Curse Reply: After choosing Nawa, the cursed spirit cursed me for being cruel.

He spread the family records out on the table, compared the two records, and then put down the book in his hand.

So that's how it is. Heaven and Curse are special constitutions prepared specifically for the Ten Shadows Technique. This constitution is usually born in the two generations before the Ten Shadows Technique Awakener.

People in ancient times married young. When the Ten Shadows Mage awakened his magic at the age of six or seven, there happened to be a man in his thirties or forties in the clan who was at the peak of his physical life, named Tianyu Zhoufu.

One controls the shikigami, and the other breaks the deadlock with absolute physical intervention using zero curse power. This should have been the perfect subjugation duo.

However, the distorted Zen family did not think so. They believed that the constitution of those without magical power, such as those born into the direct line, was the lowest. Even if they were born into the direct line, they would not live to adulthood, and many would be expelled.

Duanmu Yan closed the clan record and put it back in its original place.

No wonder no one has been able to subdue the demon Xu Luo for thousands of years.

The ancestor of the Zen family wrote the secret to passing the test in the family genealogy, but the descendants drove the person who possessed the secret out of the family.

Just as he had expected, the Zen temple was full of dog shit.

After uncovering the truth, he walked towards the door.

……

"I want to become a sorcerer like you, is that alright?"

Duanmu Yan took the phone away from his ear and glanced at the call interface on the screen.

It's been two years, and this is the first time they've called me first.

He had originally planned to go see Hisahito Itadori, but Yuta Otokotsu's phone call disrupted his plans.

He put the phone back to his ear and listened to the boy's voice on the other end. It was lower and more resolute than the one he had heard in the hospital ward two years ago.

In the two years following their separation, Yuta Otsuko and Rika frequently encountered various misfortunes.

From being nearly hit by a falling sign while walking on the street to being inexplicably caught up in an accident scene where a cursed spirit appears.

Fortunately, neither of them suffered any serious injuries, but Rika was frequently hospitalized.

Rika's grandmother repeatedly told Yuta to stay away from her, saying that she would bring misfortune to those around her.

But how could the kind-hearted Yuta abandon his friend? He still went to the hospital to accompany her every day after school, even though he would get injured from time to time.

In fact, not long after Duanmu Yan left, You Tai discovered that he could see many things that ordinary people could not see.

He quickly recognized those as the cursed spirits that Duanmu Yan had mentioned.

But he couldn't make up his mind until recently... When they were standing on the side of the road waiting for the traffic light, a cursed spirit pounced on Rika from behind. Before Yuta could react, the cursed spirit was burned to ashes by a sudden burst of golden light.

He finally made a decision.

“Mr. Duanmu, I also want to have the power to protect those around me, just like you.”

……

The sun was shining brightly in the park, and Duanmu Yan spotted two figures on the bench from afar.

Yi Gu You Tai is much taller than he was two years ago, but his eyes are still as gentle as they were two years ago.

Rika, who was standing next to him, had grown into a beautiful young woman with long hair draped over her shoulders and a glass of juice that she hadn't finished drinking.

Her gaze never left You Tai for more than three seconds, as if she was afraid he would disappear in the blink of an eye.

Unlike the original story where she died young at the age of eleven, under Duanmu Yan's intervention, Rika grew up safely to the age of fourteen.

Duanmu Yan stopped beside the bench, sensed the cursed power within You Tai's body, and then inwardly gasped.

Six enlightenments. Two years ago, I was only at the level of one enlightenment in the hospital. Now, it has increased several times over, growing at a rate of almost two enlightenments per year.

so horrible.

Keep in mind that his current spell power level is only twelve Enlightenment levels. Of course, he can refresh his spell power by switching armor, but that's another matter.

“Yuta, you said you want to become a sorcerer… Are you really sure? It’s a very dangerous job.”

Yi Guyou nodded earnestly. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on his face. His eyes were as clear as they had been two years ago in the hospital ward, but with less timidity and more determination.

"Actually, I've been thinking about this ever since you left."

“What you said to me… about gentleness, about magical power, about using your own strength to protect the people you care about. I’ve thought about it repeatedly for the past two years.”

"There was a time when I was also confused. I didn't know if I really deserved such high praise from you. But later I realized that I was confused because I wasn't strong enough, because I hadn't made up my mind yet... Now I'm no longer confused."

He took a step forward, stood in front of Duanmu Yan, and bowed solemnly.

"To protect the innocent, to safeguard my family, I am willing to become a sorcerer. Please allow me to become your student."

Duanmu Yan looked down at him, at the little boy who once wouldn't even accept an apple from a stranger in the hospital room, now voluntarily requesting to become a sorcerer.

He reached out and placed his hand on the top of Otsukoshi Yuta's head, gently patting it.

"It's really great that you can think like that."

“Mr. Duanmu.” Rika stood up from the bench and bowed to him in return.

"I want to go too. I don't want to be separated from Yuta."

