CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: BREAKTHROUGH AND WORRY

Sosuke didn’t sleep soundly that night. In contrast, Kanae, after overcoming her initial nervousness, drifted off peacefully.

As she slept, she nestled into Sosuke’s arms. Under the moonlight, her contented expression sent a warm, tingling sensation through him. He gently held her, wanting to pat her back, but her protests forced him to remain still.

This restless night left Sosuke feeling drained the next morning.

Kanae, however, was radiant, clearly having enjoyed a restful sleep.

Urokodaki glanced at the two of them and shook his head. "Young people need to learn restraint."

"..."

Sosuke’s face darkened. ’Is it really okay to lecture someone about restraint without knowing the full story?’

Tanjiro was already gone by breakfast, reportedly having climbed to the misty summit of Mt. Sagiri for his daily training.

Meanwhile, Urokodaki led Sosuke to a clearing to demonstrate the ten forms of Water Breathing.

Sosuke watched intently, trying to memorize every movement. Whenever he struggled, he had Urokodaki repeat the demonstration.

Given Urokodaki’s age, performing the forms multiple times in a day proved quite taxing.

And so, the matter would have to wait until tomorrow...

From that day onward, Sosuke spent each morning watching Urokodaki demonstrate sword forms, while in the afternoons, he would find a place to practice his own swordsmanship.

Kanae remained indoors during the mornings to avoid suspicion, but in the afternoons, she would observe Sosuke’s training.

The days passed in this orderly rhythm.

Before they knew it, seven days had already gone by. By then, Sosuke had thoroughly memorized all ten forms of Water Breathing and began contemplating how to use Mechanism Art to bring them to life.

As for the nightly sleeping arrangements, Sosuke gradually grew accustomed to them.

In truth, the key wasn’t about adaptation, but about letting go...

Sosuke had always struggled with letting go, while Kanae fared much better in comparison.

She slept soundly and naturally until dawn, seemingly finding it easier to relax and sleep deeply beside Sosuke, without a single dream disturbing her slumber.

In this regard, Sosuke couldn’t help but admire her.

During those seven days, what delighted Sosuke most was his own swordsmanship.

Ever since that day of introspection, he had sensed a flaw in his sword swings.

An invisible barrier, one that had never existed before, suddenly materialized from nowhere.

It felt as if hundreds of hands were gripping his arm and embracing his body, preventing him from wielding his blade smoothly.

The next day, this sensation not only persisted but intensified.

It wasn’t until the third day that Sosuke gradually broke free from these constraints. That same day, Kanae told him, "It seems you’ve found the key."

What was the most direct manifestation of finding the key?

Faster sword swings, greater power, and more efficient angles!

These were strikes capable of severing a Demon’s neck!

From that day onward, Sosuke himself noticed his speed increasing and the effectiveness of his strikes growing stronger.

It was as if, through this process, he had shaken off, broken free from, and liberated himself from the invisible hands that had been gripping him, hindering his movements, and preventing him from wielding his blade smoothly.

He unleashed his boundless power to its fullest extent.

While he couldn’t yet cleave a river in two with a single strike or slice through solid rock, he had achieved an extraordinary breakthrough in the fundamentals of swordsmanship.

Yet this breakthrough seemed to weigh on Kanae’s mind. Her joy was tinged with a hint of unease.

Today, the Kakushi arrived at Urokodaki’s secluded residence.

The old man was displeased. He had sought refuge here precisely for the tranquility, and now these newcomers were disrupting his peaceful sanctuary.

Tanjiro, however, was delighted. He greeted everyone enthusiastically, busying himself with helping them move supplies and striking up conversations. Through his inquiries, he learned that all the materials were for Sosuke.

After a full afternoon of activity, a swordsmithing shed was erected some distance from the cabin.

Sosuke intended to directly construct the Automaton suitable for training right here.

While setting up a shelter and transporting the Heavenly Artisan’s Forge Hammer were troublesome, it was still easier than spending half a month traveling back and forth.

Moreover, the Kakushi had brought additional components for the Automaton.

This was a task Sosuke had assigned them after their last return to Butterfly Mansion.

They had brought enough parts to assemble two Automata, mainly to account for potential damage or wear during assembly, ensuring replacements were available.

With all preparations complete, Sosuke decided to begin crafting the Automaton’s core the next day.

Night fell.

After the Kakushi departed, tranquility returned to the mountains.

With no evening entertainment and a long day of hard work behind them, everyone should have retired early.

Yet tonight, neither Sosuke nor Kanae could seem to fall asleep.

Sosuke couldn’t sleep, his mind racing with thoughts about how to combine the ten forms of Water Breathing for the automaton he would build tomorrow.

Kanae, lying beside him, turned her head to gaze at him, her eyes brimming with worry. Finally, she let out a long sigh.

"What’s wrong?" Sosuke asked, as if some of the "iron" in his mind had finally been transported away, allowing him to notice her distress.

Kanae wanted to shake her head, but after a moment’s hesitation, she leaned closer to Sosuke, resting her cheek against his chest.

Puzzled, Sosuke glanced down at her and tightened his arm around her. "What’s happened? What are you worried about?"

"You..." Kanae began, "Your swordsmanship has improved so much. It might not be long before you become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. That’s why... I’m starting to worry."

"Worried... that I’ll die?" Sosuke asked softly.

Kanae closed her eyes, as if she couldn’t bear to hear such words.

Sosuke let out a soft breath and took her hand. "I understand how you feel. It’s exactly how I feel every time you go on a mission, waiting anxiously at the Butterfly Mansion."

"Is that what it’s like?" Kanae gently bit her lip. "It’s truly agonizing. Even when Shinobu was on missions, I don’t think I worried this much..."

"Don’t let her hear you say that," Sosuke said, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Because you’re weaker than her..." Kanae murmured under her breath.

Sosuke: "..."

Then, muttering softly, "I’m not weak anymore, am I?"