Greeting Fellow readers, MasterW here
I bring a new chapter, sorry for the delay, had some things to do that occupied my time and motivation to write. But don't worry, I never forgot to write
Now about this chapter, I've got a few things to say, without spoilers
Now we begin a new arc that will change a little bit of things for the characters. One of you commented about the romance being too slow, but let me clarify. It will arrive soon, don't worry.
Also, a proposal for all of you. How about I make some of the Omakes with Akira in H-worlds?
Now, about an important piece I want to explain in this chapter.
I wanted to add another person like Toji or Saeko, to make it seem like there was more people in the world with that condition. And then I remember, in Sakamoto days there was a character that the author himself gave him infinite stats on every aspect, and I thought to myself "Yeah, that's HIM"
And added it, and don't worry, there will be a rematch.
Without any futher to do, enjoy!
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(Third Person's POV)
After taking their personal photos and printing their IDs, the group of students stared at their new cards—each showing their status as Chiba Jujutsu High students and their assigned Sorcerer Grades.
Mitsue, along with the Tokyo and Kyoto crew, moved to inspect the school grounds.
Yotsuya Miko: Grade 1
Niguredou Yuria: Grade 3
Yurikawa Hana: Grade 2
Zaimozuka Yoshiteru: Grade 2
Sakurajima Mai: Grade 1
Most of Yoshioka's students had received high grades. Akira had already submitted detailed information to Jujutsu Headquarters, which had catalogued each cursed technique and cursed energy output.
Of course, with help from Satoru and the Gojo clan, he had received plenty of insider assistance.
But there were two clear outliers.
Busujima Saeko: Grade 4
"I apologise, Busujima-san," Seto said while slightly bowing "But since you don't have any cursed technique or cursed energy whatsoever, the Higher-ups deemed you a Grade 4."
"It's alright, Seto-san," Saeko replied calmly. "Besides, I can imagine the astonished faces of them when they see a Grade 4 beat higher-grade sorcerers."
"I know for sure it would be a sight," Seto said, then his stare turned melancholic "I was active during the time of 'The Sorcerer Killer', Zen'in Toji. Most people underestimated him for having no cursed energy, but then they were killed without any resistance. I lost a couple of acquaintances to him."
"Hmm." Saeko nodded, a slight smile on her face "I've got big shoes to fill."
The other outlier was, of course, Kageyama Shigeo.
Kageyama Shigeo: Special Grade
"I still don't know if I deserve it," Shigeo said, staring deeply at his ID with a troubled expression.
"Don't worry, Shigeo. I'm sure you will be really strong real soon," Lala said brightly, staying close by his side and hugging his arm
Lala, due to her… special background, had also been included in the student roster. But Akira already had a different role in mind for her.
Akira looked at Shigeo, fully aware of the turmoil in the boy's mind.
Shigeo had always been afraid of his own power. An introverted kid who now found himself surrounded by people with abilities like his. Thanks to the self-imposed binding vow he had made, he bottled up his emotions until he exploded. And just like his emotions, he bottled up his abilities—constantly holding back.
Thanks to Lala, Shigeo had started letting a little of his emotions show, but he still felt inadequate.
That kid really needed to build some confidence.
Taking a breath, Akira spoke.
"Everyone, gather around."
The students immediately moved to surround their teacher.
"Now, every single one of you is part of this school. I will speak to your parents soon, but most likely you will all start here after your current school year ends." He looked at them steadily. "The only ones staying in this school from the beginning will be Kawasaki, Ishigami, and Busujima. The three of you will be second-years under Nagino-sensei."
He turned to the teacher, who nodded.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure they are in good hands."
"Shindou-san will be the teacher of the first-years, but since he doesn't have any students yet, he will accompany whoever has an assigned mission as support."
"Yo!" Shindou Romm called out cheerfully.
"Other than that, next year Yotsuya, Yurikawa, Niguredou, Zaimozuka, and Kageyama will all be second-years, while Sakurajima will enter as a fourth-year."
