The Incompetent Noblewoman Marries the 'Devil of the Far East' as a Substitute Bride—Told by Her Parents to 'Die in Place of Your Sister,' She Left the House, but Her New Family Turned Out to Be Wonderful and She's Happy - Episode 1.45

One day.
I was in my room with Akino Shuno.

“I want you to teach me how to use my powers.”

Akino Akino-san’s eyes were wide open.

“Abilities…?”
“Yes. I want to be able to freely control my own power.”

I have three supernatural abilities.
Nue. Tōtetsu. Zashiki-warashi.

They’re all powerful forces.
But… I can’t say I’m handling it well enough.

In the battle against Suiko, I was able to fight using the barrier techniques I had imitated from Nue.
But since then, I haven’t been able to use it very well.

“I’m fine with teaching you, but… why do you want to be able to use your powers, Miss? Are we not strong enough…?”

With a worried look, Akino Akino-san asks.
Because we are lacking in strength, we want to gain power for self-defense… That’s probably what they thought.

It seems I made them misunderstand.

“It’s not that. I… I want to become a member of the Ichijo family as soon as possible.”
“Excuse me, but…?”

“I… since coming here, I’ve been completely dependent on the Ichijo family. I haven’t been able to repay them at all. I want to be able to help everyone, even just a little. I want to be the same as everyone else.”

Ms. Akane nods as if she is convinced.

“I understand your feelings, miss. Thank you very much. I’m also happy for everyone. Right, everyone?”

The sliding door opened, and the women in black nodded in agreement.
I-I was overheard… so embarrassing…

“That said, even if you ask us, the parasitic-type ability users, to teach you how to use your powers… we don’t have the confidence to teach it well.”

The parasitic-type ability users, due to their immense power, had the flaw of being uncontrollable.

“I want to know the tips for using it rather than the tips for controlling it.”
“Hmm…”

“What’s wrong?”
“Well, you see, for us, our abilities have been there since we were born. Even if you ask us how to use them… it’s difficult to explain. It’s like asking us to teach you how to walk or how to move your hands just by talking.”

I see…
For those with special abilities, having such abilities is a given, so it’s difficult to put into words.

“Attending the Onmyo Academy is also an option.”
“Onmyo… juku?”

“Yes. It’s a school, more or less, for training people to fight against demons and those with special abilities. It’s commonly known as the Inou School.”
“Ability School! A place like that…”

If that’s the case, I definitely want to go.

“Ah, but the entrance ceremony for the Onmyo Academy is in April. If I were to join, it would be from next spring, I guess.”
“I see…”

It’s now late November, and December is just around the corner.
Even if I attend the Onmyo Academy, it’s still four months away…

“During that time, I’ll just have to train on my own.”
“Yeah… I’m not good at putting things into words, and Sojiro is more of an intuitive type… It might be better to ask Brother Shinkuro.”

“To Mr. Shinkuro?”
“Yes. My brother is also a parasitic type, but he was a rare case who could control his abilities.”

It is said that, as a result of their abilities going out of control, the usual parasitic-type ability users had become aberrations.

But it seems that Mr. Shinkuro was all wrapped up in bandages because he had inherited the special traits of a “vampire.”

“Or rather, if you were to ask Satoru-sama how to use your abilities, wouldn’t he be more than happy to teach you?”
“Th-that is… true, but…”

Somehow, it was embarrassing to say.
Being thought of as childish is a bit, well, unpleasant.

“Ah, I see… You want to practice your special abilities and get praised by Satoru-sama, huh~”

Ugh… I got found out.
Akino Akino-san and the black-clad girls are all smiling.

“Such a maiden, aren’t you?”
“Ugh… It’s a secret, okay?”
“I know, I know. Well then, let’s go see your brother.”

Accompanied by Akino-san, I head towards Shinkuro-san’s place.
The black-clad people also live in this Ichijo house.

Unlike me and Satoru, it seems they share a room with someone else.
Mr. Shinkuro was sharing a room with Mr. Sojiro.

“Ah, Rei-chan!”

Aojiro-kun jumps and hugs me. I pick him up.
Like a younger brother, Aojiro-kun, you’re cute and I like you.

“Oh my, what’s the matter, miss?”
“Rei-chan, do you want to play too?”

“Wh…?”

On the tatami mat, there was a talisman placed.

“It’s just child’s play. I was just playing along with Sojiro.”
“I see…”

The banknotes have cute pictures on them.

“Rei-chan, let’s do it too! I’ll teach you the rules!”
“Yeah. Later. Today… I came because I have something to do with Shinkuro-san.”

