In the world of Type-Moon, it all begins with becoming Morgan's husband!

"If you don't believe me, you can ask anyone."

"Everyone in this mansion knows the same thing very well—that the most powerful Onmyoji in all of Heian-kyo is right here in this mansion."

Upon hearing this, Watanabe no Tsuna's eyes lit up with surprise.

But soon, he inexplicably became worried again.

The reclusive boy looked at Minamoto no Yorimitsu before him and asked in a low voice:

"Would he teach someone like me the art of slaying demons?"

"It's hard to say."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu pretended to be unaware of the situation.

"Perhaps you should ask your husband yourself."

This was Ian's entire plan.

Both husband and wife are highly skilled in swordsmanship, so there would be no problem for either of them to demonstrate it to Watanabe no Tsuna.

But the key is how to handle his emotions after the performance.

Simply telling Watanabe no Tsuna how skilled he and Minamoto no Yorimitsu were at swordsmanship was not enough to motivate him to take action.

After all, he might not think he's qualified to learn that kind of thing.

Only when Watanabe Tsuna realizes that he has a chance to earn the right to be taught can the two achieve their true goal.

obviously--

If he wanted to do this, it would be much easier for Minamoto no Yorimitsu, who was on a better relationship with him.

Ever since.

The full picture of the plan then became clear.

One man demonstrated his martial prowess, while another offered words of advice.

This is the little "scheming" of the Onmyoji couple.

at the same time--

Watanabe no Tsuna understood the hidden meaning in Minamoto no Yorimitsu's words.

Holding the broken sword blade, he looked at Ian in the courtyard, his eyes gradually becoming conflicted.

Minamoto no Yorimitsu knew perfectly well that all he needed at that moment was a little bit of motivation.

She spoke with a warm smile, as if giving a hint:

"Watanabe, my husband's mood improves a lot when he's wielding a sword."

[A single sentence from Minamoto no Yorimitsu provided Watanabe no Tsuna with a sufficient hint.]

He realized that a once-in-a-lifetime "opportunity" awaited him.

He didn't hesitate any longer.

He walked towards you, carrying half of his sword blade.

You noticed this very quickly.

You know that Minamoto no Yorimitsu succeeded.

"..."

Watanabe Tsuna, who had come to Ian's side, looked cautiously at the formidable man before him.

Although the great Onmyoji understood what the boy was thinking at that moment, he could only pretend that he knew nothing and ask him questions.

Because his and Minamoto no Yorimitsu's goal was to get Watanabe no Tsuna to say that request himself.

"what happened?"

"you're good."

Watanabe Tsuna looked at Ian and the wooden sword in his hand and praised him accordingly.

"It's just a wooden sword, yet it can produce such an effect."

Ian doesn't need anyone's praise.

They don't need praise from someone much younger than themselves.

However, he also knew that this was not the time to show off—the most important thing was to get Watanabe no Tsuna to express his own thoughts.

"Is this the truth, or just flattery?"

"..."

The boy hesitated for a moment before answering:

"It's the truth."

"so--"

Watanabe Tsuna hesitated for a long time before finally speaking:

"Could you teach me this swordsmanship?"

"I want to use it to kill ghosts."

You felt that same heavy feeling you had when you first met him on the streets of Kyoto.

He must be carrying some unbearable burdens from his past.

You've decided to dig it all out.

[And that broken blade is the perfect point of insertion.]

Why do you kill ghosts?

Ian asked the same question to different people.

Upon hearing this, Watanabe no Tsuna instinctively looked at the broken sword blade in his hand—an action almost identical to the last time.

Those red eyes quickly became panicked again.

It seemed that everything was about to repeat itself.

At that moment, Ian snatched the half of the blade from his hand.

"Give it back to me! Give it back to me!"

Watanabe Tsuna, whose blade had been removed, shouted loudly.

This shouting prompted Minamoto no Yorimitsu, who was waiting not far away.

She looked at the broken sword blade in his hand and walked over with a worried expression.

"Husband, what are you..."

"Madam, you should know that one must never have any ulterior motives when learning the art of slaying demons."

Ian gripped the broken blade, looked at Watanabe no Tsuna in front of him, and spoke in an extremely serious tone.

"so--"

"Watanabe, if you really want to learn the art of slaying demons from me..."

"Then it cannot be like the performance it is now."

"Husband, isn't this a bit too much for him..."

Before Minamoto no Yorimitsu could finish speaking, Ian stopped him by reaching out his hand.

"Madam, please do not interfere this time."

"If this problem isn't solved, even if I teach him the art of slaying demons, it will only harm him."

"..."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu did not say anything more.

Because Ian rarely spoke to her in that tone—which proved he really intended to do so.

She chose to believe him.

Watanabe no Tsuna's hands were trembling.

Clearly, Ian's words had struck a chord with him.

"Must I abandon that blade... in order to learn the swordsmanship to slay demons?"

"Correct."

Ian stared directly at Watanabe Tsuna in front of him.

With the dignity of a master, he spoke:

"If you are willing to give it up, I will teach you swordsmanship that can kill all the demons in the world."

"Otherwise, everything will just be a pipe dream."

"..."

Watanabe Tsuna stared at the broken sword blade in Ian's hand, his throat churning as he swallowed something.

After a long while, he slowly spoke:

"I see."

"I will give up this sword... Please, you must teach me the art of slaying demons!"

Watanabe no Tsuna's inner conflict has been resolved.

You shattered half of his sword.

[You and Minamoto no Yorimitsu have finally learned what happened to him.]

Just as you and Minamoto no Yorimitsu suspected—the source of all this is an evil spirit.

Watanabe Tsuna originally had a happy family.

But for some unknown reason, a ghost attacked his village at night.

That broken sword blade was the last relic his father had kept after his fierce battle with a demon.