Mahito rose from his lounge chair.
He hadn't mentioned where he currently was.
At the moment, he was on a certain stretch of coastline in Kyoto, Japan.
Because he knew very well that Tokyo was Gojo Satoru's territory, he had no intention of setting foot there unless absolutely necessary.
Other cursed spirits might not understand just how terrifying Gojo truly was.
But he did.
He knew it clearly.
Therefore, until he was certain he could face Gojo head-on, he would stay far away from Tokyo.
This wasn't cowardice.
It was caution.
As for his method of growth, preparations were already underway.
One part of those preparations was the curse user standing before him.
Mahito said politely,
"Hello, Hijiri Shunta. I've been looking forward to meeting you."
Kenjaku spoke from the side.
"As you requested, I've brought the curse user who thirsts for power."
In the month since Mahito had transmigrated, he had gained a sufficiently deep understanding of ordinary humans.
Combined with his memories of the original Jujutsu Kaisen from his previous life, he was confident that he could reproduce everything the original Mahito had achieved in a short amount of time.
He had no doubts about reaching the level of the original work.
The real question was—
how to go beyond it.
In truth, the original Mahito had rarely used jujutsu sorcerers as experimental subjects.
After spending enough time experimenting on ordinary humans, he had naturally begun trying to attract the attention of sorcerers, hoping to use them as more valuable test subjects.
Unfortunately, all of those attempts had failed.
In the end, he had relied solely on his understanding of ordinary human souls all the way until his death.
But this time, Mahito intended to change that.
The logic was simple.
Since he had such a useful ally in Kenjaku, he naturally intended to make full use of him.
If he couldn't find a jujutsu sorcerer to experiment on himself, then he could simply have Kenjaku bring one.
And indeed—
Kenjaku had completed the task perfectly.
Even the curse user he had brought was someone who had appeared in the original story.
"Thank you, Geto Suguru,"
Mahito said generously.
Hijiri Shunta seemed easily startled.
"Ah, so it was Lord Cursed Spirit who wanted to see me.
Come to think of it, there really are intelligent cursed spirits.
When Lord Geto told me that an intelligent cursed spirit was looking for me, I thought he was joking."
Originally, he had referred to them simply as cursed spirits.
But the moment Mahito spoke, he immediately switched to Lord Cursed Spirit.
He was clearly someone who knew how to read the room.
"I'm curious," Mahito said, "do you trust Geto Suguru that much?"
Hijiri Shunta replied casually,
"Because Lord Geto is very smart.
He said the future of curse users needs me.
I don't really understand why, but since Lord Geto said so, I came."
It was a lie.
Mahito saw through it immediately with the eyes that allowed him to peer directly into the soul.
But unlike when he had first met Kenjaku, he didn't press the matter.
Instead, he tactfully chose not to ask for the real reason.
After all, in the later stages of the original work, whenever curse users appeared in large numbers, it was almost always Kenjaku who had gathered them.
How exactly he managed to do that was another mystery entirely.
Although curse users could also manipulate cursed energy, unlike jujutsu sorcerers, they felt no moral burden whatsoever.
They used cursed energy for one reason only—
to do whatever they pleased.
However, because of Gojo Satoru, there was almost no room for curse users to survive in Japan.
Under Gojo's pressure, almost all of them had been forced into miserable lives.
Well—
for people who only wanted to act freely, being forced into an honest, ordinary life was a form of suffering in itself.
"And—"
Hijiri Shunta looked up at Mahito and asked with anticipation,
"I heard from Lord Geto that you can easily double my cursed energy, so I came as quickly as I could."
Mahito sighed.
"You really do trust Geto."
"I don't trust him at all,"
Hijiri Shunta replied casually, right in front of Kenjaku.
Mahito raised a brow.
"Oh?"
"It's just that Lord Geto made a Binding Vow with us.
He said he could lead us in dealing with Gojo Satoru, so we gathered under him."
Hijiri Shunta smiled brightly.
"Just as you said, we don't trust each other.
But if it's about killing Gojo Satoru, then that's a different matter."
"Because, you know—
Gojo Satoru is ridiculously strong, right?"
Mahito immediately understood.
That was the logic of the curse users.
They were a group of bastards who did as they pleased.
The only thing capable of uniting such people was a greater power that prevented them from acting freely.
And Gojo was precisely that power.
He was too strong—
so strong that even if every curse user in the country united, they still wouldn't stand a chance against him.
Because of that, they had no choice but to endure.
But Kenjaku's appearance had changed everything.
He had promised that if they allowed themselves to be used, he would lead them in killing Gojo.
And he had even bound it with a Binding Vow.
Mahito didn't know the exact details of that vow.
But it was clear that the curse users had been suppressed for so many years under Gojo's shadow that many of them were already near their breaking point.
At this stage, even if it meant death, many of them would gladly take the chance to bring Gojo down.
"So, Lord Cursed Spirit, can you really double my cursed energy?"
Hijiri Shunta asked curiously.
"Of course," Mahito replied candidly.
"But I've never used this on a jujutsu sorcerer before.
I can only guarantee that you won't die.
Beyond that, I can't promise anything.
Your Innate Technique might even disappear.
Even so, do you still want to try?"
Hijiri Shunta froze.
"You really can do it?
Is your ability really that powerful?"
It seemed he had been skeptical until now.
He clearly hadn't expected a cursed spirit to actually be capable of this.
"You don't seem bothered by the possibility of losing your Innate Technique?"
Mahito asked.
Hijiri laughed loudly.
"If my cursed energy can double, what do I need an Innate Technique for?
Mine is just some weak ability that only keeps me from dying immediately after doing bad things.
And it's hard to activate too.
I've always wanted one of those cool Innate Techniques, but unfortunately, I don't."
He spread his hands and sighed dramatically.
"If I can trade it for double the cursed energy, then it's completely worth it.
That way, I won't have to worry about being killed after doing something bad.
Instead, I'll kill the jujutsu sorcerers who try to kill me.
Isn't that much better than barely surviving?
Just thinking about it makes me excited!"
I actually think your Innate Technique is quite valuable, Mahito thought.
Since you don't want it… then I'll take it.
With a smile, he asked,
"Then shall we begin now?"
Hijiri Shunta's eyes lit up.
"No preparation needed?"
"Maybe about ten minutes," Mahito said thoughtfully.
"If you can completely let go of your cursed energy's subconscious protection, it may be faster.
But since a sorcerer's cursed energy defense is largely instinctive, I'll need to adjust it slowly.
Other than that, no special preparation is necessary.
At most, just your own mental readiness."
"Then what are we waiting for?!"
Hijiri shouted without hesitation.
"Please, Lord Cursed Spirit, hurry up and double my cursed energy!
Now!
Right now!
Immediately!
I can't wait!"
This guy's mental state is definitely problematic, Mahito thought.
He slowly extended his hand.
Hijiri didn't hesitate for even a second.
Like a child eagerly reaching for candy, he leaned his head forward.
Mahito had never told him what to do.
Clearly, Kenjaku had already explained everything in advance.
Sometimes, Mahito truly couldn't understand what Kenjaku was thinking.
The moment his hand gently touched Hijiri's head, the technique activated.
Mahito exhaled softly.
"Idle Transfiguration."