Unlike the others, who were locked in intense fights, Mechamaru continued sweeping the area, searching for Cursed Spirits to exorcise.
Just after he cut down a Grade 3 Cursed Spirit with the blade that extended from his arm, his real body, submerged in nutrient fluid in the basement, suddenly turned toward the slowly opening door ahead.
"Why are you here already? Did you disinfect properly?"
A woman's voice came from beneath the oversized cloak.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, I forgot. I'll just stay by the door then…"
A stitched-face figure strode in without hesitation.
"Cursed Spirits shouldn't carry that kind of thing, right?"
"That's what I'm asking! Why are you here already?"
Kenjaku, dressed in the wide cloak, let out a light laugh.
"Well… our agreement was simply that, 'under conditions ensuring both sides' safety, we use [Idle Transfiguration] to heal your body in exchange for the information we need and one finger.' As for when the deal happens, that wasn't specified in the Binding Vow…"
Although Kokichi Muta spoke calmly, unease stirred beneath the surface.
[Sensei, their actions don't match your expectations. Instead of choosing the safest timing to meet me, they came straight into Jujutsu High while two Special Grade Sorcerers are present! What about the barrier? Even if it can't stop them, it should at least give some warning!]
Just as Kokichi Muta was about to speak, Kenjaku added:
"Don't bother trying to contact the outside. A curtain that blocks information has already been set up here…"
Kokichi Muta glanced toward the side of the life support unit. There sat a rabbit marked with a talisman of two connected eyes. As long as that remained, Sensei could…
"[Eye-Sharing Talisman]: lets you share vision with a shikigami, though it's blurry and only in black and white… It's something from 700 years ago. There are plenty of ways to block, interfere with, or deceive it."
"Tch…"
Every route for sending information outside had been sealed off by Kenjaku. Kokichi Muta's face twitched slightly. Without skin, even that small movement sent a sharp sting across his face…
The competition site was still some distance away. Once fighting broke out, he'd make enough noise to draw Sensei and Satoru Gojo's attention…
At this point, all he could do was take things step by step. Besides, it wasn't impossible for him to take down the two in front of him…
"Where's the item?"
Mahito held out his hand. Kokichi Muta controlled a Mechamaru to hand over a box along with a note.
Mahito took the box and passed it to Kenjaku.
"Here. Should be the real thing."
"Mm. Under a Binding Vow, if the other party hasn't suffered any unknown punishment, then its authenticity can be trusted.
Leave it with you for now. I have more important matters to attend to…
Don't make a move before healing him. You'll be punished by the Binding Vow as well."
"Yeah, yeah, got it~~"
After listening to their completely unguarded conversation, Kokichi Muta spoke:
"If you're going to heal me, hurry it up, you piece of trash."
"What's the rush~~"
Kenjaku glanced at him.
"Just a reminder. You also need to keep controlling the Mechamaru in the match so it continues competing normally. 'You must not actively leak our information' is also part of the Binding Vow…"
After saying that, Kenjaku left immediately. Mahito stepped forward, placing a hand on Kokichi Muta's head.
"Since the item's real… you're no longer needed…
But before that, let's fix you up. What a hassle…
[Idle Transfiguration]…"
…
In the observation room, Akira Zenin repeatedly scanned the nine match screens. Many of the students were already fighting, but they were all holding back to some extent…
The vision coming from the rabbit left with Kokichi also looked normal. At this rate, maybe just giving him some more painkillers would be enough. He should last until the Binding Vow with Mahito is fulfilled, or until Suguru subdues Mahito…
So tired…
Why am I this exhausted when I haven't even done anything?!
Akira Zenin quickly shook his head, forcing the strange thought out of his mind.
Satoru Gojo watched the students on the screens begin their routine search for Cursed Spirits. Looking bored, he idly tapped his forehead with his finger. Then he seemed to notice something and turned toward Akira Zenin, who was dozing beside him.
"Akira, someone put up a curtain without triggering the barrier. Did you teach them that?"
"No, that wasn't them."
Mei Mei didn't move at all. Maybe because no one was paying for emergency work, she simply sat there with her legs crossed.
"Then it's outsiders… Tengen-sama's barrier didn't react?"
Masamichi Yaga immediately stood up.
"Rakuganji and I will go see Tengen-sama. Satoru, Akira, you two go protect the students. Mei, stay here and track the students' positions, then relay that information to the teachers heading out."
"Got it. Looking forward to the bonus…"
Akira Zenin stood up and stretched.
Satoru Gojo looked at him with a confident grin.
"Come on, relax~~ I can't think of anyone who could take those students down."
Akira Zenin replied,
"That's assuming they haven't taken any losses yet…"
…
With buildings and vegetation all around, teleportation using [Blue] wasn't an option. So Satoru Gojo and the others headed to the curtain covering the entire forest.
No, not just one curtain. Behind that hemisphere was another, darker one layered over it, like two scoops of ice cream pressed together, one hazelnut, one chocolate.
"There's another curtain specialized for blocking vision. It covers the library, teaching buildings, and dorms… The two are linked into a combined curtain. That takes serious skill…"
Akira Zenin recognized the culprit almost instantly. A combined curtain like this couldn't be outsourced. It required the person themselves to be present to set it up…
Is he not afraid of dying?
"Forget that for now… something feels off…"
Satoru Gojo reached out and touched the forest curtain, only to be repelled immediately. The others tried as well, but each of them was pushed back in turn.
Utahime Iori frowned. This was bad. If even Satoru Gojo couldn't get in… then Akira probably couldn't either…
"It didn't reject me…"
Akira Zenin pushed his hand into the curtain, his expression turning startled. A trap?
Utahime Iori spoke in disbelief,
"They set the condition 'Akira Zenin can enter freely' in exchange for 'everyone else being unable to enter'? And it actually worked… and…"
She glanced at Satoru Gojo, who had also been blocked.
Satoru Gojo smiled.
"And I can't get in either. That's some seriously refined barrier work. Setting a condition like that… looks like they don't think much of you, Akira.
But since you can go in, there's nothing to worry about, right? Just don't get so bored you fall asleep in there~~"
"Relax, relax…"
Akira Zenin waved a hand behind him and stepped straight into the curtain.