CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: SHARPNESS LEVEL OF 4!

Lunch was eaten under the watchful eyes of Shinobu and the attentive care of Kanae.

The afternoon was spent continuing sword training, and before he knew it, another day had passed.

The blade had taken shape, and he began the sharpening process.

During the forging of the previous Nichirin Blade, he had acquired a new skill.

This was his first time using it: Heavenly Craftsmanship Minor Art: Blade Sharpening Technique.

A specialized sharpening method, when applied, proved to yield a significantly sharper edge than his previous techniques.

’Could this mean I can forge weapons that surpass Sharpness Level 3?’

Sosuke’s eyes gleamed with excitement. With the blade sharpened, he moved on to the next stage of the process.

Throughout the day, he also forged the remaining components—the tsuba (sword guard), hilt, and other parts—but deliberately omitted the scabbard.

Because he didn’t need one... his scabbard was his hammer.

The day was consumed by these tasks, and the afternoon proceeded as usual. Before he knew it, it was the third day of forging this blade.

On this day, just before assembling the sword, Sosuke finally received a reply from Tomioka.

The message was simple, just one sentence: Awaiting your arrival at any time.

If anyone else had received this, they would likely have imagined Tomioka as impossibly aloof, as if he had agreed to the request with reluctance.

Moreover, the long delay in responding, followed by such a brief and insincere reply, would have given the impression that he didn’t take the matter seriously at all.

But Sosuke actually understood Tomioka quite well.

He remembered a scene from the original story where Tomioka, upon hearing from Tanjiro that the Wind Pillar enjoyed hagi mochi, decided to carry hagi mochi with him every day from then on, so he could offer it to the Wind Pillar whenever they met...

’This guy... he’s just completely hopeless at interacting with people.’

’And utterly incapable of expressing his true feelings.’

’His heart is actually incredibly kind, yet he comes across as cold as ten thousand years of frozen ice.’

Sighing, Sosuke decided not to reply. He would simply visit Tomioka in person later.

He assembled the Nichirin Blade and held it in his hand.

[Weapon forging successful!]

[Current weapon sharpness level: 4]

[Forging bonus: Strength +40, Constitution +40, Agility +40, Speed +40]

[Reward obtained: Heavenly Craftsmanship Minor Art: Mechanisms (I)!]

Power surged through his body, a long-forgotten sensation. In an instant, his mind and body felt clear and refreshed, his brain flooded with clarity as strength coursed through every fiber of his being.

"My first weapon with a sharpness level of 4! As expected, the attribute bonus increased to 40. But if I can only forge weapons of this level consistently, the attribute gains will diminish..."

The reward description after successfully forging this weapon confirmed his suspicion: the diminishing attribute gains were likely a penalty mechanism.

Simultaneously, information coalesced in his mind. Moments later, the contents of Heavenly Craftsmanship Minor Art: Mechanisms (I) had fully integrated into his consciousness.

Previously, he had received a reward called "Heavenly Craftsman’s Minor Techniques: Mechanisms," which contained the fundamental concepts of various mechanisms.

This time, however, he had obtained an advanced volume.

This volume primarily focused on the disassembly and reassembly of small mechanisms, emphasizing the underlying principles. It provided examples of how to combine and utilize several types of small mechanisms, outlining their operational principles.

Having already mastered the basic concepts of Mechanism Art, Sosuke found this advanced volume immensely rewarding.

He could now apply what he had learned to new situations, and his mind overflowed with ideas.

Shaking his head, he decided to study it thoroughly later. Turning his attention back to his blade, he realized its color had completely transformed!

Crimson!

A scorching red, like flames burning fiercely!

"Is this because of Sun Breathing?"

As Sosuke gazed at the blade, he experienced for the first time the ethereal lightness of a weapon forged using the Bloodforged Method. The sensation of wielding it was unlike anything he had ever felt before.

The way the blade sliced through the air as he swung it further captivated him.

It felt like an extension of his own body. The blade, which would normally feel foreign, moved with perfect harmony under his unconscious swings, without the slightest hint of resistance.

"Is this wondrous sensation the result of the Bloodforged Method?"

