CHAPTER-16
Blood dripped down his arm; the purple liquid represented filth and fear.
Hanami glanced at her arm, but instead of rushing to repair it, she stared blankly at the wound.
It was a wound inflicted by a man who possessed no cursed energy whatsoever.
He was special; it seemed he had discovered his own existence from the very beginning.
Hanami did sense the man's subtle gaze, but after testing the man's cursed energy, she realized it was a misjudgment.
The man named Zenin Jinichi had even lower cursed energy than ordinary people, so it was impossible for such a being to see himself.
The order Kenjaku gave him was actually just to monitor Zenin Kiyoshi, so during this time, Hanami did not intend to take action against the two of them.
This time was no different. After learning that Zenin Kiyoshi was about to go out to buy ingredients, Hanami actually just planned to follow behind Zenin Kiyoshi and did not intend to do anything.
However, she took the initiative to attack. The moment she parted ways with Zenin Kiyoshi at the mall entrance, Hanami felt a sharp pain in her arm. By the time she realized what was happening, a deep, bone-revealing wound had already appeared on her left arm.
The man named Zenin Toji turned around and gave him a cold look before walking towards a more secluded corner.
Hanami knew that the other party was telling her to follow.
Although Hanami hadn't even seen how her arm had been injured, she didn't feel much fear towards the man in front of her.
Unlike humans who use reverse cursed techniques, cursed spirits do not have physical bodies, and they only need enough cursed energy to repair their bodies.
So, in less than a breath, she had already healed the wound on her arm and followed Zenin Toji into the semi-abandoned building.
The main entrance to the building was blocked off, but neither of the two people used the main entrance.
After arriving at the building's rooftop, the man didn't say anything and immediately launched an attack on me.
Hanami didn't even know why the other party was attacking her, but she seemed to have tacitly accepted the relationship.
Humans and cursed spirits are simply incompatible beings.
As Hanami had anticipated, the man named Zenin Toji was terrifyingly strong. Despite having almost no cursed energy, he managed to beat her so badly that she didn't even have time to activate her domain.
The opponent's attacks were like a relentless storm. She tried to create distance, but she couldn't keep up with the man's speed at all. However, for some reason, the man didn't choose to kill her.
He simply looked down at me and said calmly:
"I don't know what your purpose is in spying on that kid, but remember, I'm just too lazy to kill you. Go back and tell the people behind you not to do these pointless things. If you overstep any boundaries, I will kill you on the spot."
After saying this, Zenin Toji jumped off the building, landing without making a sound.
Hanami looked at the wound on her arm and told Kenjaku what had happened.
Kenjaku extended her index finger and gently twirled a stray hair behind her ear. Then, as if she had thought of something amusing, she whispered:
"Has the Zenin family remained so foolish after all this time? Oh well, at best he's just an ordinary person with no cursed energy, but his pure physical body... it's truly unexpected that even you, Hanami, are no match for him..."
Hanami did not refute Kenjaku's words. Although she had not activated her domain, Hanami knew that even if she had, she would most likely still be no match for that man. Almost all of her attacks could not lock onto him. He was like an ordinary stone in nature, completely blocking her perception of her cursed energy.
Will this existence, with its absolute hit effect after the domain is activated, really have any effect?
Just as Hanami was pondering these matters, Kenjaku's slightly languid female voice came again:
"Now that they've been discovered, what do you plan to do next, Hanami? Will you continue to monitor them? Or will you go back and rest for a bit? Nothing unusual has happened recently, and Jogo and I can handle the rest."
Hearing Kenjaku's words, Hanami paused slightly, then continued:
"I'll continue to monitor them. The man said that as long as I don't do anything excessive, he won't do anything to me. Just monitoring them shouldn't be a problem."
Hanami's answer slightly surprised Kenjaku. She rested her chin on her hand, glanced at Hanami with a smile in her eyes, and then said lightly:
"You might die! Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Well, it's alright. Compared to death itself, facing natural death is far too lonely."
"Is that so? Then go ahead, just don't die."
After saying that, Kenjaku left directly, leaving Hanami alone on the spot, staring blankly for a while.
On July 10, 2000, the weather was cloudy turning to partly cloudy and then to light rain, with a temperature of 34°C, which was not suitable for outdoor sports.
Nearly a month has passed since Zenin Kiyoshi arrived at Zenin Toji's home. At this moment, he is standing in the courtyard that Zenin Toji has just cleared, his whole body covered in sweat as if he had just been pulled out of the water.
