Noroi's POV???
I slowly open my eyes. "Did I fall asleep?" I think, but as my vision focuses, my eyes widen in surprise. I realize I'm not on the train.
"Water?" I notice water on the ground where I'm standing. As I look around, I can't see clearly because of the darkness. Dazed, I ask no one in particular, "Where am I?"
As soon as the words leave my mouth, a sudden light appears in front of me.
"What is that?" I mutter, squinting to see the source of the light.
"A shrine?"
The moment I say those words, I wake up in my seat on the train.
"Oi! Brat, we arrived. C'mon, wake up," I hear the annoying jerk's voice as soon as I open my eyes.
I grunt and look at him, then at the window. The sun has disappeared from the sky, replaced by the moon's glow. I hop down from my seat and start following the two teens.
"What was that dream?" I think, confused. "It felt too real to be a dream."
As we step off the train, passengers look at me with fear.
My thoughts are interrupted by the lights of the city. My two mouths hang open, and my four eyes widen in shock as I take in the blinding lights from windows displaying different images, the loud engines of what I assume are cars, and the massive crowds of people.
"Is this the city?" I mutter in disbelief.
The bun-haired guy laughs softly at my reaction. "Yes, this is a city. How do you feel?" he asks, amused.
"It feels… overwhelming," I mutter as I notice the people staring at me with different expressions—fear, disgust, disbelief. All of them directed at me.
I lower my gaze, overwhelmed by the number of stares.
"I see…" the bun-haired guy says, noticing my reaction.
As we talk, a car stops in front of us.
"C'mon, let's end this quickly. I want to go sleep," the bum says arrogantly.
We enter the car, and the chauffeur starts driving.
"Now could you please tell me where you're taking me?" I ask impatiently.
The bun-haired guy looks at me and begins explaining. "We're going to Jujutsu High, a place where people with cursed energy train to become sorcerers and where jujutsu sorcerers receive their missions," he says calmly.
"Cursed energy? Do you mean that blue and black energy?" I ask, confused. "And what is a sorcerer?"
"Answering your first question," he says seriously, "yes, cursed energy is that blue and black energy you used in that house." He pauses briefly. "And answering your other question—a sorcerer is someone who can manipulate cursed energy and use it to exorcise curses."
As I contemplate his words, I look out the window. "Huh? What are we doing so deep in the mountains?" I ask.
He laughs lightly. "That's because the actions of jujutsu society are hidden from non-sorcerers. Non-sorcerers can't see cursed energy or curses, so we stay hidden deep in the mountains for security."
The chauffeur stops the car.
"Well, we need to continue on foot," he says as he steps out.
The blind fool steps out too. "Oi, Suguru, stop wasting time explaining that to this brat. Yaga-sensei will explain everything after we arrive."
"C'mon, Satoru. The boy is curious. I was just helping him trust us more," he replies with a smile.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Satoru says, bored.
Ignoring him, I look at the bun-haired guy again. "Who is Sukuna?" I ask curiously.
Both teens' expressions darken.
"Sukuna was a cursed user from the Heian era. He had two faces and four arms, like you. He was challenged by many sorcerers and was never defeated. His victories earned him a title… The King of Curses."
I stare at him in shock. I heard them mention the name before, but now that I understand what a sorcerer is, it feels different.
"Was he evil?" I ask.
"It's said that he ate human flesh and killed anyone who disturbed him," he replies seriously. "We've arrived."
I look around and see a massive building and several others resembling the shrine I once lived in.
At the entrance stands a tall man with a buzz cut and sunglasses, his arms crossed.
When his gaze settles on me, he frowns. "Suguru, Satoru. Well done."
The two teens nod and begin to leave, but his voice stops them.
"I need you two to come with me as well."
"Haaaah?! I want to go home!" the bum complains.
"Yes, Yaga-sensei," the bun-haired guy answers seriously.
"What is your name, kid?" the tall man asks.
"Noroi."
"I see. Noroi-kun, please follow me."
As I follow him, the other two walk behind us.
"Yaga-san, one question," I ask.
"Yes?"
"Why am I here?"
"Hm. Did they explain who Sukuna was?"
"Yes."
"Well, Noroi-kun, you are the first person in one thousand years to manifest Sukuna's features. In jujutsu, many things happen without logical explanation. If someone appears with the King of Curses' features after one thousand years, we might assume reincarnation. However, we confirmed Sukuna has not reincarnated because his fingers still contain his cursed energy. That means his soul remains within them. So we need to investigate this."
I look at my four hands. "I was just born like this. Is it really a cursed body?" I whisper sadly. "Maybe Haruto was right. Maybe I am a monster."
Yaga stops and looks at me.
"Your body is special, Noroi-kun. It is the perfect body for a sorcerer. You could even call it a blessed body."
My eyes widen. "R-really?"
"Really."
A tear escapes my eye. "This is the first time someone has called my body a blessing instead of a curse."
"Thank you, Yaga-san," I mutter, wiping my eye.
The two teens behind us soften their expressions.
"Now let's go. We need to see the principal."
We walk in silence to another building. An old bald man with a large beard, dressed in white kimono and hakama, stands outside.
"Yaga," he says seriously. His gaze shifts to me, and his frown deepens. "Let's go."
He opens a strange door and steps inside. Darkness blocks my view.
"C'mon," Yaga says.
I follow. The two teens enter after me.
Inside, the surroundings change. The door behind us disappears. Six sliding doors stand unsupported in a circle around us.
Gasps echo from behind them.
"Look at him! He's a monster!" someone shouts.
"Calm yourself," another voice says.
"He truly resembles the myths about that monster," a third voice says arrogantly.
"Silence!" a commanding voice booms from the door in front.
"In this trial, we will decide the destiny of the one who resembles Sukuna."
"He should be executed immediately!" the angry voice shouts.
"Hmm… we could profit from him. His body is perfectly suited for sorcery," the calm voice says.
"But what if he grows too strong to suppress?" the arrogant voice asks.
"We need a leash so the dog doesn't bite the hand that feeds it," a cold voice says.
My anger rises as they speak about me like I'm not here.
A hand rests on my shoulder. I look up at Yaga. He shakes his head slightly, signaling me to stay silent.
"We should execute him!" the angry voice insists.
"And if we make the Six Eyes user the leash?" the calm voice suggests.
"Haaah?! Me?!" the white-haired bum yells.
"That's a good idea," the arrogant voice says.
"I agree," the cold voice adds.
"We should make the Six Eyes user form a binding vow with us," a deep voice says.
"You've all gone crazy!" the angry voice protests.
"Silence!" the mediator commands.
"We will now vote. Those who want him supervised by the Six Eyes user say yes. Those who want execution say no."
"Yes.""Yes.""Yes.""Yes.""No!"
"It is decided. Gojo Satoru, if the one with Sukuna's features harms a sorcerer from jujutsu society, you will execute him on the spot."
"Haaah?! Why should I make this binding vow? I don't want to babysit a kid!" he complains.
"If you refuse, we will execute him."
The white-haired teen looks at me. After a conflicted pause, he sighs.
"Sigh… Okay. I will accept the binding vow."