Chapter 143: Binding Vows and Being Bound
"Since you went out of your way to tell me this information, don't try to say you don't have another motive."
Gojo Satoru looked at Emiya Shirou with a serious expression. "I told you, no one can lie in front of me."
Is the [Ten Shadows Technique] trash?
Yes, it really is trash. Or rather, if the strongest Shikigami of the [Ten Shadows Technique], Mahoraga, is rated at 100 points, then the other Shikigami combined would result in a deduction of 90 points.
After all, excluding Mahoraga, the strongest offensive method of the [Ten Shadows Technique] is summoning an elephant Shikigami to fall from the sky and crush the opponent. And just how much power can such an attack generate?
In the original work, there was clear data showing that even when the Domain grants a 120% buff to the user, the weight of the elephant Shikigami summoned by Fushiguro Megumi reaches a "terrifying" three to six tons—the weight of a normal African elephant.
Can anyone imagine that? In a world where the combat power of a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit can ignore tanks, the strongest attack of the [Ten Shadows Technique] (minus Mahoraga) is summoning an elephant comparable to a real African elephant to drop on someone. Using an attack that might not even kill the early-series Fushiguro Megumi as a "strongest move"...
Furthermore, this technique has a clear startup lag; if interrupted, it fails to activate. It also requires a non-negligible amount of Cursed Energy. In the original Jujutsu Kaisen, the deuteragonist Fushiguro Megumi was practically never not low on mana, which was a sharp contrast to other sorcerers and Cursed Spirits who used jujutsu in endless varieties.
However, compared to those "accessories" that only drag down the rating, Mahoraga's combat power is strong—extremely strong!
The strength to insta-kill an average Special Grade Cursed Spirit, super-regeneration, and the evolutionary ability to quickly adapt to an enemy's attack as long as it isn't killed instantly... all of these make Mahoraga's combat power indisputably formidable.
But there is a catch. For a holder of the [Ten Shadows Technique] to control Mahoraga, they must first use those aforementioned "accessories" to defeat Mahoraga once. Only then can they control and command it in battle. Otherwise, Mahoraga will include its own summoner as an attack target and kill them; it can only be used as a "suicide" skill.
Yet, if a holder of the [Ten Shadows Technique] is already capable of defeating Mahoraga, does Mahoraga's existence even have meaning for that person?
In low-level fights, it's unnecessary. In high-level fights... facing an opponent who can also instantly kill Mahoraga, a Mahoraga unable to trigger its adaptation is truly just a slightly larger piece of cannon fodder.
This is the [Ten Shadows Technique].
However, this technique—which makes one question the very meaning of its existence—becomes immediately useful when pitted against a mechanism-heavy technique like the [Limitless Cursed Technique]. As long as one finds a way to use Mahoraga to adapt to those mechanism-filled techniques, one can ignore the enemy's special hax and turn the battle back into a contest of pure stats.
As a member of the Big Three families with a long history in the Japanese Jujutsu world, Gojo Satoru was no stranger to the Zen'in family's ancestral [Ten Shadows Technique]. Just the possibility Emiya Shirou mentioned allowed him to understand the consequences if the plan Shirou described actually succeeded.
"You, who went out of your way to tell me this intelligence that will inevitably affect the future of the Jujutsu world... what is it that you want? I don't believe for a second you don't want something."
Gojo Satoru said, "The rules of jujutsu are 'Binding Vows and being Bound.' Once this intelligence became important in my heart, you had effectively placed a 'Binding Vow' on me."
Even at a time like this, Gojo Satoru didn't forget to instruct Fushiguro Megumi and the others by his side.
"To describe it in easier-to-understand terms: since I took advantage of you, I would develop a certain sense of guilt toward you. If we were to become enemies, this 'Binding Vow' might be fatal for a sorcerer. And since this is a guilt and bond produced by a transaction, the way to dissolve this bond is for me to pay you a reward commensurate with this information.
So as long as your request isn't too excessive, I can take the lead in helping you realize it."
Gojo Satoru spoke very bluntly. He also had the confidence that no matter what kind of request Emiya Shirou made, he could satisfy him. Of course, this was mainly because Emiya Shirou had first demonstrated his strength. Although Gojo hadn't been serious, not just anyone could react to his attacks and dodge them without injury.
In this situation, being under a "Binding Vow," he might not be able to look after Fushiguro Megumi and the others. Not to mention that according to the spoiler given by Emiya Shirou, there might be a mastermind watching this place.
"What do I want? If I said now that I don't actually want anything, you probably wouldn't believe me either."
Emiya Shirou shrugged helplessly. "After all, as a sorcerer not on record with the Jujutsu world, in your view, I'm just a Curse User."
When the system on Emiya Shirou brought him to a new world, would it provide him with an identity? Yes. But it was only a document proving Shirou's identity in some file. As for family situation, interpersonal relationships, spending records... more detailed content like that was entirely non-existent.
Therefore, Emiya Shirou, with his past-life memories, could understand Gojo Satoru's attitude. Moreover, joining Gojo Satoru's camp as a collaborator seemed very beneficial for Shirou. At the very least, when it came to finding people, Shirou wouldn't have to worry too much.
"Then I'll reveal my ability a little as well," Emiya Shirou said. "My ability allows me to replicate weapons I recognize, and I've recently become very curious about the ability of a certain sorcerer. Do you understand what I mean, Gojo?"
"...I see. No wonder you want to find Okkotsu. Okkotsu's technique is indeed a great supplement to your own." Gojo Satoru realized.
As Okkotsu Yuta's teacher, Gojo Satoru undoubtedly knew that Okkotsu could copy the cursed techniques of others. Furthermore, after expanding his Domain, he could place these copied techniques inside the Domain in the form of Japanese katanas, to be used at will by Okkotsu Yuta. This happened to align perfectly with the activation conditions of Emiya Shirou's technique.
After clarifying the key points within, Gojo Satoru nodded. "Then the deal is struck. I will contact Okkotsu to have him meet with you."
Meanwhile, in contrast to Emiya Shirou and the others who had quickly completed their transaction...
Kenjaku, sensing the final images sent back by the Cursed Spirit he had dispatched, was staring at the situation—which had completely exceeded his expectations—with a look of utter bewilderment.
"What... is this!?"
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