"Kanamori-san, did you see it?" Kazuki called out to her. When he turned around, he saw that Kanamori was standing there, completely frozen.
"Kanamori-san?" Kazuki called again, puzzled.
"Thank you… for letting me witness a Bright Red Blade with my own eyes…" Kanamori finally came back to her senses and spoke softly.
"Bright Red Blade?" Kazuki frowned slightly. It was a term he had never heard before.
"After forging a Nichirin blade, do you know why most swordsmiths hope to see it turn red?" Kanamori didn't explain right away. Instead, she asked him a question.
Kazuki shook his head. He hadn't even known that most swordsmiths hoped to see Nichirin blades turn red in the first place.
"That's because there's a single line recorded in the ancient texts preserved in the Swordsmith Village:
'The crimson blade known as the Bright Red Blade can suppress a demon's regeneration.'"
Without waiting for Kazuki to respond, Kanamori continued.
"We swordsmiths pour our hearts and souls into forging Nichirin blades so that you swordsmen can slay demons and protect more people.
A demon's most troublesome ability is its regeneration. Unless its neck is severed by a Nichirin blade, or it is exposed to sunlight, it cannot truly be killed.
"And yet that line in the ancient records clearly states that this weapon—the Bright Red Blade—can prevent demons from regenerating. If such a blade could be forged, you would gain a tremendous advantage in battle against demons.
"That's why the swordsmiths of the village all long to create such a weapon. But the records contain only that single sentence. No one knows how to forge a crimson blade like that.
"After countless failed attempts, some swordsmiths began to suspect that the Bright Red Blade referred to a Nichirin blade that had turned red. After all, Nichirin blades are the only weapons capable of harming demons, and they can change color—this explanation seemed reasonable enough.
"From then on, swordsmiths began hoping that the blades they forged would turn red, because that meant the blade might be a Bright Red Blade, and that the Demon Slayer wielding it might gain an edge in battle."
Kanamori explained everything slowly and carefully. Despite her normally irritable personality, she was uncharacteristically calm at this moment. As Kazuki listened, a deep sense of respect welled up in his heart for swordsmiths like her.
They might not fight demons on the front lines, but without them, Demon Slayer swordsmen would be unable to slay demons at all. In their own way, they too were fighting demons—protecting humanity alongside the swordsmen.
Their wish for Nichirin blades to turn red was, in truth, a wish for Demon Slayers to survive. Their hearts were bound to the swordsmen's. Swordsmiths and swordsmen were comrades, even if they stood on different battlefields.
"But soon, that theory was overturned," Kanamori went on.
"Swordsmen who use Flame Breathing have a high chance of turning their Nichirin blades red, yet those blades do not possess the ability to suppress regeneration.
"Once that was understood, most swordsmiths dismissed the ancient record as nothing more than a false legend. Still, on the off chance it was real, they continued to hope that swordsmen's blades would turn red—after all, the only thing recorded about the Bright Red Blade was its color."
Kanamori finished explaining the reasoning. Kazuki now fully understood her words.
But she wasn't done yet.
"When I saw you turn your black Nichirin blade red just now, a thought immediately crossed my mind," Kanamori said, looking straight at him.
"That crimson blade you showed me must be the Bright Red Blade described in the ancient texts.
"The Bright Red Blade is still a Nichirin blade—but transforming it into one doesn't rely on simply using your Breathing Style to change its color. Instead, the wielder must activate, by some means, the power of the sun contained within the blade itself.
"The materials used to forge Nichirin blades—Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Crimson Ore—are mined from mountains closest to the sun. Both ores are capable of absorbing sunlight.
"That's why Nichirin blades can harm demons. However, the sunlight accumulated in those ores over countless years is not fully released under normal circumstances.
"The Bright Red Blade may be the result of drawing out that latent solar power. That's why it turns crimson—and why it can suppress a demon's regeneration. After all, the sun is a demon's natural enemy."
Kanamori's analysis left Kazuki astonished. He could clearly see her deep understanding of the ores and her extraordinary forging expertise—no ordinary swordsmith could have arrived at such a conclusion.
"When I fought Lower Rank Two not long ago, after I severed its limbs, it really couldn't regenerate them," Kazuki said, recalling details of that battle.
Her explanation brought those moments back vividly. Demons were said to regenerate rapidly, yet since joining the Demon Slayer Corps, he realized he had rarely seen a demon regenerate at all.
Of course, part of that was because demons usually didn't survive more than a few moves against him.
Kanamori wasn't surprised by what he said. She was extremely confident in her hypothesis.
"If that's the case, then if I can figure out the conditions that allow my Nichirin blade to become a Bright Red Blade, the Demon Slayer Corps could become much stronger!" Kazuki said excitedly, immediately grasping the implication.
"I'll start researching it right now!"
As he spoke, he gripped his Nichirin blade, clearly intending to begin experimenting on the spot. Although he could make the blade turn into a Bright Red Blade, to him it felt as natural as opening his mouth while eating or moving his legs while walking—he had no idea what the underlying principle was.
"Wait."
Kanamori suddenly stopped him.
Kazuki turned his head in confusion and saw her extending her hand toward him.
"Give me the Nichirin blade first so I can engrave it properly. I still need to return to the village before nightfall."
"I see. Then I'll leave it to you," Kazuki said, sheathing the blade and handing it over.
"Don't worry. I'll return it to you as soon as possible—it won't delay anything. And if you really do manage to uncover how to create a Bright Red Blade, that would be good news for all of us," Kanamori said firmly as she accepted the sword.
She then went to retrieve her tools.
In less than an hour, the Nichirin blade was back in Kazuki's hands. Four additional characters had been engraved onto the blade:
— Destroy All Demons.
"Alright. My work here is done. It's time for me to leave," Kanamori said.
"I hope you succeed in discovering how to turn a Nichirin blade into a Bright Red Blade. Farewell."
After returning the blade, she spoke to Kazuki one last time.
Her visit to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters had been deeply satisfying. Her impression of Kazuki had improved considerably as well. While engraving the blade, she had noticed that it showed no chips or damage—it was practically as good as new. It was clear that its wielder cherished it greatly.
Swordsmiths understood better than anyone that wear and damage were inevitable in battle against demons. Still, seeing one's creation so well cared for brought genuine joy.
"Thank you for your blessing. Farewell, Kanamori-san,"
Kazuki said with a smile, waving to her.
Kanamori said nothing more. She put on her hat, turned around, and left.
I should do my best to uncover the method for creating a Bright Red Blade…
Watching her depart, Kazuki turned and headed toward the Demon Slayer Corps' training grounds.
At the same time—
Three youths set foot on the road leading toward Mount Natagumo…
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