Mr. Shinkuro said with wide eyes.

“Me…?”
“Yes. I want you to teach me how to use my powers.”

Ms. Akino Akino will explain the situation on my behalf.

“That is a very noble mindset. I am truly delighted that such a wonderful person has become the head of the family.”

“Ah, thank you very much…”

As before, I had stopped feeling embarrassed or thinking things like “someone like me…”
Because by putting myself down like that, I would be trampling on the hopes of the Ichijo family who are counting on me.

“Serious supernatural combat training is best learned at the Onmyo Academy. For now, you should focus on mastering basic spiritual control.”
“Spiritual power… control… is it?”

“Yes. To briefly explain how to handle supernatural abilities…”

Mr. Shinkuro wrote this in elegant calligraphy on washi paper.

Spiritual power → Inner demon → Manifestation of supernatural abilities

“In this way, by transferring spiritual power to the demons within the body, one can activate their supernatural abilities. To handle these abilities smoothly, one must be able to manipulate spiritual power freely.”

I see, this is very educational.
Until now, I had been unconsciously activating my abilities. But it seems that there was actually a mechanism in place for activation.

“How can I learn to control spiritual power?”
“Only training will do. First, you need to sense the flow of spiritual energy. My lady.”

“Yes”
“Please touch my skin directly.”
“Y-yes…?”

Touching… skin?
Oh, on a man’s skin?

“Rei-chan, why are you blushing?”
“Even though I’ve been all lovey-dovey with Satoru-sama.”

They keep teasing me, the Hyakumekki siblings.

“Whoa, I’ve never actually touched someone’s bare skin directly before…”
“There is no ulterior motive. I just wanted you to directly experience the flow of spiritual energy.”

“I-I understand…”

Doing something like that in front of Akino and the others… it’s so embarrassing.
But, but… I want to be able to handle spiritual power well…

Alright. Alright.

“Please.”
“Yes, then…”

Mr. Shinkuro unbuttons all the buttons on his shirt.

Through the gap in his shirt, Mr. Shinkuro well-toned physique is visible.
It’s not just Satoru-sama, but I feel like people with special abilities also train their bodies (Akino Akino-san has a pretty good physique too).

“Ex-excuse me…”

“Yes. Then, please place your hand on my lower abdomen… above my navel.”

“Y-yes…”

No matter what, my face gets hot. Touching a man’s bare skin…
I gently touch Mr. Shinkuro stomach.
“Well then… I’ll channel the spiritual energy.”

At first… I didn’t understand.
But… gradually, I can feel something hot wriggling…

“This, this hot… like the flow of bl00d, isn’t it?”
“Have you already… grasped the sensation?”

“Uh? Yes. Somehow…”

Oh… and the Hyakumekoni siblings clap.

“Wow, Rei-chan. I’m still not good at controlling my spiritual power, and sometimes my abilities don’t activate.”
“Oh, I see…”

With that, I kind of got the hang of it. Alright… with this…

And then, at that moment.
Creeeak.

“Ah…”

Let’s explain the situation.
I’m touching the half-naked Shinkuro… me.

Satoru-sama… came to such a place…!?

“Um, um…”
“Ray”

Satoru-sama approaches and firmly grabs my hand.

“I don’t want you to touch any other man but me!”
“Um…”
“If it were me, you could touch me as much as you want!”
“Um…”

“If you’re feeling frustrated, I’ll go out with you!”
“Chichichichi, no, that’s a misunderstanding!”

It seems that I, out of frustration, attacked Lord Shinkuro.

“That’s not it! What kind of misunderstanding do you have?!”
“Is it different?”
“That’s right!”
“Then why are you stripping Shinkuro naked?”
“That’s not fair! That is…”

I can’t exactly say I was secretly practicing…
“As I thought… you were doing something shady! I like Rei this much!”
“W-well, I like you too, Satoru-sama!”

“Really?”
“Yes!”
“I see…!”

Satoru-sama hugs me tightly.

“Rei, I won’t let you go! I won’t give you to anyone, and I don’t want anyone else to touch you!”

Seeing such a scene, Aojiro-kun says with a look of disbelief.

“Hey, doesn’t it seem like you’ve become a bit childish?”
“Rather, it feels like we’ve gone back in time. The Satoru-sama of old was much more spoiled, clingy, and a little brat… or rather, a mischievous child.”

After that, Satoru-sama, who didn’t want to let me go, kept hugging me tightly all day long.
I was embarrassed, but… I was happy.

It’s because I could feel that Satoru-sama deeply loves me.