-486- I'll be your opponent

A Jujutsu battle.

The term made all the students in the classroom gasp in astonishment.

"No... could it be?"

"Kurahashi challenging Tsuchimikado...?"

"A Jujutsu battle..."

"Isn't this too much?"

The students in the entire classroom reacted excessively.

It's important to note that all these students who had just entered the Onmyou Academy were novices in the world of Jujutsu.

Even though they might come from prestigious backgrounds, they had just stepped into the world of Jujutsu. Engaging in a Jujutsu battle was an alien concept to them. Even the elite, born in prestigious families, had little experience, and if they did, it was merely testing the waters.

Now, Kurahashi Kyouko suddenly proposed a Jujutsu battle. Not to mention Rozen, at least these students present were unable to keep their composure.

However, this also indicated that all the students present were rookies who had just entered the field.

Just like in a battle, without prior experience, even if one had formidable strength, they lacked experience. It wouldn't be surprising to lose to someone weaker in strength but with more experience.

True Onmyouji had to go through real battles and accumulate experience in Jujutsu battles.

Hence, only those daring to challenge Jujutsu battles could enhance themselves and ultimately step into this perilous profession.

Now, Kurahashi Kyouko made a formal challenge to Rozen for a Jujutsu battle, her expression and gaze firm, even revealing a sense of determination.

Looking at Kurahashi Kyouko like this, Rozen couldn't help but recall the agreement he made with this girl back then.

"If I learn Jujutsu in the future, you must have a duel with me, like the Jujutsu battle you had today."

This was the request Kurahashi Kyouko made to Rozen back then, or perhaps a plea.

And Rozen answered this way at the time.

"Okay, no problem."

Rozen answered this way at the time.

Now, Rozen put away his impatient expression, facing Kurahashi Kyouko.

Just as Rozen was about to respond...

"It seems you didn't take my words yesterday seriously, Kurahashi Kyouko."

With this statement, Rozen's shikigami stepped forward, blocking in front of him.

Who else could it be but Natsume.

"You...!"

Kurahashi Kyouko, her steadfast gaze now blocked from reaching Rozen, turned into frustration.

But in the face of Kurahashi Kyouko's frustration, Natsume remained unaffected.

"I already said yesterday, if you want to challenge Akikan, you have to go through me first."

Natsume stared directly at Kurahashi Kyouko, her tone filled with discontent.

Naturally, Kurahashi Kyouko found Natsume's presence annoying.

"This is a matter between him and me," Kurahashi Kyouko said through gritted teeth. "It has nothing to do with you. Even if you're his shikigami, that doesn't stop my right to challenge."

To Kurahashi Kyouko's words, Natsume countered without showing weakness.

"Since I'm Akikan's shikigami, if you want to challenge him, it's only right for me, as a shikigami, to intervene," Natsume countered. "Moreover, my rank is higher than yours, and Akikan's rank is higher than mine. If you want to challenge him, at least you should defeat me first, shouldn't you?"

"Do you think you're stronger than me just because your rank is higher?" Kurahashi Kyouko raised her hand, pointing at Natsume. "The entrance exam's results are a comprehensive assessment of tests and practical skills. Practical skills aren't tested in a combat-like manner. It assesses a student's spiritual power, jujutsu, and qualities. Even if your abilities in these aspects are higher than mine, true jujutsu battles are not just about these."

As Kurahashi Kyouko stated, the entrance exam at the Onmyou Academy was a comprehensive assessment of a student's qualities, not just strength.

After all, entering the Onmyou Academy was for nurturing future talents. As long as there was talent and potential, it was worth absorbing and cultivating.

Natsume's entrance exam score was higher than Kurahashi Kyouko's, which could prove that Natsume had better overall qualities than Kurahashi Kyouko, not necessarily stronger in terms of power.

Especially now, Kurahashi Kyouko had summoned her shikigami, and not just one but two. This part wasn't assessed in the entrance exam. In a real battle, just using jujutsu, Natsume might not necessarily be a match for Kurahashi Kyouko, or rather, she definitely wouldn't win against Kurahashi Kyouko, who could control two shikigami.

This was the view of the students present.

However...

"I remember, you said something like this just now,"

Natsume calmly spoke up.

"Don't think you're the only special one."

After saying this, Natsume formed hand seals.

"Come forth! Hekireki!"

Natsume ordered loudly.

In the next moment, a burst of lightning and thunder erupted from Natsume, as if a dazzling golden shikigami resembling a vajra was splitting apart from Natsume's body, appearing in front of Kurahashi Kyouko.

"What...!?"

This time, even Kurahashi Kyouko was taken aback.

As for the other students, they all widened their eyes and voiced their amazement.

"Lightning...!"

"It's a shikigami of lightning!"

"And it's a guardian shikigami!"

"Tsuchimikado Natsume also has a shikigami...!?"

"And... it's a lightning-type guardian shikigami...!?"

"No way..."

Each student found it hard to believe their eyes.

However, at this moment, no one blamed this person.

There was no way.

Right now, two girls were facing off against each other, and the atmosphere was becoming tense. Both of them were exceptional beyond ordinary standards.

One was a daughter of the branch family of the Tsuchimikado, a prestigious Onmyo family.

The other was the only daughter of the top-ranking jujutsu family, Kurahashi.

One was a new student ranked second, renowned for her control over the challenging and difficult-to-master lightning-type shikigami.

The other could simultaneously control two specially made shikigami from the Onmyou Agency, securing her the third rank among the new students.

In such a standoff, even in previous years, not to mention the first year, such extraordinary individuals were rare even in the third year.

Now, these two students were facing off, and they were on the brink of engaging in a jujutsu battle. The students couldn't help but feel nervous.

However, amidst the tension, the students were also excited.

To witness a battle of higher caliber than the first-year students on the second day of enrollment, a jujutsu battle that not even professional Onmyoji were sure of forming—how could they not be excited?

Rozen also watched the two girls, who were controlling protective shikigami, face off. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but their determined gazes stopped him, and he had no choice but to stay silent.

Just as Natsume and Kyouko were about to begin...

"Clap!"

A clear applause rang out.

"Alright! That's enough!"

The frivolous and unserious voice finally interrupted the intense atmosphere.