Chapter-11
Strangely enough, this kid has never seen himself fight, so why does he think his fighting skills are pretty good?
Zenin Toji looked at the tranquil Zenin Kiyoshi before him and asked his question.
And this is how the other party responded.
"Because you look very strong, taller and stronger than anyone else in the Zenin family, just by looking at your stance, I can tell that your fighting skills must be ridiculously strong."
Listening to the kid's indescribable thoughts, I felt like laughing, but then my nose started to sting.
The aroma of tonight's meal wafted into his stomach. To be honest, it was the first time he had ever eaten a meal specially prepared for him. Although Zenin Kiyoshi had said that the dish was made for him, he had mentioned beforehand that he wanted tofu or something similar, and tofu had appeared in the dinner.
There was no tofu at home, so did Zenin Kiyoshi go to buy it? Or did he go to Zenin Naobito to buy it?
Zenin Toji didn't know how Zenin Kiyoshi got the tofu, but he ate tofu tonight, and that was enough.
After being verbally attacked by the boy in front of him, Zenin Toji scratched his head, turned his face slightly to the side, pretending to be very impatient, and then replied:
"Then you'll be responsible for washing dishes, cooking, and all kinds of house cleaning as payment for teaching you fighting skills. Oh, and for the food, there must be at least one dish that I choose every day."
Hearing what Zenin Toji said, Zenin Kiyoshi simply smiled and nodded, then said:
"Then I'll have to ask for your help in the days to come, Teacher Toji. I'm a bit slow, and it will probably take me eight to ten years to learn it."
"Huh?! Aren't you supposed to be going to a vocational college in just one month?!"
"The dormitory conditions at the vocational college are terrible. I heard from Master Zhizhi of the Zen Institute that you, Teacher Toji, will be moving out of the Zen Institute. Your house is not far from the subway line, so I can take the subway to school. As for accommodation, it can be solved at your house."
"I never said I was going to take you in, you brat!"
TANTRA MAX
79 साल की उम्र में भी मर्दाना ताकत 10 गुना कैसे बढ़ाएं?
"I will pay the rent."
"Tsk, you little brat, you're such a nuisance! I'm going to sleep! Don't bother me!"
After saying that, he yawned and walked upstairs.
As he walked to the door, Zenin Toji felt a lump in his throat and yawned several times, as if trying to relieve his emotions.
Zenin Kiyoshi did not choose to say anything more at this time, or chase after him, because he knew that haste makes waste, and the initial goal he wanted to achieve had already been completed in his mind.
"Congratulations, host, on successfully gaining favor with Zenin Toji!"
Current favorability rating: 27/100 (Slightly favorable)
Zenin Toji's favorability has reached 20%, unlocking a 10% ability bonus for the target character!
Current bonus: Heavenly Restriction (Sorcerer Killer) 10%.
When the favorability rating reaches 40, a 30% bonus to Heavenly Restriction (Sorcerer Killer) will be unlocked. Please continue your efforts to heal the scars and pain in Zenin Toji's heart.
Feeling his originally weak body gradually become lighter, and experiencing the wonderful feeling that the world around him seemed to slow down in an instant, Zenin Kiyoshi suddenly felt as if he had stepped into another world at this moment.
This feeling was quite peculiar to Zenin Kiyoshi, but he didn't dwell on the joy too much. After calming himself down, he looked at the somewhat messy living room in front of him, shook his head, and then rolled up his sleeves to tidy up.
Although he wasn't a particularly clean person before he transmigrated, Zenin Kiyoshi felt that he should still do the most basic hygiene.
The living room was cluttered with bread and instant noodle boxes, and reeked of grease and a foul odor. Zenin Kiyoshi felt he didn't have the patience to live in such a place for a month.
The commotion that Zenin Kiyoshi was making downstairs couldn't possibly go unnoticed. He glanced at his bedroom and muttered something under his breath:
"That annoying brat! He came to my house without even saying hello, so why is it that I'm the one who's wronged him?"
After grumbling for a couple of minutes, Zenin Toji got out of bed, glanced at the slightly messy house around him, sighed, and then began to tidy up.
However, as he tidied up, he inadvertently glanced at the trees outside the window.
The night breeze gently swayed the branches, and a few leaves fell. Everything seemed so ordinary, but Zenin Toji could clearly feel an extremely uncomfortable aura wafting under the shade of the trees.
Although that thing was very careful to hide itself, Zenin Toji could still sense its presence or even see its figure.
Unlike normal sorcerers who can see each other through resonance between their own sorcery power and the sorcery spirit, Zenin Toji has no sorcery power at all. Even if the surrounding environment changes and the sorcery spirit deliberately releases sorcery power to guide Zenin Toji to look at itself, Zenin Toji still cannot see the other party accurately.
But Zenin Toji has his own system and ability to observe cursed spirits. For him, the whole world is made up of layers of space. What is air to normal people is within his reach. He can step on air or grab a piece of air as a point of leverage to adjust his body.
From this perspective, one can even see the appearance of the cursed spirits more accurately by observing changes in the surrounding environment, or rather, see things more clearly than an ordinary sorcerer.
However, because he lacks cursed energy, he doesn't even have the ability to kill cursed spirits with his bare hands. But if he is given a basic cursed tool, even if he only has a trace of cursed energy left, he can turn it into the best tool to kill cursed spirits.
Zenin Toji felt a fear he had never experienced before regarding that thing outside. It was a special feeling that surpassed all other cursed spirits, a feeling that could truly threaten his life!
However, Zenin Toji also knew that the thing's main target was probably not him. After all, he had been here for a long time, while the thing appeared here right after Zenin Kiyoshi moved in. So the answer was obvious at this moment: the thing was here to monitor Zenin Kiyoshi.
Meanwhile, outside the not-so-quiet Zenin estate, a boy named Geto Suguru was swallowing a strange, round ball that looked like vomit.
Chapter-12
What does the cursed spirit smell like?
Generally speaking, this question is difficult to answer definitively because no one in the world would choose to consume such a strange thing as a cursed spirit.
But Geto Suguru was able to answer this question very clearly.
It's like a rag soaked in vomit...
Every swallow is a torment that affects both the mind and the body.
The blue cursed spirit orb shimmered with a hazy light under the night sky, looking like a crystal clear gem. But inside, it was actually a mass of cursed spirit flesh squeezed together, a filthy emotion condensed to its extreme.
However, for Geto Suguru now, the negative emotions of swallowing such things are overshadowed by the joy of being able to protect others.
He told himself that every cursed spirit orb he swallowed could become a beacon of light for the weak in their despair.
Light is something that always comes together one by one. He will use his own hands to weave together that hard-won light, illuminating a little place for the weak who are in darkness.
He knew that what he could illuminate now was pitifully little, but he also knew that one day he would become the sun in the hearts of countless people.
And so, he swallowed the cursed spirit orb that shimmered with a dreamlike light once again.
Bitterness, nausea, vomiting, sourness, rot... all sorts of negative tastes surged into my heart at this moment. It was a taste that I couldn't resist by pinching my nose. My heart felt like it had been smeared with a thick layer of lard, sticky and greasy.
