In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, the monsters known as Cursed Spirits are generally invisible to the average person.
They can only be perceived if one's Cursed Energy—the fuel for jujutsu—reaches a certain threshold.
Or, if one possesses a very specific constitution.
Cursed Energy is essentially the mana of this urban fantasy world.
Think of it as something akin to the Chakra from Naruto. While ordinary people harbor it within their bodies, those who can actually see Curses are rare.
Most people's levels are simply too trace to register the horrors hiding in the shadows.
"So you're saying she's not a Cursed Spirit?"
"Take a look."
Rather than waste words, I gestured toward the glass window of the convenience store.
At that exact moment, my eyes met Koyanskaya's through the pane.
—Ah.
With a sly smile and a dainty nod, she reached for one more carton of milk.
She was certainly attentive.
Thoughtful as she was, however, seeing her tuck three cartons into her cleavage was quite the sight.
'Wow, that actually works.'
The memory of that old viral 'Tawawa Challenge' flashed through my mind. You know, the one where people tried to balance bubble tea on their chest while drinking?
—U-um... Excuse me?
—May I pay for these?
—Y-yes! Right away.
The clerk behind the counter looked utterly flustered as Koyanskaya beamed at him. She slid her wallet out of her jacket pocket, finished the transaction, and stepped outside.
Whirr.
The automatic door slid open as she approached us with an elegant stride.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. I see our guest has arrived?"
"As you can see," I replied.
"Then I was right to buy an extra milk. Here, enjoy."
Koyanskaya produced a carton from between her breasts. Taking it from her, I felt the slight warmth of her body clinging to the packaging.
"I'll enjoy it."
I peeled open the strawberry milk she handed me and took a long sip. Maybe it was her lingering scent, but it tasted unusually sweet.
"And for you, dear guest."
"Wait... me?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
She extended the carton toward Toji. His brow furrowed into an incredible knot—not out of malice, but pure, unadulterated confusion. He was speechless.
"...Thanks."
Toji eventually accepted the strawberry milk. It was better than letting the atmosphere turn sour by refusing her courtesy.
Gulp, gulp.
We stood there in a row, three unlikely companions nursing our milk cartons under the streetlights.
"Phew."
Toji finished his first, letting out a heavy breath. A man in his prime certainly has the appetite for it.
"I'd like to finish the conversation we were having, if that's alright."
"Certainly."
At my nod, Toji spoke, his eyes fixed on the empty road ahead.
"You said this woman isn't a Curse. Then what the hell is she? My instincts are screaming that she isn't human, either."
"Is that so? Perhaps your senses are just playing tricks on you."
"You approached me knowing exactly what a Heavenly Restriction is, right? If you don't want to answer, just say so. Don't waste my time."
Heavenly Restriction. It was a binding vow placed on a person at birth, manifesting in several ways.
In some cases, a person is born with zero Cursed Energy in exchange for overwhelming physical prowess. In others, a frail or broken body is compensated with massive Cursed Energy reserves and immense range.
Toji was the former. His senses were so finely tuned that despite having no Cursed Energy, he could perceive Cursed Spirits as clearly as anyone else.
"Fine, I'll keep the details to myself then. But one thing is certain: she isn't a Curse. If she were, she wouldn't be able to pay for milk, nor would that clerk have been able to see her."
"Fair point. More importantly... is she truly on our side?"
"She's the most reliable ally I could ever ask for. Want a demonstration?"
I reached out and playfully smacked Koyanskaya on the rear. Thwack.
"Nhn...! Master, really...! ♥"
Behold. I had just blatantly harassed her, yet she merely responded with a delighted, flirtatious smile.
Was it because Koyanskaya had a high tolerance for such things? Or was she just playing a role to tease me? It didn't matter; our bond transcended such trifles.
"I'm doing that to her and she isn't taking offense. Are you satisfied now?"
Toji blinked, his expression screaming that he was questioning the very reality he lived in.
"Exactly," I added.
"Fine. I don't know what kind of special relationship you two have, so I won't dig any further. It's not my place anyway."
"I appreciate it."
"Now, let's move on to the actual point. This is the important part."
Crunch! Toji crushed the empty carton in his hand and sat down in front of me.
"Regardless of the reasons, you saved my life. You're my benefactor. Just tell me what you want me to do."
Ah, I see. He was trying to set a serious mood for business. Message received.
