"Hey, little girl, I'm very expensive, you know."
Chisato nodded heavily and said solemnly, "I will be ready."
"The challenge fee is five thousand a pop."
"Huh?!"
"Hahahaha." Fushiguro Toji couldn't help but laugh. "You're right, she is cute."
Mahito walked to a door with a wind chime hanging on it. When he reached the door, the chime made a crisp sound, and the door was opened from the inside, a little girl's head peeking out tremblingly from the crack.
The little girl saw Mahito and immediately showed a big smile.
"Master Papa!"
Fushiguro Toji's mouth twitched.
"Master Papa? What kind of address is that? Is it your sick hobby?"
"I rescued them from the ignorance of Imaginary Vengeful Spirits; they see me as their master and father." Mahito patted the little girl's head. "Cursed Spirits with high self-esteem call me Master, while those who haven't yet developed a sense of self-esteem call me Father. I accept it calmly."
Mahito turned to look at Chisato and said with a smile:
"Asusa can call me Papa too, I don't mind."
"I mind very much!" Chisato said with a blushing face.
Fushiguro Toji looked at Chisato's blushing face, then at the little girl who opened the door. The little girl noticed Fushiguro Toji looking at her and immediately froze, her face full of fear.
He thought of that Kazeha, and then of the twin girls he had just seen with bitter faces swinging swords while passing through the courtyard. These so-called second-generation Intelligent Cursed Spirits were all pretty and wonderful females—onee-sans, girls, and lolis were all present.
This shouldn't be a coincidence, but rather something the Lord of Curses did on purpose.
He couldn't help but laugh.
"I see, so you're exploiting human pity for beautiful women. You've really put a lot of thought into making Intelligent Cursed Spirits blend into human society."
"Ah, what did you say?"
"I'm saying you specifically put thought into transforming Imaginary Spirits into females." Fushiguro Toji was puzzled. "Was it not intentional?"
"It was indeed intentional." Mahito said as a matter of course, "Compared to a muscular middle-aged man, slender and beautiful girls are naturally more to my taste!"
"So, it was just for your own eye candy?!"
"Isn't that obvious?" Mahito said righteously. "Who cares about the appropriateness of human society? I'm already invincible in the world; can't I enjoy myself according to my interests? Otherwise, being invincible would be too miserable."
Fushiguro Toji was speechless.
The little girl took the initiative to push the door open. Mahito stepped inside, and Fushiguro Toji followed.
Chisato watched them enter and stood guard by the door. Fushiguro Toji's figure paused for a moment, and he looked back.
The door stood out of nowhere on the beach. He had clearly seen a room inside the door just now, but after stepping through, he suddenly arrived on a beach. There was indeed a door standing here on this beach as well, but looking through it to the other side, it was still just the beach.
The little girl carefully closed the door and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Fushiguro Toji said in a low voice, "What an impressive spatial transfer ability. If I'm not mistaken, as long as Cursed Energy is left behind, any distance can be traversed using a door as a medium, right? I see, this is the ability you use to operate right under Gojo Satoru's nose."
"Her name is Yayoi Rin." Mahito praised, "She was transformed from an Imaginary Vengeful Spirit of a zashiki-warashi. Originally, as an unintelligent Cursed Spirit, she could only harm people by lightly knocking on doors. But after I gave her rebirth, she can freely travel to any door where she has left her energy through the wind chime on the door, and she personally controls the opening and closing of the door."
"She must be a strategic Cursed Spirit for you, right? Is it really okay to display her so openly to everyone?" Fushiguro Toji asked.
"Have you forgotten how you were resurrected?" Mahito smiled. "As long as I am alive, my subordinates can be reborn infinitely and will never die."
Fushiguro Toji marveled.
"That is truly terrifying."
Now Fushiguro Toji truly believed that Mahito could subvert the Jujutsu World. Before this, although he had accepted the mission to kill Gojo Satoru, he actually just had an attitude of giving it a try. He had no attachment to his new life; living was fine, but if he died, it didn't matter.
