"Start!"
Inside the Shinkage-ryu dojo.
After watching a thrilling duel, the disciples were training enthusiastically.
The Great Master of Shinkage-ryu quickly assigned training and sparring tasks to everyone.
For example, the newly inducted disciples.
Having only recently begun learning Shinkage-ryu, they had not yet reached the stage of practical sparring.
However, seeing their excitement and trembling hands, the Great Master decided to let them begin sparring training in advance.
At this moment, as his voice fell, the young boy and girl in the arena began to fight.
Clack, clack.
The bamboo swords in their hands collided repeatedly.
Having just started Shinkage-ryu and not yet accustomed to using Cursed Energy, they mostly relied on brute strength and instinct, swinging wildly.
Only the first few strikes carried a trace of Shinkage-ryu's form.
Especially Kasumi Miwa, who had just picked up a bamboo sword and was completely unfamiliar with combat.
At this moment, whatever technique she had learned vanished.
The trajectory of her bamboo sword gradually strayed from Shinkage-ryu's moves, slowly turning into the so-called Sword of Cowardice.
Thwack.
"Ouch!"
After being struck on the head by her opponent's bamboo sword, Kasumi immediately dropped her weapon and crouched down, clutching her head.
"Are you okay?"
The boy opposite her was clearly startled that she would cry after a single hit, and he became flustered.
"No, I'm fine, boo hoo."
Kasumi covered her head, trying to pretend she was fine.
"Winner, Shouta."
The Great Master first announced the result, then told Kasumi to rest at the side.
"I messed up again."
Kasumi gently rubbed her head to ease the pain, her eyes filled with disappointment.
Seeing this, the Great Master said nothing and instead gave her space to adjust.
He knew this strong and optimistic little girl would soon recover.
Kasumi was a promising talent he had recently discovered.
Although she did not possess an innate Technique, she had some talent for controlling Cursed Energy and wielding a sword.
She was similar to Kusakabe.
Although her talent was not as high as his, with proper training she could become a qualified inheritor of Shinkage-ryu in the future.
He still remembered the first time he met her.
The little girl wore worn, dusty clothes as she worked in her family's yard.
At first, he simply thought she was a lively and energetic child.
It was only later, by chance, that he noticed she would occasionally use Cursed Energy to enhance herself while working.
That was when he realized she had the potential to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
So he stepped into the yard and asked if she was willing to become a disciple of Shinkage-ryu.
Kasumi did not know what Shinkage-ryu was, nor what a Jujutsu Sorcerer was.
But after hearing that Jujutsu Sorcerers were well paid, she agreed.
Still in junior high, she could not work part-time like high school students to help with household expenses.
So she chose the path of a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Thus, a girl who had never held a sword before.
An ordinary girl who feared pain.
Picked up a sword for the sake of her family.
"What are you doing here?"
A pleasant male voice came from behind her.
Kasumi, who had just emerged from her dejection, immediately stood up straight in one swift motion.
"Hello, I'm Useless Miwa, currently resting."
The air fell silent.
Kasumi quickly realized she had blurted out her inner thoughts, and her entire expression froze.
"Pfft."
"Sigh."
"Hahahahaha."
The four people in front of her reacted differently.
Eichi had not expected to witness the famous scene of "Useless Miwa" so early and could not help but laugh.
Ashiya Ayaka covered her forehead helplessly at Kasumi's words in such a setting.
Kusakabe sighed.
Sasaki laughed out loud.
Although Eichi had told him from the beginning that he hoped he would take a blue-haired girl as his disciple, he had not expected her to be this adorable.
"You're quite interesting, little girl. Would you like to become my disciple?"
After laughing for a while, Sasaki crossed his arms and tucked his hands into his sleeves. He leaned forward slightly as he asked.
"Eh?" x3.
It was not just Kasumi.
Kusakabe and Ashiya Ayaka were equally surprised.
"Taking a disciple depends on fate. I find this little girl quite interesting. I like her. If she is willing, she can follow me."
Noticing their confusion, Sasaki smiled and explained.
"However, I can only teach her swordsmanship. As for the matters of a Jujutsu Sorcerer, I will have to trouble you two to guide her."
After speaking, Sasaki gently patted Kasumi's head.
"Of course, no problem. Miwa, why aren't you greeting your teacher?"
Ashiya Ayaka immediately prompted her.
"Yes!"
Snapping out of her shock, Kasumi quickly turned and bowed respectfully to Sasaki, who stood behind her patting her head.
"Greetings, Teacher Sasaki. Please guide me from now on!"
It's decided. From now on, I won't call myself Useless Miwa. I've evolved into Useless but Lucky Miwa.
Looking at the girl performing a perfect bow, Sasaki gently helped her up.
"Very good. For our first meeting, your teacher will give you a gift."
As he spoke, Sasaki reached behind him and, as if performing a trick, drew out a katana.
"This katana is called Dance of Fine Snow. It is a cursed tool capable of summoning Shikigami, and it contains the power of ice and snow. It suits your beautiful blue hair perfectly, so it is yours."
This katana had been crafted by Medea at Eichi's request and then given to Sasaki.
The reason was simple.
Eichi still remembered Kasumi's heartbroken expression during the Exchange Event, along with her original words after her katana, which he was not even sure whether she had bought on loan, was taken by Maki.
The compensation for a Jujutsu Sorcerer is not low. Even a Grade 3 earns more than an average office worker.
Yet this hardworking girl could not even bring herself to buy a cup of milk tea.
When bored, she would wonder what bubble tea tasted like and whether it was really that good.
She was an ordinary girl from a poor background, with average talent but extraordinary diligence.
Not favored by heaven, even her Binding Vow, an attack that risked her future, failed to leave a scratch on Kenjaku.
But at the moment she was targeted by Maximum: Uzumaki, everyone stood in front of her.
Kusakabe, who did not want to face the Special Grade Curse User Suguru, still stood directly before him.
Utahime, whose physical combat skills were decent but whose Technique was unsuitable for battle, and who had chosen to become a teacher and withdraw from the front lines.
Nishimiya, the true fragile mage who usually remained in the sky.
When they desperately shielded Kasumi, everyone realized.
This Sisyphus-like girl.
Her ordinary efforts had meaning.
Just like our own ordinary efforts.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)