Chapter-181
Zenin Kiyoshi's last words were as soft as a sigh caught in his throat.
Amidst the pattering rain outside the window, that sound was almost completely drowned out.
But Mei Mei heard it.
Her fingers, which were tightly gripping the steering wheel, loosened their grip slightly.
The oppressive feeling that had arisen from Zenin Kiyoshi's silence earlier seemed to dissipate somewhat with his reply, carried by the crisp, rainy breeze that rushed in from outside the window.
Mei Mei did not reply immediately; she simply stared intently at Zenin Kiyoshi with her slightly gentle yet profound gaze.
The emotions churning in those eyes became even more complex, containing understanding, heartache, secret joy, and a deeper tenderness that seemed to well up from the depths of their eyes.
The sound of "drip-drip" could be heard, and the rain outside was getting heavier again.
"Buzz..."
Mei Mei closed the car windows; too much moisture would make the car too damp inside.
Silence once again enveloped the small room, but this time it was different from the tense and oppressive atmosphere of before.
This silence carried a subtle, slowly flowing warmth that was precious, like a warm current beginning to surge beneath the ice of spring.
Raindrops pattered against the car window, like countless tiny drumbeats, striking the rhythm that gradually harmonized the hearts of the two people.
"I thought you were going to bring up some more questions, Miss Mei Mei."
Zenin Kiyoshi looked slightly embarrassed. He looked at the road surface gradually being covered by the rain, and glimmers of light burst forth and then faded from his eyes.
He subtly turned the steering wheel, causing the car to tilt slightly. The fragrance flowed like liquid, once again filling Zenin Kiyoshi's entire body.
Along with the fragrance came the gentle voice of Mei Mei:
"If it were me, when I took out a very precious but dusty antique, I would always examine it carefully for a long time. Perhaps silent observation would be a better way to get along with it."
"Tsk, perhaps the antique wants to hear more gentle words?"
"Antiques wouldn't have that kind of thinking, but what about you?"
Hearing Mei Mei's blunt question, Zenin Kiyoshi's face stiffened. He shouldn't have said those things to the woman in front of him.
He coughed twice, took out the documents in his hand, pointed to them, and slowly said:
"Kenji Orimoto, Orimoto Rika's father, currently works for a construction company. However, something strange is that several workers always die at his construction site during the project's schedule. The specific methods of death vary: working at heights without proper safety precautions, accidentally falling into pits on the construction site, being crushed to death for not wearing a safety helmet..."
While injuries and fatalities aren't uncommon on construction sites, the fact that this kind of thing happens almost 100% of the time at the site where Kenji Orimoto works seems rather odd, doesn't it?
Upon hearing this, Mei Mei recovered from her previous state. She glanced at the road, turned the steering wheel, and slowly said:
"You suspect that Kenji Orimoto did these things? But I met him once before, and he didn't have any particularly strong Cursed Energy. He should be an ordinary person. With his abilities, he shouldn't be able to do such a thing."
Furthermore, I also considered the possibility of "disguise," so I had Black Bird Manipulation keep an eye on that guy for a while, about half a month, and still nothing unusual happened.
As he listened to Mei Mei's words, Zenin Kiyoshi recalled his experiences with Orimoto Rika.
When she was five years old, her mother died from some unknown serious illness.
Two days before starting elementary school, Rika was taken hiking by her father, and they both disappeared. A week later, only Rika was found in a shelter near the summit. Her father has been missing ever since, and his fate remains unknown.
Given that in Japan, children typically start first grade around age eight, this would mean three years later.
The food that Orimoto Rika hates the most is the eggplant stewed by her grandmother.
Eggplant -20 points, stew -10 points, grandmother -100 points, totaling -130 points.
Based on this, his father and grandmother are the most likely suspects.
Although Orimoto Rika doesn't have much of a storyline in the Canon, she doesn't seem to be an extremely rebellious child. So why does she hate her grandmother so much?
Furthermore, the token of love that Orimoto Rika gave to Okkotsu Yuta was a ring stolen from her grandmother's house...
Given Rika's relationship with her grandmother, could she really steal the ring so easily?
That ring might also be shrouded in some kind of curse.
Looking at the silent Zenin monk, he murmured softly:
Have you got any ideas in mind?
"There is a bit of that. I don't know if it's right or wrong, but it gives me a general direction for the investigation."
"It's already impressive that you were able to find a direction for the investigation. I've been looking at the data for so long, but I still don't have a clue."
Zenin Kiyoshi's lips twitched twice. For some reason, he felt as if he had just been teased by some unseen force.
However, before Zenin Kiyoshi could say anything, the car suddenly stopped, and a slightly solemn expression appeared on Mei Mei's face.
"Kiyoshi, that's... an incomplete Domain Expansion?!"
Listening to Mei Mei's words, Zenin Kiyoshi looked ahead and saw a dark purple black sphere that had appeared on the detached street ahead at some unknown time.
The sphere is about thirty meters in radius and has already covered the entire building where the after-school tutoring center is located.
Moreover, no matter how Zenin Kiyoshi tried to sense the sphere, he could not detect even the slightest fluctuation of Cursed Energy within it.
The sphere was located in the very center of the street, visible to the naked eye, but imperceptible to the curse.
"No wonder this thing was able to bypass the new barrier created by Lord Tengen, but why is there no Cursed Energy at all? Something's not right..."
Zenin Kiyoshi had already gotten out of the car, but he didn't rush over. Instead, he stood in front of the car door that had appeared out of nowhere and pressed his hand against it.
"Hey, Kiyoshi, why are you holding the car door and not letting me out?"
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at Mei Mei, his face solemn:
"Miss Mei Mei, that thing seems to be an incomplete Domain Expansion. It has already formed the most basic barrier space. Although it has not yet covered the Cursed Technique, it can already be considered a Special Grade Cursed Spirit."
Furthermore, I can't detect any Cursed Energy in that thing; something's not right. If possible, I'd like to ask Miss Mei Mei to stay here and call for backup from the Jujutsu High, and also keep watch for any potential accomplice spirits that might appear.
Although Mei Mei felt somewhat helpless about Zenin Kiyoshi's request, she knew it was the best choice.
"Then be careful."
"Yeah, don't worry, we're going out for dinner together tonight."
Chapter-182
"Born of darkness, darker than black, it cleanses away all filth and defilement."
As obscure incantations were uttered from the Zenin monk's mouth, a massive Curtain, large enough to cover the entire street, descended.
Before entering the street, Zenin Kiyoshi glanced back at where Mei Mei was, paused slightly, and said:
"Miss Mei Mei, please contact the Jujutsu High immediately and request special support and Assistant Manager to evacuate the crowd. I sensed the presence of many ordinary people inside. Most of them are currently fine. I will guide them out after I go in."
When the time comes, I would appreciate it if you could help those ordinary people here. Also, when you contact the college, please describe in detail the characteristics of this field: 'visual presence and the void of Cursed Energy'!
At the same time, you must pay attention to your own safety and be alert to your surroundings!
The appearance of this area is no accident. It's highly likely that accomplice Cursed Spirits are lurking nearby, or... its appearance itself is a trap set to target our investigation of Kenji Orimoto! You need to ensure your escape route is clear and prevent any external interference!
There won't be any problems on my end, please trust me.
