July 1st, 2018. In west Tokyo city, at the Eishu juvenile detention center.
It's astonishing how reckless and unpunished one can feel when wielding power. Tyrants, monarchs, patriarchs... And, of course, structures like the Sorcerer Council. All these guys, drunk on power, believe they can use the common folk and get away with it. Which, essentially, is true, at least for a while. But what made them think they could manipulate me?!
"Ah, sometimes I'm overwhelmed with the desire to obliterate this cancerous tumor," I thought, watching the curtain fall over the Eisyu correctional school. Had I not known this incident was about to happen, those bastards from the Sorcerer Council might have truly sent me on some mission, causing me to miss this precious and incredibly important opportunity. To mess up Sukuna's plan — isn't that fun? Even if it's not, it will certainly help me in the future... Maybe not me directly, but it will help.
"Two Special Rank Curses and Sukuna himself, all within twenty-four hours... Is it my birthday or something?" I remembered the half-curse, whose exorcism was supposed to distract me as per the Sorcerer Council's plan.
I stood a little away from the scene, cordoned off by yellow caution tape. Meanwhile, within my Spiritual Vision, five Astral Projections came into view: Kiyotaka, Megumi, Yuji, Sukuna, and Nobara Kugisaki. The latter, by the way, is quite an odd girl, I must say. Being a Sorcerer, she's the most sensible among all the Sorcerer women I've encountered. A taste of dissonance on the tongue...
"Among all the 'newbies,' she impresses me the most. Specifically, her combat style involving trolling, even when she's in a disadvantageous position or on the brink of death," I smirked, watching the guys start the battle.
I had no intention of interfering in this incident from the start. Doing so would deprive the kids of a chance to grow. Accumulating a moment of battle on the edge of death – that's what truly strengthens a Sorcerer. Hmm, Nanami would be proud of me!
"I won't let Sukuna take the initiative, though," I thought, pushing off the building I was perched on and rocketing diagonally downwards. In no time, I was beside the curtain and tapped Kiyotaka on the shoulder.
"Don't you feel a bit sorry for the youngsters?" I said with feigned pity in my voice.
"Damn you, Sukehiro!" the "white-collar" jumped in fright. "How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me!"
I can't help it; people's reactions always amuse me when [Incitement] affects them, making it seem like I appeared out of nowhere.
"Don't grumble like that. If you were in my shoes, you'd do worse," I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Who do you think I am?" Kiyotaka asked sternly, adjusting his glasses.
"A bored Sorcerer who spends his days sifting through paperwork and cleaning up after other Sorcerers," I replied promptly.
"Just because that's true, it doesn't mean I have a hidden fetish for causing trouble for others," the man grumbled discontentedly.
I chose not to respond to his comment, fully aware that each of us harbors a little devil inside, ready to burst out at the right moment. The difference is whether you can afford to let it out.
"Wait, what are you doing here?" Kiyotaka finally caught on. "You have your own mission in Saitama."
"Do you need an umbrella?" I asked, ignoring his question.
"I was just about to go get one... Hey, don't change the subject!"
"I couldn't just abandon my juniors to fate," I smirked, patting the man's damp shoulder. "Especially when that fate is dictated by old bastards who can't even handle their own business."
"As vulgar as ever, Sukehiro," Kiyotaka remarked disapprovingly. "But I'm glad you're here to help them. This Special Rank Curse... I don't understand what the higher-ups are thinking, giving such a mission to freshmen. It's very irresponsible!"
"I think you know why they were given this mission," I chuckled in response.
"If it's just to eliminate an ordinary child..." Kiyotaka darkened.
"Then let me inside the barrier."
"Alright," Kiyotaka replied briefly, then formed a hand sign and opened a small gap in the barrier. "I'll take full responsibility."
"Don't bother," I shook my head. "They won't do anything to me. But you really could help me with something."
"I'm listening," Kiyotaka became much more serious.
"Help me fake Yuji's death," I said impassively.
"Excuse me, what?" the man was taken aback.
"I'll handle my part," I stated, not bothering to explain further. Kiyotaka was smart enough to understand why this needed to be done on his own. "Just don't mess it up."
"Wait, hold on! What do you mean 'don't mess it up'? I haven't agreed to anything yet!" Kiyotaka's discontent was as palpable as steam from a boiling kettle. "And how can you say you'll handle it without knowing anything about the Curse?"
"You don't know who I'll be fighting against either," I shrugged and waved goodbye.
Ignoring Kiyotaka's protests behind me, I strode towards the main entrance of the correctional school. The unpleasant creak of the doors marked the beginning of my hunt. "Is this what nostalgia feels like?" I mused, tilting my head curiously while surveying my surroundings.
I had found myself in similar situations a couple of times before, the last being the exorcism of a Curse in Kyoto, at that very children's shelter building. The landscape around had drastically changed due to the immense Cursed energy: it had grown larger, sprouted new structures, and become more complex. However, in Kyoto, I was directly in the belly of the Curse, while here, I was merely witnessing how large volumes of Cursed energy affected the environment.
"Enlightenment," I formed the "bird" seal, enhancing my Spiritual Vision to its limits. This allowed me to survey the entire territory of the altered school and spot all living beings. "So, Nobara and Megumi have reached the back exit, where Kiyotaka is already heading... And there you are."
Although his power was only one-twentieth of its peak, it didn't affect his Soul. Sukuna's Astral Projection was as bright as a beacon in the night.
Under normal circumstances, I would be absolutely confident in my victory over such a Sukuna, but now I needed to save Yuji without showing my Territory Expansion or even better, my Cursed Technique, significantly limiting my options. After all, I'm not even sure if I could survive his Territory Expansion without using mine...
"Fortunately, you're weaker than me physically," I smiled confidently, analyzing the soul of this scoundrel. "Well then... All outer!"