Reversed Order

What was this guy suddenly talking about?

That was Kana Shizumi's first reaction, but he quickly showed a rather surprised expression.

Huh? Wait, wait, wait...

Could I possibly have a second technique?

"Are you surprised? Ah... I hadn't explained it clearly to you yet, had I? Right, right, this is the second proposal I wanted to make."

Kenjaku smiled as he waved the index finger of his right hand, speaking in a rather showy tone.

"Get the Six Paths Tsuji Cursed Objects together as quickly as possible. Separately, they're merely Special Grade Cursed Objects, but once you gather them all, they should produce something like a chemical reaction."

Then—

"Combined with the restriction inside your body, those things should ultimately become an entirely new power... Though I can't guarantee it one hundred percent, I believe it's quite possible for a second technique to develop from this."

Oh!

Two techniques?

Kana Shizumi could only say that he was indeed looking forward to it. Yet Kenjaku still had not stopped "talking."

"Of course, after you collect the Six Paths Tsuji Cursed Objects, there are also some more unusual advanced applications. But those are more theoretical."

Kenjaku tilted his head, pondering as he reached into his robes and searched around. Finally, he pulled out a yellowed notebook.

From its appearance, it was a notebook with quite a sense of age to it.

"Since your research itself had been stalled for a long time, I didn't continue examining it in depth afterward. But over the years, I've gained some different insights... I wrote all those understandings down in this notebook. Figure them out yourself."

Just like that.

Kenjaku folded his hands into his sleeves, opened his mouth in a yawn, and squeezed a few tears from the corners of his eyes.

"It's about time for me to rest today as well... Take your time comprehending the rest on your own."

After all, it was a high-end apartment. There was certainly no shortage of rooms.

Still, before returning to his room, Kenjaku did not forget to add one more thing.

"Ah, right, right. Starting tomorrow, your main base of operations will be within the Tokyo metropolitan area."

Kana Shizumi, who had just tucked the notebook into his clothes, could not help showing a slightly confused expression upon hearing that.

Huh? Why?

He did not even need to speak; the expression on his face was enough to convey that meaning.

"Because of your technique, you'll attract some unnecessary trouble... It'd be quite troublesome to settle, so until the dust settles, it would be best for you to avoid Kyoto's side as much as possible."

After saying that, Kenjaku lightly waved his hand and walked into his room without looking back.

Leaving Kana Shizumi to tidy up the room, while also giving him plenty of time to think.

—Why did Jail Mom say that?

After thinking for a while, Kana Shizumi seemed to suddenly realize something.

Crimson Blood Manipulation...

Though this thing was pretty useful, just as had been said before, it was rather distinctive by nature. Using it would easily draw unnecessary attention.

How the hell did the Kamo Clan let the inheritor of such an important technique end up outside?

It was probably something like that... Kana Shizumi himself had no intention of acknowledging his ancestors and returning to the clan, so taking the initiative to avoid them was not a bad choice.

But he had to operate in Tokyo?

The moment he thought of that White-Haired Madman at Jujutsu High, he could not help shuddering.

He had better be more careful whenever he went out from now on. If he really ran into him, it would be too late even to beg for mercy...

With a sigh, Kana Shizumi simply cleaned the countertop and sink, then put the trash where it belonged.

He had to admit it.

Kenjaku's living habits were unexpectedly decent...

At the very least, he did not leave household garbage scattered everywhere. He properly organized books after reading them, and even in everyday conversation, he always appeared unhurried and composed, carrying himself like a professor with everything under control.

If one excluded his inhuman ideas and logic of behavior, working under someone like him was actually not bad.

After all, Kenjaku genuinely taught him things.

With those thoughts in mind, Kana Shizumi sat down by the window and took out the notebook Kenjaku had given him.

Though Mount Fuji could not be seen at this hour of the night, the prosperity of the Tokyo metropolitan area lay spread out before his eyes. Looking at those dazzling neon lights... it had its own special charm.

Tch, reeks of money.

With a sigh, Kana Shizumi opened the notebook before him.

"On the Connection and Analysis Between the Six Paths Tsuji Cursed Objects and the Form of Purity"

What was with such a serious title...

Though he was only joking, considering Kenjaku's personality and love of learning, this guy might really have held some research position after the Meiji Restoration.

Holy shit, you didn't actually publish papers or something, did you?

Kana Shizumi turned to the second page, where Kenjaku's handwritten words had been left behind.

"I often lament that only after obtaining a long life can a person truly experience so many different things.

Whether it is living different lives, considering problems from different perspectives, learning more knowledge, or witnessing the changes and transitions of the times...

Countless times, I have been glad that I was born in the most suitable era and could experience everything as an observer. These things make up my life, and they will also be the sole motivation that supports me as I continue onward."

Kana Shizumi noticed a note left in the corner.

"Recorded in the third year of Keio."

This made Kana Shizumi scratch his head.

Couldn't you just use the Gregorian calendar...? Now I have to calculate the year myself. What a damn relic!

He sat there and began counting on his fingers.

As everyone knew, Japan's modern and contemporary history generally referred to the period after the Meiji Restoration.

In other words—

"After 1868..."

Then what about before that?

Strictly speaking, that would probably fall under the historical classification of the Edo period.

Kana Shizumi's memories only roughly stopped at that stage, so he had to use his phone's search engine to figure out the precise changes in dates.

Edo usually referred to the period between 1603 and 1868, and within that period...

Kana Shizumi searched for "Keio" and eventually found the answer he sought.

It was the period when someone named Emperor Ninko had reigned, right at the tail end of the Edo period... because after he stepped down, it transitioned seamlessly into the Meiji Era.

The Keio era name had been used during the final four years of his rule.

The third year of Keio referred to 1867.

Using that as a reference point, Kana Shizumi briefly compared it with the period when Kenjaku had designed the Six Paths Tsuji and the Death Paintings...

Then he discovered the problem.

That wasn't right...

"The Death Paintings were a product of the Meiji Era, but this..."

According to Kenjaku's description, the design of Unblemished had been derived from the Death Paintings.

But now, the order was clearly reversed.

Where was the problem?

Kana Shizumi rubbed the back of his head, then thoughtfully raised his hand and turned the page before him...

The next page.