"Greetings, Thunder Hashira-sama. I am the village chief here, Tecchin Tecchikawahara. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
The old man, surrounded by several burly men, spoke in a light, airy tone.
"In this village, the smallest man holds the highest rank."
The chief of the Swordsmith Village, Tecchin Tecchikawahara, had white hair, wore a Hyottoko mask, and was so small he looked no different from a child. Seated formally on the tatami, he bowed to Sui.
Sui took out a wooden box containing the fragments of Hachiku. Though the blade itself had snapped, the guard remained intact. She still remembered how much effort Haganezuka had poured into that tsuba, even commissioning a master craftsman for it, so she had brought it along.
"So this is the Nichirin Blade that slew Upper Rank Three."
Tecchin accepted the box with a tone of wonder.
"Remarkable. Even shattered into pieces, it still possesses this kind of beauty. But that Haganezuka brat's skill is still lacking. If he'd been any better, Thunder Hashira-sama might have killed the other demon too."
"However, that boy has gone missing for now, and we've already sent people to look for him. Please bear with us for the time being, and forgive the inconvenience," Tecchin said.
"It's no trouble," Sui replied with a shake of her head.
"That child has always been like this," Tecchin sighed. "He throws a fit and vanishes without a trace."
"The fact that he caused trouble for Thunder Hashira-sama is unacceptable. We can't let that slide. It's all that boy's fault. A blade he forged actually broke, forcing Thunder Hashira-sama to make this precious trip in person."
There was something rather terrifying in the way Tecchin said it so lightly.
"But then again, the reason I invited Thunder Hashira-sama to the Swordsmith Village was because I wish to forge your blade personally. I hope you'll oversee the entire process and point out any shortcomings."
He bowed once more.
"Please do not refuse. After all, you are the first swordsman in more than a century to slay an Upper Rank demon and return unscathed. To forge a Nichirin Blade for you would be the highest honor for any swordsmith."
Behind him, the broad-shouldered men all slammed their foreheads into the floor.
"The Swordsmith Village is at your service. Please instruct us well!"
"I've also heard that Thunder Hashira-sama's eyes were injured in that battle and haven't fully recovered. The hot springs in our village are highly nourishing to the body, so please take the opportunity to rest properly."
Tecchin waved a hand.
"As for the cursed blade, it isn't a field our Swordsmith Village is familiar with, so we asked the Kakushi to invite a renowned blade collector from the capital. He should already be on his way."
…
"The hot spring is just up this slope," the swordsmith guiding her said. "It is said to be effective for cuts, burns, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, constipation, gout, heartbreak, and many other ailments, so please rest well."
"It can even cure heartbreak?" Sui asked.
"It can," the swordsmith replied with complete seriousness.
"Then that truly is miraculous."
"I'll prepare your dinner below. It's already late, so I hope you'll turn in early tonight."
After bowing, the swordsmith departed.
Sui slowly made her way up the slope and stretched. Beneath her long skirt, the tall, supple lines of her body showed clearly—an enviable figure any girl might covet.
She slipped off her haori and Corps uniform, removed her earrings and hairpin, and sank into the hot spring.
Her dark blue-black hair drifted like seaweed in the water.
Bubbles rose around her.
"This is even better than Mr. Fujiwara's hot spring," she thought.
"S-Sui-sama? Ah? It really is Sui-sama? I'm not dreaming, am I?"
A small, hesitant murmur reached her ears. She turned and found Kurobane Chiyo there—the frail girl who had nearly died during Final Selection.
At that moment, the girl's face was full of disbelief.
"So it's little Chiyo. Long time no see." Sui rose slightly from the water and smiled at her.
"Sui-sama, I…"
The girl edged closer, then retreated.
"I'll go find another bath."
Sui understood her immediately.
"Stay here and soak with me. I'd like to hear how you've been since then."
"Sui-sama, really? But you're a Hashira now. Everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps has heard that you killed an Upper Rank demon. They say you're the strongest swordsman the Corps has seen in over a hundred years."
"Then as a Hashira, I order Kurobane Tsuguko to attend to me while I bathe," Sui said with a smile.
"Eh… y-yes, ma'am!"
The girl bowed to her with grave seriousness.
Not long after, Sui fell silent.
Because Kurobane Chiyo was actually scrubbing her body with the utmost seriousness, fully treating herself as a subordinate.
"Sui-sama's skin is unbelievably nice. And there's almost no visible muscle definition—I'm so jealous."
The girl raised her arm, and with the slightest flex, smooth, elegant muscle swelled beneath the skin. A strong body was a necessity for demon slaying. A body like Sui's, with almost no visible signs of training, was the real oddity.
"What happened?" Sui asked.
"What do you mean?" Kurobane Chiyo blinked.
"Your face."
A claw scar ran diagonally across the girl's delicate face, from forehead to nose and cheek, with fresh stitch marks still visible—hideous and severe.
"Oh, this…" The girl scratched her head. "I got caught by an Ability Demon on a recent mission…"
Then, as if remembering something, she brightened.
"Oh, Sui-sama, do you remember that big, sturdy idiot who mouthed off to you and Wind Hashira-sama on the day Final Selection ended?"
Sui nodded.
"I remember. He was built well enough that even after getting knocked flying, he was completely fine."
"He's talented, actually. I heard he reached Otsu rank not long ago. He's just got way too much pride. Still, I'm grateful to him. During that mission against the Ability Demon, he saved my life."
"Though after it was over, he mocked me nonstop and said things like, 'Just quit the Corps already. Trash like you only stays around to drag people down. You got saved by Thunder Hashira at Final Selection, and now I had to save you too. You've got nothing except luck.'"
The girl sighed.
"Sui-sama… maybe I really don't have any talent."
"So he doesn't hold any grudge against me?" Sui asked.
"How could he?" the girl said. "Once you start hunting demons for real, you realize how hard everyone's working, how hard everyone's fighting just to survive. No Corps member would resent someone like you, Sui-sama. Because swordsmen like you are always the ones going to the most dangerous places, killing the most dangerous demons."
"Back then, you and Shinazugawa-sama both became famous Hashira. Meanwhile, I can't even handle stronger demons on my own."
"Oh, right! Do you remember, Sui-sama? I heard he was sent on a mission not too long ago, and the place was a mountain somewhere near Osaka. There was an incredibly powerful demon there—one even Wind Hashira-sama had a hard time with."
"And later, that same place became where you killed the Upper Rank demon. The Kasugai crows said that after Thunder Hashira arrived, not a single Corps member died. Maybe he was standing in some corner watching you."
Something stirred faintly in Sui's heart.
She thought she had seen the person the girl was talking about.
He had a physique far sturdier than his peers and was an Otsu-ranked swordsman.
He was the body that had served as Yorimitsuki's substitute death.
Damn it all.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 138)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter160)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter98)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter175)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 163
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 150
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 100
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 170
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 145
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 125
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 69
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 90
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 100
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 70
Uma Musume: I Want All 90
I Can Copy Unique Skills 65
Summoning an Evil God, but the 52
Supernatural Multiverse 65
My Harem Is Indescribable 55
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 55
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 66
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 55
Still playing traditional Honk 35
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 35
What Should I Do After Switchi 24
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 35
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 27
Transmigrated as Sukuna 27
Checking In in Demon Slayer 32
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