Divine Dogs

Compared to my parents in my previous life, I was much more satisfied with Naobito Zenin, this father I'd acquired by chance.

He put his self-interest out in the open. His treatment of anyone was unlikely to stem from love.

Even with Naoya Zenin, I was certain that if he hadn't awakened a Cursed Technique and had instead been an ordinary person through and through, his position would only have been a little better than mine because he was the legitimate son.

I couldn't have been happier with a father like that.

Of course, he was also being very shrewd. My so-called father had a keen eye, and presumably understood this too, which was why he never showed any favoritism toward Naoya Zenin in front of me.

When Naoya Zenin and I were both present, he seemed to have eyes only for me. Although I knew this was because I'd awakened the Ten Shadows Technique, I still couldn't help feeling a subtle sense of satisfaction.

-That was also why, when my so-called father took the medicine from a maid and fed it to me himself, I reluctantly drank it.

My so-called father said the clan's elders wanted to see my Divine Dogs.

Unless they saw it with their own eyes, those people simply wouldn't believe that the Ten Shadows Technique had appeared in a girl.

Divine Dogs?

At the thought, I did indeed sense an unusually eager emotion in my shadow.

Almost without thinking, I formed the hand shadow as though I'd always known how, and softly said, "Divine Dogs."

Two large, lively dogs immediately emerged from my shadow.

One black and one white, both bursting with enthusiasm. The moment they appeared, they wagged their tails wildly at me with their tongues hanging out, looking a little goofy. They couldn't wait to throw themselves at me-

I couldn't quite handle the enthusiasm of two big dogs. Their lunge made me sway, and I nearly fell over.

Only then did it truly sink in that I'd actually summoned two dogs from my shadow.

That fluffy feel, that over-the-top enthusiasm... they were dogs.

They were dogs!

I actually had dogs!

And two big, adorable dogs at that!

They didn't even shed!

I could keep going now.

My so-called father looked surprised. "They're already grade one?"

Then he tried to reach out and pet my dogs.

I wasn't very happy about that.

...These were my dogs. How could someone else pet them without my permission? Not even my so-called father got to do that.

Perhaps sensing my resistance, the black and white dogs, who had just been nuzzling against me, suddenly bared their teeth at my so-called father. "Woof, woof, woof! Woof!"

My so-called father withdrew his hand, looking a little disappointed.

I hugged my adorable dogs tightly and eyed him warily.

My so-called father smiled at me. Not only was he not angry, he actually seemed a little pleased.

...Was there something wrong with his head?

Then he told me, "Get some proper rest today. Tomorrow, we'll go see the elders."

He even left his own maid behind. On top of that, quite a few more people appeared in my courtyard.

I felt a little dazed.

With things going this way... could I no longer leave?

That wouldn't do.

I had no fondness for the Zenin Clan. This place was boring beyond belief.

I still wanted to see the world outside. I absolutely couldn't just give up.

But given how highly the Zenin Clan valued the Ten Shadows Technique... I wouldn't be able to leave anytime soon.

I'd already planned everything out. All I'd had to do was wait for the Gojo Clan's banquet and quietly slip away.

For some reason, the blue eyes I'd seen at the banquet suddenly surfaced in my mind again.

...I'd heard his name was Satoru Gojo. As the bearer of the Six Eyes, was Satoru Gojo just as trapped?