October 21, 2018
The three first-years who had received their latest mission had assembled:
Yuji Itadori, Nobara Kugisaki, and Megumi Fushiguro.
After last month's incident at Yasohachi Bridge, all three had improved to varying degrees.
Nobara and Yuji had faced a Special Grade curse born from the Death Painting Wombs. Under the pressure of a life-or-death situation, both of them landed Black Flash simultaneously—
Successfully exorcising the two Special Grades: Eso and Kechizu.
As for Megumi, he had faced alone a Special Grade curse that had consumed one of Sukuna's fingers.
At the brink of death, he forced out an incomplete Domain Expansion, exorcising the curse at the cost of severe injuries.
Afterward, the finger was consumed by Yuji.
The number of Sukuna's fingers within him rose to four.
Mission Location: Kyoto
Supervising sorcerer:
Kyoto Jujutsu High instructor — Utahime Iori.
From what Zenin Mirai had said in that recording, there was a traitor among the students.
After a month of investigation, eliminating all other suspects—
Utahime had finally narrowed it down to Mechamaru's real body—Kokichi Muta.
After all, he was a student she had personally taught for two years.
A trace of sorrow showed on her face.
Passing through a dim underground passage, Utahime spoke in a low voice, explaining Kokichi's condition:
"Mechamaru's technique is Puppet Manipulation. Due to a Heavenly Restriction, his technique range can cover the entirety of Japan."
Heavenly Restriction:
Unlike binding vows made with others, this is a restriction forcibly imposed on the body at birth.
By sacrificing certain conditions, one gains inhuman power in return.
Take Toji Zenin as an example:
He was born completely devoid of cursed energy—in exchange, he gained an extraordinarily powerful physical body.
Mechamaru, however, was the exact opposite extreme.
He was born without his right arm and everything below his knees.
He had no sensation below the waist, and his body was so fragile that even moonlight could burn his skin.
He had to remain submerged in a special fluid 24 hours a day, unable to move freely in the outside world.
In exchange for this physical sacrifice, he gained an absurdly vast technique range—
And terrifying cursed energy output.
The three approached a hidden door in silence.
BAM!
Yuji smashed it open—
But the underground chamber inside was empty.
"…That settles it."
Nobara placed a hand on her hip, her voice firm.
"The traitor among the students is Mechamaru's real body."
If he weren't the traitor—why would he have fled in advance?
Utahime stared at the ruined room, her eyes filled with disappointment.
Tokyo, Shinjuku
After receiving a call from the "old fox," Mirai stepped directly into the void.
The time had come to collect payment for helping lay down the curtain during the exchange event.
Somewhere in Kyoto — an unknown valley
After ending the call, Kenjaku set up a barrier that cut off all external signals.
He stepped into a hidden chamber within the valley.
Inside—
Countless blood bags hung suspended in the air.
A web of mechanical cables intertwined and converged onto a figure bound in wrappings.
Floating within a container filled with special liquid, Kokichi Muta spoke coldly:
"Hurry up and fix me, you bastard."
Mahito idly played with his hair, his expression turning cold.
"Why not just kill him, Geto?"
Kenjaku ignored Kokichi's glare and smiled faintly.
"Better to heal him first. Otherwise, the one coming to collect the goods might not be pleased."
"Yeah, yeah~"
Mahito drooped his head in boredom as he stepped forward.
"Thought I'd get to enjoy myself first."
He placed a hand on Kokichi's forehead.
Looking at the ruined body before him, his gaze was as cold as if he were looking at an insect.
"Be grateful, you worthless trash."
A deep purple cursed energy ignited in his palm.
"Idle Transfiguration."
A technique that alters the soul itself.
The purple energy spread downward, enveloping Kokichi's entire body.
His missing arm, the flesh below his knees—
All of it began to regenerate, inch by inch, visible to the naked eye.
And not just that—
Stepping out of the container, Kokichi removed the bandages wrapped around his body.
He struggled to suppress the overwhelming surge of emotion.
Since the day he was born, he had endured inhuman suffering every single day.
After 6,361 days—
This was the first time he had felt the warmth of light.
But the danger wasn't over.
In the next instant—
Countless mechanical puppets materialized behind him.
Mahito grinned, about to retaliate—
But Kenjaku suddenly stopped him.
"Stand down, Mahito. The buyer has arrived."
Kenjaku had already sensed the presence entering the barrier.
Kokichi, who had been about to attack, froze in place.
He might have been able to resist the crushing pressure of the space—
But the figure now standing before him—
His trembling eyes locked onto the suddenly appeared Zenin Mirai.
Cold sweat instantly drenched his body.
Just standing there—
The overwhelming pressure crushed his heart… and even his ability to breathe.
"So it was you!"
Kokichi's eyes widened in fury as he gritted his teeth.
"You—the one who killed Suguru Geto back then—are the real mastermind!"
Mirai looked at him indifferently, his expression calm.
He had no interest in explaining anything to someone about to die.
If not to ensure this body remained intact—
And to guarantee Mahito would willingly perform the healing—
Mirai wouldn't have fallen for Kenjaku's scheme during the exchange event.
"Well? The goods are satisfactory, I assume?"
"Geto's" voice sounded from behind.
Mirai turned slightly.
"One part of the contract… is complete."
The moment he acknowledged it—
Both he and Kenjaku felt a sense of release at the level of their souls.
Proof that a binding vow had been fulfilled.
Nearby, Mahito suddenly grinned at the one who had killed Hanami.
A flickering purple flame burst from his right hand.
He clenched his fist and swung it toward Mirai—
—
…Boredom. Disgust.
The moment he met those blood-red eyes—
The smile on Mahito's face froze.
BOOM!
Mahito's vision went black—
A tearing pain in his soul spread instantly throughout his body.
He was a curse with immense potential.
His growth rate was astonishing.
He had grasped Domain Expansion at the edge of death, and learned Black Flash instinctively.
Given a thousand years, he might have reached the level of Sukuna.
But right now—
Like swatting a fly—
Mirai looked down coldly at Mahito, who lay crushed beneath his foot.
"Take him and get lost."
"While I'm still in a decent mood."
Without Mahito's Idle Transfiguration, Kenjaku's plan to revive ancient sorcerers would become far more troublesome.
Neither Kenjaku nor Mirai wanted Mahito to die here.
"Don't be so harsh. Kids don't know any better."
Kenjaku helped the blood-spitting Mahito to his feet and waved with a smile.
"Ten days from now… see you."
As he turned away—
Kenjaku glanced down at Mahito, a trace of coldness flickering in his eyes.
Mahito acting on his own like that…
Was something even he hadn't expected.
Knowing full well how dangerous Zenin Mirai was—
Yet still acting on shallow impulses.
Foolish.
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