Tu Bi: My heart is bitter, but I dare not say it!
Heaven help him—he, Tu Bi, was just a stone monster. What evil thoughts could he possibly have?
The reason he had been watching those so-called action movies was entirely by chance. Tu Bi had discovered that Spider Princess secretly sought out this kind of material late at night. At first, he assumed it was her way of boosting their lord's favor. Naturally, for the sake of maintaining his status as Yuto's "number one henchman," Tu Bi felt compelled to study them. Who knew when his position might be challenged?
Based on Spider Princess's viewing history, Tu Bi had scoured dozens of maids, non-human heroines, spider-girls, and other eccentric tropes. Some of the "heavy" tastes he had encountered were things Tu Bi swore he had never seen in his life.
But he didn't care. Tu Bi believed he had mastered the key points: the poses, the techniques, the nuances. With that knowledge, he could definitely outperform Spider Princess.
Granted, his body was a massive, stubborn rock, but he also had illusionary powers. As long as his lord didn't resist, Tu Bi was confident he could give Yuto a five-dimensional visual feast. In his illusions, he could produce any kind of woman—Spider Princess included—manipulating size, age, and appearance to perfection. How could she ever outmaneuver him?
And yet, here he was, scolded by Yuto, feeling profoundly wronged. He wanted to protest that Spider Princess had started it, flaunting her beauty to curry favor. But under the icy glare of Spider Princess, Tu Bi had no choice but to remain silent. Her fists were bigger than his, and complaining could have serious consequences.
"Junior, don't stay silent. If you're not satisfied with the price, we can negotiate further."
The students of the Onmyo Academy, mindful of their earlier encounter with Jizo Maruji, were polite despite being curious. They were genuinely intrigued by Yuto's two shikigami, especially considering the extravagant bids from the young lady of the Kagamimori family.
For Onmyoji, shikigami weren't just servants—they were extensions of combat power. A strong shikigami could dramatically elevate an Onmyoji's strength. The Kagamimori family, specialists in sealing techniques, had a particular interest in defensive and supportive shikigami. Offensive ones weren't as important; their spells required preparation, and monsters rarely had time to resist once the seal was cast.
Tu Bi had already displayed astonishing defensive capabilities. According to Kurahashi Tomoko, he even possessed illusionary powers. Combined with his C-rank demonic power, he was practically tailor-made for the Kagamimori family. That explained the high bids—and the willingness to go even higher.
"While your offers are tempting, I promised these two that we are merely partners," Yuto said calmly. "I have no right to control them. They follow me willingly, and I will naturally reciprocate. Therefore, I must decline your requests."
"Then, teacher, could you please register them?" Yuto added.
The Kagamimori girl initially assumed Yuto was trying to inflate the price and offered several more bids. But Yuto ignored her, and she stormed off, promising to return later.
"You've only just enrolled, and you've already offended the Jizanami family, ranked eighth among the Thirteen Demon-Slaying Families, and the Kagamimori family, ranked third," Yamato Kyuuka commented dryly. "I wonder if Senior Shinjo would regret sending you to the Onmyo Academy if he knew."
Yuto rolled his eyes. Was it his fault? He had intended to quietly study for three years and then leave. But things never went as planned—he didn't want attention, yet somehow, it always found him.
Shikigami Name: NurikabeYokai Type: NurikabeYokai Power Level: C- RankOverall Combat Strength: C RankSupport Ability: C+ Rank
When Nurikabe entered the magic circle, his data appeared in glowing runes. Yuto didn't choose to reveal his full abilities, but even the displayed stats were enough to astonish the students.
Everyone had guessed that Nurikabe might have C-rank combat strength after the battle with Jizo Maruji. Seeing it confirmed in person, however, left them visibly surprised. A C-rank shikigami meant immense freedom and capability for its master—freedom to move confidently among the students, even without touching the teachers' tier of power.
But that was only the beginning. When Nurikabe finished registering, Spider Princess slowly stepped into the central magic circle, revealing her true form.
Six long, silver-scythe legs planted themselves firmly in the ground. The instant her demonic form manifested, a palpable sense of oppression swept through the room.
It finally became clear: the stronger of Yuto's two shikigami wasn't Nurikabe—it was the voluptuous maid everyone had overlooked.
Shikigami Name: Spider PrincessYokai Race: JorogumoPower Level: B-Overall Combat Strength: BSupport Ability: B
As her stats appeared in mid-air, the students and the registration teacher collectively froze.
"A B-rank yokai, and she willingly became a shikigami of a boy not even twenty…"
"A Jorogumo at B-rank! I've never seen one like this!"
"C+ and B-rank combined… With a shikigami like that, I'd be a shoo-in for the top spot at the Academy!"
The room buzzed with astonishment, excitement, and envy. Ren Kuroda's companions weren't just powerful—they were extraordinary. And now, everyone watching understood just how dangerous it could be to cross the half-demon newcomer.