"Keep swinging. If you had kept slashing like that, you would have been dead countless times over."
Zenin Toji's voice came from not far away, carrying a completely different tone from a month ago.
The aura was something even I couldn't quite describe. If I had to, I'd say that the old man Zenin Naobito described it best.
That day, the old man came to deliver some daily necessities and clothes for Zenin Kiyoshi. After seeing the almost completely renovated courtyard, and noticing Zenin Toji's seemingly different expression, the old man suddenly grinned, exhaled a breath of alcohol, and then said:
"You've really become more lively than before."
These words left Zenin Toji somewhat helpless. He wanted to retort, "Was I a dead man before?"
But upon reflection, it seemed that before Zenin Kiyoshi came, his life was indeed no different from that of a dead man.
Living each day in a daze, eating only one meal a day, or five meals a day, sleeping until the afternoon, staying up until the early hours of the morning, not showering or washing hair for days on end, and no one will care or ask.
But now, after being cleansed at the Zenin estate, he feels that his body smells bad, that his routine is disordered, that what he is doing is disturbing his health, and that he is always being controlled in various ways.
How should I put this feeling...?
It's not bad.
CHAPTER-17
It's much better than sleeping alone until the afternoon and watching the sun gradually set on the horizon.
What the old drunkard, Zenin Naobito, said wasn't entirely wrong. Since that brat came to his place, there had indeed been a significant increase in the rare presence of living beings.
Zenin Toji narrowed his eyes, then glanced at Zenin Kiyoshi, whose legs were beginning to tremble, and immediately shouted sternly:
"Keep your legs straight! Don't bend them! You could die in battle if you're even slightly off!"
At first, Zenin Toji was actually in a casual attitude towards Zenin Kiyoshi's training requirements, thinking that he could just go through the motions, since he knew his own body best.
Zenin Toji has a very clear understanding of the source of his current combat power: seven parts effort, three parts luck, and the remaining ninety parts are purely talent.
His combat prowess is strongly related to his almost unreasonable physical strength. Some of his abilities, such as grabbing the air with his bare hands, moving at supersonic speed, and super dynamic vision capture, are all gifts from Heavenly Restriction (Sorcerer Killer).
If I were to say what I've learned over the years, it would probably be the various weapon combat techniques I picked up on a whim when I was a teenager.
He had stolen those things from the ordinary guards of the Zenin family. To say he stole them was a bit of a stretch; he only glanced at them twice before he knew exactly what those guys practiced.
Muscle exertion, body balance, weapon usage...
He could memorize it perfectly with just one glance, and after a few practice sessions, he could even redevelop those guys' things based on his own physical strength.
The physical strength gained from using all of his cursed energy is almost at the pinnacle of this world in terms of talent for pure combat skills.
Zenin Toji, who was well aware of his own situation, did not expect any significant results when he first began teaching Zenin Kiyoshi. At most, he just wanted to improve his fitness so that he could defeat a few thugs without relying on incantations.
Snap On Smile Veneers
यह वीनर्स नकली दांतों से 300 गुना बेहतर है! और कीमत बहुत सस्ती है
However, when he actually started training Zenin Kiyoshi, he was shocked to discover that Zenin Kiyoshi's physical strength was the strongest he had ever seen in all these years, apart from his own!
After having Zenin Kiyoshi use all his strength to arm wrestle with him, Zenin Toji estimated that Zenin Kiyoshi's current physical strength was about 10% of his own. Keep in mind that Zenin Kiyoshi was only about ten years old at the time, and had not even reached puberty yet. When puberty started, his physical strength might even surpass his own!
Thinking of this, Zenin Toji stared at Zenin Kiyoshi for a long time with the same look one would give a monster or a fellow human.
In the days that followed, Zenin Toji went from being lazy at first to secretly buying DVDs explaining martial arts to watch at night. He would also practice the lessons he was going to teach the next day and make various lesson plans and reviews that night.
Even Zenin Toji had no idea why he was doing so many inexplicable things, even though he was someone who hated trouble the most. But perhaps that's just how humans are.
A large portion of the population does not live for themselves as their ultimate purpose.
The underlying logic of these people is as if they need to be relied upon and needed by others. If one day this dependence and need is cut off, they may even begin to doubt their own value in this world.
Zenin Kiyoshi was aware of these things, but he did not intend to change Toji's approach in a drastic way.
