Chapter 3: Trash Who Can't See Cursed Spirits
"No, something's off—seriously off!"
Tsukumo Yuki circled Zenin Jinsuke, looking him up and down, occasionally reaching out to pinch him, trying to figure out what was going on.
Maybe his Heavenly Restriction really did dislike cursed energy, but this reaction was way too extreme, wasn't it?
She was a special-grade sorcerer—someone capable of changing an entire country—yet she'd been forced back. Sure, she'd been a bit careless, but it still proved how terrifying that power was.
"Alright, you should give up already."
After putting on his clothes, Zenin Jinsuke didn't explain much.
"Remember to transfer the money to my card. You know the number."
Tsukumo Yuki immediately puffed out her cheeks and said angrily, "Got it! Can't you stop being so money-grubbing?"
"Hey, don't talk nonsense. I'm not interested in money—I just enjoy the process of making it. Besides, I earn every cent the hard way. How is that being greedy?"
Zenin Jinsuke quickly denied her accusation.
Only when he was broke would he think about making money—like now, because a while back he'd done a bit of "harmless gambling," and now he didn't even have enough for a plane ticket home.
Most of the time, he was either lying flat, traveling from country to country, or "working hard" to refine his blood energy.
"There's really nothing I can do with you."
Tsukumo Yuki covered her forehead helplessly. Even though he was a few years older than her, sometimes he was even more childish—always talking nonsense.
"So where are you going next? Still planning to live off others?"
Tsukumo Yuki crossed her arms, studying Zenin Jinsuke.
"Uh…"
"That was the plan, but if you're willing to give me a bit of money right now, I can also choose to go back home."
He'd originally planned to find a rich woman, make a little money, and then go back—only to get caught by Tsukumo Yuki again.
In that case, asking Tsukumo Yuki directly for money seemed faster.
"Really? Why do you suddenly want to go back?"
There was a hint of confusion in Tsukumo Yuki's eyes.
She knew he'd left that place seven or eight years ago. She thought he'd never go back for the rest of his life.
Zenin Jinsuke's lips curved slightly, his gaze softening a bit. "No matter what, I've still got a little brother over there."
And of course, besides that little brother, he probably had two nieces or nephews by now.
If he didn't go back soon, he might end up having to raise them himself—and that was absolutely not happening. He didn't want to be a babysitter.
"So you don't only care about money after all. Fine, I'll cover your travel expenses back home."
Tsukumo Yuki blinked and subtly gestured at Zenin Jinsuke.
"Since you're leaving, then this place…"
She happened to not have anywhere to stay right now.
Zenin Jinsuke's mouth twitched. As expected, this woman wouldn't miss any chance to freeload off him.
He grabbed the keys from the table and tossed them to her. "Here."
"Just so we're clear, this place isn't mine. When the original owner comes back depends on your luck."
This loft belonged to a rich Western woman. She'd gone on a business trip recently, which was why Zenin Jinsuke had been living here alone.
Tsukumo Yuki made an OK sign. She was only going to stay a few days before wandering to the next place anyway.
No way the owner would come back during the few days she stayed… right?
After deciding to go back, Zenin Jinsuke took care of dinner in a simple way—of course, Tsukumo Yuki freeloaded another meal.
The next morning.
Zenin Jinsuke, unusually, got up early to catch his flight.
"You're heading back? Be careful on the way."
Tsukumo Yuki stood at the door in a silk nightgown, bleary-eyed as she said goodbye.
Putting aside how often he scammed her out of money, the two of them were still pretty good friends.
Zenin Jinsuke glanced at her casually. "Solid capital."
After that one comment, he walked out the door.
Tsukumo Yuki instantly woke up a bit more. She straightened up reflexively and muttered softly, "Your eyes aren't blind, at least. Too bad your brain is."
A total straight man.
Her intentions were so obvious she might as well have said them out loud, and he still didn't get it.
Wasn't living off her a good deal too?
If Zenin Jinsuke ever found out what she was thinking, he'd definitely say: sorry—he only lives off women who are rich, beautiful, and refined. Miss even one condition and it's a no.
Tsukumo Yuki met two of them, but… she was too poor.
...
The Zenin Clan.
An old man sat cross-legged in an empty room. On the wall behind him was a large character: "Zenin."
Outside, a crowd was testing the cursed energy and techniques of the younger generation of the Zenin Clan.
"Destroy it."
A proctor held a low-level cursed spirit and spoke to the little girl in front of him.
"N-no… I'm scared…"
The little girl saw the monster in his hand and immediately hid behind her mother, clinging tightly to her mother's leg, her eyes filled with fear.
She wanted to overcome it, but her body wouldn't obey. In the end, she could only squeeze her eyes shut and bury her face against her mother's thigh.
Seeing this, the adults around them looked a bit cold, but they didn't say anything—at least the girl could see the cursed spirit.
As Zenin blood, as long as you had cursed energy, there was a good chance you'd awaken a technique.
It was just a matter of whether it was strong or weak.
"Mai, don't be afraid. Mom is here."
The woman comforted Zenin Mai.
"Alright. Today's test ends here."
The proctor put the cursed spirit away and didn't continue.
"Wait—Maki hasn't been tested yet!"
The woman quickly called out to stop him, trying to fight for a chance for her eldest daughter.
"Her? Hahahahaha…"
The people around burst into laughter. "Someone whose cursed energy is so weak she can't even see cursed spirits wants to awaken a technique?"
"Don't waste time. I'm telling you, sister-in-law—just kick her out of the Zenin Clan. No cursed energy. Keeping her is pointless anyway. She's trash."
The woman's face showed helplessness. In a clan where cursed energy and techniques were everything, failing to show enough talent meant being looked down on.
And having no cursed energy was like committing an unforgivable crime.
But her daughter was just a child.
Beside the woman, Zenin Maki kept her head lowered. Inside her sleeves, her small fists clenched tight. Her hair covered her eyes, hiding whatever she was thinking.
"Oh? So having no cursed energy means you're trash?"
At that moment, a tall figure appeared beside the clansman who'd called Zenin Maki trash. One hand landed on his shoulder as the figure looked down at him.
"Y-you… why are you back?!"
When the man turned and saw that face he could never forget—and those lifeless, emotionless dead-fish eyes—an overwhelming pressure crushed him, and his voice began to tremble.
"Zenin Jinsuke?!"
All the surrounding clansmen stared at the newly returned Zenin Jinsuke with alertness, instantly shifting into a combat-ready stance.
This man brought back memories of the Zenin Clan tragedy eight years ago.