Although Utahi Iori's family could not compare to the Three Great Families, they were still a prestigious old clan with a long history. For generations, they had served the gods and been responsible for the ritual duties of Kyoto's shrines. Back in the Heian era, when Cursed Energy was at its height, they had been eagerly courted by princes, nobles, and aristocrats alike.
Of course, that was only their ancestors' forr glory.
As Cursed Energy continued to decline, shrine maidens no longer possessed the powerful divine abilities they once had. Then, after the iji Restoration, in the na of full-scale Westernization, the Emperor issued the so-called Shrine Maiden Prohibition, treating shrine maidens as fraudulent witches who deceived people with superstition and casting them aside in one stroke.
Unlike the Three Great Families, who had long since entrenched themselves in the political world, the shrine maiden lineage was dealt a devastating blow during that period. Not only was their family inheritance severed, but their social standing also collapsed.
These days, if you want to beco a shrine maiden, you need a college degree, have to pass a qualification exam, and must obtain a professional certificate before you can officially start work.
And the age requirents are almost absurd.
Once you are over thirty, they start pushing you out!
It really is a case of clowns in the palace while masters wander the streets.
A properly bred, old-line shrine maiden like Utahi Iori does not even get the chance to be a shrine maiden anymore. She has been completely squeezed out.
PS: Of course, this is not because she is almost thirty.
It is just that there are too many fake shrine maidens around these days, so the real ones have no choice but to beco teachers instead.
Still, because of her distinguished background, Utahi Iori's family remains quite well-known in the old Jujutsu World. At the very least, most people are willing to show them so respect.
At the very least, they are still highly valued when it cos to arranged marriages.
The shrine maiden lineage is considered top-tier stock in the Jujutsu World, the kind that dominates the matchmaking market.
Marriages between the Three Great Families and shrine maidens have long been nothing unusual.
And, by sheer coincidence, Utahi Iori, as an older unmarried woman, had once received an enthusiastic olive branch from the Zenin Clan.
That is, they wanted her to et Naoya Zenin.
In present-day Kyoto, there were only two n of the sa generation truly qualified to marry Utahi Iori.
One was the face of the heavens, the Gojo Clan Head Satoru Gojo, known as the strongest modern Jujutsu Sorcerer.
The other was Naoya Zenin, the next heir to the Zenin Clan, praised as a prodigy and blessed with the bearing of a dragon and phoenix.
There was no need to say much about Satoru Gojo.
Utahi Iori knew him far too well. He was her underclassman by a year, and on top of that, he had the personality of an insufferable brat. Every ti they t, they ended up arguing, so she had never once imagined a future where she would marry him.
As for Naoya Zenin, she had never really had any contact with him.
After all, he had been raised under the Zenin Clan's elite education from childhood and had disdained attending Jujutsu High. Everyone knew he had been hailed as a genius prodigy since he was young, but exactly how much of a prodigy he was remained a mystery.
Still, it was hard to refuse the Zenin Clan Head's earnest invitation, so Utahi Iori had planned to find ti to et Naoya Zenin properly.
PS: Of course, it was not because she was getting older and feeling anxious.
But in the end, that eting never happened at all.
Because Naoya Zenin only glanced at Utahi Iori's photo and said, "Her ass is pretty nice, but it is a sha her face is ruined. Do not waste my ti with an ugly woman like this."
PS: And he did not even say it in private. He said it right in front of a whole crowd.
That was when Utahi Iori truly got furious.
She had seriously wanted to storm over to the Zenin Clan that very day, grab Naoya Zenin by the head, and smack him a few tis on the spot!
What the hell is wrong with this absurdly self-confident man?!
Do you really think you are that handso?!
It is not like I have never seen Jinichi Zenin before. With a face like that, how handso could anyone from the Zenin Clan possibly be?!
And you are the one looking down on ?!
PS: Later, Utahi Iori actually did get a photo of Naoya Zenin, and he turned out to be a beautiful man on the sa level as Satoru Gojo. It hit her so hard she almost spiraled on the spot.
Of course, that was only a small anecdote between Utahi Iori and Naoya Zenin.
The real reason Utahi Iori ca to loathe Naoya Zenin was Mai Zenin's enrollnt.
As the most responsible Sensei at Kyoto Jujutsu High, Utahi Iori often acted like a guidance counselor and looked deeply into her students' family situations.
PS: Of course, it was not because Mai Zenin was Naoya Zenin's cousin that she abused her position to dig up dirt on her.
But not looking into it would have been better. The mont she did, it exploded.
It was a full-on Pandora's box.
Naoya Zenin was not just so absurdly self-confident jerk. He also loved stepping on other people's heads in the bathroom.
Not only did he fail completely in his duties as an older brother, he also used his age advantage to viciously bully his own cousin. Even worse, Mai's mother strongly supported that abuse.
Holy shit! Is this not just a textbook mama's boy plus dostic abuser?!
Dark.
Way too damn dark.
Utahi Iori was honestly stunned.
Are there even any normal people left among Kyoto's noble sons?
Satoru Gojo and Naoya Zenin really were two extres.
One liked tornting his enemies.
The other liked tornting his family.
Did they both spend their childhoods torturing and killing small animals or sothing?!
That was why Utahi Iori had always taken especially good care of Mai Zenin. Still, she had never brought this matter up with Mai. After all, it was Mai's psychological scar. Once she ca to school, it was better for her to just study happily and forget all of it.
PS: Of course, it is not because Utahi Iori has no way of dealing with Naoya Zenin. You have no idea how dark the Zenin Clan really is...
But that only lasted until Naoya Zenin himself ca to Jujutsu High as a Sensei.
How could Utahi Iori not guess what Naoya Zenin was thinking?
He was definitely bored and had co to start his sister-loving TV act again.
Utahi Iori might not have much ability herself. She might not have much backing. She might not even have much courage.
But as a proud teacher of the people, she absolutely would not allow so-called school bullying to exist at her school!!!
PS: Including dostic violence!!!
So, after thinking it over again and again, the shrine maiden finally carried over a bowl of hot tea and decided to face Naoya Zenin, the Great Demon King, head-on.
For the sake of her student's physical and ntal well-being, she had to step forward.
Even if the price was...
Sacrificing herself!!!
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