Evaluation

Time Skip-3 years

2010

In Tokyo Jujutsu High, Kusakabe who recently graduated from Kyoto Jujutsu High looked at the profile and the girl in front of him.

"Kid, are you sure you want to go through this evaluation test? You are just 13, you can do this before you enter the Tokyo jujutsu high"

A short girl with long black hair replied casually "Would you rather want me to exorcise curses 'illegally' and lose the money I can get out of it?'

Kusakabe sighed "Hah~, I won't argue anymore. Anyway, your task is simple. We will exorcise curses in ascending order of difficulty up to Grade 2. This is strictly an evaluation test. So, you can get your license and we can grade you. If you feel like your life is being threatened, you can just quit. "

"Also, you can simply call me Yoshi"

"Whatever suits you"

They boarded the car the auxiliary manager was driving. Kusakabe continued to explain the information on the cursed spirit she had to exorcise.

"I don't think I need to warn you about Grade 4 and Grade 3 cursed spirits however, the Grade 2 cursed spirit will be a problem"

"Are you saying that even after sensing my cursed energy? "

"Look kid, I get it that you are strong but information is power. I exorcised strong curses because they underestimated me. This special case is a Grade 2 with the potential to become a special grade"

"A special grade?"

Yoshi is surprised, Special grades seldom appear. In all her life, she never encountered one, even now, it's just a Grade 2. This piqued her curiosity.

Kusakabe explained further "It's the cursed spirit of Kuchisake-Onna. It was a special grade curse exorcised a few years back by special grade curse user Suguru Geto. Recently, this has become a hot topic and once again, it manifested. From what we know, it is a Grade 2 cursed spirit for now"

A Grade 2 cursed spirit is a strong curse. If she were a normal sorceress, she wouldn't even dare but Yoshi is confident in her abilities.

"But, Isn't Suguru Geto's a cursed spirit manipulator? Isn't there a chance he already got in under his control?"

"Well, he did but later, it is reported that it was destroyed during some secret mission. This mission is also to exorcise the curse before he can get his hands on it this time."

"Is it that strong?"

"It uses a simple domain that is the crystallized form of its urban legend. Kuchisake-Onna's simple domain forces a binding vow of non-violence between her and her target until her question is answered. It's a simple domain, so even now, it is capable of casting it. Aside from that, she attacks using scissors"

"That sounds awfully close to a domain expansion"

"No, it's a simple domain. If it's a domain expansion, its cursed energy output and cursed technique will surely hit besides, you will see it for yourself"

Even though Kusakabe didn't think much, he felt skeptical about this mission for some reason.

'I must be overthinking, it's just a Grade 2 curse'

Soon, they reached the spot. It's on the outskirts of Sapporo. It's a forest near a Shinto shrine, Yoshi walked straight towards the curses she sensed.

"So, let me get this straight. I should exorcise the curses here and the Grade 2 curse in the city. Is that it?"

Kusakabe replied "Yes, you should also prove your ability to cast a Curtain"

Evaluation is not conducted much, as any sorcerer generally goes to Jujutsu high schools and gets the official license as they improve.

However, One can apply for Evaluation to prove that they can take on missions. This rule is present due to the scarcity of sorcerers.

Generally, only those who belong to sorcerer clans apply for evaluation to get their licenses earlier.

It's purely for the sake of profit.

"Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness. Purify that which is impure."

After Yoshi finished the chant, the curtain formed around the forest area.

Yoshi didn't move, instead, she asked "Is this enough?"

"Yes," Kusakabe answered. He was about to smoke thinking Yoshi would walk to the curses and exorcise them. They are far inside the forest anyway.

To his surprise, A white and blue long bow is summoned in her hand, she doesn't move at all. She drew five arrows out of thin air and aimed at the bow towards the forest. The moment she released it, the arrows traveled in a straight line in different directions, they phased through the trees and hit the curses. All happened in an instant.

The Grade 4 and Grade 3 curses squealed and were exorcised on the spot.

"How is it?"

"Cursed tool?"

"Yes"

"Your Archery is good. Unfortunately, this is not enough. This will make you a Grade 4. You have to prove you can exorcise a strong curse in close combat or with your Innate cursed technique"

Yoshi understood what he was getting at "So, I should beat a curse to a pulp with jujutsu?"

"More or less" Kusakabe is impressed by the archery skill. He could sense that all the curses vanished at the same time though he could not pinpoint their location. Still, it is not enough in his opinion. He wants her to do better.

