“Himejima Shinki.” At Okunoin’s Shinto Arts Training Ground, a middle-aged instructor in uniform called out a name while holding a roster.
A handsome young man stepped out from the group of students gathered in the square and stood before a training straw dummy.
Forming a hand seal with one hand, much like the gestures seen in ninja anime, he released a tiny flame from his palm.
It cut through the air and landed on the straw dummy.
Sizzle.
Crackle.
The straw caught fire, producing a series of crackling sounds, but the flames quickly died out.
Laughter immediately erupted from the crowd below.
Even the instructor taking attendance shook his head repeatedly.
Pathetic.
Even descendants from the most distant branch families of the Himejima Clan shouldn’t have talent this poor.
No…
Or rather, the family line the boy belonged to was probably the one with the thinnest blood connection to the main family.
Yet ever since he had started learning Shinto Arts at the age of six, ten years had already passed.
And his Shinto Arts remained at the most basic level.
“You may step down.” After years of testing, the instructor had already given up on this student.
Still, since he carried the Himejima surname, when he came of age, the clan would probably give him some money before dismissing him to live as an ordinary person.
Students of the same age as Himejima Shinki began whispering mockingly among themselves.
“He’s already this old, and his skills are still at elementary school level.
What a disgrace to the Himejima name.” “A guy this weak actually has the nerve to stay so close to Lady Suzaku.” “You think everyone can be as talented as Lady Himejima Suzaku?
Still, he’s ridiculously weak.” Among the students were sighs, indifference, but mostly ridicule and contempt.
After all, no matter who it was, after ten years of cultivating Shinto Arts, they shouldn’t be this weak.
And yet this useless pretty boy was somehow close to the future head of the Himejima Clan.
Close enough to drive every male present completely insane with jealousy.
Soon, the semiannual assessment came to an end.
As expected, Himejima Shinki ranked dead last.
“Hey, kid.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Just as Shinki was about to leave, several heavily built young men surrounded him.
Their faces were filled with disdain as they issued their threats.
“Stay away from Lady Himejima Suzaku from now on.
If I see you hanging around her again, I’ll beat you every time.” “You’re going to be kicked out of the branch family sooner or later anyway.
You might not even get to keep the Himejima surname.
Lady Suzaku isn’t someone a loser like you can touch.” “Stop dreaming about reaching above your station.” “Get lost.” Faced with their crude insults, Shinki’s expression remained calm and unchanged.
Only after they had finished speaking did he lazily raise his eyes.
“Done talking?
Then I’m leaving.” He had long since grown accustomed to this sort of malicious mockery.
“Brat, are you even listening to us?!” His indifferent attitude instantly enraged the group.
Just as they were about to teach him a lesson, a commotion suddenly rose from the nearby crowd.
“Lady Suzaku!” A voice cried out from somewhere.
The young men stiffened immediately.
When they saw a girl in a crimson uniform walking toward them, they lowered their voices.
“Don’t let me catch you again.” After throwing him one final threatening glare, they quickly left.
Moments later, the girl who was the center of countless admiring gazes approached with graceful steps.
Her black hair shimmered like wet ink beneath the sunlight.
The crimson jacket of her uniform looked almost like living flames.
She possessed breathtaking beauty, a gentle smile, and a figure that would make the vast majority of women feel inferior.
Her name was Himejima Suzaku.
She was the successor to the Himejima Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Houses, and also the host of the Suzaku.
Though only one year older than Shinki, her talent and strength already placed her among the elite thousands of official exorcists belonging to the Five Great Houses.
As for Himejima Shinki, he wasn’t thinking about any of that.
Instead, his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the girl’s chest.
There was no particular reason.
Those who understood, understood.
“Shinki-kun.” Himejima Suzaku walked over and smiled warmly when she saw him, speaking in a soft voice.
Watching the goddess of their dreams greet the academy’s worst student, every male present looked utterly miserable.
They couldn’t help comparing themselves to him, searching for any flaw they possessed that he didn’t.
It seemed that, aside from being slightly more handsome than them, the dead-last student had no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
“Hehe…
you’ve grown up too, Shinki-kun.” Suzaku seemed to notice where his eyes had wandered and smiled gently.
“When you were little, you were always so cold.
If I hadn’t insisted on being your friend, we probably wouldn’t even be talking now.” “If you hadn’t insisted on being friends with me, those guys wouldn’t be causing me trouble every day.” Without the slightest embarrassment at being caught, Shinki spread his hands and replied helplessly.
In Japan, using seniority and talent to look down on others was an everyday occurrence.
According to various statistics, school bullying rates in Japan ranked among the highest in the world.
Given that, his situation wasn’t difficult to understand.
“Do you need me to help?” Suzaku blinked as she asked.
“No.
I can handle it myself.” Shinki shrugged casually.
Because, just like in the novels people read online…
Himejima Shinki was a transmigrator.