13 Vol. II Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

The name "Yoriichi Type Zero" sparked a memory in Haruto's mind. It reminded him of a name he'd seen floating across the barrage of comments before.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

"Was he from the Sengoku era?" Haruto's gaze locked onto the paper flower earrings adorning the mechanical doll's ears. A flash of realization struck him.

They're the same as… the ones Tanjiro wears.

From what he'd read in the comments, Yoriichi Tsugikuni must have left a lasting scar on Muzan Kibutsuji. Otherwise, why would the mention of his name flood the screen with messages like

"Muzan's heart just stopped"?

So… Muzan's obsession with finding Tanjiro—is it because Tanjiro has some connection to this legendary swordsman from the Sengoku era?

Because of those earrings?

Could the Kamado family be Yoriichi's descendants?

Kotetsu scratched his head, muttering, "Yeah, he was a super famous swordsman from the Sengoku period, but honestly, I don't know much more than that. It was so long ago…" He trailed off awkwardly, avoiding Haruto's eyes.

Maybe Lady Tamayo would know, Haruto mused. She's been around for… well, let's just say long enough.

Haruto helped move the mechanical doll to an open clearing, with Kotetsu trailing behind, scribbling furiously on a piece of paper while muttering to himself.

"No matter how much I study it, I just can't figure out its inner workings. It's like our ancestors didn't leave a single drop of their genius for us descendants…"

"Isn't there a risk of breaking it after three hundred years of inactivity?" Haruto asked as he gently placed the doll down. "What happens if it malfunctions? Can you even fix it?"

"..." Kotetsu paused mid-scribble, planting his hands on his hips. "I'm six! SIX years old! Do you think I can fix this giant thing if it breaks?" He puffed up indignantly, only to slump a moment later with a defeated sigh. "But… if it does break, I'll just have to study harder and figure it out…"

Seeing his determination, Haruto didn't press further. Instead, he grabbed his wooden practice sword and stood ready, waiting for Kotetsu to unlock the doll.

"You might want to reconsider using that," Kotetsu warned. "This doll is no joke. It's armed with a real Nichirin Blade forged by my ancestor."

"My sword's broken anyway." Haruto shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't worry, just activate it. I'll dodge if things get dicey."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

With a resigned nod, Kotetsu inserted a key into the back of the doll's neck, then quickly backed away.

Haruto tightened his grip on the wooden sword, eyes trained on the mechanical warrior.

Whirrrrr…

Huh? What's that noise? And why is there a sudden gust of wind?

Before Haruto could react, the six-armed doll sprang to life with blinding speed. In an instant, it was upon him, its Nichirin Blade flashing in the sunlight.

Clang!

A single stroke shattered Haruto's wooden sword into two pieces.

"=͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪*)"

Before he could even process what had happened, the doll launched another flurry of attacks, all six blades slicing through the air like a deadly storm.

"Yikes!" Haruto leapt backward, springing into the air like a hawk, narrowly dodging the whirlwind of strikes.

Damn it! Without a real sword, all I can do is dodge. There's no way I can break through that storm of steel with just my bare hands!

He tucked into a spin mid-air, landing lightly on his feet, but the doll was relentless. It followed up with precise, unyielding strikes, forcing Haruto to keep moving.

"What kind of monster is this thing?!" Haruto gritted his teeth, weaving through the onslaught. "And why does it have SIX arms?!"

"Because the original swordsman it was modeled after was too strong!" Kotetsu called from the sidelines. "My ancestors had to give the doll four extra arms just to replicate his movements. And even then, it's not as powerful as he was!"

The doll's blade grazed Haruto's cheek as he twisted and turned, his white hair flowing behind him. His loosened uniform flapped, becoming more of a hindrance than armor.

Even as Haruto dodged, he studied the doll's movements carefully. Every swing of its blades, every shift in its stance—he was memorizing its patterns.

From the sidelines, Kotetsu watched in awe.

Haruto isn't lying. Out of all the swordsmen who've come to the Swordsmith Village, he's definitely the strongest.

If he were compared to Himejima… well, their strengths lie in different areas.

Himejima's swordsmanship is powerful and dignified, his strikes broad and overwhelming, perfectly complementing his weapon—a colossal spiked flail and axe made of Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Ore, capable of pulverizing even the toughest demons.

But Haruto's style is entirely different.

He's quick, almost weightless, and every muscle in his body seems to work with precision, as if each movement could decide the entire battle. His breathing techniques are known for their speed and unpredictability, making him as elusive as a shadow. Paired with Himejima's mountain-like presence, Haruto would be a lethal counter to any demon.

After a grueling battle, Haruto finally found his chance. Sliding between the blades, he scissored his legs around the doll's head, ready to crush it with one decisive move.

But then… he saw the forlorn expression on its fox-like mask.

With a sigh, he eased up, kicking the doll away instead of destroying it.

He tumbled to the ground, landing gracefully in a field of soft grass, and began brushing stray blades off his uniform.

Kotetsu hurried to the doll, carefully removing the key and inspecting it for damage.

"Phew…" Haruto stretched, cracking his neck with satisfaction. "That was incredible. I feel like every bone in my body just got a workout."

If a replica—an emotionless machine—could push him this far, just how strong must the original swordsman have been?

And yet… even someone that powerful couldn't kill Muzan Kibutsuji.

Haruto shook his head, dismissing the grim thought.

Kotetsu exhaled in relief. "No damage, thank goodness. But Haruto, you didn't even see the doll's full strength."

The boy's eyes sparkled as he explained the doll's true potential, how its arms and fingers could be adjusted to mimic specific moves, allowing it to exploit a swordsman's weaknesses.

"One day," Kotetsu added, grinning mischievously, "I'll build a doll based on you! I'll call it… Haruto Prototype Zero!"

Haruto chuckled, ruffling Kotetsu's hair. "Sounds great. But let's call it Haruto Type One, okay?"

"Eh?"