Chapter 3 – The Good-for-Nothing Who Can't See Curses
"Something's off. Very off."
Yuki Tsukumo circled Zen'in Shinsuke like a hawk, occasionally poking or squeezing his arm as if a closer look might reveal the truth.
Sure, his Heavenly Restriction clearly rejected cursed energy—but this reaction? This was on another level. She was a special grade sorcerer, someone who could change the fate of entire nations. And yet she'd been blown back like a rookie. Careless or not, that only proved how terrifying this power was.
"Alright, enough. You should just give up already."
Pulling his shirt back on, Shinsuke didn't bother explaining further.
"Remember to wire the money to my account. You've got the number."
Yuki puffed her cheeks in frustration. "I know! But do you have to be so greedy all the time?"
"Hey, don't get it twisted. I'm not obsessed with money. I just enjoy the process of earning it. And besides, I only make honest money—hard-earned money. How's that greedy?"
Shinsuke shot back with a quick denial. Truth was, he only worried about money when he was flat broke—like right now. Thanks to some "small recreational gambling" a while back, he didn't even have enough left for a plane ticket home.
Most of the time, though, he preferred to laze around, drift from country to country, or put in just enough "effort" to refine his blood energy.
"You really are impossible…"
Yuki rubbed her forehead, exasperated. Older than her, yet somehow more childish, always spouting nonsense.
"So, what's your plan now? Going to keep freeloading?" She folded her arms, giving him a sharp look.
"Uh…"
"That was the idea, yeah. But if you're willing to spot me some cash right now, I could just go home instead."
His original plan was to find a sugar mommy, make a quick profit, and then head back to Japan. But since Yuki had caught him first… well, why not take the direct route?
"Really? And what brought on this sudden urge to go home?"
Yuki's eyes narrowed with suspicion. She knew full well he'd been away for seven, eight years now. She figured he'd never set foot back there again.
Shinsuke's lips curved into a faint smile, his gaze softening ever so slightly.
"No matter what, I still have an otōto waiting for me there."
Of course, that wasn't all. By now, his little brother probably had two kids of his own. If Shinsuke didn't return soon, he might get roped into babysitting duties. And that was absolutely out of the question—he had zero interest in being anyone's nanny.
"So your eyes aren't completely blinded by money after all. Fine. I'll cover your ticket back home. But…"
She glanced around the apartment.
"…if you're heading back, then this place—"
Yuki Tsukumo blinked, tilting her head and shooting Shinsuke a meaningful look.
She still hadn't found a place to stay, after all.
Shinsuke's mouth twitched. Knew it. This woman never misses a chance to freeload off me.
He grabbed the keys off the table and tossed them at her.
"Here. Take it. But let's be clear—this place isn't mine. If the real owner comes back, that's on you."
The apartment actually belonged to some foreign woman who'd gone on a long business trip. Shinsuke had just been squatting in the meantime.
Yuki flashed him an OK sign. She didn't care—she'd only crash here for a few days before heading off to her next destination anyway. No way the owner would come back during that exact window, right?
Once he'd decided to return home, Shinsuke kept his dinner simple. Naturally, Yuki freeloaded another meal off him before the day was done.
---
The next morning, Shinsuke—rarely—woke up early to catch his flight.
"You're really heading back? Travel safe."
Yuki, still half-asleep in silk pajamas, leaned lazily against the doorway as she saw him off. Despite all the times he'd swindled her, the two were undeniably close friends.
Shinsuke glanced her up and down, muttering offhandedly:
"Good figure."
And with that casual remark, he pushed the door open and left.
Yuki's drowsiness vanished instantly. Straightening her back without thinking, she muttered under her breath:
"At least his eyes aren't blind… shame his brain is."
A hopelessly dense man. Her signals couldn't be more obvious, yet he still didn't get it.
Wouldn't freeloading off me be just as sweet?
If Shinsuke had heard her thoughts, his answer would've been immediate: Sorry, but I only freeload off rich, beautiful, elegant women. All three conditions required. No exceptions.
And while Yuki checked two of those boxes… she was just too poor.
---
The Zen'in Estate.
An elderly man sat cross-legged in a wide, empty chamber, a massive "Zen" character painted on the wall behind him.
Outside, younger members of the clan were being tested—evaluated for their cursed energy and innate techniques.
"Exorcise it," one examiner ordered, holding up a low-grade curse in front of a little girl.
"N-no, I can't… I'm scared…"
The girl recoiled, hiding behind her mother's legs, clinging tightly, eyes wide with fear. She wanted to be brave, but her body refused to obey. In the end, she buried her face in her mother's thigh, trembling.
The adults watching frowned coldly. Still, at least she could see curses—that alone set her above true failures.
Born into the Zen'in bloodline, as long as one possessed cursed energy, the odds of awakening a technique were high. The question was only how strong or weak it would be.
"Don't be afraid, Mai. Mommy's right here."
The woman knelt and soothed her younger daughter, Zen'in Mai.
"That's enough for today," the tester said, dismissing the curse.
"Wait! Maki hasn't been tested yet." The woman hurriedly called out, desperate to secure a chance for her elder daughter.
"Maki? Pfft—hahaha!"
The surrounding men burst out laughing.
"A brat so worthless she can't even see curses thinks she'll awaken a technique?"
"Don't waste our time. Honestly, sister-in-law, just kick her out of the clan already. Without cursed energy, she's dead weight anyway."
The mother's face twisted with helplessness. In a family that worshipped cursed techniques above all else, failing to show talent meant a lifetime of scorn. And without cursed energy… it was practically a crime against heaven.
But her daughter was just a child.
Maki stood at her mother's side, head bowed, small fists clenched tight inside her sleeves, hair shadowing her eyes. No one knew what she was thinking.
"…Oh? So no cursed energy makes someone trash, huh?"
A tall figure suddenly appeared beside the man who'd mocked Maki, one hand dropping heavily on his shoulder. Cold, lifeless eyes bore down on him.
"Y-you… you're back?!"
The man stammered, paralyzed by the familiar face he could never forget, by those dead-fish eyes that carried crushing pressure.
"Zen'in Shinsuke?!"
Gasps rippled through the room. Instantly, the surrounding clansmen braced themselves, slipping into combat stances.
The sight of him brought back memories of the Zen'in Clan's tragedy from eight years ago.