Without any unnecessary preamble, Yukina stated her refusal outright. Her tone was calm, yet firm—leaving no room for argument.
Yukina's concern was reasonable. A forest was not a playground for children, especially not for an extended period of time. Too many things could go wrong—getting lost, suffering injuries, or encountering dangers that simply could not be predicted.
On top of that, Rika and Shizuka were still far too young to be considered truly safe in an environment like that.
Even so, Rika, Shizuka, and I did not give up so easily.
The three of us continued to persuade Yukina, explaining in every way we could that we would only be gone for a short while and would not do anything dangerous. I laid out our plan as calmly as possible, trying to reassure her that I would be watching over them at all times.
Rika helped as well, speaking in a gentle and thoughtful tone, carefully choosing her words so that everything sounded reasonable and well-considered.
Meanwhile, Shizuka—as usual—took things a bit too far. She spoke with overflowing enthusiasm, her eyes sparkling, and she nearly resorted to whining as she clung to Yukina's arm, as if hoping that sheer sympathy might finally melt the girl's resolve.
The small debate dragged on for quite some time and became rather exhausting. More than once, Yukina let out a quiet sigh, her expression wavering with indecision, before she finally gave in.
In the end, Yukina agreed to let us go—but with one absolute condition. No matter what happened, we had to return to the orphanage before five in the afternoon. There would be no exceptions.
At that moment, the clock still showed ten in the morning. Although the sun had begun to rise higher and the air was gradually growing warmer, we still had plenty of time. At the very least, there were several hours we could fully use for practice without having to rush.
In short, we managed to leave the orphanage and reach the forest without any further trouble.
Now, I stood facing Rika and Shizuka, observing them carefully. The two of them were no longer standing, but sitting neatly on the soft grass, their posture surprisingly orderly.
Their bodies were still small, looking like children around nine or ten years old, yet the light in their eyes reflected a genuine curiosity.
Both of them were wearing sportswear, a clear sign that they had prepared themselves from the very beginning for something physically demanding.
Rika wore a purple training outfit that looked neat and simple, perfectly matching her calm personality. Shizuka, on the other hand, wore a bright yellow outfit that stood out vividly, as if mirroring her cheerful and restless nature.
I took a slow breath before finally speaking.
"Alright," I said in a serious yet composed tone. "In that case, I'll explain various things about this world in more detail than I did yesterday."
I paused briefly, making sure their full attention was focused on me.
"Especially the side of the Jujutsu world," I continued. "About Cursed Spirits, Cursed Energy, Innate Techniques, Cursed Tools, Cursed Objects, and many other things that have long been dismissed as mere myths. In reality, all of them truly exist, right here around us."
Rika and Shizuka exchanged a quick glance before turning their gaze back to me. Without saying a word, they nodded in unison, showing that they were ready to listen.
The expressions on their faces shifted—from simple curiosity to deep concentration—as if they had realized that what they were about to hear was no ordinary matter.
I began to explain slowly, choosing each word with care so it would be easy for them to understand. I did not rush, deliberately adjusting the pace of my explanation to match their age and level of comprehension.
Everything I knew, I shared little by little, starting from the most basic concepts and gradually expanding into a broader picture of the hidden world that existed beyond normal human life.
A world that never appeared in textbooks, never openly discussed, yet had always existed side by side with everyday life—unnoticed by anyone.
I explained how Cursed Energy is born from the negative emotions of humans, how it flows unconsciously within the body, and how a small number of people are able to become aware of Cursed Energy—some even learning to control and utilize it.
I also described the existence of Cursed Spirits, beings born from the accumulation of those emotions, as well as the role of Jujutsu Sorcerers, who stand on the front lines to maintain the balance of the world.
As I spoke, Rika and Shizuka remained seated quietly on the grass. Their small bodies barely moved, as if they were afraid of missing even a single word.
Their eyes were fixed on me without blinking, filled with focus, never once interrupting my explanation. From time to time, expressions of surprise, confusion, or curiosity appeared on their faces, yet they chose to keep listening until I finished.
"So that's how it is… turns out the world is incredibly complicated," Shizuka finally said.
Shizuka's face showed an expression as if she had just grasped something immense. Her brows furrowed slightly, her eyes staring blankly ahead for a moment—a sign that she was trying to digest everything I had explained about the various factions intertwined with one another, yet often standing in opposition.
The world she once thought was simple turned out to be far more complex and dangerous than she had ever imagined.
"I see… so besides Innate Techniques, humans also have the possibility of possessing Sacred Gears?" Rika spoke softly, accompanied by a faint smile. Her eyes shimmered slightly, showing genuine interest. "That's fascinating…"
"Yes," I replied with a slow nod. "This world is far more interesting than it appears on the surface."
I then brought my hands together and clapped lightly, the sound sharp enough to pull their attention back to me completely.
"Now, we'll start with the most basic thing," I said. "Training your bodies."
My tone shifted, becoming more serious than before.
"A Jujutsu Sorcerer usually fights at close range," I continued. "That's why having a strong physical foundation is essential. You can't rely solely on technique or talent. Moreover, the stronger your body is, the more efficient the application of Cursed Energy reinforcement becomes. Without a solid physical base, Cursed Energy will only turn into a burden."
"Ugh…" Shizuka immediately pouted.
She glanced at her own clothes with a displeased expression, as if she had just realized the true purpose of the sportswear she had been wearing since morning. "So that's why we had to wear workout clothes?"
"Yes," I answered without the slightest hesitation.
I took a step forward and raised my hand. "Now stand up and start running. Hurry! Hurry! What are you waiting for?"
My suddenly raised voice startled Shizuka and Rika. They straightened reflexively, then quickly stood up. Without much protest, they began running around the wide grassy field in the middle of the forest.
The area was spacious, surrounded by tall trees that seemed to act as silent witnesses to their training.
The sound of their small footsteps echoed rhythmically against the ground. At first, their pace was light and steady, accompanied by Shizuka's small laughter as she tried to hide her dislike.
But as time passed, the sound of their breathing became clearer—heavier and increasingly irregular.
Several minutes went by, and signs of fatigue slowly appeared on their faces. Their movements were no longer as quick as at the start, their arm swings began to weaken, yet they still forced themselves to endure.
Rika tried to maintain her breathing rhythm, while Shizuka occasionally looked as though she was about to trip before quickly regaining her balance.
"Control your breathing!" I shouted while watching them closely. "A professional runner can run for a long time because they know how to regulate their breathing. You have to do the same! The longer you run, the better! This will train your leg muscles and stamina! So keep running and manage your breathing properly!"
...
...
...
Time continued to pass.
Almost an hour had gone by since Shizuka and Rika started running. Their bodies now clearly showed signs of severe exhaustion.
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