Iizuna Noriyuki (Part 1)

Iizuna Noriyuki stared wide-eyed as Okkotsu walked over.

Just moments ago, he had seen with his own eyes how Okkotsu had exorcised the Grade 1 Cursed Spirit, Cursed Child. The entire process had been effortless and taken less than three seconds.

Okkotsu had woven his hands around Cursed Child's arms like butterflies, pinned its back with his knee, then leaped high and slammed its body viciously into the ground!

The Grade 1 Cursed Spirit, Cursed Child, had been smashed into a pile of flesh just like that!

Weeds seemed to sprout wildly in Iizuna Noriyuki's heart as he could not help thinking, Even without Rika Orimoto, was Okkotsu still a complete monster?!

As Cursed Child dissipated, the Innate Domain formed from multiple curses gradually faded as well, revealing the amusement park's original appearance.

Okkotsu walked up to Iizuna Noriyuki and asked with concern, "Iizuna-senpai, your injuries... are you all right?"

Clutching his waist, Iizuna Noriyuki said with a bitter smile, "It's nothing serious. I just didn't have time to get back to Jujutsu High for treatment, so I might have to stay in the hospital for a while. By the way, Okkotsu, you..."

Before he could finish, he saw a strange light bloom in Okkotsu's hands.

"Senpai, let me treat you!" Okkotsu said, placing his hand on Iizuna Noriyuki's waist as the peculiar energy of the Reverse Cursed Technique flowed into his body.

A numb, itchy sensation rose from within his body. Iizuna Noriyuki knew that his wounds were constantly repairing themselves.

Reverse Cursed Technique... Iizuna Noriyuki no longer knew how to describe his feelings. Looking at Okkotsu's lean profile, he could not help muttering, "Okkotsu, what exactly can't you do?"

Okkotsu withdrew his right hand and gave Iizuna Noriyuki a puzzled look. "Senpai, what are you talking about?"

Iizuna Noriyuki touched his waist and found that all discomfort had vanished. With a sigh, he said, "Nothing... I just didn't expect you to know the Reverse Cursed Technique! It's a skill many Jujutsu Sorcerers haven't mastered, yet you used it so casually!"

After hesitating for a moment, he continued, "That Cursed Child was a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit, after all. Judging by its speed and strength, I'm afraid even I couldn't match it, yet you exorcised it in the blink of an eye!"

Okkotsu scratched his head awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

Iizuna Noriyuki clearly had not expected him to say anything. He changed the subject on his own. "There's another aggregate of Vengeful Spirits nearby, roughly Semi-Grade 1 in strength. We need to exorcise it as soon as possible..."

"If you mean that aggregate of Vengeful Spirits over six meters tall," Maki and Xia Jie said as they walked over from nearby, "Xia Jie and I already exorcised it!"

"Whoa! Maki-chan!" Iizuna Noriyuki instantly ran to Maki's side and opened his arms as though he wanted to hug her, only for Maki to stop him with the tip of her spear.

Looking at the sharp spearhead, a huge bead of cold sweat rolled down Iizuna Noriyuki's forehead. He pushed Maki's spear aside and said sheepishly, "Maki-chan, isn't it a little rude to treat your senior like this?"

"Oh—" Maki drawled, her tone full of disdain. "Then tell me, how should I deal with a lecherous idiot like you?"

"By naturally opening your broad embrace and warming my cold body..." Iizuna Noriyuki said, his eyes gleaming.

Xia Jie stared at him in shock. He actually said that out loud! So this guy... was a complete pervert?

Whoosh— Maki's spear shot forward in an instant. If Iizuna Noriyuki had not dodged quickly, that handsome face of his would definitely have been pierced. Even so, several strands of hair on his forehead were sliced off.

"Still the same... not cute at all!" Iizuna Noriyuki straightened up and said with lingering fear.

Was Maki faster than before? No wonder she could exorcise that aggregate of Cursed Spirits! And who was that kid beside her?

Iizuna Noriyuki looked at Xia Jie and tilted his head. "You are...?"

"Xia Jie, a first-year transfer student at Jujutsu High." Xia Jie gave Iizuna Noriyuki a slight nod. "Hello, senpai."

Xia Jie's tone was very calm, but to Iizuna Noriyuki, it carried an air of extreme arrogance.

After all, seniority was something that mattered greatly in Japan. Juniors had to show a certain degree of respect and obedience toward their seniors, or they would face suppression from them.

Yet Xia Jie's tone held little respect. Instead, it implied that they stood as equals, which made Iizuna Noriyuki feel that this kid was full of pride.

Still, Iizuna Noriyuki did not pay much attention to Xia Jie's attitude.

Many Jujutsu Sorcerers, confident in their own abilities, did not care much for so-called "seniority" or "hierarchy." He himself was one of them.

"Xia Jie... I've heard your name before!" Iizuna Noriyuki sized Xia Jie up, an unusual gleam flashing in his eyes. "They say you're the second Cursed Spirit Manipulator after Suguru Geto, and that you've even subdued a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit."

"Would it be convenient for you to summon that Cursed Spirit and let me take a look?"

Xia Jie raised an eyebrow. "I don't think that's necessary. We should settle the people from the amusement park first."

"What a cautious guy," Iizuna Noriyuki muttered softly before continuing, "Those people were only frightened. A few have minor external injuries, but nothing serious. They're temporarily trapped in my Genjutsu. Once I wake them all up, I can lead them out."

Genjutsu?

Hearing that term, Xia Jie could not help giving Iizuna Noriyuki a surprised look. Because of Naruto, the word Genjutsu had left a deep impression on him.

Maki walked over and explained, "Iizuna is a Shikigami user who can control Pipe Foxes. The Pipe Foxes he controls can release flames and confuse the mind! Whenever a Cursed Spirit incident involves a large number of ordinary people, the Higher-Ups of Jujutsu High like assigning him to erase memories related to Cursed Spirits!"

"Iizuna may be a pervert, but he isn't a bad person! He just has a habit of collecting intelligence!" Maki added softly at the end.

Xia Jie was slightly surprised. He had not expected Maki to understand Iizuna Noriyuki so well, much less speak up for him. It seemed Iizuna Noriyuki had left her with a fairly good impression.

Did this lecherous guy actually have redeeming qualities?

Xia Jie nodded at Maki and looked Iizuna Noriyuki over again. At this moment, Iizuna Noriyuki had put on a calm expression.

As his hands continuously formed seals, the Pipe Foxes circling the people gave off a strange fragrance. After smelling it, the terrified people gradually relaxed, no longer wearing those twisted expressions from before.

"Get up. Go home," Iizuna Noriyuki called softly.

The people who had been bewitched by the Pipe Foxes' illusion stood up and followed the Pipe Foxes out of the amusement park with dazed expressions.

This Iizuna Noriyuki guy really had some skills! Xia Jie's gaze sharpened slightly as he thought to himself.

Being able to keep all these people safe while surrounded by a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit and multiple Vengeful Spirits already proved that he possessed considerable strength. Because of Iizuna Noriyuki's sudden approach earlier, Xia Jie had instinctively overlooked that fact.

"That's a wrap!" Once the Pipe Foxes had escorted everyone away, Iizuna Noriyuki could not help shouting, "It's finally done!"

As he spoke, he turned to Okkotsu, Maki, and Xia Jie, then said with a smile, "Thanks for this one! Without you guys, I probably would've gone down here!"

Okkotsu was just about to say, "Not at all," when Iizuna Noriyuki suddenly leaned closer and whispered, "Hey! Okkotsu, could you cut my waist once more? Not too deep! There's still blood on my shirt, so I can report a work injury and take some time off!"

Okkotsu: ...

Maki: ...

Xia Jie: Wait, that was an option?!