"By the way, I've been wondering," Mai asked. "There is a teacher for first, second, and third year, but none for fourth. Why is that?"
"I can answer that," Seto said. "Due to regulations, fourth-years are basically full-fledged sorcerers. A fourth-year student simply goes out on missions and rests at Jujutsu High. No classes, no dedicated teacher."
"I see. So, it's like an intern year before getting the diploma"
"Basically. But you still get paid" Reigen added
"That works for me," Mai said "But wait, why don't we just transfer here now?"
Akira turned to her "Because, I want all of you to enjoy your youth" He turned to the group "I want each and every one of you to enjoy your ordinary lives while you can, since the moment you enter this school full time, you will enter a dangerous job, and dangerous duty"
Akira looked down
"Just to make sure everyone comprehends the dangerous duty you have. I will be clear. Do any of you wonder why there are no third or fourth-years at Tokyo or Kyoto?" He asked, receiving silence. "As Satoru told me, it is because they all died during missions."
The group fell completely silent.
"Never lower your guard. Never get overconfident. If the situation allows it and you need to, run. Save your lives first." The last part was said softly. The students instantly understood the weight behind his words
"Don't worry, Sensei. I promise to always come back here," Mai said, adding silently, 'To you'
"Me too," Saeko nodded firmly.
"Yeah!"
Akira looked at each of them in turn.
"With that being said, I have mission assignments for all of you."
They instantly perked up.
Akira pulled out several papers.
"For Yotsuya and Niguredou, you are required to pick up an important target. He is believed to be a cursed person."
"A cursed person?"
"Someone possessed by a cursed spirit." He pulled out a photo. "This is your target: Okkotsu Yuta. You are to bring him here to the school. Try to do so as peacefully as possible, since it is believed to be a high-grade spirit. Shindou-san will be going with you."
"Will do, Sensei," Miko said, taking the paper with Yuta's photo.
He then turned to Shigeo.
"Shigeo, you have a solo mission." He handed him the paper. "It is believed that there is a cursed spirit influencing a growing cult known as the 'Smile Cult'. Your job will be to deal with it. You can take Deviluke with you."
"Yes, Sensei!!" Shigeo nodded.
"Then," he turned to Zaimozuka and Mai, "you two are coming with me on another mission. A renowned doctor's daughter was attacked and it is believed to be the work of a curse user. I will be personally going with both of you."
"Sure!" Mai said cheerfully. 'Yes! A chance!'
Saeko narrowed her eyes at Mai's obvious excitement.
"What about us, Sensei?"
He turned to the three second-years.
"You three will be dealing with a more personal assignment." He pulled out four papers. "There have been four death-row inmates that escaped. Sakamoto plans to go to the JAA and asked if I could help. Since I cannot go in person, I am sending you instead. Do not worry—the mission will be paid accordingly."
"Will do, Sensei," Saeko nodded.
"Yeah, finally a mission!" Saki exclaimed. "Wait, who is Sakamoto?"
"I will explain later," Saeko said.
"But Sensei, what about me?" Yurikawa Hana asked.
"Yurikawa-san, you will be assigned here at the school," Akira said. "You will not be going on missions."
"What? Why?!"
"To put it simply, it is because you can use Reverse Cursed Technique and output it to others"
"What does that have to do with me, Sensei?"
"To put it simply, it's rare. Very rare," Seto interjected. "I can count on my hands the number of people who know Reverse Cursed Technique, and I can count on one hand the number of people who can output it. Not even Gojo Satoru can heal others with Reverse Cursed Technique."
"Then what will I be doing?"
"For one, you will stay at the school to heal others. Since the school is officially opening, like Kyoto and Tokyo, it will also become a hub for Jujutsu Headquarters-affiliated sorcerers. Meaning this place will start receiving wounded sorcerers. Your job will be to heal them. Which is why Marikawa-san will be staying here as well."
"Eh? Me?" Marikawa pointed to herself. She had been quiet, mostly watching the group and occasionally stealing glances at Akira.
