Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
---
On the new site of the Swordsmith village.
The swordsmiths and civilians wearing the Fore God masks were orderly moving boxes of ores and sword parts into an old house for storage.
They began cleaning up their choice of residence.
The streets were bustling with activity. After all, everyone had survived the ordeal.
"Hey, are we going to forge swords tonight?"
"We can compare!"
"Tsk, losers."
"Bastard! What did you say!?"
Similar lively conversations were heard one after another on the streets.
"Oh! It's the Flame Hashira!"
The swordsmiths turned around and consciously made way.
Although the other Hashira were sometimes unrecognizable, the Flame Hashira was always the pillar that everyone recognized at a glance.
Whether it's the swordsmiths, the kakushi, or the ranked members.
In addition, their warm and cheerful personality, which has been a trait passed down from generations, makes them very respected and loved.
Shinjuro was carrying his teapot with him. His eyelids drooping as his other hand rested on his broken Nichirin blade. He walked down the street aimlessly.
After pushing past several people who were celebrating their new life with a bottle of sake, he stopped in front of a house, and someone was sweeping the dust.
Shinjuro stood there for a while, squinting his eyes. He was trying to figure out the identity of the person in front of this house and searching for a similarity on the Fire God mask.
He decided to walk into the house and parted the curtain at the door.
"Wait a moment before coming in; I'm still cleaning." The man didn't turn around to face Shinjuro and kept sweeping his broom.
"Tell the chief that he shouldn't think about driving me away again after calling me back this time!"
"That old bastard..."
Thump.
Shinjuro casually placed his teapot on the table in front of him. "It's me."
"You already forged my sword, right?" He said.
The man paused slightly in his action and turned around.
"Ah, yes, I didn't expect that your comeback would bring me back as well." His voice was filled with complaints. His hand moved up to his mask and removed it.
In the swordsmith village, it is considered taboo to remove your mask for any reason.
The face that greeted Shinjuro... was the same face as the owner of the old izakaya that Shinjuro frequented.
"Hmph." The man smiled.
He walked to a corner of the room and rummaged through his luggage to search for a long box.
After a few seconds, he found the box, placed it on the table, and opened it.
Shinjuro didn't say anything. He put his broken blade down and picked up the new one. Both men nodded; an understanding passed between them that only a lifelong co-worker could convey.
Holding his brand-new blade, Shinjuro walked out of the house. He raised his head and looked at the blue sky.
Raising his Nichirin blade in his hand.
The blade was a beautiful work of art with a flame-burning pattern along the body. Yet even though it seemed painted, it was not. Because Shinjuro can see his reflection clearly on the blade sides.
At the base of the blade, where the tsuba was, there were kanji characters written that said, "Exterminate All Evils."
"Those who were born strong should consider it their duty to help the weak."
Shinjuro snapped out of his daze and sheathed his sword back in its sheath. His eyes became firm as the embers of fire were slowly turning into an inferno again.
The words of his beloved wife, Rengoku Ruka, were echoing in his mind. A memory... and a promise.
---
-Location: The Chief House-
"Master."
The Swordsmith village chief was holding a small court in his house. One of the men sitting next to him held out a paper containing a drawing.
"This is the drawing that Kamado-san asked me to give you later."
"He requested that we make something like this for him."
The chief was sitting on a cattail hassock with a worried look on his face. Hearing his aide, the man turned his attention and took the drawing from his colleague while muttering angrily.
"Let me see... what kind of problem are you giving me this time?"
In the papers,
It looked like a blueprint to a structure that can be worn on the forearm and was made up of many small parts that also resembled an "arm."
The chief's mind went blank for a moment before his eyes lit up at the challenge in front of him.
"I accept."
---
---
-Location: Butterfly Mansion-
After settling the Tokito family.
The two brothers were practicing their swordsmanship when Shigeru and Takeo stumbled upon them in the garden.
The children decided that in order to take control of the garden, they must have a duel to see who is worthy of the kingdom of flowers and ponds.
Whoever was better with the swords gets to practice in the courtyard!
Suffice to say, Shigeru and Takeo were soundly defeated by the Tokito brothers. Shigeru and Takeo witnessed the brilliance of Yuichiro and Muichiro's swordsmanship, while both the Kamado children haven't learned any at all.
"This time, I'll let you have the courtyard!" Takeo pointed at Yuichiro and shouted with indignation and jealousy. Yuichiro didn't seem to acknowledge Takeo, though, as he turned away his head in arrogance.
Fuming helplessly, Takeo pulled Shigeru behind him, clutching the wooden sword in his hand. "Next time, I will never lose to you!"
"Hm... Good luck." Yuichiro said expressionlessly.
"...Bastard!"
Takeo clenched his fist as an angry vein popped on his forehead. He wished he could give this guy a punch.
While the kids were playing, Kie and Kaoru were sitting on the balcony overlooking the courtyard and serving tea to each other. Watching the scene, both mothers locked eyes and laughed.
---
On the other side of the mansion.
Tanjuro was walking along the corridor. He was deeply thinking about the recent information he acquired.
Kokushibo has a high possibility of betraying Muzan.
Then, does Muzan know his true identity?
Tanjuro thought that the appearance of Gyokko and Hantengu was probably because of Kokushibo's information about him, so Muzan sent those two to kill him after his humiliation and knowing Tanjuro, in fact, was not Yoriichi.
So Tanjuro was already prepared for any demon appearance.
But if Kokushibo hadn't been in contact with Muzan all this time... the encounter at the Swordsmith village gained a new meaning.
Tanjuro was thinking so deeply that he almost bumped into Sakonji at the corner of the hall.
Sakonji was just spending time with Takeo and Shigeru after their loss to the Tokito brothers. He was teaching them basic swordsmanship after they persistently asked him to and felt a long-lost sense of fulfillment.
Just as Sakonji politely nodded and walked away.
"Please wait a moment."
Tanjuro called out to Sakonji. His hand was feeling the ten paper dolls in his kimono pocket on his chest. Seeing the old man, Tanjuro had an idea. "Urokodaki-san."
Sakonji turned around to face him. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"Do you know if there is a place... suitable for practicing lightning?" Tanjuro put his other hand on his chin as he tried to describe the scene he had in his mind.
After his successful lightning reversal in this world,
Tanjuro had a faint premonition in his heart that the paper doll in the world of Demon Slayer was different than the one from Sekiro.
Most likely, it was because of the demon that had hurt too many people. The karma contained in the paper doll representing the longing and desire for revenge was strong.
In the Fountainhead Palace, the Okami warriors can use the Lightning of Tomoe with the help of the lapis lazuli or lazulite.
Perhaps, he could also use the paper doll to cast the jutsu.
But it was only his feeling, and he still needs to test his theory.
It is definitely not possible to experiment with Lightning of Tomoe in the Butterfly Mansion.
Urokodaki was slightly stunned at the request. 'Lightning...? like Thunder Breathing?'
Nevertheless, he nodded and told Tanjuro to follow him.
They moved very fast.
After about an hour,
The two came to a mountainous area that was extremely barren, with only a few trees that could be seen in the distance.
"This is the place." Sakonji said and turned to face Tanjuro.
Tanjuro's words were a little vague to understand, but Sakonji was used to communicating with Giyu. Thus, when Tanjuro asked about a place to "practice lightning," he instantly remembered this place.