Chapter 31 — The Zen'in Clan's "Olive Branch"
Mai squinted her eyes, tilting her head slightly upward, savoring the gentle hand patting her head. This warmth… it was something she could never feel from her father.
Just then, a middle-aged man strode into the courtyard without the slightest regard for manners.
His gaze swept over Maki and Mai, and a flash of ridicule crossed his eyes. Trash attracts trash—how amusing.
"What are you doing here?"
Zen'in Shinsuke's tone was flat, his expression cold as his eyes locked on the man.
"This is your attitude toward an elder?"
Zen'in Jinichi looked down on him, trying to play the "senior card," hoping to morally pressure him into submission.
"Elder? You?"
Shinsuke sneered. Though they were half-brothers by blood, Jinichi had never once treated him or Toji like family.
The only "interaction" they'd ever had was when Jinichi joined the others in mocking the two of them as children.
If you can't protect your own brothers, fine. But to actually step on them together with outsiders? That kind of "brother"… Shinsuke wouldn't accept even if gifted.
"Hmph. I didn't come here to argue. I came to inform you—starting today, you'll be a member of the Zen'in Clan's Kujuryū Squad. Perform well, and I might even arrange a vice-captain position for you."
Jinichi spoke as if delivering a decree, his voice heavy with the air of command.
"Although you have no cursed energy, your strength is… tolerable. I even went out of my way to plead with the clan head so you'd have this chance. You should be grateful to the Zen'in family."
In his mind, joining the Kujuryū Squad was a glorious honor.
"The Kujuryū Squad? Not even the Hei Unit, huh? Same old Zen'in arrogance."
Shinsuke chuckled.
The Kujuryū were little more than a band of trained guards without techniques, glorified foot soldiers. The Hei were different—an elite unit composed entirely of at least semi–Grade 1 sorcerers.
If they'd offered him a seat in the Hei, maybe he'd think the clan regretted past actions. But offering him a vice-captaincy in the Kujuryū? Knowing his strength, this "gesture" was almost insulting.
"Get lost. You're an eyesore."
"You—! Don't forget, this house you're living in still belongs to the Zen'in Clan!"
Jinichi hadn't expected such blatant rejection.
The clan had never compromised for someone without cursed energy—this was the first time in history. Yet this bastard still wouldn't appreciate it?
"And what of it? Come take it back if you can."
Shinsuke didn't even glance at him.
He'd earned this place with his own hands—why should he give it back? Frankly, the Zen'in should be grateful he hadn't taken the whole clan estate.
"Utterly unreasonable!"
Jinichi's face flushed red with rage as he stormed out. In his heart, he fumed: Even when offered goodwill, this talentless fool refuses. Trash without cursed energy—and brainless on top of it.
"Brother, is he okay?"
Mai tilted her head, puzzled as she watched Jinichi leave with a red face. "Why did his face suddenly turn so red? Was he… shy?"
"He's brain-damaged. Forget him. Next time you see someone like that, stay far away. Stupidity is contagious."
"Got it, Brother! I don't want to turn into an idiot!"
Her quick nod made Shinsuke smile in satisfaction.
With such an obedient little sister, of course he'd protect her.
Then, glancing at Maki—who hadn't even paused her training through the whole exchange—Shinsuke suddenly remembered something.
"Maki. Come here."
"Huff…"
Maki wiped the sweat from her brow, jogging over with a serious expression.
"Master, what is it?"
"Master again? Sis, you forgot—you're not even officially taken in as Brother's disciple yet."
Mai piped up helpfully from the side.
Maki shrugged, unfazed. "Sooner or later makes no difference."
"Ahem. Enough with pointless talk."
Shinsuke cut them off before the bickering went further.
Shinsuke cut the two girls' chatter short.
"Maki, after watching you for a long time, I've decided—you're worth cultivating. Starting today, you'll learn weapon mastery from me."
He couldn't yet teach her qi and blood force. Her body wasn't ready for that. But before reaching that threshold, mastering weapons was essential.
"R–Really?!"
Maki's eyes widened, disbelief flashing across her face. Finally—something real, something powerful she could learn!
"Of course it's real. If you want to be my disciple, mastering every kind of weapon is non-negotiable."
"That's amazing! Then… can I skip school tomorrow and just train with you, Master?"
Excitement made her forget herself—she was even ready to ditch class.
"No. You're still going to school. Or do you plan to live as an illiterate?"
At the very least, she had to know how to read.
"…Fine."
Maki crossed her arms and pouted, lips tight. She really didn't see the point of school. Just a bunch of brats wasting time. Training was much better.
Mai, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief. If her sister skipped school, she'd definitely want to skip too.
---
Meanwhile, back at the Zen'in main estate.
Jinichi, still fuming from his encounter, angrily reported Shinsuke's "insolence" to the elders.
"Just a talentless fool without cursed energy—who gave him the right to act so arrogant?!"
"Heh. Probably killed a few curses with cursed tools and now thinks he's a sorcerer," sneered Zen'in Ogi.
So what if his body was a bit tougher? Any decent sorcerer could surpass that with ease.
Ogi's contempt wasn't reserved just for Shinsuke—he felt the same toward his own daughters. To him, Maki and Mai were the ultimate failures, stains on his lineage. If not for those two disgraces, he was certain the clan head's seat wouldn't have fallen to Naobito.
He knew his daughters were close to Shinsuke, but he couldn't care less. In fact, he secretly hoped Shinsuke would take them away for good. That way, at least one shameful blemish would be erased from his record.
"Calling Brother Shinsuke a fool—you trash think you're qualified?"
Zen'in Naoya finally spoke up, voice dripping with scorn.
"What did you just say?"
Jinichi and Ogi both turned toward him, frowning.
"Am I wrong? If you've got the guts, say it to Shinsuke's face. Call him trash—see if you walk away in one piece."
Naoya's cold sneer cut the air.
He had no intention of giving either of them any face.
Weaklings calling others worthless? That was the real joke.
He could understand mocking Maki and Mai—after all, they were hopeless. But Shinsuke? The man had already made the Zen'in Clan pay dearly for underestimating him. Yet these idiots still hadn't learned their lesson.
If anything, they were the true trash of the family.
"You—!"
"Enough."
Naobito, glass of sake in hand, finally cut in, his voice heavy.
"Less pointless squabbling. If you have time to flap your tongues, use it to get stronger."
"Humph."
Jinichi and Ogi grumbled, but let it drop.
Whatever else could be said of them, their loyalty to the clan was genuine.