Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

"The first step to becoming a Sorcerer is to refine Cursed Energy! Cursed Energy comes from your negative emotions — it's not sourceless. Extracting Cursed Energy from negative emotions is the foundation of being a Sorcerer."

After hesitating for a long time, Iroha still couldn't overcome her overwhelming sense of shame.

Just when she'd given up hope of becoming a Sorcerer, that bastard Senpai had the old woman teach them Sorcery basics. The detailed tutorial made her suspicious of Daiki's ulterior motives.

"Hey little one, focus! Concentration is the most important part of refining Cursed Energy. Without it, you won't be able to extract Cursed Energy from negative emotions." Mei bent slightly forward, her swaying peaks making the girl clench her teeth.

"...Cow!" Iroha muttered under her breath.

If the old woman hadn't made her Senpai stay out all night, she might have succeeded already, instead of having to practice these basics now.

Eternal Youth, surpassing Special-Grade Sorcerers — either achievement alone would drive others crazy. These were heights she could never reach even if she practiced Sorcery her whole life.

However... that phrase the bastard Senpai wanted her to say was just too embarrassing.

If they'd been alone... if Ayase and Kirino hadn't been there, she definitely would have said it.

Thinking about it now, Iroha couldn't help but feel regret.

It was just one phrase — how could she not say it?

"I... I think I've refined a bit of Cursed Energy!" Ayase's beautiful eyes flew open as she exclaimed excitedly.

This suddenly snapped Iroha out of her regret.

"Well done! You've indeed refined a thread of Cursed Energy." Mei, who was teaching the three, examined briefly and nodded with satisfaction.

"...?" A shocked Iroha stared blankly at her friend.

She hadn't even sensed her own negative emotions, yet Ayase had already succeeded. This speed of refining Cursed Energy seemed impossible.

"Mei Mei-onee, does Ayase have high sorcery aptitude?"

The sweet voice made Mei glance over.

She calmly replied, "You can't determine sorcery aptitude from refining Cursed Energy. Let me restate the two most important points for Sorcerers. First is Innate Technique, which determines combat power. Second is total Cursed Energy — refinement speed isn't important, capacity is key. Even with fast refinement, a Grade 4 Sorcerer can't contain more than their body allows. Still, compared to ordinary Sorcerers, Ayase's talent is indeed notable."

Her words made Iroha's understanding clearer.

Ayase wasn't discouraged — being able to become a Sorcerer was good enough.

"I've refined Cursed Energy too!"

Another excited voice rang out, making Iroha, who had just started feeling relieved, tense up again.

If she were practicing alone, the speed wouldn't matter. What's scary is comparison — that becomes deadly.

Ayase and Kirino had both successfully refined Cursed Energy, while she couldn't even find the threshold. This made her emotions instantly turn anxious and uneasy.

"Stay calm! Stay calm! The old woman said these are just sorcerer basics. Can't let negative emotions take control — have to look at this calmly."

Despite telling herself this, who could truly keep their heart calm in such a situation?

Her heart was already in turmoil from her friends' success.

As the night wore on, weariness set in.

Ayase and Kirino couldn't suppress their yawns.

Refining Cursed Energy was mentally draining enough, especially in the middle of the night. Once the initial excitement from encountering the Magano and Impurities wore off, exhaustion took over.

"Let's go back and rest." Daiki noticed their fatigue and spoke gently.

"Thank you, Senpai!" Ayase and Kirino bowed gratefully.

Their earlier poor impression of him had been completely wrong — they realized this after actually getting to know him.

Ayase felt ashamed and guilty about her previous behavior.

"Senpai, I'm sorry for my childish actions before." She bowed again suddenly.

"Me too, I'm sorry!" Remembering the cooking incident, Kirino quickly bowed in apology.

"It's fine." Daiki waved dismissively, not even sure what they were apologizing for.

Relieved by his forgiveness, the two left the room happily with Iroha.