Moreover, what was this searing heat repeatedly pulsing from the hilt into his palm?

It didn’t seem to have the stamina-replenishing effect Kanae had described, nor the mind-calming sensation Tomioka had mentioned. Nor did it possess the strange lightness of body that Mitsuri had spoken of...

Mitsuri’s feedback had come later, when Sosuke wrote to inquire. He had also asked other Pillars who had forged their Nichirin Blades using the Bloodforged Method about their experiences.

Each person’s experience was unique, each receiving a different, wondrous blessing.

Yet Sosuke remained uncertain about the specific blessing his own Nichirin Blade bestowed upon him.

He shook his head, walked over to the hammer, sheathed the blade with a click as the latch snapped shut, and casually picked it up. The familiar weight made him nod in satisfaction.

Clearly, even after passing through the Bloodforged Method, the other components remained unaffected.

Just as it was now: the hammer still weighed as much as a hammer should, and even without the hammer, the weight of the hilt and guard persisted.

To completely eliminate the weight, one would need to forge the hilt, guard, and hammer itself using the Bloodforged Method.

"And considering the hammer is an assembled tool, forging it with the Bloodforged Method would probably require a considerable amount of blood, wouldn’t it?"

Sosuke’s lips twitched at this thought.

Setting down the Nichirin Blade and hammer, he turned to find Kanae.

Tomioka had replied, signaling it was time for him to leave.

Since the letter stated that he was "awaiting at any time," it likely meant Tomioka wouldn’t have time to visit Butterfly Mansion. It would be best for Sosuke to go to him.

After explaining the situation to Kanae, she began packing her things.

Within ten minutes, the two of them were leaving Butterfly Mansion.

As they walked, Sosuke couldn’t help but feel a sense of resignation.

Though he longed to venture out alone, he was always accompanied by a protector.

If Kanae wasn’t available, Shinobu would take her place. If Shinobu was absent, Kanae would step in.

When neither was present, the entire family would block his way, preventing him from leaving.

When both were available, Shinobu would stay behind to guard the mansion while Kanae accompanied him on his outings.

Yet every time he stepped out of the Butterfly Mansion, he would find Shinobu standing at the gate, biting her handkerchief and glaring at Sosuke with a mixture of sorrow and indignation.

She looked at him as if he were a vegetable thief who had stolen the precious "white cabbage" she had painstakingly nurtured!

This left Sosuke speechless every time, but he kept his resentment bottled up. ’Just you wait,’ he thought. ’When you get married, I’ll incite your sister to treat your future husband exactly as you’re treating me now!’

’Hmph!’

Sosuke believed that a gentleman’s revenge could wait ten years.

As the saying goes, "Heaven’s justice is cyclical; no one escapes its judgment!" Or, "Good and evil deeds will eventually be repaid; if not now, the time will come." Or, "Every cause has its consequence..."

Muttering these proverbs under his breath, Sosuke clenched his teeth, his resentment simmering within. Yet he also smugly took Kanae’s hand, cast a triumphant glance at Shinobu behind them, and cheerfully set off on their journey.

Kanae noticed his little antics and couldn’t help but giggle secretly.

After walking for a while, Kanae suddenly said, "Lately, Shinobu’s personality has changed quite a bit."

Sosuke nodded in agreement. He had noticed it too.

Shinobu’s usually strict and rigid demeanor had recently taken on a mischievous, almost devilish edge.

"It’s because of you," Kanae said, turning to Sosuke. "That child has always carried immense pressure. As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, she can’t afford to make mistakes. She has to be meticulous, calm, and bear so much pain. But you treat her like family, caring for her like an elder brother, laughing and playing with her. This has relieved much of her stress, and the genuine smile that belongs to someone her age has returned to her face."

Sosuke pointed at himself, bewildered. "Because of me?"

"Yes, because you’re the only one who treats her like a child, caring for and doting on her."

Kanae sighed softly. "And I, as her older sister, have always been someone she feels she needs to protect. I’ve never been able to do as well as you in that regard. So, thank you."

Sosuke smiled and naturally took Kanae’s hand. "Everything will move in a positive direction. I firmly believe that."

"Yes, let’s work hard together."