A few days later...
Jujutsu High resumed normal operations. Since only teachers and students were involved, the impact was minimal.
After receiving the key, Sōjun Minamoto didn't head straight to the Forbidden Vault. Instead, he began preparing the venue for the exchange event.
The handover of the Forbidden Vault required a visit to Tengen, and the barrier relocation was a complex process—one that couldn't risk disrupting the seal inside.
As the previous winner and current host of the exchange event, Masamichi Yaga led a group of teachers and students to the main gate of Jujutsu High to welcome the guests.
This was, of course, part of the expected social etiquette. Incidentally, if Kyoto Jujutsu High is chosen to host next year's event, the ones being welcomed this time would return the favor by doing the welcoming.
The crowd loosely lined both sides of the school gate.
Without wasting time, Masamichi Yaga began briefing the students on the event format:
"The exchange event avoids the busy season for sorcerers—it's a tradition that's been around for a long time. Officially, it's a two-day event, with the events determined by suggestions from both school principals.
But in practice, the format has been standardized over the years. Every year, day one features a team battle, and day two is reserved for individual matches."
"But didn't it not happen last year?"
Riko Amanai raised her hand, voicing what some were wondering.
"Kyoto Campus forfeited last year. Actually, the same happened the year before, because—"
"No need to phrase it so harshly,"
An elderly voice cut in, interrupting Yaga's explanation.
"The schools have been in a transitional phase these past few years. We just didn't see the need for an exchange."
Everyone turned toward the voice—it was the Kyoto Campus delegation.
At the front was an old man. His white eyebrows drooped along the corners of his eyes to his cheeks, casting deep shadows that obscured his expression. His white beard reached down to his collar, and his face was heavily wrinkled, making him look frail and ancient.
Yet his outfit was striking: black drop-crotch pants, a black tank top with bold English letters sprawled across it, and most eye-catching of all, multiple earrings filled both ears and a nose ring sat prominently on his face. His jacket was tied around his waist, and a guitar case was slung over his back.
He gave off a jarring presence—like a strange little old man whose sense of propriety and music had both gone off the rails.
Beside him stood Yuki Tsukumo, who raised an eyebrow at the group.
Following them were four Kyoto Campus students—two boys and two girls—who would be competing in the exchange event.
"Looks like the students from Kyoto are pretty strong this time. Feeling confident about your chances?"
Masamichi Yaga smiled as he addressed the old man.
"Principal Gakuganji."
"No, not really. Everyone's kind of mediocre. We're just hoping to be less bad than the rest,"
Gakuganji replied, causing Riko Amanai and the others to frown.
Tokyo Jujutsu High's team this year consisted of the second-year trio, plus first-year Kiyotaka Ijichi—four participants in total.
Ijichi was basically out of the equation, as he was already shifting toward a support role. His combat ability could be ignored.
As for the third-years, they weren't participating this time, unlike in previous years.
This was a rule agreed upon in advance by both schools. If third-years like Satoru Gojo were allowed to compete, then there'd be no point in having the exchange at all.
Kyoto might as well just forfeit again.
The two principals traded a few sarcastic jabs before falling into a more casual conversation—like the old friends they really were.
"It's still early. Want to check out the venue first?"
Masamichi Yaga looked over and asked for the other party's opinion.
Although the official competition would only last two days, the Kyoto school had arrived early—still about half a month before the event.
The same went the other way around: when Tokyo hosted, they too would head to Kyoto early.
The exchange event wasn't just a battlefield for the students. It was also a key opportunity for both Jujutsu Highs to meet and discuss important matters—reviewing the major incidents of the past year, and organizing plans for the coming one to prevent any overlaps or clashes between the two schools.
"Sure, you lead the way."
Yoshinobu Gakuganji had no objections. Winning the exchange was important—not just for pride, but for the deeper implications it carried.
That made it necessary to get familiar with the grounds in advance and let the students start adjusting early.
Masamichi Yaga, Yoshinobu Gakuganji, and Yuki Tsukumo walked side by side at the front.
Without any adults keeping an eye on them, the students trailing behind had already started eyeing each other, itching for action.
The exchange hadn't even started yet, and the tension was already thick in the air.
After walking for a while, the group ventured deeper into the forest at the edge of the campus.
"Huh? This isn't the usual place?"
Yoshinobu Gakuganji glanced at Masamichi Yaga, his hollow eye sockets shadowed in darkness.
Masamichi Yaga smiled and pointed to a massive white-boned tree in the distance.
"The Barrier's been replaced. The old venue wasn't anything special anyway. We've handed it over to the new blood."
"Oh? You mean that kid?"
"That Special Grade."
The two exchanged cryptic remarks.
After pushing past a thick patch of tall grass, the view suddenly opened up.
In the distance—swamps, lakes, deserts, cliffs, valleys...
A mix of terrains converged in what was originally a wide and flat forest. The landscape had become strange and unpredictable.
A man stood in the center of the field, back turned toward them.
While everyone else was stunned by the unnatural scenery, Yuki Tsukumo's eyes lit up. She walked over and nudged the man with her elbow.
"What are you doing here?"
The man was Sōjun Minamoto. He had already finished setting up the venue and was waiting to surprise the students.
What they were seeing now wasn't even the final form—the Barrier hadn't fully unfolded yet, so Sōjun wasn't worried about them visiting early.
"What are you doing here?"
Yuki Tsukumo asked again.
He wasn't a teacher or a student. Strictly speaking, he was the only outsider here.
With his personality, it was hard to imagine him going out of his way to get involved like this.
"Just covering for the kids. These youngsters don't know when to hold back."
Although Sōjun Minamoto sounded a little helpless, he didn't actually mind.
Splitting off a clone wasn't a big deal—it didn't waste time, and it let him gather intel on techniques at the same time.
Lately, his attitude toward collecting techniques had been pretty casual. His own Unlimited development was progressing fast and steadily, and as for everything else, he just took it as a kind of interesting distraction.
"Youngsters?"
Yuki Tsukumo smirked and stepped in a little closer.
"Aren't you about the same age as them?"
"And aren't you way older than them?"
Sōjun Minamoto shot her a glance.
He was sixteen, but looked twenty-seven.
Sometimes being too young or too old had its downsides—just like right now.
Just like Yuki Tsukumo right now.
She clicked her tongue softly.
Sōjun Minamoto slipped out of her grasp and walked over to Masamichi Yaga and Yoshinobu Gakuganji.
"Want to go inside and take a look?"
Gakuganji gave him a quick once-over, then nodded without objection.
Sōjun led the way without offering any explanations, letting them see for themselves.
This was the venue for the team battles. The terrain was complex.
During the match, the students wouldn't just be dealing with pressure from the opposing school—they'd also have to contend with the field itself and the curses that would be scattered throughout it.
The area was vast, but confined within a Barrier, ensuring absolute safety. At the very least, there would be no unexpected threats.
A translucent screen floated into view before Sōjun Minamoto's eyes.
More than a dozen abstract stick figures appeared on it, each with a clear profile photo overhead. These were the people currently present.
This was one of the Barrier's functions: [Surveillance].
Achieved through a combination of Barrier techniques and cursed incantations, it was a simple yet powerful method.
If he wanted to, Sōjun could take it a step further and add in a perception disruption technique, allowing him to project the entire scene into people's minds—like playing a movie inside their heads.
And if he pushed even further, combining it with a dream rewriting technique, he could give them full sensory immersion—like they were physically there.
Right now, he was just running a basic animation test on the Barrier.
Once the match officially began, he would switch to a live broadcast—one that far outclassed any modern surveillance tech.
After the Barrier was fully deployed, the teachers would be able to monitor everything in real-time from indoors.
If anything dangerous happened, they wouldn't need to jump in—the Barrier would auto-detect it and create a small protective Barrier on its own.
Fully automated [Monitoring] and [Protection].
After the tour, no one had any objections.
"Next, someone will handle your accommodations. If you need anything, contact the support staff."
Masamichi Yaga turned to address the students from both schools, his gaze lingering briefly on those from Kyoto.
"Oh, and during non-competition periods, private Cursed Technique duels are strictly forbidden."
"Anyone who breaks the rule will be treated as having forfeited."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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