Chapter 7: Mockery

　　"Our diligent junior brother, are you still training hard lately~~"

　　Gojo Satoru yawned and walked out of the room and stood next to Geto Suguru.

　　"Yeah."

　　Geto Suguru looked out the window and saw a small figure in the training ground downstairs, looming among the cursed tools.

　　It has been more than a month since I entered the technical high school, and the younger students' training has never been interrupted. Whenever the second-year students come back from going out, they will definitely see Kei Kojima in a training ground.

　　Endurance, physical skills, spells, multiple trainings were carried out one after another, squeezing out his limited energy and physical strength.

　　This guy is arguably the weakest student since entering Jujutsu High School. It is said that he was scared to tears by Gojo Satoru as soon as he entered the school. Everyone has been betting privately on how long he can hold on before he is defeated by Yoruga Masamichi's iron-blooded plan.

　　In fact, up to now, this junior has not collapsed and is still staying on the training ground.

　　However, for the junior brother who has not yet mastered the technique, practicing physical skills is indeed the only way to improve quickly.

　　Yega Masamichi's cursed tools took turns to attack the extremely weak boy in the center. Under the powerful cursed tools, when Kei Kojima just started training, he could hardly last a single round before being knocked to the ground.

　　After his wounds were healed, he was pushed back in and continued to be beaten.

　　The number of times that Ieiri Naoko has treated him this month alone is too numerous to count.

　　In just one month, the junior's hands were already swollen like steamed buns and covered with calluses, and many of the cursed swords he used for practice were broken.

　　This is the only talent Kei Kojima possesses.

　　--fencing.

　　This was also the main reason why Kei Kojima was bullied. In the end, he gave up going to school and stayed at home, refusing to go out.

　　But this only advantage is still useless here.

　　"Keep injecting cursed energy so the sword won't break! Idiot!"

　　Noctua roared:

　　"How many times do I have to teach you before you learn!"

　　Kojima Kei hunched his shoulders and stopped training obediently: "...I'm sorry."

　　"I don't want to hear your apology! Come on! Don't you want to eat tonight?!"

　　Several second-year students who were watching the show from afar on the second floor heard the teacher's roar and shrank their shoulders at the same time as Kei Kojima.

　　"Teacher Ye Moth is so fierce..."

　　Several people sighed silently.

　　"My little brother is so pitiful."

　　Kairi Nishiko said:

　　"The last time I went for treatment, his entire right arm was broken. It was painful just to watch. It's amazing that he was still standing here the next day. If it were me, I would have given up long ago."

　　"It's not easy for an idiot either." Gojo Satoru said thoughtfully, stroking his chin.

　　"yes."

　　All of them were extremely talented, and it was the first time they truly saw how much effort it took for someone without any talent or ability to climb up.

　　Even with such efforts, the results are still very limited.

　　Kei Kojima also felt that he was too stupid.

　　I did endurance training as usual in the evening. When I was running around the training ground, I couldn't help feeling sad when I thought about the scene in the afternoon.

　　He sniffed, wiped his tears with his sleeve, and continued jogging.

　　"Oh? Junior is crying~"

　　"Are you feeling sad alone in the middle of the night? Humph~"

　　Hearing these two voices, Kei Kojima staggered and almost fell to the ground.

　　The devil duo!

　　What are they doing here!

　　Didn’t they say during the day that they were at the training ground next door?

　　This is not the way to the dormitory. Did you come here just to make fun of me?

　　Kojima Kei cursed inwardly, but his voice was still respectful:

　　"Hello, senior."

　　After a perfunctory greeting, Kei Kojima walked away from them and ignored their provocation.

　　Suddenly, a gust of wind blew at the back of his head. More than a month of training finally made Kei Kojima's sluggish body have some reaction speed. He lowered his head and dodged the first blow instinctively, but he still couldn't avoid the second blow. Someone grabbed the back of his collar.

　　Here we go again!!

　　Kojima Kei gritted his teeth.

　　Does this guy treat him like a toy? He always does this! He almost ripped my collar off! He needs to pay!

　　"Oh, that's progress!"

　　Gojo Satoru praised from the bottom of his heart.

　　Kei Kojima: "...Gojo-senpai, I need to continue training. Please let me down."

　　"Senior is so boring~~ Junior, stop practicing and come play with me for a while."

　　Gojo Satoru smiled and turned Kojima Kei around with one hand: "Take a break once in a while. Practicing every day is tiring."

　　Kei Kojima stretched out his legs, touched the ground with his toes, and tried to break free from Gojo Satoru's hands.

　　But who knew that Gojo Satoru would just smile and flip him over from top to bottom, with his toes landing in the air and unable to gain leverage.

　　Kojima Kei: "!"

　　He stretched out his arm and pulled Gojo Satoru's arm, but found that the arm of this thin-looking man was like a solid wall. With his strength, it was like an egg hitting a stone.

　　In that case...

　　In mid-air, Kei Kojima exerted force from his waist and abdomen and kicked Gojo Satoru directly in the face.

　　"Hmm~"

　　Gojo Satoru slapped Kojima Kei on the thigh.

　　"Bang! Bang!"

　　Gojo Satoru moved back and forth, holding Kei Kojima in one hand and spinning him up and down and left and right, while easily blocking his attacks with the other hand.

　　"This time he didn't speak out, but started to attack."

　　Gojo Satoru said this with a smile, with a hint of relief in his voice. Of course, to Kojima Kei's ears, it sounded like a strong provocation.

　　"Will you do what I told you?" Kei Kojima said angrily.

　　"No~"

　　"That's it!"

　　"Oops, are you mad? Sorry, I was just kidding."