"I talked to Seto-san, and you will be included on the roster as the nurse in duty."
"I… um… thank you, Yoshioka-san. I'll do my best."
"Which turns me to the second reason. I want Marikawa-san to teach Yurikawa medicine. I have the knowledge that a deep understanding of medicine can help with healing. So, while Yurikawa learns medicine from Marikawa-san, I want you to teach Marikawa Reverse Cursed Technique. I will help when I have the time, so you will not be alone in this endeavour."
"Umm, I'll do my best, Sensei."
"Make sure you do." He turned back to the group. "Now everyone has their assignments. Make sure to fulfill them"
"What should I do?" Yami asked stoically
"You…You can stay here if you want. Actually, you can move here to the school to stay" Akira added
"I'm not required to do anything?"
"No, you are not"
"Hmm" She expected Akira to assign her a mission or a target, or anything at all. But he didn't. That actually made her happy, that she is not being used as a weapon anymore.
These days have been the more relaxed and happiest she has ever had. Just eating, sleeping, and doing whatever she wanted
'So, this is what freedom truly feels like'
Nodding to herself, she continued eating her treats
"My~ already making your students do missions. What a hard-working school this one will be."
Gojo and the others arrived just as the last of the individual portraits were being taken. Seto looked up from his stack of documents with visible relief.
"Just in time. I needed Mitsue-san to sign a couple of documents"
While the paperwork continued, Gojo pulled Akira aside near one of the large windows overlooking the courtyard
"By the way, Akira," he said casually, "This place looks pretty nice. The buildings are clean, the grounds feel wide and open, there is even a big onsen. Though I've gotta ask, why does one of the buildings have such a big-ass basement?"
Akira kept his hands in his pockets.
"It is for another thing. Nothing you need to worry about right now." He paused, then looked at Gojo. "Do you remember what we talked about?"
Gojo blinked, then snapped his fingers.
"Oh right. Maki-chan, come here."
Maki, looking at her Sensei alongside Yoshioka, walked towards them.
"Is something the matter, Sensei?"
Gojo grinned and jerked a thumb at Akira "Akira here had something to talk to you about."
Akira nodded
Maki just raised an eyebrow.
"What is it about, Sensei?"
Then Akira said, "Do you want to realise your full potential?"
"Huh?" Maki was confused. "What do you mean?"
"You have a Heavenly Restriction, the same as Busujima's, but yours is incomplete. I can help you achieve it."
"You… you can do that?"
"Just like I did with Busujima, I can help you erase your cursed energy."
"You what?!" At that moment, Tsukumo Yuki interrupted. She had been hearing the conversation, and the moment Akira mentioned that she couldn't help but join "You can what?! EXPLAIN! NOW!"
At that point she was grabbing Akira by the neck of his shirt, faces close to each other.
"Could you first release me, Tsukumo-san?" Akira calmly said.
Yuki looked to the sides, to the amused Gojo, who was watching everything with a smile on his face, to the rest of the people who had grown curious about her reaction, and of course Mai and Saeko who stared at her with empty expressions.
"Hehe, sorry sorry." Yuki released Akira. "I just got too much into it. But seriously, I've been researching how to deal with cursed energy, and I have a couple of hypotheses. Erasing cursed energy from everyone was one of them"
"How would that help me exactly?" Maki added "Doesn't a sorcerer need Cursed Energy
"In normal cases, yes. But your case is the same as Fushiguro Toji" Akira added.
"Who?"
"You don't know?" Tsukumo added. "I thought you would know about him, after all, he was from your clan."
Maki seemed stunned about it.
"Fushiguro Toji, born Zen'in Toji. He had a special case of Heavenly Restriction. In my travels, I've met many Heavenly Restrictions that made people become almost like normal people, just like your case. But he was the only one that had no cursed energy at all, at least until now."
She turned to Saeko, who looked back at her.