Rainwater trickled down the glass. Mei Mei had already stepped out of the car. She looked at Kiyoshi, who was now inside the barrier, took a deep breath, and said:
"Yes, I will absolutely not rush in even one step. I have already set up surveillance around here with crows to prevent any suspicious person from escaping. But remember, whatever you do, don't get killed."
Zenin Kiyoshi simply nodded, then suddenly rushed towards the sphere. At that moment, Yamata no Orochi's slightly agitated voice echoed in his mind.
As Mei Mei watched Zenin Kiyoshi's back being swallowed up by the dark purple "Curtain" in an instant, it was as if he had been plunged into a bottomless, viscous swamp, without even a ripple.
Her heart sank slightly, then she immediately picked up her phone and quickly dialed the emergency contact number while her eyes were fixed on the small building shrouded in the Domain Expansion. Black crows flew high in the night, warily scanning the surrounding streets and building shadows shrouded in rain.
Inside the dark purple Domain Expansion, there was deathly silence, as if even time had frozen.
The air was as thick as glue, carrying an indescribable, strange smell mixed with dust, old wood, and... a faint, almost imperceptible stench of blood.
Zenin Kiyoshi's body moved at high speed within it. The powerful body brought by the Heavenly Restriction allowed him to move at a speed of 200m/s, almost normal, even without using his Cursed Energy.
"Kiyoshi, don't move so fast. Something's not right inside. This isn't an 'incomplete Domain Expansion,' but a complete Domain Expansion with the added life-giving technique, and it seems to have been created by that person."
I'm familiar with the posture of this Domain Expansion; it's somewhat similar to the Domain Expansion of that guy [Kubinashi]. Be careful; that guy has always been a very gloomy person, and I'm not sure about the specific effects within his Domain Expansion.
I once witnessed it; after the headless Domain Expansion dispersed, only a pile of dismembered corpses remained.
"Hey! Sukuna! Stop playing dead! Didn't you fight [Kubinashi] before? You should know about that guy's Domain Expansion, right?"
In his Innate Domain, Sukuna was engrossed in a game, completely ignoring Yamata no Orochi's call. However, as Yamata no Orochi prepared to unplug the network cable, he replied somewhat impatiently:
"You damn crazy woman, don't bother me. A piece of trash like Kubinashi doesn't even have the right to open his Domain Expansion in front of me. I just used [Divine Flame] to chop that guy down and beheaded him."
But since I had no interest in him, I let him escape. As for that guy's abilities? I had absolutely no idea, nor did I care to know. If this brat died at that trash's hands, it would prove he was nothing special.
Sukuna's words made Yamata no Orochi's face darken. She stared at Sukuna, veins bulging on her forehead, but ultimately said nothing.
Zenin Kiyoshi didn't pay attention to these things. After expressing his gratitude to Yamata no Orochi, he continued to rush deeper into this space.
The size of the space within the Domain Expansion is different from the size of the black sphere as it appears on the surface.
The distance that Zenin Kiyoshi has moved so far is roughly the size of three to four football fields, but the floors seem endless, as if there is no end to them.
What made Zenin Kiyoshi even more wary was that this strange space seemed to possess some kind of ability to shield one's perception of Cursed Energy.
Normally, his Cursed Energy would spread out like radar, and he would project all the things around him that had magical energy fluctuations into his mind.
But today, those ripples that had escaped were swallowed up instantly, as if they had encountered swamps, and no Cursed Energy could be felt at all.
Zenin Monk steadied himself, and his five senses were instantly heightened to their peak.
He wasn't too flustered even without sensing any Cursed Energy. Over the years, he had already raised Toji's favorability to 78 points, and was already able to control 80% of the Heavenly Restriction Body.
Even if he could only rely on the most basic senses of sight, hearing, smell and touch, he could still explore this space without restraint.
The corridor was dimly lit, with only a few emergency lights casting a pale green glow that illuminated the peeling paint on the walls and the children's picture books and stationery scattered on the floor.
Looking at the wall plaster that was clearly in a different state of decay, a doubt arose in Zenin Kiyoshi's heart.
I had seen photos of this place on Mei Mei's phone before. The buildings in the photos were obviously very new, and this childcare center had only been open for half a year. Logically speaking, it was impossible for such serious damage to occur.
Is it related to the Domain Expansion of that guy [Kubinashi]?
In the deathly silence, only the Zenin monk's own breathing and heartbeat sounded particularly heavy.
Suddenly, a faint, intermittent cry, like the whimper of a kitten, came from a classroom deep in the corridor. The sound was filled with helplessness and a deep-seated fear.
Upon hearing that voice, Zenin Kiyoshi's eyes narrowed slightly, and he crouched down a little. The next moment, he charged out like a cheetah.
He followed the sound and found the classroom door at the end of the corridor ajar; the crying was coming from inside.
Zenin Kiyoshi gently pushed open a crack, and a slightly grating "creak" came from inside. The scene before him made Zenin Kiyoshi's expression turn cold!
Orimoto Rika was squatting in the corner, and beside her were several corpses that were no longer recognizable as human.
However, these corpses were generally dressed in ancient costumes and had samurai hairstyles, so they did not look like modern people.
Chapter-183
Based on the clothing on the corpse, Zenin Kiyoshi was basically certain of Yamata no Orochi's guess.
The strangeness here is most likely the work of [Kubinashi].
The "Kubinashi" was something that bastard Kenjaku created.
Several years ago, after handling various affairs, Zenin Kiyoshi consciously went to look for Kenjaku's whereabouts.
But that guy had extremely strong counter-surveillance capabilities. After vaguely sensing that Kiyoshi seemed to have designs on him, he almost disappeared without a trace.
Zenin Kiyoshi didn't dare to act rashly against those high-ranking officials under his control. It wasn't that he was afraid of Kenjaku's subsequent retaliation, but keeping these people under his watchful eye would make Zenin Kiyoshi feel more at ease.
It's always better to be bad in the open than bad in the shadows.
Moreover, indiscriminately slaughtering those high-ranking officials controlled by Kenjaku would not only fail to uncover any information about Kenjaku, but would also reveal that one's own side already knew the other side's secrets.
In any case, it's not worth it.
Whenever he thought of this, Zenin Kiyoshi would sigh inwardly, wishing he had abilities like "Kyōka Suigetsu" at this moment.
In that case, there would be no need to use [Cursed Corpse Creation] to control corpses, to use various schemes and tricks to balance the situation, and there would be no need to conduct [Special Grade Spellcaster Assessment] from time to time to quell suspicions.
But... did Kenjaku's side actually notice my solo trip with Mei Mei this time?
Is this just a coincidence?
Or is it that my actions have always been within Kenjaku's control?
Kiyoshi frowned slightly, and his expression turned somewhat cold for a moment.
Looking at Zenin Kiyoshi who had suddenly barged in, Orimoto Rika's face showed some fear. Especially after seeing Zenin Kiyoshi's serious expression, her legs went weak and she shrank further and further into the corner of the wall.
Seeing this, Zenin Kiyoshi realized that he had frightened Orimoto Rika. His expression softened, and he appeared in front of her almost in the blink of an eye.
Before Zenin Kiyoshi could say anything, Orimoto Rika suddenly screamed:
"Run!"
The next moment, with a splatter of blood, Zenin Kiyoshi's head flew off his neck.
