Chapter 146: When the Tiger is Away, the Monkey Claims to be King
There's another expert!?
The recovered Jogo looked at Kenjaku in surprise.
"Hey, Geto, you aren't joking, are you?"
Calling out the name of Kenjaku's current fake identity, Jogo couldn't help but retort loudly, "Do you know what grade of cursed object the [Prison Realm] is!?"
It's Special Grade!
The highest grade for a Cursed Spirit is Special Grade.
The highest grade for a Jujutsu Sorcerer is also Special Grade.
Naturally, the highest grade for a Cursed Tool is Special Grade as well!
And the [Prison Realm], without a doubt, is the highest-tier Special Grade Cursed Tool in Jujutsu Kaisen. Moreover, just as there is a chasm-like gap between Special Grade Cursed Spirits like Jogo and certain Special Grade Sorcerers, the [Prison Realm] belongs to the most unique tier even among Special Grade tools.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it is a one-of-a-kind Special Grade tool in this world.
Jogo was no longer some newly born Cursed Spirit amateur. Possessing intellect and the ability to think like a sentient being, he had gained an understanding of this legend within the Jujutsu world through various information gathering.
And yet, what was he hearing now? A Cursed Tool comparable to the [Prison Realm] had appeared?
How was that possible? Why hadn't he heard any rumors about this before?!
"I know, of course. It's the Special Grade among Special Grades. After all, the [Prison Realm] is in my hands."
Kenjaku remained as calm and composed as ever. He even showed off a bit, stoking the greed in Jogo's heart as he continued to speak words that kept Jogo's expression shifting.
"Because the [Prison Realm] has been in my hands for a long time for research, I understand it well. Even for Gojo Satoru—as long as the [Prison Realm] is successfully activated and completes its seal—he won't be able to escape, even if he is the strongest sorcerer of this era.
But by the same token, the reason this cursed object is so powerful is because of the influence the Tendai monk Genshin had over the nation of Japan.
It is the extreme fear of death that germinated in the Japanese people a thousand years ago upon learning of Genshin's passing. After all, if even Genshin, one of the founders of the Pure
Land school, could die, what would happen to those whose Buddhist practice and power could never surpass his?"
Kenjaku paused for a moment.
"This fear combined with Genshin's own high-level Buddhist merit and vows, accidentally giving birth to the [Prison Realm]."
As for whether there was a little help from him in that process, there was no need to go into detail. As someone who had existed in the world since a thousand years ago—and whose body used for external actions happened to be from the same era as Genshin—Kenjaku was no stranger to that high monk.
The explanation for the formation of the [Prison Realm] was also true. To some extent, it could be called a small experiment.
The [Six Eyes] sorcerers he couldn't defeat...
In a situation where he only gathered the population of Japan from a thousand years ago—and not even the entire population, but only those who were literate and knew of the high monk Genshin—he could provide that negative emotion and use Genshin's body as a base to create a Cursed Tool capable of sealing the strongest [Six Eyes] sorcerer.
Then, what kind of monster would be born from even more people and an even stronger base?
This was one of the reasons why Kenjaku was currently so curious about the projected [Gáe Bolg] in Emiya Shirou's hand.
"In other words, if there were a monk greater than Genshin, or a celebrity with enough fame, whose death could bring fear to even more people, a Cursed Tool stronger than the [Prison Realm] would naturally be born."
Kenjaku said, "Without a doubt, a certain sorcerer by Gojo Satoru's side is holding such a tool."
Jogo was very greedy—greedy enough to want to snatch the [Prison Realm]? This greed was good; there was nothing wrong with it. If not for this greed acting as a driving force, how could Kenjaku manipulate Jogo into testing the waters and marching to his death?
"A Cursed Tool truly comparable to the [Prison Realm]... Geto, are you sure you didn't see wrong?"
Perhaps because he had described the fact too hyperbolically, Jogo seemed to lose a bit of his nerve.
How could that be allowed?
"Yes, but you don't need to worry, Jogo," Kenjaku continued his persuasion. "The rules of jujutsu are 'Binding Vows and being Bound.' Although I don't know what kind of binding vow
was used to obtain the curse on that tool, the
So, as long as you are the first to test out that tool's ability and activation conditions, and don't give the opponent the chance to activate it, you might even be able to snatch that tool back, Jogo.
After all, the strength of a Cursed Tool doesn't necessarily mean the sorcerer is also strong... probably."
However, unlike his seemingly confident words, when he reached those last two words— "probably"—Kenjaku's voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.
Or rather, even Kenjaku was curious if the [Gáe Bolg], which gathered such a powerful curse, had an even more exaggerated true ability, and if its activation conditions were low enough that it could be used as a conventional weapon.
Of course, Kenjaku's words were enough. Having never truly seen Gojo Satoru in battle and being unclear on the actual situation of the [Prison Realm], Jogo only had hearsay to go on. Before meeting these true powerhouses, Jogo himself was a powerhouse among powerhouses, a Special Grade among Special Grades.
Therefore, with Kenjaku's supplement, Jogo—who couldn't suppress his greed—grinned savagely at Kenjaku. "Geto, just how strong do you think I am?
More accurately, among those so-called Special Grade Cursed Spirits classified by humans in your hands, is there anyone stronger than me?"
"No," Kenjaku replied honestly.
This was a fact. Even in their alliance of intelligent Special Grade Cursed Spirits, Jogo could be considered the one with the strongest offensive power.
"So, is it possible that your judgment—that we all added together can't beat Gojo Satoru—is based on the strength of the Cursed Spirits in your hands?"
Hearing this, Jogo smiled with satisfaction: "The [Prison Realm], and that Cursed Tool, I'll be taking them!
In exchange, I'll deal with Gojo Satoru. Tell me the location of the targets you found!"
"Naturally," Kenjaku said with a smile. "When the time comes, I will present the [Prison Realm] with both hands... if you truly can defeat Gojo Satoru, Jogo..."
[
Prison Realm
]
—a tool that can seal anything—has very troublesome activation conditions. You could say it traded those troublesome conditions for the ability to seal anything.
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