"To see another case of a Heavenly Restriction that makes its user have no cursed energy, I always wondered what meeting someone like that would be like. If I'm not concentrating, she could very well hide from my senses. It's no wonder Fushiguro Toji was that good of an assassin." She turned to Maki. "His body was basically superhuman. His body had a natural resistance to curses and a high physical skill that could deal with most sorcerers. And Yoshioka-kun, are you saying you can make more like him?"
She turned to him, her eyes staring deeply into his.
"To say that would be preposterous. Although my technique could do that, to say it would be successful on each case would be a fallacy."
"And why did it work on Busujima-san?" Tsukumo pointed to the purple-haired girl.
"Because her soul was strong enough to resist the procedure, and even so, it was a painful one."
"Indeed," Saeko added. "After the procedure started, I was in agonising pain for about 10 hours."
"And that is because her soul and will were strong." Akira then looked at his hand. "My cursed technique works by erasing things, mostly cursed energy, but there are a lot of limitations. I can't erase living things for one."
He turned to Tsukumo.
"What I did to Busujima was a 1 in 100000 chance of success, and she still went with it. Zen'in Maki would be easier, thanks to her body already being half-prominent in the condition I can cause"
"Condition? What do you mean?" Panda asked. At that point the conversation interested everyone as they heard what was going on.
"I erased the cursed energy from a body's soul, leaving an empty space, then used RCT to heal the empty space into taking the shape of the body. The soul remembers the shape of the body, so by doing so, the soul takes the full shape of its body. But since now there is no cursed energy to fill the container inside, it fills the void with itself"
He turned to Saeko
"That is what she felt during the whole procedure, her soul reshaping itself. Which is why it is so dangerous. On any normal person, it would kill them outright upon the first minutes. Their bodies and soul would not be able to survive the procedure"
"Then, you could erase anyone's cursed energy, like a sorcerer's?" Kusakabe asked.
"Not quite," Akira replied. "I have a technique that jumbles the cursed energy inside someone. But it just rattles their output. To erase someone's cursed energy, I would need prolonged touch with the person, and the duration depends on how much cursed energy they have. At most, I would be erasing someone's cursed energy amounts, but to fully erase their core, I would need a lot of time and prolonged contact."
"Well, I guess now we have a new way to torture a prisoner," Kusakabe added.
"Except in the case it turns them into another Toji," Tsukumo added. "I can imagine the faces of the Higher-ups after they discover you can make an army of Toji"
"They will probably just prohibit him for doing that," Yaga added
"That is the most probable outcome," Akira said calmly, before turning his steady crimson gaze toward Maki. "As I said before, I can perform the procedure on you, but it will cause excruciating pain throughout your entire body. And I will need your sister present as well."
At those words, Maki froze in place. Her usual tough expression cracked slightly as a flicker of concern crossed her face. She cared deeply about her sister, that was the main reason she had decided to become a sorcerer in the first place, to grow strong enough to protect Mai and pull her out of the abuse of the Zen'in clan. But she had no idea what Mai had to do with this
"Why her?" Maki asked, voice sharp with suspicion.
"Because you are twins," Akira replied evenly. "Twins are connected together by fate. So, when I remove the cursed energy from your body, your sister will undoubtedly be affected and go through the same process as well"
Maki stopped completely, her mind racing as she thought deeply about the implications
"Think on it," Akira continued in his usual calm tone. "And when you make your decision, you can communicate it to me through Satoru"
The conversation hung in the air for a moment before Seto returned with Mitsue at his side. The representative from the Higher-ups gave a small, satisfied nod.
"Everything is in order," Seto announced loudly "All documents are signed. As of this moment, Chiba Jujutsu High is officially open"
The group broke into applause together, a mix of cheers, claps filling the main courtyard with warmth
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(Some Time Before)
"To think there would be another one like Toji," an old voice muttered darkly.
Elsewhere, in a dimly lit room filled with elderly men, the Jujutsu Higher-ups sat around a long table reviewing the latest documents concerning the new students of Chiba Jujutsu High.
