"You really took that conversation in a whole new direction," Takumi said with a smirk. "But if you're asking what kind of woman I like, well… I'm a man of broad tastes. Whether it's a sweet girl or a refined mature lady—if she's beautiful, I like her!"
He spoke his preferences with zero shame, flashing a confident grin.
"Could you not say that kind of perverted thing out loud so openly? There goes the cool, stoic hero image I just had in my head!"
Momo Ayase couldn't help but complain, even though she was genuinely attracted to Takumi's looks and grateful for his help.
Still, that sudden, unfiltered confession of his "preferences" shattered whatever heroic fantasy she'd built in her mind.
"Hahaha~ I like honest men like you," a sultry voice interjected.
The one laughing was Yuki Tsukumo. A long, serpent-like shikigami made of bone coiled lazily around her body, its tail lightly scraping the pavement.
Momo immediately took a step back, instinctively tense. This blonde woman who had appeared out of nowhere was clearly not ordinary.
Takumi only gave the creature a glance before looking back at Yuki—the shikigami surrounding her was Garuda, her personal cursed tool given tangible form.
"I'm really curious about you," Yuki said, chin resting on her hand with an amused smile. "You're not a cursed spirit, but you can devour them. And to top it off—you command fallen angels. They're arrogant creatures, you know. I've never seen them kneel like that before."
She looked him up and down with interest. The young man before her seemed far younger than her, yet the power radiating from him was undeniable.
Fallen angels—the kind of beings that held no respect for jujutsu sorcerers—bowed to him. That alone was unheard of.
"Takumi. Exorcist, based in Kuoh Town. Formerly of the Heroic Lineage," he said casually, tossing her a business card. "As for other details… I'll have to decline. If you want to know more, you'll have to find out yourself."
He turned and began walking toward Momo and Hitagi, who were still sitting weakly on the ground.
Yuki caught the card and pouted theatrically. "You didn't even ask my name… and you only care about those two girls? That's so unfair—it almost makes me jealous."
"They're my clients. You're not, Yuki Tsukumo."
"…!"
Her eyes widened in surprise. He knew her name. Then, after a moment, her shock turned into a flirtatious smile.
"Now that's interesting. A man worth exploring… definitely my type."
She slipped the business card into her pocket, mounted her motorcycle, and sped off—not leaving the area entirely, but heading toward the local Jujutsu community to handle the aftermath.
"Are you hurt?"
Takumi reached out and helped Hitagi Senjougahara to her feet.
She blinked, her eyes still glistening with tears, and whispered, "Th-thank you… I'm fine… but my mom, my dad… is there still hope?"
Her voice trembled as she grabbed his hand tightly, desperation welling up inside her.
"I'm afraid not," he replied softly.
He waved his hand, and his magic parted the rubble, revealing several broken, mangled remains. Hitagi's mother was beyond saving—nothing left but ashes.
"I can heal the dying," Takumi said, voice calm but heavy, "but I can't resurrect the dead."
Hitagi's lips quivered. Tears fell silently down her cheeks as she knelt before what remained of her parents. She wanted to reach out and touch them—but couldn't even tell which piece was which.
Momo stood nearby in silence, unsure how to comfort her friend.
Takumi crouched beside Hitagi, placing his hand gently atop the remains. "[Heal]."
A soft glow enveloped the broken flesh, restoring it into a whole, lifelike body once more.
"That's all I can do."
"Dad!"
Hitagi collapsed forward, sobbing uncontrollably as she embraced him. "Thank you… thank you for at least letting me see him whole again… I… I don't even know how to repay you…"
Hitagi's childhood had never been easy.
Her father had been away working most of the time, and her mother's obsession with that cult left her emotionally starved. By the time she reached grade school, she was practically raising herself.
Even so—no matter how distant or flawed—they were her family.
"Haah…"
Takumi sighed softly, patting her trembling back in quiet comfort.
Before the Jujutsu officials could arrive, he led both girls away from the scene.
"They'll handle the cleanup and contact you for the burial arrangements," he said. "Be prepared."
"…I understand," Hitagi murmured, lowering her head. But after a moment, she lifted her gaze hesitantly.
"Mr. Exorcist… how much do we owe you?"
Her voice was awkward, apologetic—she already knew she couldn't afford him. Her mother had poured all their savings into that cult, and now, with both parents gone, she had no idea what she even owned.
Seeing her hesitation, Momo quickly stepped forward. "This was our call together, so I'll help pay too!"
"My base rate is five hundred thousand yen," Takumi said. "But since that was a Special Grade Cursed Spirit… that's easily ten million or more."
"T-ten million!?"
Momo's jaw dropped open. Even ten thousand yen was a lot for a high schooler—ten million was unthinkable.
Hitagi's face went pale as snow.
She didn't think he was overcharging; if anything, that number was low for the scale of damage caused.
"Relax. Don't look so terrified," Takumi chuckled. "I got more out of this job than I expected. You can just… work off your debt."
He smiled like the devil himself as he pulled out two [Master–Servant Contracts] and handed them over.
The girls exchanged a glance. Then, without hesitation, they both signed.
They had no choice. It wasn't like they could just hand him millions of yen.
The moment they finished, both contracts dissolved into pink ribbons that wrapped around their necks—manifesting as faint heart-shaped collars that glowed once before fading away.
"Perfect," Takumi said, satisfied. "Now then, it's time for your reward."
"[Job Awakening]!"
His eyes glowed emerald as he looked at them, smiling.
Ever since he had opened the [World-Crossing Gate] to the Redo of Healer's world, the [Interdimensional Realm] had absorbed that world's laws and fate energy.
That power allowed him to grant others classes—enabling them to gain experience, grow stronger, and level up through battle and training.
...
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