Mahito's POV
"You... you're not lying?" Okarun's trembling voice rang like music to my ears.
This proved my proposals hadn't fallen on deaf ears, since he was clearly interested.
So predictable...
"Of course," I said, leaning slightly towards him so he'd be the only one to hear what came next.
"I can even adjust the size of your little brother as a bonus and recreate a purely biological ball."
It was funny watching his face turn red before he coughed loudly to regain his composure.
Unfortunately for him, it's impossible for me to fully recreate this ball.
When Granny Turbo stole it, she didn't just take it physically, but spiritually too.
If I use my cursed technique to recreate it, it'll just be a cheap knockoff.
The reason?
Okarun's situation is kind of like Mechamaru's in JJK, if I'm not mistaken.
That exorcist had an innate restriction that gave him an extremely fragile body.
However, nature compensated by giving him immense cursed energy.
When the original Mahito fixed his body, Mechamaru still kept the benefits of his innate restriction, despite his physical body being healed.
Mechamaru didn't lose his crazy amount of cursed energy, which shows that Mahito simply worked around his innate restriction without really removing it.
This brings us back to Okarun's situation.
He's the victim of a curse that stole his balls.
They didn't just disappear physically, but spiritually too.
So what I'm offering isn't a real ball.
Using my cursed technique, I'll simply draw from Okarun's spiritual energy and aura to shape a ball that somewhat resembles the original.
But I don't know what the consequences will be for him, since he'll still have lost the energy contained in the old ball that I currently possess.
"Stop beating around the bush and give him back his ball!"
An unexpected voice rang out near our location.
A familiar feline creature emerged from a classroom with small steps, wearing a disgruntled expression, which, I must admit, was cute to watch.
"We both know how important this ball is. It can never really be replaced by a simple physical copy," she declared, standing in front of me.
I remained silent while observing this Yokai, supposedly one of the most powerful in the manga along with Reiko and the Evil Eye.
Granny Turbo.
"*Pff*... Haha!" I ended up bursting out laughing while looking at her appearance more carefully.
"What's so funny, kid?" she said, not hiding her annoyance with me.
I tried to calm down to avoid looking like a psychopath and fixed my gaze on the older Yokai.
I was still in Gojo's appearance, but that didn't stop me from being intimidating.
After all, Gojo Satoru can be scary too.
"You're afraid, aren't you?" I said simply.
That was the information I was getting from Granny Turbo's soul. Or more precisely, she was worried.
"What are you talking about? Lost your marbles?" She feigned ignorance, but I had decided to corner her.
"You're afraid this kid will completely take over your powers and get his balls back."
"That's why you came out of hiding now, despite your situation."
As I wanted to continue, Okarun's hand landed on my shoulder.
"Stop..." His depressive voice followed immediately after the contact.
Seems he transformed voluntarily or involuntarily because of the situation.
But whatever.
This conversation no longer interested me.
Granny Turbo's intervention made it obsolete now, since big-hearted Okarun would surely complicate our deal.
Although Granny Turbo had been an enemy to him and Momo, Okarun had known her longer than me.
The way I know him, he's the type to prioritize seniority in relationships and look after those close to him.
I doubted he'd believe my words over Granny Turbo's, and I admit this granny sniffed out my scam.
"*Sigh*... Ok, I'll leave this old granny alone."
"But think about my offer."
I started to leave, but Okarun's depressed voice suddenly rang out right in front of me.
He literally ran to block my path.
"I don't want your offers... I just want my ball..."
"Idiot," I said without hiding the disappointment in my voice before returning him to his simple human state using my psychic powers.
"I won't kill you, but know that you just missed the chance to become a complete man again."
I walked away without starting a fight, despite Momo's repeated insults and Jiji's calls.
....
Narrator's POV
"It's all well and good arguing with them, but how am I going to benefit from Seiko's info about Reiko and the supernatural? *tsk*"
While Mahito walks around in Gojo's appearance, not hiding his bad mood ruined by Okarun and his gang, his path is stopped by a little imp.
The two stare at each other for a moment without saying anything before Diablo manages to speak first.
"Sorry," he says, bowing deeply.
Mahito ignored this gesture before continuing on his way, while Diablo wanted to say more.
He was interrupted by a pat on his shoulder from Mahito after passing him.
"Cut the act, we both know you're not really sorry," Mahito declares as he passes the bowing imp.
"It's not that, but..." Diablo wanted to say more, but Mahito's icy blue eyes stopped him.
"Diablo... stop."
"Sorry, boss."
Mahito nods with a small smile before continuing forward, but Diablo didn't see his facial expression.
"Why are you just standing there?"
"You want an invitation or what?"
"Huh?!" After coming out of his stupor, Diablo quickly ran to Mahito before matching his walking pace.
"Diablo..."
"Yes, boss?"
"Take good care of your subordinates, like I do with you."
"And don't forget something..." Mahito stops walking before suddenly grabbing the imp by his suit collar.
"What's that?" Diablo asks calmly, despite his chaotic mind and screaming survival instinct.
"Next time you decide to stop me from having fun for your personal amusement..."
Mahito suddenly swallows Diablo before continuing his walk at a casual pace.
"I'll devour you for good."
"..."
Diablo didn't respond, but his feelings were transparent enough that Mahito didn't worry about it.
The main thing for him was that Diablo understood his mistake and wouldn't repeat it.
'I'll have another weapon later, but I'm keeping this little trickster around anyway,' thought Mahito, his mood slightly improved.
"Uh, boss..." Diablo's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"What is it?"
"Kouki's teacher... She has powers."
'This school really isn't ordinary...'
Mahito involuntarily thought back to the nurse before Miss Adachi's face came to mind. Unlike most teachers, she had always cared deeply about Kouki , even when she was unpopular.
(Image)
"She was pretty nice too, but I think I'll leave her to you," he said, remembering how annoying it was to have too many direct subordinates.
"Boss is too generous~" Diablo's cheerful voice echoed in the hallway, but Mahito didn't pay attention... until one phrase caught his interest.
"She has powers related to necromancy?!"
...
"So, what do we do?" Jiji's voice pulled Okarun and Momo from their thoughts.
"I... I don't know," replied Takamura, unable to hide his trouble with the situation.
"Let's talk to Grandma Seiko first. Maybe there's still a way to resolve this peacefully," Momo suggested.
"I doubt it, kid," Granny Turbo interjected, drawing attention back to her.
"This brat already tried to scam four-eyes with a fake ball, and he seems deeply attached to the real one." She let out an annoyed sigh before glancing at Takamura, still downcast.
"Kid!!" She approached him and gave him a little kick to the shin, though it was painless for him.
"What's that for?!" Takamura was confused by this sudden attack.
"A piece of advice, valid for all of you:
Don't easily trust a spirit with enough self-awareness to communicate... and even less those who give off an aura like that other brat."
She didn't even bother waiting for Takamura's response before casually slipping away, trotting on her little feline paws.
Takamura simply nodded, adopting a more thoughtful expression.
'Yeah, nothing tells me Mahito didn't lie about the other offers...' he reassured himself, regaining his confidence.