One of the Zen'in representatives stared at the paper regarding Busujima Saeko with clear disdain etched across his wrinkled face.
"We were at peace knowing that Gojo brat managed to kill him, but now another one has appeared."
Of course, the Zen'in clan had been glad when Toji died.
They knew better than anyone just how much of a threat the Sorcerer Killer truly was. It was only thanks to his own whims that the entire Zen'in clan hadn't been erased from existence long ago.
That alone showed exactly how much power Zen'in Toji had possessed.
Another fellow Zen'in representative turned to him.
"To think there would be three cases of Heavenly Restricted people that make the user have zero cursed energy."
"Three?" Another representative from a different clan asked, frowning. "What do you mean three?"
"You mean Toji and this new Busujima girl, right? Who else? That Zen'in Maki from Tokyo High?"
"No," the Zen'in clan representative replied coldly. "Zen'in Maki is quite a peculiar case, but her strength is nowhere near what Toji or this new girl could accomplish." He paused, eyes narrowing. "There is another one. He left the jujutsu world a long time ago. He was from a couple of generations before Toji, even older than Naobito-sama"
"There was another one?"
"Yes. His name is Zen'in…"
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"Hey!"
"Uh-oh…"
"Osaragi, get down!"
SWIIIISH!!!
A razor-sharp slash cut through the air.
The top half of the minivan they were riding in was sliced clean off, along with the roadside wall beside them, all because the oldest member of the group had casually swung his blade to cut down a single fly that had flown past.
One of them was an extremely tall and muscular man with an angular face, sunken dark brown eyes, and spiky dark brown hair. He wore a white dress shirt under a black suit jacket, a metallic piece attached to his jaw, several earrings, two bike chains around his neck, and numerous piercings on both ears, including a hoop next to his left eyelid. He was the assassin known as Hyo.
Beside him sat a tall and slim man in his mid-twenties with long blond hair worn loose and sharp dark green eyes. He wore a light blue polo shirt under a dark brown suit with a purple tie. He was Shishiba, a member of the Order.
Another was an adorable-looking young woman of average height with a slender yet shapely build. Her hair was long, straight, and black, reaching her lower back with shoulder-length framing strands. Her uneven, fringed bluish-grey eyes were emotionless. She was Osaragi.
Then there was a very handsome man of tall and slim but muscular build, with medium-length black hair and large black eyes. He wore a red polo shirt with teal, black, and white triangle patterns under a cream-colored trench coat. He was Nagumo Yoichi.
And the last one, the frail-looking elderly man with slicked-back white hair and closed eyes who had just cut the car in half, wore a white polo shirt under a tan business suit, pants, and black shoes.
He was Takamura.
But his true name was Zen'in Takamura, another Heavenly Restricted person.
"We have in our midst another killer with no brakes," Nagumo joked.
"It's the opposite! His gas pedal is to the metal," Shishiba added dryly.
"Good ol' Takamura," Nagumo chuckled. "Well anyway!"
"If there are four enemies…" Hyo started.
"That's less than one target each," Shishiba continued.
"Mr. Shishiba, let's go eat pork cutlets for good luck," Osaragi said in her usual flat tone.
"There you go again with your superstitions," Shishiba sighed
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(Present)
Sakurajima Mai is quite the simple girl. A girl in love, to be specific.
Spending time with the guy she likes? She is happy.
Keeping the guy she likes far away from Cow-Tits-Busujima? She is very happy.
But having some random hag flirt with her Sensei right in front of her? She is not quite happy.
"To think I would be transporting the new strongest to his mission by myself. It is quite an honour. I'm quite glad I was assigned to Chiba Jujutsu High."
Their driver, one of the newly assigned assistant teachers to the school, spoke cheerfully from the driver's seat. Her name was Sakurada Nao, a middle-aged woman with long brown hair, warm brown eyes behind thin glasses, and a soft, attractive face.
But the thing that made Mai grit her teeth was the huge cow-tits she carried with her, almost on the same level as Cow-Tits-Busujima.
