After I had lunch, I was on my way back to training. But behind me, two figures were following me.
"Can I ask what you two are doing?" I asked.
To be honest, I was happy since they trusted me enough to follow. I thought Maki had some grudge from how angry she was yesterday. But thank god, she didn't take that to heart. It feels like the first step of getting close to them is good.
"We are studying you," Maki said.
"Studying me? Why?"
"You act different," Maki said without hesitation. "You talk different. You don't look at us like everyone else."
Mai nodded again, very seriously. "And you didn't yell at the servant. Or hit anyone. That's suspicious."
Wow.The bar really was underground.
"Hey, are you getting close to us so you can make us your women?" Mai suddenly dropped a bomb.
This isn't something a child like you should tell. Like, who is teaching you all this?
"What do you mean, Mai?" It was Maki, who asked with confusion, like she didn't understand what Mai said.
"Mother told me that if I were ladylike, then I would be taken as a bride in my coming age." Mai and Maki then looked at me. Is that why I became close to them?
"Don't look at me like that. I have no interest in you, brat. I will probably become the cool single uncle in the family."
Like marriage and children are too much work.
And women have this habit of breaking up or divorcing at the first sign of struggle.
Not all women, but everyone I associated with. I never want to feel like my heart got ripped out ever again. So not getting married or having a lover is the right thing for me, and if things go according to my plan, then Maki, Mai or Megumi will inherit this family. I will be like the uncle that came once a year and gifted the children with cool toys and stuff.
---
The training hall greeted us with its familiar emptiness. Sunlight spilled across the floor, and the faint marks from my earlier practice were still visible if you looked closely—tiny scuffs, unnatural straight lines where my feet had slid instead of stepped.
Mai stopped at the entrance.
Maki stepped inside.
Her eyes scanned the space,"So this is where you were earlier."
"Yeah," I said, rolling my shoulders. "Don't get too excited. It's not flashy."
I moved to the center again, ignoring the fact that I now had an audience. If anything, that made this better. Less room for excuses.
"Watch closely," I said.
I inhaled.
Projection Sorcery activated.
My body moved. I crossed the hall in a blink, pivoted, slid, and stopped with my foot placed exactly where I intended.
I still don't know what the weakness was that made Naobita figure out that technique was weak. Maybe if I continuously do this, I will figure it out.
I did it again.
And again.
Each movement is precise, efficient, almost mechanical. Not the overwhelming speed of monsters like Gojo or Sukuna, but still speedy enough.
When I stopped, I turned back.
Mai's mouth was slightly open.
"…You look like you're teleporting," she muttered.
Maki didn't say anything.
She walked forward slowly, eyes fixed on the floor, tracing the invisible paths my feet had taken.
"That technique," she said finally. "It's not about strength."
"No," I replied. "It's about control." I just said what came to mind.
Her jaw tightened.
She straightened and looked at me directly. "Teach me."
Mai whipped her head around. "Maki?!"
"What?" Maki shot back. "You saw it too. He's not just showing off."
I raised an eyebrow. "You don't even have cursed energy control like mine."
"I know," she said flatly. "That's why I'm asking."
Silence hung between us.
Then I sighed. I only know technique.
"…Fine. But I'm can't teach you projection sorcery as it is a technique, it's Inherited."
Maki frowned. "Then what?"
"We both can study martial arts and stuff. How about it? I also don't know much other than this technique." Then I looked at Mai. "Mai, do you like to join us?"
"But Mother said I need to behave like a lady." Mai said.
"Well then, your mother didn't need to know you are training with us then." I said with a grin.
~~~
I like the idea of people who reading my novel leaving their make on my book so Give me lot of comments and Power stones. Give me inspection. Give me reviews.
POWER STONE, GIVE IT ME.
Posted some extra chapter in patron, if you are interested check it out, link is the synopsis.