“Rika…” Yuta turned to look at her, opened his mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by her.

“It’s always Yuta who protects me. This time, I want to stand by his side too.”

She looked up, her eyes glistening with tears. "I'll do anything. I won't hold you back, so... please."

Duanmu Yan looked at the couple in front of him, but his thoughts were completely different from theirs.

He was just wondering if they really weren't dating too early.

However, he soon gave up.

After all, this is Japan, so early romance is quite normal.

As for Rika Kimoto's request, it's quite easy, since there are many non-magicians in the Federation.

"You're probably not suited for the position of sorcerer. However, the Federation has another position: assistant supervisor. The duties are to assist sorcerers in completing tasks, including gathering intelligence, setting up barriers in advance, and preparing supplies and medical materials."

"This position doesn't require much magical power, but it does require a lot of patience and attention to detail. I think you're a good fit."

Rika paused for a moment, then turned sharply to look at Yuta. She nodded vigorously, “That’s great, Yuta, we can be together again.”

Duanmu Yan watched this scene and gently shook his head.

Honestly, I've completely messed up the future storyline.

But he won't regret it.

If nothing can be changed, then what is the point of his journey here?

Looking at the two boys and girls laughing at each other in front of him, a strange thought suddenly popped into his mind: I've subdued Etotsu Yuuta.

Chapter 197 Yuta Otokoku's First Time

In July 2015, Yi Guyou successfully entered a vocational college, but he was not a student.

Duanmu Yan was not comfortable entrusting Etogu Yuta to Gojo Satoru, and decided to train him personally for a few months before making a decision.

What's shown in anime is only a part; you can only know for sure after actually spending time with the teacher: Gojo Satoru is a good teacher, but that's not entirely true.

This might be interpreted as the left brain attacking the right brain, but it is indeed true.

He can teach what he's supposed to teach, but whether the students can actually learn it is another matter entirely.

This was even with himself and Teacher Moth pressing down on him from above.

Duanmu Yan was well aware of Wutiao Wudang's biggest flaw: he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless.

He was too good to his students. Even if a student had already become a level two mage, he would still secretly follow them if they were just trying to remove an ordinary level two cursed spirit.

He appeared as soon as the student was at a disadvantage, which did nothing to hone his skills.

Therefore, Duanmu Yan had no choice but to take the lead himself.

Egoku Yuta's talent was extremely high, even beyond his expectations.

If all goes well, after a year of training, he should be able to reach the top level.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

On the training field, after Yigu Youtai finished his last set of slashes with his wooden sword, Duanmu Yan handed him a towel and then sat down opposite him.

"After two months of learning, today is the first day I'll guide you through the practical experience."

Yi Guyou wiped the sweat from his forehead and subconsciously touched the newly acquired knife at his waist.

The scabbard was unremarkable, looking like a cheap item that you could buy for a few hundred yen at a roadside stall. It was something Duanmu Yan had found in the Federation's warehouse and given to him.

"Teacher Duanmu, am I really okay?"

"It's okay, believe in yourself, Youtai." Duanmu Yan patted his shoulder. "You are gentle, but you also need to have a fierce side. Gentleness alone cannot protect those around you. Don't underestimate yourself... The power within you is second only to mine."

Looking into Duanmu Yan's earnest eyes, Yi Gu You Tai took a deep breath and nodded vigorously: "I will do my best."

The two walked side by side toward the school gate.

The black sedan assigned by the Federation to assist in the supervision was already waiting below the torii gate, and Ijichi was standing next to the car checking the mission documents.

Before I even got to the car, a flashy white-haired figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Gojo Satoru leaned against a pillar of the torii gate, his sunglasses perched crookedly on his nose, arms crossed, and in a high-pitched voice, he said, "Yo~~ You've finally decided to bring your precious student out."

Duanmu Yan couldn't be bothered with him.

Gojo Satoru has been holding a grudge against the fact that he was not allowed to teach Etsuku Yuta. He has been bringing it up since the beginning of the month, and every time they meet, he makes sarcastic remarks, just like a child whose toy has been taken away.

He opened the car door and casually asked, "Are you planning to pick up this year's new students?"

Gojo Satoru nodded, dangling his hands in his pockets as he approached: "Yeah. It seems like we'll be able to recruit two this year. That's pretty good, but it's a pity... both of them are boys."

He sighed, his tone regretful, "When will another lovely female student come?"

Duanmu Yan ignored him, opened the car door, and let Yiguyou sit inside.

He then sat down and said to Ekuku Yuta, "You can trust this person, but never trust him."

"Hey! What do you mean by 'can be trusted but not relied upon'! Duanmu, explain yourself clearly!" Wu Tiao Wu's protest came in, but Duanmu Yan ignored it and rolled up the car window.

The black sedan slowly started moving amidst Gojo Satoru's dissatisfied grumbling.

Outside the car window, the torii gate of the high school gradually shrank into a black dot in the rearview mirror.