Only then did Zenin Kiyoshi see clearly that there were several extremely thin threads on Orimoto Rika's lips.
The reason she couldn't make a sound to remind herself was because the threads were stuck to her mouth.
But it was all too late. As the head was severed, the scene before them gradually faded into darkness.
As Orimoto Rika watched the head, still warm and covered in blood, roll around, her face turned deathly pale, almost completely devoid of color.
Just then, a cold voice rang out, tinged with disdain:
"This is the one that Yamata no Orochi took a liking to? After thousands of years, have the sorcerers of this era become so weak?"
Accompanied by a somewhat chilling curse, the figure of Kubinashi appeared in front of Orimoto Rika.
He was a man with dark green hair, a thin build, and a somewhat sallow complexion; his appearance was not much different from that of an ordinary human.
However, the neck area was completely empty; nothing was visible.
His head hovered in the air, glancing at Zenin Kiyoshi's head, which lay on the ground with its eyes still open, a hint of dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes.
From what Kenjaku had just said, he had thought it would be a major battle, but it turned out to be an opponent of this caliber.
At the same time, perhaps frightened by the sight of Zenin Kiyoshi's death, Orimoto Rika's cries grew louder and louder, sounding rather jarring in the small space.
Kubinashi plunged his fingers into his own skull, the blood and stinging pain briefly making him forget the noisy noise behind him.
With his eyes closed and a cold expression, he was contemplating whether to kill the little girl behind him when a tremendous sense of crisis suddenly surged within him.
Without any hesitation, Kubinashi suddenly raised both hands and began to swing them around his body.
In an instant, countless fine threads of Cursed Energy, almost invisible to the naked eye, filled the entire room.
The samurai corpses on the ground, the decorations, sofas, chandeliers in the room... were all instantly shredded into powder.
Even the walls were now covered with deep cuts from those sharp threads.
Kiyoshi's body on the ground was also torn apart at this moment, but no blood flowed out.
And Orimoto Rika, who had been beside him just moments before, vanished without a trace at that moment.
"Damn it! We've fallen for their trap!"
As soon as he realized what was happening, a tremendous force surged from his head, accompanied by a pain that felt like his skull was being crushed, and his headless head was forced into the ground.
At the same time, appearing behind him was Zenin Kiyoshi, whom he had previously "beheaded".
At this moment, Zenin Kiyoshi held the head of the Kubinashi in one hand and held Orimoto Rika in the other. His expression did not change much, as if doing all this was a matter of course.
"Why, why?"
The headless creature's head was crushed into the ground by Zenin Kiyoshi, but it still managed to ask the question that had been troubling it.
Zenin Kiyoshi didn't say much nonsense about this.
Do I have to tell Kubinashi that he used [Cursed Corpse Creation] from the beginning to set up multiple clones in this space to act together?
The reason why those Cursed Corpses were not discovered by Kubinashi's Domain Expansion is even simpler: when Zenin Kiyoshi created those Cursed Corpses, he added a trace of his own blood and even Fushiguro Eri's blood during the creation process.
Adding blood, if used on other people, would probably only slightly increase the compatibility of the Cursed Corpse, and have no other function.
However, these two are different. Their almost identical bloodlines of Heavenly Restriction are enough to completely shield the Cursed Energy carried on the Cursed Corpse.
In this way, even if one enters the Domain Expansion, due to the characteristics of Heavenly Restriction, one will not be locked by the Domain Expansion.
Of course, this method is not effective in every field.
Under attacks from Sukuna's open-type Domain Expansion, Gojo Satoru's field buff-type Domain Expansion, and Jogo's extreme weather-type Domain Expansion, the unlockable power of Ten Shadows Technique is not as great. (Note: Ten Shadows seems out of place here unless referring to hiding in shadows, but likely meant "Heavenly Restriction's stealth" - keeping as is to follow MTL unless corrected).
However, in the realm of single-target attacks, Zenin Kiyoshi and Toji are practically invincible.
With a puppet that cannot be locked onto by a Domain Expansion, coupled with Zenin Kiyoshi's already almost exaggerated speed, few people could dodge his first wave of attacks.
It's somewhat similar to the concept of "assassination of Toji".
Chapter-184
Seeing that Zenin Kiyoshi didn't answer his question, Kubinashi wasn't annoyed. His eyes flickered slightly, and with a splash of silver light, the place where Zenin Kiyoshi had been standing was instantly cut into several pieces by the silver threads.
But Kubinashi didn't know that the attack just now hadn't caused any harm to Zenin Kiyoshi at all.
The other party had already disappeared from the spot a moment before the silver threads arrived, taking his head with them.
He felt Zenin Kiyoshi's hand grip his head like an iron clamp, and the next moment, he slammed it hard into the hard cement ground!
Debris flew everywhere, and spiderweb-like cracks spread out instantly.
Kubinashi's body, suspended in mid-air, convulsed violently once more. Due to the pain, Kubinashi let out an inhuman hiss, a sound filled with agony and rage.
"Why...why?!"
His head was crushed into the gravel once again, the sound distorted by the pressure, yet still carrying an unbelievable ferocity.
"The idea of Revealing One's Hand should have existed in the Heian period. Since I haven't mentioned it yet, you shouldn't keep asking such idiotic questions."
Your Cursed Energy is limited. Although expanding your Domain Expansion was not as difficult as it is in the modern era, the rate at which your Cursed Energy is consumed is about the same.
If you keep asking these pointless questions, your chances of winning will only decrease. Save your energy and let me see what kind of abilities this Heian period [Special Grade Imaginary Cursed Spirit] really possesses.
Zenin Kiyoshi's slightly mocking voice rang out, instantly igniting a fire of rage within Kubinashi. He turned to look at Zenin Kiyoshi, his voice unusually hoarse:
"You bastard—!"
As this curse rang out, the Cursed Energy of the headless creature suddenly surged!
Even though his head was being slapped around in Zenin Kiyoshi's hands, his headless body, which was floating in mid-air, still unleashed astonishing power, with silvery-white threads constantly emerging and spewing from his ten fingers!
A dark purple, viscous, glue-like liquid gushed out from his broken neck.
The entire space was suddenly filled with a slightly strange fragrance.
The fragrance wasn't strong; even with Zenin Kiyoshi's exceptional sense of smell, he could only detect a faint scent in the air.
The next moment, the surrounding black spheres suddenly shrank, becoming almost 70% smaller than before.
As the Domain Expansion shrank, the freed-up Cursed Energy condensed into countless fine, hair-like threads.
Under Kubinashi's manipulation, the silk threads gradually filled the entire room, each thread gleaming with a deadly cold light.
The headless creature wielded its silken threads as if wielding a living venomous snake. Under the dense barrage of attacks, the threads no longer distinguished their targets, but instead carried out indiscriminate and destructive cutting and strangulation!
"[Cursed Blood Bind - Thousand Threads Prison]!"
The air emitted a shrill whistling sound as if it were being sliced by a high frequency! Walls, ceilings, floors... all the remaining objects, including the fragments of the Cursed Corpse that Zenin Kiyoshi had previously shattered, were instantly cut into powder finer than sand by these threads filled with resentful Cursed Energy!
The entire space felt as if it had been thrown into an invisible meat grinder!
