After returning from his purchases, Shin properly stored the large bags of daily necessities and the newly acquired talisman-making materials inside the old residence.
The once-empty house finally gained a sense of warmth and everyday life. Though still simple, it was no longer the cold, hollow shell it had been before.
He didn't immediately rush into cultivation or talisman crafting. Instead, he spent nearly half a day thoroughly cleaning the place.
He swept away years of accumulated dust, wiped down the wooden floors, replaced the damaged paper sliding doors, and laid out the newly bought bedding.
The labor was tiring, but it carried a quiet sense of fulfillment—the peace that came from personally building a place to live.
By the time everything was tidied up, the sun was once again sinking toward the west.
Shin sat on the porch, gazing at the desolate yet faintly vibrant plants in the courtyard. His mind was uncommonly calm.
Taking out the newly purchased cinnabar and yellow talisman paper, he planned to use this tranquil moment to attempt drawing a second Peace Talisman, hoping to gain proficiency through repetition.
However, just as he finished mixing the cinnabar, picked up his brush, and was about to immerse himself in the rune trajectories—
A subtle ripple suddenly spread through the invisible Breath Concealment Formation and Purity Formation surrounding the courtyard.
It was like a tiny stone dropped into still water.
The fluctuation was faint—but unmistakable.
Someone had touched the outer perimeter of the formation.
It wasn't a forced intrusion.
More like a tentative probe…
Or the natural reaction caused by the approach of someone carrying special energy.
Shin's heart tightened instantly.
He put down the brush at once, cleared all distracting thoughts, and instinctively pushed the Breath-Hiding Method to its limit, suppressing his aura until it resembled an ancient, motionless stone.
He moved quietly to the window and cautiously peered out through a narrow gap.
Outside the courtyard gate stood a young man.
He was tall and slender, wearing the Kuoh Academy male uniform.
His dark blue hair was cut short, and although he tried to appear serious, his youth still showed through his expression. A trace of scrutiny lingered in his eyes.
Pinned to his chest was a badge—
Disciplinary Committee Member.
Someone from the Student Council.
Shin immediately recognized him.
Shiro Tsubaki—a Student Council member and one of Sona Sitri's Devil servants, a Pawn.
How did he find this place?
The answer surfaced instantly.
Yesterday's visit to the supernatural materials shop.
He had been noticed.
Sona Sitri was famous for her meticulous nature and her strong desire for control.
Any abnormal activity within Kuoh Town—especially those related to supernatural elements—would not escape her attention.
A new transfer student with strange habits, repeatedly visiting magical shops?
Scrutiny was inevitable.
A knock sounded at the gate—neither heavy nor light, professional and restrained.
Shin took a slow breath.
He quickly gathered the talisman materials on the table and tucked them away into an inconspicuous corner, then adjusted his expression until he looked like nothing more than an ordinary student.
Only then did he walk over and open the courtyard gate.
"Hello. Are you Shin, classmate?"
Standing outside, Shiro Tsubaki showed his Disciplinary Committee badge in a practiced motion, clearly trying to sound authoritative.
"That's me," Shin replied calmly, showing mild confusion. "And you are?"
"I'm Shiro Tsubaki, a Disciplinary Committee member of the Kuoh Academy Student Council."
He straightened slightly, his gaze sharpening.
"According to Student Council regulations, we conduct routine discipline and safety checks on students living alone off-campus, to ensure their well-being."
A flawless, official explanation.
Shin knew immediately—this was an excuse.
Even the most diligent Student Council wouldn't normally investigate a transfer student who hadn't even formally registered yet.
"I see. You must be busy," Shin said politely, stepping aside.
"Please come in. I just finished cleaning, so it's still a bit simple."
Shiro Tsubaki nodded and entered the courtyard.
His gaze appeared casual, yet it swept sharply across the courtyard and the house.
What he saw was an ordinary, slightly aged Japanese-style residence.
No magic traces.
No demonic fluctuations.
No Sacred Gear reaction.
Utterly normal.
He even discreetly activated a trace of Devil Power to enhance his perception.
The feedback was still—
Nothing.
The transfer student's aura was faint to the point of being negligible, and the surrounding environment was unnaturally clean, lacking even the usual mixed residue found in populated areas.
That excessive cleanliness made Shiro uneasy—though he couldn't explain why.
"Classmate Shin," Shiro said casually, continuing his probe, "did you just move to Kuoh Town? I heard you came from the East."
"Yes. Due to some family circumstances, I came here alone to study," Shin replied smoothly, following the identity arranged by the System.
He guided Shiro to sit on the freshly cleaned porch.
"Sorry, I haven't prepared tea yet."
"That's fine."
Shiro waved it off, his gaze drifting around the interior.
Soon, his attention landed on several books on the desk—clearly unrelated to school subjects.
They were books on Eastern philosophy and folklore, deliberately placed there as camouflage.
"Are you interested in this kind of thing?" Shiro asked casually.
"Just a personal hobby," Shin replied naturally. "I want to better understand my homeland's culture."
The answer was flawless.
Unknowingly, Shiro's previously tense vigilance began to ease.
Being near Shin gave him a strange sense of comfort.
The young man spoke gently, his demeanor calm, his eyes clear and sincere.
More importantly—
A faint, indescribably fresh aura seemed to surround him.
It wasn't magic.
It wasn't demonic energy.
It was more like a mountain spring or a forest breeze—pure, natural, and calming.
Shiro felt his constantly restless Devil energy settle slightly.
This sensation was unfamiliar, yet pleasant.
And because it felt so natural, it never registered as "danger."
Unconsciously, his suspicion dropped.
Are we being too sensitive?
Is he really just an introverted transfer student with odd hobbies?
At most… a little strange.
"Ahem."
Shiro cleared his throat and straightened up again.
"Well then, the disciplinary visit concludes here."
"Classmate Shin, since you live alone, please be mindful of safety and follow school rules. If you encounter difficulties, the Student Council can assist."
"I will. Thank you for the Student Council's concern."
Shin smiled politely, his attitude impeccable.
After escorting Shiro to the gate and watching his figure disappear around the corner, Shin closed the door and leaned against it.
He slowly exhaled.
His palms were damp with cold sweat.
That was close.
The Student Council's probing had arrived exactly as expected.
Without the Breath Concealment Formation.
Without constantly operating the Breath-Hiding Method.
Without careful handling—
This would not have ended so smoothly.
Shiro Tsubaki might be young, but the Devil Power within him was far from weak, and his perception was sharp.
Shin clearly felt the probing energy just now—fully blocked only because of the formation.
As for the faint Dao Rhyme emanating from his body—
That was a natural result of being washed by Spiritual Qi after initial cultivation. Pure, peaceful, and non-aggressive.
Ironically, it reduced the other party's vigilance instead.
"It seems I need to be even more careful from now on."
Shin murmured.
The Student Council's attention meant he had officially entered the radar of Kuoh Town's supernatural forces.
This time, he had passed.
But Sona Sitri, renowned for her intelligence, would not let suspicion go so easily.
Beneath the calm surface of campus life, undercurrents were already stirring.
Shin returned to the porch and looked at the unfinished talisman on the table, his gaze sharpening with resolve.
Power.
He needed strength—quickly.
For survival.
For stability.
For standing firm in this growing maelstrom.
He picked up the brush again, focused his mind and Qi, and poured everything into the crimson point at its tip.
Outside, dusk deepened, quietly enveloping the small courtyard.
And inside the house, beneath his brush—
A new spark of spiritual light was about to be born.