Half a month after leaving Mount Fujikasane, Sakonji Urokodaki's Kasugai Crow brought news that the Nichirin Blade and uniform would soon be delivered.
Upon receiving the news, Sakonji Urokodaki had Kurozawa wait on the road at the foot of the mountain.
At the foot of Mount Sagiri, Kurozawa stood leaning against a tree several people could wrap their arms around, his arms crossed. He looked bored, but in reality, his blood was surging and his muscles were pulsing.
Kurozawa was using Total Concentration Breathing, refining his physique.
Although he had Gray-White's help, Kurozawa was also a very diligent person himself.
Moreover, the power Gray-White amplified each time was considerable. If his body hadn't fully adapted to such sudden power, he might accidentally do something like truly burst out of a door.
Kurozawa's training at this time not only refined his body but also allowed him to integrate the abilities gained from Gray-White into himself, preventing situations where he couldn't control his own power.
Power that couldn't be controlled would often harm both the user and others; it was better not to have it.
Ding-a-ling-ling. A sound like wind chimes tinkling echoed from ahead. Kurozawa looked up.
A broad, round hat adorned with something resembling wind chimes was the first thing that entered Kurozawa's sight.
Following that was a face wearing a comical Hyottoko mask beneath the wide hat.
Behind him, he carried a large wooden box on his back, which looked quite heavy, yet the person's waist didn't bend at all.
"Impressive strength."
The small section of the person's arm exposed from his sleeve showed knotted and twisted muscles, indicating significant strength at a glance.
"Hotaru Haganezuka?"
As the masked person passed by, Kurozawa spoke up to ask.
"It's me." The masked person turned his head and saw Kurozawa waiting by the roadside.
"So this is the swordsmith Master mentioned. It's my first time seeing a swordsmith."
"Come with me."
Kurozawa dispersed his Breathing Technique and walked ahead to lead the way.
He reached out, wanting to help Hotaru Haganezuka take down the large wooden box on his back, but Hotaru Haganezuka shook his head and refused.
"Don't underestimate swordsmiths! I'm not some frail, useless person who can only be protected!"
"I could carry twice this and still manage!"
Since the person said so, Kurozawa withdrew his hand, but he found it a bit strange that Hotaru Haganezuka had come to deliver the sword himself.
"I heard that Kakushi members are supposed to deliver the sword and uniform. As a swordsmith, why did you come yourself, and without any swordsman escort? Aren't you afraid of encountering Demons?"
The location of the Swordsmith Village was very hidden, Kurozawa didn't know it, but it was highly unlikely to be very close to Mount Sagiri.
Seeing Hotaru Haganezuka's dusty appearance, it seemed he had traveled a considerable distance.
"I already told you not to think of swordsmiths as frail, you idiot!"
Hotaru Haganezuka turned to look at Kurozawa. Kurozawa could imagine the angry face beneath the mask.
This swordsmith had quite a temper.
"The Nichirin Blade was forged by me! I know how to use it better than you swordsmen!"
"Ordinary Demons? I can take on ten with one hand!"
Rolling up his sleeve, Hotaru Haganezuka showed off his robust muscles.
Judging by his next movement, he seemed ready to lift his shirt and show off his abs to Kurozawa as well.
Kurozawa quickly stopped him. He gave a thumbs-up, indicating that he was impressed.
"Alright, alright, I was wrong. I shouldn't have underestimated you. I admit, even an Upper Moon would be defeated by you."
Hotaru Haganezuka knew these words were praising him, but why did they sound so uncomfortable? Hmph, have you ever heard the name Onmyoji?
Kurozawa said with a smile, "You still haven't told me, why did you come to deliver the sword yourself?"
"Hmph, originally, the Kakushi were indeed supposed to deliver the sword and uniform."
"But I heard someone broke Master Urokodaki's Nichirin Blade! I came to see who did it!"
Hmm? Didn't I break it?