When someone who has lived in an emotional desert for a long time happens to find something that quenches their thirst, it is not appropriate to tell them things like restraint and reflection at this time; it would only have the opposite effect.
Not only will it make the other person feel that their efforts were wrong, but it will also hurt their sensitive and fragile heart again.
At this point, all Zenin Kiyoshi needs to do is accept it generously and then reciprocate with the same feelings.
As for the person who truly shaped Toji's personality, it was actually Fushiguro Megumi's biological mother. To Toji now, she was basically like a homeless person who had long lacked love and had found a talking pet.
Although the analogy is somewhat crude, it is indeed true.
The afternoon breeze in summer is still a bit muggy and sticky, the air seems to be scorching hot, and it blows on people's faces, making their eyebrows curl slightly.
"Alright, that's enough training for today. Go take a shower, and we'll pack up and go buy some things for our new home. We'll be moving out in about a week."
Zenin Kiyoshi let out a breath, shook his slightly sore arms, took the mineral water that Zenin Toji handed him, and gulped down a large mouthful.
Zenin Toji frowned slightly at this, and then said:
"After strenuous exercise, don't gulp down water like that. Not only will it not quench your thirst, but it can also harm your body and even cause sudden death."
"Phew~ I know, I'll be more careful next time."
"She's starting to look more and more like an old woman," Zenin Kiyoshi muttered to herself. "This guy has completely lost the cool, dejected uncle vibe he used to have."
"By the way, when you go shopping today, can you buy some flowers or plants?"
"What do you want to do with those things? Do you know how to take care of them? If you don't take care of them after you buy them, you'll have to give me a full refund."
"You bastard, you're really heartless. Don't always think of me as the kind of brat who impulsively buys pets and then leaves them with my parents after the excitement wears off. I'm a very independent person."
Zenin Toji scoffed at Zenin Kiyoshi's words:
"You can say you're independent when you're able to buy me alcohol at the convenience store. What are you buying flowers and plants for?"
"The girl under that tree over there seems to really like flowers, plants, and trees. Sometimes she'll even take the initiative to help take care of the plants in the corner of your yard. It's been a month now, so it wouldn't hurt to give her a little gift."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Zenin Toji's face showed a look of surprise. He looked in the direction of Hanami and said to Zenin Kiyoshi with a strange expression:
"You little brat, you're a real freak. This is the first time I've ever seen a sorcerer buy a gift for a cursed spirit. Has your brain melted in the sun?"
"That cursed spirit is a bit different from the others. Her aura is very pure, so she probably hasn't killed anyone. Maybe she's an anomaly like us."
Upon hearing the word "outsider," Zenin Toji paused slightly, then waved his hand and addressed Zenin Kiyoshi:
"Whatever you want, you crazy brat."
CHAPTER-18
Zenin Kiyoshi and the others did not deliberately avoid talking to Hanami. She was sitting under a tree, gently stroking the hussula (Hagi). Hearing the conversation between the two, Hanami looked up in surprise.
The boy seemed to meet her gaze and walked over with a smile. A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the joyful scent of the plants, as if they were absorbing that abundant life force.
What kind of flowers do you like?
Before Hanami could react, the boy had already walked up to her and then asked her a question in a gentle voice.
She looked at the boy in front of her, and for a moment she didn't know how to answer the question.
Hanami wasn't born for very long. Humans' fear of natural plants may have existed for many years, but after the previous natural spirit died, Hanami was slowly born.
How did the previous one die? Hanami didn't know; she had no memory of it. Perhaps she was killed by a sorcerer, or perhaps she committed suicide. Jogo didn't tell her, and she didn't ask.
No one is very curious about the past and future of cursed spirits, not even the cursed spirits themselves, because their lives consist only of killing and loneliness.
Since she became aware of herself, this was the first time someone had asked her what she wanted. It was a strange feeling, and she felt a little lost, as if something was stuck in her throat.
She wanted to answer as soon as possible, but didn't know what to say.
Hanami has her favorite flowers, but she doesn't know whether she should say so, nor does she understand why this boy is doing this, even though they are from completely opposing groups...
"I... I don't know the specific price in the human world."
After holding back for a long time, Hanami only managed to utter this one sentence. Her voice was very pleasant, like clear mountain spring water, which could bring an indescribable coolness even in the scorching summer.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at Hanami, a faint smile and surprise in his eyes. To be honest, Hanami's answer was indeed beyond his expectations.
He had expected Hanami to name some flowers, or to directly reject his kindness, and he even considered the possibility that she might attack him. But he never imagined that Hanami would consider his wallet.
How to describe the feeling? It's as if my kindness has been reciprocated in kind at this moment.
"Want to go together? If we come across any flowers you like, we can negotiate the price."
As Zenin Kiyoshi spoke, he extended his hand to Hanami. He looked at Hanami, and in the dappled sunlight, her face did not appear frightening, but rather had a faint, natural clarity.
Looking at the boy's outstretched hand, Hanami was momentarily at a loss for what to do. Go pick flowers with a human? This kind of thing could never happen unless it was a dream, right?
But when the other person took her hand, the soft touch seemed to tell her that this was not just her imagination.
"Let's go. I don't recognize any of those flowers. It would be a real shame if they got damaged while we were moving them back, wouldn't it?"
Hanami didn't remember how she was persuaded by the other party. When she came to her senses, she was already sitting on the sofa.
A steaming cup of tea sat before her. A gentle breeze stirred, causing some tea leaves to float in and then drift away, creating ripples on the surface of the cup.
Zenin Toji crossed his legs, tilted his head, looked at the TV series behind Hanami, and glanced at the slightly wobbly sofa before saying:
"So you're actually a female cursed spirit? I really couldn't tell before."
To Zenin Toji's words, Hanami simply lowered her head, watching the ripples on the surface of the teacup, and then slowly said:
"Cursed spirits should not be male or female, but my voice may indeed be more in line with human females."
"It doesn't matter, I was just saying it casually. When you and that kid go to pick out flowers later, remember to choose smaller ones. We're moving soon, and it will be difficult for us to move flowers that are too big."
Hearing Zenin Toji's words, Hanami was stunned for a moment. She hesitated for a second, then said in an incredulous tone:
"You really want me, a cursed spirit, to go shopping with you? But... I'm an anomaly."
As Hanami finished speaking, her voice involuntarily became softer, as if she were talking about something that made her feel somewhat ashamed.
To this, Zenin Toji simply picked his ear with his little finger, blew away the almost non-existent earwax, and lazily said:
"No one cares about that kind of thing. None of the three people here, including you, are normal. Since he said he'd take you with him, don't overthink it. Just go with him and don't get any funny ideas. The rest is up to you."
After saying that, Zenin Toji stood up and began rummaging through drawers and cabinets looking for his wallet.
Hanami remained seated on the sofa, listening to Zenin Toji's words. She pursed her seemingly non-existent lips, then picked up the tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp.
It has a slightly bitter taste at first, but if you savor it carefully, it has a lingering sweetness.
Zenin Toji suddenly turned around and glanced at Hanami, then said:
"I heard from the little ghost that you seem to be a naturally formed cursed spirit. So, is the tea the same as the corpse-soaking water used by your kind?"
Hearing this question, Hanami was unusually silent, and Zenin Toji seemed to realize the inappropriateness of his question, pausing slightly as well. But just as his toes were about to dig into the ground, Hanami suddenly spoke up to explain:
"It shouldn't be considered corpse-soaking water; it's more like bath water."
"puff!"
Hanami spoke those words in an extremely serious tone, which inexplicably tickled Zenin Toji's funny bone. He glanced at Hanami and then said:
"I'm entrusting the care of the plants and trees in the house to you. If it rains, you can come in to take shelter from the rain. Just remember to dry yourself off and don't bring any moisture into the house."
Zenin Toji has become increasingly verbose, a fact he himself is unaware of.
Zenin Kiyoshi also emerged from the bathroom at that moment. Drying his slightly damp hair, he glanced at Zenin Toji, who was rummaging through drawers and cupboards. With just one look, he guessed what Zenin Toji was looking for and immediately spoke:
"I've put it in the second shelf of the shoe cabinet for you. Just remember to do that later."
"Mind your own business, you brat! If you hadn't let it in, I would have found it already!"
"Where to look? Inside the washing machine, which you've piled up a basket of dirty clothes?"
Looking at the two arguing in front of her, Hanami suddenly felt an indescribable feeling welling up from the bottom of her heart.
Chapter-19
Shibuya, 234 meters to the left of the exit of subway line 2, Beika Street, Kyoko Flower Shop.
"Does this guest like bellflowers? You have excellent taste! Bellflowers are most beautiful in July, and they also symbolize eternity. If there's something wonderful worth commemorating, then bellflowers are undoubtedly the best choice."
