"Sothing's off. Very off."
Yuki Tsukumo circled Zen'in Shinsuke like a hawk, occasionally poking or squeezing his arm as if a closer look might reveal the truth.
Sure, his Heavenly Restriction clearly rejected cursed energy—but this reaction? This was on another level. She was a special grade sorcerer, soone who could change the fate of entire nations. And yet she'd been blown back like a rookie. Careless or not, that only proved how terrifying this power was.
"Alright, enough. You should just give up already."
Pulling his shirt back on, Shinsuke didn't bother explaining further.
"Rember to wire the money to my account. You've got the number."
Yuki puffed her cheeks in frustration. "I know! But do you have to be so greedy all the ti?"
"Hey, don't get it twisted. I'm not obsessed with money. I just enjoy the process of earning it. And besides, I only make honest money—hard-earned money. How's that greedy?"
Shinsuke shot back with a quick denial. Truth was, he only worried about money when he was flat broke—like right now. Thanks to so "small recreational gambling" a while back, he didn't even have enough left for a plane ticket ho.
Most of the ti, though, he preferred to laze around, drift from country to country, or put in just enough "effort" to refine his blood energy.
"You really are impossible…"
Yuki rubbed her forehead, exasperated. Older than her, yet sohow more childish, always spouting nonsense.
"So, what's your plan now? Going to keep freeloading?" She folded her arms, giving him a sharp look.
"Uh…"
"That was the idea, yeah. But if you're willing to spot so cash right now, I could just go ho instead."
His original plan was to find a sugar mommy, make a quick profit, and then head back to Japan. But since Yuki had caught him first… well, why not take the direct route?
"Really? And what brought on this sudden urge to go ho?"
Yuki's eyes narrowed with suspicion. She knew full well he'd been away for seven, eight years now. She figured he'd never set foot back there again.
Shinsuke's lips curved into a faint smile, his gaze softening ever so slightly.
"No matter what, I still have an otōto waiting for there."
Of course, that wasn't all. By now, his little brother probably had two kids of his own. If Shinsuke didn't return soon, he might get roped into babysitting duties. And that was absolutely out of the question—he had zero interest in being anyone's nanny.
"So your eyes aren't completely blinded by money after all. Fine. I'll cover your ticket back ho. But…"
She glanced around the apartnt.
"…if you're heading back, then this place—"
Yuki Tsukumo blinked, tilting her head and shooting Shinsuke a aningful look.
She still hadn't found a place to stay, after all.
Shinsuke's mouth twitched. Knew it. This woman never misses a chance to freeload off .
He grabbed the keys off the table and tossed them at her.
"Here. Take it. But let's be clear—this place isn't mine. If the real owner cos back, that's on you."
The apartnt actually belonged to so foreign woman who'd gone on a long business trip. Shinsuke had just been squatting in the anti.
Yuki flashed him an OK sign. She didn't care—she'd only crash here for a few days before heading off to her next destination anyway. No way the owner would co back during that exact window, right?
Once he'd decided to return ho, Shinsuke kept his dinner simple. Naturally, Yuki freeloaded another al off him before the day was done.
---
The next morning, Shinsuke—rarely—woke up early to catch his flight.
"You're really heading back? Travel safe."
Yuki, still half-asleep in silk pajamas, leaned lazily against the doorway as she saw him off. Despite all the tis he'd swindled her, the two were undeniably close friends.
Shinsuke glanced her up and down, muttering offhandedly:
"Good figure."
And with that casual remark, he pushed the door open and left.
Yuki's drowsiness vanished instantly. Straightening her back without thinking, she muttered under her breath:
"At least his eyes aren't blind… sha his brain is."
A hopelessly dense man. Her signals couldn't be more obvious, yet he still didn't get it.
Wouldn't freeloading off be just as sweet?
If Shinsuke had heard her thoughts, his answer would've been imdiate: Sorry, but I only freeload off rich, beautiful, elegant won. All three conditions required. No exceptions.
And while Yuki checked two of those boxes… she was just too poor.
---
The Zen'in Estate.
An elderly man sat cross-legged in a wide, empty chamber, a massive "Zen" character painted on the wall behind him.
Outside, younger mbers of the clan were being tested—evaluated for their cursed energy and innate techniques.
"Exorcise it," one examiner ordered, holding up a low-grade curse in front of a little girl.
"N-no, I can't… I'm scared…"
The girl recoiled, hiding behind her mother's legs, clinging tightly, eyes wide with fear. She wanted to be brave, but her body refused to obey. In the end, she buried her face in her mother's thigh, trembling.
The adults watching frowned coldly. Still, at least she could see curses—that alone set her above true failures.
Born into the Zen'in bloodline, as long as one possessed cursed energy, the odds of awakening a technique were high. The question was only how strong or weak it would be.
"Don't be afraid, Mai. Mommy's right here."
The woman knelt and soothed her younger daughter, Zen'in Mai.
"That's enough for today," the tester said, dismissing the curse.
"Wait! Maki hasn't been tested yet." The woman hurriedly called out, desperate to secure a chance for her elder daughter.
"Maki? Pfft—hahaha!"
The surrounding n burst out laughing.
"A brat so worthless she can't even see curses thinks she'll awaken a technique?"
"Don't waste our ti. Honestly, sister-in-law, just kick her out of the clan already. Without cursed energy, she's dead weight anyway."
The mother's face twisted with helplessness. In a family that worshipped cursed techniques above all else, failing to show talent ant a lifeti of scorn. And without cursed energy… it was practically a cri against heaven.
But her daughter was just a child.
Maki stood at her mother's side, head bowed, small fists clenched tight inside her sleeves, hair shadowing her eyes. No one knew what she was thinking.
"…Oh? So no cursed energy makes soone trash, huh?"
A tall figure suddenly appeared beside the man who'd mocked Maki, one hand dropping heavily on his shoulder. Cold, lifeless eyes bore down on him.
"Y-you… you're back?!"
The man stamred, paralyzed by the familiar face he could never forget, by those dead-fish eyes that carried crushing pressure.
"Zen'in Shinsuke?!"
Gasps rippled through the room. Instantly, the surrounding clansn braced themselves, slipping into combat stances.
The sight of him brought back mories of the Zen'in Clan's tragedy from eight years ago.
Reviews
All reviews (0)