Chapter 24 – Traces of a Special-Grade Curse
"Hahaha, sorry—I just couldn't hold it in. Next time, once you've got a cursed tool in hand, we'll have a proper spar."
Gojo Satoru laughed it off, completely unconcerned with his own rude behavior.
"Let's just hope you live to see that day."
Zen'in Shinsuke brushed past him without another word.
Was it true that he couldn't fight without a weapon? Of course not. Until now, he hadn't revealed the power of his Qi and Blood. That vital energy—the raw embodiment of masculine force—surely couldn't be weaker than cursed energy, which was born from negativity.
If it were just a cursed spirit, he wouldn't hesitate to act. But his opponent was Gojo Satoru. With Gojo's Limitless defense, and without either Domain Amplification or the Inverted Spear of Heaven, any fight between them would be unwinnable—and utterly pointless.
As Shinsuke walked away, Gojo's grin slowly faded into a more serious expression.
"That guy… even without cursed energy, his strength is already at the level of a special grade."
A man who had reached special grade purely through physical prowess—it was absurd, yet undeniable.
---
When Shinsuke returned home, Maki was already training in the yard while Amanai lounged on the sofa watching TV. From the kitchen came the clatter of dishes.
"Ah, Uncle, you're back?"
Seeing everyone making themselves so at home, Shinsuke felt a vein pop on his forehead. These brats…
"Got it handled?" Amanai asked casually.
Shinsuke gave a faint nod. For now, with no sign of Kenjaku, all he could do was reassure Toji and Megumi not to worry too much. Kenjaku would reveal himself eventually, and there was no way he'd allow Tsumiki to be permanently possessed.
Clatter!
Another loud crash echoed from the kitchen. A bad premonition stirred in Shinsuke's gut.
"…Where's Mai?"
"In the kitchen," Amanai said without even looking up. "She insisted on helping with the dishes. No matter what I said, she wouldn't stop."
The next instant, Shinsuke appeared in the kitchen—only to see the near-empty cupboard and Mai standing proudly on a stool, her small hands covered in soapy bubbles, foam dotting her cheeks as she washed dishes with enthusiasm.
"Look, Onii-chan, I'm amazing! I helped you wash the dishes!" she announced, beaming with pride.
Without a word, Shinsuke stepped forward, rinsed the soap off her hands and face, then lifted her onto his lap—face down.
"Huh? Onii-chan, what are you doing?" Mai turned her big eyes up at him in confusion. Was this some new game?
Smack!
The sound of a sharp slap rang out. Mai's eyes widened. This game was definitely not fun.
"Ah! Onii-chan, why are you hitting me?!"
Smack!
"How many times have I told you not to go into the kitchen? You think my words are just background noise?!"
Smack!
"Ahhh! Stop, stop! I get it! I was wrong!"
Smack!
"Waaah… Nee-chan, save me! Amanai-nee, help!"
Smack!
…
After giving Mai a thorough lesson, Shinsuke finally set her down and began cleaning up the disaster of a kitchen. From the time he left until now, nearly half a day had passed—yet Mai had been "washing" the dishes the whole time. She'd even taken clean bowls from the cupboard to scrub again.
If not for the shards of broken porcelain littering the floor, he might almost have praised her.
"I told you not to go in the kitchen. See what happened now?"
Amanai glanced at Mai, who was pouting, eyes wet with tears, rubbing her sore bottom—and mercilessly mocked her.
"Hmph!" Mai huffed, cheeks puffed up in frustration.
Mai ignored Amanai, puffing her cheeks and sulking to herself. She had no intention of talking to the woman who hadn't lifted a finger to help her.
After cleaning up the wreckage in the kitchen, Zen'in Shinsuke emerged with a dark expression. His eyes locked onto Mai.
"If you dare step into the kitchen again, don't even think about eating here!"
"Nooo! Anything but that! Mama's cooking is awful—I only want to eat the food you make, Onii-chan! I swear, I promise, there won't be a next time!"
Though Mai brushed Amanai off, she showed not the slightest trace of resentment toward her brother—even after the spanking. Instead, she raised her hand in earnest, pledging never to repeat the mistake.
Hearing this, Shinsuke's expression finally softened. Still, he couldn't help but offer a silent prayer for Mai's mother.
Her cooking must really be that bad if even her own daughter's complaining about it…
Perhaps it was just that his dishes carried more of the flavors from his previous life—hearty, rich, comforting meals that perfectly suited Mai's taste.
"Pfft—ahahahaha…"
Amanai laughed openly at Mai's expense, without a shred of guilt.
"If I stay here any longer, I'm going to die laughing. I should go—got a mission tomorrow anyway."
With that, Amanai left.
Once she was gone, Mai shuffled over with her head lowered, tugging at Shinsuke's sleeve with both hands, swaying side to side.
"Onii-chan~ Mai knows she was wrong. Please forgive me, okay? Mai loves you the most~"
So young, and already so good at acting spoiled. Shinsuke gave her a displeased look.
"This is the last time."
"Yay! Onii-chan is the best!"
Her face instantly lit up, the sting of her punishment already forgotten.
After years of living together day in and day out, Mai had already figured out her brother's temperament. He looked fierce on the outside, but in truth, he wasn't scary at all.
Quietly, she had moved his place in her heart forward—closer and closer—almost surpassing even her sister's.
Shinsuke cast her a helpless glance.
So it's true… women who know how to act spoiled always have it easiest. And I guess that applies to little girls, too. People are just hardwired to forgive anything cute. It's not about being a "loli," it's just the nature of cuteness itself.
His gaze shifted toward the yard, where Maki was training, sweat dripping as she pushed herself to the limit. A small smile tugged at his lips.
Now this disciple… she's the one I'm truly satisfied with. Not yet, but soon—I'll teach her real skills once her body reaches the threshold.
With that thought, Shinsuke stepped outside to train a bit before preparing dinner.
As his consciousness sank into his mindscape, the mental scripture within him glowed with five illuminated pages—signifying that he had unlocked the Fifth Gate.
At this stage, he could clearly feel how steep the path forward was becoming. Physical training alone was beginning to yield little effect. A whole year of grueling practice might not compare to the power gained from slaying just a handful of cursed spirits.
By his estimate, the Sixth Gate was already the absolute limit for someone without chakra. Reaching even a trace of Qi and Blood Power with his current body was already extremely difficult. Beyond that, training would be useless.
Fortunately, he had his "golden finger." As long as there were cursed spirits to consume, his growth would never halt.
After a casual round of exercise, Shinsuke whipped up a simple meal to satisfy the sisters.
A few days later, a message arrived from Jujutsu High, summoning all available teachers to a meeting. The topic: a special-grade cursed spirit that had attacked Amanai—one not listed in any records.
Shinsuke's eyes lit up with interest.
A special grade, huh? Let's see what kind of surprise you can give me.