Chapter 21: The Color-Changing Blades
"I believe this demon must have lived on Mount Fujikasane for a very long time, slowly growing stronger by consuming each batch of participants," Hakuya analyzed thoughtfully.
Urokodaki Sakonji didn't respond immediately. Instead, he pondered for a long moment before offering his theory: "Perhaps it's a demon I captured in my youth. I don't know how that creature managed to survive for so long. To prevent the demons imprisoned on Mount Fujikasane from consuming too many people and becoming overly powerful, the Demon Slayer Corps clears the mountain every five years and imprisons a fresh batch of demons."
"Perhaps that demon deliberately concealed itself so it could one day seek revenge against me," Urokodaki said with a long, weary sigh.
Hakuya wasn't surprised by this revelation, as the situation was essentially what he had suspected.
Sighing again, Urokodaki took a sip of hot tea from his cup and paused for a moment before looking at Hakuya and saying, "However, this year marks the fifth anniversary. Since you eliminated every demon on Mount Fujikasane, you've saved the Demon Slayer Corps considerable effort."
"Hakuya, Tanjiro—although you've both passed Final Selection, you must not become overconfident. As I mentioned, the demons that Mount Fujikasane uses for selection are relatively weak compared to what you'll face in the field."
"The demons you'll encounter in actual missions will be far more powerful than those on Mount Fujikasane. Unlike the basic demons there, these creatures may wield Blood Demon Arts—supernatural abilities similar to sorcery. You must exercise extreme caution when fighting them!"
Upon hearing this, Tanjiro suddenly interjected, "Wait—I think Nezuko is different from other demons. Is it because of these Blood Demon Arts?"
Urokodaki immediately shook his head in denial. "Not exactly. Your sister's condition doesn't fall under the category of Blood Demon Arts. My theory is that Nezuko, in order to avoid feeding on human flesh, has chosen to rely on sleep to sustain herself instead."
Hearing Urokodaki's explanation, Tanjiro's face lit up with joy, as if he were genuinely happy for his sister's choice to resist her demonic nature.
"I'm full! Tanjiro—I'll leave the cleanup to you!" Hakuya said contentedly, setting down his bowl and chopsticks.
Tanjiro's face showed resignation, but he couldn't refuse his senior's request.
Fifteen Days Later
On a crisp morning on Mount Sagiri, a peculiar man walked along the mountain path carrying a long box wrapped in silk cloth on his back. He wore a brown kimono decorated with sun patterns and a wide-brimmed hat adorned with wind chimes that tinkled sweetly in the gentle breeze.
The man walked leisurely through the mountains, finally arriving at the cabin where Hakuya and Tanjiro were staying.
Urokodaki Sakonji, who had been meditating in the cabin, heard the distinctive chimes and said to Tanjiro, "Tanjiro, we have a guest. Go greet them."
"A guest?"
Tanjiro paused in confusion, but Hakuya immediately understood: "The swordsmith is here."
Those simple words made everything clear to Tanjiro, and he quickly rose to greet the visitor outside.
Outside, Tanjiro saw the man who had brought their swords. Facing this mysterious figure, Tanjiro was unsure how to begin the conversation.
"Um..."
Tanjiro had barely spoken when the man took the initiative to introduce himself: "My name is Haganezuka Hotaru, and I forged and delivered the Nichirin blades for Hakuya and Kamado Tanjiro."
Upon hearing this, Tanjiro bowed respectfully to Haganezuka and said, "I am Kamado Tanjiro, and Hakuya is my senior. Please, come inside!"
However, Haganezuka sat down with his back to Tanjiro, then removed the long box from his back as if preparing to retrieve its contents. He said, "This is the Nichirin blade—a sword I personally forged."
Seeing that Haganezuka had no intention of entering the house, Tanjiro felt somewhat helpless and tried again: "Well, please come inside first! I'll make you some tea!"
Haganezuka still showed no interest in entering, continuing to speak as if to himself: "The raw materials for Nichirin blades can be mined on the mountain closest to the sun. We use Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Crimson Ore to forge steel that absorbs sunlight."
"Really?" To avoid an awkward silence, Tanjiro felt obligated to respond.
"After all, Mount Sunlight is a mountain bathed in sunshine all year round." At that moment, Haganezuka stood and pointed toward the distant sun.
Inside the cabin, Urokodaki muttered somewhat helplessly, "This man is as socially oblivious as ever."
Suddenly, Haganezuka turned and brought his face close to Tanjiro's. Tanjiro was startled by the grotesque Hyottoko mask covering Haganezuka's face and instinctively stepped back.
