The Age in which Curses were feared had all but been snuffed out. Jujutsu Society had lied to the world, telling them that Curses could only be born in Tokyo. With this, all of the world's negativity focused on Tokyo, making that lie essentially the truth. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, hailed as The Jujutsu Masterpiece, proceeded to assist in the creation of barriers to seal off Tokyo to ensure Curses could not escape once they were born there. However, 50 years after the sealing off of Tokyo, that same man... has gone missing. As for his whereabouts, only the top brass of Jujutsu Society were made privy to such things. However, just the knowledge that he could be out there sent most Curse Users into hiding, and the systems put up by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka himself ensured none of the ones that dared to show their faces would be able to do as they pleased for long. To counter his overwhelming presence, they remained spread out and not to be caught. Hiding in the shadows. After his disappearance, their activity grew in numbers again, but this habit of remaining spread out remained as if fearing his return. What was created was an unprecedented time of peace in terms of Jujutsu.
A young boy stepped out of his house holding the book to his face as he sighed, saying, "Ugh!!! Things have gotten so boring in this world. There's nothing mysterious anymore. Why'd you have to go and make everything boring?"
An elderly woman called out, shouting, "You should be thanking your predecessors for securing peace."
The boy sighed and said, "I like that it's safe, but I don't like that it's so boring now. Couldn't they leave at least a few things to be exciting?"
The elderly woman sighed, saying, "You young boys are always the same. Far too adventurous."
The boy sat down, putting on his shoes and said, "Even if I just heard about the exciting days, I'd be happy."
"No, you wouldn't."
The Elderly woman said this as the boy looked as if he'd taken a direct hit.
The boy waved his hand, saying, "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I'm going on a mission."
The woman sighed, saying, "Please be careful, Suzuki. It's your first mission and..."
Suzuki was already gone, running down the street thinking, 'I do want to meet him, though. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. I want to hear about how amazing things were in the days back then! If I can climb up the ranks to Grade 1, maybe I can go meet him and ask him a lot of things.'
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Suzuki rushed towards the meeting spot thinking, 'I'm late! I'm so late!'
He arrived to see Tsurugi, Yuka and Usami waiting as he thought, 'Act natural. Act natural.'
Suzuki waved his hands, shouting, "Yuka! Tsurugi! Usami-San. You're all early."
Usami chopped him on the head, saying, "No. You're late."
Suzuki remained unfazed, saying, "Sowwie."
Yuka sighed and said, "You really took forever to get here."
Tsurugi sighed, saying, "I mean, what did you expect? This is the norm for him. When has he ever been on time for something? "
Suzuki looked annoyed at this.
Tsurugi sighed, looking to Usami and asked, "So, Usami-San. What's the mission?"
Usami responded, saying, "The recent cases of Japanese citizens being abducted to be used as energy sources are incredibly serious. Even right here in Kyoto, there have been frequent occurrences of children getting abducted. Since the police can't track down the perps, we think Sorcerers might be involved. I want you four to investigate the scene and report any leads you find to the higher-ups."
They nodded, saying, "Sure. But what do you mean, by four of us?"
A young man with a bandage on his forehead walked up and said, "I'm Inspector Marulu Val Vol Yelvori. You can just call me Maru."
Suzuki looked excited, shouting, "A foreign Sorcerer?! Are you for real? That's awesome! Finally, something new and exciting!"
Maru looked confused, asking, "Are... foreign sorcerers abnormal?"
Yuka explained, saying, "Cursed Energy is a sort of emotional energy unique to Japanese people, so Jujutsu Sorcerers are inevitably only born in Japan. Of course, there are some exceptions, like you."
Maru then said, "Ah, I see. So the abductions are targeting the Japanese because they're after the Cursed Energy."
Usami confirmed, saying, "That's right. Japanese sell for a high price in the human trafficking world."
Tsurugi then said, "Hang on a second. You mean this guy doesn't even know that much?"
Maru looked annoyed, letting out a Hmph as Suzuki put an arm around him, saying, "Come on, Tsurugi. He's a foreign sorcerer. It'll be fun!"
Tsurugi deadpanned, saying, "You'd jump off a cliff if you thought it would be exciting."
"Why is there an exciting cliff nearby?"
Suzuki asked this as the siblings looked at him, thinking, 'He's the same idiot as always.'
Usami then said, "Maru's come on a visit representing the state party to see what Japanese Jujutsu Sorcerers are all about."
Tsurugi then asked, "What country are you from?"
Suzuki nodded in curiosity, saying, "The only other sorcerer from another country recorded was a guy called Miguel from Africa. But your skin tone's too light, so maybe from somewhere in Europe? But that name doesn't sound very European."
Yuka then said, "Oh, right. You'd mentioned there'd be routine inspections after the security treaty was signed, Usami."
Maru looked to them seriously, saying, "I'm going to see for myself what you're made of."
His face softened as he said, "Just to be clear... don't rely on me, no matter what happens. I've received orders from the higher-ups not to interfere."
