Su Chen quickly looked the sword over. Having mastered swordsmithing design, he immediately understood a lot about this Nichirin Sword. This Nichirin Sword was very ordinary. It was basically no different from the one Tanjiro received at the beginning. It was a typical Nichirin Sword made from Scarlet Ore. The only unique thing about it was perhaps the large, red flower on the sword guard.
Su Chen took the Nichirin Sword from Shinobu Kocho's hand. He tested its weight. The weight was acceptable. For him, using Flame Breathing, it met the basic requirements.
Shinobu Kocho smiled beside him. "This Nichirin Sword was forged by Haganezuka-san. How is it? Is it easy to use?" "Haganezuka?" Su Chen was startled. "You mean that short-tempered Haganezuka?" "Yes~" Shinobu said, her eyes curving in a smile. "Does Su Chen-san know him?"
Su Chen chuckled awkwardly, not knowing whether to cry or laugh. After a moment of silence, he couldn't help but ask, "Shinobu, let me ask you something. Can you get me a different Swordsmith?"
Shinobu Kocho blinked. "A different Swordsmith? Su Chen-san, I think you misunderstood. The Swordsmith responsible for forging your Nichirin Sword isn't Haganezuka-san~! The Swordsmith making your sword is Kanayamori-san." Shinobu smiled. "It's just that since you and Shinazugawa-san are having a match today, we brought this Nichirin Sword that Haganezuka-san had already finished for you to use. Originally, this sword was made by Haganezuka-san for Tanjiro-kun, but since you needed it, Kanayamori-san snatched it to give to you first."
After hearing this, Su Chen's face darkened. Great, he thought. Is this just stacking Haganezuka's rage buff?! Isn't this situation even worse? However, Su Chen didn't say these words out loud. After all, if he told Shinobu Kocho, she wouldn't know what he was talking about. Since he had this Nichirin Sword, Su Chen decided he would just use it carefully and make sure not to break it.
The next moment, Su Chen put on his shoes and got out of bed. Using the early morning light, Su Chen held Shinobu Kocho's small, fair hand and suddenly ran toward the Butterfly Mansion's backyard. Along the way, the scent of wisteria filled the air, and the girl's haori swayed gently in the wind. The boy's figure moved toward the faint light, as if walking with the sun. Shinobu Kocho followed just behind Su Chen, watching the boy running in front of her, her heart throbbing gently. She asked shyly, "Su Chen-san, where are you going?"
Su Chen's movements suddenly stopped. He squatted down and took out the Nichirin Sword Shinobu Kocho had just given him. "Let's do it here." The boy's gaze fell on the girl's face, and he spoke softly. "Shinobu, can I borrow your Nichirin Sword for a moment?" "Oh." Shinobu Kocho drew her sword and handed it to Su Chen.
After receiving it, Su Chen placed his own Nichirin Sword on the ground. Then, holding the hilt of Shinobu's sword with both hands, he used its fine tip to carefully drill several small holes in his own blade, much like someone drilling wood to make a fire. Su Chen's movements were slow. The faint light shining on him made him look like a diligent Swordsmith. Shinobu Kocho couldn't help but stare, mesmerized. She squatted beside Su Chen, enjoying this rare moment of peace.
A moment later, Su Chen stopped. He held up his Nichirin Sword and examined it in the faint daylight. He had drilled six small holes into the blade. Three near the tip, and three near the hilt. The diameter of each circular hole was about one centimeter. Su Chen nodded, satisfied, and then squatted down again to tinker. Shinobu Kocho blinked her bright, intelligent eyes. She didn't speak, just quietly watched Su Chen's movements.
The sun gradually rose. Warm sunlight broke through the clouds, covering the boy's face with a golden hue. The girl secretly watched the boy's face. She hugged her knees, her eyes lost in thought. Soon, Su Chen stopped working. His slightly excited words broke the silence. "It's a success." Shinobu Kocho looked up at him. When she saw Su Chen hold up the modified Nichirin Sword, her eyes immediately lit up.
"Su Chen-san, what is this?" Shinobu Kocho asked curiously. Su Chen touched the rings he had crafted and said seriously, "These are blade rings. I drilled six small holes in the Nichirin Sword and used copper rings to make them. The blade body around the rings is hollow, and poison can be stored inside." "Store poison?" Shinobu was startled, then immediately realized. "Su Chen-san, do you mean that your Nichirin Sword is already poisoned?" "Yes." Su Chen smiled and nodded.
"Ever since I saw your Nichirin Sword last time, I've been thinking about how to make it lighter. Now I know how." Saying this, Su Chen also held up Shinobu Kocho's Nichirin Sword. It also had six blade rings added to it. These blade rings were also decorated with purple copper rings. It turned out that while Shinobu was lost in thought watching him, Su Chen had modified her Nichirin Sword as well. Su Chen returned the Nichirin Sword to Shinobu Kocho.
He said earnestly, "Now your Nichirin Sword is lighter again. I also hollowed out some areas around the blade rings, so the storage capacity for poison on your sword can also increase." Su Chen pointed to the purple copper rings on the sword and said with a smile, "When I passed by Aoi's toolshed just now, I grabbed a few copper rings and then rubbed them hard with wisteria. How is it? Does it look good?"
Shinobu Kocho paused, then took the Nichirin Sword Su Chen handed her. She traced the modifications as if it were a precious treasure. The girl's eyes shimmered. "It looks good. It's truly beautiful." As she ran her hand over the blade, her fingers brushed against the copper rings. She could still feel a lingering warmth on her fingertips. That was the care left by the boy as he worked in the morning light. Shinobu Kocho's eyes suddenly felt a little sore.
When Su Chen had previously said he could design Nichirin Swords, she had thought it was a joke. She hadn't expected him to not only remember it but also come up with a solution for her. Su Chen, oh Su Chen... why do you do these things?Your injuries just healed, but the first thing you thought of wasn't to rest. It was to come and solve my problem.What am I supposed to think?
Shinobu Kocho's heart was already in chaos. The mask she had sealed on her face for so long had begun to peel away, little by little, because of this sunny and cheerful boy. Her joys and sorrows, her embarrassment, her little thoughts, and the innocence and shyness she should have had at eighteen. These rapidly stirring emotions, like foam rising from beneath the water, could not be hidden once they met the sunlight. "So annoying." The girl lowered her head, secretly hiding her expression. Tiny, glistening droplets clung to her eyelashes, and her upturned nose was a little red.