"Oh! You're a Child of Brightness! That's very auspicious!" Haganezuka said, examining Tanjiro through his mask with evident surprise.
"No, I'm the son of Tanjuro and Kie," Tanjiro quickly corrected him.
"That's not what I meant!"
Haganezuka pointed at Tanjiro's distinctive features. "Your hair and eyes are red, aren't they? Families who work with fire consider children like you auspicious!"
Then Haganezuka poked Tanjiro's cheek with his finger.
Tanjiro finally understood and could only reply awkwardly, "Is that so? I didn't know that!"
"Your blade might turn bright red! Right, Urokodaki?" Haganezuka called into the house.
Urokodaki responded from inside with a deep, affirmative grunt.
Haganezuka then entered the cabin with the forged Nichirin blades, and Tanjiro quickly followed behind him.
Haganezuka seated himself next to Urokodaki Sakonji, while Tanjiro returned to his spot beside Hakuya and began preparing tea for their guest.
Haganezuka placed two sheathed Nichirin blades before Hakuya and Tanjiro. Then he looked at Hakuya with interest and remarked, "What an unusual hair color! Two colors—though the blue is just at the tips."
At that moment, Tanjiro handed the prepared tea to Haganezuka, saying, "Haganezuka-san, please have some tea."
Regarding Hakuya's hair, after his initial demon transformation ability awakened, his black hair had gradually turned milky white over time. After two years of intensive training on Mount Sagiri—perhaps because he had completely mastered Water Breathing—the tips of Hakuya's hair had begun turning a distinctive blue color.
Hakuya couldn't fully explain this transformation, but the rare coloring certainly made him stand out even more.
After finishing his tea, Haganezuka was eager to see what colors Hakuya and Tanjiro's Nichirin blades would reveal.
"Hurry and draw your swords! Your names are engraved on the scabbards—see which one belongs to you!" Haganezuka urged, waving his hand impatiently.
Tanjiro eagerly took the Nichirin blade bearing his name. Hakuya, who already possessed his superior system-granted blade, wasn't particularly excited, but out of respect for Haganezuka's craftsmanship, he still accepted his designated sword.
"The Nichirin blade is also known as the Color-Changing Sword. It changes color depending on its wielder," Haganezuka explained with pride.
Tanjiro couldn't help but draw his Nichirin blade immediately, examining it with wonder.
Seconds later, the originally silver blade in Tanjiro's hand began changing color—starting from the tip and gradually spreading throughout the entire length.
The blade turned completely pitch black, leaving Tanjiro staring in awe.
"Black!"
Haganezuka suddenly shouted with clear dissatisfaction in his tone, his entire body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
"Black?" Urokodaki murmured calmly, though his tone carried a hint of concern.
Seeing Haganezuka's agitated reaction, Tanjiro became nervous too and asked worriedly, "Is black a bad color? Is it unlucky?"
Urokodaki quickly explained to reassure him: "No, it's not like that. Black is simply extremely rare—we don't see it often."
Haganezuka couldn't contain his disappointment and yelled dramatically, "I thought I would see a brilliant crimson blade! Damn it!"
After his outburst, Haganezuka suddenly lunged forward, grabbed Tanjiro, and locked him in a wrestling hold.
Tanjiro froze, not daring to struggle, and could only cry out, "It hurts! It hurts! Haganezuka-san, please calm down! You're thirty-seven years old—stop acting like a child!"
Without a hint of embarrassment, Haganezuka replied earnestly, "I'm actually thirty-seven!"
Hakuya ignored their commotion and curiously drew his own Nichirin blade, genuinely interested to see what color it would become.
As Hakuya unsheathed the blade, seconds later, the metal began transforming.
Aqua blue and deep emerald green appeared on the blade's surface, distributed unevenly and seeming to clash against each other.
Finally, the two colors settled into a pattern—the deep green and sky blue compressed against each other creating wave-like ripples on one side of the blade, while the other side displayed a solid emerald green.
"Two colors!"
Urokodaki, sitting nearby, showed unusual shock upon seeing Hakuya's Nichirin blade.
Hearing Urokodaki's exclamation, Haganezuka immediately released Tanjiro and rushed over to Hakuya, examining the dual-colored blade from extremely close range.
"It actually has two colors! How is this possible?" Haganezuka was thoroughly confused, having never seen such a phenomenon.
"Please, let me examine the sword more closely!" Haganezuka said excitedly, reaching for the Nichirin blade.
Hakuya had no objection and willingly handed it over.
At this point, even Urokodaki couldn't help but move closer, studying Hakuya's extraordinary dual-colored Nichirin blade alongside the bewildered swordsmith.
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