"The Sword is flawless, as if treated with Iron Stem Grass sap. The edge has been meticulously re-sharpened and tempered—the heat control must have been precise. After the reforging, there's no trace of the repair work; it's seamless. If I were to say this was a brand-new Nichirin Blade, well... people would believe it, wouldn't they?"
Techinn scrutinized the sword with intense focus. Hearing his words, the surrounding swordsmiths' gazes shifted, their eyes now fixed on Tetsu no Sosuke with renewed interest.
Tetsu no Sosuke was bewildered. What was going on? Just moments ago, he had been dismissed as worthless, and now he was being praised to the heavens?
A slap followed by a sweet treat?
"What's most remarkable is that such a meticulous repair was completed in such a short time," Techinn said, turning to Sosuke. "You've grown, Sosuke."
"...I guess so," Sosuke replied, scratching his head. "Um, can I have my Sun of genesis back now?"
Techinn fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Take this Nichirin Blade to the Guest Country Inn and find the guest there. If she's satisfied with the repair, you can have your sword back."
"Ah? Oh."
Sosuke nodded, accepting the Nichirin Blade Techinn had sent over. He suddenly froze.
Take this blade to the guest?
What guest?
After a moment's thought, it must be the blade's original owner, right?
Who is that?
The Flower Pillar... Kanae!
'A reunion already? Won't it be awkward?'
'Come to think of it, she shouldn't recognize me so easily, even with the mask I was wearing back then, right?'
He pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I'll go now."
Techinn waved his hand, and Sosuke turned to leave.
Only after he had gone did one of the swordsmiths speak up. "Village Chief, are you sure about this? Sosuke's repair of that blade was indeed impressive, but entrusting him with forging blades for the Nine Pillars... isn't that a bit..."
Techinn smiled. "A swordsman chooses their weapon, and a blacksmith chooses their swordsman. Neither can be accomplished by one party acting alone."
"Only when both sides feel a true connection can a weapon truly suited for its wielder be forged," Techinn explained. "That, in fact, is the most difficult part. Technique can be honed, but some things can only be achieved through fate."
The Guest Country Inn was the Swordsmith Village's lodging for visitors.
Not far from the Village Chief's residence, Sosuke made his way there, yawning repeatedly, his eyes barely able to stay open.
His mind raced with anxious thoughts about what he should say when they met.
"I spoke to her before. Would she recognize my voice? It's hard to say... I should probably alter my voice, maybe speak in a strained, higher pitch."
He experimented, managing to deepen his voice.
"As for my build, she probably wouldn't recognize me. After all, we were in the water back then. And in that kind of situation, it's hard to focus on someone's physique, right?"
Relief washed over him. He realized he'd never told her his name, most of his face had been hidden by his mask, and if he disguised his voice slightly, she'd have no way of knowing it was him.
"With that, at least I don't have to worry about her trying to slice me in half!"
Having made up his mind, he arrived at the inn in the blink of an eye.
A dedicated staff member greeted him. After explaining his purpose, he was ushered inside to announce his arrival.
Moments later, someone led him to the Flower Pillar's residence—a secluded courtyard. As he entered, he saw her standing beneath a lush, ancient tree, gazing up at the swirling petals that filled the sky. She reached out to catch them as they drifted down.
The flowers bloomed in vibrant profusion, making it impossible to say whether the woman or the blossoms were more beautiful.
Standing there, Sosuke found himself mesmerized.
The woman turned her head and smiled. "You must be Tetsu no Sosuke?"
"Mmm..." He managed a single syllable before realizing he'd forgotten to disguise his voice. Clearing his throat twice, he deliberately deepened his tone, making it low and restrained. "I am."
With that, he held out the repaired Nichirin Blade. "The Village Chief said this blade needed to be inspected by you."
As Kanae accepted the blade, she scrutinized Sosuke intently.
Feeling unnerved by her gaze, Sosuke wanted to look away, but he knew it would be inappropriate. He forced himself to remain still.
Thankfully, he wore a mask. Otherwise, Kanae would have seen the sweat beading on his forehead.
"Have we... met before?" she asked suddenly.
Sosuke's expression changed instantly. He shook his head vigorously. "No, we've never met."
"Oh my, that voice sounds so familiar!" Kanae's eyes lit up. "Why were you trying to deepen your voice just now?"
[ ... ] Sosuke wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground. His sudden outburst had been so abrupt that he'd forgotten to lower his voice.
Now that his true voice had been revealed, it had indeed been recognized.
'What should I do?'
Back at the hot spring, she hadn't drawn her sword because she was unarmed.
'But now... Hmm, now that I've painstakingly repaired her weapon, am I going to die by that very sword?'
The air seemed to grow still.
The rustle of wind, the falling petals, and the fragrant air—he couldn't tell if the scent came from the woman or the drifting blossoms.
"So, it's you."
In the quiet,Sosuke heard the words he least wanted to hear.
'I've been recognized!'
'Am I going to be killed now?'
But when he looked closer, he realized Kanae's face lacked the murderous intent he'd expected. Instead, a faint blush tinted her cheeks. Sensing his gaze, she turned away, shielding her face from his view. "Did you repair this sword?"
"Huh?" Sosuke blinked, surprised by the sudden change in topic. He immediately nodded. "Yes."
Clang!
The blade slid from its sheath. Sosuke instinctively closed one eye, keeping the other fixed on the Flower Pillar's movements.
If she ever showed the slightest urge to strike at him, he'd bolt in an instant.
Yet Kanae merely stared at the sword in her hand, seemingly oblivious to the world around her.
Sosuke opened his closed eye, torn between fleeing and staying, while another thought raced through his mind...
'How can I convince her to let me forge a Nichirin Blade for her?'
The conflicting emotions churning within him were something only he could truly understand.
On one hand, he feared Kanae's wrath over the Hot Spring incident and remained poised to flee at any moment.
On the other hand, he desperately wanted to prevent her death at Doma's hands and wished to forge her a superior Nichirin sword.
As he wrestled with his dilemma, Kanae spoke.
"Thank you for repairing it."
Her voice, like the scent of flowers carried on the breeze, was light and airy. Though seemingly devoid of strength, each word struck deep into his heart.
Sosuke froze, his heart clenching. He let out a wry chuckle. 'This feeling... this is bad!'