Nao had been assigned to drive them to their mission today. The only good part about this whole situation was that Mai got to spent time with Sensei. Even if it was just for a mission, it was still time alone with him.
Well, Zaimozuka is going with them as well, but he doesn't count
She glanced sideways at Akira, who sat quietly in front of her on the co-pilot seat, looking out the window with his usual calm expression. Just being this close to him made her heart beat a little faster
'This is my chance,' Mai thought, clenching her fists in her lap. 'I can show him how capable I am now. How strong I've become. Men like that, don't they?'
Nao smiled brightly in the rear-view mirror, her eyes lingering a second too long on Akira
"I've heard so much about you, Yoshioka-sensei. It's an honour to be your driver today. If there's anything you need during the trip, just let me know~"
Mai's eye twitched.
'Too friendly. Way too friendly.'
She forced a sweet smile and leaned slightly forward.
"Don't worry, Sakurada-sensei. Sensei and I can handle everything ourselves. You just focus on driving safely." Mai replied
Nao let out a light laugh, completely missing the subtle edge in Mai's voice.
"Oh, of course! Still, it's nice to have such reliable students. Especially one as talented as you, Sakurajima-san."
Mai's smile stayed plastered on her face, but inside she was already imagining ways to keep this woman as far away from Sensei as possible during the mission.
She leaned back in her seat, secretly scooting just a little closer to Akira.
'This is my time with him. No one else is taking it'
Little did she know, she would gain 3 new rivals that day
---------------------------------------------------
"So, this is the place?" Shindou commented, parking the car a short distance away.
They stood in front of a completely ordinary two-floor urban house. White walls, tidy garden, nothing out of the ordinary at first glance. But the moment they stepped closer, all three of them felt it, a thick, heavy pressure of raw cursed energy leaking from the building like an invisible fog.
Miko's eyes narrowed. Since developing her technique, her sensitivity to cursed energy had increased dramatically. The weight pressing down on her shoulders was almost suffocating.
"Let's go," she said quietly.
The three of them walked up to the front door. Shindou knocked politely.
A tired-looking woman in her late thirties opened the door. Yuta's mother. Her eyes were wary and exhausted.
"If you're journalists, I already told you, I'm not giving another interview. Please leave my son alone."
Shindou raised both hands in a calming gesture.
"We're not journalists, ma'am. We know exactly what your son is going through. We're here to help. If you'll let us explain everything inside, I promise we won't take much of your time."
The woman hesitated for a long moment, but something in Shindou's calm tone made her step aside.
Miko and Yuria didn't wait. As soon as the mother started talking with Shindou, the two girls moved deeper into the house.
Finding Yuta was easy
Miko could feel it clearly, an enormous mass of cursed energy radiating from a room on the second floor. It was overwhelming. Heavy and Oppressive. She thought to herself that this pressure was even bigger than Gojo Satoru's cursed energy… at least double the amount of the Special Grade Sorcerer
The two girls climbed the stairs in silence. When they reached the door, Miko knocked gently.
From inside came a quiet, tired voice.
"I'm not hungry, mom."
Miko replied softly, "We're not your mom. We're here to help you, Okkotsu-kun."
A moment of silence
Then Yuta's voice rose, sharp and slightly coarse
"Go away!"
Yuria stepped forward without hesitation. Thin threads of her cursed technique slipped into the lock with a soft click. The door clicked open.
The instant the door swung inward, the full weight of Yuta's cursed energy hit them like a physical wave. Both girls felt their hairs stand on end, a cold pressure settling heavily on their shoulders.
Miko took a slow breath and stepped inside first.
"Okkotsu-kun?"
Yuta, who had been sitting on his bed with his head down, looked up in shock.
"Huh? Who are you? How did you get in here?! Leave before Rika—!"
"It's okay, it's okay," Miko said gently, raising her hands to show she meant no harm. "We know you've been through a lot. We're just like you."
Yuta stared at them, confused and guarded.