'I can also get less dangerous missions if someone like her can take them'

Kusakabe is a realist. He could sense the powerful cursed energy and talent in front of his own eyes and knew what that meant.

After canceling the curtain, the auxiliary manager dropped them in a neighborhood.

"She's right in front of us."

Kuchisake Onna, the Imaginary vengeful cursed spirit looked humanoid in appearance with the appearance of a tall woman with long, disheveled black hair that reached past her shoulders. Most of her face is obscured by her hair, but several eyes appear within the strands of hair. As a cursed spirit, it is pretty compared to others but from a human perspective, its ugliness is displayed in all its glory. It observed the two humans with a strong presence.

"Yes but don't engage just yet. The civilians are being evacuated by the auxiliary manager"

Kuchisake Onna seeing the humans in front of her are not seeing her is slowly walking towards the streets where most humans are present. Not to mention, she will only ask boys. It realized with its meager intelligence that the man and the woman in front of her could not be her targets.

"Right, Civilians"

"I know, It can be annoying to be aware of casualties while dealing with curses but it's quite a common occurrence. It's better to be safe than sorry"

"Your name is Atsuya Kusakabe right?, Kusakabe-san, Thank you for the consideration but I don't care about civilians. The deaths of strangers meant nothing to me"

Kusakabe didn't speak much as he understood that the girl in front of him could handle herself. As for her ideals, he didn't give it much thought. In a way, his ideals indirectly killed many people, but he values his life too much to feel guilty. So, he's not exactly a Saint either. Casualties are just part of the job.

The evacuation was completed, luckily the point of Origin of the curse is a remote area of the town. So, a lot less people need to be evacuated. Not to mention, today is Sunday.

Yoshi cast a Curtain enclosing the space.

"Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness. Purify that which is impure."

Kushisake Onna noticing the darkening of the day, sensed a strong presence. It moved with tremendous speed with scissors in her hand and attacked Yoshi.

The white symbols on the black glove on her left hand glowed summoning a golden shield that blocked all the damage from the scissors. Yoshi summoned a Hammer in the other hand and was about to attack but her hand froze on the spot as the curse muttered. Yoshi sensed the rise of the cursed energy of Kuchisake Onna.

"A.Am I..pre..pre. tty?"

'Shit'

Kuchisake Onna's cursed energy formed a simple domain in an instant, the color of the surroundings inverted and everything froze on the spot. The rules of the simple domain entered her mind. This is a simple domain where no violence is allowed and she will have to answer the question to move.

"Do you even have to ask, You are one Ugly bitch "

Yoshi Smirked at the curse.

"Aeurghh!!!! H..How Dare...You!"

Yoshi's reply enraged the cursed spirit, as tens of scissors were conjured on thin air around Yoshi, as they tried to pierce and slash Yoshi into Mincemeat.

Yoshi also gained her freedom of movement due to answering and the shield multiplied into Two and moved on their own defending Yoshi from any harm.

But some scissors were too fast and attacked Yoshi but couldn't penetrate Yoshi's reinforced body.

While the shields were blocking the scissors, Kuchisake Onna slashed with her arms but Yoshi struck the Hammer into the ground leaving a huge dent on the ground which made both of them lose balance, making the cursed spirit attack miss but as Yoshi's ready for the impact, she focused all of her cursed energy into leg leaving her upper body vulnerable.

All cursed spirits have a core of cursed energy acting like a heart. To exorcise a spirit, you either have to force the cursed spirit to use all of its cursed energy, destroy its entire being, or just aim for the heart of the cursed spirit.

Yoshi gave an upper kick to the face of Kuchisake Onna where her heart was present, Obliterating its head in the process. Thus, exorcising the curse.

Yoshi picked up a Glass shard and sealed one of the scissors that were disappearing.

'I can see the potential for a special-grade cursed tool'

Yoshi thought as she stored the Glass shard in her black glove. 'Dark Armory' as she named the two black gloves, the upgraded version of the dress that can 'hide' cursed tools.

As she couldn't use her cursed technique yet, she made 'Dark Armory' as the dress is too inconvenient but gloves are something she can carry everywhere.

Kusakabe graded her from his observation. He observed the way she fought and her cursed energy control. With everything that happened till now, it became too easy to evaluate her.

"You are a wonderful Grade 3"

Yoshi just stared at him and shouted with bewilderment

"What?"