"Toji-san, you have money, right? You're notorious as a Sorcerer Killer."
"Money? Well... I've only just started putting some aside, so I'm not exactly loaded."
Toji scratched his head sheepishly. He had always lived a profligate lifestyle; he wasn't the type to save. Even if he'd turned over a new leaf after meeting his wife, it hadn't been long enough to build a fortune.
"I thought as much. In that case, start accumulating funds through commissions. Hunting Curses and Curse Users pays well, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. It pays for a hell of a lot of expensive liquor."
"Perfect. Accept Exorcism requests. Focus on the real scum among Curse Users. Ignore the Sorcerers and petty criminals for now."
Toji nodded. Though our reasons differed, our goals aligned perfectly.
"Is that it? Just make money? What are you planning to do with it?"
"Technically, your money is my money now. I won't spend it recklessly, but for now, just find us some work."
"Find work? Are you coming with me?" Toji tilted his head. He clearly hadn't expected me to tag along.
"Yes. Contact me at Room 1203, Tokyo Regent Hotel."
"You're living in a hotel?"
"Koyanskaya is very capable when it comes to logistics. I'll be waiting."
I shook Toji's hand and turned to leave. My business here was concluded.
"Master."
We were about three hundred meters away from the convenience store when Koyanskaya spoke up.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Are you following that man for a bit of sightseeing? Or is this reconnaissance?"
"Both. To be honest, I've been cooped up in that hotel for too long."
"True. But your body is still young; staying safe should be our priority..." Koyanskaya's voice trailed off, her gaze searching mine.
She was so different from her persona back in Chaldea. I preferred her this way, honestly. It felt genuine.
"With you around, why should I worry? Besides, Toji's on our side now."
"So you intend to use that man as a substitute for a Servant?"
"He's more than capable."
In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, Toji's combat ability was easily among the top ten. At least, that was my assessment. Using a twist of fate to make him my 'Slave'—or rather, my Servant—was a stroke of genius.
The timing was perfect. If I had approached him earlier, I might have failed. If I had approached him later—say, once he accepted the contract to kill a girl named Riko Amanai...
'That would have been a waste.'
A waste, and a tragedy. Many things would have turned out poorly.
"I suppose so. Compared to those hellish singularities we've seen, this is child's play. I may be worrying over nothing." Koyanskaya sighed, her concern easing as she realized my resolve.
"Exactly. We can't be careless, but we don't need to live in fear. Still, thanks for caring. It makes me happy."
"Master..."
Koyanskaya's eyes sparkled as she looked at me. It was the look of a woman genuinely enamored. How did someone as inexperienced as I know that look? I learned it by watching the female Servants who were utterly enthralled by my fellow Master, Ritsuka.
The Artoria-faces, the Rin-faces... he charmed them all. And it made sense; he had earned it.
"Oh, honestly! If only you were grown up, I'd take you straight to bed and shower you with all my love!" Koyanskaya groaned and pulled me into a suffocating hug.
She wasn't this intense when I was first reborn, but she was getting bolder by the day. It was nice, sure, but it felt incredibly surreal. Almost like a dream.
'Mmmph...!' My face was buried in her chest, and for a second, my infant instincts nearly took over. My intelligence felt like it was plummeting toward zero.
As I struggled to maintain my dignity, Koyanskaya took to the skies, leaping across the rooftops. Two days later, Toji called. Our destination: Hokkaido.
"This is the place."
Rumoi City, Hokkaido. We arrived in a town nestled right against the sea. Our target was an abandoned hospital where a Cursed Spirit and a group of Curse Users had set up camp.
"It's creepy." My shoulders gave a small shiver. The air felt heavy with a localized, creeping dread.
"The targets lure people here under the guise of 'courage tests' and rob them. They use Curses to commit muggings and even murder."
"So, just a bunch of robbers and murderers."
"Yeah. They've probably stashed away a decent amount of loot. They keep it in physical form."
"Why haven't the local authorities dealt with them?"
"Hokkaido is the territory of the Ainu Jujutsu Alliance, but they're just as short-staffed as everyone else. Briefing's over. Let's move."
Toji led the way. He walked toward that lair of evil without a hint of hesitation.
"Ah. It's been a while since I've been in the field, almost forgot." He paused and tapped the creature perched on his shoulder. It was a thick, caterpillar-like Curse with an ugly human face.
"...Oh."