Looking at this scene, Zenin Kiyoshi revealed a slightly mocking smile.
He now understood why Sukuna had always looked down on this guy. If it were him, he wouldn't take a completely weakened version of the [Malevolent Shrine] seriously either.
To put it bluntly, Kubinashi's ability is actually a weakened version of [Malevolent Shrine]. Not only can it not directly cut objects, but it is also inferior in terms of the power, frequency, and freedom of its slashes.
Moreover, even something as simple as Domain Expansion, Kubinashi's Domain is nowhere near as powerful as Sukuna's.
Zenin Kiyoshi could understand this point.
After all, in the long evolution of the world of Jujutsu, the expansion of Domain Expansions was not actually the ultimate pursuit of sorcery during the Heian period.
For sorcerers of that era, a Domain was often just a battlefield that provided an advantage and a buff that guaranteed a hit.
It's nothing like the almost obsessive pursuit of a Domain Expansion by modern sorcerers.
Therefore, the effect of the headless Domain is extremely rudimentary. It simply uses a spell barrier to trap people within a specific area and guarantees the success of each cut by providing them with absolute accuracy through the Domain.
The reason why Kubinashi kept shrinking the size of the space in the later battles was simply to reduce the space for movement and avoidance, while freeing up more Cursed Energy for himself to attack.
In just a few rounds, Zenin Kiyoshi had already figured out the basic content of his opponent's spell.
He looked at the other person, a faint sense of relief in his eyes.
The difference in strength is huge; a top-tier Cursed Spirit is no longer enough for me now.
He took a deep breath, looked at the headless figure before him, pondered for a moment, and then a bright smile appeared on his face:
"If that's the all you've got, then let me teach you what a real slash is."
After saying that, complex black lines appeared on Zenin Kiyoshi's face, and even his palms seemed to be covered with hair gel. He simply swept his hair back along his scalp and created an extremely beautiful slicked-back hairstyle.
At the same time, Zenin Kiyoshi's temperament seemed to change instantly with the change in his hairstyle.
If the previous Zenin temple gave Kubinashi a feeling of indifference and coldness.
So, the current Zenin Kiyoshi feels very much like an acquaintance that Kubinashi met many years ago.
That figure, that posture, that expression, that strike...
Without a doubt, this guy is the man who shattered everything he had a thousand years ago!
Two-faced Sukuna!
Upon seeing Zenin Kiyoshi's appearance, the Cursed Energy within Kubinashi's entire body surged to a boiling point. He looked at Zenin Kiyoshi before him, his eyes turning crimson, the blood vessels seemingly about to burst from the whites of his eyes.
Inside Zenin Kiyoshi's body, Yamata no Orochi also saw the somewhat ferocious expression on Kubinashi's face. She turned to look at Sukuna, only to find that he wasn't paying any attention to her at all, just engrossed in playing a game with the controller.
What a hopeless bastard.
However... if Zenin Kiyoshi uses this move against Kenjaku, will Kenjaku find out?
Will the fingers that the college retained really not be taken away by Kenjaku?
Chapter-185
Meanwhile, at Orimoto Rika's home, Kenjaku sat on the sofa, with an old woman kneeling in front of her.
The old woman stared at Kenjaku with a look of terror on her face. On her wrinkled and fleshy face, there was a smile that was more like a grimace.
Neither of them spoke at that moment; only the somewhat old color TV in the living room was playing a program.
Kenjaku's long legs were crossed, a faint smile on her face. She would occasionally comment on the actors' performances on TV, seemingly immersed in the drama.
But the old woman kneeling at her feet never dared to raise her head. Her body trembled constantly, and large beads of sweat dripped from her face. A foul, pungent smell emanated from her.
Suddenly at that moment, the dark red fleshy ball that Kenjaku had placed on the coffee table cracked open. The fleshy ball looked somewhat like an animal carcass that had been dried and squeezed into a ball, and cracks were constantly appearing on its surface.
Looking at the cracks, Kenjaku sighed softly, then slowly said:
"It seems that [Kubinashi] is dead too, but that's normal. He was just an ordinary Special Grade Cursed Spirit from the Heian period, and he didn't even have a suitable host body. It's only natural that the guys from the Jujutsu High took care of him so quickly."
Zenin Kiyoshi... Indeed, your progress over the past five years has been astonishingly exaggerated.
From barely reaching the threshold of the top-tier level to now being able to easily slaughter top-tier Cursed Spirits, ah~ Curse Users are indeed always so annoying no matter the era.
However, although they're annoying, because they always follow those messy rules, these guys are always easy to deal with, regardless of their strength. What do you think?
Hearing Kenjaku suddenly shift the topic to her, the old woman who had been kneeling on the ground trembling abruptly raised her head, her somewhat ugly face now bearing an almost fawning smile:
"You're right, sir. Those sorcerers are always so hypocritical, pretending to care about ordinary people while they're always against us. But in reality, they've committed just as many sins."
They're just more subtle than we are. We Curse Users kill and plunder at will, but we don't hide it. On the contrary, those sorcerers may appear saintly, but they actually collude with higher-ups and frame ordinary people just as many times!
She knelt on the ground, racking her brains to make the person in front of her happy. She didn't want to die; she wanted to continue living!
Her granddaughter, the child named Orimoto Rika, still carries her lifelong wish!
If we can turn that child into a Cursed Spirit, then what does this high and mighty woman mean to us?!
Thinking of this, the old woman lowered her head slightly, concealing the deep hatred in her eyes to the extreme.
Kenjaku naturally noticed this as well, but he did not point it out.
She had already seen the child named Orimoto Rika through Kubinashi's shared vision.
She is indeed a very good child; even Kenjaku was surprised by her talent.
It's astonishing that someone could have such a naturally occurring, almost cursed, physical structure.
Indeed, in Kenjaku's observation, the physical structure of Orimoto Rika is almost indiscriminately close to that of a Cursed Spirit!
Unlike ordinary sorcerers, or even humans, Orimoto Rika does not have a fixed core of Cursed Energy within her body.
There is no traditional core of Cursed Energy in her brain or lower abdomen.
However, this does not mean that Orimoto Rika's Cursed Energy is weak; on the contrary, it is a manifestation that her total Cursed Energy far surpasses that of a normal sorcerer.
It can be said that almost her entire body is a highly concentrated core of Cursed Energy!
But... how could such a body exist naturally?
Thinking of this, Kenjaku picked up the remote control, turned the TV volume down a bit, then looked at the old woman in front of him with a slight smile and said softly:
"I have a question for you. Was Orimoto Rika born special, or did you make any changes during her upbringing?"
Hearing this, the old woman dared not lie and quickly said to Kenjaku:
"After Rika was born, I discovered her special qualities, but at first I didn't know how to utilize her talent until I saw that little devil from the Okkotsu family."
You might not know this, but the curse on Rika is actually slightly weaker than that of the brat from the Okkotsu family.
"Oh? That kid Yuta's curse power is actually better than Rika's? That's interesting. Tell me, why did you make subsequent changes to Rika, who was initially clueless, after you met Yuta?"
Upon hearing this, the old woman's face showed a hint of resentment, but given the strength of the person before her, she could only reluctantly say:
"That brat from the Okkotsu family..." The old woman's voice was filled with uncontrollable bitterness and deep-seated jealousy, and her cloudy eyes churned with resentful venom.