Listening to the shop assistant's introduction, Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the pale purple star-shaped petals. In the gentle breeze, the petals did look very beautiful.
A faint fragrance filled the air, and the fragrance became stronger as the time spent in the flower garden grew longer.
Strangely enough, the cursed spirit, which symbolizes misfortune and disaster, can bring about such a wonderful chemical reaction in a flower shop that represents vitality and beauty.
Hanami was squatting on the ground, stroking the gently swaying petals, her voice light and soft:
"Let's go with the bellflower, I really like it."
As Hanami spoke, she kept glancing at the price tag under the flowerpot. When she saw the price of only 3,000 yen, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, thankfully it wasn't too expensive.
After the two bought the flowerpots, Zenin Kiyoshi said to Hanami:
"After we finish buying the rest of the things, could you please watch over them for me, Sister Hanami? I'm going to meet a friend. If Uncle Zenin Toji comes over, please let him know as well."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's overly intimate address, Hanami's face, which was somewhat obscured, flushed slightly. She seemed a little flustered by Zenin Kiyoshi's address and didn't know how to respond, only managing a soft reply in a voice barely above a whisper:
"Um..."
Zenin Kiyoshi, hearing Hanami's tone, naturally knew what the other was thinking, but he said nothing, only giving a bright smile before saying:
"I'll head over there now, Miss Flower, remember to keep an eye on those things~"
Watching Zenin Kiyoshi's departing figure, Hanami felt an indescribable emotion. For the first time, she experienced a feeling different from that of anyone else in the world towards the human boy before her.
The Dagon was her family, but she couldn't feel much closeness to it. Perhaps it was because the Dagon was still grieving the death of the previous spirit of nature? Or perhaps it was because she couldn't yet understand the Dagon's hatred for humanity?
In front of the Dagon, at least for now, Hanami felt an indelible sense of distance. She knew that the Dagon was the only person in the world who would never hurt her, but not hurting her did not mean that they were close at heart.
As for Kenjaku, she is a very nice person who likes to grow flowers, but she is also a very cruel person. Hanami once watched her kill one human after another and use those people as her vessels. She also saw Jogo burn down the entire village with Kenjaku.
There was a very kind child in that village, whom Hanami had seen before. That child did her best to take care of a flower field that she loved very much, and she was always careful not to trample on the roadside weeds.
Yet this very child, right before his eyes, was burned by the Dagon and the rope, reduced to a state like a withered tree.
At that time, Hanami didn't know the specific feeling of pain and sorrow, but she knew that after seeing the girl's body, she had an indescribable resistance to the actions of Jogo and Kenjaku.
Kenjaku seemed to have sensed her emotions at the time, but she didn't say anything. She just let the Dagon take her to see more of the ugly side of humans.
But the Dagon didn't choose to take me there; instead, it said calmly:
"There's no need to take her there specifically. She can see the ugliness of humanity anywhere in the world. It just takes time; she'll understand the ugly nature of humanity."
Kenjaku seemed to agree with the Dagon's statement, and she didn't press the matter further. Instead, she smiled and remained silent.
However, after that incident, Kenjaku mostly assigned himself tasks of setting up barriers in the deep mountains, seemingly wanting to calm himself down and find some peace.
Zenin Kiyoshi's supervisory duties were the first tasks involving humans, aside from those that stabilized the barriers.
Perhaps at this moment, Kenjaku could never have imagined that instead of letting Hanami see the filth and ugliness of the Zenin family, she would instead witness a beautiful scene of humanity.
Thinking of the flowers and plants in the florist who expressed joy and happiness to her, and looking at the lisianthus in her arms whose petals were constantly swaying, Hanami felt a little confused for a moment. Are all humans really so ugly and sinful?
But that's not what the flowers here told her.
Even Zenin Kiyoshi did not tell her that.
She looked at the large pile of food at her feet, somewhat bewildered.
Meanwhile, Zenin Kiyoshi was walking towards the place he had previously agreed upon with Geto Suguru.
He wasn't in a hurry to increase Hanami's favorability, since they were not the same species, and it would be quite difficult to gain 20% of her favorability in a short period of time.
However, judging from today's progress, it's highly likely that I'll be able to increase Hanami's favorability within this week.
To be honest, if the cursed spirit that came was not Hanami but Jogo, then if I and Zenin Toji were capable enough, we would have killed Jogo here.
