Even after I had severed every one of his fingers, Ogi Zenin followed the original course of history and sired children.
'How did he manage it? Truly impressive. I heard he bought that woman with gold, but with no fingers to speak of, she must have spent every waking moment tending to his basic needs. To father children in that state... did he actually fall in love?'
I had utterly crushed his confidence as a sorcerer, so I couldn't be certain if he would still subject Maki and Mai to the same atrocities as before. Regardless, once they were born, I planned to look after them personally. I would ensure no one else in this viper's nest dared to lay a hand on them.
'If Maki and Mai have been conceived... then Toji should be having Megumi within the year. Why hasn't that man been in touch? Then again, it's not in his nature to keep tabs.'
"Father," I said, looking up from my thoughts. "When exactly is my uncle's child due?"
"Somewhere between December and January, I suppose. It's April now," Naobito replied casually.
"So they'll be born around the same time as my birthday. I was born in early December, wasn't I?"
"I suppose so... but why the interest? Planning on playing guardian when the brat arrives?"
"Yes. No matter what the father has done, a child who wasn't even born yet shouldn't bear the blame for it."
My father let out a scoffing snort, as if find my sentimentality absurd. "Hah. Do as you please. How did a brat like you end up as my flesh and blood?"
"I must take after Mother. Hehe..."
"I suppose. Saya is far too kind. It's what I liked about her, though."
"Alright, that's enough. Let's stop with the sentimental talk before it gets greasy."
"Augh, you brat! You used to listen so well. Are you saying you have no more use for your old man?"
'That's because I've heard this story a dozen times already, Father.'
"More importantly, Father. I want to conduct a Subjugation Ritual soon. Could you clear out a large open space for me?"
"Hmm? What's left for you to tame?"
"The Piercing Ox, the Round Deer, the Mournful Tiger... and Mahoraga."
Naobito's expression sharpened. "Surely you aren't suggesting you're going to tame Mahoraga right now? If that's the case, I cannot permit it."
"Relax, Father. Do I look insane? If I tried to tame Mahoraga now, I'd be dead before I could blink."
"Hmph. Good to see you still know your place. I'll have the grounds secured for you shortly."
"Thank you, Father. I'll head back and rest for a bit."
After paying my respects, I returned to my room to gather my strength.
-------
Some time later, my father and I stood in a desolate clearing near the estate, prepared by his orders.
"I'll stay back. I've no desire to be dragged into your ritual and void it. It shouldn't be necessary, but call if you're in over your head. Now, begin."
"Yes, Father. It won't come to that."
I formed the hand seal and summoned the Piercing Ox. The shadows beneath me writhed and surged before a massive, bovine shikigami materialized. Due to its binding vow, it could only charge in a straight line, but in exchange, its speed and destructive power increased exponentially with every foot it traveled.
'To deal with this one... first, I bait the charge. Then I dodge and whittle it down with heavy hitters.'
The Ox pawed at the ground, glaring at me. I swallowed hard and watched as it thundered forward. I quickly wove a new seal.
"Divine Dogs: Totality!"
Infusing a massive amount of Cursed Energy, I summoned the colossal beast. I sidestepped the Ox's charge, and as the momentum prevented it from stopping instantly, I commanded Totality to lunge and tear at its flanks. As the Ox let out a pained lowing, a thought struck me.
"Wait. If I just take out its legs, it can't charge at all."
As the Ox turned for another pass, I readied my seals in advance. I evaded the charge once more and summoned Nue at a low altitude to keep its attention fixed upward. In that window of vulnerability, Totality lunged and severed the Ox's rear legs.
'Good. It's grounded. This thing has no healing factors. I can end this now.'
I summoned Max Elephant directly above the incapacitated Ox. The massive weight crashed down, stirring up a cloud of debris. Beneath the dust, the shadow wriggled for a moment before the Ox was absorbed into my own shadow.
"Alright... taming the Ox makes the rest simple. I'll take them all out in one hit."
I moved immediately to the Round Deer. Since the Deer could utilize the Reverse Cursed Technique to heal itself, it had to be obliterated in a single strike—otherwise, I'd have to grind it down until its energy was spent. I opted for the simpler path.
I summoned Nue to draw the Deer's focus, then manifested the Piercing Ox at the far edge of the grounds. After a straight-line sprint of nearly five hundred meters, the Ox collided with the Round Deer with a sound like a high-explosive detonation. The Deer, its form shattered beyond recognition, was subjugated before it could even process the need to heal.
