Chapter 95

Loyal dogs belonging to puppies

Although Mikazuki Munechika and Fuyuki were assigned to work together on internal affairs, both of them knew it was just a joke.

Mikazuki Munechika was happy to cooperate with his childish Saniwa.

After arranging the actual internal tasks for the day, Fuyuki nestled in Mikazuki Munechika's arms for a while, with soft music playing from the terminal in her ears and the soft fabric of the tsukumogami beneath her hands. She was drowsy and wanted to fall asleep again in such a comfortable environment.

She was very sleepy after staying up all night, but—

"Master, don't sleep."

Mikazuki Munechika didn't let her off the hook, cruelly pushing the little head in his arms awake with his katana, "Sleeping like this isn't comfortable."

Dongshu gave him a resentful look, her drowsiness suddenly dispelled. She propped herself up and sat up: "Never mind, let's go to the forging room."

"Alright, alright." Mikazuki Munechika chuckled.

Fuyuki tries every day, and although her bad luck makes the swordsmiths in the sword-making workshop doubt their abilities, she still can't give up.

The citadel needs to be expanded with more tsukumogami (spirits). It can't keep taking over other people's tsukumogami; otherwise, there will always be a strange feeling in the end, but she can't quite put her finger on what that feeling is.

Amidst the blue sky and green leaves, Dongshu swayed as she walked to the door of the knives-burning room. Looking at the familiar wooden door, she encouraged herself, muttering to herself.

The young Saniwa took a deep breath, then pushed the door open in one go and walked in like a hero going to his execution.

Mikazuki Munechika lagged behind, watching the Saniwa's series of actions. He covered his mouth and chuckled, and soon followed her into the sword-forging room.

The lights in the furnace room had been turned on, turning the dim environment into bright light. Directly in front of him, flames were burning fiercely.

The swordsmith shikigami, the master swordsman, was hammering away with all its might, the clanging sounds echoing endlessly, and a resolute expression appeared on the little shikigami's face.

Today! We absolutely have to make it happen!

To temper the blade so many times and only produce one strike is truly an insult to the identity of a swordsmith!

Fuyuki sat on a bench nearby, wiping her face in boredom. It was the very same bench that the swordsmith shikigami had given her when Tsurumaru Kuninaga was in the time of the sword-wielding incident.

The sturdy chair has survived to this day.

Mikazuki Munechika approached, his voice tinged with amusement: "What sword will you be drawing today?"

Dongshu said weakly, "Any knife will do, as long as it's not scrap metal, anything will do."

Mikazuki Munechika sighed and shook his head, saying, "Master, don't be so pessimistic. What if it happens this time?"

Fuyuki looked at him resentfully: "Yagen said the same thing yesterday."

Nothing came of it. Only a "Great Judge" like her, who had accepted four worlds, could withstand such meaningless resource consumption.

Mikazuki Munechika: ...I miscalculated.

Mikazuki Munechika turned to look closely at the hardworking swordsmith shikigami, feigning surprise: "Oh dear, the little guy is working exceptionally hard today."

Dongshu ruthlessly exposed him: "It works very hard every day."

After all, this shikigami probably wants to draw its sword just like her.

Mikazuki Munechika smiled: "You're working very hard... Then let it work even harder. Perhaps it's because it's not working hard enough that it can't be tempered into a sword."

The swordsmith spirit trembled, its expression becoming even more resolute, the force of its hammering becoming more concentrated, and the clanging sound becoming even louder.

Looking at the flames burning in the furnace, Dongshu stood up, took a talisman from the side, and threw it into the furnace.

Her gaze was indifferent, and she didn't have high hopes for this sword-making challenge. After all, at this point, making swords every day felt like a small task she had set for herself.

It's like the daily tasks you'd do in a beginner's citadel.

Although the 197th Honmaru was no longer a novice Honmaru when she took over, Fuyuki had no experience with daily tasks.

However, you can find anything on the forum.

Looking at the white light shimmering on the talisman, it wasn't dazzling; it was a soft and beautiful light, belonging to the acceleration talisman.

The next moment, a sword appeared on the platform.

Wait, a sudden swipe of a knife?!

Dongshu's eyes lit up in an instant, and the weariness in his body was swept away in an instant.

