Renchoku Girls' Junior High School, Middle School Division.
Since unrelated individuals weren't allowed in the classroom, the three of them—along with Misato Kuroi—could only stand guard outside.
"I really don't get what the higher-ups are thinking. Tch. Granting every demand? This is way too lenient." Satoru Gojo looked visibly annoyed, though it was unclear whether he was irritated with the higher-ups or with Riko Amanai.
"Don't say that, Satoru. She might seem indifferent, but once she's assimilated, she'll never see her family or friends again."
Suguru Geto spoke gently. After a brief silence, he added,
"Let her do as she pleases. It's our job to protect her."
"Lady Riko doesn't actually have any family. She lost them in an accident when she was a child… Since then, I've been the one looking after her," Misato Kuroi stepped forward and bowed deeply to the two, her head lowered. "At the very least… please let her spend more time with her friends…"
"Then you're her family," Suguru Geto interrupted softly.
"…Yes. Yes, I am." Misato Kuroi lowered her head even further.
Sōjun Minamoto leaned against the wall, scrolling through his phone, monitoring information on the dark web. Riko Amanai's bounty was still rising—it had already hit 30 million.
Suddenly, Sōjun looked up and walked toward the others. He turned to Misato Kuroi.
"Someone's coming. Where is Riko-chan?"
Misato Kuroi froze for a moment, then forced herself to stay calm. She glanced at her wrist.
"At this time… she should be in music class—either the music room or the chapel."
"She went to the chapel first? She didn't notify us?!" Misato kept looking between them. "The music teacher sometimes changes the class location!"
"Satoru, go to the chapel. Kuroi-san, head to the music room," Suguru Geto gave orders immediately. "I'll handle—"
"I'll deal with the Curse User. Geto, you go to the music room with Kuroi," Sōjun Minamoto cut in, signaling with his eyes.
Also—protect Kuroi.
Geto nodded in understanding.
"Regardless of whether you find her or not, regroup here immediately," Sōjun finished.
The group nodded and split up.
In the next instant, Sōjun Minamoto vanished from sight, reappearing where the cursed energy was most concentrated.
...
Not far off, a burly man stood in the school courtyard with a strange paper bag over his head. He scanned the surroundings through a hole over his left eye, a dull gaze showing through the opening.
He looked around, tugging at the paper bag slightly. His entire body radiated killing intent, practically itching to explode.
"Thirty million, huh? I came rushing over without even grabbing lunch. A meal after a kill tastes sweeter than anything."
"What a shame. You won't even get to die with a full stomach."
A voice came from straight ahead.
Huh?
A shadow fell over the man's head. His expression sharpened as he looked up at the tall figure who had suddenly appeared, immediately locking eyes with a pair of unusual eyes.
...
"Don't worry, Kuroi-san," Suguru Geto said gently as he ran alongside her, trying to soothe her nerves.
People of unknown origin—remnants of Q? Or assassins hired by the Star Religious Group?
If it's the latter, things could get messy. No way to know who they are, or how many there are.
He mentally assessed the situation.
Hmm?
Suguru suddenly stopped and threw his arm out to block Misato Kuroi's path.
An old man with a white scarf stood in the corridor, barring their way.
"Go on ahead to the music room. I'll join you soon," Suguru said without even turning his head.
He stepped forward.
Misato immediately turned and left.
The old man gave her a glance but quickly looked away.
Just an ordinary person.
"That uniform… You're from Jujutsu High, aren't you?!"
He turned his eyes back to Suguru and, as he spoke, formed a charm with his right hand and channeled cursed energy into it. The paper ignited on its own, and two Shikigami emerged, surrounding him from both sides.
Suguru responded by summoning two kappa-type Cursed Spirits.
"No medium required?! And that summoning method—it's nothing like a Shikigami user. Could it be… Cursed Spirit Manipulation?!"
The old man's heart sank, though his tone remained level.
"Correct. Live long enough, and you really do see it all."
To make a Cursed Spirit into a servant—one that obeys commands. By subduing and acquiring them, a user can freely control them. No medium needed—just the cursed energy within the spirits themselves is enough to activate the technique. There's no cap on the number of spirits one can obtain…
That intel flashed through the old man's mind.
Suguru stepped back as the kappa spirits lunged forward.
The old man narrowed his eyes. Even though the technique was clearly a level above his, the way Suguru operated still clung to the mindset of a Shikigami user. And more importantly—
He's too young. Lack of experience is his biggest weakness.
I know exactly what he's thinking.
As the kappa spirits charged, confidence settled in the old man's heart.
These types of sorcerers just recklessly throw their Cursed Spirits at you. They're bad at close combat and send out all their spirits at once, leaving themselves totally exposed… Can't ask for a better kill target than that.
"You seem to be calculating something—but it's pointless," Suguru's voice cut into his thoughts.
A worm-type Cursed Spirit appeared, so massive it almost filled the entire corridor.
The old man's eyes widened—those first two were just bait?!
The worm's mouth opened wide, layered rows of spiral-shaped fangs twisting inside. It lunged toward him with a terrifying force, splitting the floor and ceiling as it barreled down to bite him in one clean hit.
"So, it's over…" Suguru looked toward the worm spirit.
Boom!
The old man burst in through a window behind Suguru, laughing madly.
"Haha! Your mistake was leaving yourself wide open!"
He held a dagger in hand and lunged at Suguru, who had just turned around, his face still full of shock.
"Die!"
It's over. He's too green.
Smack—
A hand firmly grabbed his wrist mid-swing.
The old man's heart skipped. A powerful force yanked him forward, and a fist slammed straight into his jaw. His vision spun, and his legs gave out as he collapsed to his knees.
He vaguely saw a startled face just starting to relax.
"So, you were baiting me the whole time?"
"Haha, not really. You just looked like you were dying to charge in."
Suguru's panic completely faded now.
"When dealing with someone convinced they've already won, you just need to give them a little push—make them think victory is in sight, and they'll take the bait on their own."
...
"So they didn't return to Jujutsu High?" A man with a vertical scar at the corner of his mouth chuckled. "All the better. Now more fools will take the bait for that bounty."
"You sure about this? That bounty came out of the 30 million advance paid by the Star Religious Group. If they kill the Star Plasma Vessel, you lose the deposit. You might not even get the rest of the payout."
A voice came from the other end of the call.
"Posting the mission through you is no different from announcing the outcome in advance."
"That's only if they succeed in killing the Star Plasma Vessel," the man replied with a sigh. "They've got Satoru Gojo over there. He's the one-in-several-centuries freak with both Six Eyes and Limitless Cursed Technique. As long as he's around, nobody's touching the Star Plasma Vessel."
"Not even you?"
"…Heh. Who knows."
There was a brief pause, then the voice said,
"Setting a time limit on the mission was a great idea. The Curse Users gathered fast."
"This is all moving faster than expected. I'll be heading out soon myself. That 30 million—I'll make sure it all comes back."
"Huh? You're not using some cheap anonymous forum, you know. The posting fee, handling fee, and everything else…"
"Hey, bad signal!" The man tossed his phone aside.