Kapitel 6: Simple domain
"Sadatsuna Ashiya? The one who created simple domains?" Rin pondered to herself, intrigued by the prospect of learning something new that could aid her survival in this unfamiliar world.
"Keep my head on my shoulders? Shiver me timbers," Rin mocked quietly to herself, finding amusement in the cryptic warning as she continued to eat, though the food lacked the flavors she was accustomed to from her own era.
After finishing her meal, Rin left the inn and began searching among the city's populace, trying to sense any traces of their cursed energy. It didn't take long before she stumbled upon a group of people engaged in gambling and revelry, surrounded by women dressed in provocative attire. Their strong cursed energy marked them as different from ordinary citizens.
"Excuse me," Rin began politely, suppressing any hint of disdain behind a smile, "can you lead me to Sadatsuna Ashiya? I have a favor to ask him."
Silence fell over the group as they stared at Rin incredulously. After a few moments, laughter erupted among them.
"Hahaha! Sadatsuna Ashiya, she says!" one man chortled loudly.
"Are you looking to marry him or something, sweetheart? Maybe return to your brothel?" another jeered, the mockery evident in his tone.
After the laughter subsided, they regarded Rin with amusement, expecting her to join in on the joke. However, Rin's expression remained serious and composed.
One of the men stood up, still chuckling nervously, and replied, "Sadatsuna Ashiya actually died over 120 years ago. We're just a group inspired by his teachings. I'm not sure if there's been some misunderstanding here."
Rin's expression remained stoic as she cut straight to the chase. "Can you use simple domain then?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The villagers, who moments ago had been amused by Rin's presence, now turned serious. They exchanged uneasy glances, understanding the gravity of Rin's question. In their world, Sadatsuna Ashiya was revered differently: a renowned writer and poetry master to the common folk, but among sorcerers, he was known for creating the Simple Domain—a protective technique crucial for weaker sorcerers to survive against real domains, a domain for the weak.
For Rin to know about the simple domain, she clearly wasn't a common person in their eyes. They speculated that if she sought to learn it, she might lack a curse technique and simply wanted a means to surpass ordinary humans.
"If you sleep with me, I might consider teaching you," one of them said, his eyes filled with lust, fixing on Rin.
Rin's expression remained impassive, but her grey eyes flickered with calculation.
"Yes, of course," she replied softly, inclining her head slightly and allowing a hint of seduction to lace her voice. "I hope you can teach me as you promise."
"I should have asked first. Unfortunate," muttered another in disappointment.
"She's too easy. Probably just a whore," remarked another, losing interest.
"I'm next, please. She looks so unique," someone said, saliva dripping from his mouth.
As the man reached out to grasp Rin's wrist, intending to lead her away and leaning in to kiss her, Rin maintained her seductive smile without changing expression. With a swift movement, she exhaled softly and casually. A cold breath left her beautiful red lips, a chill spreading through the air and enveloping the man's face in frost, turning him into a frozen statue.
Shivers ran through the group of sorcerers as they reacted swiftly, brandishing their cursed weapons and forming their defensive stances. Rin, unfazed by their readiness, casually reached for a bottle of Sake nearby, taking a sip with a disdainful expression as she surveyed the tension in the room.
"What? Did you not expect that?" Rin's voice held a hint of mockery. "Relax, or you might meet your end without even realizing it."
With a flick of her hand, Rin touched a nearby wall, invoking her ice technique. "Ice Formation: Freeze Lock," she chanted calmly. Frost spread rapidly from her touch, enveloping the surroundings in a frigid embrace. The air turned icy, crystals forming on surfaces as the temperature plummeted.
As the leader leaped forward with a swift Batto sword technique, a Simple Domain materialized around him, encompassing both him and Rin in its protective radius. His blade blurred with speed as it descended towards Rin, aimed at her neck in a lethal strike.
Reacting swiftly, Rin's instincts kicked in. She summoned her cursed energy, forming thick layers of ice around her hand in an attempt to intercept the sword. However, the leader's strike was faster than anticipated. With a clean and precise cut, his blade sliced through the ice, leaving a deep gash across Rin's palm.
As pain shot through Rin's arm, she gritted her teeth and pushed through it. Blood dripped from her wounded hand, but she maintained her focus, her eyes locked on the leader before her. He activated his Simple Domain again, its protective aura humming with energy, challenging her every move.
"She has a cursed technique related to ice, be careful everyone!" someone shouted, their grip on their sword tightening.
"We can see that, you idiot!" another man responded, visibly sweating under the tense atmosphere.
Rin casually grabbed another bottle of sake, took a nonchalant sip, and then disdainfully tossed it aside.
"What made you suddenly attack us?" the leader demanded, his gaze intense and accusatory.
"I just wanted to test whether you guys could actually use Simple Domain and survive my attack," Rin replied with an air of indifference, tearing a strip of cloth from her attire to staunch the bleeding on her palm.
Anger flashed across the leader's face as he glared at Rin. "What if we were ordinary people? Your attack could have killed all of us instantly!"
Rin met his furious gaze with a seductive smile. "Are you suddenly the righteous defender of peasants who can't even wield jujutsu? But... I must have missed the part where that's my problem."
The tension in the air crackled audibly as both sides took stock of each other, the aftermath of their clash leaving a palpable unease. Rin stood poised, her demeanor as icy as the frost that now seemed to permeate the surroundings, her confidence unshaken despite the confrontation.
The leader, visibly torn between rage and caution, cast a quick glance at his comrades. Murmurs and uncertain glances were exchanged among them, their expressions betraying their conflicted thoughts as they weighed their options. They had clearly underestimated Rin—both her formidable abilities and her unwavering resolve.
"No need for further violence. Let's both withdraw," the leader finally declared with a firm, though begrudging, tone, carefully considering the consequences to his group.
"Well, how about this: if you agree to my offer to teach me Simple Domain, I might consider sparing you all," Rin said, smirking with a threatening tone.
"How arrogant! Don't underestimate us, you bitch," Kanzaki, a man with long, flowing black hair, interjected heatedly.
"Enough, Kanzaki. I'm the one making the decisions here," the leader asserted firmly, raising a hand to quell any further outbursts from his subordinate.
He took a deep breath and continued, "I can teach you Simple Domain, but on one condition: you must promise me that as long as you are alive, you will not harm this city or its inhabitants."
"Young Master Sadatsuna, you can't just—" someone began to protest, but the leader swiftly put his sword to the man's throat, silencing him with a cold, steely gaze.
Returning his attention to Rin, he introduced himself, "My name is Sadatsuna Akira, and I am the descendant of Sadatsuna Ashiya. He is my grandfather."
"Oh? Interesting," Rin replied, raising an eyebrow. "You're the same age as me and quite skilled. It makes sense now, knowing you're from the Ashiya bloodline."
Rin pondered the offer, weighing the worth of learning Simple Domain against the restriction of not harming the city. The logical side of her knew it was worth it, but her stubborn nature balked at the idea of accepting someone else's terms.
"Fine, I accept," Rin said through gritted teeth, her distaste for the agreement evident in her tone.
The Simple Domain, with its protective capabilities, can significantly increase her chances of survival in this dangerous world.
Akira looked at her with his cold eyes and said, "Let's make a Binding Vow then."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein