CHAPTER 67: CHAPTER 67: A WALK

For the moment, Sosuke had no solution to this dilemma and could only set it aside.

After introducing Kotetsu to the Kocho Sisters, the mischievous boy couldn’t resist asking Kanae, "Are you Brother Sosuke’s wife?"

Kanae’s face flushed crimson.

Shinobu’s expression darkened. She silently appeared behind Kotetsu, her fists pressing down on his head as she drilled him mercilessly. "You brat! What nonsense are you spouting? They’re not married yet!"

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

Kotetsu was no match for Shinobu.

He cried out in agony, tears welling in his eyes, yet couldn’t help but blurt out, "Isn’t that... inevitable? Just look at Brother Sosuke—he’s like a male wolf in the mountains stalking a female wolf. He’ll never give up... Ah, that hurts! Brother Sosuke, save me!"

Sosuke glared at him. ’Dare to call me a wolf? And Kanae a female wolf?’

’Why would I save you?’

He immediately abandoned Kotetsu, pulling Kanae into the house.

Shinobu quickly released her grip. "You two are not allowed to be alone in a room together!"

Kotetsu, having narrowly escaped death, collapsed onto the ground, gingerly rubbing his burning head.

Shaking his head, he muttered to himself, "This is terrifying. Brother Sosuke is going to get beaten to death someday."

___

This was Kanae’s first time in Sosuke’s room.

While describing the place as "four bare walls" would be an exaggeration, the furnishings were undeniably old and worn.

The people of Swordsmith Village were deeply devoted to their craft, paying little attention to material possessions.

Kanae cared even less about such things. As she curiously examined everything around her, she suddenly caught a familiar scent. Sure enough, Sosuke appeared carrying a small box filled with rice balls he had made.

"I haven’t had these in days," Kanae said, picking one up. "I’ve really missed them."

Sosuke murmured, "Do you miss the rice balls, or do you miss me?"

A faint warmth spread across Kanae’s cheeks as she glanced at him. "Both," she whispered.

Sosuke closed his eyes in contentment. Just then, Shinobu’s boisterous voice cut through the air: "Both what? Sister, you need to maintain some composure! You can’t just miss anything!"

Kanae stood up, grabbed Shinobu by the back of her collar, and tossed her out the door.

Kotetsu, who had just scrambled to his feet, witnessed the scene and burst into laughter, making no attempt to hide his schadenfreude.

Shinobu had been feeling wronged, but when she saw Kotetsu laughing, she couldn’t help but smile too... though her smile was rather menacing.

Inside the room, Kanae had just sat down when she heard Kotetsu’s miserable scream. She glanced at Sosuke and said, "That child..."

"He’s fine," Sosuke replied. "Just a tough little brat who can take a beating. How long will you be staying this time? I probably won’t be able to return for a while."

Creating and researching the Automaton was far more complex than he had imagined. The time and effort required exceeded his initial estimates. It had taken him seven days to complete just one arm, and he suspected the remaining five arms would each have unique mechanisms.

Each of the six arms had its own independent mechanical structure, allowing them to coordinate seamlessly. If they were all identical, they would serve no purpose and might even interfere with each other.

Of course, with the experience gained from successfully crafting the first arm, the remaining ones should be much easier to complete.

Kanae nodded. "I can stay for three days at most. After that, I must return to the Butterfly Mansion."

Sosuke felt a momentary pang of disappointment, but he knew this was the limit.

Under normal circumstances, the Pillars should remain on standby at their respective estates.

Otherwise, if they couldn’t be found in times of crisis when their strength was needed, the potential sacrifices could be catastrophic.

With this thought, he suddenly said, "Oh, right, give me your sword."

"Mm," Kanae replied without questioning, handing her Nichirin Blade to Sosuke.

He drew the blade and examined it closely, finally nodding. "The blade is completely undamaged and doesn’t need repair for now. But you must be extremely careful. A Nichirin Blade is a swordsman’s life. If you notice any damage, come to me immediately for repairs."

Kanae watched him with a smile as she ate her rice ball.

Sosuke grew slightly embarrassed under her gaze. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Because... you’re handsome."

With no one else around, Kanae’s boldness had grown considerably.

Sosuke took Kochō Kanae’s hand and pressed it against his cheek. "I’ll finish my research and reconstruction of the Automaton as quickly as possible, then return to the Butterfly Mansion. If I succeed, there might even be other surprises waiting for me."

"Mm," Kanae nodded, then brought up another matter. "During my last mission, I ran into the Love Pillar."

"Oh."

"To express her gratitude to you, she wants you to visit her for training sometime," Kanae said with a smile. "It seems she heard about your training with the Water Pillar and is eager to help you as well."

Sosuke’s smile was a bit strained. "I have a feeling that if I went to her, I’d probably get beaten to death."

"That won’t happen! She knows how to hold back... right?" By the end of her sentence, Kanae sounded uncertain herself.

As a fellow Pillar, she naturally understood Mitsuri’s terrifying strength. Shaking her head, she said, "Let’s hold off until we’re more confident."

Sosuke nodded repeatedly, feeling as if he had narrowly escaped the gates of hell.

Later, as he pondered, he thought that if circumstances allowed, he should visit Iguro Obanai or seek out the Stone Pillar for some training.

Obanai’s movement technique was a unique skill that would undoubtedly prove invaluable if mastered.

As for the Stone Pillar, like himself, he specialized in strength. Seeking his combat experience for reference would certainly be beneficial.

His mind wandered through a jumble of thoughts until he snapped back to reality, only to find Kanae staring at him again.

Startled, he scratched his head. "I spaced out."

Kanae shook her head, indicating she didn’t mind. Just as she was about to speak, Sosuke suddenly took her hand and stood up. "We rarely get to visit. Let me take you for a walk."

"Do you have time?" Kanae asked, surprised but also hesitant.

"One day won’t make a difference," Sosuke replied. "You’ve probably never had a proper look around the Swordsmith Village, have you? I’ll show you around properly. We can soak in the hot springs tonight."

"You’re such a..."

Kanae immediately felt as if she had already soaked in the hot springs. A wave of heat surged through her body, eventually flushing her cheeks crimson.