Ieiri Residence.
Although Ieiri Inamichi wasn't optimistic about Satoshi's trip to the Tombs of the Star, he still hoped Satoshi could safely complete his audience with Lord Tengen.
Even so, he couldn't help but feel frustrated.
What's wrong with my daughter Shoko? Why did he have to get involved with a Star Plasma Vessel?
That situation is already messy enough. Most people wouldn't want to get anywhere near it, yet Satoshi walked right in.
Now you've done it, huh?
Inamichi firmly believed Tengen would be angry about this. The importance of the Star Plasma Vessel to Tengen was beyond question.
He glanced at Shoko, who looked carefree and indifferent nearby, and sighed internally.
At the very least, just hurry and finish forging Shoko's Zanpakutō.
…
At the foot of Mount Fuji.
Okkotsu Yuto, who was once again heading from his hometown to Tokyo, suddenly sensed a surge of cursed energy.
Turning slightly, he saw a beast-shaped cursed spirit staring fiercely at him. He frowned. This one felt different from the usual weak cursed spirits.
It looked strong. If it made it into the city, it would probably cause a lot of damage.
"I'll purify you here."
Ever since meeting Satoshi and Satoru at the Gojo estate, Yuto had fully stepped into the world of sorcery. Even cursed spirits he would've ignored before, he now took seriously, treating them as a sorcerer should.
Cursed energy surged around his hands. Just from his aura alone, the beast-like cursed spirit began retreating.
But Yuto had already taken action. He wasn't going to let the cursed spirit off. As he swung his blade, a wave of cursed energy shot forth, enough to completely obliterate the creature.
However, just as his cursed energy was about to strike, a second, larger cursed spirit suddenly appeared and blocked the attack, shielding the beast-shaped spirit.
"What the...?"
Yuto froze in surprise.
Then a young boy's voice rang out.
"Hey, uncle, why are you attacking my cursed spirit?"
A boy in a school uniform appeared behind the larger cursed spirit. He placed a hand on each spirit, and they both vanished at his command.
Is this kid a sorcerer too?
Yuto was stunned. Those weren't ordinary shikigami, but more like summoned cursed spirits. And the boy... he looked no older than six.
He had a bun tied up with a fringe falling over the left side of his forehead.
"Little guy, are you a sorcerer? Sorry about that. I thought those cursed spirits were wild, so I tried to exorcise them. I didn't realize they were yours."
"Your technique, is it summoning cursed spirits?"
Hearing the apology, the boy's sour expression softened.
"My technique isn't summoning. It's manipulation."
He offered only that much before clamming up again.
Yuto smiled.
"I see. So what's your name? I'm Okkotsu Yuto. I'm heading to Tokyo and passing by Mount Fuji. You're pretty young. What are you doing around here?"
He wasn't underestimating him. After meeting Satoshi and Satoru, Okkotsu had long since stopped judging sorcerers by age.
A sorcerer's power came mostly from innate talent, and one's cursed technique was their most fundamental weapon. In most cases, the strength of the technique defined the strength of the sorcerer.
The boy hesitated, then responded politely since Yuto had introduced himself.
"My name is Geto Suguru. I'm here at Mount Fuji for personal reasons."
Geto didn't plan to explain his true purpose. He didn't know yet whether Yuto was friend or foe.
After speaking, Geto began walking toward the mountain.
"It's pretty dangerous up there! Even if you're a sorcerer, you shouldn't go up alone. Where are your parents?"
Yuto called after him, concerned.
But Geto ignored him, summoned the beast-like cursed spirit again, climbed onto its back, and shot toward the summit.
Yuto sighed helplessly.
Still, he admired Geto's vigilance. Even so, he was worried. No matter how you looked at it, that child was only five or six years old. Climbing Mount Fuji alone wasn't safe.
And he was curious. What exactly was Geto Suguru after?
The beast cursed spirit was fast, but with Yuto's cursed energy, catching up wasn't difficult.
"Hey, Geto. You heading to the top? What's up there?"
Geto glanced back as Yuto caught up, surprised that he kept pace on foot.
This guy's strong. Way stronger than the cursed spirit from before.
Realizing he couldn't beat Yuto, Geto let his guard down. After all, if Yuto meant him harm, he wouldn't be able to resist anyway.
"Yes. There's something I need at the summit."
Geto replied calmly and urged the cursed spirit to speed up.
The summit?
Mount Fuji was an active volcano. Yuto wasn't concerned for Geto's safety anymore, but for the mountain itself. A child with the ability to control cursed spirits wandering around on a volcano could be a serious problem.
Besides, although it was faint, he sensed another cursed presence near the top.
Could that cursed energy be Geto Suguru's target?
Yuto decided to follow him, both out of concern and curiosity.
Geto glanced behind again and sighed inwardly. Originally, his goal had been to prepare a technique to capture a cursed spirit on the verge of being born.
Now, with Yuto tailing him, the situation was exposed.
Unfortunately, Geto lacked Yuto's perception and didn't realize... another sorcerer was already waiting atop Mount Fuji.
(To be continued.)
***
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