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

“More than two hundred people,” said Moth Masamichi first.

"Ah."

Do you regret it?

Duanmu Yan: "I have a clear conscience."

Night Moth Path stared at him for several seconds, then pushed his sunglasses up: "The Elders have relented. Kill twenty level one curse spirits, and this matter is over. From today onwards, you are a special-grade."

Before Duanmu Yan could speak, Gotō Sō spoke up first: "Those old guys got off easy."

He stood up from the steps, dusted himself off, and walked over to Duanmu Yan.

The two stared at each other for a second, then Gojo Satoru grinned: "Welcome back."

Xia Youjie walked over, extended his fist, and Duanmu Yan bumped it with his fist.

Moth Masamichi smiled when he saw the parrot, but quickly regained his serious expression.

He turned and walked into the building: "Report to the mission hall tomorrow morning. Twenty level one cursed spirits, don't be picky."

Duanmu Yan nodded, looked at the two people who had their arms around his neck, and said with a smile, "I originally wanted to hunt down cursed spirits."

After chatting for a while, Gojo Satoru pointed behind Duanmu Yan and said, "Then Jie and I won't bother you anymore."

Duanmu Yan turned around and saw Tian Lizi standing next to the torii gate.

She changed into clean clothes and tied her hair back up. Her eyes were a little red, so she probably hadn't slept well for the past few days.

After saying goodbye to Gojo Satoru and Natsumi Yuki, Duanmu Yan walked over and stopped three steps away from her. "Why are you standing here?"

“…I’m waiting for you,” she said.

Duanmu Yan looked down at the hole in his chest, reached out and tugged at the fabric, trying to cover it up. "I should have changed my clothes first."

Riko shook her head: "No need. I just... just wanted to see you."

The two walked slowly along the stone path outside the college. Moss grew in the cracks of the stone slabs, making them soft to walk on. When they reached the bench by the playground, Riko sat down first.

Duanmu Yan sat down beside him. The playground was empty, and the white lines on the track turned gray in the twilight.

"I've made up my mind," Riko suddenly said, and Duanmu Yan turned to look at her.

"I want to be a sorcerer."

Duanmu Yan was taken aback upon hearing this.

Riko stretched out her legs. "These past few days in Kuroi's room, I've been thinking... what could I do while you guys were fighting up front? But there was nothing I could do but wait for you to come back."

"I don't want to taste that again."

She pulled her legs back, hugged her knees to her chest, rested her chin on her knees, and turned her head to look at him.

“You said before that no matter what choice I make, you will do your best to guarantee my future. But the future cannot rely entirely on others to guarantee it. I want to stand at the forefront and stand with you.”

Duanmu Yan looked into Riko's eyes, and after a moment, he said, "Do you know what a sorcerer does?"

Before he could answer, he continued, “It’s very dangerous. More dangerous than all the dangers you can think of right now combined.”

Chapter 83 The Ultimate Showdown

"Sorcerers are very dangerous; they can die at any time."

Riko nodded firmly, "I know. I'll see from you guys these next few days."

"Training is tough, it's not like taking photos or visiting a museum."

"know."

"You might get hurt."

"I know that too, and besides, isn't Sister Shoko able to heal? If you get hurt, just go to her. Isn't that easy?"

Duanmu Yan couldn't help but smile.

This girl has already gotten along well with Shoko so quickly; it seems she's really made up her mind.

Riko saw his smile and became serious: "I didn't do this on a whim. I've thought about it for a very long time and I've made up my mind, so please let me become a sorcerer."

Duanmu Yan looked at her. After a long while, he stood up.

"it is good."

Duanmu Yan put his hands in his pockets. "Start training physical fitness tomorrow. Run ten laps around the track. Begin basic physical training with stance training. As for spell control, we'll have Teacher Ye'e arrange it. Don't complain about being tired."

Riko sprang up from the bench, pouting, "I'm not tired!"

"That's for the best. I won't hold back!"

……

The following day, in Masamichi Nobi's office.

As the soon-to-be principal looked at Duanmu Yan and Tian Lizi standing in front of him, Yae Masamichi reached out and rubbed his temples.

"You mean, the Star Magma wants to become a sorcerer?"

Duanmu Yan nodded: "Yes, Riko said she doesn't want to keep hiding behind us and wants to protect herself and the people she cares about with her own strength."

Riko took half a step forward, clenching her fists in front of her: "That's right! I also want to be like Duanmu and the others, to help more people like me who need help!"

Noctua took off his sunglasses and placed them on the table, then rubbed his eye sockets with his thumb and forefinger.

He rubbed his eyes a few times, then opened them again to look at Duanmu Yan.

He originally thought this student was the one who would give him the least trouble. He didn't talk much, was steady in his work, and wouldn't cause trouble everywhere like Gojo Satoru.

Looking back now, it was all wrong, completely wrong.

He disagreed with assimilation, threatened the elders, destroyed the Panxing Sect, and after making a mess of things, he still managed to get the elders to clean up his mess.

