Volume 1 Chapter 9 The Inherited Will Of Evil I – A Guide To Exorcism
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”──An arranged marriage? For me?”
”Yes. It’s just an inquiry, a preliminary step…”
”Oh, and what’d the family head say?”
”They said to let the acting head handle it.”
”I see… so, who’s makin’ the offer?”
”From the Mibu family.”
”Oh? Which Mibu-san family? I reckon there’s at least three.”
”It’s the Mibu from Shiga. They are under the Niwazono family, and there’s a first-class exorcist named Itsuki-dono from a branch family.”
”Ah, that Itsuki’s place… Wait, wasn’t there a young lady ’round my age?”
”No, the eldest daughter of the main house is ten this year, and Itsuki-dono’s younger sister just turned thirteen this year, and the older ladies are already married.”
”No way, that’s just… too big a gap! Nearly ten years!”
”Yes, so I think they made this inquiry before formally proposing.”
”Really…? Are they so desperate they’d suggest somethin’ that far-fetched?”
”No, I haven’t heard anything like that. So, the intention is a bit unclear.”
”Wait a sec… Could they think I’m some kinda lolicon ’cause of my talks with Suzuri-chan?”
”I think it’s unlikely since Suzuri-dono actually looks more mature for her age.”
”So, that Itsuki’s finally lost his nerve, huh?”
”Naoshi-sama, that’s quite a statement…”
”Yeah, yeah, I won’t let it slip outside.”
”No, please refrain from saying it even at home. We don’t know who might be listening. You will eventually succeed the head of the family.”
”Fine, fine, I get it.”
While Naoshi respond with casual remarks, it’s good to hear some advice.
Especially for someone like him, who usually throws around sarcasm, having an external conscience is always welcome.
”──Well, I ain’t plannin’ to accept it anyhow, so we can just turn ’em down.”
”Is that alright? We’re talking about the main family’s garden, and I think they have their own circumstances over there…”
”Doesn’t matter, head of the family told me to handle it. Poor Uncle Yoshiya’s workload keeps pilin’ up every time, so I’d rather not add to it.”
”Understood, then I’ll do it that way.”
”Oh, and make sure it’s done real polite-like, yeah? Just to keep things smooth.”
”Understood, leave it to me──.”
* * *
”Alright, from today on, we’re shootin’ for the path to bein’ a first-class exorcist! But first, let’s run through some basics, yeah?”
In the backyard of the Kazuramichi residence, Naoshi said this while clapping his hands in front of Suzuri, who was in her gym clothes.
”Yes, I look forward to your guidance.”
”You’re a bit stiff, but that’s all good.”
Unlike the beautiful Japanese garden in front, the backyard was just a hardened dirt ground, a common training space for exorcists.
”Alright, Suzuri-chan, first off, why are normal folks practically powerless against ayakashi?”
”Because they can’t handle spirit energy (reiki) well, right?”
”Exactly! Whether it’s a gun or a blade, it just won’t work like it should.”
The invisible thing called spirit energy resides in everything in the universe.
Giving it direction, drawing out its power, and using it──that’s the concept exorcists call spirit power (reiryoku).
The youkai energy (youki) and youkai power (youryoku) that ayakashi handle are just classifications in words; essentially, they are the same thing.
With spirit power and youkai power, it wasn’t difficult to deflect iron blades or stop bullets without them.
”Now then, what’s the difference between ordinary folks and exorcists?”
”Isn’t it also spirit energy? In this case, should we call it spirit power value?”
”Yup, it’s all about how well you can handle spirit power to fight ayakashi──so, I reckon the most important thing for an exorcist is to always be able to act like one.”
The spirit power level, which became detectable through years of research──this number shows how much spirit energy you can absorb and use from your surroundings, and about 5 thousand is considered the standard for becoming an exorcist, while most ordinary people stay around 3 digits.
And even for exorcists, the number can change a lot depending on their physical and mental state.
”Whether you can always be an exorcist, huh… It’s not just about mindset or something like that, right?”
”Of course not! You gotta keep your stamina, spirit, and spirit power at the right levels, and that means what you do regularly to keep it up. Suzuri-chan, you runnin’ regularly?”
”Yeah, I try to run 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) every day as much as I can.”
”Good! Let’s aim to double that to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), and while you’re at it, try not to lean on your spirit power too much.”
”Got it, but isn’t that the opposite?”
”Fatigue hits you hard, so your natural stamina matters a lot. We’ll start with the easiest and surest way to improve.”
”I see.”
”The practice of pushin’ your spirit power when you’re tired should come after you finish runnin’. Well, that’s a topic for later.”
Seeing Suzuri nodding enthusiastically, Naoshi continued with a satisfied smile.
