Testing

Suguru Geto listened intently to Yuki Tsukumo, hoping to find his own path in her words.

"There are too few examples of Heavenly Restriction. Right now, I'm focusing on the second approach: teaching all of humanity to control cursed energy.

Did you know that sorcerers don't produce cursed energy...? Broadly speaking, if everyone became a sorcerer, curses would stop being born!"

After hearing Yuki Tsukumo out, Suguru Geto spoke with a dark look in his eyes.

"Then couldn't we just kill all the non-sorcerers?"

"That's a viable option too, Suguru Geto!"

Yuki Tsukumo hadn't rejected Suguru Geto's rather insane idea?

Instead, she rested her chin on her hand, apparently considering it quite workable.

Suguru Geto was surprised. He hadn't expected Yuki Tsukumo to approve of something he had said offhand.

"You could say it's the simplest method..."

Beside him, Yuki Tsukumo analyzed the feasibility of the idea again.

"But unfortunately, I'm not crazy enough to do something like that!"

Although the method was highly viable, Yuki Tsukumo preferred to solve the problem through gentler means.

"I was just saying it. Besides, your first possibility might actually be achievable!"

Suguru Geto gave a self-deprecating chuckle, then thought of a kid with an exceptionally calm face.

"Oh! What do you mean?"

"The current Star Plasma Vessel adopted a child. That kid might be like Toji Fushiguro. You could go take a look at him!"

If Yuki Tsukumo could find a way to deal with cursed spirits by studying Yuanfang, Suguru Geto felt he might no longer have to be so lost.

"It's fantastic that I ran into you today! Come on, I'll treat you to a meal, and you can tell me all about him!"

With that, Yuki Tsukumo dragged Suguru Geto away without waiting for his agreement.

Suguru Geto looked resigned, but he didn't refuse.

"What's wrong, big brother?"

Hana Kurusu sat beside Yuanfang, seemingly watching television, though her eyes were actually on him.

The moment she saw Yuanfang frown, she asked with concern.

"Nothing. Keep watching TV!"

Yuanfang smiled gently, signaling that she shouldn't worry, then went back to watching television.

Inwardly, he was utterly exasperated. He kept feeling as though something had set its sights on him.

Two days later.

"Hey, long time no see!"

At the door stood Suguru Geto, with dark circles under his eyes and a somewhat strained smile, accompanied by a tall, curvaceous blonde beauty.

For some reason, Yuanfang had a bad feeling.

Although he didn't know her name yet, he knew she was probably Yuki Tsukumo.

Suguru Geto was probably going through his period of uncertainty, yet he had brought her here.

Did they want to study me?

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. After all, he appeared much like Toji Fushiguro, without a trace of cursed energy leaking out.

Suguru Geto had probably sold him out during their conversation.

"Hey, little guy, what kind of woman do you like?"

Watching her strike a pose and ask that question, Yuanfang became even more certain that she was Yuki Tsukumo.

"Your kind!"

"Hehe, looks like you're an interesting little fellow!"

At Yuanfang's answer, Yuki Tsukumo couldn't help giving a smug smile.

She was even more delighted inwardly. Getting Yuanfang to help with her research would probably be easier now.

"Come in!"

In truth, Yuanfang wanted to say that he liked them all, from petite girls to mature women.

But revealing his true thoughts wouldn't do him any good, so why say it?

"Have some tea!"

As it happened, Kuroi Beauty had taken Hana Kurusu out to handle her school enrollment today, so the place was much quieter.

"Thank you!"

"..."

The two drank their tea without immediately explaining why they had come.

Since they weren't speaking, Yuanfang wasn't in any hurry either. He poured himself a cup of tea, a gentle smile touching his lips.

"Yuanfang, could you tell me what your cursed technique is?"

Looking at Yuanfang's gentle smile, Yuki Tsukumo felt that the little fellow should be easy to talk to.

Besides, he had just said he liked women like her. He must have an interesting soul, and they were sure to get along.

Only Suguru Geto felt that something was odd, as though Yuanfang had become a completely different person.

"Sure. Within a one-meter radius, no cursed spirit or sorcerer can project cursed energy or cursed techniques!"

Yuanfang knew that they would inevitably figure out some of his abilities in future battles. He might as well tell them a little now, but give them an inaccurate answer.

Once they discovered something was wrong later, it would be difficult for them to correct their assumptions.

"Sigh!"

Hearing Yuanfang's explanation, Yuki Tsukumo couldn't help sighing.

From what Yuanfang had said, she could be certain that he wasn't like Toji Fushiguro.

Suguru Geto felt the same. A trace of disappointment appeared in his eyes, and the road ahead seemed even less clear.

"Could you try it on me?"

Although she was a little disappointed, Yuki Tsukumo figured that since she was already here, she couldn't leave without doing anything!

Why not test this kid's potential? If he's any good, I wouldn't mind taking on another student.

"Sure!"

How could Yuanfang refuse cursed energy delivered right to his doorstep?

As he spoke, he moved beside Yuki Tsukumo and shrank his domain to one meter.

"All right, you can try releasing your cursed energy and cursed technique!"

"Hm? That's all it takes?"

Yuki Tsukumo found it hard to believe that Yuanfang had already activated his cursed technique.

She hadn't felt a thing.

Beside them, Suguru Geto, whose eyes had been filled with confusion, couldn't help having his attention drawn to them. He wanted to see what would happen.

"Yep!"

Seeing the certainty in Yuanfang's eyes, Yuki Tsukumo remained puzzled, but she didn't hesitate. She began releasing her cursed energy.

Blue-purple cursed energy slowly seeped from her palm, attempting to wrap around her hand.

Unfortunately, the moment it appeared, it vanished, as though nothing had happened.

"Oh, that's interesting!"

Realizing that she really seemed unable to project cursed energy, Yuki Tsukumo immediately became intrigued.

She increased her cursed energy output, but it didn't do a damn thing. The energy vanished before it could even appear.

"Does this have no upper limit?"

The amount of cursed energy she had just released was enormous, yet it had still vanished instantly. This suppressive power was far too strong.

Yuanfang's ability also piqued Suguru Geto's interest, because he could no longer even sense Yuki Tsukumo's cursed energy.

His mind couldn't help racing.

"I don't know!"

Yuanfang simply played dumb, not bothering to explain any further.

He was feeling fantastic right now, as though he were drinking sweet nectar and couldn't stop.

"Let me try this!"

Seeing that Yuanfang looked perfectly relaxed and unaffected, she pressed on.

Yuki Tsukumo used her cursed technique directly, forming a hand seal.

She prepared to summon her shikigami, but no matter how she tried, she couldn't summon it.