"You two go rest first. I need to ask Senpai about some tips for refining Cursed Energy." Iroha said to them.

"Eh, you haven't refined any Cursed Energy yet?" Ayase paused, "Should we really bother Senpai now? Maybe we could visit tomorrow instead?"

A slight blush colored her fair cheeks.

After all, before their encounter with the Impurities, Mei's sounds had been quite noticeable.

"It's fine, just go rest." Iroha said, turning away before they could protest further.

Ayase and Kirino exchanged glances and thought nothing more of it.

❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

Seeing Iroha return, Mei tactfully went to the adjacent bedroom.

"Sen... Senpai, please let me become a Sorcerer, please teach me."

Her words trembled, her face flushed crimson. She never thought she'd find herself saying such things.

"No."

"Thank you so... Huh? Wh-why? I followed Senpai's request." Iroha asked, dumbfounded.

"My request was for you to say it at that moment, but you didn't obey."

His cold attitude made her heart sink.

"Senpai, please, give me another chance. This time I won't refuse anything you ask me to say." She put on her most pitiful expression.

Daiki's eyes flickered — there was still room for remedy.

❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

Kirino and Ayase had already returned to the adjacent bedroom.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew the bedroom door open.

"Eh, Kirino, didn't you close the door?"

"Ah? Maybe I didn't close it properly?"

Ayase walked to the door, casually glancing at the pitch-black living room. A chill ran down her spine.

Could there be more Impurities?

A quick scan revealed no abnormalities, except for an odd smell that caught her attention.

She sniffed the air, following the scent, but found nothing unusual.

Still uneasy, she quickly closed the bedroom door and hurried back.

"Don't worry, Senpai next door will protect us — there's no danger." Kirino said with a laugh.

With Daiki's strength, even if some Impuritie appeared, it would have to leave on its knees.

"That's true." After considering this, Ayase felt much more at ease.

❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

Iroha felt strangely at ease as the Ghost Hand cradled her body, though something impossibly large pressed against her small frame.

"Senpai~!" Her tiny voice rang out in mild protest.

Her cheeks flushed as she watched the ethereal barrier of invisible hands.

"Can I become a Sorcerer now? You mischievous senpai."

Her playful expression seemed designed to provoke.

As the Ghost Hands shimmered faintly, it became clear neither would find rest that night.

❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

By the next morning, Daiki had left with Rizu Ogata.

The three girls — Ayase and the others — continued refining Cursed Energy at home under Mei's instruction.

"Senpai is so gentle, spending time tutoring classmates like this." Ayase leaned close to Iroha's ear and sighed softly.

The hot breath made Iroha's face flush crimson.

It reminded her of last night's incident — that nose sniffing everywhere. If Daiki hadn't blocked it with his technique, she dreaded to imagine what might have happened.

Yet the oblivious Ayase still thought that bastard senpai was a good person!

Iroha's legs trembled as she snorted coldly, "Who knows if that bastard senpai's 'tutoring' is really tutoring? He probably only teaches pretty girls."

"Eh? Iroha, you're being too harsh on senpai!" Ayase scolded disapprovingly.

Even Kirino, focused on refining Cursed Energy, nodded in agreement.

Looking at her two friends who had turned against her, Iroha had complaints she couldn't voice.

Refining Cursed Energy was just the most basic knowledge in the Jujutsu World!

That bastard Senpai had won over her two best friends with just this simple lesson.

"Could he be teaching this because he's targeting Ayase and Kirino?" Iroha suddenly realized, alarm bells ringing in her head.

She glanced sideways at her two friends praising that bastard Senpai and fell silent.

These two... they'd probably help count the money even if Daiki sold them!

❊❊❊

T/N: If you want more chapters like this, check out my Patreon! Take a look at my other translations too, you might like them!

For just $1 you can access all the extra content, descriptive images, and the smuts (this one has a lot), costs only $2!

That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)

https://www.patreon.com/mrblackwing