Shinobu's initial plan. But reality proved otherwise. The more he ran, the faster he went, and she found herself falling further behind.
'He's just a swordsmith! What kind of drug did he take?!'
Shinobu was utterly bewildered, finding it unbelievable.
At this rate, it wouldn't take an hour—probably just half an hour—for him to completely lose her.
'I'm a Swordsman, and he's just a Swordsmith. How can this gap between us be explained?'
For a moment, Sosuke gritted his teeth, unwilling to admit defeat. He clenched his jaw and sprinted forward with renewed fury.
The two figures darted through the forest, one chasing the other. In less than an hour, they had already emerged from the trees.
The landscape suddenly opened up, revealing what appeared to be a village under the starlit sky.
Yet the village lay in complete silence, as if frozen in time.
Sosuke frowned, his gaze fixed on the scene, but he couldn't be certain if this was the place.
According to the information he had, Kanae had encountered Doma while returning from a mission.
'If I follow her route, I should be able to find her.'
But after running for so long without any sign of her, it was clear she must have encountered some serious trouble.
Otherwise, why would she have failed to return by evening as promised? Why had she been delayed until now, with no sign of her anywhere?
His chaotic mind rapidly processed the information, and he was about to charge forward again.
Just then, a figure flashed before him. Shinobu abruptly stood in his path, arms outstretched, panting heavily without a word.
After two ragged breaths, she finally spoke, her face etched with desperation. "You... huff... why are you running?"
Sosuke asked gravely, "Do you know about the village ahead?"
If not for this question, he would have already bypassed the girl and continued his frantic sprint.
"Village?" Shinobu glanced back.
"This village... something's wrong," Sosuke interrupted. "Think carefully! If the Flower Pillar was merely delayed by a minor matter, why haven't we seen her despite coming this far to meet her? And now, if you recognize this village, tell me—does only one family live here?"
"Of course not... What are you trying to say?" Shinobu's expression shifted slightly.
"There's only one light in the village," Sosuke pointed. "I'm worried she might have encountered something—a danger she can't escape!"
"Demons!"
Shinobu's mind snapped back to clarity. She glanced back. "I've seen this village before. The light at this hour is indeed unusual. Are you saying there's a demon in this village?"
"If I were you, I'd send an emergency signal immediately. Not a second to waste!"
Having received the information from Shinobu, Sosuke breathed a sigh of relief. There was still time!
Seizing the moment while Shinobu was still stunned, he darted forward.
Shinobu froze for a moment, then erupted in fury. "You know there's a demon and you're still rushing in? Are you insane? My Elder Sister is a powerful swordsman—just a mere demon..."
Her brow furrowed, and even as she spoke, unease crept into her voice.
If it were just an ordinary demon, would it take this long?
Shinobu dared not dwell on the thought, yet she hesitated to immediately send the message Sosuke had urged her to send. With the situation still unclear, she couldn't act solely on his word.
'I will Investigate personally, confirm the situation, and if something has truly happened, immediately call for reinforcements!'
With that thought, she surged forward, resentment burning within her. 'He's just a swordsmith! If he sensed a demon here, why did he charge in so recklessly?'
Sosuke, of course, couldn't hear Shinobu's complaints. By now, he had already reached the village.
The village was eerily silent, as if all its inhabitants had vanished.
The only light came from the largest building in the village, its purpose unknown.
The closer he got, the colder his heart grew.
Yet Sosuke felt no fear. Instead, he felt a genuine sense of joy.
The greater the potential for terror, the closer he might be to finding Kanae.
In an instant, he stood before the building's massive doors. Without hesitation, he pushed them open.
Inside, a vast hall was lit by roaring flames. A man sat cross-legged on the floor, his face buried in the neck of a young girl.
Startled by the sound of the door opening, the man lifted his head slightly, his face split by a wide, bloody grin that seemed particularly horrifying in the flickering firelight.
"Oh, you're still alive? My apologies, I seem to have overlooked you," he said with feigned embarrassment. "And to think we'd have so many guests tonight!"
Sosuke stared in disbelief. Kanae was... gone!
This is... incredibly awkward!
In the next instant, Sosuke turned and fled, not back the way he'd come, but in the opposite direction.
'Shinobu would be no match for this guy. I have to lure him away!'
The situation here would be clear to Shinobu at a glance, allowing her to immediately call for reinforcements.
As for himself... he couldn't afford to worry about that now!
But after a few steps, the situation became even more awkward.
Doma wasn't chasing him!
'Was this guy still enjoying his meal?'
Did a mere man simply fail to capture his attention?
Sosuke could faintly hear footsteps approaching. Was it Shinobu?
'Damn it!'
If she encountered him, she'd be killed instantly!
"No!"
He immediately turned back and reappeared at the entrance of the building.
Doma was still hunched over, devouring his meal with gusto. Hearing the commotion, he glanced up, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Why are you back?"
'How do I answer that? Do I say, I just came back to check on things?'
"Wait... I didn't notice before, but what's with that outfit?"
His gaze suddenly fell on the Sword Box in Sosuke's hand. "Are you a Swordsmith?"
His voice carried no sinister undertones, but rather a genuine delight. "In that case, I can't let you leave."
At that moment, Shinobu appeared behind Sosuke, her expression so grave it seemed she might weep.
"What's with this guy...?"
Her hand trembled slightly, yet she gripped her sword hilt firmly.
Sosuke's heart sank. 'I'm done for!'
There was no way to warn her. No, to be precise, in that instant, he had no idea how to warn her!
Shout "Demon!"?
How could members of the Demon Slayer Corps possibly ignore a Demon?
Running at the mere mention of Demons was for ordinary people!
Say "Upper Moon Two"?
That would only make things worse. A big fish—even less reason to run! Even if they couldn't win, they'd still try to tear off a piece of flesh!
Wasn't that exactly what the Demon Slayer Corps was all about?
But the question remained: was this pointless suicide meaningful?
"I'll hold him off! You run!" Sosuke gritted his teeth as he spoke.
Shinobu's expression flickered with surprise, but she didn't take her eyes off Doma. She calmly replied, "You can't possibly hold off Upper Moon Two. Besides, you're a swordsmith, and I'm a swordsman. It's my job to hold him off—you run!"
"Ah, how wonderful," Doma said, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth as he gently set down the corpse of the young girl. "I'll save her for later. I'll devour every last morsel. And look, another delicious meal has arrived."
Even as he spoke, Sosuke heard the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps.
Without needing to turn around, the figure had already fluttered down beside him like a butterfly in the blink of an eye.
In the flickering firelight, her face was etched with solemn caution. But in the next instant, her gaze softened as she turned to Sosuke.
A fleeting moment of tenderness, warm enough to reach the depths of his heart.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice was as gentle as a fragrant breeze.
"I came to... deliver your sword."
Sosuke let out a soft breath. He opened the box in his hand and drew out the Nichirin Blade.
_____
P.S.: It's nearly 3,000 words long—For not cutting it into parts, I think I deserve your power stones.