Miko decided to show instead of explain. She called forth her shikigami with a small motion of her hand.
"Mamoru."
The head of her Shikigami appeared behind her, floating quietly.
The moment it did, the air in the room grew heavier. A terrifying presence began to manifest behind Yuta.
A white shell that looks similar to a brain, partially appearing with a low, dangerous murmur.
"Yuuuta…"
Before anything could escalate, Miko quickly dismissed Mamoru. The shikigami vanished instantly.
Yuta's eyes widened in surprise.
"You… you are just like me?"
Miko nodded calmly.
"Yes. We are from a place that trains and helps people like you… and like me." She extended her hand toward him. "Come with us. You don't have to suffer alone anymore."
Yuta stared at the offered hand for a long moment. His expression was hesitant, scared… but there was a small spark of hope in his eyes.
Finally, he gave a shy, almost reluctant nod.
"…Okay."
------------------------------------------------------------
"Thanks for coming with us, Busujima-san," Shin said with a grateful smile as they stood on the rooftop.
"Don't worry, Shin-san. On the other hand, I'm sorry Sensei couldn't come," Saeko replied calmly.
Yes, Saeko would have preferred to go on a mission with Sensei, but she wasn't the type to refuse a favor for him.
"It's alright. At least we have all the help we can get," Shin said.
The group stood on the rooftop right beside the tall JAA building. After meeting up with Sakamoto and one of the escaped death-row inmates who had decided to help them, they had moved into position. Most of the other escapees had already been dealt with or neutralized.
"So, what are we doing now?" Saki asked, looking at the gap between the buildings.
"We plan to get into the JAA building," Sakamoto replied. He held a thin but strong thread tied securely to the roof of the tall building across from them, courtesy of the assassin helping them
"Umm, how are we doing that?" Ishigami asked, though seeing the rope he already had a pretty good idea. And didn't quite like it
"Like this," Sakamoto said.
Shin and Apart quickly climbed onto his back. Sakamoto looked at Saeko.
"Can you follow?"
Busujima nodded without hesitation. In one smooth motion she grabbed Saki and Ishigami like two sacks of potatoes.
"Hey?!"
"Huh?!"
The pair were startled.
Just then, Sakamoto leapt across the gap with incredible speed, using the thread to swing. Saeko followed right after him, jumping without any rope or help.
Her body cut through the air unaided, following Sakamoto's trajectory perfectly. Sakamoto's group crashed through the glass and concrete of the opposite building, creating a hole. Saeko, carrying Saki and Ishigami, flew straight through the same opening.
They landed together inside a spacious corridor.
"You said you'd make a net when we landed!" Shin remarked to Apart.
"I made one for me," Apart replied flatly.
Behind them, Ishigami, Saeko, and Saki landed cleanly.
Saki let out an excited "That was fun!" while Ishigami dropped to his knees, breathing hard.
"Please… don't do that again…"
The group looked down the corridor.
There stood a man with medium-length white hair and a long fringe that covered a pair of emotionless blue eyes. Beside him was another man with slicked-back dark blue hair, angular eyebrows, and beady brown eyes.
Sakamoto instantly recognized him.
"So, you're still alive, Uzuki."
Saeko immediately sensed that a fight was coming. She turned to Ishigami.
"Ishigami-san, get my weapon and Kawasaki's."
"Umm, okay?" Though confused, Ishigami pulled out his portable console. In a flash of particles, a katana and a pair of knuckle dusters appeared.
"Sweet, finally some action," Saki said with a grin as she slipped on the knuckle dusters and clashed them together, generating sparks.
Saeko grabbed her Sandai Kitetsu from mid-air and readied herself beside her.
"Huh? Those guys are sorcerers?" Uda, Uzuki's assistant, asked.
"Long time no see, Sakamoto. It seems you've made new friends… and you've gotten fat," Uzuki replied with a cold smirk. "I'd like you to forget my old name. I go by 'Slur' now."
Shin's eyes widened in recognition.
'That guy is "Slur"?!'
