Over the next few days, their lessons and training continued at a steady pace.
The only difference was that Tōru Azuma’s performance grew more astonishing by the day.
From Cursed Energy control to Cursed Energy flow and Cursed Energy application, he absorbed everything she taught him like a sponge soaking up water.
After three days, Utahime Iori even felt that she had almost nothing left to teach him when it came to controlling and using Cursed Energy.
So one afternoon, after training had ended, she made a point of finding Masamichi Yaga to report on the results of the past few days.
“So…
you’re saying that in just a few days, he’s already more or less mastered Cursed Energy control and some of its practical applications?”
Hearing the disbelief in his voice, Utahime Iori silently nodded.
Masamichi Yaga tapped his fingers against the desk, his feelings complicated as he stared at the figures in the report, unsure what to make of them.
He had originally thought that if, during the two months before the school year began, Tōru Azuma could memorize most of the basic knowledge and gain an initial grasp of Cursed Energy control, that would already be an excellent result.
But only a few days had passed, and he had already reached that goal?
Wasn’t his talent a little too extraordinary?
“So what should I do now?
Keep teaching him the basics?
Or just supervise his training?”
Seeing the troubled look on his face, the girl asked cautiously, though there was also a trace of personal anticipation hidden in her question.
Tōru Azuma had been progressing so quickly that, in her spare time, she had begun wondering what else she could teach him.
Before long, one idea came to mind.
She had also spent the past few days thinking about Barrier Techniques herself, but her way of thinking had been fixed for too long.
She could no longer come up with any new directions or ideas.
Perhaps it was time to let her junior start learning Barrier Techniques.
Masamichi Yaga set down her report.
After thinking for a moment, he gave her the plan for the next stage of Tōru’s lessons, and his answer was exactly what she had been hoping to hear.
“For now, teach him some knowledge related to Barrier Techniques.
See how long it takes him to learn it, and how long it takes before he can cast a complete Barrier for the first time.”
For him, this was simply the best option available.
Because of Tōru Azuma’s unusual circumstances, Jujutsu High was unlikely to invest too many resources in him.
And now that he was progressing so quickly, perhaps Jujutsu High would soon consider letting him handle some low-grade missions.
That thought suddenly reminded him of something else.
“By the way, Utahime.
It’s probably still unlikely at this point, but when you’re interacting with him normally, or during your lessons and training sessions, pay attention to whether he shows any signs of using something resembling a Cursed Technique.”
The reason he considered it unlikely was that Cursed Techniques were complicated things for most people.
Although the majority of Jujutsu Sorcerers possessed their own Innate Techniques, a small number were exceptions.
But a Cursed Technique often determined the limits of a person’s potential.
If Tōru Azuma did not possess a Cursed Technique, then no matter how much Cursed Energy he had or how terrifyingly far he strengthened his body, his limit would still only be Special Grade 1.
At most, he would rank among the stronger fighters within Special Grade 1, but he would still be unable to reach Special Grade.
The problem was that Cursed Techniques were generally impossible for others to observe directly.
They could only be discovered, explored, and developed by the user themselves.
No…
perhaps there actually was one person who could observe them now?
But that person’s personality and way of thinking were far too unpredictable.
There was no telling whether the higher-ups would be able to get him to help.
Thinking about it, Masamichi Yaga sighed helplessly.
After hearing this, Utahime Iori’s eyes flickered slightly, but she merely nodded before turning to leave.
Inwardly, however, she found herself wondering.
If Tōru Azuma really did possess a Cursed Technique…
what kind of ability would it be?
Just as she stood there lost in thought, a curious voice pulled her back to reality.
“Senpai?
Weren’t you going to teach me Barrier Techniques?
Why did you suddenly start spacing out?”
When she saw Tōru Azuma’s face so close to hers, she instinctively took a step back before putting on an annoyed expression.
“What do you mean, spacing out?
I was just reviewing the material in my head.