It was a katana, about sixty centimeters long, with a finely crafted gold-lacquered handle. It was a very beautiful and respectable katana.

Although it feels a bit strange to use the word "serious" to describe a knife, that's how Fuyuki feels.

She glanced at Mikazuki Munechika beside her, then looked at the katana in front of her with some disbelief, before looking at Mikazuki Munechika again.

Repeatedly several times.

It felt like a dream.

Mikazuki Munechika smiled and patted her head, coaxing, "Go and wake him up, he's a rare newcomer."

These words seemed to confirm the truth of the matter. Fuyuki took a deep breath and extended her hand with an expression of absolute reverence.

The contract formed by the spiritual energy gradually connected the two, and then the abundance of spiritual energy brought the sword to a critical point, at which point the ordinary sword gained consciousness.

“My name is Hasebe. I will do whatever the Lord commands.”

As he spoke these words, the spirit lowered his head and looked at his master. When he saw his young and inexperienced master, the tenderness in his eyes deepened.

Dongshu's eyes widened slightly, unable to contain her joy. Her body trembled, and she stammered, "That won't do..."

She was a little confused and replied instinctively.

Hasebe was taken aback. The gray-haired tsukumogami, less than a minute after its birth, began to feel bewildered. Was its master angry on their very first meeting...?

The dog's ears, which didn't exist, drooped down, and even the loyal blade's aura weakened.

Fuyuki paused for a moment, then continued, "If you finish everything, you'll be exhausted."

After all, you can't have several tsukumogami working at the same time; not only would they be exhausted, but there's also no time to spare.

Hasebe, stunned, exclaimed, "Ah..."

Fuyuki was unaware of the trepidation in the heart of the tall tsukumogami before him. He simply looked up, his face beaming with smiles: "Anyway, I am very happy to have you here, Hasebe. I am the Saniwa, Fuyuki."

The gray-haired tsukumogami gazed at its earnest young master, and the seed that had sprouted in its heart grew a little in an instant.

With a gentle smile, Hasebe said, "Hasebe, I offer you everything."

Mikazuki Munechika stood to the side, watching this harmonious scene, and thinking about the party he couldn't escape tonight, a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

Oh dear, it looks like the citadel is going to be happy for quite a while.

—

night.

Taking out the vibrating terminal, Dongshu blinked and looked at the incoming call, then answered in confusion: "What's wrong, Qinghe?"

They usually communicate with each other through information rather than communication. Why are they suddenly calling now? Is there something urgent?

Listening to the story from the other side, Fuyuki thought it over carefully. After a moment, in the silence, she touched Hasebe's hand and replied earnestly, "Okay, I'll help you."

It's a very exciting thing to do. Since there's no danger, let's give it a try.

Thousands of houses.

A dessert shop, in a corner where no one pays attention.

Dongshu hummed a song softly as she adjusted the blue bracelet on her wrist, trying her best to make it the most conspicuous thing.

This is her translator, which was deliberately transformed into its most common form to avoid being obscured or misidentified.

Her soft, black hair cascaded down her shoulders and fell on either side of her delicate face, making her appear even more innocent and vulnerable.

The last time she sensed the innermost protective charm, it was a thin and reassuring feeling, delicate to the touch, even through a layer of clothing.

Unlike the protective charms used by the Tsukumogami Gate against the Time Retrograde Army, this one was specifically made to counter attacks by Tsukumogami. It will be responsible for Fuyuki's safety going forward.

Although she felt she didn't need it.

But it's always good to have more protection.

Entering a dessert shop, Fuyuki, as usual, ordered her favorite dessert and sat in a corner where she could not attract attention, savoring it slowly.

Everything is as usual, except—

There were no tsukumogami (spirits) around her.

Now, Fuyuki is a lone, young Saniwa with a translator.

She casually brushed a strand of hair behind her ear to make her face clearer, when she suddenly felt a strange, subtle gaze. Dongshu's hand paused almost imperceptibly, and the strand of hair fell down with the movement.

She slowly scooped up a spoonful of ice cream, silently counting down in her mind.

Three, two, one...

"Excuse me, Master Saniwa."

zero

The fish has taken the bait.

[Author's Note]

Mikazuki: Soothing a child.jpg

hsb: [Starry eyes][Crying][Starry eyes][Sunglasses]