Kurozawa scratched his head and said, "I broke it."
Hotaru Haganezuka's steps suddenly halted. He abruptly turned his head and stared at Kurozawa's face.
His intense gaze made Kurozawa feel a little uneasy.
"Master said it can be repaired even if it's broken, it's no big deal."
Hotaru Haganezuka's gaze was a bit strange and familiar, which made Kurozawa unnaturally quicken his pace.
This swordsmith had a peculiar temper. It was better to have less contact with him.
"You broke... the Nichirin Blade..."
"Ah! Do you know how hard it is to forge a Nichirin Blade? Do you know how difficult it is to repair a Nichirin Blade?"
"Furthermore, Nichirin Blades cry too, you idiot!"
Hotaru Haganezuka was completely enraged as he spoke those words.
Kurozawa felt as if he could see invisible steam rising from his head; he was so angry he was practically smoking.
Clang! Hotaru Haganezuka reached behind his waist and pulled out a shiny kitchen knife. Then, he leaped forward and slashed at Kurozawa.
"Shit!"
Kurozawa was startled, then changed his footing and dodged the knife's chop.
He wanted to strike back, but at that moment, he remembered his master's solemn instructions.
"Kurozawa, the person bringing your sword is named Hotaru Haganezuka, a swordsmith."
"He has a rather peculiar temper. When he arrives... try to be accommodating."
At the time, Kurozawa readily agreed, but he never expected the peculiarity to be like this.
Because he had promised Sakonji Urokodaki, Kurozawa had no choice but to run and evade Hotaru Haganezuka's pursuit.
However, Kurozawa could tell that Hotaru Haganezuka wasn't truly going for the kill; he just wanted to teach him a lesson.
If Hotaru Haganezuka had been serious, Kurozawa would definitely have fought back. He wouldn't kill Hotaru Haganezuka, but he would disable his ability to move, even with Sakonji Urokodaki's words.
One chasing, one running, after more than ten minutes, the two arrived at Sakonji Urokodaki's house one after the other.
"Hotaru, that's enough."
Sakonji Urokodaki reached out and took the kitchen knife from Hotaru Haganezuka, saying it lightly.
Hotaru Haganezuka seemed to respect Sakonji Urokodaki greatly. He snorted coldly and then glared at Kurozawa again.
"Hmph, you brat, if you ever do something like that again, I'll really teach you a lesson."
"Hmph, I'll let you have one hand."
Having been chased with a kitchen knife the whole way, Kurozawa wasn't about to give him a pleasant look.
Hotaru Haganezuka had a peculiar temper, but Kurozawa wasn't going to indulge him just because his temper was weird.
Using a kitchen knife to chop people, what kind of strange temper was that?
"Alright, Kurozawa, both of you calm down for a bit."
Sakonji Urokodaki saw that the two were about to genuinely start fighting and stopped them in time.
Kurozawa still listened to his master's words, so he stopped making a sound.
The three walked inside the house. Hotaru Haganezuka put down the large wooden box on his back and then slowly opened it.
Nichirin Blades and Demon Slayer Corps uniforms were taken out one by one and placed on the tatami mats on the floor.
The hilt of each Nichirin Blade was wrapped with a small piece of paper with the corresponding swordsman's name written on it.
Kurozawa saw the one with his name written on it, so he picked it up. And the moment he picked up the Nichirin Blade.
The originally pure white blade body, from the base of the hilt, showed a deep, profound black color. The colors of the surrounding space seemed to be affected and became dim.
Subsequently, the black color climbed upward inch by inch at a speed visible to the naked eye, staining the entire Nichirin Blade body within a few breaths.
"The Nichirin Blade, also known as the Color-Changing Blade."
"It will display different colors depending on the user."
"Master Urokodaki, I thought I would see a brilliant blue blade again."
"I didn't expect it to be black."
"Black... and so dark, it's as if the blade can devour light. This is the first time I've seen something like this."
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