Chapter 12 the swordsmith who spoke Greek

Akaza's pov:

Being summoned to the Infinity castle for the first time in 113 years felt strange but it could only mean one thing.

Shocked I said, "an upper moon has been killed!"

A booming voice then laughed saying, "not only an upper moon but 4 months prior A member of the big three eclipses was killed, my best friend was killed"

Looking behind me I felt only dread and pain looking at this warrior clad in vibrant blue and gold undergarments that reached down to his ankles, a metal lamellar made of silver and gold with a breastplate made of black on top of it, carrying a huge round shield and a big war axe. His face was covered by a hood made from ring mail hidden behind a half helmet. This must have been the nord, the second eclipse! Jurgen of Niflheim.

Stepping back, I realized just how big he was, he dwarfed me by a lot and was fat yes but I could tell that fat wasn't exactly fat no there was raw power behind him I could tell.

Bowing slightly, I said, "hail to you mighty eclipse I assume you were summoned here too?"

Jurgen nodded taking a large swig of mead from a huge jug adorned in Nordic runes and said, "I wish I was in a better mood lad I would be offering you mead and such but the death of Chicahua weighs heavily on me even now" before turning to the biwa demon.

"oi Nakime who else is here? or did you summon only upper moon 3 and myself" Jurgen asked.

Calmly Nakime said, "upper moons 4,5 and 2 were summoned, upper moon 1 and eclipse 1 are currently sparring below."

We both looked over to see the fight and I was in horror as I saw eclipse 1 turn to sand and swarm around Kokushibo restraining him and forcing him to drop his sword.

The Egyptian coldly said, "and this is why I am Muzan's true favorite, you will do well to remember that and remember who showed you mercy all those years ago it is only by my will you were able to live long enough to become upper moon 1" before releasing him from his binds and moving up from their little sparring platform to meet us.

As we waited, I noticed Gyokko's pot and as the wretch formed, he laughed and said, "how happy I am to see you in good health lord akaza! How long has it been sice I last saw you, 90 years?"

He got closer to me and jurgen and said, "when I was summoned, I was quite certain you had perished and my heart began to sing! My poor heart was filled with anguish at the thought of it."

From behind us upper 4 the cowardly hatengu cowered behind a staircase and said, "how terrifying, terrifying! It seems even in the amount of time we've been apart you have forgotten how to count Gyokko it's been 113 since we've last been summoned and this is the first time we have been in the presence of two of the original 6 eclipses! Both uneven numbers and odd, how truly terrifying!"

Things went as normal as soon upper 2 came by and I splattered that bastards jaw across the floor only to be met with Jurgen coldly looking at me and saying, "Boy, you should not be fighting your friends, you may not know when you shall require their aid."

I growled in anger knowing he was right and bowed and the Biwa demon looked at us and said, "lord Muzan has arrived."

Looking up at lord Muzan's laboratory we all felt nothing but fear and yet the eclipses they felt nothing at all as if they could kill muzan!

Muzan continued his experiments saying, "it seems gyutaro is no longer with us nor is Chicahua which means the upper moons are now incomplete and the eclipses are down to two"

Douma tried to suck up to lord Muzan feeling embarrassed about gyutaro and daki but Muzan coldly said, "keep your wretched eyeballs I have no need for them, Chicahua's attack on the bronze pavilion was a success however as for the last four months we have not had any demons die by the hands of the Greek hashira unless they were foolish enough to intrude on his home, which means he is no longer a hashira"

Jurgen bellowed and said, "do you want me and the Egyptian to go and finish what Chicahua started Muzan?"

Muzan shook his head no and said, "I knew gyutaro would be defeated as expected Daki proved to be his weakness. Had he just fought alone from the very beginning he most asuradly would have won. If he had stopped fighting them after he had poisoned them, oh well none of it matters any more. How worthless, can't you see the upper moons are falling in order of who has more of their humanity remaining…the eclipses are a story that boggles even my mind so I can not speak for their defeat"

Douma chuckled and said, "ahhh it must be that Greek hashira Nikolaos! He was quite the force when I fought him able to give me….long lasting back pains….i still haven't recovered from his excessive amounts of suplexes he threw my way"

Muzan continued to chew us out over our failures and Douma tried to make things better before muzan brought up the blue spider lily.

