Chapter 9: High-Grade Cursed Spirit
"What the hell is going on?!"
From behind, Mai's irritated voice rang out, still laced with coughing.
"Didn't they say the strongest thing here was only Grade 3? What kind of screw-up is this on the school's end?!"
No one answered her.
Because it was painfully obvious that their most pressing concern right now wasn't holding the intelligence team accountable—
It was how to stay alive under the claws of this terrifyingly massive cursed spirit.
The only "reply" came from the cursed spirit itself.
Almost the instant Mai spoke, the lizard-like monster swung one enormous claw. A slab of concrete—nearly half the size of Ren's body—came crashing toward them.
"New Shadow Style—Simple Domain: Draw!"
Miwa bent her knees and lowered her stance once more. A flash of steel streaked through the air as her blade, infused with cursed energy, cleaved the slab cleanly in two.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!!!
The lizard cursed spirit roared and continued swinging its massive claws. One gigantic chunk of rubble after another hurtled toward them like artillery shells.
Miwa slashed again and again.
Silver light flashed ceaselessly as every boulder that came within range was cut apart midair. The intersecting arcs of her blade painted a dazzling lattice of light across the battlefield.
"So strong…"
Standing directly behind her, Ren couldn't help but voice his admiration.
"I—I blocked them…"
Miwa gasped for breath, sweat beading on her forehead. Fear flickered across her delicate face—yet mixed with it was unmistakable excitement.
She knew perfectly well that the boy she was shielding possessed far greater raw power than she did.
But he was still a complete newcomer, lacking real combat experience.
As a senior—and as someone entrusted with this mission by Utahime-sensei—it was her responsibility to protect him.
And now, successfully intercepting the cursed spirit's attacks and fulfilling that duty—
Miwa finally let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Do you need me to step in?"
Ren asked with genuine concern. He could hear the strain in the girl's breathing and tell she was starting to struggle.
The moment the words left his mouth, Mai bristled.
"Who asked you to butt in and get in the way?!"
"You just stand right there and watch, got it?!"
Do you need me to step in?
The way he said it made it sound as though he were some aloof master who only deigned to act when absolutely necessary—while the two of them were merely underlings clearing out nuisances on his behalf. As if only when they couldn't handle it would it finally be his turn to "make a move."
Mai yanked the revolver from her thigh holster, leveled it at the lizard cursed spirit's head, and fired shot after shot. Her anger vented itself with every pull of the trigger.
This had to be enough.
Even without his help, they would definitely exorcise this thing.
Miwa was holding back its attacks—that alone proved the cursed spirit was still within a range they could contend with. It just looked terrifying. Or maybe—just maybe—their own strength had grown through long, hard training.
Yes. That had to be it.
What grade was this thing anyway? Grade 2? Grade 1?
If she could chalk up an exorcism like this, her own evaluation might finally be raised. And then those Zen'in bastards who looked down on her—and… and her sister—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullet after bullet struck the cursed spirit's head, drawing out shrill, agonized roars.
She was hurting it!
A flash of delight crossed Mai's pale face.
Enraged by the pain, the cursed spirit swung its claws even more wildly. Another barrage of shattered stone—denser than before—rained down like artillery shells.
"Draw!"
Miwa stood her ground, slashing nonstop. Steel flashed as every incoming boulder was intercepted and cut apart midair.
At the same time, her neatly tailored uniform rose and fell rapidly with her labored breathing.
"Are you sure it's okay? Do you want me to—"
"Shut up and watch!" Mai snapped, slamming another set of rounds into the revolver's cylinder and firing again.
"Do exactly what Utahime-sensei told you!"
"It's fine," Miwa added between gasps.
"Simple Domain automatically counters any attack that enters its range. This cursed spirit's attack pattern is completely suppressed by my Simple Domain."
"I'll serve as the shield to neutralize its offense, and with Mai's gun—"
"Is it really fine…?"
Ren frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on the lizard cursed spirit in the distance.
Miwa's defense was solid—there was no denying that.
But Mai's attacks…
From where they stood, obscured by distance and drifting dust, the others might not see it clearly. But Ren's eyesight—twelve times that of a normal sorcerer—caught every detail.
Mai's bullets were having an effect when they struck the cursed spirit's head.
But most of them were only leaving shallow dents in those crimson scales.
"I told you to shut up!"
Ren's calm, almost leisurely tone—so full of doubt it bordered on mockery—nearly made Mai snap.
She suppressed the urge to jam the revolver's muzzle against his forehead and instead unleashed another furious volley at the cursed spirit.
Having his concern rejected again and again, Ren felt a twinge of grievance. But unlike Mai, he didn't flare up in anger.
Because… she wasn't entirely wrong.
Maybe he was being too talkative.
Maybe they truly didn't need his help.
After all, although the situation looked evenly matched on the surface—and although Mai's attacks seemed largely ineffective—
That was only because neither of them had used their innate techniques yet.
From what Ren had learned over the past few days, every jujutsu sorcerer possessed a unique innate technique—engraved into their being from birth, each with strange and extraordinary effects.
Yes.
For a sorcerer, the innate technique was their true foundation.
Just as his Limitless Probability Technique had once allowed him to claw his way back from certain death.
The battle might look deadlocked now, but once Miwa or Mai unleashed their innate technique, the outcome would likely be decided instantly.
So there really was no need for him to intervene.
In fact—compared to stepping in himself—he was far more interested in seeing their techniques.
What kind of wondrous abilities did Miwa and Mai possess?
With that thought, Ren finally closed his mouth. He propped his chin on one hand, watching with keen interest, anticipation lighting his eyes.
His gaze settled on the blue-haired girl at the front.
Miwa continued to draw and slash, blade flashing endlessly.
"I—I'm holding it…"
She panted heavily.
Even as the cursed spirit's attacks grew more intense, she still managed to block them all without mishap. And amid the relentless defense, she could feel it—
Her body was pushing past its limits.
Her movements were becoming faster, more precise, more powerful. The flow of cursed energy was synchronizing more smoothly with her muscles than ever before.
So this is it…
Real combat really is the best teacher!
If she could just keep this up, not only would she complete the mission flawlessly—her strength would undergo a qualitative leap.
She could do it.
She would do it.
Not far away, the lizard cursed spirit suddenly leapt high into the air. Its massive claws whipped up one final storm of stone before it threw its head back and opened its jaws wide.
"Draw!"
Miwa poured every last ounce of strength into her swing, intercepting the chaotic rain of debris.
The cursed spirit hung in midair, its gaping maw glowing with a sinister red light.
A new attack?
No matter.
Simple Domain's automated counterattack would repel anything. Whatever form the attack took, her Draw would surely cut it down—
A torrent of blazing red light erupted from the cursed spirit's mouth.
Scorching heat surged forward. Metal components caught up in the violent wind visibly reddened and glowed, heating in seconds.
"Miwa,"
a serious voice sounded behind her.
"Can your Draw… cut through fire?"
"…Huh?"