Slur, also known as X, the one who had put a bounty on Sakamoto's head, the one killing assassins left and right. The man Sakamoto and Shin had been searching for was now standing right in front of them.
"Why'd you put a bounty on my head?" Sakamoto asked. "What's your goal?"
"So many questions," Uzuki said.
In the split of a second, he moved, knife in hand, so fast even Sakamoto barely registered it.
But Saeko did.
With even greater speed, she moved. Using the handle of her sword, she struck Uzuki hard in the stomach and launched him backward.
Uda, who had tried to move at the same time, was met with a powerful punch from Saki before he could reach Shin. The impact sent him flying back.
"Could you please not get in the way of this reunion, sorcerer woman?" Uzuki said, knowing he was now at a disadvantage
Even though assassins were the peak of human physique, sorcerers and cursed spirits were still supernatural beings. No matter how hard an assassin trained or how skilled they became, they could never truly match a strong sorcerer in direct combat. The strongest assassins could only fight a Semi-Grade 2 at best, and even then, it would be a desperate struggle that they were unlikely to win.
Of course, there was one assassin in the JAA who was the exception — but he wasn't truly a normal human either
Right on cue, another window shattered.
A tall and muscular young man with spiky slicked-back bluish-grey hair and hot pink eyes jumped through the broken glass, holding a broken staff. He had multiple wounds on his body.
"Gaku," Uzuki said. "You look beaten."
"Hey, nobody told me about that crazy old man," Gaku replied.
Just then, a sword stabbed through the door at the end of the hall. It lowered down slowly and turned the handle of the door to open it.
Takamura entered, mumbling mantras under his breath.
Saki and Ishigami instantly realized something was off.
Even the assassins in front of them had some level of cursed energy, not high, but they still had it. But the old man in front of them had nothing. Zero cursed energy.
They both turned to Saeko, who was staring intensely at Takamura. They realized immediately that they were the same.
Uda moved to attack Takamura. He fired his gun, but the bullets were sliced cleanly in half. Uda then tried to slip behind the old man, but Takamura moved at extreme speed, slicing off the hand holding the gun and stabbing him instantly in the throat.
Gaku followed, swinging his broken staff. Takamura moved past him in a blur, sheathing his katana behind Gaku as the young man's arm was sliced clean off.
Gaku kicked his own dismembered arm toward Takamura, shouting "I don't need it!" Takamura deflected it with his blade
Then, at extreme velocity, Takamura slashed at the entire floor of the building.
Saeko noticed immediately. Even Sakamoto, Apart, Saki, and Ishigami were in the path of the attack. Thanks to the extreme speed of Takamura's attack, they wouldn't be able to dodge in time.
Mimicking Takamura's speed, she unsheathed Sandai Kitetsu and clashed against his katana. The collision released a vibrant, ringing sound that shattered every window on the floor.
"Hmm?" Takamura mumbled as their blades locked.
They exchanged another pair of blindingly fast attacks, surprising everyone. Even Uzuki was stunned.
"There was someone who could fight against the Ghost of the JAA?"
Takamura and Saeko clashed again. For the first time, Takamura spoke in a tone so low that only Saeko, thanks to the distance and her own Heavenly Restriction, could hear it.
"So… you are just like young Toji and me"
Uzuki and Gaku tried to flee seeing that the Ghost of the JAA was occupied, but were stopped by Sakamoto, Saki, and Shin. Gaku was already missing an arm, and Sakamoto had a sorcerer by his side. This was going to be a really bad matchup.
Both Takamura and Saeko turned toward Uzuki and Sakamoto's groups.
Then Uda, using his last breath, decided to take both Saeko and Takamura with him and give Uzuki a chance to escape. He grabbed Takamura's shoulder and detonated himself by pulling his necktie.
Saeko instantly recognized the danger. She moved back at high speed, grabbing Saki and Ishigami. Sakamoto grabbed Shin and Apart and pulled them away from the explosion as well.
A massive blast shook the entire floor.