Chapter 102

In the blink of an eye, another month had passed.

Tanjiro still hadn't waited for Haganezuka to forge a sword and send it to him.

Instead, he had received several envelopes from Hotaru Haganezuka.

Just like now, he was looking at the resentful font on the envelope with full fear.

【No more swords!】

【I will definitely find you!】

【Curse you to death! Kill you!!】

"It's over! Mr. Haganezuka must really hate me!" Tanjiro felt despair.

Just then, Zero, who had just returned from carrying out a mission, saw Tanjiro and stepped forward to greet him.

"Tanjiro, what are you doing here?"

"Big Brother Zero!"

"What... what happened to you?"

"Big Brother Zero, because my sword..."

Tanjiro told Zero about the matter of waiting for Haganezuka to send a sword for the past two months.

After listening, Zero felt that Haganezuka wasn't that kind of person; something must have happened, which was why he hadn't forged a sword for Tanjiro.

"Since that's the case, Tanjiro, why don't you apply to go to the Swordsmith Village to take a look and find out."

"Eh? Can I?"

"Of course you can, besides, I'm also setting off for the Swordsmith Village tomorrow."

"Big Brother Zero, could it be that your sword also..."

"What are you thinking!"

Zero patted Tanjiro on the back of the head.

"I'm just invited to be a guest at the Swordsmith Village, and Mitsuri has also gone to the Swordsmith Village; Kanae asked me to go accompany her."

"I see... I understand, Big Brother Zero, I'll go apply to Lord Ubuyashiki to set off for the Swordsmith Village now."

Watching Tanjiro's departing figure, Zero couldn't help but smile.

For the past two months, Tanjiro hadn't been able to take on missions because he had no sword.

Basically, they had all been completed by Zenitsu and Inosuke together.

However, Tanjiro had also greatly improved his strength in these two months by following the training method Zero had taught him.

If calculated by rank, he had almost reached the 【D】 rank, and there were only a few stages left until the 【A】 rank.

He didn't expect time to pass so quickly; it had already been more than three years.

That weak little baby from back then had now grown to such a stage.

"Alright, I should go prepare as well."

Subsequently, Zero headed to his residence to make some preparations before departure.

Night fell.

Infinity Castle.

"Nakime, how is the situation?"

"Reporting to Lord, I have already found the location of the Swordsmith Village, but the location of the Demon Slayer Corps will still take some time."

"Not bad Nakime, your growth truly exceeded my expectations, truly great!"

"This is my honor, Lord Muzan!"

"In this way, as long as the Swordsmith Village is destroyed, it will be equivalent to cutting off one of the Demon Slayer Corps' arms! At that time, I'll see what they have to contend with me!"

Muzan could be said to hate the Demon Slayer Corps to the bone, wishing he could find the Demon Slayer Corps and the Ubuyashiki clan right now and root them out!

So that they could never hinder him again!

However, he was very clear that this matter could not be rushed, and the most important thing now was the Blue Spider Lily.

Only then came the Demon Slayer Corps and the Ubuyashiki clan.

Furthermore, what he hated even more was that guy Zero; thinking of the few times of fear he had experienced within these three years made him unable to sleep at night.

Even more terrifying than that guy from several hundred years ago!

"Nakime, send Hantengu over..." Muzan paused after saying this, and continued: "By the way, send Doma over as well."

"Yes, Lord Muzan!"

Twang! Twang!

With two sounds of the biwa, Doma and Hantengu were sent to the Infinity Castle.

"Oh my Lord Muzan, I wonder what you have summoned us for?"

"So scary! So scary! I'm just a pitiful weakling, they won't hurt me......"

Muzan didn't pay attention to them, but continued to say to Nakime: "Determine the accurate location of the Swordsmith Village, send them over, destroy the Swordsmith Village! Then you can carefully search for the location of the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters!"

"Yes! Lord Muzan."

Subsequently, he turned and said to Doma and Hantengu: "I hope you can handle this matter well for me this time, otherwise, I won't spare you either!"

Early the next morning, Zero got up early.

He prepared some snacks and put them into the 【Nano Space】, then set off for the Swordsmith Village.

Just as he arrived at the gate of the residence, he found a female Kakushi member waiting there for him.

"Hello, Lord Zero Hashira, I am the guide responsible for leading you to the Swordsmith Village."

"I see, alright, thank you for your hard work."

"You are too polite, Lord Zero Hashira; because the location of the Swordsmith Village is too hidden, we guides are not convenient to report our names, so please forgive me."

"Mmm, I understand, then what do I need to do next?"

The Kakushi member took out a white cloth and two earplugs and handed them to Zero: "You need to cover your eyes, plug your ears, and I will be responsible for carrying you on my back."