And you, since when did you get so casual with me?
During class, sit properly over there!”
Only after saying it did a faint flush creep onto her ears, one that she herself failed to notice.
Tōru Azuma, however, realized that what he had just done had been somewhat inappropriate and gave an awkward cough.
“Sorry, senpai.
I didn’t mean anything by it.
You were lost in thought for quite a while, and you didn’t respond when I called you from over there, so I had no choice but to come closer and try again.”
“Let’s just say that’s what happened.
All right, no more talking.
We’re officially starting the lesson now.”
Having regained her composure, Utahime Iori somehow produced a pair of black-rimmed glasses and put them on, doing her best to maintain a stern expression as though she were trying to make herself look like a strict teacher.
Tōru Azuma found the sight a little amusing, but he merely nodded and returned to his seat to listen to her explanation.
“A Barrier is the foundation of Barrier Techniques.
It’s a type of barrier used to define and conceal a specific area.
Its main purpose is to hide battles between Jujutsu Sorcerers and Cursed Spirits, while also making the Cursed Spirits inside manifest so that we can exorcise them more easily.”
“The requirements for using one are fairly low, and they aren’t particularly difficult to learn.
Even some Grade 3 and Grade 4 Jujutsu Sorcerers can use them.
But how far you can take Barrier Techniques depends heavily on individual talent.”
“During that incident at the subway station, one of the assistant managers present cast a Barrier.
That was why, after everyone inside the station escaped, no one else entered.”
“Part of its purpose was to make people outside believe nothing unusual was happening inside, while the people passing nearby were evacuated from the area.”
“But if someone has studied Barrier magic deeply enough, they can impose special rules on a Barrier.
For example, preventing a specific target from entering, preventing a specific target from leaving, or specifically marking the Cursed Energy of certain people.”
“Of course, that comes later.
Those are advanced lessons, and that’s where Barrier magic truly begins.
For now, we’ll start with the basics.”
With that, she walked to the center of the training ground.
“Next, I’m going to cast a Barrier once.
Watch carefully.”
She took a deep breath, then formed a hand seal and began to chant.
“Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness.
Purify that which is impure.”
As she moved, a layer of dark Cursed Energy flowed from her fingertips and rapidly spread outward like a living veil, forming a hemispherical barrier around the area.
Watching this, Tōru Azuma was briefly stunned.
He had seen things like this before, but seeing one with his own eyes for the first time still felt strangely fascinating.
The same was true of how eagerly he had thrown himself into learning how to use Cursed Energy.
After gaining a special power for the first time, he had approached it with much the same excitement as a child receiving a new toy.
Seeing the curiosity on his face, Utahime Iori felt a little proud.
Aside from her own Cursed Technique, Barrier Techniques was the thing she was best at.
She had no idea how long it would take this junior to shatter her confidence again, but for this brief period, there was no denying that she was his teacher.
With that thought, she spoke.
“If you’re interested, you can touch the boundary formed by the Cursed Energy and get a feel for what makes a Barrier different.”
After receiving permission, Tōru Azuma walked over to the Barrier, placed his palm against it, and carefully felt it out.
Almost immediately, he noticed the key principle behind it.
“So the key to casting a Barrier is spreading the Cursed Energy evenly?”
“Exactly.
That’s also why I trained your Cursed Energy control first before teaching you how to create a Barrier.
A lot of beginners make the mistake of thinking they can just keep pouring Cursed Energy into it without worrying about anything else.”
Utahime Iori was not particularly surprised that he had grasped the key so quickly.
She simply continued explaining.
“But the most important part is maintaining and controlling the Barrier steadily.
If the Cursed Energy is distributed unevenly at even a single point, the true scene inside will become visible, and the Barrier will no longer serve its purpose of concealing what’s happening.”
Seeing that Tōru Azuma still looked curious, she released the Barrier she had been maintaining.
“Instead of listening to me explain any more, why don’t you try it yourself?”