Yuka rushed off, saying, "Then let's leave him behind."
Tsurugi had run at the same time as him, saying, "He's already in the way."
Suzuki deadpanned at Maru and said, "You're boring, man", before also leaving.
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Suzuki walked through the streets thinking, 'Yuka and Tsurugi are about the same as always. That new guy Maru seems kinda a boring.'
Suzuki sighed as he thought of the good old days.
[And elderly Yuta watched as a younger Suzuki swung his wooden sword, and a younger Tsurugi blocked it with his staff, pushing the sword away and striking with the other end as Suzuki jumped back.
Tsurugi looked to him and said, "You're as strong as Grandma Maki said."
Suzuki smiled and said, "My granny said you're strong too."
Suzuki rushed in, winging his wooden sword as Tsurugi countered the attack using the momentum against him, sweeping his legs and forcing him to the ground and bonking him on the head with the butt of the staff.
"Ow!"
Suzuki yelped this as he rubbed his forehead, saying, "Jeez. You already won. You didn't need to hit me."
Tsurugi smiled and said, "You're too sloppy. I say it was fair."
Suzuki got up and said, "Yeah, yeah. I know."
Suzuki smiled and said, "Let's go again!"
Trurugi got into a stance and said, "Bring it on!"
Tsurugi swung his staff as Suzuki blocked it, making Tsurugi think, 'That same absurd physical strength.'
Yuta watched with the Six-Eyes, thinking, 'Suzuki-kun's control over Cursed Energy is very refined. There's no doubt that all his prior training paid off. He's very efficient for his age.'
Suzuki and Tsurugi swung their wooden blades as they made contact, and both shattered into splinters of wood.
Suzuki cursed, "Damn it!"
Yuta walked over and said, "Now now. That's enough. You two have been training for a whole hour. Time for a break."
Suzuki pouted, saying, "The wooden swords are always too fragile. They always break before things get exciting."
Yuta patted his head, saying, "There, there. Once you're older, you can have more serious training."
A younger Yuka rushed out shouting, "Hey! Wait. I'm done with my homework. Let me join in!"
Suzuki deadpanned, saying, "Hey, um... I don't want to hurt a girl."
Yuka glared, shouting, "Don't just assume I'll lose, you jerk!"
Suzuki shrugged, saying, "That's just the truth of how it'll go."
Yuka glared, shouting, "Then come here and prove it. I'll beat you upright now!"
Suzuki held out his hand to Yuka's face as she thrashed her hands out at him.
He sighed and said, "Alright. Alright. I'll just go easy on-Ow!!!"
Suzuki yelped in pain as Yuka bit his hand and he tried to pry his hand out of her mouth, shouting, "Help me, Tsurugi! Your sister has turned into a rabid animal!"
Tsurugi deadpanned saying, "But she's always been a rabid animal."
Yuka glared at him, saying, "You're next!"
Suzuki pried his hand out of her mouth as she smirked and he glared, saying, "You little...!'
Yuta simply chuckled to himself, thinking, 'They're adorable. This is what Gojo-sensei wanted. For us to protect their youth.'
A lady called out to him, saying, "It's time to go home, Suzuki."
Tsurugi then said, "I'll win next time, Suzuki."
Suzuki smiled as he left, saying, "Hearing that makes me really excited."
The lady grabbed Suzuki's hand as they started walking away, and he gave Yuka the stink eye. She, in turn, stuck her tongue out at him]
Suzuki sighed at the memory, thinking, 'Those days were really nice. Just the three of us messing around. Things were so exciting back then. The world still felt so new and vast. Why did I become unsatisfied with that? I don't really know why, but... all I can do is keep moving forward to something new.'
Suzuki looked at his watch as he flicked through it, thinking, 'The road has a physical gaze manipulation and a Curse cast on it.'
Suzuki noted down all the subtle, directional impulses he felt in himself, thinking, 'All these directional changes. It's so specific. Like a passcode. Probably a barrier technique. They probably lure the children down that path. '
Suzuki smiled, thinking, 'Not bad for some random Curse User. Maybe he'll end up being interesting. I'm getting kinda excited now.'
He saw the barrier and thought, 'It's preventing the entry of things with too much Cursed Energy. probably to make sure that Sorcerers can't breach the barrier. Ah. So that's how they're kidnapping just the kids. Then...'
Suzuki took a stance and chanted, "White Domain: Silent Room."
While White Domain was created by Yagami Takuya during the Culling Games, he died at the hands of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, so the Barrier Technique wasn't well-known. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, during his battle with Yagami Takuya, was able to break down the core mechanics of the Barrier Technique and so was able to use it himself. He entrusted the teaching of these barrier techniques to Kanamori Shiro. That man founded the White Domain Style. A set of barrier techniques that, while difficult to learn and master, were far more accessible than the New Shadow Style. With one caveat. All those who seek to learn it must undergo a binding vow to protect the innocent from Curses. That same binding vow that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had made with Satoru Gojo at the beginning of his journey.
Suzuki's Cursed Energy expelled from him, forming the barrier on the ground at his feet, softening his steps and so quieting his presence.
Suzuki walked through the barrier as his own barrier and Cursed Energy lagged behind him. Once he cleared the barrier, he pulled his Cursed Energy back into himself, slowly registering the maximum output allowed to pass through the barrier and pulling that amount through the barrier continuously until all of it was able to get through.
When he got through, he sighed, thinking, 'Well, for an improvised tactic that worked pretty well. White Domain Style really is adaptable to any situation.'
He covered his face from the sun and grinned widely, thinking, 'Now, let's see if there's anything interesting on the other side.'
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The Curse User sat in a chair as Tsurugi was tied up, sitting on the ground. The Curse User smiled and said, "Aliens have come here."
Tsurugi didn't take him seriously, saying, "Oh, you're one of those tinfoil-hat people. Thought you were smarter than that."
The Curse User leaned back, saying, "Unfortunately, I'm telling the truth. The Inspector General's declared this extraterrestrial invasion as a Special Grade incident on par with the attack by Ryomen Sukuna 68 years ago."
Tsurugi looked shocked, shouting, "Ryomen Sukuna?! That's impossible! He's the monster who created Ground Zero at Inhuman Makyo!!"
The Curse User smiled, saying, "I'm glad you know your modern history. Ever since the Kyoto paranormal security treaty was enacted, all diplomacy with aliens has been left entirely to Japan. But cultural barriers between planets are unavoidable and will lead to huge distortions. I believe the Aliens will start a war and invade us. This diplomatic mission and the war will expose Japan's true colours."
Tsurugi looked to him and asked, "What do you mean?"
He replied, saying, "I know you're familiar with the Culling Game that occurred 68 years ago, which prompted the signing of the treaty. Satoru Gojo and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka put a stop to it, but do you know of anyone as extraordinary as them nowadays in Japan? When the world finds out how weak Sorcerers have become, this shady new energy business will be over. The value of Japanese citizens will plummet. So with no way to make money, I gotta call it quits."
Just then, the door was kicked off its hinges and sent flying as Suzuki walked in.
Tsurugi looked to see Suzuki asking, "You made it here?"
"It was a pain, but yeah."
The Curse User looked to him, shouting, "How the hell did you get here?"
Suzuki smiled and said, "That Barrier. Not too shabby for a Curse User. Let's see if you're strong too!"
Suzuki rushed forward, making the Curse User think, 'He's fast!!!'
Suzuki's eyes widened, thinking, 'He's weak', as he stopped using Cursed Energy and slammed his leg into the man, sending him flying as the Curse User impacted on the wall and cracks formed.
Tsurugi deadpanned, saying, "I still don't get how you're so strong. You barely used any Cursed Energy."
Suzuki smiled and said, "Well, I didn't want to kill him by accident."
Suzuki looked to the Curse User and thought, 'And here I thought something interesting would happen today.'
He pouted, thinking, 'Well... I guess not today.'
Suzuki untied Tsurugi and offered his hand as Tsurugi took it, and Suzuki helped him up onto his feet.
Yuka and Maru then rushed in, and Maru thought, 'It's already over?'
Yuka then shouted, "Tsurugi!! Let's fight!!"
"Huh?"
Tsurugi looked to her, confused as Maru asked, "Right now?!"
Suzuki sighed and said, "There's never a boring day with these two around."
They went into an exchange as Tsurugi began blocking her attacks, and Maru asked Suzuki, "Shouldn't we stop them?"
Maru turned to see Suzuki eating from a bag of chips as Suzuki said, "Nah. Let them fight it out."
Tsurugi knocked down Yuka as Suzuki thought, 'Tsurugi's still got the edge, huh? But... It's not entirely because of that. I mean, with those restrictions they put on Yuka, she can't go all out.'
Maru then checked the kids, saying, "They're breathing! The kids are fine!"
Tsurugi then said, "Don't touch 'em. We gotta call Usami."
He then turned to Yuka, saying, "Yuka. You've gotten stronger, huh? I'll work harder too. So I can give ya back the ring soon."
Yuka looked to him, asking, "What do you mean by..."
The Curse User said in a strained voice, "Idiots. You're all idiots. And idiots should just die."
Everyone looked shocked as black lines formed beneath them, spreading from the Curse User and towards the kids. Suzuki acted first, rushing toward him, thinking, 'He's going to use the barrier technique to transfer the kids! I have to stop him! Wait. I'm not going to make it in time! Damn it! Come on, legs! Move faster!'
Then Yuka and Tsurugi reacted as the Curse User said, "I've already secured a buyer."
That's when Maru's third eye opened, and the Curse User fell unconscious.
Everyone looked to him, and Yuka asked, "Maru... what was that?"
Tsurugi looked to him, saying, "Maru. Wait a minute."
Tsurugi looked at him and asked, "Are you an alien?"
Suzuki grinned as he wrapped an arm around Maru's shoulder, saying, "Maybe you won't be as boring as I thought."
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Chapter?
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