Volume 1 Chapter 2 This Is My Path II – Yes, Confirmed Trash. I’m Going To Get Killed
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
To put it simply, it was already hopeless. It was too late.
He was in a checkmate situation, like in chess or shogi.
23 years is more than enough time to define a person’s worth.
Even if Naoshi tried to act like a decent person now, everyone would just think, “Is he plotting something behind the scenes?”
The rumors were already set in stone.
This was the result of his own actions, built up over time.
He plans to keep making steady efforts, thinking it’s better than doing nothing, but it would be wise not to have too many big expectations.
”Haahhh…”
With that sense of resignation, he let out a sigh.
The more he looked back at Kazuramichi Naoshi’s past, the clearer it became that he had acted like a total jerk.
For example──
’Weak exorcists ain’t got no reason to live. What’re ya still breathin’ for?’ (Left)
’I can’t even remember the names of weaklings like you. Who the heck are ya?’ (Play)
’Ain’t it pathetic to brag about puttin’ in effort without seein’ any results? You lot are somethin’ else. I’d be too embarrassed to pull that kinda stunt.’ (Middle)
’Just die.’ (Three)
’You’ve got good bloodlines, so why not just focus on bringin’ up the next generation, huh?’ (One)
’Gotta say, it’s kinda impressive to waste this much energy.’ (Right)
’What a convenient excuse, talent. You claim you don’t have it, yet here ya are yappin’ about it.’ (Supplement)
’You misunderstandin’ something? What you lack is the spirit of an exorcist.’ (Two)
’Don’t go talkin’ ’bout Yuki-kun and Tetsu-kun so casually, you weaklings. I’ll take you out.’ (Throw)
So, he tried to line up Kazuramichi Naoshi’s past trashy comments.
How is he still not stabbed yet?
He thought that further into his memory, and he had already been stabbed twice. Of course, he had defeated his attackers. Strong.
No, he had used strong words with his own circumstances and reasons, but sadly, others wouldn’t understand that.
Rather, having reached such an extreme level of being a scumbag in public, it was feared that karma would inevitably catch up with him.
”This could be the end of the line.”
Compared to the threat to his life, it was a minor issue, but he was also depressed that every word that came out of his mouth was in a fake Kansai accent.
No, he understood that dialects were like that, but why was it fake, and why did malicious nuances keep getting added to his speech unintentionally?
It is often said that the mouth is the source of all evil, but constantly stirring up trouble and making snide remarks felt more like a curse than anything else.
”The more I think ’bout it, the more hopeless it feels… What the heck is this?”
If this world were a game, he would try to avoid being seen as a villain, but he couldn’t even remember the name of the hero he needed to befriend.
Also, the protagonist would be defeated and violated, so she was probably an exorcist woman with some skill, but he couldn’t be sure if she was an established expert or a newcomer.
Then again, maybe it would be better to just stay out of it. After all, these kinds of things happen regardless of expectations.
In other words, he had no idea what the truth of this world was or how to proceed.
”…At least I’ll keep trainin’.”
Fortunately, Naoshi’s power as an exorcist was beyond question.
His excessive self-confidence might be debatable, but he was one of the top exorcists in the industry, and his skills were the result of talent, effort, and ingenuity.
No matter how strong he is, he might still lose in a pathetic way to someone he’s trampled on in the past, but it’s still better than being weak.
He wants to believe that.
After all, he has nothing else to rely on.
As he resolved to live as a sad monster who only believes in his own strength, he sensed someone outside his room.
The Kazuramichi residence is a large traditional Japanese house that fits its history.
Naoshi’s room is a calm 12-tatami mat (15.18 sq. m. / 165 sq. ft.) space that feels a bit inconvenient and out of place for a young person born in the year 2000.
”──Excuse me, Acting Head of the Family.”
The mixed sounds from inside are blocked by sorcery, but conversations and sounds from outside come through clearly. It’s a handy thing.
”Yeah, yeah, what’s goin’ on?”
He replied to the voice of a family member on the other side of the sliding door while straightening his lazy posture.
Being able to do this unconsciously shows he has some good qualities, even if he’s a loser.
”There’s been a message regarding the young lady of the Shiun family. The 8 families would like to gather.”
The 8 families──Kansai’s 8 families are a group of powerful exorcists from one prefecture and 4 counties in Kansai, excluding Kyoto, and they have a strong influence in a conservative industry.
From Naoshi’s perspective, there might be some conflicts of interest, but there shouldn’t be any serious behind-the-scenes battles; if it were a game, they would be the leading force in internal strife.
Ah, just being part of this group adds another element of difficulty, huh?
”Sigh, here we go again… I got it, I’ll get ready. Just tell ’em I’ll be there soon.”
”Yes, understood.”
He gained another realization that dampened his mood, but he still has to do his job as the acting head of the family.
Well, it’s more constructive than worrying about his future, which just makes him feel down.
As he got ready, he remembered the eldest daughter of the Shiun family, who protects Osaka alongside the Kazuramichi family.
”Well, Suzuri-chan never learns, does she?”
She was a relative and someone he had known since childhood, a talented exorcist that Naoshi could remember by name.
* * *
”Kazuramichi family acting head, entering.”
When the sliding door to the meeting room opened, all eyes turned to him at once.
It seemed he was the last one to arrive.
In the large, empty tatami room, there were 2 people on the right and 6 men of various ages from middle-aged to elderly on the left, facing each other with one empty cushion creating an uneven line.
The atmosphere didn’t feel like it was going to lead to a constructive discussion.
The two on the right were the middle-aged head of the Shiun family, who wore a bitter expression, and beside him was his daughter, Suzuri, who was the reason for today’s gathering.