The Egyptian spoke up and said, "Muzan if I may interject even back in my era and my time of travel I had never seen a blue spider lily"

Jurgen nodded and said, "even in my homeland a flower like that never bloomed, it is possible that the flower he was talking about what just his codeword for something else to make sure no one else knew his secrets, as for ubuyashiki…"

Kokushibo spoke up and said, "unlike Nikolaos, Ubuyashiki is a master of evading us…"

Douma leaned back and forth and chuckled saying, "I'm afraid detective work really isn't my strong suit either sadly I'm at my wit

Gyokko spoke up and said, "pardon me lord muzan I have something for you! you see I have procured some juicy information that I think will interest you greatly! Information that can change everything!"

With lightning-fast speed Lord Muzan had Gyokko's head in his hand and said, "did I ever tell you lot how much I detest change? Changes of circumstance, changes of flesh, changes in one's emotions. Most changes cause only weakness and inferiority. And I am not weak, what I am interested in is permanence like that of the Egyptian however not mummified but in perfect condition immune to the disease of change."

Gyokko was scolded by muzan for his insolent nature and soon he told Gyokko to go with Hantengu to confirm this rumor.

Jurgen then spoke up saying, "forgive me lord muzan for interrupting but I recommend you send myself and little Akaza here to help them in the matter."

This raised the Egyptian's eye saying, "why must you try and fight everything that breaths Jurgen! Why do you want to go!"

Muzan looked down at us and asked, "I wish to know too jurgen for you to ask to go on an assignment when the civilian casualty will be high is unlike you"

Jurgen smirked and said, "I wish to see first hand how the upper moons fight and see if it would be wise to execute them and leave only myself the Egyptian and Kokoshibo as your hands"

Lord Muzan let out a long sigh and said, "very well, Nakime send Gyokko and Hantengu ahead with Jurgen and Akaza as backup, Akaza listen to whatever Jurgen says as it will be his decision whether to let you live or not."

I shuttered looking at the big nord who radiated with frost, lightning and what looked like an aura of fire and soon felt myself disappear with Jurgen appearing in a dark forest with Hantengu and Gyokko.

Jurgen looked at us and said, "you all know your jobs, Hantengu and Gyokko will be the first to attack, Akaza under no circumstances are you to go if you step out of line I don't care if you are one of Muzan's favorites I will end you."

I bowed and crossed my legs sitting as we got ready for our plan.

Nikolaos's pov:

As I sipped some green tea waiting for a member of the Kakushi to come and guide Ayano and myself to the swordsmith village I looked up to the calm sky the birds flying softly.

"Ayano…have you thought of marriage?" I asked casually.

This caused Ayano to choke on her green tea spilling it all over before yelling, "ow fuck oh god that was hot tea! Why does it have to hurt so much ow ow ow ow ow ow! Niko! You don't just drop a bomb shell question like that on a woman! Why!"

I chuckled looking over at her and softly I held her face in my hand and rubbed her cheek with my thumb and said, "think about it…Muzan's cells inside of you even though it is little will be gone after we kill him and then you'll be able to truly live right? Well, what do you think about getting married then?"

Ayano blushed heavily saying, "well I did think about it for some time but but but I didn't think it would happen so soon! I mean wait is this a proposal!"

I laughed and nodded my head and said, "I guess you can call this a proposal, would you have me as your husband though Ayano?"

Ayano blushed heavily and lunged at me hugging my tightly crying and saying, "by the gods Niko you really are a scatterbrain but yes! I love you so much! I will gladly marry you."

I hugged her tightly and took a bite from some castella cake as Kotoyami flew by and said, "lord tanjiro has finally woken up from his Coma! I repeat he is awake!"

