Chapter 74 (Patreon)

It wasn’t a particularly powerful Cursed Spirit.

The only troublesome part was the annoying condition required for it to appear.

Against Ragnar Kagenou, something like that had no chance of resisting. The moment it was caught, its fate was already decided.

Golden ripples spread through the air.

From within them, the Chains of Heaven shot out and wrapped tightly around the Cursed Spirit as it tried to flee.

“No, wait! Don’t—!”

Ragnar paused slightly when he heard its voice.

“…That voice.”

He was not surprised that a Cursed Spirit could speak.

What caught him off guard was the fact that he had heard that voice before.

The pitch-black Cursed Spirit trembled violently. Then, under his gaze, its form gradually shrank and twisted until it transformed into the waiter from the roadside hotel.

Ragnar narrowed his eyes.

“So it was you.”

Standing beside him, Shoko Ieiri looked the Cursed Spirit over with a tired expression.

“This is the thing that’s been following me?”

“Yeah,” Ragnar said. “It was overseas before. Looks like it followed us all the way back.”

Shoko let out a long sigh.

Her face clearly said, I knew this would happen.

Ragnar glanced at her.

“Hey. What’s with that look?”

Shoko folded her arms.

“I’m just thinking that if I want to live a peaceful life, I really shouldn’t get too close to Special Grade freaks like you. Somehow, trouble always comes with the package.”

“You’re making it sound like this is my fault.”

“Isn’t it?”

“How was I supposed to know a Cursed Spirit would start stalking you?”

Shoko did not even bother arguing.

“Whatever. Just exorcise it already. Having that thing around all day is disgusting.”

The Cursed Spirit immediately panicked.

“Wait! Don’t kill me! I can be useful—!”

Ragnar did not listen.

A weak Cursed Spirit trying to bargain after getting caught was not worth his time.

If it had been Special Grade, maybe he would have considered it.

But Grade 1?

Too weak.

The chains tightened.

In the next instant, the Cursed Spirit was crushed and disappeared.

【Grade 1 Cursed Spirit exorcised. Cursed Energy increased by 500 points.】

Cursed Energy: 9520 / 10540

Ding!

“…Hm?”

Ragnar raised an eyebrow.

He lifted his left hand and swiped through the air.

“What’s this? A new notification?”

After entering the system interface, he saw a red dot glowing quietly.

He tapped it.

“This is…”

【Cursed Energy has reached the 10,000 limit. Noble Phantasm unlocked.】

Noble Phantasm: Star of Omniscience and Omnipotence

Rank: EX

Type: Anti-Unit (Self) Noble Phantasm

Description: A permanently active Noble Phantasm that spreads across the earth like starlight, sees through all phenomena, and elevates the user’s spirit.

【Inherent Skills Unlocked】

Inherent Skills:

Golden Rule: A

A destiny blessed with wealth for life, never troubled by money. It governs the originals of all Noble Phantasms stored within the treasure vault. Though it appears unrelated to combat, it greatly strengthens the user’s equipment advantage.

Divinity: A+

The highest level of aptitude for divinity.

Gate of Babylon: EX

The ability to obtain treasures of the highest quality. More than simple luck, it represents the authority to gather all treasures of the world.

Bud of the Wise King: B

A skill that displays the nature of a beautiful and beloved young king. It carries a charm-like effect on both men and women, though it can be resisted with Cursed Energy.

Ragnar stared at the screen for a moment.

“Star of Omniscience and Omnipotence…”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“So now the Noble Phantasms inside the Gate of Babylon can be released by their true names. And I can see through what my opponent is hiding.”

The more Ragnar thought about that Grade 1 Cursed Spirit from earlier, the more pleasant it suddenly seemed.

That thing was not bad at all.

Actually, it had been pretty useful.

“Hey. Ragnar. Are you even listening?”

Shoko stood beside him with her arms crossed, staring at him flatly.

“I’m listening.”

“Then what did I just say?”