His stomach was cramping, and he couldn't stop the urge to vomit. He could feel the vomit stuck in his throat. He trembled like a cat about to vomit, his palms on the wall, some dust fell, and a few inconspicuous white spots appeared on his school uniform.
He couldn't vomit. His parents lived in a remote town, and it was already a great help that they sent him here. His living expenses were limited, and if he vomited now, he would go hungry. He had very little money, so little that he could only afford one meal a day.
He gripped his throat tightly with his hand, forcefully suppressing the vomit. It was an unpleasant feeling, but he was used to it. Heroes often have to endure more suffering than ordinary people, something Geto Suguru had read in a foreign book a long time ago.
He still firmly believes in that statement.
But just when Geto Suguru thought it was just another ordinary day, a somewhat unfamiliar voice suddenly came from behind.
"You look like you're not feeling well. Would you like some to drink? It might make you feel better."
It was a voice that sounded about his age. He turned around, but before he could see the other person's face, a can of ice-cold cola touched his cheek.
The summer heat, coupled with the inner struggle and pain of swallowing the cursed spirit orb, made Geto Suguru's face very red. The moment he was touched by the icy water, he subconsciously exclaimed, but the next moment, a bright smile came into view.
Perhaps it was a very bright smile, but Zenin Kiyoshi felt that he had only given a polite, slight smile at the time.
TANTRA MAX
79 साल की उम्र में भी मर्दाना ताकत 10 गुना कैसे बढ़ाएं?
But people tend to embellish certain memories, so he doesn't want to change that memory.
"Iced cola is very effective at getting rid of unpleasant smells in your mouth. That stuff must have tasted awful, right?"
Upon hearing the other person's words, Geto Suguru's face first showed a look of astonishment, and he subconsciously murmured:
"You saw everything just now?"
"Hmm, you turned that cursed spirit into a blue ball and then swallowed it. But judging from your expression, it probably tasted awful, right?"
Zenin Kiyoshi's concerned words made Geto Suguru suppress the doubt that had risen to his throat. He looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, took the cola, but didn't open it. He just smiled and said:
"As for the taste, it's not exactly delicious, but I don't need cola to relieve the heat. It's very hot, and you only bought one can, so it must be for yourself. You can drink it yourself; I'm not thirsty."
Zenin Kiyoshi simply shook his head upon hearing this. Looking at Geto Suguru, whose face was covered in sweat and whose bangs were stuck to his forehead, he smiled and said:
"That cursed spirit is very powerful. If you weren't here, I might have been killed by it. Consider this my thank-you gift to you. Although I'm not a person of high status, a can of Coke should still be worth it."
"By the way, be careful lately. Don't hang around here too much. Things have been a bit unsettled here lately. There's something much stronger than that monster from before lurking around. Don't get caught by them."
After saying that, Zenin Kiyoshi turned and left towards the other side of the alley. Watching Zenin Kiyoshi's retreating figure, Geto Suguru paused, looking at the cola in his hand, and then said to the disappearing figure:
"Thank you, thank you. Can we meet again?"
Hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi's lips curled slightly upwards as he turned his back to Geto Suguru, but he concealed it well, not letting the other party detect anything unusual.
"I usually pass by here to buy groceries around 5 or 6 pm every Saturday. If you are free, we can meet up again later."
Before Geto Suguru could finish speaking, the figure at the end of the alley had already disappeared.
If it weren't for the slightly chilled Coke can left in his hand, Geto Suguru would have even doubted whether everything he had just experienced was a hallucination caused by eating the cursed spirit orb.
He stared blankly at the alleyway where Zenin Kiyoshi had left for a long time. Only when his palms were so cold from the Coke can did he look down at the Coke can in his hand and smile.
A "crack" sound rang out, and a faint aroma of cola vapor instantly filled the air, carrying a slightly pungent sweetness.
The iced cola he had just opened was even a little spicy. He drank a lot of it in one go, and the bitterness and stickiness seemed to turn into burps and dissipate in the hot afternoon.
"Next time we meet, I should introduce myself first..."
Looking at the still-cold Coke can in his hand, Geto Suguru felt a surge of joy welling up inside him for some reason.
Why am I so happy?
Was it because you met someone who, like you, could see those monsters?
Or was it because of that one caring remark from the other person?
Or perhaps it's the iced cola I've been craving for a long time?
Geto Suguru didn't know the reasons, but he knew that he would be waiting for him here next Saturday.
Chapter-13
After bidding farewell to Geto Suguru, Zenin Kiyoshi was not idle at this moment. He checked the time and then quickened his pace toward Zenin Kiyoshi's home.
The reason he was able to come out today was because he told Zenin Toji that there wasn't much food left at home.
He still remembered the hint of fear that Zenin Toji showed on his face after hearing what he had said.
But it seems that in the end, the food prevailed, and he even sighed and said to himself:
"Okay, I'll go with you, but remember, we need to be back as soon as possible and avoid causing any other trouble."
It's 4:27 PM now. The last bus leaves at 5:30 PM. Excluding basic commuting time, we'll have about 20 minutes to buy groceries. Write down what you need first, then we'll split up to shop when we get to the mall. I'll wait for you at the alley entrance at 5:15 PM. If you're late, you'll have to run back yourself.
Hearing Zenin Toji's words, Zenin Kiyoshi also showed a faint smile. He didn't have the childlike mentality of wanting to go out and play, but rather wanted to try his luck and see if he could meet Gojo Satoru, Natsuyuki, or some other famous sorcerers from the original work.
After all, Tokyo isn't that big. If I happen to run into them, I might get some attribute bonuses from them. Even if I can't reach such a high level of favorability in one go, I can still become familiar with them and make it easier to increase favorability later.
Zenin Kiyoshi noticed the somewhat worried look on Zenin Toji's face and assumed that it was because they were being watched.
But upon further reflection, Zenin Kiyoshi knew that things were probably not as simple as he had imagined. After all, in the original story, Maki, who had just awakened her full form of Heavenly Restriction, was able to single-handedly destroy the entire Zenin family. So, the current Zenin family should be considered a bunch of worthless fish to Zenin Kiyoshi.
If the person monitoring him is indeed from the Zenin family, then Zenin Toji would most likely not show that kind of fearful expression. So... the only possibility is that Kenjaku might have included him in the target unit that needs to be monitored, and the monitor he sent is someone that even Zenin Toji finds somewhat troublesome.
Almost instantly, Zenin Kiyoshi connected the original text in his mind and guessed the general truth of the matter.
But just as Zenin Kiyoshi hesitated about whether to go out, Zenin Toji's voice came again:
"Once we get to the mall, go whichever way I tell you to go. Don't argue with me, understand?"
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi knew that Zenin Toji was planning to stop the monitor's actions to give herself more time for safe shopping.
Thinking of this, Zenin Kiyoshi felt a surge of gratitude towards Zenin Toji, but he didn't say anything. He simply nodded and smiled, saying:
"If you want to buy any ingredients, please write them down for me. After all, we'll be eating together, and there will be some things you like to eat."
Hearing this, even Zenin Toji's previously somewhat irritated face broke into a smile. Perhaps this is the power of food; no matter how cold-faced a person is, eating what they want can lift their spirits and improve their gloomy mood.
"What do I want to eat? You've never asked me this before, so I'm a little unsure how to answer now. Let me think..."
"Based on my recent observations, you seem to prefer sweeter flavors: scrambled eggs with tomatoes, scrambled eggs with chives, Kung Pao chicken, pork rib and corn soup."
"You're quite observant. Let's buy it as you say."
The last sentence was delivered with an unprecedented lightness in tone.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at Zenin Toji, his mind racing with information about the other person's favorability rating.
"Congratulations, host, for gaining favorability with Zenin Toji. Current favorability: 32/100 (acquaintance)."
Zenin Kiyoshi was naturally happy to see the increase in favorability, but at the same time, he also had some feelings.
Zenin Toji, who seemed unapproachable and exuded decadence and despondency, actually gained so much goodwill from others simply because they remembered his hobbies.
But these things are perfectly ordinary for a normal person.
But perhaps that's why he lived such an awkward and conflicted life in the original story...
He finally met the woman he loved, but before he could learn how to love others, he fell into darkness again.
Perhaps this is why Zenin Toji chose to sell Megumi Fushiguro to the Zenin family in the original work.
Having never received love, he had no idea how to love others. Having never experienced parental love, how could he possibly care for Megumi Fushiguro with the right kind of fatherly love?
If Megumi Fushiguro's mother were still alive, she would definitely take care of Zenin Toji, teach Zenin Toji how to be a good father, and spoil Zenin Toji into the happiest husband in the world.
But... there are no ifs. Everything vanished on the night she died.
Those who are already in darkness may be able to endure the night for a long time.
But if you ask someone who has seen the light in the darkness to endure even a second of darkness, they will not be able to bear it.
It is precisely for this reason that even after being resurrected, he still did not know how to treat his son, let alone how to love him.
For the awkward and twisted Heavenly Restriction (Sorcerer Killer), perhaps the remnant of a cloud piercing his temple, or the spurting hot blood, was a way of showing love.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at Zenin Toji walking in front of him. He didn't know why he was thinking about so many things, but as he looked at the man in front of him, a thought suddenly came to mind.
He deserves a good life; at the very least, he's not a bad person at heart.
Line-colored streets, Second Road station platform.
At 5:23 PM, Zenin Kiyoshi stood panting on the platform, opposite Zenin Toji, who had a faint smile on his face and looked tired.
"You little rascal, you really are someone who needs to be watched all the time. If I hadn't run with you for a while, you would have been really late. In that case, I would have made you run back by yourself."
Hearing Zenin Toji's threatening words, Zenin Kiyoshi let out a heavy breath, then calmed his breathing before slowly saying:
"What about the meat we bought? If I have to run back, it will most likely be spoiled."
"I'll take the meat and go first."
Do you know how to cook meat?
"No, take it home to thaw, and wait for you to come home."
Chapter-14
At 5:47 p.m., the sky outside was reddish, the light from the sun as it sank into the clouds.
The evening breeze blew through the car window onto my face, bringing gusts of wind that weren't exactly refreshing.
Summer winds are probably all like this, unbearably cloying.
Zenin Kiyoshi and Zenin Toji sat in the last two rows of seats on the bus. The smell of fuel when the car started was not particularly pleasant.
"Did something happen that got you away from me?"
In the quiet evening breeze, Zenin Kiyoshi's voice broke the stillness.
When asked about Zenin Kiyoshi's question, Zenin Toji rested his chin on his hand, the evening breeze making his spiky hair a little messy. He squinted, seemingly because the ends of his hair had poked his eyes.
"Why are you suddenly asking me all these strange questions again, you little rascal?"
"Your sleeve is dirty, and there are traces of cursed spirits and bloodstains on it."
Upon hearing this, Zenin Toji subconsciously glanced at his sleeve, but there was nothing there in his sight.
Seemingly sensing Zenin Toji's confusion, Zenin Kiyoshi looked out the window at the scenery and said in a calm voice:
"I am a sorcerer; I can see those things."
"Tsk, sorcerers are all troublesome guys. I forgot you're one of them too."
"So, you really did fight the cursed spirit?"
"Pretty much. She's a tough one. She's been watching us for a long time. Even this time, we only managed to drive her away for a short while. Who knows when she'll be back."
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi paused slightly, then continued to ask:
"What kind of guy is he?"
"I don't know, I couldn't see it very clearly, but it was a bastard who poked people with wood."
Upon hearing this news, Zenin Kiyoshi had already guessed the other party's identity.
Since it was Hanami, Zenin Kiyoshi had a better understanding of the situation. For him, Hanami was one of the few cursed spirits he could try to gain favor with.
Jogo is an extreme racist. Tuogen may not have been born yet at this time. The real person was not born, and if he was, he would be a beast. There is no need for communication.
The only one that can be considered a normal cursed spirit is Hanami.
But until he reaches a certain level of strength, he should try to avoid meeting these things as much as possible. It's not worth risking his life for a little bit of goodwill.
Zenin Toji looked at Zenin Kiyoshi's silent expression and a faint look of confusion appeared on his face:
What are you thinking about?
TANTRA MAX
79 सल की उम्र में भी मर्दन्तरकत 10 गुनर कैसे बढ़ाएं?
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi turned to look at Zenin Toji, glancing at his sleeves which were completely free of wrinkles and bloodstains. He chuckled softly and said:
"It's nothing, I just feel like you're quite susceptible to being scammed."
"ha?"
"Your sleeves are clean, there's nothing on them."
After saying these words, before Zenin Kiyoshi could feel the faint pride of a victor, a sharp pain shot through his head.
"You brat, didn't anyone tell you that some adults with bad character can simply flip over the chessboard when they lose?!"
Zenin Kiyoshi subconsciously touched his head, and when he felt the bulge, he couldn't help but gasp. He looked at Zenin Toji beside him and felt that this bastard's face was much more hateful than before.
And perhaps because his body was still too young, he couldn't control his tear ducts. Even though he didn't want to cry, he felt tears streaming down his face.
Zenin Toji stared blankly at Zenin Kiyoshi, who had never shown such a childlike demeanor before. It was only at this moment that Zenin Toji suddenly remembered something!
This arrogant brat in front of me, although he always puts on an adult act, is ultimately just a kid of about ten years old.
Seeing Zenin Kiyoshi's tears falling in a steady stream, Zenin Toji felt a sudden, indescribable panic in her heart.
The other people on the bus were looking at her with strange eyes, and Zenin Toji, who had never experienced any socialization training, blushed even more.
He was just a young man not even twenty years old at the time, and he felt a little embarrassed by the whispers around him. After all, bullying a child was indeed going too far...
Fortunately, Zenin Kiyoshi wasn't a real brat. The tears he shed were just an automatic bodily reaction. He quickly wiped away his tears, composed himself, and looked out the car window at the scenery.
However, through his slightly red and swollen eyes on the side of his face, it was still very obvious that the boy had just been crying.
Zenin Toji looked at Zenin Kiyoshi's appearance and felt a wave of guilt and shame as an adult. He looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to start. He could only scratch his head in despair and sit down in his seat.
Ten minutes later, Zenin Toji got off the bus amidst the slightly disdainful gazes of many passengers.
He and Zenin Kiyoshi remained silent as they walked forward.
Zenin Toji looked at the short figure following him and felt unsure how to approach him. He didn't like the atmosphere, but no one had ever taught him how to talk to children, nor had anyone ever loved him during his childhood.
Therefore, he didn't know what to do, let alone how to ease the awkward atmosphere.
However, there was indeed some misunderstanding about this matter. The reason he remained silent at this moment was actually because of the voice that popped into his mind.
"Congratulations, host, you have gained Geto Suguru's favor."
Current favorability: 24/100 (Slightly favorable)
Unlock Ability Panel: Cursed Spirit Manipulation 10% (Based on the host's own situation, the host can directly absorb curses below Grade 2 when signing contracts, but the total amount is limited to 2 curses. When signing a Grade 2 curse, it is necessary to subdue it), Geto Suguru's total cursed energy 10%.
When Geto Suguru's favorability towards the host reaches 40, the next stage of bonus will be unlocked. Please continue your efforts, host.
The moment that voice rang out, Zenin Kiyoshi was actually a little stunned. It seemed that the people in this world of sorcery were all too easy to gain favor with.
Could it really be a reflection of that saying?
People who are most deprived of love will instinctively try to win over and be moved by even the slightest bit of kindness they receive.
He shook his head, but just then, something slightly cool touched his face.
Chapter-15
Feeling the sudden coolness on his cheek, Zenin Kiyoshi subconsciously turned his head and saw that a cheap popsicle had been held in Zenin Toji's hand at some point.
"Here you go."
A few spider webs were spun on the streetlights, and flying insects swarmed around the blue and white light. Even at the risk of having their wings burned by the light bulb, and even knowing that they might get tangled in the spider webs, they still wouldn't leave the cool blue and white light.
Zenin Toji's slightly dull and awkward voice came through, like the weather on a summer evening, with an indescribable awkwardness and enthusiasm.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the extremely conflicted expression in front of him, suddenly smiled, and then reached out to take the popsicle:
When did you buy it?
"Just now, when you were spacing out."
"Thanks."
Zenin Kiyoshi took the popsicle from Zenin Toji's hand, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Zenin Toji, seeing this, seemed to have gotten rid of a huge burden, and he breathed a sigh of relief, the commotion being extremely noticeable.
"Why did you suddenly think of buying me ice cream?"
When Zenin Kiyoshi's question came, Zenin Toji was a little embarrassed to answer it.
But countless facts have proven that a direct approach is always the best way to solve problems.
"Didn't I make you cry, you little brat? I felt a bit bad about it, so I bought you an ice pop to make it up to you..."
As he spoke these words, his hands trembled nervously back and forth. This was the first time he had revealed his true feelings to someone else. The feeling was strange to him, as if he had shed all his outer shells and left only his most primal thoughts.
But Zenin Toji was surprised to find that he didn't dislike this feeling; in fact, he even liked it.
But he knew even more that he could only do this in front of the little devil, Zenin Kiyoshi. At least he knew that he could not speak his true feelings in front of anyone else.
Zenin Kiyoshi smiled at this, and then said:
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"Actually, I didn't cry, at least I didn't feel much inside. But like the knee-jerk reflex, sometimes some basic pain is unavoidable. When you get hit in the nose, your eyes will water, and when you eat chili peppers, you'll cough. These are just basic physiological reflexes, so don't worry about them."
"So, your tears today weren't because you felt wronged, but because your body couldn't bear the pain?"
Listening to Zenin Toji's summary, Zenin Kiyoshi nodded, opened the popsicle wrapper, and looked at the two popsicles tangled together inside, just like the popsicles Naruto and Jiraiya ate in Naruto.
As he broke the popsicle open, some ice fragments fell and quickly melted on the ground, he said to Zenin Toji:
"Your understanding is not wrong. Here, I'll give you half. I can't eat that much myself."
Looking at the popsicle offered to him, Zenin Toji didn't refuse. He reached out, took the tan-colored popsicle, and then said:
"You're such a strange kid. If I had eaten something like this when I was a kid, I wouldn't have thought of sharing it with the people around me."
"When you're enjoying delicious food alone, it always feels like something's missing, doesn't it?"
"I don't get that feeling. What does this taste like?"
"Mango flavored."
"Where's yours? It looks all green, is it watermelon flavored?"
"It tastes like cantaloupe, I like this flavor."
"Oh~ I'll try it next time."
Hearing Zenin Toji's words, Zenin Kiyoshi scratched his head and suddenly laughed, saying:
"What, are you going to punch me again?"
Looking at Zenin Kiyoshi, who was clutching his head with a grin, Zenin Toji suddenly couldn't suppress his own smile. He raised his hand, pretending to hit the other man, and then said:
"maybe."
Under the streetlights, the two shadows were stretched very long, intertwined like thick ink.
Meanwhile, at Geto Suguru's home on the other side, he looked at the Coke can in his hand that had completely lost its coolness, but the smiling face of Zenin Kiyoshi kept appearing in his mind.
Although it was already past 5 p.m., Zenin Kiyoshi's smile felt like a radiant light, imprinted in his heart, and he could never forget it.
Every time I recall that scene, a faint, unconscious taste of cola comes to mind.
Iced cola has a sweet, spicy, and sour taste that's much better than the taste of the cursed spirit orb.
He lived in a basement apartment very close to the school. It was the best place his parents could find for him. It was about six square meters in total, and besides the most basic bathroom, there was a bedroom and a desk.
Because the house was located in the basement, it always had a faint musty smell.
In addition, Tokyo has been experiencing continuous rainy days recently, with water droplets always appearing on the walls, clothes never fully dry, and often have to air dry, leaving a strange smell.
The basement was dimly lit, and even though Geto Suguru wasn't a picky person, he still felt uncomfortable and depressed living in such an environment for a long time.
But in this basement, which is dominated by cool colors, there is now a bright red jar, as red as the sun.
Geto Suguru felt something was off. It was just a Coke can, but it always occupied an indelible place in his thoughts.
Every time I touch that Coke can, the image of that boy's smile involuntarily comes to mind.
I definitely need to go there to see him next Saturday.
He still had so many questions he wanted to ask that boy.
The path of a hero is always lonely.
This was something Geto Suguru had always firmly believed, but today, after seeing Zenin Kiyoshi, he felt that his ideas might have been a little wrong.
You really can't believe everything you read in books.
He muttered something, then cleaned the cloth bag that had absorbed the moisture, wrapped himself in the slightly cold and damp blanket, and fell into a deep sleep.
The musty smell was still pungent, but once you have something to look forward to, everything will be alright.
Meanwhile, on the other side, a silver-haired boy sat on the windowsill, his dreamlike eyes gazing at the bustling Tokyo, and he couldn't help but recall the face of a certain boy.
He was the first guy to thank me, and I even gave him a can of Coke.
News came from home that the guy had been found to be a sorcerer, and that he might even become classmates with him in the future.
We'll see if we can extort that can of Coke back from them.
Gojo Satoru smiled, his sunglasses almost falling off his face.
CHAPTER-16
Blood dripped down his arm; the purple liquid represented filth and fear.
Hanami glanced at her arm, but instead of rushing to repair it, she stared blankly at the wound.