I grinned happily and said, "by the gods I am so happy for him!"

A servant then rushed over and said, "lord Nikolaos, Lady Ayano the kakushi are here to bring you to the swordsmith village."

I smiled and said, "well now I am happy to finally get my new weapons and meet my new swordsmith!"

Ayano nodded and we got up and walked outside to see two Kakushi ready to bring us.

Bowing the Kakushi said, "hello there! Your request was approved and so we will be leading you to the swordsmith village, for now however we need you to put these on" before handing us a blindfold and ear plugs.

I had an idea on why this was needed but putting it on we were led along the path to the village being carried by other kakushi almost like a delivery system all the while thinking about my new spear.

The fight against the eclipses have been quite enlightening so maybe replacing the wood with metal instead would be a good idea, and having a nodachi would be great too as it flows with my style, my shield though…. that was made of some tough metal so I am curious how they will make it stronger.

I'll also need to get my Haori remade too, so I'll need to hopefully get that retailored too.

Soon though the last person dropped us off and removed the blindfolds and earplugs and said, "here we are."

Giving my eyes some time to adjust, I had to take of my helmet as I was in total awe of what I had saw, the beautiful row of house surrounded by mountains, the smell of iron and steel in the air the smell of food it was relaxing and just so soothing".

Ayano raised her eyebrows to and said, "by the gods Niko this…this is amazing!"

The Kakushi looked at us and said, "there is a hot spring not to far from here that is said to rival the one at the bronze pavilion, you are welcome to go there but first I'd suggest you go and meet the village chief, go to the end of the street and turn left. Its best you greet him before doing anything else"

I nodded my head and bowed to the lady leaving to go and greet the chief. The cief was a small man wearing a mask almost like Mr. Hagenezuka's and I had to admit seeing so many people with masks was rather confusing, I hope I could recognize my new swordsmith.

The village chief chuckled and said, "so you're the Greek who had Hagenezuka in shambles, your careless nature with the wood spear shaft had him so angry he gave you to another swordsmith, one who gladly took up the offer and just like you is Greek"

This made me raise my eyebrow as I said, "oh? And who might that be?"

The chief waved his finger and said, "before I can tell you anything else I must see the quality of the bow you use to greet your elders."

Confused I looked at Ayano who said, "oh he just wants you to bow to him like you're bowing to the master, it's a sign of respect here in Japan, don't think anything of it Niko"

I nodded and bowed humbly to the chief just like Ayano was doing and the chief chuckled saying, "what a good bow! I am honored to have you in our village, help yourselves to our sweets, now then your swordsmith's name is Dimitra Laskaris, you can find her workshop not too far from here actually."

Looking up at the chief I said, "how will I know I found her?"

The chief and his advisors chuckled before saying, "trust me you'll know when you find her."

Laughing softly, I left with Ayano who looked at me and said, "another Greek I'll need to translate for."

I gave a hardy laugh and said, "I wouldn't be too sure of that don't forget I speak Greek too, hell that's why I vouched for you in the first place, I needed a translator."

Ayano chuckled softly as well before we came across a Greek inspired forge and whistling, I said, "I think this is lady Dimitra's place" before heading over to meet her.

Walking around I found hundreds upon hundreds of Greek inspired kopis's and Apsis shields lying around and loads of different stacks of woods all shaped like spears.

"By the gods this is a lot of weapons this Dimitra is a master of her craft, Hephaestus would be proud" I said picking up kopis.

I heard a loud booming female voice behind me laugh saying, "so you're the great lion Nikolaos! I had a feeling the Greek hashira had to be a spartan!"

Looking behind me I saw a woman dressed in an Athenian style tunic and the Greek theater mask for tragedy.

Smiling I said, "Dimitra I assume?"

The lady nodded and said, "follow me I have somethings I wish to discuss concerning your shield and spear."

