Demon Slayer: Tanjiro becomes a ghost, Nezuko becomes a pillar!

Chapter 45: Officially Becoming a Swordsman

Looking at the jet-black Nichirin Blade in her hand, Mizuko asked in confusion, but when she looked at Haganezuka, she froze on the spot.

Although the mask concealed Steel Mound's expression, the oppressive aura emanating from him caused the temperature in the entire cabin to drop several degrees.

"Hmm... This is indeed the first time I've seen a black Nichirin Blade, and I've never seen any Pillar wield a black Nichirin Blade in the history of the Demon Slayer Corps!"

Urokodaki looked at the Nichirin Blade in Mizuko's hand and spoke slowly.

"Um...I see! Then...Master Urokodaki, is Mr. Hidetsuka...alright?"

Mizuko looked somewhat awkwardly at the silent Steel Mound beside her, feeling the low pressure emanating from him, and cautiously asked.

Upon hearing Nezuko's words, Urokodaki also turned his gaze toward Haganezuka.

Are you alright?

"Snap!"

Steel Tomb slammed the wooden box shut, then looked up at Mizuko without saying a word!

This scene also silenced the sounds in the room.

Just as Midouzi was about to say something to ease the awkward atmosphere...

Steel Tomb suddenly raised his hand in a shushing gesture, then pricked up his ears to listen.

Mizuko and Urokodaki exchanged a glance, not understanding what Haganezuka was listening to. Just as they were about to listen carefully themselves, Haganezuka suddenly stood up.

"I'll talk about your business later! Little girl, it's one thing for the blade not to turn blue, but it's still black..."

Steel Mine glanced at Nezuko, then walked towards the inner room.

Mizuko and Urokodaki were a little confused, but when they saw Tektsuka walking into the inner room, the two of them immediately wanted to stop him.

"Wait...wait a minute!"

"Hey, Steel Tomb..."

Before the two could finish speaking, Steel Tsukasa had already flung open the door to the inner room.

In the dim light, Tanjiro was squatting in a sunless corner, carefully sharpening his sword.

This scene was laid bare before the eyes of the Steel Tomb.

Both Midouzi and Linlong froze on the spot, their hearts leaping into their throats.

[Oh no, my brother has been found out!]

Is it going to be brought forward?!

At the same time, both Nezuko and Urokodaki felt worried about Tanjiro.

Unexpectedly, Haganezuka ignored Tanjiro's scarlet eyes, simply strode over, and slowly squatted down beside him.

Tanjiro had already sensed the presence of a living person and knew that this person was the swordsmith who had come to deliver a sword to Nezuko.

He stopped sharpening his knife, looked up, and gave Steel Tomb a slightly shy smile.

But just as the smile bloomed, a sharp "thud" rang out, and he received a solid thud on the forehead.

"Who told you to sharpen the knife like that!"

Steel Mound roared at him, his voice so loud it hurt people's eardrums, but the hand that had just hit Tanjiro on the head trembled slightly under his sleeve.

Tanjiro covered his head with his hands, looking at Steel Mound with a somewhat aggrieved expression, unsure of what to do.

Nezuko and Urokodaki, who were behind them, were stunned when they saw this scene.

"Your posture and rhythm for sharpening the knife are wrong. What do you think you're sharpening, a kitchen knife?"

Haganezuka snatched the Nichirin Blade from Tanjiro's hand and simultaneously poked Tanjiro's head repeatedly with his fingers.

Tanjiro could only cover his head and back away, obediently listening to Hidezuka's reprimand, not daring to utter a single word of rebuttal.

This scene made both Mizuko and Rintarou's hearts leap into their throats.

Mizuko believed her brother wouldn't hurt anyone, but at such close range, to use such a rude method...

Is this... really okay...?

[Steel Mound...you...you...Tanjiro, you'd better hold back!]

Urokodaki couldn't help but feel a little worried for Haganezuka!

"You've got a tough head, kid. If I find out you're sharpening your Nichirin Blade like this again, I'll use your head to sharpen it. Get off me, okay?"

Steelzuka looked at his reddened fingertips, then glared at Tanjiro's bald head, and uttered a vicious sentence.

He was then pulled aside.

"Urodaki, this is your sword, isn't it? How did you use it? So many cracks, only this silly boy didn't wear it out!"

Steel Tomb then said something and fell silent while sharpening his knife.

Tanjiro glanced at Haganezuka's retreating figure, then looked at Nezuko with a tearful expression, appearing extremely aggrieved.

Nezuko waved to Tanjiro, then looked at Urokodaki.

"Master Urokodaki, what's going on with Mr. Hidetsuka?"

After glancing at it, Urokodaki sighed helplessly.

"Oh well! Let him be. He was born to forge swords."

Nezuko nodded, then looked at Tanjiro and said gently with a smile.

"My brother is okay. I think he's amazing!"

"real……?"

Tanjiro, standing next to Nezuko, asked.

Nezuko nodded gently, then looked at the busy Steel Mound.

[Mr. Haganezuka is also a very responsible person!]

However, this peaceful time did not last long, as the hawk crow belonging to Mizuko came to the cabin.

"Gah! Gah! Zaomen Nidouzi, there's a mission! Gah! A girl has gone missing in the town to the east! A girl has gone missing!"

"Wow! This jay can talk?"

Midouzi stared in shock at the hawk that had landed in front of the window.

"The Kasugai crows are used to relay messages. The Demon Slayer Corps conducts regular training for the Kasugai crows to speak, making it easier for team members to receive missions!"

Urokodaki slowly began to explain, then turned around and took out a set of neatly folded clothes from the inner room.

It was a haori embroidered with pink cherry blossom patterns, with the Demon Slayer Corps' iconic uniform underneath.

Linlong handed the clothes to Mizuko, his eyes filled with gentle expectation.

"This is a haori I made for you, and your Demon Slayer Corps uniform is also included. Now it's your turn to stand on your own!"

Mizuko accepted the haori handed to her by Urokodaki, deeply moved, and nodded emphatically.

"You'll likely be taking your brother with you on this mission, so I've prepared a box for Tanjiro to carry him. From now on, we'll be relying on each other!"

Urokodaki pointed to the wooden box beside him, his tone filled with worry and reluctance!

"Thank you, Master Urokodaki!"

Mizuko's eyes reddened, and she bowed deeply to Urokodaki, her voice choked with barely concealed sobs.

"Little girl, catch!"

A rough, hoarse voice suddenly rang out, and Haganezuka raised his hand and threw a gleaming Nichirin sword over.

Midouzi quickly reached out and caught it, only to see him wearing a mask, leaning lazily against the soft couch, not even lifting his eyelids.

"This sword was given to you by Urokodaki for your brother. I've heard the gist of what happened between you two. I don't care about anything else, but if you dare to damage my sword, I'll chop you both up immediately!"

Holding the Nichirin Blade in his hand, his fingertips traced the delicate cherry blossom pattern on the haori.

As Mizuko felt Urokodaki and Haganezuka's silent care, her belief in saving her brother and protecting people by slaying demons grew stronger.

She raised her hand and neatly tied up her long hair, then draped the pink cherry blossom haori over her shoulders and fastened the belt.

Wearing a team uniform with a cherry blossom haori, she exuded both the gentleness of a young girl and the heroic spirit of a swordsman.

(Because my level is too low, I can't add pictures, so I'll just put a picture of Mizuko in the comments section. You can see if it matches your image of Mizuko!)