Useless Trash Who Can't See Cursed Spirits

"Something's off—very off!"

Yuki Tsukumo circled Shinsuke Zenin, scrutinizing him from every angle and occasionally reaching out to pinch him, trying to figure out what was going on.

His Heavenly Restriction might indeed dislike Cursed Energy, but wasn't this reaction a little too exaggerated?

She was a bona fide Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer, someone powerful enough to change an entire country, yet she had actually been blown back. Though she had been somewhat careless, it was still enough to show just how powerful that force was.

"Alright, you should give up already."

After getting dressed, Shinsuke Zenin offered no further explanation.

"Remember to transfer the money to my card. You know the number."

At that, Yuki Tsukumo puffed out her cheeks and said indignantly, "Got it! Can't you stop being so money-grubbing?"

"Hey, don't talk nonsense. I'm not interested in money—I just enjoy the process of making it. Besides, I earn every penny through hard work. How can that be called greed?"

Shinsuke Zenin hurriedly denied Yuki Tsukumo's accusation.

He only thought about making money when he was broke, like now. After a bit of casual gambling recently, he did not even have enough money in his pocket to buy a ticket home.

Most of the time, he was just loafing around, traveling from country to country, or "working hard" to temper his vitality and blood energy.

"You really are impossible."

Yuki Tsukumo covered her forehead helplessly. He was several years older than her, yet sometimes he was even more childish, constantly spouting nonsense.

"So where are you planning to go next? Keep living off women?"

Yuki Tsukumo crossed her arms and eyed Shinsuke Zenin critically.

"Uh..."

"That was the plan, but if you're willing to give me some money now, I can choose to go home instead."

He had originally planned to find some rich older woman, make a little money, and then head home. By chance, Yuki Tsukumo had caught him again.

Since that was the case, asking Yuki Tsukumo for money directly seemed faster.

"Really? Why do you suddenly want to go back?"

There was a trace of confusion in Yuki Tsukumo's eyes.

She knew that this guy had been away from that place for seven or eight years. She had thought he would never go back for the rest of his life.

The corners of Shinsuke Zenin's lips curled up slightly, and his gaze softened a little. "No matter what, I still have a Little Brother over there."

Of course, aside from his Little Brother, he probably had two more nieces or nephews now.

If he did not go back soon, he might have to raise those nieces and nephews in the future. That was absolutely out of the question—he had no intention of becoming a babysitter.

"So there's something other than money in your eyes after all. Fine, I'll cover your travel expenses home.

"But since you're going back, this house..."

Yuki Tsukumo blinked and gave Shinsuke Zenin a meaningful look.

She happened to still be looking for a place to stay.

Hearing that, Shinsuke Zenin's mouth twitched. As expected, this woman would not miss any chance to freeload off him.

He picked up the keys from the table and tossed them to Yuki Tsukumo. "Here, take them."

"But let me make this clear: the house isn't mine. Whether the owner comes back depends on your luck."

The house belonged to a foreign woman. She had recently gone away on a business trip, which was why Shinsuke Zenin had been living there alone.

Yuki Tsukumo made an OK gesture. She was only planning to stay for a few days before heading off to the next place to wander anyway.

It could not be that the owner would happen to return during the few days she stayed there, right?

Having decided to go back, Shinsuke Zenin made himself a simple dinner. Naturally, Yuki Tsukumo freeloaded another meal.

The next morning.

Shinsuke Zenin woke up unusually early to catch his flight.

"You're leaving? Be careful on the way."

Wearing a silk nightgown, Yuki Tsukumo stood at the door, still bleary-eyed as she saw him off.

Aside from the fact that he often scammed her out of money, the two of them were actually very good friends.

Shinsuke Zenin gave her a casual glance. "Not bad assets."

After that remark, he pushed open the door and left.

Yuki Tsukumo instantly woke up a little more. She subconsciously straightened herself and muttered under her breath, "At least his eyes aren't blind. Too bad his brain's too stupid."

He was such a hopelessly dense man.

Her intentions had been so obvious that she was practically one step away from saying it outright, yet he still did not understand how she felt.

Was living off her really that unappealing?

If Shinsuke Zenin had known what Yuki Tsukumo was thinking, he would definitely have said: Sorry, but he only lived off rich, beautiful young women. All three conditions were essential.

Although Yuki Tsukumo met two of the criteria... she was too poor.

Zenin Family.

An old man sat cross-legged in the empty room, with a large character for "Zen" written on the wall behind him.

Outside, a group of people was testing the younger generation of the Zenin Family for their Cursed Energy and innate techniques.

"Exorcise it."

The examiner held a low-grade cursed spirit in his hand and spoke to the little girl before him.

"No, no, I'm scared..."

Seeing the monster in his hand, the little girl hurriedly hid behind her mother, clutching tightly at her mother's leg, her eyes filled with fear.

She wanted to overcome her fear, but her body refused to cooperate. In the end, she could only squeeze her eyes shut and bury her face against her mother's thigh.

The adults around them looked slightly cold, but they did not say anything. At the very least, the girl could see cursed spirits.

As a member of the Zenin Family bloodline, as long as one possessed Cursed Energy, there was a high chance of awakening an innate technique.

It was merely a matter of whether it was strong or weak.

"Don't be afraid, Mai. Mom's right here."

The woman comforted Mai Zenin.

"Enough. Today's testing ends here."

The examiner put away the cursed spirit and did not continue the test.

"Wait, Maki hasn't been tested yet!"

The woman hurriedly called out to the examiner. She wanted to fight for an opportunity for her eldest daughter.

"Her? Hahahahaha..."

The moment the people around them heard the woman's words, they burst into laughter. "Someone whose Cursed Energy is so weak that she can't even see cursed spirits wants to awaken an innate technique?"

"Stop wasting everyone's time. Sister-in-law, why not just kick her out of the Zenin Family? She has no Cursed Energy. Keeping her around just makes her useless."

Hearing this, a trace of helplessness appeared on the woman's face. In a family that valued Cursed Energy and innate techniques above all else, anyone who failed to display sufficient talent was destined to suffer endless scorn.

And having no Cursed Energy was practically a sin against heaven.

Her daughter was only a child.

Standing beside the woman, Maki Zenin lowered her head. Her two small pink fists clenched tightly within her sleeves, her hair covering her eyes as no one knew what she was thinking.

"Oh? So having no Cursed Energy makes someone useless?"

At that moment, a tall figure appeared beside the clan member who had called Maki Zenin useless. He placed one hand on the man's shoulder and glanced down at him.

"Y-you... why are you back?!"

As he turned and looked at that face he could never forget, along with those utterly emotionless dead-fish eyes, the man felt immense pressure. Even his voice began to tremble.

"Shinsuke Zenin?!"

The surrounding clan members all watched the newly returned Shinsuke Zenin warily, instantly entering a combat stance.

The man before them reminded them of the Zenin Family tragedy from eight years ago.