He... he's a monster! A born monster! He doesn't have to do anything; Cursed Energy flows through his body like an ocean, inexhaustible!
That Cursed Energy was more immense than I had ever seen before, and it could even unconsciously absorb the Cursed Energy dissipated by ordinary people around it!
He didn't need to understand, he didn't need to try; that power... that immense Cursed Energy, was as natural to him as breathing!
Her emaciated chest heaved violently, as if recalling that scene suffocated her:
"But that child, Rika... Although she was born with a unique constitution, her body is similar to that of a Cursed Spirit, but her body is scattered and chaotic! Countless Cursed Energy grows wildly in her body like weeds, but there is no way to converge them."
Rika's power is immense, but she needs a stable vessel and a curse to gather the scattered power within her body. The best vessel for that is Okkotsu Yuta!
To combine the Cursed Energy of these two individuals, I considered many methods, and only after consulting countless ancient texts did I arrive at a solution.
Upon hearing this, Kenjaku leaned forward slightly, a look of interest appearing on his face:
"What method?"
"Let Rika and Yuta develop strong feelings for each other, and let Rika die in front of Yuta."
Only such desperate emotions could inspire the most intense curse from Okkotsu Yuta.
And when Okkotsu Yuta refuses the curse, the deceased Rika will become the most powerful Cursed Spirit!
Chapter-186
"...to create strong feelings between Rika and Okkotsu Yuta, and to have Rika die in front of Okkotsu Yuta."
Only such desperate emotions could cause Okkotsu Yuta to unleash the most powerful curse. And when Okkotsu Yuta rejects that curse, the deceased Rika becomes the most powerful Cursed Spirit!
The old woman's voice trembled with fervor, and her cloudy eyes burned with a morbid, almost insane fanaticism.
Her forehead, which had been swollen and red from repeatedly kowtowing as she begged for mercy, trembled even more with her excitement.
His fingers gripped the hem of his clothes tightly, as if he could already see the image of the super-grade Cursed Spirit he had created.
"Strong...emotions?"
Kenjaku narrowed his eyes, his voice was very soft, but it carried an extremely uncomfortable kind of laughter.
She leaned forward slightly, her beautiful eyes, which seemed to devour light, fixed firmly on the old woman on the ground:
"What kind of emotion? Friendship? Family? Or... something deeper, more exclusive, closer to the 'curse' itself..."
At this point, Kenjaku paused slightly, looking at the old woman with great interest, seemingly anticipating whether she would receive the answer she wanted.
The old woman paused for a moment, then glanced at Kenjaku with some uncertainty, before saying in a slightly hoarse voice:
"Is it love?"
Kenjaku nodded and said softly:
"That's right, it's love. For the absolutely lonely and powerful, love is the most potent curse among all emotions..."
Hearing this, the old woman didn't quite agree; instead, she muttered a couple of things.
"What love stuff? Rika's only a few years old. By the time she understands what love means, I reckon she'll be dead. It'll be pretty much just friendship by then. Besides, aren't kids usually like that..."
She mentally made up a couple of plans, but dared not say anything on her face.
The next moment, the old woman felt a slight chill on her scalp. She saw that Kenjaku had sat up from the sofa at some point, and his long, beautifully manicured nails were now scraping against her scalp.
"Your idea is very interesting, and for now, I'm quite satisfied with it. However, you're probably hiding something, aren't you?"
As Kenjaku spoke, he subtly dug his fingernails into the old woman's scalp.
Bright red and warm blood flowed down, and the old woman felt a stinging pain on her scalp, causing her whole body to tremble uncontrollably.
"I...I didn't hide anything...ah!"
Before the old woman could finish speaking, the fingernails of the leash pierced her brain once more. Feeling the excruciating pain, the old woman knew that if she continued to lie at this moment, she would surely die here!
So, without any hesitation, she spoke directly:
"Yes, it's my fault. I've been hiding some things. I'll tell you now!"
Her fingernails were slightly pulled out of her skull, and her voice was as cold as if it contained ice shards.
"I don't want this to happen again, understand?"
As the aura of death began to wane, the old woman nodded hastily, then spilled out everything she had done.
"Rika's body doesn't have enough curses. I'm worried that she won't be able to break through to the Special Grade directly. So all these years I've been giving her some specially made curse medicine soup."
I mixed some Grade 2 or Grade 3 Cursed Objects into the food, and used Rika's own immense Cursed Energy to suppress the negative effects of those Cursed Objects.
Over the years, I've started adding Grade 1 Cursed Objects to Rika's food!
I was initially worried that the effect might be too strong and Rika might not be able to handle it, but Rika is such a gifted child; she can swallow even the most terrifying Cursed Objects!
Hearing this, Kenjaku withdrew his hand from the other person's head, a faint smile on his face:
"It's about what I estimated, but for a sorcerer of your level to think of this level is already quite remarkable. This is a special Cursed Object, the finger of the curse king from a thousand years ago, Ryomen Sukuna. There are three fingers in total. You understand what I mean, right?"
As the old woman listened to Kenjaku's words and looked at the several strangely shaped fingers in her hand, her heart pounded and her face gradually became excited.
She looked up and thanked Kenjaku, who was now wearing a playful expression:
"Thank you, sir. I will definitely feed all these fingers to Rika! I will definitely, I will definitely make Rika the most powerful curse in the world!"
As she said this, the old woman's expression became so sinister that it was almost palpable.
What she truly wanted was to turn Rika into a Cursed Spirit and then, through the methods she had previously left behind, directly make Rika her own.
With the help of that level of Cursed Spirit, even if she couldn't see through the woman in front of her, this old woman was confident that she could defeat her directly!
Thinking of this, she pressed her head tightly to the ground, afraid that Kenjaku would see through her.
Kenjaku looked at the old woman, knowing perfectly well what she was thinking. She simply smiled, then vanished from the spot, leaving behind only the words:
"Once things are done, I will naturally have more Cursed Objects to feed Rika. There are nearly twenty kinds of top-grade Cursed Objects alone. Let's see what the strongest Cursed Spirit in this world will become."
As the sound faded, Kenjaku's figure also disappeared from the spot.
After realizing that the woman was no longer around, the old woman didn't hesitate. She stood up, looked at her blood-covered, disheveled appearance in the mirror, and said nothing. She simply walked silently into the bathroom.
"Hello? The plan needs to be moved up. Rika's situation is a bit complicated. For some reason, another group of people have their eyes on Rika."
After receiving the call from his mother, Kenji Orimoto looked surprised. He looked at his mother, his voice hoarse.
"How could Rika be targeted?! Did Hanami leak what we did?! Impossible, she's just an ordinary person, there's no way she could possibly know anything about Cursed Energy!"
"Never mind that now, the most important thing is to bring Rika back as soon as possible and feed her those Cursed Objects immediately. We can deal with the rest later. If we don't do something quickly, Rika will be taken away!"
Meanwhile, in Zenin Kiyoshi's inner world, Sukuna suddenly put down the game console in his hand.
Chapter-187
Yamata no Orochi noticed Sukuna's strange behavior, turned to look at her, and showed a faint look of doubt on her face.
"Why did you suddenly put that thing down? Ever since you got it, I've hardly seen you put it down. What happened?"
