The events surrounding Ren Kuroda at the Onmyo Academy—and, in particular, the existence of the B-rank shikigami Spider Princess—spread like wildfire among the major exorcist families.
With so many students witnessing the scene in the Shikigami Dormitory, and those students hailing from influential exorcist lineages, news reached family leaders almost immediately. Yuuto's personal information didn't stay hidden for long. When they learned that he was the orphan of the Tenjōin family and bore a formidable curse, the leaders of the exorcist families had mixed feelings.
Some had already known of Yuuto's existence via their spies in the Non-Natural Countermeasures Group, though only Shinjo Isshin and his inner circle had a rough estimate of his strength. They had assumed he was just a nobody—a boy under twenty with no formal Onmyoji training. How strong could he possibly be?
The Onmyo Academy incident shattered that illusion. Seeing a young boy command a B-rank shikigami wasn't just shocking—it forced the exorcist families to reconsider everything they thought they knew. No yokai of that caliber would willingly submit to someone without immense power or influence. Yuuto's ability to command such a creature implied that he himself possessed strength on par with—or even exceeding—that of the B-rank shikigami.
They had thought he was a pushover. Instead, he was a thorny durian, capable of inflicting pain and defying expectation. It was impossible for the families not to feel a complicated mix of fear, awe, and irritation.
The enmity had already begun forming long before this. Many of these families had sought to align themselves with more powerful lineages while sidelining the Tenjōin family. Though the Non-Natural Countermeasures Group prevented direct conflict, the hostility remained. After all, if someone has the ability to retaliate against you, it's impossible to suddenly pretend to be at peace with them.
The panic was particularly pronounced among smaller families. While they bore the title of "clan," their heads' strength often barely matched that of Spider Princess—or was even weaker. For them, a boy commanding B-rank yokai was a serious threat.
For the great, long-established families, however, Yuuto's appearance was only a minor surprise. A B-rank yokai was formidable, yes—but they had countless ways to eliminate a threat like him if they wished. The inconvenience of the Non-Natural Countermeasures Group temporarily prevented them from acting, but if Yuuto ever chose to fight back, they would face limits too. No matter how the world changed, these families were patient and strategic.
Times were changing, and the influence of exorcists was growing. With increasingly powerful and frequent "evil spirits" appearing, the balance of national—and even global—power was at stake. For now, the families had to show respect to the state-backed Countermeasures Group, but the future was uncertain.
Historically, Onmyoji had far greater status than they held today. Now, the exorcist families' attitudes toward the Tenjōin family—and to Yuuto—were divided into two camps.
The first faction consisted of families that had once advocated eliminating the cursed Yuuto siblings. Their stance hadn't changed. They had incurred enmity, and proud families never bowed to a mere boy—they were committed to their path to the bitter end.
The second faction was comprised of families that had maintained a neutral stance. Witnessing Yuuto's talent and the strength he displayed at the Onmyo Academy, they saw opportunity. He was a young genius with few ties beyond his mother and younger sister. Why offend him when they could instead gain a powerful ally?
The Tenjōin family was essentially defunct. Yuuto carried the name, but none of the traditions or authority remained. For the exorcist families, marrying him into their line was an obvious strategy. Gain the boy, and you gain his extraordinary talent—along with the chance of producing even stronger offspring. A curse? Easily managed with divine artifacts or spiritual intervention.
This was why families like the Kagami and Jizo clans—previously neutral—now treated Yuuto with goodwill. They weren't interested in his possessions or his heritage. They were interested in his potential, his strength, and the opportunity to integrate him into their bloodlines. For aristocratic families, marriage wasn't romance—it was strategy. And for Yuuto, an orphan of a fallen exorcist family with immense talent, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. All that remained was for his mother to consent.
The stage was set. Ren Kuroda—or, as the world still knew him, Tenjōin Yuuto—had become a pivot upon which the power dynamics of the exorcist world would turn. Every move he made, every choice of alliance, had the potential to reshape centuries of tradition and rivalry.