CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 78: MALICE

Sosuke’s soft grumbling made Kanae chuckle. "Such a childish complaint."

"..." Sosuke stared at the ceiling. "What complaint?"

"There was one," Kanae said with a light laugh, then grew serious. "But don’t underestimate Shinobu. She’s incredibly strong!"

Sosuke nodded.

"But you’ll definitely become stronger than her someday, and you’ll surpass me too," Kanae added.

Sosuke tightened his arms around her, giving her a firm hug. "That’s why you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll become incredibly strong!"

"...But I can’t help it," Kanae sighed softly. "I’ve always understood why you work so hard, but I’ve never felt it so deeply as I do now. The feeling of waiting is unbearable, and the helplessness of being unable to control the situation is agonizing."

"But everyone has to take that step," Sosuke said. "So, just as I believe in you, please believe in me too."

"Mm, I believe in you," Kanae said, biting her lip. "I’ve always believed in you."

’If I didn’t believe in you, how could I be so at ease with you?’

’Even the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps could be sacrificed at any moment!’

’If I didn’t believe that you would eventually face everything with me, if I didn’t believe that with you by my side, we could ultimately overcome anything, how could I so calmly place my hand in yours?’

"But believing and worrying are two different things..."

The girl pressed her entire face against Sosuke’s chest, as if she intended to suffocate herself there.

Sosuke felt a warmth in his heart and racked his brains for words to comfort her.

Then Kanae lifted her head, looked at him, and her eyes sparkled. "I’m not worried anymore."

"That was quick," Sosuke said, surprised.

"Mm-hmm. If I believe in you, there’s nothing to worry about. They’re the same thing!" Kanae declared earnestly.

"...You’re right," Sosuke said, torn between laughter and exasperation. Whatever I say, you’ll have an answer.

"Besides, it’s not like you have to go fight demons right now," Kanae pointed out. "And it’s not like you haven’t encountered them before."

"True. Come to think of it, I’ve already faced demons several times, including once when I was alone."

"Alone? You never told me about that!"

"It was the first time I left Swordsmith Village to deliver your sword," Sosuke explained, recounting the night he was caught in a downpour and encountered a demon in a dilapidated temple.

The night was peaceful, bathed in moonlight. The room was comfortably warm, a pleasant contrast to the cool air outside.

As Sosuke gradually recounted his story, drowsiness crept over him. Before he could finish, he was already snoring softly.

Kanae lay nestled against his chest, feeling his steady breathing. Her eyes rimmed with red.

She remembered what Shinobu had told her after the night with Upper Moon Two: that Sosuke had searched for her that night like a madman.

At the time, she had been touched by his persistence but also resented his recklessness, his ignorance of the terrors lurking in the darkness.

But hearing Sosuke’s words today, she finally understood... He wasn’t ignorant of the night’s horrors; he had faced them himself, yet remained fearless.

That unwavering resolve, that burning, sincere heart.

’Thank goodness I’ve already caught it.’

In the quiet stillness, she gently leaned up and stole a kiss on Sosuke’s cheek.

In his deep sleep, Sosuke chuckled twice, then scratched his face. Just as Kanae felt her cheeks burning, he pulled her into his arms.

After a moment of nervousness, a small sense of triumph bloomed within her. She smiled softly, nestled securely in his embrace, and drifted into a peaceful slumber.

The next day, Sosuke began forging the core system for the Automaton in the smithy.

Gears, chains, and specialized components all required his personal craftsmanship to achieve the perfect fit.

Kanae stood outside the smithy, watching the busy figure inside. Even after seeing him work countless times, she never grew tired of it.

Urokodaki set up a table outside the house and brewed himself a pot of tea. In this freezing weather, a warm pot not only warmed the body but also calmed the mind.

He was somewhat surprised that a girl like the Flower Pillar could endure the constant hammering.

Moreover, this noise wouldn’t end in just a day or two.

The various components requiring fabrication and processing meant Sosuke had to strike the anvil intermittently.

If the rhythm had remained consistent, it would have been manageable.

But every few days, just when they thought the silence had returned, a sudden storm of hammering would erupt, enough to shatter the nerves of even the most resilient.

Urokodaki didn’t break, but his face turned ashen... fortunately, his tengu mask concealed his expression.

The days continued to slip by. One afternoon, Sosuke was forging a component in the smithy, the crimson-hot iron bar enduring a relentless beating.

Unlike forging a blade, this piece required absolute precision in every detail. Sosuke had to constantly check his work, unable to shape it in a single continuous process.

This meticulous approach allowed him to notice the extra footsteps approaching.

Turning his head, he saw Tanjiro cautiously approaching, his face brimming with curiosity but hesitant to interrupt.

Noticing Sosuke’s gaze, Tanjiro gave an embarrassed smile.

Sosuke chuckled and glanced at Kanae beside him, who had also noticed Tanjiro’s arrival.

He waved Tanjiro over.

Before long, the young man had already entered the sword-forging shed, saying apologetically, "I’m sorry, Sosuke-san. I... I was just curious. Is this the Automaton?"

"Of course not," Sosuke replied with a smile. "But this is the core of the Automaton, its power source."

Tanjiro listened intently, his face showing understanding, but his eyes were already swirling like mosquito coils.

Though it was just a single sentence, he truly couldn’t grasp its meaning at all!

Sosuke patted his shoulder. "Since you’re here, don’t just stand there. Help me out."

He pointed to two nearby boxes. "Take out the parts inside. I’ll give you a blueprint, and you can assemble them according to the instructions."

"Oh," Tanjiro nodded immediately. "Okay!"

With that, he went over to open the boxes and began taking out the components.

They were all scattered parts. Following the blueprint Sosuke had given him, he found two similar-looking pieces and started assembling them.

As he continued assembling the parts, Tanjiro suddenly felt a bit puzzled. "Why didn’t you let Kanae-san help?"

"...I couldn’t bear to use her."

Sosuke’s reply made Tanjiro’s jaw drop, and he felt the indescribable malice of this world!