Sukuna ignored Yamata no Orochi; he simply gazed towards the end of his inner world, a thoughtful expression on his face, and then murmured in a voice so low that only he could hear:
"The position of the fingers has changed, and it's a change involving multiple fingers overlapping? Looks like that bastard was prepared. So, should I...?"
Before Sukuna could finish his mutterings, Yamata no Orochi's face was already less than centimeters away from him—or rather, her ear. She was leaning to the side, asking Sukuna:
"Do you want to do something? What do you mean by changing the position of your fingers? Aren't you completely unaware of changes in your surroundings?"
Yamata no Orochi's words revealed no intention of concealing anything, as if obtaining information from Sukuna was a matter of course.
As Sukuna looked at Yamata no Orochi, who was very close to him, a slightly disgusted expression appeared on his face. As slashes appeared beneath Yamata no Orochi's feet, Sukuna's voice rang out:
"Don't get so close to me, or next time, I won't be chopping off the floor, I'll be chopping off your head."
"Stop spouting useless nonsense, you nerdy bastard who reeks of an otaku, answer my question directly."
Yamata no Orochi didn't even bother arguing with Sukuna. She was now eager to know what Sukuna meant by what she had just said. If it involved Kiyoshi's safety, then it was something that couldn't be ignored.
As for Yamata no Orochi's request, Sukuna's face revealed a faint sneer. He looked at Yamata no Orochi, his words laced with contempt:
"Why should I answer your question? I'm not like you. You're willing to be that Zenin Kiyoshi's dog, but I..."
But Yamata no Orochi didn't even wait for Sukuna to finish speaking before impatiently interrupting him:
"Alright! Alright! I don't want to discuss these principles with a two-faced jerk like you. You deliberately put down the game controller just now and even muttered to yourself in secret. Wasn't that because you wanted to tell me, but were too embarrassed to tell me directly?"
Upon hearing Yamata no Orochi's words, Sukuna's expression stiffened momentarily, but he quickly concealed it, looking at Yamata no Orochi with an icy tone:
"Don't apply your annoying little schemes to other people. I will do what I want to do, and whether you hear me or make guesses because of my actions is not important at all."
In this world, no one else matters except me.
Live however you want, let whoever you want die, live as you please—that's my principle. (x2)
What slightly broke Sukuna's nerves was that this time Yamata no Orochi actually let him finish speaking, but could someone tell him why Yamata no Orochi was able to say the same words directly in sync with him at the end?!
It looked like two comedians were performing a stand-up comedy routine, completely unlike the domineering scene he had imagined.
And coincidentally, the television, which he had always used as background music, was now playing the Doraemon theme song, making what should have been an extremely serious scene become humorous.
Seeing things turn out this way, even if Sukuna was unwilling to admit it, the atmosphere was definitely gone.
If this continues, Sukuna suspects he might not be able to hold back his laughter.
Damn it, I shouldn't have watched those TV dramas all these years, which led me to understand so many vulgar and inexplicable human jokes!
hateful!
While Sukuna was cursing inwardly, his expression remained unchanged, still cold and calm.
Looking at Sukuna in front of him, Yamata no Orochi thought he was such a show-off.
However, just as Yamata no Orochi was about to continue asking questions, Sukuna answered her question.
"Forget it, even if I tell you now, it won't make any difference. Although that brat has imprisoned all my probing within him, no matter how strong his body is, he can't completely sever the connection between our souls."
As for my relationship with those fingers, you should know that they are part of my complete soul, so it is very easy for me to perceive those souls.
"If I weren't unable to control this brat's body, I would have swallowed those scattered fingers the moment I entered his body."
Upon hearing this, Yamata no Orochi simply nodded with an extremely calm expression:
"You've been saying similar things every day since I first moved in five years ago."
Sukuna was somewhat annoyed by Yamata no Orochi's retort, but after thinking about it carefully, she realized that she did indeed seem to be just as Yamata no Orochi described, having said it too often these past few days. It seemed she should try to say less in the future...
He pretended not to hear Yamata no Orochi's words and continued:
"Five years ago, when you were still cooperating with that guy Kenjaku, that brat Zenin Kiyoshi signed a Binding Vow with me in order to borrow some of my power."
I promised to help him, and he was to swallow four fingers in return. However, that brat eventually used the excuse of not being able to find his fingers to start a five-year-long debt default.
It's also because I didn't consider the repayment time back then. Signing a Binding Vow with these modern bastards using the mindset of the Heian period was too much of a loss, which is why, to this day, the soul of a finger remains here.
Moreover, this part of my soul, or rather, me, because it's sealed within Zenin Kiyoshi's body, is actually unable to communicate with the souls in the other fingers. Do you understand what I mean now?
When Sukuna finished speaking, he looked at Yamata no Orochi in front of him, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
Yamata no Orochi made no attempt to conceal his gaze from Sukuna, instead shaking his head and looking at Sukuna with clear yet foolish eyes, loudly admitting:
"I don't understand the rest of what you're saying at all. Could you explain it to me more clearly?!"
Chapter-188
Listening to Yamata no Orochi's almost unexpectedly candid remarks, Sukuna felt a headache coming on.
"Didn't you also fight for thought and control with the other seven heads in battle?! Even with such a personal experience, you still can't understand what I mean?"
Yamata no Orochi seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Sukuna's presumptuous answer. She looked at Sukuna and said calmly:
"Who told you that I was fighting the other seven heads for control and thought?"
"You revealed it yourself at the time, and when your head was cut off, the other heads were even clapping and cheering!"
Hearing this, a faint look of pride appeared on Yamata no Orochi's face. She looked at Sukuna, and a rare hint of pride welled up in her voice:
"Looks like you were fooled by me too, Sukuna. As expected, my acting skills were unbeatable back then!"
Yamata no Orochi's words left Sukuna somewhat bewildered. He looked at Yamata no Orochi, and for the first time, his usually indifferent eyes were filled with so much confusion and bewilderment.
Seeing this, Yamata no Orochi's smile grew even brighter. She looked up at Sukuna, her eyes filled with disdain:
"I'm not like you. The seven heads that I split off back then were actually controlled by myself! It was just a pretense to create the appearance of having seven heads and seven thoughts."
You're just like those idiots; you didn't see through my acting at all. Just think about it carefully, and you'll understand, right? How could someone have eight souls inside one body controlling it?
"Actually, I didn't have eight heads at all from the beginning. It was just that I was experimenting with a technique when a passing sorcerer saw me. After that, they called me 'Yamata no Orochi,' and I just accepted it. Anyway, they left that fear of the supreme imaginary spirit there, and it wouldn't be right if I didn't go and retrieve it."
Hearing Yamata no Orochi's words, Sukuna could barely contain her astonishment.
He looked at Yamata no Orochi, his eyes full of doubt.
The woman before him was truly the Yamata no Orochi, who had overpowered the entire world of Jujutsu before him?!
Isn't he obviously an idiot?
Sukuna was somewhat unable to understand this world, but he was too lazy to continue chatting with that idiot Yamata no Orochi about her boring things from previous years.
After a brief silence, Sukuna chose to change the subject directly:
"For me, each of the twenty souls I have separated can actually be seen as an independent individual, or as a unified individual."