”And right now, Suzuri-chan, even with your spirit power, you’re at best a ‘really amazing swordsman.’ As an exorcist, ya gotta be even more extraordinary──well, still, you’ve made it to class 2 at your age, so it’s probably fine to keep goin’ on the same path for now.”
”I see──But why is Nao-nii refusing to take on a disciple? It doesn’t seem like you can’t teach after hearing that story.”
”Well, I’ve got my own shortcomings, so why should I take care of someone else, y’know? That’s one reason. Another is, it’s a hassle to figure out what to teach, ain’t it? That’s about it.”
”So, you think I have potential, huh?”
”Well, somewhat? But really, it’s more about feelings. I mean, gettin’ the heads of 8 families together multiple times ain’t somethin’ ya can just do without some guts.”
”Um, I really apologize for that…”
”It’s fine, the punishment’s already done. And just to add──wantin’ to show off in front of someone ya like is somethin’ everyone feels, right? I reckon Suzuri-chan would really try hard for that. I like girls like that.”
”You’re just saying nice things to get on my good side, aren’t you…?”
”You’re bein’ a bit rude. Honestly, havin’ a little bit of a lewd mindset can actually help things go better. If Suzuri-chan is told there’s a reward for tryin’ hard, she’ll be more motivated than usual, right?”
”Well, I can’t say that’s not true──but can I expect something?”
”Leave it to me, I’ll grab the new Dats dessert, no worries!”
”…Is that the reward?”
”Sweets are a classic, right? Did ya imagine somethin’ different?”
”There’s no way I don’t know what you’re doing…!”
”But it’s not good to bait ya too much. If the precious lady gets too experienced, Shiun-san might get mad.”
”Don’t you have any consideration for my maiden heart?”
”Just the two of us teachin’ should be more than enough, right?”
”Not enough. Get Dats for me too, Nao-nii!”
”Alright, if that’s all it takes, then it’s easy peasy──so today, let’s work on your spirit power. I’ll put the same pressure on ya, so just stay focused and hold on tight.”
”Got it.”
With a serious expression, Suzuri readied her sword and quickly increased her spiritual power.
(──Hmm, looks like the spirit power value is steadily hittin’ six digits.)
That’s a number that greatly exceeds the average for a second-class exorcist.
While it’s not unusual for a first-class exorcist, it also means that in one way, Suzuri is already quite qualified.
”…Ugh.”
So, without holding back, Naoshi raised his spirit power just above hers and unleashed it.
Suzuri, literally pressured by the force, let out a small groan.
”──And ’bout Suzuri-chan’s ‘ink-blowin’…’”
He started the conversation just like that; this was also part of the training.
Powerful ayakashi have intelligence and can talk.
And maybe because they look down on people, they tend to want to talk a lot.
As an exorcist, it’s a bad habit to take advantage of this to extract information, so it was best to get used to situations like this.
”It’s not an ink blowing, it’s ‘The Dance of the Whirlwind.’ Is there a problem?”
”Nah, you’re thinkin’ well, and I ain’t got much to say. If you put unnecessary restrictions, it just messes up the whole deal. Just remember, for now, it’s sealed up for real combat.”
”Why?”
”The ayakashi Suzuri-chan’s dealin’ with right now ain’t needin’ somethin’ that complicated. And if you run into a stronger one, dependin’ on it could be risky since you’re not strong enough yet. Best to forget about it for now.”
”I had quite a bit of trouble coming up with that…”
”Just practice how you want, alright? But if your basic skills get better, your speed, power, and scale will be totally different, so flashy techniques might be a waste.”
”Is that how it is?”
”Yeah, and if I gotta say one more thing, the way you use that might be a bit simpler.”
”──Specifically?”
Suzuri let out a long, quiet sigh and met his gaze.
To disturb the calm again, Naoshi applied a little more pressure.
”Instead of drawin’ out storms and winds one by one, why not use the ink you throw like a needle? It’s gonna be tough for the opponent to see, and it won’t take much effort to change.”
”…I see.”
”Or if you wanna get fancy, you could go all out and sink the opponent in a sea of ink.”
”I never thought of going that far.”
”Well, along with that, it might be good for you to learn some sword techniques from someone other than me. I ain’t an expert in swordsmanship, and honestly, channelin’ spirit power into objects ain’t my strong suit.”
”Not good? You can handle it just fine, right?”
”For a first-class exorcist, bein’ average is clearly a shortcoming, a weakness. No sarcasm or modesty here.”
The level required for a first-class exorcist and a second-class exorcist is completely different.
Naoshi facing battles unarmed is just a desperate measure because he has no weapon he can trust more than his own body.