She was dressed in her school uniform, sitting formally, but her posture seemed rather bold in front of the heads of other families.
”Thanks a bunch for comin’, everyone.”
Naoshi thought to himself that she didn’t seem affected at all as he sat cross-legged on the empty cushion.
”Sorry for bein’ late. So, I heard today’s meetin’ is about Suzuri-chan. Are we finally talkin’ ‘bout findin’ her a husband?”
”That can’t be right.”
”Ah, I ain’t askin’ you, I’m askin’ the Shiun family. My bad!”
The man next to him said it sarcastically, and Naoshi, who was the type to take on a challenge, didn’t hide his disdain as he replied.
”Wait──”
”Both of you, enough.”
From the back left of the room, the head of the Touin family in Hyogo, who had taken the highest seat, interrupted with a heavy voice.
In Naoshi’s memory, this man occupied his position solely based on family status, behavior, and age.
As an exorcist, he was at best a second-class. Naturally, Naoshi didn’t remember his name.
”I-I’m sorry.”
Ignoring the embarrassed person next to him, Naoshi didn’t even respond. He was sticking his tongue out in his mind.
The head of the Touin family didn’t touch on that. If someone was clueless, they might see it as a sign of tolerance.
He was a man skilled at pretending.
”Shiun-dono, is that alright?”
”Yes, I truly apologize for the trouble my incompetent daughter has caused you all──”
(Hmph, what a thing to say.)
To call his daughter, who was already a second-class exorcist like her father while still a student, incompetent was ridiculous.
Listening half-heartedly, he looked at Suzuri.
It had been about half a year since they last met face to face. In that time, she had grown more mature, and her beauty was classic, with little makeup for a girl these days.
She was tall, not much different in height from her father, who was on the shorter side for a man.
Her long black hair was tied in a high ponytail with a ribbon, and she sat up straight in a formal position, looking quite picturesque.
”Rugged” suited her better than “cute” or “pretty.”
By Naoshi’s taste, she was a bit too young.
As he observed her, their eyes suddenly met.
She smiled, probably looking a bit frivolous, and waved her hand lightly, receiving a quiet nod in return.
Without a doubt, aside from Naoshi, she was the calmest one here.
That must have been boring for the others present.
As the other heads began to criticize her, he understood their points about disobedience and acting on her own, but they even mentioned a lack of respect for her elders──what a ridiculous thing to say in a situation where exorcists need to be adaptable. It was absurd.
”──Hah!”
Before he knew it, his inner thoughts were leaking out as laughter.
A moment of silence fell over the room, and several people looked at Naoshi with shocked expressions.
The most surprised was Suzuri’s father.
There was no helping it, Naoshi opened his mouth.
”Please don’t get mad. Ain’t it kinda ‘silly’ for all the heads of the 8 families to act like this over just one rebellious kid?”
”What!?”
”How rude…!”
”Now, now, everyone, let’s calm down. Of course, if he says that, Kazuramichi-dono must have a plan.”
It was, as expected, the head of the Touin family who spoke up.
It was frustrating to be treated like the one summarizing the discussion, but it was the usual thing.
”It ain’t that complicated. I’ll show this second-class exorcist real quick why she’s second-class. Then she might start gettin’ the picture.”
”──I see.”
Fighting among exorcists is officially forbidden.
But in the end, for those who rely on strength, using strength to explain things is the quickest way.
It had become a tradition for older exorcists to break the noses of talented young exorcists before they made painful mistakes, all under the guise of training.
However, when it comes to male and female, it adds a slightly different meaning.
”So, this means Suzuri-chan ain’t gonna get a chance to surpass me. Kinda like a tuition fee, huh?”
Because, in a serious one-on-one duel, those who lose to an opponent of the opposite gender rarely overturn that power dynamic afterward.
ven if the loser becomes the best of their generation, they might still fail to defeat the former winner, who remains just an average exorcist.
”Well, it was already a slim chance, so it ain’t no big deal, right?”
”No, but such a rough──”
The reason behind this phenomenon, which feels like a curse, is unknown.
According to popular belief, it’s because the loser sees themselves as the lower partner, ingrained in their instincts.
In fact, there are almost no cases of reversal after a confrontation that involves s*xual relations.
Because of this, families and couples with a history sometimes engage in pre-wedding duels to avoid lingering grudges.
”I understand. I’m fine.”
Whether she understood it or not, the girl in the uniform agreed with a cool expression.
”If it’s necessary, I will also accept the ‘training’ afterward…”
”Suzuri! What are you saying? Do you think you can decide that──!?”
This was a natural worry for a father, but he also wanted to avoid having an inexperienced head of the Shiun family determine the hierarchy with other families.
However, that is precisely why it has meaning as a punishment.
Suzuri’s true intentions are unclear, but it could be a rebellion against her father.
”Well, that’s some serious determination. So, ya got any other ideas?”
Ignoring her father’s panic, Naoshi shifted her gaze to the high seat.
”Is there anyone… anything…”
The 6 heads of families, including the man in the high seat, ignored the desperate look of the Shiun family head, who was sweating all over.
There was no agreement with Naoshi, but there were also no voices of dissent.
Since it was Kazuramichi who brought this up, it was also his responsibility no matter how it turned out──there was likely a meaning in showing that attitude.
”Looks like it’s been decided.”
This meeting was originally set up because he couldn’t control his daughter.
Once the head of the Touin family summarized the flow, there was no longer any way to oppose it.
”Understood. I will leave my daughter’s treatment to the acting head of Kazuramichi…”
With his shoulders slumped, the head of the Shiun family bowed his head.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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