Geto Suguru stared at Yuki Tsukumo, disbelief clear in his eyes.
"A world without cursed spirits? That is impossible."
Yuki smiled, calm and confident. "Listen first."
"The root of cursed spirits is cursed energy. Ordinary humans cannot control the cursed energy leaking from their bodies. Over time, that leakage accumulates and gives birth to cursed spirits."
She raised a finger.
"So if we want a world without cursed spirits, we start with humans."
"Option one, eliminate cursed energy entirely. If humans stop producing it, new cursed spirits will never form. A case like Heavenly Restriction is an example."
She raised a second finger.
"Option two, teach all humans to control their cursed energy. In other words, turn everyone into sorcerers so there is no leakage."
Suguru listened quietly.
Then he spoke in a low voice.
"There is a third option. Kill all non sorcerers."
Yuki blinked, then laughed lightly. "That would work too, technically."
"It is the simplest solution," Suguru continued. "Like natural selection. Remove the source."
Yuki tilted her head. "We are not that extreme."
A familiar voice interrupted them.
"No, that would not work."
Gojo Shion approached with a lollipop between his lips, hands in his pockets. His expression was lazy, but his eyes were sharp.
"Are you two serious?"
Suguru frowned slightly.
Shion continued, "You think killing all non sorcerers solves everything. What happens next? Sorcerers give birth to children. Some will be non sorcerers. Genetics is probability, not destiny."
He glanced at Suguru. "Your parents are non sorcerers. Yet here you are."
Suguru fell silent.
Shion went on, tone steady.
"Even if you wipe out every non sorcerer alive, more will be born. You would end up repeating the same massacre every generation."
He sucked lightly on the lollipop.
"And let us be practical. Sorcerers are a minority. Non sorcerers built this world. Food supply chains, transportation networks, hospitals, infrastructure. Remove them and what remains? A handful of sorcerers pretending they can sustain civilization alone?"
Neither Yuki nor Suguru responded immediately.
The logic was brutal and undeniable.
Shion noticed the shift in Suguru's expression, the dimming intensity in his eyes.
Then he looked at Yuki. "So why are you here, really?"
Yuki's smile returned. "Let us change the subject. Gojo kun, what type of woman do you like?"
Shion paused for half a second.
"Someone from a normal family. Level headed. Takes care of people. A doctor type, maybe."
Suguru tilted his head. "You mean someone gentle and refined?"
Shion shot him a look. "Careful, Suguru. I still have those pictures from the cosplay event."
Suguru immediately went quiet.
Yuki laughed.
"Oh, was Haibara here earlier?" Shion asked casually.
"He just left," Suguru replied.
Shion raised a brow. "I have something to discuss with him. I will go find him."
Yuki stood up at once. "Wait. Your domain strips cursed energy, right? I want to test something."
Shion waved a hand dismissively as he walked off. "Schedule it properly."
Suguru watched them leave and exhaled slowly.
"It will not work," he murmured.
---
Hokkaido.
The mission report read, Grade Two Cursed Spirit, Local Land Deity.
Nanami Kento adjusted his tie and checked the wrapped blade in his hand.
Beside him, Haibara Yu bounced lightly on his heels. "A Grade Two curse must be strong, right?"
Nanami nodded. "Much stronger than Grade Three. The last time I defeated one, it was barely within reach."
Haibara froze. "Barely?"
Nanami spoke calmly. "I was promoted to Grade Two two days ago."
Haibara stared at him. "You were?"
"Yes."
Haibara forced a laugh. "Congratulations."
There was a hint of frustration beneath the smile.
"When do you think I will advance?" Haibara asked.
Nanami considered. "Support type techniques are difficult to evaluate. Your Amplification Technique enhances allies, but advancement standards favor direct combat output."
He spoke matter of factly.
"The third year student with a similar support technique is Grade Two. You will likely need more field experience."
Haibara nodded slowly. "Understood."
They approached an abandoned temple.
The air was heavy with cursed energy.
Nanami stepped inside first. His eyes scanned the structure.
Then his expression changed.
"Run."
He grabbed Haibara's sleeve and sprinted out.
"What is wrong?" Haibara asked, breath uneven.
"I sensed two Grade Two signatures immediately. And if this temple is the shrine of a so called land deity, it is unlikely to be merely Grade Two."
Nanami's forehead glistened with sweat.
"It is at least Grade One."
Haibara's face drained of color.
Before they could retreat further, the ground trembled violently.
The temple structure burst upward, earth and debris scattering in every direction.
What emerged dwarfed them completely.
A colossal cursed spirit rose from beneath the ground. The temple sat atop its head like a grotesque crown.
Its presence was overwhelming, clearly a powerful Grade One curse.
Nanami's grip tightened around his blade. "The investigation was incomplete. The true body was underground."
The cursed spirit roared.
The earth responded instantly. Countless jagged spikes erupted from the ground, shooting toward them in dense waves.
There was nowhere to dodge.
For the first time, Nanami felt true helplessness.
Then a voice cut through the chaos.
"Cursed Technique Reversal, Red."
A brilliant crimson sphere tore across the battlefield.
It struck the massive curse directly.
An explosion erupted. A gaping hole blasted through the creature's torso, its body disintegrating into ash and dust.
Silence followed.
Haibara looked up, eyes shining.
"Shion senpai!"
Suspended midair, Gojo Shion lowered his hand slowly, expression calm.
The destroyed curse collapsed, crumbling completely.
Nanami watched in silence.
For someone who acted carefree and irresponsible half the time, Shion's presence in battle was absolute.
Reliable.
Unquestionable.
If you'd like to read advance chapters, they're available on my Patreon.
Enjoy 40% off plus a 7-day free trial before you're charged.
Use code: RAMADANPASS
patreon.com/Zphyr