”So, should we ask around nearby… maybe the old man from Mie or the previous head of Futaba?”
”Ah, let’s skip that.”
”Why?”
”I ain’t sayin’ the old man ain’t skilled, but his mind’s stuck in the Heisei era, or even the Showa era. He’s a fossil with all sorts of harassment issues.”
When he told Suzuri that he was pressured by relatives for messing around with his son’s fiancée after stepping down as the head of the family, she frowned.
”That’s a problem…”
”In this day and age, I ain’t fit to teach nobody. Plus, I haven’t even raised a successor. More than anything, if I let someone like that near Suzuri-chan before she gets married, Shiun-san will have my head.”
”Then, what about Mibu Itsuki from Shiga?”
”That guy’s even worse.”
”Eh──.”
His straightforward words carried a much stronger sense of denial than before.
Mibu Itsuki, a top-class exorcist who skillfully wields 2 swords, is the same age as Naoshi and was widely known as a genius before Naoshi, with great expectations for the future.
Now, Naoshi has surpassed him in both name and reality, but he is still one of the top exorcists in Kansai.
Additionally, Yuzuki is known for his androgynous beauty, often described as “more beautiful than a woman,” making him a target of jealousy.
However, Naoshi now gives off an aura that suggests jokes related to that won’t be well-received.
”Did something happen in the past?”
”Nah, it ain’t that. It’s just that he’s not the type you wanna seek guidance from.”
His brief explanation seemed to refuse any further discussion.
Even when Suzuri stared at him, trying to ask with her eyes, Naoshi’s expression didn’t reveal anything in return.
”Hmm…”
”If you could ask Yuki-kun, that would be the best.”
”The head of the Touma family, huh?”
”Yep, he’s Yukinojo-kun from the Touma family, the leader of the Kanto exorcists. He uses a sword too, and his skills speak for themselves, right?”
The third-generation Touma Yukinojo is only 21 years old but is considered the strongest exorcist in Japan, with exceptional swordsmanship and mastery over fire.
A handsome young man with the blood of a snow woman, known for his calmness that doesn’t match his youth, also possesses the decisiveness typical of the eastern region warriors.
Naoshi is one of the few people recognized as a real exorcist, and Yukinojo also showed respect to the older Kansai warriors.
”Ah, I know well──it’s because Nao-nii likes him, right?”
Maybe that’s why Suzuri’s voice had a slightly sulky tone.
”Wait, is there really an exorcist who hates Yuki-kun? Are you stupid? He’s the ‘Ice Blade’ that scatters spirits, ya know? That ‘Divine Eye’ guy?”
”Please stop saying that with a serious face. It would be great if I could learn from him, but can I ask him?”
”Well, if ya had a reason to come to Kansai, it’d be different, but he’s busy too.”
”Then that’s no good…”
”Well, it’s just an ideal. I mean, swordsmanship is popular, so ain’t it enough to just practice around Osaka? Besides, Shiun’s got a master figure, right?”
”Yeah, that’s true. I’ll ask him──by the way, the other day I asked a friend how to get a friends-with-benefits to notice me.”
”That’s a huge jump in conversation, what happened? Also, ain’t Suzuri-chan’s school quite prestigious?”
”Yeah, it’s an antique that still promotes the idea of being a good wife and wise mother in the Reiwa era. But I don’t think it’s the kind of place Nao-nii dreams about.”
”Well, I’ve heard that women’s schools can be tough, but you sure do talk about that too, don’t ya?”
”Well, my friends all told me to stay away from guys like that. They said I’m a bit clueless and getting tricked.”
”Sounds like good friends. You should cherish ’em.”
”…Just to clarify, this is about Nao-nii, okay?”
”That’s why I’m sayin’ it. And I’m not just after your body, ya know? Suzuri-chan’s face is cute, but her chest is small.”
”But, it’s 70D, you know!? That’s enough, right!? When I talk about my worries, my friends give me weird looks!?”
”I don’t know. The fact that you immediately bring up numbers just shows how small-minded you are, ya know?”
”This guy, putting me on the spot…! I’m trying my best too!”
”What kinda effort?”
”Breast enhancement.”
”Is that somethin’ a young girl should be sayin’? Should I help you by touchin’ ’em?”
”W-Well, I only want that at night, when it’s just the two of us…”
”You ain’t gonna refuse?”
”I’m not against it.”
”You’re quite the charmer, ain’t ya? Alright, then, how ’bout we take a break?”
”Okay… but I’m not letting you touch them right now, okay?”
”I said I won’t,” Naoshi said with a wry smile when he heard a voice from the family member coming down from the porch.
”──Excuse me, may I have a moment?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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