"I'm so sorry to trouble you again," the woman said, her voice as gentle as a warm spring breeze carrying the scent of flowers.
Tecchin shook his head. "Flower Hashira, you're too kind. This is our duty. Compared to the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen who risk their lives battling demons, our work is nothing. If we can provide them with reliable weapons that prove useful in combat, that's the greatest satisfaction for us swordsmiths."
The Flower Pillar smiled slightly, about to speak when a commotion arose outside the door.
Tecchin glanced toward the noise. "What's happening out there?"
A moment later, someone entered to report, "Village Chief, Kotetsu has brought Sosuke's newly completed blade."
"Oh?" Tecchin's voice held a hint of surprise. "It's actually finished?"
The Flower Hashira asked curiously, "Is it a new Nichirin Sword?"
"No," Tecchin shook his head. "It's a child from the village who isn't yet qualified to forge a Nichirin Sword. But he's been working very hard lately, and I wanted to gauge his progress, so I sent him to retrieve it."
"I see," the Flower Hashira nodded. "Why don't we bring the blade in and take a look together? I'm quite curious about the progress of a budding swordsmith."
Tecchin hesitated briefly before agreeing. "Very well."
He called out, and soon the 'Sun of Genesis' blade was brought in.
Tecchin gazed at the pitch-black scabbard and shook his head in exasperation. It's just a practice weapon. Why bother with all this?
The Flower Hashira leaned forward eagerly as the 'Sun of Genesis'' was presented to Tecchin.
He took the blade and paused, surprised. "It's remarkably light."
Grasping the hilt, he drew the blade just an inch, yet its razor-sharp edge was already fully revealed!
The pupils beneath the Fireman Mask flickered with astonishment, while the Flower Pillar's eyes lit up. "It looks quite impressive."
"Indeed, this is rather unexpected."
Tecchin fully unsheathed the blade, setting the scabbard aside. The pitch-black blade and chillingly sharp edge radiated a palpable aura of lethality even as he held it.
Tecchin held the blade horizontally before him, flicking his fingers against the side. The moment his finger touched the steel, the blade hummed with a resonant buzz.
"This..." Tecchin was momentarily stunned. The sword had exceeded all his expectations.
'Did Tetsu no Sosuke truly forge this?'
'This child's progress is terrifying!'
"May I examine it?" the Flower Pillar asked.
Tecchin snapped out of his daze and nodded. "My apologies."
He sheathed the blade and had it brought to the Flower Pillar.
The moment she held it, her eyes lit up slightly. With a clang, the blade slid from its sheath.
The sword felt entirely different in Tecchin's hands compared to the Flower Pillar's.
Tecchin was undoubtedly a master swordsmith. Many of the Nichirin Blades wielded by the Nine Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps had been forged by him.
But he was, after all, merely a swordsmith, not a swordsman.
The Flower Pillar, on the other hand, was a formidable warrior whose sword technique was unparalleled. The moment she grasped the blade, its lethal edge became palpable.
"This sword... I'm quite taken with it," she said, swinging it lightly. "It's remarkably light, and the balance is exquisite. A pity it's not a Nichirin Blade... Village Chief, would it be possible to commission this swordsmith to forge a Nichirin Blade for me?"
Tecchin fell silent for a moment before finally speaking. "Since the Flower Pillar, one of the Nine Pillars, has already voiced her request, it's not entirely out of the question. However, Tetsu no Sosuke has never forged a Nichirin Blade before, which raises doubts about his suitability for this task. While this blade is undoubtedly a masterpiece, a single blade can hardly demonstrate his current skill level."
The Flower Pillar's face fell slightly, but Tecchin continued, "However, if the Flower Pillar truly wishes for him to forge a Nichirin Blade for you, let him first familiarize himself with the materials used in Nichirin Blades. Since you've brought your damaged Nichirin Blade with you, let Tetsu no Sosuke repair it first. If he succeeds, it will prove his mastery of forging techniques has matured. In that case, we can allow him to forge a new Nichirin Blade for you. If he fails... Flower Pillar, would you please abandon this idea?"
"Of course!"
The Flower Pillar's heart leaped with joy. Just when she thought she had reached a dead end, the Village Chief had shown her a clear path forward.
Moreover, his words made perfect sense.
If this person had only stumbled upon crafting a masterpiece by sheer luck, entrusting him with forging her Nichirin Blade would be akin to gambling with her life.
Therefore, it was indeed wise to test him first.
Success would prove his skill, and she would obtain a Nichirin Blade tailored to her needs, granting her a significant advantage in battle!
With newfound resolve, she sheathed her sword, returned it to Tecchin, and said, "Actually, I came here for another reason as well. The wounds I sustained in battle require treatment in your hot springs..."
____
Tetsu no Sosuke thoroughly tested Sun Breathing.
Overall, the process was excruciating.
During the breathing technique, his blood flow accelerated, and his heart pounded like a drum in his ears. Even a brief exertion drained his stamina completely!
"How am I supposed to maintain Constant Concentration with this?" Sosuke wondered, his head throbbing.
Total Concentration was an advanced mode of the Breathing Technique, where one maintained Total Concentration Breathing throughout daily life.
In martial arts terms, it was akin to practicing boxing in every action—walking, standing, sitting and lying down.
In practice, this meant keeping the body in the Breathing Technique state at all times—while drinking, eating, sleeping, urinating... Gradually conditioning the body to this constant state until one's physical capabilities reached an absurdly high level.
But right now, Sosuke felt like he was on the verge of death after just a few cycles of Total Concentration Breathing with Sun Breathing.
At this rate, when would he ever achieve Total Concentration?
However, he wasn't one to wallow in setbacks. He quickly recovered from his difficult predicament.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach great distances. Just as a single drop of water can wear through stone... Well, enough with the proverbs! History has taught us countless times that success comes from taking things one step at a time. Is it hard? What in this world is easy? Just do it! Action leads to success. With persistence, there's no mountain too high to climb!"
Having pumped himself up, he noticed a mischievous child sprinting toward him like a pair of flaming wheels, closing the distance in a flash.
The child was still holding a sword...
'Is he returning it? I wonder what the Village Chief will say?'
But as he thought this, he realized something was off about the sword in the child's hand.