Compared to a newly born cursed spirit like Hanami, who has never killed anyone and is in a state of near purity, Zenin Kiyoshi would never allow a creature like Jogo, who indiscriminately kills humans, to live.
However, before killing him, it would be best to obtain Geto Suguru's Cursed Spirit Manipulation Technique, turn him into a Poké Ball, and swallow him first.
The four major calamity-level special-grade cursed spirits are quite tempting to me.
The reason why it can be determined that Hanami has not killed anyone is due to the special ability brought by the 10% Six Eyes. It is unknown whether it is because his physique is different or whether the Six Eyes himself has this ability to distinguish between good and evil souls.
Within Zenin Kiyoshi's field of vision, he could clearly see the aura emanating from those humans or cursed spirits.
The aura emanating from Hanami was even purer than that of some humans, completely unlike the aura of someone who had killed many people.
While pondering how to increase Hanami's favorability, she bought a can of iced cola to give to Geto Suguru as a gift later.
When they first met, Zenin Kiyoshi had already observed and noticed the condition of Geto Suguru's clothes.
It was washed very clean, but there were patches on it, and it had that strange smell that comes with being air-dried. Its face was pale, and its hair was yellow and split, clearly indicating malnutrition.
Chapter-20
"So? You came to Tokyo alone?"
Geto Suguru looked at the new can of Coke in his hand, then glanced at Zenin Kiyoshi in front of him, nodded, and said with a smile:
"Yes, my parents live in the countryside, but they love me very much. They said they don't want me to stay in a small place like them for the rest of my life. They want me to see the sun outside."
When Geto Suguru said these words, he subconsciously covered the patch on his pants with his hand. It wasn't that he felt ashamed of the pants, but that he was worried that Zenin Kiyoshi would not want to be friends with him because of this.
This isn't the first time something like this has happened in Tokyo. People living in this concrete jungle always seem to possess something different from those who grow out of the mud.
They wouldn't discuss those things in front of Geto Suguru. The students all had high levels of upbringing, but that invisible barrier was what made them feel most powerless.
However, Geto Suguru didn't really care about what those people thought. He knew that he and they were not on the same path, but Zenin Kiyoshi was different. He was a genuine person who was walking on the same path as him.
This path is destined to be lonely and difficult, but Geto Suguru knows that he must continue on it, even if he is the only one left.
Because his parents had taught him that the emergence of a strong person must be for the purpose of protecting something, and the stronger a person is, the more things they need to protect.
Geto Suguru firmly believes in this statement and is prepared to fight for it.
But if there were more like-minded people on this lonely road, it would surely be much easier to walk.
Therefore, Geto Suguru did not want Zenin Kiyoshi to see the patches on his clothes; he hoped to make a friend.
However, after searching through his entire wardrobe, this was the only garment that was clean and tidy.
Zenin Kiyoshi naturally noticed Geto Suguru's little tricks. He had a basic understanding of the prices in this world. Given Geto Suguru's family situation, sending him to study in Tokyo would probably be an extremely heavy burden just for tuition and living expenses.
Public schools are out of the question; you can't get in without a house in the school district. So, the only option for Geto Suguru is the even more expensive private school. In those schools, all sorts of fees keep popping up, not to mention commuting and various extracurricular activities. His parents must have already exhausted all their resources to send him here.
It was precisely because of this that Geto Suguru's standard of living was bound to be not very good. When Zenin Kiyoshi first saw Geto Suguru, he already had some guesses about this.
Geto Suguru's current actions merely confirm Zenin Kiyoshi's speculation.
But he didn't care about these things at all.
Before he transmigrated, he was just an ordinary employee earning a few thousand yuan a month. For most people in this world, surviving was something that required them to do everything in their power.
No one has the right to laugh at someone who strives to live with their own hands.
He took the Pocari Sweat from Geto Suguru, smiled, and said:
Snap On Smile Veneers
यह वीनर्स नकली दांतों से 300 गुना बेहतर है! और कीमत बहुत सस्ती है
"I'm moving next week. It's nearby, in that building, you see it? The fifth floor of that building."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Geto Suguru's face lit up with a delighted smile. He looked at the building and subconsciously said:
"My home is also nearby, so does that mean we can...?"
Halfway through his sentence, Geto Suguru suddenly stopped talking as if he had remembered something, bringing the conversation to an abrupt end.
His lips trembled slightly, the light in his eyes dimmed rapidly, and the sound that was about to burst out of his throat was forcibly suppressed.
