Meanwhile, a completely different discussion was unfolding at the Kyoto campus.
They, or rather, the Kyoto Metropolitan Technical College, had received orders from the higher-ups with a single objective—kill Yuji Itadori.
Although the Jujutsu Exchange Event strictly forbade causing severe injury or death, according to the higher-ups' perspective, a 'vessel' wasn't a jujutsu sorcerer, but a cursed object.
Therefore, killing Yuji Itadori wouldn't violate any rules.
As for why they weren't targeting Seele Vollerei, the other incarnated individual… well, she was a Special Grade! A bunch of Grade 2 sorcerers and one disobedient Grade 1—what chance did they have against her?
Besides, that Seele girl wasn't even a student of Jujutsu High; she was just an exchange student.
In principle, the higher-ups and the schools had no jurisdiction over her. She couldn't participate in this Exchange Event precisely because of her status as an exchange student. (For clarity, Amber undertakes missions as a jujutsu sorcerer, not as a student.)
Not that whether something was 'possible' ever stopped the higher-ups from issuing commands anyway.
Miwa Kasumi dared not disobey the principal's orders, but the thought of killing someone sickened her. Yet, she was already under the heavy surveillance of the higher-ups…
Ugh, this is so frustrating! She only became a jujutsu sorcerer because her family was poor and they desperately needed the money… How did things end up like this?
The others, all coming from major jujutsu families, were accustomed to this sort of thing.
Only Aoi Todo immediately furrowed his brow, let out a disdainful 'hmph,' and turned to yank the door open. "Boring! If you want to do it, do it yourselves. Don't involve me."
Without a single glance at the others' reactions, he stormed out, the door slamming shut behind him.
Principal Gakuganji could do nothing about it. After all, Todo was not only a powerfully skilled sorcerer but also a disciple of the Special Grade sorcerer Yuki Tsukumo.
On top of that, he had a good relationship with Satoru Gojo. Given the circumstances, the school couldn't easily move against him.
Sure, he was willful now, but at least he still followed orders to some extent.
If they really pushed him away and he ended up ignoring the Higher-Ups entirely like Yuki Tsukumo did, that would be a far greater loss.
With Todo's departure, the atmosphere grew stiff. But Gakuganji quickly reiterated the mission's importance, giving Miwa Kasumi particularly careful instructions.
He was a stubborn old fossil, true, but that didn't mean he didn't care for the students of his own school.
The destabilizing elements threatening the jujutsu world—Yuji and Seele—were thorns in the side of him and the higher-ups.
He hoped Miwa could use this performance to prove her 'stability' and finally escape the higher-ups' 'surveillance.'
Miwa understood the principal's meaning. She wanted to say she'd rather not do anything at all, but her mouth just opened and closed silently.
Always having to do things she hated… Maybe she really should ask Seele for help? But if she did that, wouldn't she truly become a rebel in the eyes of the higher-ups? Defying them without the power to back it up… could she even survive in the jujutsu world?
Amidst the young girl's anxiety, the Exchange Event finally entered its final countdown.
In the monitoring room, teachers from both schools had taken their seats. Amber, being an exchange student from Sugiwara High, had been brought along here by Satoru Gojo.
Before them was a projection manifested by the technique of Grade 1 sorcerer Mei Mei.
Her technique allowed her to share the vision of her crows, providing a surveillance camera-like view of any desired location.
Besides the main projection, a wall nearby was covered with over a dozen talismans. These talismans were linked to the cursed spirits released into the testing ground.
Each time a cursed spirit was exorcised, the corresponding talisman would change color to assign points to the respective team.
Gojo picked up the microphone. "Alright, folks! The Exchange Event is about to begin! Before we start, your friendly Gojo-sensei will kick things off with the rules."
He briefly explained the talismans and the scoring system. Although Yaga had mentioned it before, it was just a rough outline—an informal explanation in a private setting. Gojo's recap now was to prevent anyone from raising objections or trying to weasel out later.
Not that anyone really would.
"And now, a few words of encouragement for our students from Seele-chan~"
Gojo handed the microphone to Amber, who was beside him.
Huh? I have to do something too?
Amber hadn't expected that she, an exchange student, would need to make a speech.
"...Everyone, do your best. If anyone gets hurt, Seele will come help with healing… Ah, but please try not to get hurt!"
A wave of embarrassment and nervousness, like giving a speech at a freshman assembly, made her tongue-tied.
"Hear that?" Gojo cheerfully took the microphone back. "Don't make our cute underclassman worry about you~"
He then handed the mic to Utahime Iori. "Come on, Utahime, say something too."
[Kugisaki: This is on the loudspeaker, right? Dammit, I hope those Kyoto guys don't get the wrong idea! It's us that Seele-chan is worried about!]
[Fushiguro: ...You saying that here, they can't hear you over there.]
Utahime, who had just been looking at Amber with sympathy, naturally leaned toward the microphone.
She knew Gojo's antics all too well. He never missed a chance to make those around him uncomfortable. The moment Amber was put on the spot, Utahime knew her turn was coming and had already braced herself.
"While injuries are sometimes unavoidable, I hope everyone will still try to observe the…"
Before she could finish, Gojo snatched the microphone back. "Alrighty then! Let the games begin!"
"Gojo Satoru!!"
This time, it was Amber's turn to look at Utahime with sympathy.
Back in the monitoring room, Utahime was grinding her teeth. "You! Show some respect to your senior!"
"Hm? But I already gave you a turn to speak, didn't I?" Gojo feigned confusion, propping his chin on his hand as if he had no idea why she was angry.
His attitude only infuriated Utahime more, launching them into a childish squabble.
No one was surprised by their constant bickering, a habit since their school days.
In fact, if Gojo ever acted docile, everyone would worry he was planning something massive.
Still, Amber felt that arguing wasn't good. Even if Gojo was enjoying himself, Utahime's expression clearly showed her blood pressure was skyrocketing.
"Um… Are Gojo-sensei and Iori-sensei friends?" Amber asked, trying to change the subject.
"Oh, are we?" Gojo himself looked puzzled.
"Absolutely not!"
Utahime had initially considered saying something polite like 'we're old acquaintances' in front of the younger sorcerer, but Gojo's response instantly shattered that notion.
"There's no way I could possibly get along well with such a rotten man!"
"See? Utahime's always slandering me like that."
"Hah!?"
Utahime wanted to retort further, but a glance at Amber's troubled expression from the corner of her eye forced her to calm down.
I can't act so disgracefully in front of a child.
She took a deep breath, regaining her composed and dignified demeanor before speaking. "We were classmates who attended Tokyo Jujutsu High together."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.