Forget it! I shook my head lightly, forcing my thoughts back into focus. Now I had become connected to the world of Jujutsu through Mei Mei, and that was not something trivial that could be taken lightly. This connection could become a lifeline—or instead, a snare that would drag me even deeper.
Now, my chances of surviving in this damned cursed world had increased. At the very least, I was no longer truly walking in darkness without direction.
There was a thin thread linking me to the world of the Jujutsu Sorcerers, and although it was fragile, that thread still meant hope—hope that I would not die in vain.
Besides that, I had also succeeded in using my Innate Technique. That realization made my chest warm just a little.
Even though, because I had used a Binding Vow, I now could not use Cursed Energy for a full week—a price that felt extremely steep, especially in a world where power is everything.
Yet behind that limitation, there was a small satisfaction I could not dismiss. The feeling of having managed to step beyond my own limits felt real. But at the very least, many good things had happened—small things that, if gathered together, might be able to change my fate.
For the first time, I felt that I had truly taken a step forward, not merely survived in a passive way. No longer just avoiding death, but beginning to look for a way to live.
Speaking of which, I should probably head home soon, before Yukina starts scolding me for coming back late! That thought appeared all of a sudden, accompanied by a familiar sense of anxiety.
The image of Yukina's firm yet caring face immediately surfaced in my mind, making my reflex to stand up come faster. Yukina's tone of voice, the look in her eyes—everything felt far too real to ignore.
I then quickly stood up and started walking back to the orphanage. As I left the forest, my feet stepped on still-damp soil, dry leaves crunching softly beneath the soles of my feet.
The cool afternoon air brushed against my skin, and in the gaps between my steps, I began thinking about various things regarding my Innate Technique.
This ability could be said to be quite versatile—one might even call it extremely versatile. Its potential felt vast, like an empty field that had not yet been fully cultivated.
After all, if my Innate Technique could not develop any further, then I would simply have to use a Binding Vow to strengthen it, even if it came with risks that I must always be prepared to accept.
That line of thought kept spinning in my head, repeating without end, like a rough plan that was not yet fully formed. Each possibility appeared and then sank away, colliding with one another.
However, in the midst of that chaos, at least I had already set a clear goal—something that had taken shape in my mind and could no longer be ignored. That goal might still be vague, but its existence gave direction to my steps.
Even though I myself was not sure whether it could truly be done or not, that doubt was no longer strong enough to stop me. But at the very least, I had to try to do something.
This world does not leave room for those who hesitate too long; anyone who stops moving will quickly be left behind, and then crushed without mercy.
At last, I came out of the forest. Damn it, my body was covered in dust, my clothes soiled by damp earth and fragments of dry leaves clinging here and there. My breathing was still a little heavy.
The wound on my hand also still hurt, the sting surfacing every time I clenched or moved my right hand too forcefully, as if reminding me that I was not completely safe yet.
On top of that, the muscles throughout my body ached. The soreness spread from my legs up to my shoulders, as though every step I took forced me to recall the earlier struggle and tension. This body was clearly not yet accustomed to facing situations like that, and that weakness felt painfully real.
Besides training my Cursed Energy, refining my Innate Technique, and searching for ways to grow stronger through Binding Vows, I also needed to push my body far harder. Not just light exercise, but training that would truly force me beyond the physical limits I had always considered "good enough."
I could no longer afford to have a body that ran out of stamina so easily, or one that was so easily injured simply because it was physically weak. If I wanted to survive in this world, then strengthening my body was a necessity—not an option that could be postponed or negotiated.
The sky was already turning toward evening. Shades of orange slowly spread across the western horizon, cloaking the world in a warm, almost deceptive light. Shadows stretched longer, and before long, night would fall. Time passed so quickly, as if the world itself did not care in the slightest about how crowded and chaotic my thoughts were.
Not long after, I arrived at the gate of the orphanage. There, I saw the other children still playing in the yard.
Their laughter rang out—bright, innocent, and brimming with energy—standing in sharp contrast to the exhaustion pressing down on my body. The sight made my steps slow unconsciously.
I should go inside as soon as possible. I did not want to be bombarded with questions from the children, especially in a state that was clearly a mess. Without much hesitation, I went into the orphanage, trying to move as normally as I could.
"You're back, Kenji?" A voice called my name, making me turn my head instinctively. I saw Yukina glancing in my direction, but the moment her eyes took in my condition, her expression changed.
"What happened, Kenji?!" Yukina immediately ran toward me. Her steps were quick and hurried, her face filled with panic that she made no attempt to hide. Her hand almost reached for my shoulder before she stopped herself, as if afraid of touching an injured spot.
"I fell earlier while I was playing, and a girl came to help me. Then she used her tie to cover my wound," I said at once, honestly. I kept my tone as calm as possible. After all, there was no point in making up strange excuses for Yukina, especially when my condition was this obvious.
"You're okay, right? There aren't any other injuries?" Yukina asked again in concern. Her eyes swept over my entire body, from head to toe, as if searching for any other wounds she might have missed.
That made me fall silent for a moment. It really seemed that Yukina was a genuinely kind woman, a caretaker with remarkably deep dedication. Her worry felt sincere, without even the slightest hint of pretense.
Seeing that expression, my chest felt both warm and heavy at the same time. Don't worry, Yukina. I will make sure that you and this orphanage are always safe and well. That is my promise, I vowed silently, my resolve slowly hardening.
"Why are you just standing there, Kenji? Answer me! Is there anywhere else you're hurt?" Yukina asked again, her tone growing more anxious, her voice rising slightly without her realizing it.
"There isn't. It's just a minor wound. Thank you for worrying about me," I said with a small smile. I tried to reassure her, even though my body still felt tired and sore. The smile was simple, but I hoped it would be enough to ease her concern, even just a little.
"You troublesome child!" Yukina's voice sounded half like a scolding, half like relief. She was not truly angry—more like finally letting out the emotions that had been building up as the anxiety pressing on her chest slowly subsided. "Of course I would worry about you. I will always worry about all of you. After all, you are the children I take care of and protect, the children I have already come to regard as my own."
Those words came out honestly, without the slightest hesitation, as if Yukina felt no need to hide her feelings at all.
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