Zenin Family's "Olive Branch"

Maki narrowed her eyes and lifted her head slightly, enjoying her brother's gentle caress. It was a warmth she would never experience from her father.

Just then, a middle-aged man strode into the courtyard without a care in the world.

He glanced at Maki and Mai, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes. Even useless people are drawn to each other. How amusing.

"What are you here for?"

Shinsuke Zenin stared at the middle-aged man without expression, his tone icy.

"Is that how you speak to your elders?"

Jinichi Zenin looked at Shinsuke and tried to use his position as an elder to guilt-trip and put him down.

"An elder? You think you deserve that title?"

Shinsuke gave a mocking smile. Though they were half-brothers, the two of them had had nothing to do with him or Toji since birth.

The only time they'd ever interacted was when Jinichi had joined others in mocking him and Toji as children.

It would've been bad enough if he hadn't stood up for his own brothers, but he'd actually joined the others in kicking them while they were down.

He wouldn't take a brother like that even if one were handed to him on a platter.

"Hmph. I'm not here to argue with you. I'm here to inform you that, starting today, you're a member of the Zenin Family's Kugurō Corps.

"If you perform well, I might even give you the position of deputy captain."

Jinichi spoke to Shinsuke as if issuing an order, his tone brooking no refusal.

"You may not have Cursed Energy, but you're reasonably capable. I had to plead with the Family Head just to get you into the Kugurō Corps. You should be grateful to the Zenin Family."

Jinichi took it for granted that joining the Zenin Family's Kugurō Corps was a great honor.

"The Kugurō Corps? It's not even the Heian Organization. You're just as arrogant and short-sighted as ever..."

The Zenin Family's Kugurō Corps was a group of well-trained guards with no Cursed Techniques.

The Zenin Family's Heian Organization, on the other hand, was made up of sorcerers who were at least Quasi-Grade 1.

If Jinichi had invited him into the Heian Organization, he might've thought the Zenin Family regretted what they'd done. But even knowing how strong he was, they thought offering him the deputy captaincy of the Kugurō Corps would win him back. It almost made him laugh.

"Get lost. You're annoying to look at."

Shinsuke couldn't even be bothered to look at him.

"You! Don't forget, the place you're living in still belongs to the Zenin Family!"

Jinichi hadn't expected Shinsuke to reject his offer after he'd already compromised.

As far as he knew, this was probably the first time the Zenin Family had ever made concessions to someone without Cursed Energy or a Cursed Technique.

"So what? Go ahead and take it back if you can."

Shinsuke wasn't about to return the house just because Jinichi said a couple of things.

He'd earned it. Why should he give it back?

The fact that he hadn't taken the entire Zenin Family for himself was already more than generous.

"You're completely unreasonable!"

Jinichi flushed with rage at Shinsuke's attitude and stormed off, flinging his sleeves.

He'd shown his sincerity, yet Shinsuke still refused to accept it. He really was a useless fool without Cursed Energy—and clearly something was wrong with his head, too.

Jinichi thought to himself.

"Brother, is he all right?"

Mai watched Jinichi storm off angrily and scratched her head. She couldn't figure out why his face had suddenly turned so red. Was he embarrassed?

"Something's wrong with his head. Let's not worry about him. Next time you meet someone like that, keep your distance. Stupidity is contagious."

"Got it, Brother! Mai doesn't want to turn into an idiot!"

Shinsuke nodded in satisfaction.

With Mai being so obedient and sensible, he'd definitely look out for her from now on.

Then, seeing Maki focused on training and paying no attention to what had happened, Shinsuke remembered something and called out:

"Maki, come here."

"Huff..."

Maki casually wiped the sweat from her forehead and jogged over, her expression serious. "Master, what is it?"

"You keep calling Brother 'Master,' but haven't you forgotten that he hasn't taken you on as a disciple yet?"

Mai kindly reminded her from the side.

Maki didn't care. "It's all the same whether I start calling him that now or later."

"Ahem. All right, stop discussing such pointless things."

Shinsuke interrupted them.

"Maki, after watching you for a long time, I think you have potential. Starting today, you'll learn how to use weapons from me."

For now, he couldn't teach her how to cultivate Blood and Qi, but learning to use weapons would be important before her body was ready.

"Really?!"

Maki's eyes widened, disbelief all over her face. Was she finally going to learn something good?

"Of course. If you want to be my disciple, learning to use different weapons is essential."

"That's great! Can I skip school tomorrow and learn from you instead?"

Maki was so excited she'd lost herself in the moment. She was even thinking of playing hooky so she could get stronger.

"No. You still have to go to school. Do you want to grow up illiterate?"

She had to at least know how to read, right?

"...Oh. All right."

Maki folded her arms and pouted, unhappy. She didn't know what was so great about that lousy school. It was full of little kids, and training was way more fun.

Mai, standing beside her, breathed a sigh of relief. If her sister stopped going to school, she wouldn't go either.

Meanwhile.

Back inside the Zenin Family residence, Jinichi returned empty-handed and angrily told everyone what Shinsuke had done.

"He's just a Cursed Energy-less loser. What gives him the nerve to act so arrogant?!"

"Heh. Maybe he killed a few Cursed Spirits with a Cursed Tool and got a little famous. Now he thinks he's a Jujutsu Sorcerer."

Senlyu Zenin chimed in.

He was nothing more than a little physically stronger than most. Any Jujutsu Sorcerer could easily reach that level.

He looked down on useless people, especially his two daughters, who were the most useless of all. If not for those two useless daughters, the position of Zenin Family Head wouldn't have gone to Naobito Zenin.

He knew his two useless daughters were close to Shinsuke, but he didn't care. In fact, he hoped Shinsuke would take them away from the Zenin Family.

At least then he'd have fewer stains on his record.

"You call Shinsuke my big brother a loser? Who do you think you are?"

Naoya Zenin, standing nearby, couldn't take it anymore. He sneered as he retorted.

"What do you mean by that?"

Jinichi and Senlyu looked at Naoya, frowning.

"Was I wrong? If you've got the guts, call him a loser to his face. Do you dare?"

Naoya didn't give either of them an inch.

They couldn't beat him, yet still called him a loser and mocked him. How could they be so shameless?

He couldn't understand it. If it were Maki and Mai, that would be one thing. They really were useless, so people could mock them all they liked; no one would contradict them.

But Shinsuke had already made the Zenin Family pay dearly, and these people still hadn't realized they were in the wrong.

Maybe these people were the real losers...

"You!"

"All right, what's there to argue about? You'd be better off improving your skills than wasting time on this."

Naobito Zenin took a drink and spoke up, putting an end to the argument.

"Hmph."

Jinichi and Senlyu were unhappy, but neither continued the argument.

Whatever else you could say about them, those two were certainly loyal to the Zenin Family.