CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: PERILOUS

The gourd was small, only about twenty centimeters tall.

Tetsu no Sosuke opened it and sniffed inside, detecting no unusual odors.

Sitting on the veranda beneath the starry sky, he hesitated for a moment...

Mainly to consider whether he needed to perform some mystical ritual. In the end, he decided to simply blow into it directly.

He pressed his lips to the gourd’s opening, took a deep breath, and blew with all his might!

Seconds ticked by. Sosuke’s face flushed crimson, and tiny stars began to dance in his vision.

Finally, he released the gourd, his vision momentarily blurring into white.

"...This thing... it’s not as simple as it looks."

Nodding, he took a deep breath to recover before trying again.

Adjusting his breathing technique, he realized he hadn’t exhaled evenly enough the first time. That must have been why he failed.

He raised the gourd again and blew with all his might.

He continued blowing for half a day, but the gourd remained unchanged, and the starry sky above remained the same.

Setting the gourd aside, he gazed up at the sky. ’The stars were so beautiful, the night so cold. Why am I wasting my time blowing on this gourd instead of sleeping? Am I out of my mind?’

He quickly shook his head, banishing such unproductive thoughts.

Then he stared blankly at the gourd.

’In terms of physical strength, I should be at least as strong as the Demon Slayer Corps members by now. My lung capacity is naturally large due to my physique, and I’ve been constantly training my breathing, forging iron, and practicing swordsmanship. So why can’t I blow this gourd apart?’

He pondered carefully. ’Is my lung capacity still insufficient?’

In the original story, the Tanjiro had also struggled to blow apart the gourd. Initially, he underwent rigorous training to improve his physical strength.

Then he focused on his breathing, enhancing his lung capacity.

He even enlisted the help of children to maintain his breathing techniques while he slept.

Eventually, he succeeded in blowing apart the gourds repeatedly.

’It seems I still have much to learn.’

Sosuke nodded, but a new challenge arose.

Who could watch over him while he slept, ensuring he maintained his breathing?

Kanae?

He hesitated. She’d have to stay up all night, and he felt a pang of guilt at the thought.

His sister-in-law?

That was inappropriate. What kind of brother-in-law would have his sister-in-law watch him sleep all night?

The girls at Butterfly Mansion?

They were all young girls. While it might be acceptable for a bachelor like Tanjiro, Sosuke was already spoken for. Even if nothing happened, appearances mattered. People would talk.

After all, some wouldn’t care about the truth. Just seeing him alone in a room with them would be enough for them to condemn him as a scoundrel.

’This wouldn’t work, and that wouldn’t work. Finally,’ Sosuke considered asking the Kakushi for help.

He just hoped it wouldn’t interfere with their duties.

"I’ll ask. If they can’t, I’ll figure something else out."

Sosuke nodded, his decision made.

He readjusted his breathing and continued blowing.

Though the results seemed minimal, he sensed that each massive exhalation subtly improved his lung capacity.

He blew until midnight, then went to sleep.

The next morning, with no immediate sword-forging duties, he had plenty of time.

After breakfast, he sought out one of the Hidden.

Having worked alongside these individuals for some time, Sosuke had come to know them fairly well.

The man he found was named Goto.

Goto was a Hidden operative frequently stationed at the Butterfly Mansion, though he hadn’t been with the Demon Slayer Corps for very long.

After explaining his request in detail, Goto scratched his head and said, "Well, it’s not impossible, as long as it doesn’t interfere with my duties. But if I’m assigned a mission, that will take priority."

Sosuke nodded. "Of course."

Having tentatively settled the matter, Sosuke breathed a small sigh of relief and began his training for the day.

For the past month, his training schedule had been: physical conditioning in the morning and swordsmanship practice in the afternoon.

With the forging task completed, his attribute growth had temporarily plateaued.

Physical training naturally took precedence, a decision Sosuke made without hesitation.

He saw no reason to refuse any form of exercise that could slightly improve his abilities.

Moreover, he had realized that accumulating attributes within his body was one thing, but truly mastering how to apply them through training was another entirely.

While he couldn’t quantify the exact benefits of physical training for attribute growth, he knew it stretched his muscles and bones, allowing his physical capabilities to fully manifest.

And so, he continued to practice with tireless enthusiasm.

That afternoon, his sister-in-law came over for their usual sparring session. After a few exchanges, Shinobu said, "You should practice on your own from now on."

"Huh?" Sosuke asked, bewildered. "Is it because I called you a kid? Are you mad?"

"Absolutely not!!!"

To prove she wasn’t being childish, Shinobu vehemently denied it, focusing her efforts on raising her voice.

Sosuke rubbed his ears. "Then why?"

"It’s just a feeling," Shinobu said earnestly. "If we keep sparring like this, you won’t improve at all. My sword techniques are too brutal; even I can’t fully control them yet. Using them in practice could easily cause you fatal injuries, and ordinary methods no longer challenge you. Therefore, our sparring sessions must end here."

Sosuke paused, then nodded in agreement.

He scratched his head and asked, "So, what should I do next?"

Shinobu suddenly smiled. "I do have an idea."

"...Why are you smiling so menacingly?" Sosuke shuddered.

"I’m not being menacing at all!" Shinobu protested, her voice carefully controlled.

Sosuke rubbed his ears again. "So? What’s your idea?"

"You forged weapons for all the Pillars, right? And when you did, you weren’t acting as a swordsmith, but as a swordsman in training. That means you weren’t bound by the duties and obligations of a swordsmith. In a way, they all owe you a favor."

Sosuke stared, speechless. "So, your plan is...?"

"Write them letters asking them to spar with you. Whether they come here or you go to them depends on their schedules." Shinobu said with a smile. "If you truly want to become a Pillar, you should hone your skills under their guidance first."

"...I feel like I’m going to be worn to death."

"If you’re not prepared to die, why do you want to become a Pillar?" Shinobu’s sinister intentions were now laid bare.