The Wrong Attribute

When Hiruma was gulping, cursing at himself inside, Tsubone said, with a cold demon-like grin,

It looked like she was coming from the depths of hell to remind him that he was a buffoon when he heard her,

"Young master Hiruma..."

"Yes?"

Hiruma asked, a bit nervous.

"I can overlook your disrespect and cute lie from earlier since you seemed to have some mistimed joy now, but taste the water first."

Tsubone stated, her eyes telling him to look at the result again.

"What?"

Hiruma was confused.

The next moment, when he put his hand inside the cup then tasted the salty taste on his finger, he was stuck like a statue.

His eyes had turned big when Tsubone, who tasted the water again, sighed and told with mockery,

"As you see, the amount of water increased, but the taste also changed."

"Young master Hiruma, should I explain the meaning to you?"

"..."

Hiruma was shocked. And scared as he suddenly realized something.

Swearing at his mother for forgetting to do something, he understood that he had made his first big mistake thanks to her and his own mistimed arrogance.

--

--

Depending on the Specialist, the results of Water Divination looked, smelled, or tasted different.

There were a thousand different types of results, some impossible to interpret.

Hiruma's own test left a bad aftertaste.

As it turned out, he was the kind of Nen Specialist who showed not just Enhancement attributes but also Transmutation ones.

The never encountered type...

Yes.

After seeing the water overflow, Kikyo could have never thought in a thousand lifetimes that Hiruma was this type of exceptional oddity: A myth.

His Specialization was close to the Enhancer department twice, with both Enhancement and Transmutation as the specialties for which he had innate inclinations.

It would be okay if it were just Transmutation...

Transmuters becoming specialists were extremely rare, but they existed.

However, Hiruma was different. He was an actual monster, even in this world.

"..."

Done listening to Tsubone's explanation, Hiruma didn't know how to act for a moment.

He couldn't turn back now that the lie was told.

Different from what he expected, he heard Tsubone chuckle as she asked,

"Is this how you fooled your mother, young master?"

"It makes sense now; too bad you had to try it on me..."

'What?!'

Hearing his old butler, Hiruma, who was falling into hell, was once again shocked.

'What did she eat to think like this?'

Hiruma wondered, relieved but still sweating when she spoke,

"So you're a specialist like master Silva feared. How long have you known?"

"A—a year? I already told you; why?"

Hiruma tried not to stutter, replying. He had decided not to tell dumb lies and be arrogant ever again in his life.

He was saved from the depths of hell by Tsubone's misunderstanding.

Hiruma knew she disliked his mom Kikyo, so it was probably a sign from God that he had let him escape a calamity.

That was how Hiruma interpreted this as a saving grace from Heaven.

He wouldn't repeat his stupid lies again.

Tsubone nodded, contemplative.

The next moment, she told him they should go and discuss something at a Hotel on the way. She had private verifications to make to ensure Hiruma's well-being.

She didn't want his particularity to be anything like Alluka and cause damage to the family.

Laughing at him, she reminded him never to try and deceive her with things like the recent Water Divination trick.

In her own words, she wasn't as klutzy as the mistress...

The hate for the woman was strong. And full of inappropriate suggestions.

After all, Hiruma was her son.

But Tsubone didn't seem to give a crap.