It was a wound inflicted by a man who possessed no cursed energy whatsoever.
He was special; it seemed he had discovered his own existence from the very beginning.
Hanami did sense the man's subtle gaze, but after testing the man's cursed energy, she realized it was a misjudgment.
The man named Zenin Jinichi had even lower cursed energy than ordinary people, so it was impossible for such a being to see himself.
The order Kenjaku gave him was actually just to monitor Zenin Kiyoshi, so during this time, Hanami did not intend to take action against the two of them.
This time was no different. After learning that Zenin Kiyoshi was about to go out to buy ingredients, Hanami actually just planned to follow behind Zenin Kiyoshi and did not intend to do anything.
However, she took the initiative to attack. The moment she parted ways with Zenin Kiyoshi at the mall entrance, Hanami felt a sharp pain in her arm. By the time she realized what was happening, a deep, bone-revealing wound had already appeared on her left arm.
The man named Zenin Toji turned around and gave him a cold look before walking towards a more secluded corner.
Hanami knew that the other party was telling her to follow.
Although Hanami hadn't even seen how her arm had been injured, she didn't feel much fear towards the man in front of her.
Unlike humans who use reverse cursed techniques, cursed spirits do not have physical bodies, and they only need enough cursed energy to repair their bodies.
So, in less than a breath, she had already healed the wound on her arm and followed Zenin Toji into the semi-abandoned building.
The main entrance to the building was blocked off, but neither of the two people used the main entrance.
After arriving at the building's rooftop, the man didn't say anything and immediately launched an attack on me.
Hanami didn't even know why the other party was attacking her, but she seemed to have tacitly accepted the relationship.
Humans and cursed spirits are simply incompatible beings.
As Hanami had anticipated, the man named Zenin Toji was terrifyingly strong. Despite having almost no cursed energy, he managed to beat her so badly that she didn't even have time to activate her domain.
The opponent's attacks were like a relentless storm. She tried to create distance, but she couldn't keep up with the man's speed at all. However, for some reason, the man didn't choose to kill her.
He simply looked down at me and said calmly:
"I don't know what your purpose is in spying on that kid, but remember, I'm just too lazy to kill you. Go back and tell the people behind you not to do these pointless things. If you overstep any boundaries, I will kill you on the spot."
After saying this, Zenin Toji jumped off the building, landing without making a sound.
Hanami looked at the wound on her arm and told Kenjaku what had happened.
Kenjaku extended her index finger and gently twirled a stray hair behind her ear. Then, as if she had thought of something amusing, she whispered:
"Has the Zenin family remained so foolish after all this time? Oh well, at best he's just an ordinary person with no cursed energy, but his pure physical body... it's truly unexpected that even you, Hanami, are no match for him..."
Hanami did not refute Kenjaku's words. Although she had not activated her domain, Hanami knew that even if she had, she would most likely still be no match for that man. Almost all of her attacks could not lock onto him. He was like an ordinary stone in nature, completely blocking her perception of her cursed energy.
Will this existence, with its absolute hit effect after the domain is activated, really have any effect?
Just as Hanami was pondering these matters, Kenjaku's slightly languid female voice came again:
"Now that they've been discovered, what do you plan to do next, Hanami? Will you continue to monitor them? Or will you go back and rest for a bit? Nothing unusual has happened recently, and Jogo and I can handle the rest."
Hearing Kenjaku's words, Hanami paused slightly, then continued:
"I'll continue to monitor them. The man said that as long as I don't do anything excessive, he won't do anything to me. Just monitoring them shouldn't be a problem."
Hanami's answer slightly surprised Kenjaku. She rested her chin on her hand, glanced at Hanami with a smile in her eyes, and then said lightly:
"You might die! Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Well, it's alright. Compared to death itself, facing natural death is far too lonely."
"Is that so? Then go ahead, just don't die."
After saying that, Kenjaku left directly, leaving Hanami alone on the spot, staring blankly for a while.
On July 10, 2000, the weather was cloudy turning to partly cloudy and then to light rain, with a temperature of 34°C, which was not suitable for outdoor sports.
Nearly a month has passed since Zenin Kiyoshi arrived at Zenin Toji's home. At this moment, he is standing in the courtyard that Zenin Toji has just cleared, his whole body covered in sweat as if he had just been pulled out of the water.
"Keep swinging. If you had kept slashing like that, you would have been dead countless times over."
Zenin Toji's voice came from not far away, carrying a completely different tone from a month ago.
The aura was something even I couldn't quite describe. If I had to, I'd say that the old man Zenin Naobito described it best.
That day, the old man came to deliver some daily necessities and clothes for Zenin Kiyoshi. After seeing the almost completely renovated courtyard, and noticing Zenin Toji's seemingly different expression, the old man suddenly grinned, exhaled a breath of alcohol, and then said:
"You've really become more lively than before."
These words left Zenin Toji somewhat helpless. He wanted to retort, "Was I a dead man before?"
But upon reflection, it seemed that before Zenin Kiyoshi came, his life was indeed no different from that of a dead man.
Living each day in a daze, eating only one meal a day, or five meals a day, sleeping until the afternoon, staying up until the early hours of the morning, not showering or washing hair for days on end, and no one will care or ask.
But now, after being cleansed at the Zenin estate, he feels that his body smells bad, that his routine is disordered, that what he is doing is disturbing his health, and that he is always being controlled in various ways.
How should I put this feeling...?
It's not bad.
CHAPTER-17
It's much better than sleeping alone until the afternoon and watching the sun gradually set on the horizon.
What the old drunkard, Zenin Naobito, said wasn't entirely wrong. Since that brat came to his place, there had indeed been a significant increase in the rare presence of living beings.
Zenin Toji narrowed his eyes, then glanced at Zenin Kiyoshi, whose legs were beginning to tremble, and immediately shouted sternly:
"Keep your legs straight! Don't bend them! You could die in battle if you're even slightly off!"
At first, Zenin Toji was actually in a casual attitude towards Zenin Kiyoshi's training requirements, thinking that he could just go through the motions, since he knew his own body best.
Zenin Toji has a very clear understanding of the source of his current combat power: seven parts effort, three parts luck, and the remaining ninety parts are purely talent.
His combat prowess is strongly related to his almost unreasonable physical strength. Some of his abilities, such as grabbing the air with his bare hands, moving at supersonic speed, and super dynamic vision capture, are all gifts from Heavenly Restriction (Sorcerer Killer).
If I were to say what I've learned over the years, it would probably be the various weapon combat techniques I picked up on a whim when I was a teenager.
He had stolen those things from the ordinary guards of the Zenin family. To say he stole them was a bit of a stretch; he only glanced at them twice before he knew exactly what those guys practiced.
Muscle exertion, body balance, weapon usage...
He could memorize it perfectly with just one glance, and after a few practice sessions, he could even redevelop those guys' things based on his own physical strength.
The physical strength gained from using all of his cursed energy is almost at the pinnacle of this world in terms of talent for pure combat skills.
Zenin Toji, who was well aware of his own situation, did not expect any significant results when he first began teaching Zenin Kiyoshi. At most, he just wanted to improve his fitness so that he could defeat a few thugs without relying on incantations.