We are connected to each other in some way through our fingers, or rather, we share consciousness. But even if we are separated from that shared consciousness, we can still maintain the same way of thinking as our original selves.
However, this method was meaningless in front of that bastard brat, Zenin Kiyoshi. After that brat swallowed my finger, it was as if I had been kicked out of the souls of those twenty fingers.
I am completely unable to share or receive any information, but I also have my own thinking ability. No one in this world understands me better than I do.
If there were a little devil outside, other than Zenin Kiyoshi, who had devoured my finger, the first thing I would do would be to eliminate the me inside Zenin Kiyoshi!
Because I have been estranged from them for more than five years, even if I go back again, many unpleasant things will happen. Therefore, in order to ensure that the will of the main body is not changed, the other nineteen souls will definitely try to kill me!
But I don't want to die right now, so my only way is to devour them one by one before those fingers find me!
As Sukuna spoke, he slowly raised his hand, his five fingers spread out, as if he wanted to hold the whole world in his hands.
His scarlet eyes were now burning with an all-consuming excitement:
"Before those guys find me and devour me... I must find them first! Find those nineteen scattered fingers! Find those nineteen parts of 'myself' that share a will but see me as an enemy! And then..."
Sukuna's lips curled into a chilling smile, and he spoke slowly and deliberately, looking no different from a madman:
"Devouring them! One by one! Using their fragments of soul to fill the void that has been stripped from me! Using their power to reshape my wholeness! Until… only one 'me' remains in this world!"
A completely new, more powerful being, free from any will or constraint—Ryomen Sukuna!
But just as Sukuna was giving his impassioned speech, Yamata no Orochi interrupted him once again:
"You're really strange. Even if it's just a finger, you'll resist most of your body? Oh well, since you're going to eat yourself anyway, I won't interfere too much. But you shouldn't have that kind of ability right now, right?"
One against nineteen? Are you really confident you can do all that? You're not going to be all that powerful now, only to have your consciousness erased in the end, are you? A new-age two-faced Sukuna?
Hearing the slightly sarcastic words from Yamata no Orochi, Sukuna replied calmly:
"Under normal circumstances, I naturally wouldn't be very confident. After all, even though those guys have become my enemies, they are still me. I know my own abilities better than anyone else."
Without any variables, it would be absolutely impossible for me to fight against the other nineteen soul powers with my own soul power alone, but with that brat Zenin Kiyoshi, it's a different story.
This brat's body and will, though I'm reluctant to describe it that way, this guy's body is indeed like a natural prison; no matter how many fingers enter this body, they will be suppressed immediately.
The so-called "substitution" is actually just using some simple mental and soul techniques to suppress and control the original owner of the body.
But once a bastard like Kiyoshi appears, once you enter his body, you can basically only be manipulated by him at will.
That's why I had Zenin Kiyoshi swallow the remaining four fingers. The best time for me to act was when those guys came in and hadn't yet switched their consciousness.
Hearing this, Yamata no Orochi looked at Sukuna, clicked his tongue, and said softly:
"A monster."
Chapter-189
Kiyoshi looked at Rika in front of him, but didn't rush to speak. The voice of Yamata no Orochi kept coming from his mind, and he knew about Sukuna's plan.
Rika is attacked, Sukuna's fingers gather, a top-tier Cursed Spirit from the Heian period...
If Kiyoshi still doesn't know who's behind all this, then he might as well not have a brain.
Originally, Zenin Kiyoshi wanted to follow Rika's lead and use the excuse of data leak to purge some of the high-ranking officials who had been corrupted by Kenjaku.
However, after receiving information from Sukuna, Zenin Kiyoshi knew that there was probably much more he could do than that.
Kenjaku still has the rest of Sukuna's fingers on his side, although it's unclear how he managed to lower his guard and continue cooperating with Sukuna.
However, the physical and spiritual power on my side has increased exponentially compared to five years ago.
Kiyoshi estimated based on the number of Sukuna fingers currently in his body that with his current abilities, he could easily reach at least twelve fingers.
As long as he can swallow those fingers, he can guarantee that he will not be disturbed by Sukuna's soul, and he can suppress the souls of the "other fingers" with an absolute advantage.
As for whether this was a lie from the [Sukuna] within him, Zenin Kiyoshi wasn't worried about that.
The reason is simple: Sukuna often appears stubborn, but in reality, he has already let his guard down.
In my mind, I selected Sukuna's favorability interface, and the information displayed there was quite striking:
Name: Ryomen Sukuna
Current affinity: 57/100 (Friend)
Currently unlocked abilities: 30% of the total Cursed Energy of a single finger, 30% of the [Malevolent Shrine].
While this guy doesn't seem to have a particularly high level of affection for me right now, he's not the type to scheme against me either.
Furthermore, Zenin Kiyoshi also discovered that if the other party truly harbored scheming intentions towards him, the system would directly mark the word "(abnormal)" next to their favorability rating.
As for how he discovered this at the time?
He had witnessed two Cursed Spirits fighting during a mission a long time ago.
Kiyoshi didn't think too much about it at the time and simply killed one of them.
At that very moment, he gained the favor of another Cursed Spirit.
However, that initial goodwill disappeared extremely quickly, almost instantly.
The system notification message appeared at that time.
After that incident, Zenin Kiyoshi repeated the experiment several times and found that it really was true. He then kept a close eye on it.
Of course, this scheme was reserved for Sukuna, without a doubt.
Therefore, after hearing what Yamata no Orochi said to him, Zenin Kiyoshi did not doubt the sincerity of Sukuna's words.
After briefly considering his next course of action, Zenin Kiyoshi looked at Rika in front of him. Seeing the terrified look on her face, he realized that his own expression was somewhat frightening.
Her expression immediately changed, and coupled with Zenin Kiyoshi's almost outstanding appearance, the immense affability he exuded almost instantly wiped away the fear in Orimoto Rika's heart.
As for his appearance, Kiyoshi didn't know if it was because his body was inherently superior or because of the succubus system.
Over the years, his appearance has almost surpassed that of Gojo Satoru.
When strolling on the street, as long as the Zenin temple is there, the rate of people turning their heads to look is basically 100%.
As for this, Zenin Kiyoshi himself didn't feel ashamed at all, after all, one's face is the first impression others have of oneself.
People with good facial features will always receive preferential treatment in various aspects of life; this is unavoidable.
"Rika? Is that your name?"
Kiyoshi's voice was gentle, carrying an indescribable sense of peace.
Hearing the handsome man's words, Rika timidly raised her head and looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, her voice barely audible:
"How...how do you know my name? Where is Rika's mother? Where is she?"
"Your name is written on the pencil case on the ground. Also, your mother shouldn't be here yet. We are a special police department. This is my identification."
"There was a terrifying monster attack here just now, so my companions sealed off the outside. Don't worry, I've already defeated the monster. It's really admirable that you managed to hold out here all this time, Rika."
As Kiyoshi spoke, he reached out and gently stroked Riko's head twice. He squatted down, radiating an affinity and vitality unique to the [Nature] spirit.
With the support of these two forces, Rika quickly gained the trust of Zenin Kiyoshi. She reached out and tightly grasped the hem of his robe, her voice trembling with an indescribable intensity:
"Then, could you please call my mom and ask her to come pick me up quickly? No, don't let Dad and Grandma come. I, I don't like them."
