Sōjun Minamoto didn't like to dawdle. Once he made a decision, he acted on it immediately.
He deployed multiple clones, altered their appearances, and seamlessly blended into the staff at Jujutsu High, attempting to follow the life patterns of the middle-aged man.
He first made a deliberate trip to the information archive and located the man's file, which gave him the basic details—including the man's name: Noriyuki Zenin.
The file didn't contain much—just surface-level information like age, gender, and family background. If there had been anything deeper, it wouldn't have been so easy to access.
Sōjun didn't know what Noriyuki had been like before, but he could use Kenjaku's behavioral patterns after taking over the body as a reference. Even if it didn't perfectly match Noriyuki's persona, Kenjaku hadn't been exposed, which gave his behavior value as a model.
Using that as a starting point, Sōjun began large-scale infiltration.
As time passed and evening approached, his clones returned to the dormitory one after another—some sitting, some lying down, some standing—gathering in the living room, slowly compiling their intel.
Bit by bit, Sōjun pieced together a clearer picture of Noriyuki Zenin.
He discovered the man was generally laid-back and disliked troublesome things—traits not unlike his own. That made it easier to relate to him.
Noriyuki had only been at Jujutsu High for a year. His persona was easy to mimic. He wasn't very sociable, kept mostly to himself, and didn't seem to have any grand ambitions or desires to accomplish anything big. His time at Jujutsu High seemed more like early retirement.
With the character profile complete, one of the clones transformed into Noriyuki Zenin and performed in front of the other Sōjuns—practicing his voice, tone, demeanor, and posture. Gradually, the imitation became spot on.
The others nodded in approval.
The next day, the new Noriyuki Zenin appeared before everyone with his usual presence, and for the time being, no one noticed anything strange.
A few more days passed.
Sōjun had mostly adjusted to Noriyuki's daily rhythm at Jujutsu High. He had successfully slipped into the role and was becoming increasingly comfortable with it.
Now, he was ready to return to his family.
Before leaving, Sōjun ran a self-check, summoned all of his shikigami, and scanned them one by one. Everything was in order.
That was why he hadn't dismantled the Shadow Shikigami earlier when merging their power—returning them in their original state helped reduce the risk of exposing flaws.
Additionally...
He dismissed all but the Divine Dogs and Round Deer.
Noriyuki Zenin could only summon two types at a time, and his usual habit was to keep the dogs and the deer.
A refined choice, in a way.
Sōjun made a mental note of these small details.
With everything in place, he sent a message to his family and left a record at Jujutsu High before setting off.
Since developing the ability to travel through space, he rarely used vehicles. This trip gave him a rare throwback experience.
The chauffeur, a family servant, provided impeccable service. Being picked up and driven in a private car made him feel every bit the young master.
Before long, they arrived at their destination.
The servant opened the door, and Sōjun stepped out.
A sprawling villa complex stretched out before him.
He stood at the grand main gate, ran through the relevant information in his mind once more, and, finding no gaps, stepped through the towering entrance.
Inside was what could be described as a courtyard, though that word barely did it justice—it was practically a forest, yet designed with the elegance of a traditional garden. Scenic at every step, it was nothing short of magnificent.
Sōjun made his way straight to the main house.
"Daddy~~!"
A child's voice called out from somewhere ahead.
He paid it no mind and began adjusting his mental state. As he walked, he silently observed his surroundings. There were many people around, most of them servants tending to their tasks—pruning flowers, mowing the grass, cleaning the grounds. Each focused on their own duties.
When they noticed Sōjun, they didn't give him more than a glance. As he passed, they would pause, bow respectfully, and greet him with a "Young Master."
Sōjun didn't break stride and kept moving.
Suddenly, something small and soft collided with his shin, then wrapped itself around his leg, stopping him in his tracks.
"Daddy~~"
…Who?
"My lord."
A young girl, her hair styled in a mature bun, stepped forward and picked up the child.
It was a little girl.
Sōjun Minamoto had noticed her earlier but hadn't paid much attention. Only when he realized she was calling out to him did it hit him—
Right... apparently, he had a daughter.
"Daddy~ hold me!" The little girl squirmed in the maid's arms, leaning forward with both hands reaching toward him.
He paused, unsure how to react. After a brief hesitation, he followed her lead, took her from the maid's arms, and awkwardly held her.
She smiled and squinted, burying her face into his chest.
Sōjun pushed down his thoughts. The intel hadn't mentioned anything about Noriyuki Zenin having a daughter.
Maintaining a neutral expression, he continued toward the main house. The maid followed closely behind, staying half a step away. He had no idea what her relationship with the original Noriyuki was.
Sticking to the rule that saying more leads to more mistakes, he kept silent. When they reached the entrance, the maid extended her hands. Not understanding her intent, Sōjun hesitated, but the little girl had already stretched out her arms toward the maid, so he passed her over.
"My lord, women are not permitted inside the main house. We'll wait here," the maid said softly. Her manner of speaking was somewhat old-fashioned.
Sōjun nodded without question, adjusted his collar, and pushed the door open.
