"Master Ryuu! You've been out long enough. It's time to return home, don't you think?"
Though the man's words sounded polite, his tone left no room for negotiation, as if expecting Ryuu to simply follow him without question.
Ryuu remained in the rocking chair, his body swaying slightly, as if savoring the moonlight piercing through the clouds. He ignored the man's words, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.
"Zen'in Ryuu! Don't push your luck!" The man's forehead creased with irritation. Everyone knew Zen'in Ryuu was once a useless heir without a trace of cursed energy. Now, by some strange twist of fate, he had gained this mysterious set of techniques, even enough to alarm the Zen'in clan elders, who had personally ordered him retrieved.
Seeing Ryuu, who had once been an outcast, treat him with such indifference made the man's anger rise. But remembering the elders' orders, he forced himself to remain calm.
"The Zen'in clan? I have no interest." Ryuu narrowed his eyes, dismissing the man with a casual wave, as if shooing away an annoying fly.
"Fool! Do you even understand what you're saying?! Countless sorcerers would give anything to be part of the Zen'in clan!" the man roared, glaring at Ryuu as though he were insane. He'd expected Ryuu to jump at the chance to return to the family, considering the Zen'in clan's wealth and power in the jujutsu world.
Instead, he was met with cold rejection.
"Think a few strange techniques make you something special?" the man bellowed, raising his left hand.
Dark purple cursed energy began to spread across his arm, filling it with a terrifying power.
"Crush!"
With his cursed energy coating his fist, he swung at Ryuu, who was still lounging in the chair. The impact distorted the air around it into a deep violet, aimed squarely at the young man who lay seemingly defenseless.
As a Grade 2 sorcerer, he was confident he could put this insolent kid in his place. He estimated that Ryuu was at best Grade 3, and likely just barely.
But—
In the next instant, something unexpected happened.
A flash of silver cut through the night, illuminating the darkness for the briefest of moments.