Kamo Kenji and the elder Kamo Nobu walked slowly toward Shinichi.
Looking at this young boy, Kenji felt a deep surge of emotion.
Though Shinichi hadn't been treated as a lowly servant—thanks in part to Kenki's awakening of
Blood Manipulation—the clan members who resented him had never once shown him kindness.
As a result, Shinichi had no friends apart from Kamo Kenki. For an ordinary child, this would have
been devastating.
But Shinichi had never seemed bothered. Since his reincarnation into this world, he had devoted
himself entirely to studying cursed energy—so absorbed that he often forgot to eat or sleep.
The flow of cursed energy within clan members, the residual traces left by weak cursed
spirits—everything was laid bare before his eyes.
Shinichi's capacity for learning was exceptional, in this life as in his previous one.
Under the gaze of those purple eyes, the workings of the world became visible and traceable.
As early as one month after Kamo Kenki awakened Blood Manipulation, Shinichi—ever perceptive—had
already deciphered the technique's inner workings through observation alone.
Cursed techniques are unique abilities inscribed upon the brain at birth. Originally, Shinichi had
no expectation of awakening Blood Manipulation himself.
After all, among the entire new generation of the vast Kamo clan, only Kenki had manifested the
technique.
But the moment Shinichi finished analyzing Blood Manipulation, he felt something shift within his
own body.
It was an unmistakable change—like someone with blurred vision suddenly seeing clearly after
corrective surgery.
Armed with his unique eyes and his knowledge of Blood Manipulation from his previous life,
Shinichi achieved mastery of the technique in just three months.
Long-range: Piercing Blood.
Mid-range: Crimson Torrent.
Binding skill: Crimson Binding.
Hardened projectile: Blood Star.
Close combat: Blood Edge.
And the technique he had just demonstrated: Supernova.
Though still a child, it was no exaggeration to say that with sufficient blood supply, Shinichi's
combat ability could reach quasi-Grade 2.
"Shinichi, when did you awaken Blood Manipulation?" Kamo Kenji asked.
"When? About three months ago."
Shinichi's tone was casual.
"Three months ago?" Kamo Nobu was stunned.
"Without any guidance, he reached this level of proficiency in only three months..."
"Boy, awakening Blood Manipulation is certainly a good thing—for you and for the clan."
"However," Nobu's expression sharpened.
"You had better not have stolen the clan's technique scrolls."
Faced with the elder's accusation, Shinichi remained unfazed.
"And if I did? And if I didn't? You'll do whatever you want regardless, won't you?"
The old man grunted. "Cheeky brat. Fine—even if you did steal them, it doesn't matter. Just don't
pass the techniques on to outsiders."
Kamo Nobu said nothing more and walked away.
Hm? Strange old man. According to the usual tropes, shouldn't he be grabbing me by the collar and
shouting, 'I'll never let you get away with this'?
As Shinichi puzzled over this, Kamo Kenji sat down beside him and offered an explanation.
"Those who have awakened Blood Manipulation are permitted to freely access the clan's technique
archives. It's tradition."
Ah. So that's why the old man didn't press the issue.
"Let me ask you something, Shinichi."
"Yes?"
"Can your eyes see something... special?"
Kenji's tone was calm, but his gaze was intent.
"If you mean the flow of cursed energy—then yes."
Since the truth was already out, Shinichi saw no point in hiding it. This was his family, after
all. And the man before him was his father.
"As I suspected."
Kenji murmured to himself.
"Shinichi, you may not know this, but your eyes were inherited from your mother—Maya Kamo."
"My mother?"
"Yes. Though our meeting was arranged by the clan, I came to truly love her after we got to know
each other."
"Arranged by the clan?" Shinichi felt a flicker of anger. A political marriage? Forced
concubinage?
"Your mother possessed a rare gift—the Purple Eyes."
"But she had no cursed technique. Or rather... it's not that she lacked one. It's that her
technique didn't manifest in herself."
Kenji paused, watching Shinichi's expression. Then he continued.
"Her cursed technique—Spirit Awakening—manifests in her direct descendants instead."
In Kenji's mind, a five-year-old shouldn't be able to comprehend such matters—marriages of
convenience, clan politics, the cold calculus of bloodlines.
But he also knew Shinichi was different. The boy never threw tantrums like other children. He
never lashed out in resentment—at least not outwardly.
And after witnessing Shinichi's Blood Manipulation today, Kenji decided it was time to tell him
the truth.
For a long moment, Shinichi said nothing.
Then he rose to his feet and performed a formal clan bow.
"Father. Please allow me to call you that, at least for now."
Kenji was taken aback. In all their previous interactions, Shinichi had only ever addressed him as
"Clan Head." Never "Father."
"...Very well. Do you have questions?"
Shinichi felt a wave of relief. If Kenji had chosen not to answer, there would have been nothing
he could do.
"Then please tell me everything: the conditions, the method, the effects... and the cost of using
this Spirit Awakening technique."
Hearing Shinichi's question, Kamo Kenji looked slightly surprised.
He had expected Shinichi to ask about his mother's appearance, her hobbies, her habits—but not
this.