Snap On Smile Veneers
यह वीनर्स नकली दांतों से 300 गुना बेहतर है! और कीमत बहुत सस्ती है
However, when he actually started training Zenin Kiyoshi, he was shocked to discover that Zenin Kiyoshi's physical strength was the strongest he had ever seen in all these years, apart from his own!
After having Zenin Kiyoshi use all his strength to arm wrestle with him, Zenin Toji estimated that Zenin Kiyoshi's current physical strength was about 10% of his own. Keep in mind that Zenin Kiyoshi was only about ten years old at the time, and had not even reached puberty yet. When puberty started, his physical strength might even surpass his own!
Thinking of this, Zenin Toji stared at Zenin Kiyoshi for a long time with the same look one would give a monster or a fellow human.
In the days that followed, Zenin Toji went from being lazy at first to secretly buying DVDs explaining martial arts to watch at night. He would also practice the lessons he was going to teach the next day and make various lesson plans and reviews that night.
Even Zenin Toji had no idea why he was doing so many inexplicable things, even though he was someone who hated trouble the most. But perhaps that's just how humans are.
A large portion of the population does not live for themselves as their ultimate purpose.
The underlying logic of these people is as if they need to be relied upon and needed by others. If one day this dependence and need is cut off, they may even begin to doubt their own value in this world.
Zenin Kiyoshi was aware of these things, but he did not intend to change Toji's approach in a drastic way.
When someone who has lived in an emotional desert for a long time happens to find something that quenches their thirst, it is not appropriate to tell them things like restraint and reflection at this time; it would only have the opposite effect.
Not only will it make the other person feel that their efforts were wrong, but it will also hurt their sensitive and fragile heart again.
At this point, all Zenin Kiyoshi needs to do is accept it generously and then reciprocate with the same feelings.
As for the person who truly shaped Toji's personality, it was actually Fushiguro Megumi's biological mother. To Toji now, she was basically like a homeless person who had long lacked love and had found a talking pet.
Although the analogy is somewhat crude, it is indeed true.
The afternoon breeze in summer is still a bit muggy and sticky, the air seems to be scorching hot, and it blows on people's faces, making their eyebrows curl slightly.
"Alright, that's enough training for today. Go take a shower, and we'll pack up and go buy some things for our new home. We'll be moving out in about a week."
Zenin Kiyoshi let out a breath, shook his slightly sore arms, took the mineral water that Zenin Toji handed him, and gulped down a large mouthful.
Zenin Toji frowned slightly at this, and then said:
"After strenuous exercise, don't gulp down water like that. Not only will it not quench your thirst, but it can also harm your body and even cause sudden death."
"Phew~ I know, I'll be more careful next time."
"She's starting to look more and more like an old woman," Zenin Kiyoshi muttered to herself. "This guy has completely lost the cool, dejected uncle vibe he used to have."
"By the way, when you go shopping today, can you buy some flowers or plants?"
"What do you want to do with those things? Do you know how to take care of them? If you don't take care of them after you buy them, you'll have to give me a full refund."
"You bastard, you're really heartless. Don't always think of me as the kind of brat who impulsively buys pets and then leaves them with my parents after the excitement wears off. I'm a very independent person."
Zenin Toji scoffed at Zenin Kiyoshi's words:
"You can say you're independent when you're able to buy me alcohol at the convenience store. What are you buying flowers and plants for?"
"The girl under that tree over there seems to really like flowers, plants, and trees. Sometimes she'll even take the initiative to help take care of the plants in the corner of your yard. It's been a month now, so it wouldn't hurt to give her a little gift."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Zenin Toji's face showed a look of surprise. He looked in the direction of Hanami and said to Zenin Kiyoshi with a strange expression:
"You little brat, you're a real freak. This is the first time I've ever seen a sorcerer buy a gift for a cursed spirit. Has your brain melted in the sun?"
"That cursed spirit is a bit different from the others. Her aura is very pure, so she probably hasn't killed anyone. Maybe she's an anomaly like us."
Upon hearing the word "outsider," Zenin Toji paused slightly, then waved his hand and addressed Zenin Kiyoshi:
"Whatever you want, you crazy brat."
CHAPTER-18
Zenin Kiyoshi and the others did not deliberately avoid talking to Hanami. She was sitting under a tree, gently stroking the hussula (Hagi). Hearing the conversation between the two, Hanami looked up in surprise.
The boy seemed to meet her gaze and walked over with a smile. A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the joyful scent of the plants, as if they were absorbing that abundant life force.
What kind of flowers do you like?
Before Hanami could react, the boy had already walked up to her and then asked her a question in a gentle voice.
She looked at the boy in front of her, and for a moment she didn't know how to answer the question.
Hanami wasn't born for very long. Humans' fear of natural plants may have existed for many years, but after the previous natural spirit died, Hanami was slowly born.
How did the previous one die? Hanami didn't know; she had no memory of it. Perhaps she was killed by a sorcerer, or perhaps she committed suicide. Jogo didn't tell her, and she didn't ask.
No one is very curious about the past and future of cursed spirits, not even the cursed spirits themselves, because their lives consist only of killing and loneliness.
Since she became aware of herself, this was the first time someone had asked her what she wanted. It was a strange feeling, and she felt a little lost, as if something was stuck in her throat.
She wanted to answer as soon as possible, but didn't know what to say.
Hanami has her favorite flowers, but she doesn't know whether she should say so, nor does she understand why this boy is doing this, even though they are from completely opposing groups...
"I... I don't know the specific price in the human world."
After holding back for a long time, Hanami only managed to utter this one sentence. Her voice was very pleasant, like clear mountain spring water, which could bring an indescribable coolness even in the scorching summer.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at Hanami, a faint smile and surprise in his eyes. To be honest, Hanami's answer was indeed beyond his expectations.
He had expected Hanami to name some flowers, or to directly reject his kindness, and he even considered the possibility that she might attack him. But he never imagined that Hanami would consider his wallet.
How to describe the feeling? It's as if my kindness has been reciprocated in kind at this moment.
"Want to go together? If we come across any flowers you like, we can negotiate the price."
As Zenin Kiyoshi spoke, he extended his hand to Hanami. He looked at Hanami, and in the dappled sunlight, her face did not appear frightening, but rather had a faint, natural clarity.
Looking at the boy's outstretched hand, Hanami was momentarily at a loss for what to do. Go pick flowers with a human? This kind of thing could never happen unless it was a dream, right?
But when the other person took her hand, the soft touch seemed to tell her that this was not just her imagination.
"Let's go. I don't recognize any of those flowers. It would be a real shame if they got damaged while we were moving them back, wouldn't it?"
Hanami didn't remember how she was persuaded by the other party. When she came to her senses, she was already sitting on the sofa.
A steaming cup of tea sat before her. A gentle breeze stirred, causing some tea leaves to float in and then drift away, creating ripples on the surface of the cup.
Zenin Toji crossed his legs, tilted his head, looked at the TV series behind Hanami, and glanced at the slightly wobbly sofa before saying:
"So you're actually a female cursed spirit? I really couldn't tell before."
To Zenin Toji's words, Hanami simply lowered her head, watching the ripples on the surface of the teacup, and then slowly said:
"Cursed spirits should not be male or female, but my voice may indeed be more in line with human females."
