Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi

"So this is the so-called Crimson Blade," Sisho mused, feeling the warmth radiating from the Nichirin Blade, his eyes filled with delight. "What a fine sword."

He stopped circulating the Breath of the Sun, and the once-crimson blade slowly reverted to its black state.

"Sisho, it seems you're very fond of this Nichirin Blade," Tetsukawa walked over and congratulated him.

"Yes. I have a feeling this blade will be with me for my entire life," Sisho said with a smile, running his fingers over the blade and feeling its residual warmth. "I just don't know where I'll find a scabbard for it."

Tetsukawa laughed heartily and clapped his hands, calling out to Kinsaki and the others behind him. "See, I told you our preparations wouldn't be in vain! Pay up!"

Kinsaki and the others gave a wry smile and shouted in unison:

"I, Kinsaki, admit defeat and confess that I am a pig today!"

"I, Tetsuko, admit defeat and confess that I am a pig today!"

After their declarations, they jogged off, looking like they were fetching something.

Having won his bet, a satisfied Tetsukawa explained, "As they say, a hero deserves a beauty, and a fine sword deserves a hero. A good blade must also have a worthy scabbard. Long before the forging began, we prepared a scabbard exclusively for this Nichirin Blade! Trust me, you will be satisfied."

A short while later, Kinsaki and Tetsuko returned, carrying a massive chest between them. They set it down with a thud and collapsed to the ground, panting.

Stroking the surface of the chest, Tetsukawa's expression was a mixture of reverence and envy. "Inside this chest is a scabbard forged by the very first generation of smiths in our village. It has been enshrined in our temple for generations, waiting for a Nichirin Blade worthy of it! Now, Sisho, this scabbard is yours!"

With that, Tetsukawa opened the chest, unwrapped layers of protective cloth, and lifted out the scabbard. It was a deep ink-blue, slightly longer than the Nichirin Blade, just enough to sheath it perfectly. Its surface was engraved with a series of mysterious patterns, like a blessing or a sacred trust. Better still, the scabbard itself was not heavy and wouldn't hinder Sisho's movements in the slightest.

Shing~

Sisho slid the Nichirin Blade into the scabbard and was amazed to find they fit together perfectly, as if they were originally one and the same.

Fate is a truly wondrous thing, he thought, securing it to his waist. "Thank you, Village Chief Tetsukawa. I am more than satisfied with the scabbard. I promise it will accompany me for my entire life, just like this blade!"

Seeing the majestic and heroic figure of Sisho before him, Tetsukawa was deeply moved. "Good, good, I'm glad you like it. The scabbard has finally found its true master." Wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, he roared, "Alright lads, to celebrate, tonight we drink to our hearts' content!"

"YEAH!"

Watching the cheering men, Sisho couldn't help but smile along with them.

Late that night, after the celebration had ended, Sisho was resting in the room Tetsukawa had arranged for him. The party was supposed to be an attempt by the smiths to get him drunk, but his simple statement, "I can't drink," had brought them to the tragic realization of his age. The memory of their resentful glares as they drank their sorrows away made Sisho chuckle. This trip to the Swordsmith Village had been incredibly fruitful.

Besides gaining a peerless blade, his forging skill had also improved.

Skill: Grandmaster Forging (3,000,000 / 10,000,000)

After forging the Nichirin Blade, his skill had skyrocketed directly to the Grandmaster level, his first skill to reach such a rank. By Sisho's estimation, his current forging technique had probably surpassed even Tetsukawa's. If he wanted to, he could theoretically forge another blade of this quality. Of course, he knew this was only a theoretical possibility. If miracles happened frequently, they wouldn't be called miracles.

I should head back tomorrow.

Turning over, feeling a bit tired, Sisho decided to sleep. Just then, Tetsukawa's voice came from outside the door. "Sisho, it's me, Tetsukawa. Are you asleep?"

Though he didn't know why Tetsukawa would seek him out so late, Sisho replied, "No, I'm awake. Come in."

Tetsukawa slid the door open and entered. With him was another person.

Tetsuko!

The moment he entered, Tetsuko immediately dropped to his knees and performed a deep bow to Sisho. "Mr. Sisho, thank you so much for what you did today. If you hadn't intervened, I, Tetsuko, would have been a corpse by now."

Waving his hand, Sisho shook his head with a small smile. "It was nothing. If we're talking about thanks, I should be the one thanking all of you for helping me forge this sword. Without you, I would never have obtained such a fine blade."

Hearing such high praise, Tetsuko quickly looked up, flustered. "Not at all, not at all! To be able to participate in this forging was the greatest honor for us swordsmiths."

After saying that, Tetsuko fell silent. He bit his lip, his expression conflicted, as if he wanted to say something more.

His uncle, Tetsukawa, glanced at him, his face flushed from drinking, and grew impatient. He kicked Tetsuko in the rear and poked him in the head. "If you have something to say, say it! You're a man in your thirties, stop dithering!"

Prodded by his uncle, the introverted Tetsuko finally summoned his courage and voiced his request. "Mr. Sisho, I have heard that you are an inheritor of the Breath of the Sun. I humbly request to... to preserve your swordsmanship!"

Confused, Sisho didn't understand what he meant. It didn't seem like Tetsuko himself wanted to learn the Breath of the Sun. So what did he mean by "preserving" his swordsmanship?

Unable to watch any longer, Tetsukawa cleared his throat and explained. "My nephew here, aside from his talent in forging, is also a genius with mechanics. His lifelong dream, besides forging a peerless blade, is to use his mechanical skills to perfectly replicate the sword arts of a powerful swordsman, preserving them for all time. He fulfilled his first dream this morning. Now, he's here to fulfill his second."

As soon as Tetsukawa finished, Tetsuko quickly added, "Yes! I know my skills might not be enough, but I will do my absolute best! So, I beg of you!"

With a loud thud, he pressed his forehead to the floor, his body trembling with emotion.

"I vow to preserve your sword arts for eternity!"

Tetsukawa sat quietly to the side, saying nothing more. Tonight, he was merely a spectator and a guide; he would not interfere in the conversation between Sisho and Tetsuko.

Sisho fell silent, quietly observing the kneeling man.

Tetsuko remained in his bowing position, his mind in turmoil. He knew his request was selfish and that he had nothing to offer in return. All he could do was wait.

After what felt like an eternity, Sisho's voice finally broke the silence in the room.

"I think... if Master Yoriichi were here, he would agree."

With that, Sisho stood up, walked to the nearby rack, and took up his Nichirin Blade.

"The Breath of the Sun comes next. You had better watch closely!"

-------

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