"Yes. A suitable vessel."
Uraume observed Yukino carefully before speaking in a calm tone.
"She is qualified to serve as a host candidate."
"Haruta Shigemo, take her back. Anyone who tries to stop you—eliminate them."
Haruta Shigemo's eyes lit up with excitement.
He immediately drew a strange long sword whose hilt was shaped like a human hand. Jumping down from the stage, he began walking toward Yukino.
Hearing Uraume's instructions, Mahito tilted his head with interest.
"A vessel? You mean as a vessel for that one?"
Uraume shook her head slightly.
"Not only that. The aura surrounding this girl is unusual. It should prove quite useful."
"I intend to study it carefully."
Mahito's smile widened.
"Then… when you're done, could you let me study her soul?"
"After I finish my research."
With just a few casual sentences, Yukino's fate had already been decided.
Gan'an Shinomiya listened to their conversation before speaking up.
"Lady Uraume, perhaps it would be better not to go too far. The Yukinoshita family still has some value."
Uraume answered coldly.
"I don't need you to remind me. I know my limits."
Her tone carried absolutely no respect for the head of one of the country's largest conglomerates.
Meanwhile, the crowd surrounding the Yukinoshita family quickly stepped away, creating an empty space around them.
Haruta Shigemo walked forward eagerly, his expression full of delight.
"Banquets like this are so boring."
"I was planning to leave early, but now things are finally getting interesting."
He grinned widely.
"Come on. Try to stop me. I'd love the chance to kill a few people."
His gaze shifted toward Haruno, who stood protectively in front of Yukino.
"Oh? There's also a beautiful older sister."
"Trying to protect your little sister?"
"That won't work, you know. You'd better behave yourself."
"Otherwise… you might get hurt."
Haruno swallowed nervously before looking toward Gan'an Shinomiya on the stage.
"Is this how the Shinomiya family treats its guests?"
Gan'an Shinomiya remained silent.
However, the eldest son, Huangguang Shinomiya, looked over and answered instead.
"Haruno Yukinoshita."
"A first-year student at the University of Tokyo. Quite popular among the business heirs in Tokyo."
"Good social skills. Promising talent in business."
He smiled faintly.
"Since you understand these things, you should also understand that the Shinomiya family's decisions are not something you can oppose."
"You should not be questioning us."
"You should be persuading your sister to cooperate."
Before Haruno could respond, Yukino gently pulled her arm and stepped forward.
Her eyes locked onto Haruta Shigemo.
"So you believe victory is already guaranteed?"
"Just because of a few jujutsu sorcerers… and that cursed spirit on the stage?"
Mahito raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Oh my."
"You recognized that I'm a cursed spirit?"
He smiled with interest.
"Little girl, it seems your identity is more complicated than that of a normal young lady."
"Do you perhaps have other jujutsu sorcerers supporting you behind the scenes?"
Mahito's words caused Yukino's parents and Haruno to glance toward her.
At the same time, Haruno suddenly remembered Luo Yu.
Yukino said nothing.
However, the Rune Luo Yu had given her earlier was already clenched tightly in her palm.
Meanwhile, Haruta Shigemo continued walking forward without slowing down.
Seeing him getting closer and closer, Yukino spoke firmly.
"Stop."
"Do not come any closer."
Haruta Shigemo simply laughed and swung the sword in his hand.
"Sorry. I'm following orders."
The moment he stepped within three meters—
Yukino stopped hesitating.
She poured a trace of magic into the Rune and threw it forward.
The golden Rune flew through the air.
Haruta Shigemo froze briefly, confused by the object that carried no cursed energy.
Then—
A brilliant golden light burst forth.
At the same time, a purple pattern spread outward, expanding rapidly and enveloping him.
In the next instant—
An overwhelming gravitational pressure descended.
Haruta Shigemo's footsteps halted instantly.
His expression turned grim.
"What is this—?!"
Before he could react, several azure magic projectiles formed in the air and shot toward him.
Boom!
The attacks never reached their target.
On the stage, Uraume had already raised her hand.
Sharp ice spikes launched forward, intercepting the magic projectiles and neutralizing them.
Although the attack was blocked, the gravitational field surrounding Haruta Shigemo remained intact.
After observing it briefly, Uraume spoke calmly.
"Haruta Shigemo. Endure it yourself."
"Ogami Juzo, I leave it to you."
"Capture the girl."
"As for the other three—eliminate them."
"Hahaha! I've been waiting for this!"
The bald man named Ogami Juzo burst into laughter.
Pulling a massive axe from behind his back, he leapt down from the stage and rushed straight toward Yukino.
At that moment, Yukino stopped hiding her power.
Her pupils narrowed into vertical slits.
She drew the Black Knife and held it firmly in her hand.
"Capturing her alive is enough, right?"
Ogami Juzo shouted while raising his axe high above his head.
"Cutting off something so she stops resisting should be fine too, shouldn't it?"
Just as he swung the axe down toward Yukino—
A figure suddenly appeared in front of her.
With one hand, the newcomer casually caught the descending axe.
Luo Yu glanced at the bald man before glancing toward Haruta Shigemo, who was still trapped in the gravity field.
Then he casually slapped away the bald man's reaching hand.
With a swift kick, he sent him flying backward.
Ogami Juzo crashed directly onto the main stage.
Dusting off his hands, Luo Yu turned toward Yukino, whose tense expression finally began to relax.
He gently patted her head.
"You were scared, weren't you?"
"Leave the rest to me."
Faced with Luo Yu's intimate gesture—and the stunned gazes from everyone around them, including her parents—Yukino's cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment.
"…Did you come alone?"
"Of course not."
Luo Yu smiled.
He glanced briefly at the bald man who was struggling to stand up while clutching his stomach.
Then he looked toward the cursed spirit that had not moved.
At that moment, Yukino noticed something.
Starting from its limbs, the cursed spirit was rapidly being covered in frost.
Within seconds, it had been completely frozen into a massive ice sculpture.
A moment later—
Amid a gentle burst of blue starlight, Ranni appeared beside them.
She glanced at the frozen cursed spirit.
With a casual wave of her hand, the ice sculpture shattered into countless fragments.
Then she walked leisurely to Yukino's side.
After briefly glancing at the curious Haruno, she took out her handheld console, turned it on, and continued playing her game.
The cheerful music from the game sounded utterly out of place in the tense atmosphere of the banquet hall.
Yet no one dared underestimate the mysterious pair who had appeared in such an inexplicable way.
Uraume narrowed her eyes slightly while watching Luo Yu and Ranni.
However, she did not act immediately.
Gan'an Shinomiya's expression also turned serious.
He looked toward Uraume.
"Lady Uraume… what should we do next?"
"No rush."
Uraume replied calmly before turning her gaze toward Ogami Juzo.
"Go free Haruta Shigemo."
"Both of you test their strength."
Gripping his axe tightly, Ogami Juzo nodded and charged forward once more.
He poured cursed energy into the weapon and struck the gravitational barrier trapping Haruta Shigemo.
Bang!
The axe landed heavily against the barrier.
But the field did not break.
Ogami Juzo's eyes widened.
He immediately poured even more cursed energy into the weapon.
With three full-power strikes—
The gravitational field finally shattered.
Freed from the pressure, Haruta Shigemo exhaled heavily.
Then he slowly turned his gaze toward Luo Yu.
His expression darkened.
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