"BOOM!!!"
A series of thunderous blasts, each distinct, erupted one after another from the northwest corner of the forest. Kasumi Miwa clutched her sword tightly. In this forest crawling with Cursed Spirits, it felt like only her blade could steady her nerves…
"Is everyone really this strong?"
…
"Hey, hey, Kasumi, are you there?"
Momo Nishimiya's voice, filtered through the communicator, rang in her ear.
"Yeah, I'm here."
"There are two Cursed Spirits about 300 meters away at your ten o'clock. Scans show they're both Grade 3. Can you handle them?"
"I can. Heading over now."
"Don't push yourself. Call me anytime if you need backup."
"Roger!"
…
Kasumi Miwa quickly made her way to the coordinates Momo Nishimiya provided. Sure enough, two Grade 3 Cursed Spirits resembling oversized mosquitoes hovered nearby. One of them hadn't fully broken free from the talisman binding its wings and was still struggling, dangling from a tree branch.
"Did they mess up when releasing these Cursed Spirits? Perfect. That means I only need to deal with one first."
The mosquito-like Cursed Spirit, about half her size, spotted her and buzzed straight toward her, its three proboscises spread wide.
"New Shadow Style: Simple Domain."
Kasumi Miwa slid her blade into its sheath and gripped the hilt. A blue circle with a radius of 2.21 meters spread out beneath her feet. She wrapped the blade inside the scabbard with Cursed Energy, accelerating it within the sheath like a loaded bullet.
This was her interception technique, one that boosted the power of her slash and could automatically counter incoming attacks.
The fastest move in New Shadow Style, specialized for direct confrontation—
"Draw!"
A flash of silver cut through the air, and the mosquito Cursed Spirit was sliced cleanly in two.
"Nice."
After taking one down, Kasumi Miwa clenched her fist to encourage herself, then turned toward the other Cursed Spirit.
But at that moment, Momo Nishimiya suddenly cried out in alarm.
"Kasumi, be careful! Someone's about to reach you!"
When Kasumi Miwa looked over, the Cursed Spirit on the tree was instantly exorcised by a flying Cursed Tool.
"Momo, I see—"
Before she could finish, another thrown Cursed Tool smashed her earpiece to pieces…
"Ugh… that almost took my ear with it…"
"Don't even think about calling anyone… blue-haired girl…"
Following the voice, Kasumi Miwa spotted Maki Zenin standing on a tree branch, holding a long black-bladed weapon. She immediately adjusted her stance, drawing her sword into an iaido position.
Normally, when facing someone wielding a long weapon, a swordsman should do everything possible to close the distance.
But based on what she knew, Mai's sister was a "Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer" who specialized in close-quarters combat. Kasumi Miwa herself was only "Grade 3." Charging in recklessly would be suicide.
So before committing to a fight, she needed to read her opponent's approach. Besides, the forest was full of obstacles… which should make it harder to swing such a long blade…
All things considered, with the terrain on her side, she still had a chance!
But the moment Maki flicked her weapon in a smooth flourish and advanced, Kasumi Miwa realized how wrong she was.
Even in the dense forest, Maki handled her long blade effortlessly. More terrifying than that was the sheer force behind every clash. Each time Kasumi Miwa blocked, she felt a burst of strength completely at odds with Maki's frame. Every impact knocked her off balance, preventing her from gathering her core strength to reset her stance.
At this rate, closing the distance was impossible. She would be worn down from mid-range alone.
Left with no choice, Kasumi Miwa deliberately exposed an opening, hoping to create some distance. Maki saw right through it but didn't call it out, simply kicking her away.
Kasumi Miwa took a deep breath, then shifted her stance, sheathing her sword once more as she activated Simple Domain again to face her opponent.
But that alone wouldn't be enough. The gap between them was obvious. She had to use the most flexible combat method in the Jujutsu world, the very one her teacher had focused on training her in—
[Binding Vow].
…
[Akira Zenin's Discourses, Chapter 4:
Binding Vow has almost no barrier to entry. However, the enhancement it provides is limited to improving the sorcerer's own abilities. It does not allow one to freely produce all kinds of effects.]
Binding Vow usually grants only the following:
Increased Cursed Energy output
Improved control over Cursed Energy
Greater control over one's own body
Among these, "improved control over Cursed Energy" is a relatively vague concept.
It can include things like increasing the range of technique expansion, skipping hand seals, omitting incantations, improving one's handling of Barriers, and so on.
Binding Vows are divided into two types based on how they take effect:
Oath-based
Contract-based
Oath-based types grant the benefit first, with the cost enforced afterward.
Contract-based types require paying a cost to continuously gain benefits, but when the benefit is no longer needed, the cost can be paused at will.]
One afternoon, Kasumi Miwa sat staring at a book, eyes wide. Gradually, her pupils lost focus, and her gaze turned vacant…
"Sensei, Sensei… I don't really understand this part…"
[Which part?]
"Um… all of it."
[…]
[Let me put it simply. A self-imposed Binding Vow is like resetting and reallocating points. You first pay a certain "cost" to reset, then redistribute those points…
For example, by setting the Binding Vow "your feet must not leave the ground," you improve the precision of your Cursed Energy control, allowing you to use Simple Domain. It works on the same principle.]
"I think I kind of get it now…"
[The easiest way to get used to Binding Vows is to suddenly change your habits. Use that change to "reset" yourself, then redistribute…
But there's a limit to how many points you have, and that's closely tied to your natural ability. Honestly, given your situation, even if you master Binding Vows, you'll probably only reach around Grade 2.]
"Grade 2? That's more than enough. Momo is Grade 2 too, and she's happy every day.
Hehe… once I reach Grade 2, I'll be able to send enough money home, and just from the subsidies alone, I'll still have plenty left over…"
Akira Zenin paused for a moment when he heard that, then smiled, something he hadn't done in a long time.
[Sorry. That was my mistake. Strength isn't everything in life… Keep going.]
"Mm! Thank you, Sensei!"
[It's my responsibility.]
…
Kasumi Miwa activated her Simple Domain, then closed her eyes. She set a Binding Vow: relying only on her hearing to locate her target, in exchange for boosting the Cursed Energy output of her blade.
That said, it was still a bit of a shortcut. Her Simple Domain already greatly enhanced her ability to intercept and counter.
"Oh?"
Noticing the sudden shift in Kasumi Miwa's presence, Maki narrowed her eyes with interest.
She was just about to press forward when she suddenly sensed something and quickly dodged. A sharp bang rang out, and a deep bullet hole appeared where she had been standing just moments before.