Should we invite them to such a cramped basement?
Should we ask the other person to go and smell the musty floor together?
Should you let the other person feel the furniture together, which seems to have never been dry?
Not good.
He forcibly suppressed the emotions surging in his heart. At this time, Geto Suguru was only 12 years old, an age when he did not even fully understand joy, anger, sorrow and happiness, but he was already used to suppressing all kinds of emotions in his heart.
Looking at Geto Suguru, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated, Zenin Kiyoshi, combining this with Geto Suguru's personality in the original work, roughly understood what Geto Suguru's concerns were.
Zenin Kiyoshi has always had a very positive opinion of Geto Suguru.
Geto Suguru is a very patient person, but often such people do not end up with a good ending.
Because patience will make most people who don't love you, and even those who do, ignore your emotions.
But should we change things now?
There's no rush. Material changes can be made overnight, but emotional desolation cannot be repaired in a short time.
Zenin Kiyoshi did not choose to let the topic end. As a person from the Xia Kingdom in his previous life, he disliked the overly euphemistic way of speaking in Japan.
No matter where you are, a straight shot is always a sure-fire weapon.
No matter where you are, don't let the conversation fall to the ground.
So, Zenin Kiyoshi patted Geto Suguru on the shoulder, smiled, and said:
"Then we can visit each other's homes from now on. But I don't live alone. There's also a decadent middle-aged man and a very gentle curse spirit sister."
Hearing the first half of the sentence, Geto Suguru felt a surge of joy, because Zenin Kiyoshi had spoken the words he couldn't say himself, and his directness was very comforting.
Geto Suguru felt nervous when he heard the middle part of the sentence. There was an adult in Zenin Kiyoshi's family. Children don't care about money, but adults might. What if Zenin Kiyoshi's "parents" saw him and told Zenin Kiyoshi to keep his distance?
But when he heard the second half of the sentence, Geto Suguru was completely confused. He didn't understand what "gentle curse spirit sister" meant.
Do cursed spirits have self-awareness? Do cursed spirits have personalities? Do cursed spirits have genders?!
Wait a minute! Can cursed spirits really live with people?!
Seeing Geto Suguru's ever-changing expression, Zenin Kiyoshi couldn't help but chuckle. He knew that these things would be quite shocking to Geto Suguru, who hadn't yet fully entered the world of sorcery. No, perhaps even people from the world of sorcery would be utterly astonished by this scene.
However, it doesn't matter anymore. Since I've come into this world, I should try to change some things while ensuring my own survival.
While it may be satisfying to read about the lives of selfish and self-serving protagonists in novels, the true joy in people's hearts ultimately lies in a protagonist who can maintain goodness even in the darkness.
Chapter-21
In the alley, Geto Suguru seemed shocked by what Zenin Kiyoshi had said. He looked at the other man and stammered:
"Um, can cursed spirits coexist peacefully with humans? Aren't they all monsters without their own thoughts?"
As Geto Suguru said these words, Zenin Kiyoshi, through her own female eyes, detected a somewhat familiar aura.
That was the scent of Hanami.
When Geto Suguru finished speaking, his aura became slightly unstable. Zenin Kiyoshi immediately knew that his answer would likely determine how much favor Hanami would have towards the human camp in the future.
After spending these few hours together, the Zenin Kiyoshi was able to confirm one thing early in the morning.
That is, at this time, Hanami is no longer the tree spirit that has been successfully brainwashed by Jogo and others in the original work. At this time, Hanami is in a state of understanding the world with her own subjective cognition.
Snap On Smile Veneers
यह वीनर्स नकली दांतों से 300 गुना बेहतर है! और कीमत बहुत सस्ती है
If Hanami was sent by Kenjaku to monitor him, then it is highly likely that Kenjaku's purpose was to expose Hanami to the sordid and disgusting things at the Zenin family, thereby further worsening Hanami's impression of humanity. Then, through more than ten years of continuous brainwashing, he would ensure that Hanami would remain on the opposite side of humanity.
In fact, there was nothing wrong with Kenjaku's idea. After all, if you wanted to find a place full of filth in the entire world of sorcery, then the Zenin family was undoubtedly one of the best choices. Making Hanami develop malice towards humanity there was a very smart choice.
Unfortunately, Zenin Kiyoshi arrived at the Zenin Kiyoshi residence at that very moment. Kenjaku never expected that he, who knew the subsequent plot, would thwart his scheme ahead of time.