"I've thought of many questions you might ask. This wasn't one of them."
He paused.
"But I can answer. However, you must not tell anyone else about this—not even Kenki or his mother.
Can you agree to that?"
His tone was serious.
"Yes."
Shinichi was puzzled, but saw no reason to refuse.
"The Spirit Awakening technique is a hereditary ability. It has almost no effect on the caster
herself, but it allows her to pass on her cursed energy and bloodline enhancements to her
offspring."
A useful technique for arranged marriages between powerful families, Shinichi thought.
"The danger is this: once the caster activates the technique, she will die. In exchange, her child
inherits all of her cursed energy."
"Wait—"
Shinichi interrupted hastily.
"You're saying my mother was guaranteed to die if she gave birth to me?"
Kamo Kenji's expression didn't change.
"No. Even without activating the technique, the caster can give birth normally. The child would
simply be born like any other."
Something clicked in Shinichi's mind.
So either this man in front of me pressured my mother into using the technique... or something
forced her hand at the time.
This corrupt family. This chaotic world. This twisted human nature. It all feels so... familiar.
And terrible.
Kamo Kenji opened his mouth to continue, but Shinichi cut him off.
"Don't say any more. Even if I ask, you won't answer."
He took a breath.
"I just want to ask one thing. Did my mother... love me?"
"Yes."
There was no hesitation. Kamo Kenji spoke as if he had been waiting to say it for years.
"That's enough. Thank you, Father."
Shinichi didn't dwell on it further. His emotions had reached their limit. He stood abruptly and
prepared to leave.
"Shinichi!"
Just as he was about to exit the courtyard, Kamo Kenji called out.
"I loved your mother deeply. From now on, calling me 'Father' is enough."
Shinichi didn't look back. He ran to his quarters as fast as his legs could carry him.
In the courtyard belonging to Kamo Kenki, the young heir had just finished his daily Blood
Manipulation training. He had heard about Shinichi's duel earlier that day.
So the moment practice ended, he went looking for his brother.
Kenki had always protected Shinichi—the "younger brother" who had grown up alongside him. Even
before Shinichi awakened his technique, Kenki did everything he could to shield him, though
Shinichi never seemed particularly grateful.
For Kenki, the two most important people in his life were his mother and Shinichi.
He knew Shinichi wasn't his biological brother. But under his mother's guidance, Kenki loved him
as if they shared the same blood.
"Shinichi! I'm back!"
Kenki threw open the courtyard gate excitedly—but found no one there.
Strange. Shinichi is usually waiting for me here around this time.
Though Shinichi rarely showed enthusiasm, he always sat beneath the tree in the courtyard each
evening, waiting for Kenki so they could eat together.
"Excuse me, have you seen where Shinichi went?"
As the next candidate for clan head, Kenki's words carried weight among the household staff.
"Young Master Shinichi ran to his room just now," a servant replied respectfully.
"I see. Carry on."
Kenki hurried to Shinichi's door. Just as he was about to barge in, he heard muffled sobbing from
inside.
His hands clenched into fists. Rage surged through him.
Who dares bully my brother?
Inside the room, Shinichi heard the noise and forced himself to stop crying.
He had lived two lives now, but combined, he was barely twenty years old. What Shinichi lacked
most was the love that most people took for granted.
In his previous life, that family had given him nothing resembling affection.
Now, he had finally felt it—from a mother who died in his second life before he ever knew her.
She used this technique so I could have higher status. Stronger abilities. A better chance at
survival.
After hearing Kamo Kenji's explanation, Shinichi understood why his mother had died.
She hadn't been forced to use the technique. That left only one possibility.
She had been in danger. Grave danger. And without hesitation, she had sacrificed herself for her
unborn child's future.
Whatever had put her in that situation, she hadn't chosen any path that might save her own life.
She had used a fatal technique for a child she would never meet.
The worst outcome for her. But the most hopeful one for me.
Thank you, Mother. Maya Kamo.
Your hope lives on in me. Your will is inherited by me. And your hatred... will be ended by me.
Shinichi made his resolution. But for some reason, tears still came. Then he heard a voice
outside.
"Shinichi? Are you in there?"
Kenki's worried tone.
About thirty seconds later, Shinichi opened the door.
"Good evening, Kenki."
Though Shinichi had tried to compose himself, Kenki immediately noticed the traces of tears.
"Shinichi... if something's wrong, you have to tell me. I'm your big brother."
His expression darkened.
"Was it those bastards? Kamo Kengen and Kamo Ayumu? Don't be sad—I'll teach them a lesson
tomorrow."
"Thank you, Kenki. But it wasn't them. I won the duel today."
Shinichi managed a small smile.
"Anyway, it's dinnertime. Let's go eat. We shouldn't keep Lady Natsuki waiting."
Shinichi had his own views on formality. He knew Natsuki wasn't his biological mother. And he knew
it was Kenki who had insisted—practically begged—for Shinichi to call him "Brother."
Natsuki had never minded. If anything, she felt more protective of Shinichi because of it. She had
always told Kenki to look after him.