"It doesn't matter, I was just saying it casually. When you and that kid go to pick out flowers later, remember to choose smaller ones. We're moving soon, and it will be difficult for us to move flowers that are too big."
Hearing Zenin Toji's words, Hanami was stunned for a moment. She hesitated for a second, then said in an incredulous tone:
"You really want me, a cursed spirit, to go shopping with you? But... I'm an anomaly."
As Hanami finished speaking, her voice involuntarily became softer, as if she were talking about something that made her feel somewhat ashamed.
To this, Zenin Toji simply picked his ear with his little finger, blew away the almost non-existent earwax, and lazily said:
"No one cares about that kind of thing. None of the three people here, including you, are normal. Since he said he'd take you with him, don't overthink it. Just go with him and don't get any funny ideas. The rest is up to you."
After saying that, Zenin Toji stood up and began rummaging through drawers and cabinets looking for his wallet.
Hanami remained seated on the sofa, listening to Zenin Toji's words. She pursed her seemingly non-existent lips, then picked up the tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp.
It has a slightly bitter taste at first, but if you savor it carefully, it has a lingering sweetness.
Zenin Toji suddenly turned around and glanced at Hanami, then said:
"I heard from the little ghost that you seem to be a naturally formed cursed spirit. So, is the tea the same as the corpse-soaking water used by your kind?"
Hearing this question, Hanami was unusually silent, and Zenin Toji seemed to realize the inappropriateness of his question, pausing slightly as well. But just as his toes were about to dig into the ground, Hanami suddenly spoke up to explain:
"It shouldn't be considered corpse-soaking water; it's more like bath water."
"puff!"
Hanami spoke those words in an extremely serious tone, which inexplicably tickled Zenin Toji's funny bone. He glanced at Hanami and then said:
"I'm entrusting the care of the plants and trees in the house to you. If it rains, you can come in to take shelter from the rain. Just remember to dry yourself off and don't bring any moisture into the house."
Zenin Toji has become increasingly verbose, a fact he himself is unaware of.
Zenin Kiyoshi also emerged from the bathroom at that moment. Drying his slightly damp hair, he glanced at Zenin Toji, who was rummaging through drawers and cupboards. With just one look, he guessed what Zenin Toji was looking for and immediately spoke:
"I've put it in the second shelf of the shoe cabinet for you. Just remember to do that later."
"Mind your own business, you brat! If you hadn't let it in, I would have found it already!"
"Where to look? Inside the washing machine, which you've piled up a basket of dirty clothes?"
Looking at the two arguing in front of her, Hanami suddenly felt an indescribable feeling welling up from the bottom of her heart.
Chapter-19
Shibuya, 234 meters to the left of the exit of subway line 2, Beika Street, Kyoko Flower Shop.
"Does this guest like bellflowers? You have excellent taste! Bellflowers are most beautiful in July, and they also symbolize eternity. If there's something wonderful worth commemorating, then bellflowers are undoubtedly the best choice."
Listening to the shop assistant's introduction, Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the pale purple star-shaped petals. In the gentle breeze, the petals did look very beautiful.
A faint fragrance filled the air, and the fragrance became stronger as the time spent in the flower garden grew longer.
Strangely enough, the cursed spirit, which symbolizes misfortune and disaster, can bring about such a wonderful chemical reaction in a flower shop that represents vitality and beauty.
Hanami was squatting on the ground, stroking the gently swaying petals, her voice light and soft:
"Let's go with the bellflower, I really like it."
As Hanami spoke, she kept glancing at the price tag under the flowerpot. When she saw the price of only 3,000 yen, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, thankfully it wasn't too expensive.
After the two bought the flowerpots, Zenin Kiyoshi said to Hanami:
"After we finish buying the rest of the things, could you please watch over them for me, Sister Hanami? I'm going to meet a friend. If Uncle Zenin Toji comes over, please let him know as well."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's overly intimate address, Hanami's face, which was somewhat obscured, flushed slightly. She seemed a little flustered by Zenin Kiyoshi's address and didn't know how to respond, only managing a soft reply in a voice barely above a whisper:
"Um..."
Zenin Kiyoshi, hearing Hanami's tone, naturally knew what the other was thinking, but he said nothing, only giving a bright smile before saying:
"I'll head over there now, Miss Flower, remember to keep an eye on those things~"
Watching Zenin Kiyoshi's departing figure, Hanami felt an indescribable emotion. For the first time, she experienced a feeling different from that of anyone else in the world towards the human boy before her.
The Dagon was her family, but she couldn't feel much closeness to it. Perhaps it was because the Dagon was still grieving the death of the previous spirit of nature? Or perhaps it was because she couldn't yet understand the Dagon's hatred for humanity?
In front of the Dagon, at least for now, Hanami felt an indelible sense of distance. She knew that the Dagon was the only person in the world who would never hurt her, but not hurting her did not mean that they were close at heart.
As for Kenjaku, she is a very nice person who likes to grow flowers, but she is also a very cruel person. Hanami once watched her kill one human after another and use those people as her vessels. She also saw Jogo burn down the entire village with Kenjaku.
There was a very kind child in that village, whom Hanami had seen before. That child did her best to take care of a flower field that she loved very much, and she was always careful not to trample on the roadside weeds.
Yet this very child, right before his eyes, was burned by the Dagon and the rope, reduced to a state like a withered tree.
At that time, Hanami didn't know the specific feeling of pain and sorrow, but she knew that after seeing the girl's body, she had an indescribable resistance to the actions of Jogo and Kenjaku.
Kenjaku seemed to have sensed her emotions at the time, but she didn't say anything. She just let the Dagon take her to see more of the ugly side of humans.
But the Dagon didn't choose to take me there; instead, it said calmly:
"There's no need to take her there specifically. She can see the ugliness of humanity anywhere in the world. It just takes time; she'll understand the ugly nature of humanity."
Kenjaku seemed to agree with the Dagon's statement, and she didn't press the matter further. Instead, she smiled and remained silent.
However, after that incident, Kenjaku mostly assigned himself tasks of setting up barriers in the deep mountains, seemingly wanting to calm himself down and find some peace.
Zenin Kiyoshi's supervisory duties were the first tasks involving humans, aside from those that stabilized the barriers.
Perhaps at this moment, Kenjaku could never have imagined that instead of letting Hanami see the filth and ugliness of the Zenin family, she would instead witness a beautiful scene of humanity.
Thinking of the flowers and plants in the florist who expressed joy and happiness to her, and looking at the lisianthus in her arms whose petals were constantly swaying, Hanami felt a little confused for a moment. Are all humans really so ugly and sinful?
But that's not what the flowers here told her.
Even Zenin Kiyoshi did not tell her that.
She looked at the large pile of food at her feet, somewhat bewildered.
Meanwhile, Zenin Kiyoshi was walking towards the place he had previously agreed upon with Geto Suguru.
He wasn't in a hurry to increase Hanami's favorability, since they were not the same species, and it would be quite difficult to gain 20% of her favorability in a short period of time.
However, judging from today's progress, it's highly likely that I'll be able to increase Hanami's favorability within this week.