　　Kei Kojima didn't have a weapon in his hand, otherwise it would have been thrown on his head.

　　Since ordinary force can't pry it open, can we inject magical power into it?

　　Thinking of this, Kei Kojima formed his palm into a knife, and the shame of being teased gave him strength.

　　“Swish!”

　　A strong wind blew over, Gojo Satoru was a little surprised, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

　　"Bang!"

　　Gojo Satoru bent his fingers and flicked the attack lightly, and the attack was bounced to the ground.

　　The stool that was originally there was shattered in an instant.

　　"It's OK~~Just barely~"

　　Gojo Satoru finally mercifully put the almost dizzy Kojima Kei on the ground. Looking at his angry junior, he couldn't help but touch his furry head and said with a smile:

　　"Finally, I stopped crying."

　　Kei Kojima was still immersed in the attack he had just launched. He was stunned for a second when he heard this, and when he reacted, his face was already red.

　　"I'm not crying! That's sweat!"

　　"Hey~ Is it possible that Xiao Kei-kun's sweat comes out of his eyes? How strange~"

　　"...You're mistaken. It's on his face! On his face! Look, it's still there!"

　　"You're right~ Xiaogui-kun is shy~"

　　“I’m seeing things!”

　　The two of them engaged in a meaningless verbal battle back and forth.

　　Kei Kojima even forgot to correct Gojo Satoru's way of calling him.

　　Kei Kojima wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve, and couldn't help but look up at Gojo Satoru who was smiling across from him.

　　...He is indeed a freak!

　　You are already a first-level sorcerer, why are you still so childish!

　　...Is this the unique style of the strong? Unconstrained by rules?

　　But Kei Kojima always felt like he was being teased, which made him extremely unhappy.

　　Damn it, I really want to beat up that dog-head who always smiles!

　　What on earth do they want to do here today... Are they here to mock me on purpose?

　　Geto Suguru squatted aside without saying a word, but even if Kei Kojima deliberately ignored him, he could not erase his strong presence.

　　"You don't have to be too sad,"

　　Gojo Satoru picked up the stick from the ground, played with it in his hand, and said casually:

　　"When we first entered school, we were also severely beaten by old man Ye Moth. The cursed tools he cultivated were really difficult to defeat."

　　"Yes."

　　When Xia Yujie recalled the past, there was a faint smile on his face:

　　"When one person was knocked down, the other continued to attack. We felt pain when we were injured, but those cursed tools didn't feel any pain at all. They just followed orders and attacked. We suffered a lot at that time."

　　"It's all part of a first-year journey. Don't feel bad about a temporary failure. You've only been here a short time, and there's still a lot of life ahead of you."

　　Kei Kojima's heart moved.

　　Could it be that... these two people are here today... to comfort me?

　　Impossible! Impossible!

　　Why are they so kind? They clearly don't take him seriously at all and always make fun of him every time they meet.

　　But if that’s the case… why did you come here in the middle of the night to chat with me?

　　Kei Kojima was unwilling to admit it.

　　"But, an idiot is an idiot,"

　　Gojo Satoru threw away the stick and clapped his hands:

　　"You still haven't learned how to infuse magical energy into a magical tool. I learned it in less than an hour back then! Come on, little newbie."

　　Someone smiled triumphantly:

　　"Having a genius senior, being a junior is incredibly stressful. There's really nothing I can do about it. Hahaha!"

　　Kojima Kei: "..."

　　Ahhh! This shameless bastard!

　　Hello!

　　He knew that no matter what Geto Suguru thought, Gojo Satoru was definitely here to laugh at him!

　　Absolutely!

　　He is just so idle!

　　Oh! What a boring person!

　　Is this how you play it? Haha, he is looked down upon by others. He can’t continue to be so decadent!

　　Kei Kojima rolled up his sleeves, a burning fighting spirit burning in his heart.

　　He would definitely show them his success!

　　Just wait! Gojo Satoru!

　　Sooner or later I will smash those annoying sunglasses of yours!

　　Kei Kojima gritted his teeth, muttered something, and continued his interrupted training.

　　Gojo Satoru left contentedly.

　　"The last two sentences are a bit redundant, Wu."

　　Geto Summer Oil said helplessly.

　　"Really? But that's my main point~"

　　Gojo Satoru chuckled:

　　"However, my junior brother has regained his spirits."

　　The two figures gradually disappeared into the darkness.

　　I don’t know if it was because he was stimulated or if Kei Kojima suddenly got it.

　　After a week, Kei Kojima was finally able to input cursed energy into the cursed tool continuously and uninterruptedly. However, inputting cursed energy and attacking at the same time was still a bit difficult, and he could only slowly gain proficiency.

　　After such intense academic studies, the holiday finally arrives. After the holiday, the new first grade will start school.

　　On weekdays, students are not allowed to go out without permission, and supervision is strict.

　　Every student at the High School of Curse Arts is extremely precious and must be protected as they grow up. They are an important force in removing curse spirits.

　　In order to prevent students returning home from being attacked, there are basically staff members standing guard around the students at all times. Any abnormal situation will be reported immediately and assistance will be provided.

　　Even so, most supervisors are weaker than sorcerers and can only serve as meat shields.

　　This vacation lasted for ten days, and Ye Mo Zhengdao asked Kei Kojima to go home and have a good rest:

　　"You must be exhausted this past month. Go back and rest well. Your training will continue to intensify at the beginning of the next school year. Don't slack off on your daily basic training after you return."

　　"Okay, Mr. Nightmoth."

　　Kojima Kei replied.

　　"By the way, Jay is also going back to Tokyo this time. Let him take you back."

　　Ye Moth said casually.

　　Kojima Kei froze in place.

　　……ha?