The Strongest Slayer: A KNY Fanfiction

Chapter 17: The Swordsmith Village

"We're here!" Takeo exclaimed as the beautiful village came into view. Wooden houses adorned their view with the sun peeking through the treeline. The two were guided to meet the most esteemed blacksmith from the village. After meeting them, the two went to the hot springs to relax. 

"Do you think we'll be stuck in this forever?" Takeo asked his older brother. Tanjiro sighed. "Unfortunately...that is a possibility," Tanjiro responded. The two continued to soak when Tanjiro eventually stood up and left, pulling on his kimono, only to be met with a crying love Hashira named Mitsuri. "Waah! Tanjiro! Some boy was mean to me! He totally shattered the peace I got from the hot springs!" Mitsuri cried out, making Tanjiro laugh. "I-It's not f-funny!" Mitsuri exclaimed with her cheeks red. Tanjiro rubbed her head. "Don't worry. He was probably flustered," Tanjiro said with a smile. Mitsuri blushed heavily as Tanjiro was oblivious to the implication he just made. Mitsuri held her cheeks as she ran, obviously flustered by the comment as Tanjiro went back up. "Come on, Takeo! Dinner's ready from the weaponsmiths now!" Tanjiro yelled.

After eating and Takeo sitting in awe at the sheer amount that Mitsuri and Tanjiro ate in what looked like a food contest with competitive talking but was actually an in-depth conversation about how Mitsuri made it to Hashira while the two ate at a "casual" pace. Mitsuri had explained to Tanjiro about her incredible muscle density and flexibility, as well as the largeness of her appetite being a result. After eating, the two were conversing and Mitsuri wished the trio well before prancing off, singing some nursery rhyme. 

The next day, Tanjiro was walking around. Takeo was trying to pick up certain skills to forging, so Tanjiro was exploring. He heard a child struggling and instantly moved, only to see a swordsmith child struggling against the mist Hashira. "Hands off," Tanjiro called. The Hashira, who Tanjiro recalled was named Muichiro, turned to him. He stared at Tanjiro for a bit before turning back to the boy. Tanjiro sighed and instantly appeared behind Muichiro, only to be hit by the hilt of a sword. Tanjiro grabbed the boy and teleported away before reappearing.

Tanjiro held his katana, seeing as Muichiro had no qualms against fighting. Muichiro moved swiftly, right about to hit him when Tanjiro flipped over the oncoming blade. He used the water wheel to move the blade downward. Muichiro used mist breathing, fourth form, shifting flow slash. He moved swiftly and Tanjiro side-stepped, dancing around Muichiro as he made repeated attempts with multiple forms. "Mist breathing, seventh form, obscuring clouds," Muichiro spoke. Tanjiro smirked as wind moved around him and swirled, creating large clouds of fog. He continued easily parrying and dodging strikes. 

Muichiro felt frustrated as he was easily deflected and parried. The gracefulness and ease of his opponent's movements were both beautiful and deadly. He grimaced as he felt the force of the wind from one of Tanjiro's sword thrusts cut his shoulder. He continued his movements as he mixed the forms, although Tanjiro was easily deflecting. Muichiro stabbed at Tanjiro and he touched the side of Muichiro's blade, sending it off-balance. He grabbed the blade safely and yanked it towards him with just a weak enough grip to pull Muichiro with a strong enough grip to yank him along. 

Muichiro grabbed his blade and yanked, his blade being freed from Tanjiro's hand, only for his face to meet Tanjiro's fist. He grimaced as he fell back. Swiftly, he rolled and fixed his positioning, only for Tanjiro to randomly duck his head. He noticed Mitsuri land next to him. "I'm sorry, Tanjiro. But if you harm another Hashira, I'll be f-forced t-to fight y-you!" Mitsuri exclaimed, her resolve getting weaker and weaker as she remembered how Tanjiro had acted and how easily he was beating Muichiro. Tanjiro smirked as he brandished his blade.

Muichiro went low while Mitsuri went high. Tanjiro continued to deflect as Muichiro provided cover while Mitsuri hit through the sporadic weaving of Muichiro's creation. Tanjiro sensed no synergy between the two, yet he still was impressed at the two's quick thinking. Tanjiro watched as the movements got slower and focused on observing how the pair moved and what their pattern was. 

He noticed that after Mitsuri struck and Muichiro struck, the timeframe it took for another attack was always the same. He used some basic calculations and struck exactly ninety degrees from his spot, knowing he'd slice Muichiro's katana. He then kicked sideways, hitting Mitsuri. He sighed. "For Hashira, you two are really weak," Tanjiro spoke, sheathing his katana and walking away. Mitsuri had tears in her eyes as Muichiro grit his teeth and he clenched his fists.

Tanjiro sat with Nezuko and Takeo, playing with the two as Mitsuri plopped down next to them. "Hi Mitsuri!" Tanjiro said with a smile. Mitsuri smiled back, noticing his demeanor towards people on the battlefield versus in public. "Hello!" She exclaimed. The two began an in-depth talk about cats, Mitsuri talking about her cat hierarchy and Tanjiro talking about how the cats in his village were annoying and adorable. Takeo and Nezuko sat with chibi faces as Mitsuri, who also had a chibi face, was patting the two's heads, making them grin.

Tanjiro sat in the room he was given, staring at his sword. Rumors from Takeo who heard from Kanamori who heard that Haganezuka was making him a brand new sword out of nichirin metal infused with pure steel for incredible durability and normal capability to slice off demon heads. Tanjiro grimaced as he remembered his sister's demonic transformation. He sighed as he thought of the time his brother used that weird power he had. He still needed to ask about that. He swiftly left the room and went to Takeo and Nezuko's, only to see him and Muichiro talking. 

"Guys," Tanjiro whispered, pointing to the door. "You sense that?" Takeo nodded at the question. "It could still be a person," Muichiro spoke. Tanjiro shook his head and Takeo and he nodded as the demon crept in. It appeared as if the reckoning had begun.