What awaited him inside was the current head of the Zenin Clan—Naobito Zenin.
Talk about a high-difficulty opening. Clan members were required to greet the head of the family when returning home. It was the rule. Sōjun had to follow it, but once he cleared this hurdle, everything else would be easier...
Inside, an old man reclined half-upright on a bench. His white hair was slicked back and loosely trailed behind him. His eyebrows were long and fine, and his thin, upward-curling mustache almost aligned with them.
He wore a black yukata, chest exposed, lounging with one hand propping up his head and the other raising a gourd from which he poured cloudy liquid into his mouth. A faint scent of alcohol hung in the air.
He didn't seem to care that some of it spilled onto his face.
"Clan Head," Sōjun glanced at him, lowered his eyes, and bowed respectfully.
Noriyuki Zenin's information flashed through his mind—originally from a side branch, elevated to the main family after awakening the Ten Shadows Technique.
From its founding, the Zenin Clan had always prioritized recruiting sorcerers with powerful techniques, gradually securing their unshakable place in the jujutsu world.
The so-called hereditary techniques—[Projection Sorcery], [Ten Shadows Technique]—hadn't originally belonged to the Zenin Clan. They were likely acquired externally and gradually assimilated.
This led to a unique dynamic: inheriting a hereditary technique meant a fast track to power within the clan.
Noriyuki Zenin was a prime example.
Conversely, even direct descendants without a family technique would be sidelined—or outright expelled.
In this family, blood meant nothing. Strength was everything.
And with 80% of power coming from innate talent, the value of a technique couldn't be overstated.
"Noriyuki?" Naobito opened his blurry eyes and looked him over. "What brings you back today?"
"…Have a drink?"
Still reclined, he raised the gourd toward him.
Sōjun hesitated, then declined to take it. His voice came out a little stiff.
"I didn't come back for New Year's, so I figured I'd visit this time."
He spoke in Noriyuki's usual tone—or rather, in the way Noriyuki uniquely addressed Naobito.
It wasn't respectful flattery. It was deflection. Naobito wanted Noriyuki to inherit the clan, but Noriyuki was lazy and intentionally chose the one attitude that irritated him most, just to avoid the responsibility.
Sure enough, Naobito's expression darkened. "Spouting that kind of nonsense... Get lost."
He waved his hand.
The ideal successor would say flattering things. The wrong one always talked back. If only they could switch places...
Still, Naobito liked it when his preferred candidate pushed back.
Since this was Sōjun's first time back, he couldn't afford to act out of character—otherwise, he might've accidentally accepted and landed the Clan Head position right away.
Unfortunately, he had to follow Noriyuki's lead. So, with an awkward scratch of his head, he backed out of the room.
That chore done, he didn't have to worry about anyone else. The Zenin Clan didn't care about family ties, and Noriyuki had long since separated from his parents.
Not a decent man either—quick to forget his roots once he gained status.
Sōjun didn't plan to do anything extra. This was how the Zenin Clan worked—and how Noriyuki's parents were too. If he showed even a hint of kindness, they'd take it as weakness.
That would only invite more trouble.
Everyone in this clan was selfish and self-serving. No one cared about others. He'd need to imitate that too.
Now that he'd cleared the clan head's test, the risk of exposure was basically gone. He could shift his focus to obtaining what he needed.
Sōjun stepped out of the main house, feeling relaxed—only to spot a large and small figure standing near the gate. His expression tensed.
This… could be tricky.
"Daddy~~ come home!" The little girl ran up and grabbed his hand, standing on tiptoe and looking up at him.
Sōjun froze. She was adorably delicate, well-behaved, and clever—but she seemed to be sick. Her speech was disjointed, delivered in short, broken phrases.
He felt a faint tug on his hand, snapping him out of his thoughts. Looking down, he smiled softly at her.
"Let's go home."
He took her hand and walked back. The maid, as always, stayed close behind.
Back home, Sōjun found himself a bit overwhelmed. The little girl clung to him constantly, holding onto him without saying a word—just smiling up at him.
The maid, too, followed them in. She immediately started tidying up the house, then headed to the kitchen to cook. But she never strayed far from him.
From her behavior and how she addressed Noriyuki, Sōjun let out a breath of relief. For a moment, he'd feared she was his wife.
Turns out—just a maid.
Still, she never left. That might be a problem later, he thought again.
Suddenly, the little girl spoke, cutting off his thoughts.
"Not Daddy?"
The words made Sōjun jolt. Was he exposed?
The shadow at his feet rippled, quietly spreading toward the doorway—where two canine silhouettes crouched, barely visible, at the threshold.
He held back his movements and leaned in toward the little girl, speaking softly, "What do you mean by that?"
"Daddy doesn't like me. He doesn't talk to me," she said, tapping her chin with her index finger, frowning in distress.
Sōjun Minamoto could already tell—she wasn't a stutterer, but had a cognitive impairment. She didn't realize that her way of speaking was disjointed or unusual. In her mind, she was just like everyone else.
He understood now. She was saying that the original Sōjun hadn't liked her and never paid her any attention. His behavior just now was a stark contrast—he may have slipped up.