Hearing what Rika Kiyohime said, Zenin Kiyoshi narrowed his eyes slightly.
Just as he had imagined, it seems that there was something seriously wrong with Orimoto Rika's father and grandmother.
He nodded to Rika, then said:
Do you remember your mother's phone number?
"No, I don't remember, but I know where my mother is. She's at Kurosaki Hospital. She's sick, but not seriously. She usually comes to pick me up after her IV drip."
"Okay, I'll take you to see her now."
Zenin Kiyoshi pulled Rika's hand and gently covered her eyes. As the surrounding Curtains and barriers shattered, the entire space returned to normal.
However, the ordinary people were all unconscious on the ground. The [Kubinashi] domain had no destructive power, but it would plunge people into nightmares.
If they are killed in a nightmare, they will automatically die in the real world as well.
However, it can only be used against people who are much weaker than him. Basically, a Grade 2 sorcerer is already immune to this attack.
Therefore, for ancient sorcerers, the concept of a Domain Expansion was essentially a technique used to clear out low-level soldiers.
The previous [Sky Probe Girl] domain was basically the same type.
It's useless against other units of the same level; it's only good for dealing with weaker enemies.
Looking at the crowd around him who were still unconscious, Kiyoshi dialed Mei Mei's number and explained the situation to her in detail.
At the same time, Zenin Kiyoshi felt the power emanating from Orimoto Rika's body, and for some reason, he felt that something was not quite right.
Things...aren't they going a little too smoothly?
Chapter-190
Something's wrong. There's something wrong.
Kiyoshi didn't know where this strangeness came from, but a strange unease kept lingering in his heart.
The Kubinashi has been dealt with, Sukuna wasn't lying to him, and Rika has been rescued by him...
Everything seemed to be going so smoothly and peacefully, so where exactly did the problem lie?
Kiyoshi felt a throbbing sensation in his head, but when asked to pinpoint the exact problem, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
However, Kiyoshi always trusted his intuition. He knew that if this feeling lingered on him for a long time, something would inevitably happen that he couldn't control.
That's how he felt when he encountered a Jogo in Okinawa back then.
Mei Mei was driving at the moment, and the remaining matters on Kubinashi's side had been handed over to the Assistant Manager to handle.
Ordinary people who faint will be excused by the reason of "carbon monoxide leak," and other voices around them will be suppressed and covered up by the political power of the higher-ups.
This is the significance of the Director of the Jujutsu Headquarters. Without them, once ordinary people became aware of the existence of Cursed Spirits, the endless stream of Cursed Spirits would plunge the entire world into a vicious cycle.
Zenin Kiyoshi certainly knew that a certain kind of balance between good and evil existed in this world.
However, Zenin Kiyoshi believes that no matter what kind of balance exists in this world, there will always be a limit to what it can bear.
If one side suddenly increases its strength significantly, it is very likely that the other side will completely shatter the situation before it even has time to adjust its balance.
If that time comes, the balancing force will probably be of little use.
"You've seemed a bit off lately, is something really wrong?"
Sensing the obvious fluctuation in Zenin Kiyoshi's emotions, Mei Mei frowned and asked with some concern.
Kiyoshi glanced at Orimoto Rika, who was sitting in the back row, and replied with a smile as best he could:
"It just feels like things are going a little too smoothly, and something feels off."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Mei Mei's face showed a comforting expression, and she said softly:
"Sometimes I think you should be more confident. Most people in this world are no match for you. Isn't it normal for things to go smoothly?"
Zenin Kiyoshi knew that Mei Mei was trying to comfort him, but the strange feeling in his heart was hard to shake off.
However, to avoid making Mei Mei worry too much, he smiled and nodded before saying:
"That's true, I was indeed overthinking things."
Seeing this, Mei Mei sighed. However, just as she was about to say something, the tunnel, which should have already opened up, suddenly burst out with a strong light.
The light was so dazzling that it enveloped Mei Mei and the others almost instantly.
As the flash of bright light ended, Kenjaku's figure appeared on the sidewalks on both sides of the tunnel.
Her hair was covered in sweat, and her face was pale. She was breathing heavily with her mouth open, as if she had just gone through an extremely fierce battle.
However, Kenjaku's lips were filled with an indescribable smile at this moment.
She looked in the direction where Kiyoshi and the others had disappeared and chuckled softly:
"The first step of the plan is complete, Zenin Kiyoshi. You really are a troublesome fellow. But unfortunately, the moment you became a high-level sorcerer, many things were already decided."
Morality and bottom lines are your biggest disadvantage as an opponent. I have endless ways and time to restrain you in this regard.
To be honest, if we follow the thinking of many fools, defeating the opponent fair and square seems to be the best choice in the world. But for me, as long as I can reduce the opponent's fighting strength, that is enough.
As for the so-called nobility and baseness, after I achieve victory, there will naturally be people who defend the victor. So... next, it's time for Hanami to die.
Moreover... I want everyone at the Jujutsu High to kill Hanami with their own hands!
Zenin Kiyoshi, when you come out of here and see the scene of Hanami being brutally murdered by the students of the Jujutsu High, will you really be able to become friends with those guys again, just like you are now?
Would you? No, probably not, because if that really happened, not only would you be unable to handle things with Hanami, but you wouldn't even be able to face Zenin, right?
Ah, what a agonizing drama this is! Zenin Kiyoshi, tell me, what choice will you ultimately make?
As she spoke, Kenjaku's expression became slightly excited, and an unnatural blush spread across her delicate features, but it was not beautiful; instead, it gave off an eerie chill.
The next moment, Kenjaku's figure disappeared from the spot.
Toji, a specialist in sorcery, was standing in the principal's office at this moment, with a special task placed before him.
Task Name: [Improper Collusion]
Mission Description: Following an investigation by the Director of the Jujutsu Headquarters, it has been discovered that Zenin Kiyoshi is suspected of colluding with the Cursed Spirits. Two nights ago, he stole Sukuna's finger and several other Cursed Tools from the Jujutsu High's inventory. Now, the [Special Grade 1 Spellcaster] Fushiguro Toji is required to travel to Zenin Kiyoshi's location with the [Inverted Spear of Heaven], [Soul Split Katana], [Chain of a Thousand Miles], and [Prison Realm].
After finding Zenin Kiyoshi, persuade him or kill him on the spot. Please note that the Cursed Spirit colluding with Zenin Kiyoshi is very likely a [Special Grade Cursed Spirit]. Those carrying out the mission must be extremely careful. If the opponent resists stubbornly, Fushiguro Toji has the right to kill him directly.
Looking at the requirements of the special mission in his hand, Toji's face revealed a slightly cold expression. Of course, he knew who the Special Grade Cursed Spirit mentioned in the mission was.
Before marrying Eri, Hanami took care of his daily life. If we were to say who the most important people in the world are to Toji, Hanami would definitely be among the top few.
And now this mission actually requires him not only to kill Hanami, but also to kill Zenin Kiyoshi?
"What's going on with this mission?!"
Toji's voice was cold, a terrifying and oppressive quality unlike his usual joking tone. The surrounding air seemed to be compressed into a viscous state at that moment.
Principal Yaga sighed, his hands clasped together, his voice low and somewhat frightening:
"As you can see, some of those in higher positions harbor a very strong desire to kill Kiyoshi..."