To be honest, if the cursed spirit that came was not Hanami but Jogo, then if I and Zenin Toji were capable enough, we would have killed Jogo here.
Compared to a newly born cursed spirit like Hanami, who has never killed anyone and is in a state of near purity, Zenin Kiyoshi would never allow a creature like Jogo, who indiscriminately kills humans, to live.
However, before killing him, it would be best to obtain Geto Suguru's Cursed Spirit Manipulation Technique, turn him into a Poké Ball, and swallow him first.
The four major calamity-level special-grade cursed spirits are quite tempting to me.
The reason why it can be determined that Hanami has not killed anyone is due to the special ability brought by the 10% Six Eyes. It is unknown whether it is because his physique is different or whether the Six Eyes himself has this ability to distinguish between good and evil souls.
Within Zenin Kiyoshi's field of vision, he could clearly see the aura emanating from those humans or cursed spirits.
The aura emanating from Hanami was even purer than that of some humans, completely unlike the aura of someone who had killed many people.
While pondering how to increase Hanami's favorability, she bought a can of iced cola to give to Geto Suguru as a gift later.
When they first met, Zenin Kiyoshi had already observed and noticed the condition of Geto Suguru's clothes.
It was washed very clean, but there were patches on it, and it had that strange smell that comes with being air-dried. Its face was pale, and its hair was yellow and split, clearly indicating malnutrition.
Chapter-20
"So? You came to Tokyo alone?"
Geto Suguru looked at the new can of Coke in his hand, then glanced at Zenin Kiyoshi in front of him, nodded, and said with a smile:
"Yes, my parents live in the countryside, but they love me very much. They said they don't want me to stay in a small place like them for the rest of my life. They want me to see the sun outside."
When Geto Suguru said these words, he subconsciously covered the patch on his pants with his hand. It wasn't that he felt ashamed of the pants, but that he was worried that Zenin Kiyoshi would not want to be friends with him because of this.
This isn't the first time something like this has happened in Tokyo. People living in this concrete jungle always seem to possess something different from those who grow out of the mud.
They wouldn't discuss those things in front of Geto Suguru. The students all had high levels of upbringing, but that invisible barrier was what made them feel most powerless.
However, Geto Suguru didn't really care about what those people thought. He knew that he and they were not on the same path, but Zenin Kiyoshi was different. He was a genuine person who was walking on the same path as him.
This path is destined to be lonely and difficult, but Geto Suguru knows that he must continue on it, even if he is the only one left.
Because his parents had taught him that the emergence of a strong person must be for the purpose of protecting something, and the stronger a person is, the more things they need to protect.
Geto Suguru firmly believes in this statement and is prepared to fight for it.
But if there were more like-minded people on this lonely road, it would surely be much easier to walk.
Therefore, Geto Suguru did not want Zenin Kiyoshi to see the patches on his clothes; he hoped to make a friend.
However, after searching through his entire wardrobe, this was the only garment that was clean and tidy.
Zenin Kiyoshi naturally noticed Geto Suguru's little tricks. He had a basic understanding of the prices in this world. Given Geto Suguru's family situation, sending him to study in Tokyo would probably be an extremely heavy burden just for tuition and living expenses.
Public schools are out of the question; you can't get in without a house in the school district. So, the only option for Geto Suguru is the even more expensive private school. In those schools, all sorts of fees keep popping up, not to mention commuting and various extracurricular activities. His parents must have already exhausted all their resources to send him here.
It was precisely because of this that Geto Suguru's standard of living was bound to be not very good. When Zenin Kiyoshi first saw Geto Suguru, he already had some guesses about this.
Geto Suguru's current actions merely confirm Zenin Kiyoshi's speculation.
But he didn't care about these things at all.
Before he transmigrated, he was just an ordinary employee earning a few thousand yuan a month. For most people in this world, surviving was something that required them to do everything in their power.
No one has the right to laugh at someone who strives to live with their own hands.
He took the Pocari Sweat from Geto Suguru, smiled, and said:
Snap On Smile Veneers
यह वीनर्स नकली दांतों से 300 गुना बेहतर है! और कीमत बहुत सस्ती है
"I'm moving next week. It's nearby, in that building, you see it? The fifth floor of that building."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Geto Suguru's face lit up with a delighted smile. He looked at the building and subconsciously said:
"My home is also nearby, so does that mean we can...?"
Halfway through his sentence, Geto Suguru suddenly stopped talking as if he had remembered something, bringing the conversation to an abrupt end.
His lips trembled slightly, the light in his eyes dimmed rapidly, and the sound that was about to burst out of his throat was forcibly suppressed.
Should we invite them to such a cramped basement?
Should we ask the other person to go and smell the musty floor together?
Should you let the other person feel the furniture together, which seems to have never been dry?
Not good.
He forcibly suppressed the emotions surging in his heart. At this time, Geto Suguru was only 12 years old, an age when he did not even fully understand joy, anger, sorrow and happiness, but he was already used to suppressing all kinds of emotions in his heart.
Looking at Geto Suguru, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated, Zenin Kiyoshi, combining this with Geto Suguru's personality in the original work, roughly understood what Geto Suguru's concerns were.
Zenin Kiyoshi has always had a very positive opinion of Geto Suguru.
Geto Suguru is a very patient person, but often such people do not end up with a good ending.
Because patience will make most people who don't love you, and even those who do, ignore your emotions.
But should we change things now?
There's no rush. Material changes can be made overnight, but emotional desolation cannot be repaired in a short time.
Zenin Kiyoshi did not choose to let the topic end. As a person from the Xia Kingdom in his previous life, he disliked the overly euphemistic way of speaking in Japan.
No matter where you are, a straight shot is always a sure-fire weapon.
No matter where you are, don't let the conversation fall to the ground.
So, Zenin Kiyoshi patted Geto Suguru on the shoulder, smiled, and said:
"Then we can visit each other's homes from now on. But I don't live alone. There's also a decadent middle-aged man and a very gentle curse spirit sister."
Hearing the first half of the sentence, Geto Suguru felt a surge of joy, because Zenin Kiyoshi had spoken the words he couldn't say himself, and his directness was very comforting.
Geto Suguru felt nervous when he heard the middle part of the sentence. There was an adult in Zenin Kiyoshi's family. Children don't care about money, but adults might. What if Zenin Kiyoshi's "parents" saw him and told Zenin Kiyoshi to keep his distance?
But when he heard the second half of the sentence, Geto Suguru was completely confused. He didn't understand what "gentle curse spirit sister" meant.
Do cursed spirits have self-awareness? Do cursed spirits have personalities? Do cursed spirits have genders?!
Wait a minute! Can cursed spirits really live with people?!
Seeing Geto Suguru's ever-changing expression, Zenin Kiyoshi couldn't help but chuckle. He knew that these things would be quite shocking to Geto Suguru, who hadn't yet fully entered the world of sorcery. No, perhaps even people from the world of sorcery would be utterly astonished by this scene.
However, it doesn't matter anymore. Since I've come into this world, I should try to change some things while ensuring my own survival.
While it may be satisfying to read about the lives of selfish and self-serving protagonists in novels, the true joy in people's hearts ultimately lies in a protagonist who can maintain goodness even in the darkness.