463 -457- Do you believe it?

In the evening, Kurahashi Genji and Kurahashi Kyouko left together.

Rozen didn't go and sent them off, and there was no need to.

He remained in the training area throughout, continuing to research his techniques, refining and perfecting the simple styles he was working on.

Later, that young troublemaker Harutora entered the training area and informed Rozen.

"My dad and mom are taking Natsume home now. After Mom used a healing talisman on her, Natsume's feeling much better, but she still needs to rest. We'll come to play with you another time."

"And, I heard that among the important people who visited earlier, there was a girl about your age who was looking for you. She got really upset when she couldn't find you. I don't know what happened, but you better be careful when you meet her next time."

"Well, I'm heading back now. Bye."

Leaving behind those words, Harutora hurriedly left.

"That kid, always in such a rush," Rozen chuckled. "A true tiger."

Rozen brushed aside these matters and continued to practice his jujutsu. In the past, he would stay here practicing 'Summoning Arts,' 'Puppetry Arts,' 'Onmyoudou,' and the eight tiers of Magus techniques until late at night, then return to his room.

No one would disturb Rozen. After the Tsuchimikado branch family and the Kurahashi family members left, the mansion was left with only Rozen and Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi.

The latter wouldn't pay much attention to Rozen, treating him with the usual cold indifference. As long as Rozen arrived on time tomorrow to continue learning jujutsu, there wouldn't be any problems.

But today...

"Come with me."

Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi suddenly appeared in the training area and said this to Rozen before promptly leaving.

Seeing this, Rozen was slightly puzzled, then furrowed his brow. Nonetheless, he silently stood up and followed Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, leaving the training area.

As the two of them left the training area, the evening sky outside had completely darkened, revealing a bright moon and numerous twinkling stars.

Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi stood in the corridor, gazing at the night sky as if in communication with the stars, his eyes shimmering with a faint light.

Rozen stood behind Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, observing his demeanor, and remained silent, not saying a word.

Father and son stood there without speaking, maintaining this silence for a full half-hour.

Honestly, under normal circumstances, Rozen's patience wasn't this great.

However, if it was for tactical or strategic reasons, Rozen's patience would unexpectedly be quite high, proving that while he had a temper, his mind was very clear, he knew when to be practical, and understood boundaries.

In this situation, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi finally spoke up.

"Did you know everything?"

It was as if he knew what Rozen had encountered; Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi made this abrupt inquiry.

And what Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi was referring to naturally meant Tsuchimikado Yakou and his reincarnation.

Tsuchimikado Yakou was going to be reincarnated into the descendant of his own bloodline, the son of the current head of the Tsuchimikado family.

Clearly, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi knew about this.

However, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi had never mentioned it in front of Rozen.

What could be the reason for this?

Rozen didn't know yet.

But when faced with the question, Rozen still provided an answer.

"Yes, I know."

Rozen responded succinctly.

"...Is that so?" Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi fell silent for a moment, then asked expressionlessly, "Do you believe it?"

Rozen was well aware of what this question meant.

Was Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi trying to say this?

"Do you believe that you are Yakou's reincarnation?"

That was the question Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi wanted to ask.

Rozen once again responded concisely.

"No, I don't."

There was no hesitation, no second thoughts. Rozen answered straightforwardly.

This seemed to surprise Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, who finally turned around to look at Rozen.

With their gazes meeting, neither could discern what the other was truly thinking.

After a while, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi spoke quietly.

"To be honest, I didn't expect you to answer so firmly."

Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi seemed to express some astonishment.

But wouldn't that be the normal reaction? After hearing about Tsuchimikado Yakou from the head of the Onmyou Agency and the rumors about being Yakou's reincarnation, even the calmest person would likely be shocked and shaken.

Yet Rozen displayed no inclination in that direction, which perhaps was surprising to Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, and that was understandable.

However, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi would never know the real reason why Rozen was so certain.

Because Rozen knew very well that he wasn't a true Tsuchimikado, didn't possess the bloodline of the Tsuchimikado family, let alone being the descendant of the main branch.

So, even if the rumors were true, and Tsuchimikado Yakou truly reincarnated into his descendant, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi's son, it would never be Rozen.

Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi had never mentioned to Rozen that he wasn't his biological son, and now probably assumed that Rozen didn't doubt his lineage, still considering himself as a member of the Tsuchimikado main branch.

Furthermore, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi hadn't shared this information with anyone else except Tsuchimikado Takahiro and Tsuchimikado Chizuru.

No one else knew that Rozen was found from the outside and wasn't a descendant of the Tsuchimikado family.

But if the rumors were true, what was going on exactly?

Rozen pondered these questions one by one.

At this moment...

"To be honest, seeing your battle with Kurahashi-dono today, I have to admit that I underestimated your talents until now."

Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi suddenly changed the topic.

"With your current age in consideration, if you can develop this talent further, you might even rival Yakou, wouldn't you?"

Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi's tone didn't sound like praise, but it gave Rozen the highest possible evaluation.

Then...

"Takahiro has already suggested to me that I should give this to you in advance. Since your talent is so exceptional, I'll let you inherit this treasure that has been passed down through the Tsuchimikado family for generations."

Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi said these words.

As he did, a massive surge of spiritual energy began to emanate from him.

"Come forth."

With Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi's low command, the spiritual energy swirling around him transformed into spiritual veins and flowed into the night sky before them.

"Clang!"

In that instant, a dazzling golden light burst forth.