Now that he's even brought back the Starmash Body to be a sorcerer, he put his sunglasses back on and mentally marked Gojo Satoru for this!

It must be that guy who led the way.

“Then let’s begin.” He sighed. “Lord Tianyuan’s evolution has already begun. His Star Magma Body is born with magical power and has great potential. The Ninety-Nine Special Grade is an example.”

He looked at Duanmu Yan and said, "Take her to get her school uniform first, and start with physical training. We can talk about the spell control part later when she has a solid foundation."

"Great! I can stay at the vocational college!"

Riko ran back to her dorm with her school uniform in her arms, then lay on her back on the bed and bounced twice.

She turned over, her hair falling loose and spreading across the pillow, and looked up at Duanmu Yan standing in the doorway.

Kuroi stood at the door. "Miss, how can you be like this? Have you forgotten the manners you were taught at school?"

"Kuroi!" Riko drawled out the last syllable, rolled over onto her stomach on the bed, and dangled her toes along the edge of the bed. "There's no need for that anymore. From now on, I'll be a glorious sorcerer."

dong dong dong.

Are you there today?

Duanmu Yan took two steps away from the door and opened it. Xia Youjie stood in the doorway, holding a paper bag. "Duanmu is here too."

"The teacher has agreed to let Riko stay at the vocational college." Duanmu Yan stepped aside to let him in.

Inside the room, Kuroi's expression suddenly froze. She took two steps forward and grabbed Riko's wrist. "Ah? Miss, you want to become a sorcerer? No, no, that's too dangerous!"

Riko didn't pull her hand away; instead, she covered it with her other hand and gently pressed it against the back of Kuroi's hand.

"Kuroi, I don't want to hold others back anymore."

Xia Youjie placed the paper bag on the table and said, "Ms. Kuroi can stay as well. There are many empty rooms here at the vocational high school. If you help with some logistics, you won't have to be separated from Tian Tian."

Kuroi released Riko's hand, turned around, paused for a moment, then grabbed Natsuyuki's hand and shook it up and down: "Really? That's great, thank you, Mr. Natsuyuki!"

"Cough cough cough." Xia Youjie pulled his hand back and coughed lightly twice. "It's nothing."

"What are you doing here? You're stealing delicious food without telling me?"

The four of them turned their heads at the same time. Gojo Satoru was standing in the corner of the room at some point, with his back against the wall and one leg bent and resting on the wall.

With a wildflower he'd picked from who-knows-where dangling from his mouth, he tilted his head, revealing a pair of squinting eyes.

Riko was the first to react: "Who stole some food! We didn't eat anything!"

Xia Youjie sighed: "When did you come in?"

Gojo Satoru spat out the flower stem, grinning, "Who told you all to come together and not me?"

Gojo Satoru then nodded at Riko: "I heard you're going to stay and become a sorcerer."

"So what if it is?" Riko said, hands on her hips and chin slightly raised.

"Not so great." Gojo Satoru grinned and put the flowers on her table. "Congratulations. Anyway, you've been hanging out with us for quite a while now."

He turned around, pushed his sunglasses down to reveal his eyes, and looked at Duanmu Yan: "I've come to see you today on important business. Let's have a fight."

Then he turned to look at Xia Youjie, "Jie, do you want to come along?"

Duanmu Yan nodded: "That's exactly what I was thinking. I won't stop until I've beaten you down today."

Xia Youjie didn't answer immediately. A hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, and then he shook his head: "I'll pass."

The spell manipulation technique is sufficient in the training ground, but standing next to these two people, it's far from enough.

Riko's voice suddenly broke in: "What's going on with you two? Why do you want to fight as soon as you meet?"

Gojo Satoru glanced at her matter-of-factly: "Because this is our training."

Duanmu Yan stood next to Li Zi and explained, "We're too strong. Daily training is only effective when we spar. Basic training is meaningless to us anymore. Our strongest opponents are each other."

"Let's go, to the back mountain." Gojo Satoru had already walked towards the door, his hands in his pockets, his wooden clogs clattering on the floor. Without turning his head, he added, "I didn't get enough of the training ground."

Duanmu Yan followed him out, and stopped half a step as he passed Xia Youjie. The two bumped fists, the same action they had taken outside the Hongxing Palace yesterday.

Xia Youjie nodded, then said to the two women behind him, "Would you like to go and see a battle between top-tier sorcerers?"

Riko nodded quickly: "Eh? Let me think about it!"

Xia Youjie gave an OK sign, took out his phone from his pocket, opened his contacts, scrolled to Haibara Yu, and tapped the screen a few times with his thumb.

"Come to the back mountain now. Gotiao and Duanmu are going to fight. Bring Nanami along."

After sending the message, he put his phone in his pocket, stood up, and Riko had already jumped off the bed. Kuroi picked up a canvas bag and stuffed two bottles of water into it.