But now, he truly felt a power different from Gojo Satoru's direct strength.
Mahito possessed the ability of immortality, and at the same time, he could bring his subordinates into immortality with him. Such an ability gave his orders a huge margin for error because no matter what, they wouldn't truly die, so naturally, they would fear nothing.
It was possible for Gojo Satoru to die, but they would not.
Even if Gojo Satoru currently held an absolute advantage, he was ultimately facing a group of immortal monsters. Who would win?
Fushiguro Toji bet that Mahito would win.
"Ah." Fushiguro Toji suddenly thought of something. "If I fail to assassinate Gojo Satoru and die, will you resurrect me again?"
"I will." Mahito said meaningfully. "As long as you follow behind me, no matter how many times it takes, I will fish you out of the River of Souls. You will be immortal."
"Conversely, if I regret it halfway, no matter how well I live, even if I eventually die of old age, my Soul will fall into your hands and suffer trillions of years of pain, right?" Fushiguro Toji incredibly understood the subtext.
"That is truly terrifying," Fushiguro Toji repeated once more.
Not far along the beach, a table abruptly appeared. A parasol stood over the table, and four people were sitting at it. Fushiguro Toji followed Mahito forward and only then realized it was a mahjong table; they were actually playing mahjong on the beach.
"Oh, Mahito, you're here." Kenjaku looked up at Mahito and said with a smile, "And you brought a friend. How is the reincarnation experiment going?"
"It hasn't started yet. Ogami Granny needs some time to prepare," Mahito said.
"That means she doesn't trust you." Kenjaku said, "Rightly so, she's a veteran Sorcerer and should naturally doubt everything. Even if your reputation in the Curse User circle has always been good, she still has to be prepared to turn hostile."
Fushiguro Toji stared intently at Kenjaku and said hesitantly:
"Could it be that you are Geto Suguru?"
Kenjaku raised a hand and waved slightly.
"Long time no see, Fushiguro-san."
"You actually betrayed Gojo Satoru?"
"I have my own ideals too." Kenjaku said with a smile. "I respect Satoru, but I can't betray my ideals for his sake."
Fushiguro Toji suddenly burst out laughing.
"I see. The real you is a monster living inside Geto Suguru's brain. To think there's actually a..."
"...technique that allows one to freely switch bodies by switching brains. I've truly had my eyes opened."
Kenjaku clicked his tongue.
"This is why I hate people with such excellent eyes."
Once Kenjaku's Brain-Switching Technique is complete, even the Cursed Energy remnants can be perfectly presented, and the Cursed Techniques within that body can naturally be used. Depending on the body's aptitude, he can even perform surgery on the brain to add three to four other techniques.
Even with the Six Eyes, one wouldn't be able to see through Kenjaku's Brain-Switching Technique.
But while it was perfect in terms of Cursed Energy, Fushiguro Toji didn't use Cursed Energy to identify people at all. What was perfect to a Sorcerer was full of flaws to him. For one, the suture lines that necessarily appeared on Kenjaku's forehead as a Binding Vow might not bother other Jujutsu Sorcerers, but they were far too conspicuous in Fushiguro Toji's eyes.
With Fushiguro Toji's eyesight, he could even observe Kenjaku's brain directly through the suture lines.
"I am Kenjaku." Kenjaku smiled. "I'm a Curse User who has lived for a thousand years, and I'm currently working with Mahito to subvert the Jujutsu World. I'll be in your care from now on, Fushiguro-san."
"You're kidding, right?"
"It's true." Kenjaku said proudly. "I am good friends with Tengen and have been since a thousand years ago."
A Curse User who has lived for a thousand years...
Fushiguro Toji quietly chewed on the meaning of those words.
"Another remarkable companion has been added, Mahito." The female Jujutsu Sorcerer next to Kenjaku spoke softly. She casually played a card, looked back at Fushiguro Toji, and smiled.
"Long time no see... Father."
Fushiguro Toji's pupils contracted.
"...I thought I had already forgotten you, Tsumiki."