"Mmm." Zero took the white cloth and earplugs, but before he was about to cover his eyes, he seemed to remember something.

"Wait a moment."

Subsequently, he took off the metal boots on his feet, took off all the weighted gear on his ankles and wrists, and put them into the 【Nano Space】.

If he brought these things, he estimated that the Kakushi member would be crushed to the ground before taking a few steps.

Finally, he put on the white cloth to cover his eyes and plugged his ears.

The Kakushi member carried Zero on her back and began to move toward the road to the Swordsmith Village.

At the same time, Tanjiro, who was also preparing to set off for the Swordsmith Village, received the same treatment.

Only with two more nose plugs, after all, his nose was very sensitive.

Because the location of the Swordsmith Village was too hidden and was the top priority of the Demon Slayer Corps, several Kakushi members were changed continuously along the way to take turns working.

Running a section of the road meant handing it over to the next guide of the Kakushi member.

Therefore, even the guides didn't know the location of the Swordsmith Village; this was also to prevent the Swordsmith Village from being discovered and attacked by evil demons.

Not only that, but the route sequence and the Kakushi members would also be changed frequently.

And the Kakushi members were led by Kasugai Crows to the location of the next Kakushi member; these Kasugai Crows were also changed frequently.

It is reported that Kagaya Ubuyashiki's residence was hidden using even more complex methods.

So, although Zero and Tanjiro set off at about the same time, because the guides were different, the routes they took were also different.

It was possible that Tanjiro would arrive at the Swordsmith Village first, or it was possible that Zero would arrive at the Swordsmith Village first.

It was just that every time the two were handed over, they would politely thank the guide.

This made those Kakushi members feel warm in their hearts.

Sunset.

After an unknown amount of time, they finally arrived at the location of the Swordsmith Village.

The first to arrive at the Swordsmith Village carried by a guide was Tanjiro.

"We're here, this is the Swordsmith Village, I'll help you take off the eye cloth first." The Kakushi member put Tanjiro down from her back and helped him take off the eye cloth.

Just after taking off the eye cloth and earplugs, Tanjiro was stunned by the scene before him.

Forests surrounded by mountains on all four sides, imposing buildings, and those mountain peaks stacked together.

The streets were full of swordsmiths wearing various Hyottoko masks.

"Is this the Swordsmith Village? What imposing houses! This is..." Tanjiro smelled a sulfurous smell emanating from the air.

"There are hot springs here too!"

"Yes, please go soak in the hot spring to eliminate your fatigue later; this will be of great help to your body. Before that, the village chief's house is where you turn left at the end of this road. You should go and greet the village chief first."

"Yes, I understand."

"Then, I'll take my leave."

"Thank you!"

At the time of parting, Tanjiro thanked the guide again, expressing the hardship of this journey.

The sound of thanks even echoed through the entire mountain forest, reaching Mitsuri who was soaking in the hot spring here.

"Hmm? I seem to have heard the sound of thanks?"

She stood up from the hot spring, like a beauty out of the bath, showing her graceful figure to the fullest.

That pair of human weapons, as well as that bottomless abyss of a canyon, stood proudly.

"I heard Zero is coming too, so excited!!"

"Lord Zero Hashira, we have arrived."

Taking off the white cloth and earplugs, Zero looked at the buildings before him and exclaimed somewhat: "It looks quite imposing here."

"Yes, Lord Zero Hashira, besides, there are hot springs nearby, and the village chief's house is where you go straight to the end of this road and then turn left."

"Mmm, I understand, thank you for your hard work on this journey."

"It's not hard, being able to help the Hashira is my honor! Then, I'll take my leave."

"Mmm, take care on the road."

Saying goodbye to the Kakushi member, Zero stepped into the Swordsmith Village, preparing to visit the Swordsmith Village chief first.

The Kakushi member looked back at Zero Hashira's back before leaving, sighing: "Lord Zero Hashira is really easy to get along with~"

(Evil Demon: T_T)

Following the instructions of the Kakushi member just now, he found the house where the village chief was.

This was a house that was even more imposing than the houses he had just seen; calling it a villa would not be an exaggeration.

Not only that, but there were also some Demon Slayer swordsmen stationed here patrolling the surroundings.

"Hello, I am Haganezuka... no, Steel Plate Wild River, may I ask if you are also here to see the village chief?"

A swordsmith wearing a Hyottoko mask and with shoulder-length short hair came to Zero to receive him.

Steel Plate Wild River?

What a strange name.

However, these were not things he should be thinking about.

