Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

The Yukinoshita family estate lay in near ruins.

The civilian Devil Hunters had made basic repairs, but the environmental damage from the Malevolent Shrine proved too severe. The traces of intense battle remained impossible to conceal in such a short time.

Meanwhile, a dramatic development emerged amid the tense standoff between the Yukinoshita family and other local powers.

The Yukinoshita family had secured the backing of a Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer!

This revelation left the local powerful families stunned. A Special Grade Sorcerer—someone who stood at the pinnacle of the Jujutsu World! In the entire Jujutsu World, those capable of deploying domains at the Special Grade level were exceedingly rare.

Despite their intricate networks of influence, the local powerful families of Chiba could at best recruit mere Grade 4 Sorcerers.

Higher-ranked Sorcerers wielded tremendous destructive power and served only the major Jujutsu World powers or Sorcerer Families — they were far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

The scarcity of talented Jujutsu Sorcerers particularly frustrated these local families. Even the ability to see Cursed Spirits was considered rare, and the most powerful Innate Techniques passed only through bloodlines.

This limitation had always blocked the local families' advancement. But what truly captured their attention was another detail: according to the surviving Devil Hunters, this Special Grade Sorcerer was remarkably young.

This fact made the local powerful families particularly restless.

Youth meant vigor — vigor meant passion — passion meant unpredictability!

And as fate would have it, both Yukinoshita daughters were renowned beauties. If they were to inherit this Special Grade Sorcerer's bloodline and Innate Techniques, their family might transcend social classes to become a true Sorcerer Family!

This possibility instantly elevated the Yukinoshita family's status!

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In the tea room, Mrs. Yukinoshita's face beamed with satisfaction.

"Haruno and Yukino must have an easier time from now on." She mused, noticing how many business deals had been settled.

The other parties were even willing to take losses just to get closer to the Yukinoshita family. Their intentions were transparent:

They all wanted to curry favor with Daiki Tsukasa, the young Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer!

Among them, what concerned Mrs. Yukinoshita most was the Urban Living Planning Company, a construction firm acquiring commercial streets.

The company's power didn't threaten her family — rather, it was their manager, Yaeko Minegasaki, who worried her. She was an undeniable beauty. If she were to make advances toward Daiki, could he resist?

Or rather, why would he want to resist?

"Which of my daughters — Haruno or Yukino — has formed a deeper connection with him?" Mrs. Yukinoshita wondered, not having had the chance to investigate.

Surely mere classroom friendship couldn't sway someone of his caliber.

He must be drawn to either the cute girl or the gentle older sister type — what else could a man want?

Beyond these two options, her family had nothing more to offer.

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Haruno was making a phone call to invite the Top Ten graduate, while Yukino accompanied Daiki and Ichika on a tour of the Yukinoshita estate.

After finishing her call, Haruno watched Ichika with frustration. How could she find a moment to "thank" Daiki when the girl kept hovering so close to him?

Little did she know that Ichika was silently mocking her attempts! She had sworn to protect both Miku and Nino's heads from any kind of hat!

Or was it Nino or Miku? She wasn't quite sure anymore. The complicated feelings between these three people were giving Ichika a headache. She still hadn't found a way to help Miku and Nino make peace.

Just then, her phone rang.

"Sorry, I need to explain something to Itsuki and the others." She said, slipping away into a dark corner.

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"Hey, Ichika! What time is it? Aren't you going to eat?" Itsuki demanded from their luxury apartment.

They knew how dangerous the outside world was now. What if something happened to her at this hour?

[Sorry, Itsuki, I might need to stay out tonight.]

"Huh? Didn't you say you were just returning Daiki-kun's lunchbox? Why are you staying out?" Itsuki asked, bewildered.

Nino, who was listening from the sofa, suddenly straightened her back.

This plot... she knew it all too well! It was the same excuse she'd used to cover for Miku!

Damn! What was Ichika trying to pull?!

[No, it's nothing like that. Daiki-kun is staying at the Yukinoshita house. Their family had some trouble that he helped resolve and Miss Haruno invited him to stay as a guest. I'm just following Daiki-kun because I'm worried something might happen, you know?]

This time it was Miku's turn to snap to attention.

Haruno Yukinoshita! Yukino Yukinoshita! A double critical hit!

This was far worse than dealing with Ginko!

She'd thought that shōgi-obsessed girl would be a formidable rival. Now she realized the seemingly harmless Yukinoshita sisters were the real threat!

"Ichika, please!" Miku leaped up, grabbed the phone, and said with grave intensity.

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"No problem, I am the eldest sister after all! I absolutely won't let their schemes succeed!" Ichika declared with determination, embracing her duty to protect her sisters' interests.

As long as she remained at the Yukinoshita house, she would ensure no one got close to Daiki!

Back at the apartment, Nino and Miku wiped their brows in relief.

After hanging up, she hurried back to Daiki's side.

Haruno bit her lip in frustration. With Ichika hovering around, she wouldn't be able to approach Daiki tonight.

She cleared her throat and drew the girl aside.

"Miss Nakano, isn't this behavior a bit inappropriate? Please, hear me out. Daiki-kun is a young, vigorous man, and as a Special Grade Sorcerer, he attracts countless admirers. Aren't you concerned that such clingy behavior might push him away?"

Haruno's bluntness caught Ichika off guard.

She had expected a subtle battle of wits, but her opponent had completely upended her strategy before it began.

"By the way, sorcery talent can only be inherited through bloodlines. Keeping Daiki-kun at arm's length isn't wise." Haruno's beautiful eyes narrowed meaningfully.

So this was the true nature of someone from a powerful family? How intimidating!

The pressure left Ichika feeling overwhelmed.

Though intended to intimidate her, Haruno's words carried weight.

If Miku feared losing Daiki, surely the Yukinoshita family shared similar concerns. They couldn't risk letting a minor family claim such a prize.

Ring ring ring—

Haruno's phone interrupted the tension.

"Pardon me for speaking out of turn. Miss Kikuchi has arrived — I must go greet her." With a polite smile, she turned to leave.

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