-531- A good jujutsu is one that can beat you up

"Akikan!"

"Akikan!"

Watching Rozen being engulfed by the flames, burning his entire being, both Natsume and Kyouko couldn't help but scream.

Even the students and instructors around were horrified, their faces pale, unable to bear witnessing Rozen being consumed by the flames, with some closing their eyes.

Kagami Reiji, surrounded by dazzling particles at his feet, remained unrelenting. He looked at Rozen burning in the flames, a cruel smile on his face.

However, this smile soon froze.

"Bang!"

Amidst the explosion-like burning flames, Rozen's charred body suddenly transformed into a talisman, burning to ashes.

"A substitution...!?"

Kagami Reiji's eyes contracted.

Yes.

It was a substitution.

A simple type of substitute made by mimicking the aura and appearance of the original.

"This is a technique I learned from a mysterious guy just yesterday. Quite effective, isn't it?"

A wry voice came from behind Kagami Reiji, making the pupils under his sunglasses shrink again. Without hesitation, he triggered his jutsuryoku and disappeared on the spot.

"Whoosh!"

Almost at the same time, a sharp longsword sliced through the air, stabbing fiercely into the spot where Kagami Reiji had been before, then directly pierced into the ground, producing a crisp sound.

Then, the sword disappeared, turning into a gold talisman, falling to the ground.

Only then did Rozen, seemingly appearing out of thin air, show up next to the fallen gold talisman, picking it up.

Of course, Rozen's seemingly out-of-thin-air appearance was thanks to the effect of the 〈Invisibility Jutsu〉, not the technique Kagami Reiji had just used.

Rozen looked up and stared ahead.

There, Kagami Reiji's figure appeared like a golden flash, his face darkened.

Looking at Kagami Reiji like this, Rozen suddenly spoke.

"Was that 〈Far Step〉?"

———〈Far(Yu) Step〉.

It was a kind of step movement commonly used by Taoist priests in ritual ceremonies. It was said to be created by Xia Yu, thus the name, and because the steps were arranged according to the positions of the Big Dipper's seven stars, it seemed as if one were stepping on the stars of the Dipper.

Kagami Reiji used a highly difficult curse technique that combined the Taoist "Far Step" with the mystical art of "Shrink Space," creating an extraordinary skill.

This technique allowed the user to infiltrate the spiritual veins, move within them, and unleash incredible speed, akin to teleportation. It enabled the user to reach any point within the spiritual veins in an extremely short amount of time. It was considered one of the top-tier ultimate techniques, both in terms of difficulty and level, within non-forbidden jujutsu.

Therefore, this jujutsu was not a generic one but an imperial-grade one.

"Following 'Supreme Victory Mantra,' is it 'Far Step'?"

Rozen sarcastically remarked.

"Should I say, you truly live up to being a national-level onmyouji from the Onmyou Agency. Even 'Imperial-Style' can be used so casually. Truly enviable."

Rozen's remark was a cynical one, but Kagami Reiji responded with a mocking smile.

"Clearly, 'Imperial-Style' are your creation. What are you trying to pretend over there?"

Saying this, Kagami Reiji even spat in disdain.

To an outsider, Rozen's mockery indeed seemed a bit pretentious, didn't it?

After all, the so-called 'Imperial-Style' was originally the strongest jujutsu system created by Yakou, integrating the mysteries of various religions throughout history, a masterpiece born of all the highest achievements.

In terms of practicality, it could even be applied in military matters. Its usefulness was self-evident.

Kagami Reiji did use a technique from the powerful 'Imperial-Style,' but compared to the entire system, his knowledge of the arts was barely scraping the surface.

Among all the onmyouji in the world, no one dared claim they had mastered all the jujutsu within the 'Imperial-Style' system.

Only Yakou, the developer, could effortlessly wield all of them.

At present, Rozen, the reincarnation of Yakou, was ignorant of even a single jujutsu from the 'Imperial-Style.'

This was something Kagami Reiji had yet to realize.

However...

"You used some inexplicable technique and then said those words. Are you trying to show off your vast knowledge?" Kagami Reiji growled in irritation.

He was referring to the 'Magic Defence' Rozen had just used.

Furthermore...

"It's not ordinary means to see through my 'Far Step.' What technique did you actually use?" Kagami Reiji asked.

Because 'Far Step' allowed the user to move within the spiritual veins, synchronizing the user's aura with the immense aura in the spiritual veins, it was impossible to discern the user's aura and locate their position with just extraordinary perception.

To deal with 'Far Step' and its super high-speed movement, one would either need to counter it afterwards, which would be too late, or prevent the opponent from using it in the first place by blocking the spiritual veins in the area.

But Rozen was not like that at all. Not only did Kagami Reiji succeed in using 'Far Step,' but Rozen had also figured it out afterwards. It was clear that a normal onmyouji would never see through 'Far Step' like this.

Rozen, relying on his 'Mind's Eye,' detected abnormal pulsations in the spiritual veins and, with his 'Heaven's Eye,' peered into Kagami Reiji's position, promptly taking appropriate action by using a simple substitute, while evading using the 'Invisibility Jutsu.'

Of course, there was no need to explain all this to Kagami Reiji.

"Why should I care about the jujutsu I used?" Rozen replied straightforwardly.

"A good jujutsu is one that can beat you up."

Upon hearing this, Kagami Reiji's mouth twitched, and then his eyes gleamed with a murderous light.

This Kagami Reiji had no idea.

He had already been outmaneuvered.

Just as Rozen was preparing to launch his own setup to subdue Kagami Reiji...

"Kagami! What are you doing!?"

A young man's strong and commanding voice suddenly broke into the scene, echoing in everyone's ears.

"Hmm?"

Rozen, who was about to initiate his setup, paused slightly.

"Tsk!"

Kagami Reiji, as if knowing who it was, clicked his tongue.

"That is..."

Natsume was surprised.

"He..."

Kyouko seemed to have seen the newcomer and exclaimed in astonishment.

In this situation, a heavy motorcycle swiftly arrived at the scene, roaring loudly, and stopped at the small square.

On the motorcycle, a man sat there, looking at everyone present.

He wore an old flight jacket and a pair of jeans with a few holes at the knees. He had a sturdy physique and a masculine aura, giving off an approachable and straightforward vibe.

However, the man had a Japanese sword at his waist, and his eyes, gazing at this side, appeared serious and piercing, imparting an intangible sense of pressure.

The man looked at the chaotic scene, then glanced at the even more disheveled group of teachers and students, and finally paused his gaze on Rozen for a moment before turning to Kagami Reiji.

"What trouble have you stirred up again, Kagami!"

The man fearlessly confronted Kagami Reiji, who exuded a dangerous aura.

"Hmph."

Kagami Reiji looked displeased, as if he knew who the newcomer was.

And Rozen looked at this man, carrying a katana at his waist.

"Kogure Zenjirou..."

Such a name escaped from Rozen's mouth.