It's Time to Teach Him Something New

Over the next few days, their lessons and training continued steadily, but throughout the process, Toho Tetsu's performance became increasingly terrifying.

From cursed energy control to cursed energy flow and cursed energy reinforcement, he absorbed this knowledge as quickly as a sponge soaked up seawater.

After three days, Utahime Iori even felt that she had little left to teach him when it came to controlling and using cursed energy.

So, after training ended one afternoon, she specifically sought out Yaga Masamichi to report on the results of the past few days' lessons.

"So... you're saying that in just these few days, he's already basically mastered cursed energy control and some application techniques?"

Hearing the disbelief in his voice, Utahime silently nodded.

Yaga Masamichi tapped the desk with mixed feelings. Looking at the data in the report, he found himself in something of a bind.

He had originally thought that if Toho Tetsu could memorize most of the common knowledge and gain a preliminary grasp of cursed energy control during the two months before school began, that would already be quite good.

But only a few days had passed, and he had already achieved that goal?

Wasn't that talent a little too absurd?

"So what should I do now? Keep teaching him the basics, or simply supervise him?"

Seeing his troubled expression, the girl cautiously asked. Yet hidden within the question was a trace of her own expectation.

Toho Tetsu's rapid progress had made her wonder what else she could teach him in her spare time, and an idea had surfaced in her mind.

She had been thinking about barrier techniques these past few days as well, but her own way of thinking had been fixed for too long. She could no longer come up with any new directions or ideas, so perhaps it was time for that junior to begin learning barrier techniques.

Yaga Masamichi set down her report, pondered for a moment, and gave her the next course arrangement. It was precisely the answer she had wanted to hear.

"Next, teach him some knowledge related to barrier techniques first. See how long it takes him to learn that, and how long it takes him to deploy a complete Curtain for the first time."

For him, this was the only solution he could think of. Because of Toho Tetsu's particular circumstances, Jujutsu High would hardly invest too many resources in him.

And now that his progress was so fast, perhaps Jujutsu High would consider having him handle some low-grade missions later on.

At that thought, he suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right, Utahime. It's unlikely for now, but during your usual conversations with him—or during lessons and training—pay attention to whether he displays anything resembling a cursed technique."

The reason he considered it unlikely was that cursed techniques were complex things for many people. Though most sorcerers possessed their own innate cursed techniques, a small number were exceptions.

Yet cursed techniques often determined a person's upper limit.

If Toho Tetsu had no cursed technique, then no matter how much cursed energy he possessed or how terrifyingly he strengthened his body, his limit would be Special Grade 1. At most, he would be among the stronger Special Grade 1 sorcerers, but he still would not be able to advance to Special Grade.

Therefore, Jujutsu High naturally hoped that he possessed a cursed technique. However, cursed techniques were generally impossible for others to observe. Their users could only explore, discover, and develop them themselves.

No... perhaps there really was someone who could observe them now? But that person's personality and ideas were too unstable. It was hard to say whether the higher-ups' elders could persuade him to act.

Thinking of this, he sighed helplessly.

After hearing that question, Utahime's gaze flickered, but she merely nodded before turning to leave. Still, she could not help thinking to herself.

If Toho Tetsu really did have a cursed technique... what kind of effect would it have?

Just as she stood there lost in thought, a curious call pulled her back to her senses.

"Senior? Didn't you say you were going to teach me barrier techniques? Why did you suddenly start spacing out?"

Seeing Toho Tetsu's face so close to hers, she instinctively took a step back before pretending to be displeased.

"What do you mean, spacing out? I was just recalling some knowledge. And you, since when have you become so casual with me? When class starts, sit over there properly!"

Yet after she finished speaking, a faint flush crept up her ears without her noticing. Realizing that his actions just now had been inappropriate as well, Toho Tetsu coughed awkwardly.

"Sorry, Senior. I didn't mean to. You were spacing out for quite a while. I called to you from over there, but you didn't react, so I could only come closer and try."

"Let's say that's what happened. All right, no more nonsense. We'll begin the formal lesson now."

Returning to a thoughtful state, Utahime somehow produced a pair of black-rimmed glasses and put them on, doing her best to maintain a stern expression as though she wanted to present herself as a strict teacher.

Though he found the scene somewhat amusing, Toho Tetsu merely nodded, then returned to his place and listened to her explanation.

"A Curtain is the foundation of barrier techniques, a barrier used to divide and conceal a specific area. Its core purpose is to hide battles between sorcerers and cursed spirits, while also making cursed spirits within it visible, making them easier for us to exorcise.

"Although the threshold for using it is low and it is not especially difficult to learn—some Grade 3 sorcerers, and even Grade 4 sorcerers, can use it—its upper limit depends heavily on individual talent."

At this point, she seemed to recall something and brought up the incident at the subway station that day.

"During the subway station incident, one of the Assistant Supervisors present deployed a Curtain. So after the people inside the subway escaped, no one entered again.

"On one hand, it made people outside believe that nothing was happening within. On the other, it helped disperse the crowds passing by outside.

"But if your study of barrier techniques is deep enough, you can impose certain special rules on a Curtain, such as prohibiting specific targets from entering, prohibiting specific targets from leaving, or specially marking certain people's cursed energy.

"Of course, those are advanced lessons for later, and where barrier techniques truly begin. For now, we'll start with the basics."

With that, she walked to the center of the training ground.

"Next, I'll deploy a Curtain once. Watch carefully."

She took a deep breath, then began forming hand signs and chanting.

"Emerge from darkness, darker than black. Purify that which is impure."

As she moved, a layer of dark cursed energy flowed from her fingertips. Like a living veil, it rapidly spread outward and formed a hemispherical barrier.

Watching this, Toho Tetsu was briefly stunned. Although he had seen such things before, witnessing them with his own eyes for the first time was still quite novel.

The reason he had been so enthusiastic while learning to use cursed energy was the same. Having grasped a special power for the first time, he felt like a child who had just received a new toy.

Seeing his curious expression, Utahime felt a little pleased with herself.

Other than her own cursed technique, barrier techniques were what she excelled at most. Though she did not know how long it would take this junior to shatter her confidence, for this brief period, she was undeniably his teacher.

With that thought, she spoke.

"If you're interested, you can touch the boundary of the cursed energy and feel what makes the Curtain special."

Having received permission, Toho Tetsu walked over to the Curtain, pressed his palm against it, and carefully sensed it. Almost immediately, he noticed the key point.

"So the crucial part of deploying a Curtain is spreading cursed energy evenly?"

"That's right. Which is why we trained your cursed energy control before teaching you Curtains. Many new students have a misconception that it's fine as long as they mindlessly pour cursed energy into it."

Utahime was not particularly surprised that he had discovered the key so quickly. She simply continued explaining.

"But maintaining and controlling a Curtain steadily is the most important part. If the cursed energy is spread unevenly at even a single point, the true scene inside will be revealed, and it will no longer serve to conceal what is happening."

Seeing that Toho Tetsu still wore a curious expression, she dispelled the Curtain she had been maintaining.

"Rather than listening to more explanations, why not try it yourself?"