Ragnar calmly closed the system screen.

“That we’re heading to Kyoto Jujutsu High together.”

Shoko stared at him for a second.

“…You really only catch the main point, huh?”

“That’s usually enough.”

“Forget it. I don’t have the energy to deal with you.”

She turned around.

“Let’s go.”

“Fine by me. Nothing’s happening at Tokyo Jujutsu High anyway.”

With that, the two of them left for Kyoto.

——————

Satoru Gojo stood in front of Yuta Okkotsu and Rika Orimoto.

Yuta looked up at him.

“Gojo-sensei? Did something happen?”

Gojo nodded lightly.

“Ragnar asked me to train you.”

Yuta blinked.

“Train me?”

“Yep.” Gojo smiled. “He wants you to reach Special Grade within four months.”

Yuta froze.

“…Special Grade? In four months?”

“That’s right.”

Gojo’s tone was casual, but his expression carried rare seriousness.

“I think you can do it.”

Yuta lowered his gaze for a moment, his hands tightening slightly.

Rika leaned closer to him.

“Yuta can do it.”

Her voice was soft, but full of complete trust.

Yuta looked at her.

“Rika…”

Then he turned back to Gojo and nodded.

“I’ll do my best.”

Rika smiled brightly.

“If it’s Yuta, it’ll be okay.”

Gojo watched them and smiled faintly.

Yuta Okkotsu had the talent.

That much was obvious.

For him, reaching Special Grade was only a matter of time.

If things went well, the Tokyo Campus would soon have four Special Grade Sorcerers.

As for Yuki Tsukumo, another Special Grade, she spent so much time wandering overseas that most people almost forgot she existed.

Yuta bowed his head.

“Please take care of me, Gojo-sensei.”

Gojo lowered his blindfold slightly, revealing those clear blue eyes.

“Yeah.”

His smile widened.

“Let’s start by making sure you survive the training.”

Yuta stiffened.

“…Survive?”

Rika tilted her head.

Gojo only laughed.

——————

The Shinkansen raced toward Kyoto.

Inside the train, Ragnar sat beside Shoko, looking somewhat bored as the scenery flashed past the window.

Shoko glanced at him.

“Stop making that face. Riding the Shinkansen once in a while isn’t that bad.”

As she spoke, she reached into her bag and pulled out a can of Ramune.

“Here.”

She handed it to him.

“Want one?”

Ragnar looked at the soda in her hand, then at Shoko.

“…That’s rare.”

Before he could finish, Shoko calmly pulled out a chilled can of beer from the same bag.

She raised an eyebrow.

“What’s rare?”

Ragnar stared at the beer for a second, then smiled faintly.

“Nothing. For a moment, I thought you were actually going to drink soda.”

Shoko gave him a dry look.

“Do I look like someone who chooses soda when beer exists?”

“Not really.”

“Good answer.”

She opened the can.

A soft hiss escaped, followed by a thin layer of white foam.

Shoko took a sip, looking far more satisfied than someone on their way to serious business should have.

“Honestly, if we didn’t have work after this, I would’ve brought something stronger.”

“On the Shinkansen?”

“Don’t judge me.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were thinking it.”

Ragnar shrugged and accepted the Ramune.

He opened it with a soft pop and drank it in one go.

For that kind of soda, the first sip was everything.

If you let it sit too long, the taste fell flat.

Shoko noticed and smirked.

“You drink soda more seriously than most sorcerers fight.”

“It deserves respect.”

“That so?”

She leaned back in her seat, beer in hand.

Ragnar glanced at her.

Seeing that she still looked unsatisfied, he casually reached into a golden ripple and pulled out an ornate golden cup.

“Want red wine?”

Shoko stared at the cup.

Then at him.

Then back at the cup.

“…You really have no sense of normal, do you?”

Ragnar smiled faintly.

“Normal is boring.”

Shoko sighed.

“Yeah. That sounds exactly like something a Special Grade would say.”