He looked at the little girl, who seemed about five or six years old. Aside from her speech issues, she was bright and quick-witted.
But that sharpness might become a problem. Maybe it was best to keep her asleep for a few more days?
As he weighed his options in silence, his right hand was suddenly grabbed by a pair of small, cold hands, fiddling with his fingers.
"I like this Daddy better!" she said with a smile, pressing her cheek against his palm.
Even more trouble...
His eyes shifted toward the kitchen—someone else was still there. He hadn't yet figured out their relationship, nor whether they had noticed anything off.
Most likely, they had. But for some reason, they hadn't reacted, which only made things trickier for Sōjun Minamoto.
Everything had been going smoothly so far. Thanks to the shadow shikigami, he had found both the host and his own home without error, paying attention to even the smallest details.
Yet now, in these seemingly insignificant moments, cracks were beginning to show...
The girl moved swiftly, preparing the food in no time and bringing the dishes to the table one by one. The little girl ran to help. As she brought the final dish and was about to set it down—
Sōjun Minamoto suddenly relaxed, leaned back in his chair, smiled, and casually pointed at her.
"You've already figured it out, haven't you?"
Clatter—
The girl flinched, losing her grip. The plate crashed onto the table. She quickly bowed to apologize, grabbed a cloth to wipe the spill, then dropped to her knees and bowed in a full dogeza before him.
It left him speechless.
She was the traditional type—quiet, gentle, a bit too submissive. Her nature wouldn't let her lie or hide things from him.
After a bit of questioning, he finally learned—this girl was actually his cousin.
That came as a relief.
But as she slowly laid out the situation, Sōjun Minamoto began to realize just how wrong things were...
Noriyuki Zenin's wife had died during childbirth, and the clan wasted no time in arranging a replacement.
That was no good.
The clan knew he had no intention of becoming the family head. Many didn't want to see him take the position anyway—but they still couldn't bear to lose the Ten Shadows Technique...
They were treating him like a stud horse.
And that wasn't even the worst part.
In order to preserve the bloodline and avoid dilution, some believed that close-relative pairings would increase the chance of technique inheritance...
The little girl's mother—his previous partner—was also his cousin.
Sōjun Minamoto glanced at the young girl beside him, and felt a growing chill.
It's the 21st century. Anyone who's been through basic education knows that close relatives shouldn't marry.
Whether it actually boosts the odds of inheriting a family technique is uncertain. But what's certain is the increased risk of genetic disorders, congenital illnesses, weakened immune systems, and even facial deformities.
In extreme cases, it could lead to early death.
Now he understood the little girl's congenital deficiencies. He was speechless, mentally reeling.
What kind of ancient, backward family is this?
Everywhere he looked, there were problems.
Abandoning wives and children seemed like a Zenin Clan tradition, and the original Noriyuki was no exception.
Noriyuki Zenin was emotionally cold—indifferent to both daughter and partner. His mindset was always "too much trouble, just throw it away." So when the family arranged another woman, he simply ran off to Jujutsu High to avoid the mess.
That's why the young girl wore her hair in a married woman's bun—she had been sent by the family as his replacement partner.
The original Noriyuki resented everything associated with the family and treated her terribly. A few days after she arrived, he abandoned her... and the child.
Women in the Zenin Clan had little status. Without a strong or awakened technique, they were often handed off as concubines to the main family. That's how both the girl and her predecessor ended up here.
The men didn't fare much better. If their cursed techniques were weak, they were left with no standing at all. Family members would do whatever it took to get ahead—even direct relatives turning on each other wasn't unusual.
In a place that should represent warmth and safety—"home"—they had to constantly be on guard.
Strength ruled all. Hierarchy was absolute. The Zenin Clan embodied survival of the fittest to the extreme.
If not for the current head, Naobito Zenin, being relatively open-minded and strict with his subordinates, who knows what horrors would be unfolding?
Sōjun Minamoto looked at the girl kneeling before him—completely resigned.
She had already been assimilated by the family.
Already tamed, with no will to resist.
This... would be difficult.
He never imagined that the reason he'd been exposed was simply because he smiled at the little girl and nodded at the girl a few times.
The child was young and simple—she just felt that her dad had become nicer and more affectionate.
But the older girl... was a different matter. Sōjun Minamoto had no idea what was going through her mind.
After a moment of thought, he told her,
"You two should just stay home for the next few days."
Both of them were ordinary people, and with the shadow shikigami watching, he wasn't worried about any surprises. His true identity hadn't been exposed, so there were no loose ends.
After seeing the Zenin Clan for himself, he completely lost interest in the family. If anything, he felt relieved—truly free of pressure.
He wasn't planning to stay with the Zenin Clan for long.
His goal now was to locate the legacy of the Ten Shadows Technique, find the ritual to subdue Mahoraga, and leave as soon as possible.
With that decided, Sōjun Minamoto felt completely at ease. He gently helped the girl to her feet and said softly,
"It's fine. Let's eat first."
The girl remained kneeling, her face nearly touching the floor. Her eyes flickered.
Is it really... fine?
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake