Curse Returns: Eight Extraordinary Skills? I lack nothing.

The ground was paved with pebbles, a few stones were scattered about, the pine trees were neatly trimmed, and the air smelled of wood and moss. A female general came out to greet them, dressed in a plain-colored kimono, and bowed to the two men. Yuuto followed behind her, through the corridor, and into a separate guest room. The guest room overlooked a stream, the water babbling gently, and outside the window was a small bamboo grove, the bamboo leaves rustling in the wind.

Yuuto pushed open the window, and fresh air rushed in, mixed with the scent of bamboo leaves and earth. Tsukumo stood by the window, arms crossed, gazing at the bamboo forest outside.

"Yuuto."

"Ah."

"Are you... on a date?"

Yu Ren didn't deny it. He turned to look at her. Her long, golden hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, and the lines of her profile were both gentle and defined. She was taller than him, nearly 1.8 meters, a rare height for a woman. She had a slender, tall figure with smooth shoulders, and her collarbone was visible beneath the neckline of her cardigan.

"I guess so," Yuuto said.

Ninety-Nine turned around, leaned against the windowsill, crossed her arms, and looked at him. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, not in a smile, but in a way that said, "Are you kidding me?"

"Yuto, don't you already have Sora and Miwa Kasumi?"

"Ah."

"So what you're doing is..." Ninety-Nine tilted her head, "...wanting to start a harem?"

“No.” Yuuto walked up to her. “I just wanted to ask you out.”

Ninety-Nine looked at him, silent for a moment. Her gaze was calm, without resentment or disgust, simply focused intently on him. It was as if she were confirming something, or perhaps hesitating about something.

Yuuto didn't urge him, but just stood there and waited.

Yuki Tsukumo is a man who always does things as he pleases.

"Yu Ren." Jiujiu said.

"Ah."

Do you want to sleep with me?

Yuuto paused for a moment.

He looked at Jiujiu, and Jiujiu looked back at him, a half-smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were serious.

She didn't avoid the question, nor did she blush; she just stared straight at him, waiting for his answer.

"I want to," Yuuto said.

Ninety-Nine nodded, turned around, and looked at the bamboo forest outside the window. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her voice not loud, but very clear.

"I used to think you were a scumbag. You had so many women around you, and you were always flirting with other women."

Yuuto didn't reply.

“That Gojo Satoru guy used to make fun of you all the time. Every time I satirized you in meetings, it wasn’t because I hated you, but because I felt you shouldn’t do that. You’re strong, stronger than anyone I’ve ever met. You shouldn’t waste your time on these things.”

Yuuto looked at her.

“But after my trip to Europe, I changed my mind.” Tsukumo turned around and looked at Yuuto. “You saved me. Not for any benefit, not for any exchange, you just saved me. I owe you my life.”

She paused, lowered her head, and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Sunlight shone on her face, casting shadows of her eyelashes on her cheekbones, highlighting the clear yet gentle lines of her nose.

“So, if you really want to…” Tsukumo looked up at Yuuto, “I won’t refuse.”

Yuuto remained silent for a moment.

"It's not because you owe me."

Ninety-nine was stunned for a moment.

“It’s not because you owe me,” Yuuto repeated, “it’s because you want to too.”

Ninety-Nine stared at Yuuto for a long time. Yuuto's gaze was calm, without coercion or probing, he simply looked at her.

"Maybe," Jiujiu finally spoke, her voice very soft. "Who knows?"

The female attendant brought lunch, a kaiseki meal, with each dish exquisitely arranged on the low table. Tsukumo sat opposite Yuuto, picked up a piece of sashimi with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and chewed it a couple of times.

“Not bad,” she said.

Yuuto poured himself a glass of sake and also poured one for Tsukumo.

Tsukumo picked up his glass, took a sip, and frowned slightly. Yuuto picked up his glass and took a sip. The two sat across the low table, neither speaking. Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling between them and gilding the tableware and glasses with a golden hue.

The bamboo leaves rustled in the wind, and the stream babbled.

Ninety-nine put down her wine glass, took out a mint from her pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.

She chewed a few times, folded the candy wrapper, and stuffed it back into her pocket. It was her habit to eat mints with everything. The food and drinks at lunch didn't suit her taste, so she chewed a few more.

"Yuuto."

"Ah."

"Tell me, what do you think we are doing?"

“You’re my woman,” Yuuto said.

Ninety-Nine looked at him and remained silent for a moment. "You really are something else, not subtle at all."

Yuuto smiled. Tsukumo smiled too. Sunlight shone on the two of them, casting their shadows on the tatami mat, one long and one short, overlapping each other.

In the afternoon, Yuuto and Tsukumo went to Lake Ashi.

The lake was still and the water was clear. The distant mountains were reflected on the lake, like a traditional Chinese ink painting. The two walked along the lakeside, with Kyushu walking in front and Yuto following behind.

Ninety-nine's steps were large, but not fast, as if she was waiting for Yuuto to catch up.

"Ninety-nine."

"Ah."

Why didn't you take on missions before?

Ninety-Nine stopped, turned around, and looked at him. "How did you know I don't accept missions?"

"That's what Gojo Satoru said."

Ninety-Nine curled her lip. "That big mouth."

She turned around and continued walking. After walking for a while, she finally spoke.

"Because it's pointless. No matter how many cursed spirits you kill, they will just keep being born."

As long as humans have negative emotions, the cursed spirits will not disappear. That's why I've been searching for a way to solve the problem at its root. She paused, "Unfortunately, I haven't found one yet."

Yuuto remained silent.

"And you?" Ninety-Nine asked, "Why did you become a sorcerer?"

Yuuto thought for a moment. "Because someone needs me."

Ninety-Nine glanced back at him, a slight smile playing on her lips. "You really are something else. Sometimes you're quite annoying, and other times you seem very reliable."

Yuuto didn't reply. The two walked side by side along the lake, where several water birds swam, creating ripples on the calm surface.

In the evening, the two returned to the guest room.

The setting sun shone through the window, bathing the entire room in a warm orange hue.

Yuuto closed the window and drew the curtains. The light in the room dimmed, and the warm yellow light spread a soft, cozy glow on the tatami mats.

Ninety-Nine stood by the window, her back to him. Her long golden hair shimmered softly in the lamplight, her shoulders were slender, her waist was slim, and her legs were long.

Yu Ren walked up behind her and put his arm around her waist.

Ninety-nine's body stiffened slightly, then slowly relaxed.

"Yuuto."

"Ah."

Will you take responsibility for me?

"meeting."

Ninety-nine didn't speak again. Yuu buried his face in the crook of her neck. Her skin was very white, and the lines of her neck were soft. He could smell a faint scent of shampoo.

Yu Ren's fingers slid up her waist, his fingertips touching the buttons of her cardigan—one, two, three. Jiu Jiu's breathing became light and shallow, her chest rising and falling slightly.

Yu Ren took off her cardigan, and the off-white fabric slipped off her shoulders, revealing a section of her fair shoulders and the curve of her collarbone.

She had narrow shoulders, a slender waist, and skin so white it was almost translucent, with faint bluish veins visible below her collarbone.

Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, gleaming softly in the warm yellow light.

Her body was light and warm, like a piece of jade that had been exposed to the sun all day.

Yuuto turned Tsukumo around so that she was facing him.

Ninety-Nine kept her head down, not looking at him. His fingers slid down her waist, unbuttoning her trousers; the sound of the zipper being pulled open was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

The fabric slipped from between her legs and piled up at her ankles.

Yu Ren reached out, put his arm around her waist, and picked her up.

Ninety-nine's body was so light that he could hardly feel its weight.

He placed her on the tatami mat, and the warm yellow light shone on her, casting a soft glow on her skin.

Golden hair spread across the tatami mats, like melting sunlight.

Her eyelashes cast delicate shadows under her eyelids, and her lips were slightly pursed, conveying a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

Yuuto lowered his head and kissed her forehead. Kujuku's fingers gripped the edge of the tatami mat tightly.

Yuuto kissed her eyes, the tip of her nose, and finally her lips.

Tsukumo's lips were soft, with a cool, minty scent. Her fingers loosened their grip on the edge of the tatami mat and slowly crept up Yuuto's shoulder.

Yu Ren reached out and turned off the light.

Chapter 142 The Feast Begins

The newly built training ground of Dongxi Vocational College was packed with people today.

The stands were filled with sorcerers from all sides.

The students and teachers of Kyoto High School, the strong and talented people from local sorcery agencies, and representatives of many organizations affiliated with the Sorcery Alliance.

The scene is quite spectacular.