Nodding my head I followed her and she threw me a spearhead that reminded me of the normal huge sword spear I was used to but along the sides near where the shaft met the spear head mount were crescent moon blades almost like axes.

Dimitra smirked and said, "thought you'd like it the spear is now able cut through even the heaviest of trees with those attached blades I just want you to take a look at it and the spear butt before I attach them.

Looking at the spear butt almost felt like I was looking at a mace with how it looked, I mean it was large and had a bunch of spikes on it, but it wasn't any heavier than the spear head itself which amazed me.

Smirking I said, "I must give you credit where credit is due Dimitra this spear head and spear butt are quite powerful! Yes, quite powerful indeed! I approve of them!" before handing them back to her.

Picking up the Aspis shield I was stunned with how light it was but knew it wasn't. It had to be made of something durable. Looking at the front of it depicting the Greek symbol for omega with the word's destroyer of demons in kanji in the center all in red made me beyond happy. Suddenly though Ayano attacked me with a kopis but I blocked it with my shield breaking the sword.

Dimitra smirked and said, "I see you like the shield! Grehahahahaha yes, very good indeed! Now then here is the final pieces of your arsenal!" before pointing over to a kopis and nodachi.

Walking over to it and holding the Kopis and swinging it a bit, I felt the weight behind it and felt like I was cutting through the air.

"Very good indeed! The weight is perfectly balanced!" I laughed before going over to the nodachi.

Dimitra smirked and said, "Hagenezuka had an ingenious way of forging your nodachi, using all the weapons you collected from the other eclipses I took the metal and forged it along with the normal nichirin metals we use for all our katanas, lets just say this is the strongest Nichirin blade I have ever made, give me a day and I'll have it all ready for you, for now though I think you should open this and try it on" before handing me a package.

Opening it up I raised my eyebrow and nearly cried.

Looking at Dimitra I said, "is this-"

She smiled and said, "shinjuro Rengoku sent this to the master for you and then the master sent it here after he heard you wish to come to village, try it on."

Going over to a nearby changing room I tried on my official demon slayer outfit, first time I have ever worn it too it was not as bulky in cloth like the others, hell it was nearly skintight but didn't ruin any of my normal movements. Putting on my armor over the cloth I then looked at the Haori sent by shinjuro…it was Rengoku Sensei's but with the addition of the Greek symbol for Omega emblazoned on the back, along with it came a note written in Greek from Shinjuro.

"Nikolaos, though we have never met face to face my son would write home often about you and how your will of fire burned as bright as the flame hashira of the Sengoku era, your attitude willingness to lay down your life for others and overall personality left nothing but pride in my son's eyes and I feel like this Haori should go to you, it is the first flame hashira's Haori, once worn by son and now by you, you may not be a flame hashira but from how my son talked about you I see no one worthier of this Haori than you, take good care of it and live up to the reputation my son gave you, Shinjuro" the note read.

Crying I put the Haori on and clipped it to my armor so it wouldn't come undone and looked at myself in the mirror.

"Rengoku Sensei, I swear I will uphold your values" I muttered.

Exiting the changing room, I saw Ayano marveling at her new Nichirin sword and said, "well, how do I look?"

Ayano smiled and said, "looking as wonderful as ever darling."

The two of us then felt a air of gratitude blow past us and with a smirk I said, "it fells like a familiar face has come to the swordsmith village"

Ayano chuckled and said, "I wonder who that could be."

Dimitra led us out and said, "I'll have your weapons ready for you before tomorrow so stick around the village and enjoy yourselves!"

Bowing as we left, I looked at Ayano and said, "wanna check out that hotspring?"

Ayano nodded and as we got to the hot spring we saw two familiar faces, Tanjiro and Mitsuri Kanroji.

Mitsuri was crying about a bully in the hot spring who was mean to her.

"fwehahahahahahaha! By the gods Mitsuri still crying over a boy being mean to you!" I laughed loudly puffing out my chest a bit.

