Kenmei had dismantled [Eternal Hunt]—the Blood God's gift—and integrated it into his [Summoning System].
This was the only reason he could summon three Flesh Hounds at once in front of his uncle without worrying about the Mana cost.
Unlike the original equipment effect, the biggest benefit of integrating it into the Summoning System was that the Mana cost to summon each Flesh Hound became standardized, with no ongoing upkeep fees.
Kenmei's current limit for controlling Flesh Hounds was four. His [Summoning Grid] had only five slots unlocked. One was occupied by the [Life-Shaping Brood Queen], leaving the remaining four slots perfectly filled by the "Flesh Hounds."
By sacrificing the fifth Flesh Hound, Kenmei gained the ability to sustain four of them in combat simultaneously at a manageable cost.
He felt it was worth it. Currently, summoning four Flesh Hounds cost 60 x 4 = 240 Mana. The original [Eternal Hunt] equipment required 420 Mana.
That was a difference of 180 Mana. For a psyker, Mana was life. Every point saved meant Kenmei could cast several more psychic spells.
If you run out of Mana, even an Alpha-level psyker is just a sitting duck.
As for his fourth Flesh Hound? Kenmei had secretly hidden it in Yomi's shadow. The incident with Mei was a wake-up call.
Kenmei didn't want to lose his only remaining sister, so he gave Yomi an insurance policy.
---
"Sir, we've arrived."
Hearing the driver, Kenmei ended his nap and opened his eyes to look out the window.
"Alright. Just drop me off on the side of the road."
Kenmei got out of the taxi. In front of him was a mountain range completely covered in lush greenery. He couldn't help but sigh.
"Is this really Tokyo?"
The sign nearby read "Mt. Mushiro Base", so this should be the right place. He had called the taxi based on the location Suguru Geto sent him.
"I didn't know Tokyo had such remote places. It looks just like the countryside."
There was a sign by the road for the "Private Religious High School", but it looked so tattered and old that Kenmei suspected it hadn't been changed in decades.
Who would have guessed that this shady-looking religious school was actually a front for one of only two jujutsu educational institutions in Japan: Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College (Tokyo Jujutsu High).
The "Private Religious School" cover story was just a mask. At first glance, it looked like a scam institution, but in reality, it was the cradle for nurturing Sorcerers.
Kenmei came to Tokyo Jujutsu High to solve the mystery of the special cherry blossom mark on his arm and to find out its origin.
The incident with the Killing Stone had taught Kenmei the importance of knowledge. Rumor had it that Jujutsu High's library was on par with any of the Three Great Families, so he came to try his luck.
"Let me see..."
But Kenmei hit a wall before he even started climbing. He struggled to find the entrance using the map provided.
The map on Kenmei's phone was so simple it looked like a child's doodle.
Squiggly lines vaguely indicated the path, sketches of a few landmarks, and stick figures marking the "destination" made up this scribbled map.
This masterpiece was drawn by Suguru Geto's friend—that white-haired, sunglass-wearing show-off from last time. Hearing it was Kenmei's first visit, he had enthusiastically drawn this map to guide him.
Since both of them had missions assigned by their teacher, they couldn't come down to pick him up.
The only part of the map Kenmei thought was decent were the two stick figures: one wearing sunglasses and the other with a bun hairstyle. Both were grinning and waving, welcoming Kenmei.
"Sigh. This feels unreliable."
Kenmei sighed.
The map's instructions said something like: "From the big rock, take the fork at the third tree from the left to find the entrance."
But who knows which big rock? After searching around, Kenmei finally found the marked entrance through a mix of guessing and luck.
"Finally found it."
After squeezing through a gap, the view suddenly opened up.
Before him lay an ancient stone staircase path made of white bricks. Above the path, vermilion Torii gates lined up one after another. Flanking the road were auxiliary shrine buildings.
Looking up the mountain, Kenmei saw telephone poles hidden among the trees. The path led straight up, lined entirely with Torii gates. According to the map, he just had to follow this road to the top.
"This road is really long. Looks like a hike."
"Whatever. Consider it exercise."
When Kenmei took his first step onto the stairs, deep underground beneath Tokyo Jujutsu High, within a magnificent palace, a certain dozing existence sensed him. It seemed quite interested in Kenmei's arrival.
---
After passing an unknown number of Torii gates, Kenmei finally reached the summit. Someone was already waiting for him.
Seeing Kenmei, the person waiting immediately approached with enthusiasm.
Kenmei noticed it was a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, looking very energetic, wearing the Jujutsu High uniform.
"Are you Mr. Isayama?"
Kenmei nodded.
"Great! Geto-senpai and Gojo-senpai suddenly asked me to do this, and I was worried I wouldn't make it in time."
The student let out a sigh of relief, smiled, and introduced himself.
"Hello! I'm Yu Haibara, a first-year student at Jujutsu High."
"I was entrusted by Geto-senpai and Gojo-senpai to be your guide."
Hearing that Geto sent him, Kenmei nodded and responded.
"Hello, Haibara-kun."
Kenmei added, "No need to be so formal. Just call me Kenmei."
"No, no, that won't do! Mr. Isayama is the same generation as Geto-senpai and the others!"
Hearing Kenmei's suggestion, Yu Haibara waved his hands in panic to refuse.
Kenmei realized then that the hierarchy in Japan was strict.
He didn't insist. "Then, Haibara-kun, just call me Senpai Isayama."
"That works!"
Haibara accepted this title and continued, "Senpai Isayama, you really are a kind person."
Kenmei asked, "Why do you say that?"
"Hahaha, because I'm very confident in my ability to judge people!"
Haibara scratched his head and smiled.
"Kind, huh..."
Kenmei rubbed his chin. Your judgment of character is really... inaccurate. Even Kenmei was afraid of the things he had done.
"Senpai Isayama, please follow me closely. Our school is a bit big, so it's easy to get lost."
Haibara said as he led the way.
---