"But I have never forgotten you, Father." Tsumiki Fushiguro said calmly. "You left Megumi and me and ran off on your own. In my memory, your figure was always blurred, but that blurred figure was always entwined in my heart. A voice in my heart still tells me that you are my father, my link to this world."
Fushiguro Toji stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
"Your daughter happens to be the reincarnated Soul of the Ancient Sorcerer Yorozu; I awakened her." Mahito introduced, "Personally certified by the thousand-year Curse User Kenjaku, she is the strongest Construction Technique Sorcerer in this world—on a whole different level. Any Cursed Tool you need can be obtained from her hands, including, of course, the Inverted Spear of Heaven that can break through Satoru Gojo's Limitless."
"Ancient Soul revival." Fushiguro Toji couldn't help but say, "Is that even possible?"
"I can even achieve rebirth, so why can't I revive memories of a past life?" Mahito smiled. "Of course, her personality will become closer to her past life due to the filling of memories, but I guarantee that the young Miss Tsumiki Fushiguro before you is still her—she is your daughter."
"Stepdaughter." Tsumiki Fushiguro corrected coldly. "There is no direct blood relation between her and me."
Fushiguro Toji clicked his tongue.
Mahito continued the introduction:
"And then, these two are..."
"They aren't modified by you like the others, but are true, original Intelligent Cursed Spirits, right?" Fushiguro Toji said. "I had a premonition just by looking at them. Compared to the beautiful female Cursed Spirits specially modified by your hand, they are what Intelligent Cursed Spirits truly look like in my perception—hideous and terrifying, exuding boundless malice."
"Watch your tone, kid." Jogo blustered. "I am a noble first-generation species, the manifestation of human fear of the earth. Do you want to be burned to death?"
The volcano atop Jogo's head spewed a wave of heat.
[Please don't mind Jogo's tone. ] The last one at the table was naturally Hanami; she rubbed her forehead with a headache and sighed. [He hasn't yet become accustomed to communicating with humans, so he's always irritable. ]
Hanami nodded slightly toward Fushiguro Toji.
[I am Hanami, the manifestation of human fear of the forest. It's a pleasure to meet you, Fushiguro-san.]
Fushiguro Toji looked at Hanami with surprise.
"I clearly can't understand what you're saying, yet the meaning surfaces clearly in my mind."
"Is this your ability? It's quite a rarity."
"Hanami's ability is quite formidable," Mahito said casually, stepping forward to the mahjong table and spreading his arms as if to embrace the world. "There are three others: one is currently swimming in the sea, the manifestation of human fear of the ocean, Dagon."
"The old man you saw in the courtyard is the second; his name is Ashiya Magon, the founder of the Shinin Style. I believe you've heard his name. He is currently stationed at the training grounds helping to train the second-generation Intelligent Cursed Spirits."
"Finally, there's Kinji Hakari, who hasn't returned yet. These are my partners, my Core Circle."
"Who is Kinji Hakari?" Fushiguro Toji asked.
"Infinite Cursed Energy," Mahito smiled. "A human who possesses infinite power."
The arch-rival of Tengen, the thousand-year Curse User: Kenjaku.
The one who revives ancient Souls, the world's strongest Construction Technique Sorcerer: Tsumiki Fushiguro.
Manifestation of human fear of the earth: Jogo. Manifestation of human fear of the forest: Hanami. Manifestation of human fear of the ocean: Dagon.
Founder of the Shinin Style, the legendary master swordsman: Ashiya Magon.
The human who holds Infinite Cursed Energy: Kinji Hakari.
Fushiguro Toji unconsciously lifted his leg to scratch his calf, feeling the chill extending from his tailbone to his skull in his newly resurrected body. He too broke into a smile.
"This really is... terrifying."
This was the third time he had repeated it, but only this third time did his words reveal genuine sincerity.
"And now, we're adding you," Mahito said leisurely. "Welcome to my Core Circle, Heavenly Restriction returned from the Yellow Springs, Fushiguro Toji-san."
"That is... quite an honor," Fushiguro Toji said in a low voice.
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