"Geto—what's going on with that Sukuna you mentioned? He suddenly attacked me—!"
Mahito came hollering into Dagon's domain; Kenjaku, sunbathing on a deck chair, frowned slightly… Sukuna attacked Mahito?
He looked up and saw only the lively Mahito—no trace of any injury.
"Weren't you dropping a finger at Yoshino Junpei's house? How did you even run into Sukuna?"
"How should I know? I was just there ready to enjoy the show when Sukuna suddenly slashed my way!"
Mahito shouted, lifting his arm and jabbing it right under Kenjaku's nose.
"Look—!"
Kenjaku frowned and stared at the arm; only after a long search did he find a tiny cut—
the kind that would close if you waited a moment longer.
He massaged his temples, headache blooming.
"You're sure Sukuna was attacking you?"
If he'd really attacked, you'd be Mahito sashimi by now—how could you still bounce back here?
"Also, where's the finger?"
Mahito paused, finally remembering the finger he'd forgotten.
"Uh… left it on the table…"
Kenjaku's head throbbed worse. "And the Curse drawn by that finger?"
Mahito hesitated again, voice shrinking.
"The slash seems to have wiped it out…"
Kenjaku lowered his hand and narrowed his eyes at him.
Only then did Mahito realize something was off.
So… he hadn't been targeted by Sukuna… he'd just been collateral damage?
B-but how was that his fault!—
He'd been quietly crouched on a wall waiting for fun when a terror he'd never felt—something that froze his very soul—suddenly appeared before him faster than he could sense!
In that instant, he felt his soul scatter!
Forget the Curse and the finger—he'd run straight back—
and for the first time tasted the might of the legendary King of Curses, Sukuna.
He glanced at his arm, still unhealed; not just flesh—his soul had been cut. Sukuna should only have two, maybe three fingers back, yet he was already this strong?
…Indeed, worth resurrecting. With Sukuna, as Jogo said, the age of Curses would surely dawn… but why had Sukuna helped Yoshino wipe out that Curse?
"Probably doesn't want his own finger falling into other Curses' hands."
Kenjaku answered casually… yet the guy was already so eager to reclaim fingers—should he find a chance to "gift" Sukuna a few more?
He sighed.
Pity; that finger had been meant for Jujutsu High to collect. It carried Mahito's Cursed Energy, and once stored in the Vault, they could swipe every finger inside.
Now that it had landed with Sukuna, he'd most likely absorb it on the spot.
They'd have to prepare another one… Meanwhile, outside, Sukuna noticed the residual Cursed Energy Mahito had left in a wall crack.
He carefully memorized that trace.
Next time they met, he'd spot that Curse in an instant!
Alas, the trail was too faint; after a short chase, it vanished, preventing them from tracking the Special Grade Curse.
After discussion, Yuji and Sukuna decided to accompany Junpei later to the place where he'd once seen that Curse.
So when Yuji spotted the healed Nanami regrouping through the window, he sneaked out another way with Junpei—
Nanami wasn't here; only Ijichi remained, and Yuji felt uneasy.
They dared not let Nanami know they were heading into the Curses' den—he would definitely stop them.
With Sukuna around, Yuji wasn't worried about safety, but even if Nanami knew about Sukuna, he'd never agree to them sneaking off.
Well, Nanami was an adult; these past days he'd treated Yuji like a kid.
Adults, even when they know a child can protect himself, will never let them court danger… In the sewer, thick, dreadful Cursed Energy filled every corner.
The horrific remains of Transfigured Humans made Yuji's heart tremble.
So many… far beyond what he'd imagined… the toll of victims was enormous.
"That's the place, no doubt."
Sukuna sensed the exact same residual aura he'd memorized, confirming the location.
And Junpei, seeing the scene from another angle, finally felt its true horror.
A fear he'd never known began surfacing inside him.
He staggered to the spot where he and Mahito had spent time together.
No one—Mahito wasn't here.
Facing the emptiness, Junpei's heart turned completely cold.
The last flicker of hope was dug out of his chest… When the two returned home, a fierce scolding from Nanami awaited them.
Then came the follow-ups: dealing with the bodies in the sewer, and protecting and relocating Yoshino and his mother.
"Once everything's settled, I'll come visit you and Aunt Yoshino!"
Yuji whispered to Junpei just before he was taken away.
As someone who'd had close contact with a Special Grade Curse, Junpei couldn't avoid being questioned by Jujutsu High.
He hadn't done anything wrong, though; aside from learning about Curses and awakening a Cursed Technique, he was no different from other victims and wouldn't be treated harshly.
"Okay."
Junpei nodded.
He, too, needed to face everything that had happened during this time.
Watching Yuji's departing back, a tiny sprout of thought began to grow in his heart…
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