Chapter 181: So… Am I a Second-Generation Prodigy Too?
No matter what the exact reason was, Zen'in Kaon knew one thing for certain—
The final shikigami had been successfully subjugated.
What remained now was to properly refine her use of Star Rage and the Ten Shadows Technique, strengthen her control over cursed energy, and push herself toward truly reaching the level of a Special Grade sorcerer as soon as possible.
"Cousin," Kaon asked hesitantly,
"Is my dad the same as my Uncle?"
She really needed clarity now.
Had her father been lying to her all these years?
Clearly a powerhouse—yet he had never mentioned it, never revealed even the slightest hint.
"…That's not something I can explain in just a sentence or two."
Megumi paused, unsure how to put it into words.
"All you need to know is this—both your father and my father bear a condition called Heavenly Restriction."
"From the moment they were born, their bodies were incapable of producing even a trace of cursed energy."
"But in exchange for losing cursed energy completely, they gained overwhelmingly powerful physical bodies."
"Later on, your father went even further and developed a kind of power entirely different from that of sorcerers. The details are… complicated."
"When he returns to the jujutsu world, you should ask him yourself."
Kaon frowned deeply.
"So… my dad is actually really strong?"
The image of her gentle, warm father—who cooked incredible food and always smiled calmly—overlapped with what she had just witnessed.
Her Uncle's speed, strength, and explosiveness were far beyond her current level.
Which meant—
Her father was at least just as strong.
So the man who always seemed like the weakest in the family…
Was actually the strongest?
"Then what about my mom?" Kaon asked suspiciously.
"She hasn't been hiding anything from me too… right?"
Before today, she'd assumed her mother was just an ordinary retired sorcerer.
Now?
She seriously doubted that.
"You mean Tsukumo-senpai?"
Megumi thought for a moment before answering calmly.
"Before she left the jujutsu world, she was a Special Grade sorcerer."
"And she reached that level earlier than Gojo-sensei."
"If I remember correctly, she was the first Special Grade of the modern era."
Kaon's cheek twitched.
"So… I'm the weakest one in the family?"
"How much have those two been hiding from me, exactly…?"
She let out a breath, then looked up at Megumi with bright, curious eyes.
"Cousin—tell me more."
"Tell me about my parents' past."
Kaon suddenly had the overwhelming urge to rush back to her parents and interrogate them properly.
With strength like that, why hadn't they stayed in the jujutsu world as respected sorcerers?
Why wander around the globe like carefree tourists instead?
"Some matters are classified under confidentiality agreements," Megumi said calmly.
"Only Special Grade sorcerers are qualified to know them, so for now, I can't tell you."
"But I can tell you things that aren't covered by those agreements—about your parents."
"Your mother was once a Special Grade sorcerer, but she never aligned with the ideology of the jujutsu higher-ups. She rarely accepted missions and spent most of her time operating overseas."
"As for your father—it's simpler. When I was very young, he became a teacher at Tokyo Jujutsu High."
"Yuta Okkotsu, Yuji Itadori, myself, many powerful seniors, and even some of the current jujutsu higher-ups—strictly speaking, all of us were guided by your father at some point."
"In other words, most of the backbone of today's jujutsu world were once his students."
"…What the hell?! My dad was that amazing?!"
Kaon stared wide-eyed, completely stunned.
All three of the current Special Grade sorcerers…
were her father's students?!
Her dad's seniority was ridiculous.
So… she was actually a second-generation powerhouse?
"Then that confidentiality agreement—does it have something to do with the Shinjuku Incident eighteen years ago?"
"My parents were involved too, right?"
Kaon connected the dots almost instantly.
If there was anything she wasn't allowed to know, it had to be that Special Grade-level catastrophe.
"When you become a Special Grade sorcerer," Megumi replied evenly,
"you'll have the right to know all of the jujutsu world's secrets."
"We'll talk about it then."
"Today, some relatives are coming. I'll introduce you."
"Relatives?"
Kaon blinked in surprise.
Were members of the Zen'in clan coming?
Megumi was the head of the clan, yet he rarely stayed there unless something serious required his attention.
Before they even entered the house, voices drifted in from the courtyard.
"You're still alive, old man?"
"Hmph. I've got a few more years left in me."
The moment Kaon stepped into the courtyard, she froze.
There were quite a few people present—
And even some familiar faces.
"…Kaguya? Why are you here?"
Kaon looked at Okkotsu Kaguya standing behind the others, utterly confused.
Were they related too?
At that moment, everyone turned to look at her.
An elderly man with a hunched back—Zen'in Naobito—stared at Kaon with trembling excitement.
The wine gourd in his hand shook as he was supported forward by a middle-aged man.
"Young lady," Naobito asked in a quivering voice,
"what is your name?"
Faced with so many gazes, Kaon was momentarily dazed.
"I'm… Zen'in Kaon."
"Zen'in Kaon… good, good! What a wonderful name!"
He beamed.
"Little Kaon, I'm your second great-grandfather."
"Second great-grandfather…?"
"Yes!" Naobito answered loudly, his face suddenly flushed with vitality, as if he'd just gained ten extra years of life.
"Oi, you old fossil—move aside before you get too excited and keel over."
A sharp, capable-looking woman stepped forward, cutting in bluntly.
She looked Kaon up and down.
"Little Kaon, I'm your aunt—Zen'in Maki. Come here."
"Aunt!"
Kaon immediately responded and stepped forward obediently.
Maki placed both hands on Kaon's shoulders and gave them a firm squeeze, nodding with approval.
"Good build. But not enough."
"Train harder from now on."
"Yes, Aunt!"
Kaon felt completely overwhelmed.
For the first time, she truly understood what oppressive elder presence meant.
"Brat, what are you hiding back there for?" Maki snapped.
"Get over here and greet your sister."
She turned toward the back.
Okkotsu Kaguya jumped in fright and hurried out from behind Yuta Okkotsu, face stiff with embarrassment.
"…S-Sister… hello."
"Pfft—!"
Kaon barely held back her laughter.
So this guy was her little brother?!
"Hello to you too, little brother," Kaon replied sweetly, deliberately emphasizing the word brother.
Kaguya had no way to refute it.
Technically, he really was the younger one.
They were all first-years at Jujutsu High, and he'd never even considered the family hierarchy before.
Now?
Instant social death.