He never expected that he would target Hanami's values beforehand, since a normal sorcerer in this world would never take any action other than killing the cursed spirit in front of them.
Sensing the slightly trembling breath of Hanami behind him, Zenin Kiyoshi knew that if the previous steps were a slow simmer, then now it was time to reduce the sauce over high heat!
He had to plant a seed in Hanami's heart, a seed that would make her stand firmly on his side in the future.
Sukuna and Gojo Satoru represent a significant gap in combat power. Zenin Kiyoshi doesn't know if he'll be able to grow to that level in the future, so before the story begins, he needs to accumulate as much power as possible so that he can do what he wants at that time.
"Most cursed spirits do not have their own intelligence. They are formed from simple obsessions or negative energy. We naturally do not need to communicate with those things. However, nothing in this world is absolute. If we encounter cursed spirits that we can communicate with, or those cursed spirits that do not have complete malice towards humans, why can't we choose to communicate with them?"
Race has never been a reason for us to kill each other; it's our goals and interests that matter. Our spirit sister is a very gentle spirit who takes care of flowers and plants. A spirit who loves to care for flowers, plants, and trees—isn't that gentle?
Listening to Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Geto Suguru still felt a little strange, but out of trust in Zenin Kiyoshi, he subconsciously nodded and began to think along the lines of Zenin Kiyoshi's words.
Zenin Kiyoshi didn't linger any longer. He had been talking with Geto Suguru for about fifteen minutes and it was time to go back.
It's not that we're in a rush, but rather it's a marketing tactic to create scarcity.
Children's emotions are different from adults'.
Adults are troubled by various things, making it difficult for them to focus on one thing for the rest of their lives. Therefore, the best approach for adults is to have a long conversation to completely resolve their inner conflicts.
Otherwise, it will be very difficult to get another adult to have a heart-to-heart talk about life later.
Most of them are busy with work and don't have time, and secondly, their thinking is always divergent and changing, making it difficult for them to find that feeling again.
Children are different; they can really dedicate all their energy to something they're really looking forward to in the near future.
The reward after this exam, the big meal we're going to have next weekend, the computer game time Mom promised me this weekend...
These things, which seem insignificant to adults, become the spiritual support for children during that period.
At this moment, Zenin Kiyoshi wanted to give Geto Suguru something to look forward to in the future, which was the family visit next Saturday.
The harder something is to obtain, the longer you wait for it, the more you will cherish it once you get it.
Although using such methods on a child seems despicable, there's no other way. Zenin Kiyoshi needs to become stronger, and he absolutely needs to achieve a 100% enhancement of Geto Suguru's Cursed Spirit Manipulation Technique.
Only in this way can he continue to complete his subsequent plans.
After all, he had no intention of using the favorability system to gain favor with those disgusting bastards.
The abilities of several top-tier curses, the abilities of a born True Person, especially the True Person's [Transformation of Non-Action], are the core of his various subsequent plans. He needs to obtain Geto Suguru's Cursed Spirit Manipulation Technique before the plot begins!
Geto Suguru didn't notice the thoughtful look that flashed in Zenin Kiyoshi's eyes. He simply scratched his head, nodded, and said:
"Perhaps you're right. There's never been a rule that only one of the cursed spirits and humans could survive..."
Zenin Kiyoshi smiled but didn't respond. Instead, he took out a small notebook from his pocket and said:
"You must have only recently entered the world of sorcery. This contains some commonly used knowledge from the world of sorcery, which I compiled in my spare time. If you have time, take a look at it next time."
By the way, I'm moving this Saturday. If you're free, you can come over and help me out, and then come to my place for a visit. I think we could become pretty good friends.
The best way to deal with introverted people is to make a request. Introverted people who are good at suppressing their feelings will neither make a request nor refuse a request from others.
Their conflicted personalities, much like their lives, often leave them with regrets.
"I...I'll come. Will I wait for you here?"
"No, go to the apartment building over there. I'll take you there with me. By the way, if you don't like the cursed spirit orb, next time you can try pinching your nose, holding your breath, and swallowing it, and then eating some chili peppers. I heard that's a way for some people who like weird food to get rid of strange tastes."
After saying that, Zenin Kiyoshi waved goodbye to Geto Suguru.
Geto Suguru and Hanami remained where they were.
A clear, crisp sound echoed in his mind, causing Zenin Kiyoshi's lips to curl into a slight smile.