"Finally... the Mournful Tiger? I've never been quite sure what this one was capable of. Even the clan records were vague. Let's see it."
I formed the seal. From the depths of the shadow, a humanoid beast-woman draped in tiger skin lunged out.
"Are you kidding? I never expected this kind of appearance. Gege Akutami designed something like this and then never used it? He really lost his touch."
As I muttered my critique, the Tiger closed the distance with terrifying speed. Startled, I dived into my shadow to evade the strike. Popping out on the other side, I immediately manifested Max Elephant.
"Wait a second, she's too fast. Does she have zero hax but pure, overwhelming physical stats? If she connects, I'm dead."
I summoned the Ox at a distance again while using Totality and Max Elephant to draw agro. I had the Elephant act as a tank to ensure Totality wasn't destroyed. Just as the Tiger prepared to lunge at me again, Max Elephant blasted her with a high-pressure jet of water, causing a momentary stagger. In that split second, the Ox thundered in. I instantly dispelled Totality and the Elephant. A heavy, sickening thud echoed through the clearing. When the dust settled, the Mournful Tiger lay slumped in the dirt, one of her arms torn clean off by the impact.
"What the? She survived that?"
Startled by her resilience, I poured half of my remaining Cursed Energy into summoning a version of Totality the size of a building. Only when the Divine Dog swallowed her whole did the Tiger finally dissipate into shadow. I let out a long breath of relief.
"So she was just a pure powerhouse. I can use her for heavy combat later or inherit her power elsewhere. If I didn't have these shikigami, she would have killed me in one go. Well, that's that. Every shadow tamed except for Mahoraga. As for that monster... I don't know. I'll cross that bridge when I get there."
Feeling much lighter, I turned back toward my father. The heavy drain on my Cursed Energy had left me exhausted. Naobito offered his back, and I allowed him to carry me back to the estate.
"Touya. You have already surpassed nearly every Ten Shadows user in history. I am proud of you. I want you to grow further, but do not be in such a rush."
"Yes, Father... I'm going to sleep a little. I used too much energy. I'm spent..."
Lulled by the rhythm of his gait, I surrendered to the looming fatigue and fell fast asleep.
-------
Time marched forward. My contact with Utahime remained limited to letters; it seemed she was preoccupied with her preparations to enter Jujutsu High. Two days ago, just as history dictated, Maki and Mai were born as twins. Ogi looked utterly despondent that his children were not only twins but girls.
'It's probably better if he just ignores them. I'll make sure to look after them so they never experience the abuse I know they suffered in the original timeline.'
With that thought, I headed toward the nursery. I knocked and entered, finding only my aunt present. Ogi was nowhere to be found.
"Hello, Aunt. I'm glad to see you've recovered well from the birth. The children are beautiful."
Recognizing me, she looked flustered for a moment before bowing her head in gratitude. "Young Lord... what brings you here? No... thank you for coming. To my eyes, they are treasures... though I don't think my husband feels the same."
"In the jujutsu world, twins are considered an ill omen. But that is merely the logic of sorcerers. These children deserve to be loved. That right belongs to every child, regardless of birth. So... if things ever become difficult, if you ever struggle while raising them, you must come to me."
Upon hearing my words, she looked down at the two infants lying side-by-side. "Will these children... ever truly be accepted within the Zenin Clan?"
"Yes. They will. It may not happen today, but I will make it so. A clan where a person's character, not their talent, is the measure of their worth—that is the family I intend to build."
"I see... I truly hope that day comes."
As she gazed blankly at the twins, I stole one last glance at their tiny faces before making my exit. I felt as though staying longer would only weigh on the atmosphere. As I made my way back to my quarters, an attendant caught up with me.
"Ah, Young Master! This... for you."
The attendant held out a letter.
"The sender is... Toji? Ah. Thank you. I'll read it in my room. Good work."
The attendant bowed deeply as I continued on. I didn't look back until I reached my room and tore the envelope open. Inside was nothing but an address for a restaurant in Tokyo and a time.
"Hah... after all this time, this is the best letter he can manage? Fine. I'll go see what he wants."
--------
On the appointed day, I informed my father and took a car into Tokyo. Entering the restaurant, I spotted Toji in a corner booth, sitting with an unfamiliar woman. After exchanging brief greetings with her and taking a seat, Toji looked me dead in the eye.
"I'm getting married," he said bluntly.
'...Excuse me? It's been years since we last spoke, and that's the first thing out of your mouth?'
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