Tanjiro and Mitsuri both looked at me and Tanjiro started to cry saying, "Lork Nikolaos!" before rushing over to me.

Mitsuri started to cry to and rushed me and Ayano saying, "you guys! I- I am so glad to see you two!" before hugging Ayano slowly squeezing her to near death.

Ayano looked lik she was turning blue and tried tapping out saying, "Mitsuri! Matsuri stop your gonna crush my spine!"

Meanwhile I was comforting Tanjiro who looked completely distraught as I said, "by the gods young Kamado is that really you! you have gotten taller! And a lot stronger too! Theres no way this is the same welp who left the bronze pavilion! Fwehahahaha but where be young inosuke and zenitsu they didn't perish in your fight with upper 6 did they?"

Tanjiro looked up at me shocked and said, "you know about that!"

I nodded as Kotoyami landed on my shoulder and said, "kotoyami has been keeping an eye on you for a while actually you have no idea how proud you have made me, Rengoku would be more than proud of you if he were around."

Tanjiro and I then left Mitsuri and Ayano and went up to the hot spring where we ran into Genya who was beyond pissed at Tanjiro for mentioning how he was related to the wind hashira. Genya tried to waterboard Tanjiro, but I picked him up and suplexed him out of the hot spring and down the stairs leaving me and Tanjiro.

Chuckling I said, "I envy the people here."

Tanjiro looked at me confused and I said, "the hot spring here is natural unlike the one at the bronze pavilion meaning the area is just so tranquil and one with nature if you lean back and just take a deep breath in and listen you can hear the voice of nature."

Tanjiro and I then relaxed for a bit before finally getting out and walking down to the sleeping quarters where dinner was waiting for us, and Mitsuri.

Mitsuri and I ate a lot of food that night while Ayano explained to Tanjiro what we had been up to in the last four months since the bronze pavilion closed.

Tanjiro looked at me shocked and said, "wait you and lady Ayano are getting married!"

Smiling I nodded and said, "right after we finish muzan I swore to her I will marry her."

Mitsuri blushed and said, "how romantic you have my heart going doki doki with how cute you too are! Anyways lord Nikolaos did you get your equipment?"

Nodding I said, "my spear, shield kopis and nodachi should be ready for me by tomorrow, and after that I return to my normal duties of hunting the eclipses."

Tanjiro shuttered and said, "thank goodness you showed up when you did…. that Aztec was a tough one"

Laughing I said, "you should have seen what it was like fighting the Persian, fighting against an archer on horseback is stressful!"

Ayano nodded and said, "don't forget though the strongest two are all that's left…and these guys are called the upper two for a reason…"

Nezuko then puffed out her chest and laughed saying, "fwehahahahaha!" which caught me offguard but soon I laughed too.

"fwehahahahaha very good Nezuko you laugh like a Greek! Yes, very good indeed! Fwehahahaha" I said.

Ayano slumped into Tanjiro's arms looking dead inside as she said, "I thought it was just a nightmare but no…. she really does act like him…"

Tanjiro looked shocked at first but then said, "oh by the way lord Nikolaos there is something I wish to tell you! Nezuko fought just like you in the entertainment district, her fighting style and will of fire was just like yours!"

Smiling like a clown I said, "you mean she fought like me! Very good yes very good indeed! I am impressed! Fwehahahahaha!"

Meanwhile Nezuko was acting like a child with mitsuri before long Dimitra came by and said, "lord Nikolaos your weaponry is already done for you."

Smiling I got up and looked at Mitsuri and Tanjiro and said, "I wish you two the best, though we may never meet again in life I pray we meet in the afterlife in the field of reeds Αντίο!"

As we left Ayano said, "I pray we get to fight alongside them once again…I really liked Tanjiro and Mitsuri"

Dimitra smirked at me as I sheathed the nodachi on my back along with the spear and shield and the kopis on my side.

I laughed and said, "I have to admit everything is weighted perfectly! Yes perfectly indeed! Fwehahahahaha!"