Responding to his touch, the larva opened its mouth wide and regurgitated a weapon. It was a thick blade with fur at the base of the hilt.
This larva was an Inventory Curse—essentially a living subspace pocket. The blade was the Soul Split Katana, a weapon capable of cutting through the very soul. Seeing it in person was breathtaking.
"A Curse that spits out weapons?"
"It's my armory. Convenient, right? Let's go. I'll clear the path so my 'benefactor' doesn't have to lift a finger."
Toji smirked and walked forward with unwavering stability. Koyanskaya and I followed in his wake. As we crossed the hospital gates, the atmosphere grew even bleaker.
The moment we stepped through the shattered front doors, the chill hit us like a tidal wave. The air was sharp enough to cut skin, and the bizarre, mounting noises were a direct assault on the human psyche.
'It's been a while.' It reminded me of the London Singularity—the ghosts that would pop out there had a similar vibe.
"Here they come."
Toji sensed them first. He swung his blade in a casual arc—faster than a blink. With ruthless precision, the sword cleaved through something in the air.
—Uuuuuuh....
The scream of the mangled Curse crumbled into dust. He had torn it apart before I even got a good look at it.
"I sense about thirty Curses. Ranks... somewhere between Grade 2 and 3. As expected, nothing special."
Grades denote the power of a Curse—Special Grade at the top, Grade 4 at the bottom. Toji casually explained his analysis as he strolled down the hallway, as if to tell us we could relax. Thanks to his confidence, Koyanskaya and I enjoyed a very peaceful stroll.
Whenever a Curse prepared to strike, Toji would vanish, a blur of movement, and reappear after having slashed them to ribbons. His footwork was straight out of a martial arts legend.
"Impressive. At that level, he could easily handle low-rank Servants." Koyanskaya murmured, fidgeting with her fingers.
I was of the same mind. "He'd run circles around most non-combat types and even some combat-oriented ones."
"Indeed. Especially that weapon. It feels dangerous."
She had a good eye. The Soul Split Katana was a menace because it bypassed all defenses. "That blade is easily at the level of a Noble Phantasm."
"Yes. I'd classify it as a Continuously Active type."
Those are Noble Phantasms that don't require a True Name Release; they function as a permanent passive boost.
'We're here.' While we chatted, Toji stopped in front of a pair of doors: the operating theater.
"I can sense them inside. Stay back, it might get messy."
"We will. Good luck."
Once we reached a safe distance, Toji kicked the doors in. CRASH! The metal buckled and flew into the room.
—SKREEEEE!
A swarm of Curses poured out—vile shapes of insects, specters, and beasts.
"Trifle."
In a single second, Toji's arm became a blur of afterimages. It was like watching a combat scene from a top-tier anime in high definition.
'In an instant.' The Curses were pulverized, reduced to spiritual dregs by a flurry of invisible strikes. As they dissipated, a shadow rose from the far end of the room.
It was a man in his forties, short of stature and wearing a hooded sweatshirt. He looked ordinary, but the aura radiating from him was pure corruption.
"That's him. Fits the description perfectly." Toji vanished again, appearing in front of the man in a flash. He drew a long, bloody line across the Curse User's torso, clearly having no intention of starting a dialogue.
'Whoa.' One breath? Maybe a breath and a half? That was all it took for the battle to be decided. The spray of blood following the sword's path was the only evidence of the killing blow.
'I expected nothing less.' This was the man who once successfully killed Gojo Satoru. A petty robber was nothing.
However, it seemed Toji hadn't expected a cloud of purple fog to erupt from the man's dying body and surge toward me. Neither did I.
"Watch out—!" Toji shouted as he scrambled back toward us, but there was no need for panic. I had Koyanskaya.
"How dare you... Who do you think you're trying to stain with that filth?"
Snap!
Koyanskaya flicked her fingers. Her voice and her eyes were colder than the depths of an arctic winter. Suddenly, black shapes erupted from the hospital walls.
It was a three-headed hound adorned with spiked collars. The heads of the demonic beast, Cerberus.
Wait, here? Really?
Isn't this a bit overkill?
"Toji! Move!" I shouted.
Toji reacted instantly, throwing himself to the side mid-swing. His reflexes truly were otherworldly.
—AWOOOO!
All three heads of Cerberus exhaled a torrent of blue flames simultaneously. The purple fog evaporated instantly, replaced by the scent of soot and scorched earth.