Chapter 7: Simple Domain
"Tch."
After figuring out what had been troubling Ren, Mai let out a short scoff.
"That's exactly why you need to stick with us and observe properly."
"You might have brute strength, but when it comes to the jujutsu world, you're basically completely clueless."
Compared to Mai's sharp sarcasm, Miwa's explanation was straightforward and calm.
"That's because the grading system for sorcerers was designed this way from the start."
"Both sorcerers and cursed spirits are ranked from Grade 4 up to Grade 1, with Special Grade above that."
"But their strength isn't measured as a strict one-to-one comparison. Instead, the standard is that a sorcerer of a given grade is guaranteed to be capable of exorcising a cursed spirit of the same grade."
"In other words, a Grade 1 sorcerer can reliably exorcise a Grade 1 cursed spirit, and a Grade 3 sorcerer can reliably exorcise a Grade 3 cursed spirit."
"So," Miwa said reassuringly,
"please don't worry, Kanzaki-kun. This mission is completely within Mai's and my capabilities. You won't be in any danger."
"I see…"
The unease that had just resurfaced in Ren's heart finally settled once more.
It wasn't just because Miwa had assured him the mission was well within their abilities.
More importantly, through this evaluation system, he finally understood something crucial:
As a Grade 2 sorcerer who actually possessed Grade 1–level strength, his true combat power exceeded the target by several entire tiers.
And no matter who you relied on—
Relying on yourself was always the most dependable option.
With that realization, it seemed he could finally rest easy.
As that thought crossed his mind—
A tentacle-covered, octopus-shaped cursed spirit suddenly drifted out from the wall along one side of the corridor.
Ren bent down, picked up a loose chunk of rubble—
And hurled it straight at the cursed spirit.
The chunk of rubble whistled through the air, passed straight through the cursed spirit, and slammed into the corridor wall—blasting a massive crater into it.
Ren brushed the dust from his hands.
Just as he was about to assume the cursed spirit had been easily exorcised, he saw it drift out of the settling dust—completely unharmed. Several boneless, human-hand-like tentacles slowly writhed in the air.
What…?
Ren was certain he had hit it.
His eyesight was twelve times that of an ordinary person—visual range, acuity, dynamic vision, all of it. The cursed spirit had been moving sluggishly. There was no way he had misjudged.
He had clearly struck it—so why—
"Grade 3?"
His brows knit together as every muscle in his body tensed, instantly reentering combat mode.
"Grade 3 my ass," Mai said bluntly.
"You have to use cursed energy."
"…What?"
"You didn't use cursed energy just now, did you?"
"Only attacks infused with cursed energy can harm cursed spirits. Only cursed energy can kill them."
"That's why only jujutsu sorcerers can exorcise cursed spirits in the first place."
"…I see."
Mai was right.
He hadn't used cursed energy.
Partly because he assumed these cursed spirits were so weak that brute force alone would suffice. And partly because he was conserving strength for the real target—the Grade 3 cursed spirit that still hadn't appeared.
Even if it wasn't particularly strong by rank, saving energy for the main enemy never hurt.
"This is the most basic of basics," Mai said with a faint curl of her lips, her confidence returning.
"Which is exactly why you still have a lot to learn, newbie."
"Now try again. Even if it's just a little—infuse cursed energy into your attack. Only then can you exorcise it."
Following her instructions, Ren picked up another stone, injected a trace of cursed energy into it, and hurled it at the octopus-shaped cursed spirit.
This time, the moment the stone passed through—
The cursed spirit shattered instantly, dissolving into black smoke.
"That's it," Mai said decisively.
"Your strength is ridiculous, sure—but in the jujutsu world, you're still a complete beginner."
"Warm-up's over. Class officially starts now."
"From here on out, every cursed spirit except the Grade 3 is yours."
"…What?!"
...
It felt uncomfortably like a workplace scenario where a new employee gets exploited as "training labor" by senior staff.
That said, the subsequent encounters barely taxed Ren at all.
Low-grade cursed spirits—Grade 4 or even lower—were effortlessly dispatched. And before long, they encountered the true objective of this mission.
As they entered a spacious factory hall filled with heavy machinery—
A massive ape-like cursed spirit suddenly dropped from above.
Its entire body was covered in blood-red eyes. Two enormous arms ending in sharp, avian talons slammed against its chest as it threw back its head and roared.
From the moment Ren sensed it, he felt an abnormally dense surge of cursed energy.
This presence was far stronger than anything they had encountered so far—by several levels.
No reminder was necessary.
This was the real target.
"A Grade 3 cursed spirit," Miwa confirmed immediately.
She stepped forward, lowering her stance. One hand rested on the scabbard at her waist, the other gripping the hilt.
With a sharp clang, she declared:
"New Shadow Style: Simple Domain!"
Ren's expression changed.
The instant she spoke, he felt a surge of cursed energy expand outward from her body.
But it wasn't reinforcing her flesh.
Nor was it concentrated into a single point.
Instead, it spread evenly—forming a spherical zone roughly two meters around her.
This method of cursed energy usage was completely unfamiliar to him.
As far as he understood, cursed energy was either used to activate an innate technique or condensed to reinforce the body. Dispersing it into surrounding space like this—what exactly was—
He didn't have time to think.
With another deafening roar, the ape charged forward. Its vicious talons aimed straight at Miwa.
Then—
Slash.
A flash of brilliant steel passed by.
The ape's body split cleanly from its right hip to its left shoulder.
Miwa stood still, sword already sheathed, head lowered.
Ren noticed that throughout the entire exchange—
she hadn't even looked at the cursed spirit.
…How was that possible?
New Shadow Style: Simple Domain—this was clearly a technique. Could it be her innate technique? One that allowed her to strike without even seeing the target?
"No—no, no," Miwa shook her head rapidly after hearing his question.
"This isn't an innate technique. It's just a general cursed energy manipulation skill."
Then her face flushed slightly, and she began to stammer.
"K–Kanzaki-kun… earlier, when you asked me about cursed energy control—this is actually the highest-level technique I can use."
"But it's not something I can just teach to anyone. It's a secret art of my school—New Shadow Style—and it can't be passed down outside the lineage, so—"
"I understand," Ren said immediately.
He truly did.