When she saw that face—the one that had appeared in countless nightmares and was considered a nightmare for the entire Zenin family—Maki Zenin's arrogant attitude vanished instantly.
Her cheeks, which had been flushed with anger just a moment ago, now carried a rare tint of a different kind of red.
Even her hand gripping the long blade trembled slightly from sheer excitement.
"Are you... are you really back?"
Maki's voice carried a hint of grievance she hadn't even noticed herself.
Ten years ago, after this man had taught her the basics of swordplay, he had vanished into thin air during the Zenin family's pursuit, becoming a knot in her heart she could never untie.
"Long time no see, Maki. You've grown quite a bit."
Yoru smiled warmly, his gaze lingering on Maki for a moment before turning to Panda and Toge Inumaki.
"Dried bonito?" '(Is he the legendary...)'
Toge Inumaki looked at the incredibly young-looking youth at the door with disbelief.
Meanwhile, Panda's dark-circled eyes widened, and his mouth fell open.
"Hey, Maki, is this the one Principal Yaga always talks about? The 'strongest external instructor' who vanished ten years ago, Instructor Yoru?"
"He looks way too young! He looks like a middle schooler!"
Looking at these three seniors and their different reactions, Yuta Okkotsu, who had just been immersed in fear, felt his brain completely shut down.
He stared blankly at the handsome youth standing before him.
'Instructor Yoru?'
'He clearly looks about my age, yet he's the senior of these fierce-looking upperclassmen?'
'And that pressure earlier that even Rika was terrified of... did it really come from this person who doesn't have a trace of cursed energy?'
"Hiss!!"
Unwilling to be forced back, Rika, hidden in the void, let out a faint growl.
Those massive, murderous eyes peeked out from behind Yuta Okkotsu again, staring fixedly at Yoru as the air around them turned cold.
"Rika! Stop it!"
Yuta Okkotsu cried out in terror; he could feel Rika's current anger and unease.
Yoru didn't show any panic. He simply took a calm step forward.
A dark red light swirled within those deep red pupils.
[TRANSPARENT WORLD]
In that instant, the world in Yoru's eyes changed completely.
The flow of blood, the contraction of muscles, and even Rika's massive, chaotic cursed energy core became transparent and crystal clear.
He didn't use any cursed energy or even lift a finger; he just quietly stared into Rika's eyes.
"Be quiet."
Rika's wild growling came to an abrupt halt.
Under the gaze of those red eyes, this Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit actually felt an instinctual tremor.
It was an extreme sword intent that surpassed death itself, as if if she dared to move again, that invisible edge would instantly shred her core to pieces.
Finally, under that terrifying pressure, Rika let out a low whimper, like a startled kitten, and quickly retreated into the deepest shadows.
Yuta Okkotsu was stunned. It was the first time he had seen Rika show such an emotion akin to fear.
"Don't be nervous, Yuta."
Yoru withdrew his gaze, and the suffocating pressure vanished instantly, as he returned to being a gentle, casual youth.
He didn't use cursed energy to forcibly seal it like Satoru Gojo; he simply stood there in front of Yuta.
"This is Jujutsu High. No one here will discriminate against you because of your curse."
"Instructor Yoru..."
Looking into Yoru's deep and calm red eyes, Yuta Okkotsu's eyes unexpectedly turned red.
This was the first time in ten years that someone had faced Rika's rampage without showing fear or disgust.
"Don't be afraid of your power, Yuta."
Yoru looked into his eyes, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable conviction.
"It may be a curse, but it is also your love."
"As long as you can learn to control it and understand it, it will become your strongest weapon to protect this world."
'Love?'
'Curse?'
Yuta Okkotsu was dazed.
These simple words were like a heavy sledgehammer, smashing through the door of his heart that had been locked tight for ten years!
'That's right.'
'Rika was once the girl I loved most.'
'Why did I always think of her as a monster, as a curse that brings nothing but disaster?'
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
A crisp sound of clapping broke the brief silence in the classroom.
Satoru Gojo leaned against the window. Watching how Yoru had untied the knot in Yuta Okkotsu's heart with just a few words, a flash of admiration passed through his eyes beneath his blindfold.
"As expected of you, Yoru."
"You always find it so easy to grasp people's soft spots."
Satoru Gojo walked to the podium, cleared his throat, and made a loud announcement.
"Alright! Now that everyone has gotten to know our new student and new instructor, I'll officially announce something!"
"Starting today, Yoru will serve as our Jujutsu High first-year special combat instructor!"
"He will be in full charge of your physical training, combat instincts, and practical techniques!"
At this point, Satoru Gojo pointedly turned his head to look at Yuta Okkotsu, who was still immersed in emotion.
"Especially you, Yuta."
"Your foundation is really poor; you don't even know the basics of swinging a sword."
"In the coming days, let Instructor Yoru give you some proper... attention."
Upon hearing Gojo's words, Maki, Toge, and Panda simultaneously cast looks of deep sympathy and pity toward Yuta Okkotsu.
"Pollack roe..." '(Take care, brother...)'
Toge Inumaki silently pulled up his collar, as if he could already foresee the hellish scene about to unfold.
Maki Zenin patted Yuta Okkotsu on the shoulder, her tone carrying a hint of anticipation.
"Good luck, newbie."
"Instructor Yoru's training is famously Spartan."
"If you can survive the first day without dying, you can consider it a win."
Looking at everyone's strange reactions, a bad premonition suddenly shot from the soles of Yuta's feet straight to his head.
He swallowed hard and stiffly turned his head to look at Yoru, who still had a gentle smile on his face.
"In... Instructor Yoru..."
"Will that training... be very difficult?"
Yoru smiled slightly, revealing two rows of white, even teeth.
"It's not hard."
"As long as you still have a single breath left, I can guarantee you won't die."
"Well then, no time like the present."
Yoru turned around and strode out of the classroom.
"Everyone, fall in!"
"Assemble on the field!"
"Let me see how much weight you brats actually carry!"
With Yoru's command, Yuta Okkotsu's tragic yet blood-pumping practical training finally began!
And under this monstrous instructor who could suppress a Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit with one hand despite having no cursed energy...
What kind of terrifying, bone-deep transformation would this God of Pure Love, who had just entered the jujutsu world and couldn't even hold a sword steady, undergo?
[ Author's Note : If you're loving the story, a power_stone, review or comment means the world!
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