"Yes, I am Zero Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps; previously, someone named Tecchin Tecchikawahara told me that if you have time, come to your Swordsmith Village for a visit."

"You are Lord Zero Hashira!"

Hearing Zero Hashira, Steel Plate Wild River seemed very excited.

"You know me?"

"Yes, the village chief told us about you; thank you for once again letting our Swordsmith Village see the legendary Red Blade! Please follow me, I will take you to see the village chief now!"

Steel Plate Wild River led the way in front, coming to the room where the village chief was.

"Village Chief, Lord Zero Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps has come to our Swordsmith Village!"

The village chief, who was eating candies from a small plate with Tanjiro, heard Steel Plate Wild River's words and shouted excitedly: "Let him in quickly."

Zero entered the room and saw Tanjiro eating candies from a small plate.

"Big Brother Zero, you're finally here."

"Mmm, I didn't expect you to arrive earlier than me, Tanjiro."

Subsequently, his gaze turned to the person before Tanjiro.

It was a small-statured little doll, also wearing a Hyottoko mask.

"Hello Village Chief, I am Zero Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, invited to visit the Swordsmith Village."

"Hello, I am Tecchin Tecchikawahara, the village chief of the Swordsmith Village, please take care of me! Thank you very much for coming to our Swordsmith Village, and also thank you for fulfilling our long-cherished wish and seeing the legendary Red Blade."

"It's nothing, even without me, I believe that with your skills, you would definitely have been able to see the Red Blade very soon."

"That's truly great~ I don't have anything good to entertain you with, so please eat some karinto."

Tecchin Tecchikawahara didn't know where he took out another small plate of candies like Tanjiro's and placed it before Zero.

"Thank you, then I won't be polite."

The taste of the karinto was quite good, somewhat sweet and somewhat crispy.

Afterward, the village chief looked at Tanjiro again and continued: "Don't worry, we will definitely find that child Ying."

"Yes, thank you Village Chief!"

"By the way, by the way, since you're here, why don't you go soak in the hot spring~ Our village's hot spring has very good effects on the body; I will find someone to give you accommodation later."

After Zero and Tanjiro said goodbye to the village chief, they were led by another swordsmith toward the direction of the hot spring.

On the way to the hot spring, from time to time, they heard the sound of hammers hitting steel from the surrounding workshops.

"We're here, go up this slope and you will reach the hot spring."

The swordsmith pointed to the steps leading to the hot spring before them, extending deep into the forest.

Beside it hung a wooden sign with the word 【Hot Spring】.

"Our village's hot spring has many effects; it has therapeutic effects on cuts, burns, gout, hemorrhoids, constipation, and even the pain of heartbreak! Please be sure to soak in the hot spring and rest well."

Listening to the swordsmith's introduction, Zero felt that something was a bit strange, especially the last one about the pain of heartbreak.

If this could also be treated, maybe next time he came to the Swordsmith Village, he could bring Zenitsu along and throw him into this hot spring to treat his wounds.

"I'll go back to prepare meals first..." Before the words were finished, a shout came from above the steps.

"Zero!!!"

Mitsuri ran while shouting Zero's name.

Because she was only wearing a yukata and a coat, the two big white rabbits in front were almost running out.

Bang!

From a very long distance, Mitsuri jumped down directly from the steps.

Seeing this, Zero immediately stepped forward and caught Mitsuri in a princess carry.

"Mitsuri, be careful, this is very dangerous, you will be injured if you fall... what's wrong with you?"

Zero found Mitsuri's face buried in his chest, sobbing slightly.

It looked like she was crying.

"Tanjiro, you go soak in the hot spring first."

"Yes, Big Brother Zero." Tanjiro naturally knew that Mitsuri was also Zero's fiancée, so he very sensibly didn't disturb the two of them.

After Tanjiro left, Zero comforted Mitsuri in his arms and asked: "What's wrong? Did you hurt yourself somewhere?"

"Zero, I was actually ignored by someone, so excessive~ Wuuuu~ I clearly greeted him but he still ignored me, really so excessive~ Wuuuu~"

"Who was that person?"

"I don't know~ I just don't know so I asked for his name~ Wuuuuuuuu~ really so excessive~ I am also a Hashira like you~ Wuuuu~ the good mood from just soaking in the hot spring is gone~"

"Alright, alright, truly silly and cute~ Let's go eat first, I heard there is matsutake rice, and I also specially brought some after-meal desserts, it's your favorite sakura mochi~"

"Eh? Really?! That's great! You are truly my good husband!!"

Hearing that Zero had specially brought sakura mochi for her, Mitsuri excitedly hugged Zero's neck and gave him an intimate kiss.

Subsequently, Zero carried Mitsuri to the place to eat.