Chapter 89

A favorability rating of -100 does not necessarily mean that the favorability rating is only -100; it could also be that the game can only display a minimum favorability rating of -100.

Kazuma Hatake hasn't opened the affection interface in this playthrough yet, so he doesn't know what percentage of the "inherited part" he's inherited.

Of course, for these old NPCs, no matter what percentage the answer is, the final result will likely be -100.

This tremor and fear, seemingly etched deep into the soul, surged forth like a tidal wave the moment I saw Kazuma Hatori, leaving me bewildered.

In that moment when their eyes met, they felt as if they had been stripped naked and thrown into an icy wasteland, weak, pitiful, and helpless.

Get out of sight immediately!

—My mindset suddenly improved, my hands stopped shaking, my legs stopped feeling weak, and my blood circulation became smoother.

Take a deep breath, then steal another glance.

—Weak, pitiful, and helpless.

Look away again!

—I'm feeling much better now, and I feel great.

The elders of the Gojo and Kamo families: "…………"

What's going on? Why are they so afraid of this strange, black-haired boy?

Even if I'm afraid of ghosts, I've never been this afraid!

Does this black-haired boy possess some terrifying, unapproachable power?!

Moreover, upon closer examination, this sudden and intense surge of emotion within is not merely fear, but a fear tinged with resistance, and a resistance that yearns to escape…

In short, it is an intertwining of many negative emotions.

If sorcerers could also generate cursed spirits due to negative emotions, then the sheer surge of negative emotions that erupted from these two groups the moment they saw the black-haired boy might be enough to create a top-tier cursed spirit.

At that moment, in the courtyard of the mansion, Gojo Satoru only needed to turn around twice to frighten the two groups of old men into retreating, clearing a large space for him, as if they had seen something terrifying.

Even Gojo Satoru, who was revered for his strength, had never seen such a display.

"...What's wrong with you all?"

Neither of the two groups of old men wanted to answer his question.

Don't ask, the answer is just trembling.

"Cough, cough, cough, why are you back so early? Aren't you going to stay at the vocational college for another two days? It won't hurt to stay a couple more days."

In the dead silence, it was finally Gojo Tatsuo who stepped forward and continued Gojo Satoru's words, preventing the atmosphere from becoming too cold.

Although he was rambling on and on, and the logic between his sentences was completely broken.

"...You've finally developed Alzheimer's?"

Gojo Satoru raised his eyebrows as he listened, his blue eyes behind his sunglasses filled with suspicion as he looked back and forth among the group.

He did not suspect that it was Kazuma Hatori's fault.

After all, Hagoromo Kazuma was an orphan, not a family-based sorcerer, and had never been in contact with the world of sorcery before, let alone the three starter families.

Not only do they not know how to use spells yet, their spell power is currently only at level three, which they have to replenish by consuming [Spell Power Crystals].

How could such a dull-witted black Shiba Inu possibly have the power to scare the three starter Pokémon into retreating in panic?

Gojo Tatsuo instinctively wanted to scold Gojo Satoru for speaking like that, but when his eyes met those of Hagoromo Kazuma, he shuddered and his words took a turn for the worse.

"Don't talk nonsense, I'm perfectly clear-headed."

Tatsuo Gojo waved for Satoru Gojo to quickly take Kazuma Hato and leave.

They didn't want to see this black-haired boy who made them feel weak, pitiful, and helpless for even a second longer!

Gojo Satoru was naturally eager to avoid dealing with these old men, so he immediately grabbed Hagoromo Kazuma and ran off, planning to figure out what was going on later.

Two groups of people were left behind, looking at each other in bewilderment, facing the desolate wind.

After a moment, Kamo Chokichi lowered his voice and spoke—before speaking, he looked around as if afraid that some black-haired boy might suddenly dart out from behind him like a ghost in this huge courtyard.

"You mean... that boy from earlier?"

He subtly gestured with his eyes in the direction where Kazuma Hatori had left, without daring to ask the latter's name.

What exactly is going on?

This sense of oppression... no, this subconscious fear that makes them tremble and repel, wanting to escape but unable to... is not something an ordinary mage would possess.

"You were Gojo Satoru's classmates, right? I've heard the head monk mention you."

Gojo Tatsuo also whispered back.

"There are only four first-year students at the high school in Tokyo. Besides Satoru, there is a male who can use [Spirit Manipulation Technique], a female who reverses spells, and a male whose spell is unknown, but who was asked by that person to be placed there."

After all, Gojo Satoru had been clamoring to go to Tokyo Jujutsu High School, and then he happened to meet that person's request, so Gojo Tatsuo had made a special effort to find out about the situation.

In addition, this kid had specifically shown him a prank show videotape before... The appearance was the same, but the name was not that of Xia Youjie who knew [Spirit Manipulation Technique].

He certainly wouldn't make a point of remembering the name of that so-called ordinary sorcerer, but he did hear it once.

However, when looking at the black-haired boy through the screen, Tatsuo Gojo did not experience any such strong negative emotions.

But when I saw him standing in front of me... I couldn't take it anymore, just thinking about it made my head spin.

Kamo Chokichi listened with increasing clarity, and the more he listened, the more he understood.

"So, it's that person's..."

The unfinished syllable was swallowed back onto the tip of his tongue, and Kamo Chokichi clicked his tongue softly.

"I also wanted to say to him..."

Kamo Chokichi almost immediately conceived the idea of ​​eliminating this guy who looked like a threat to him—as skillfully as he had dealt with rivals who opposed them and tried to shake their position.

"Don't even think about that kind of thing. That person's plan is beyond our control."

Gojo Tatsuo patted his old friend Kamo Chokichi on the shoulder, a wry smile on his face.

"It's just a pawn of the adults. Even if it makes us... afraid, it's still just a pawn."

Kamo Chokichi: "...Brother Tatsuo, if you hadn't spoken so hesitantly, your words would have been more believable."

Even though he's so scared, he's still acting like a "little pawn" to him.

In any case, Kamo Chokichi would definitely not admit that his symptoms were even more severe than Gojo Tatsuo's.

His hands, tucked inside the sleeves of his kimono, are still trembling.

…………

On the other side, Gojo Satoru led Hatori Kazuma into his room—more like a sleeping quarters than a room, even its layout followed the ancient system of five rooms on four sides—the main room had a wide outer enclosure, and a smaller outer enclosure extended out from the surrounding rafters, while inside was a tatami room enclosed by wooden walls.

It's unclear whether the ancestral tablets are inside, or if it's just some valuable items or bedding.

Gojo Satoru tossed his backpack aside, casually flopped onto the tatami mat, and sprawled out in a super comfortable spread-eagled position.

"I'm so tired..."

He even made a groan.

Kazuma Hatori recalled the sound he had heard through the dormitory door earlier—it really was the beautiful Satoru who had fallen to the ground.

“By the way,” he turned his head and asked Kazuma Hatake curiously, “what happened to those old men just now?”

"I don't know either."

Kazuma Hatake, his dark eyes wide open, replied innocently yet honestly.

"Maybe they're afraid of me."

Gojo Satoru: "..."

Gojo Satoru: "Pfft."

Ah, there's nothing we can do if he doesn't believe us.