- Silas -
"Maki."
"Hmm?"
"Do you mind if I check you and see if I can do something? Even if I can't, I have other friends, I am sure there are others who can. Also, so what if you can't use Cursed Techniques? You could use other kinds of magic. There are onmyoji as well as other such humans in this world as well. Who knows, maybe normal people can learn such things too. I will try finding out about them."
She laughed. "Aren't you a sweet guy? Alright, here." She offered me her hand and I took it, using Chef to analyse her body.
This analysis took far longer than the Reverse Curse Technique analysis.
Others were attracted by our discussion and stayed on the side, watching without interrupting our work.
After almost an hour or so, I left her hand and looked at her.
"Did you find something?" She asked, with a hint of expectation.
"Maybe. I….let me explain." I said and she nodded.
Shoko-san had somehow arranged for a notebook and a pen and was actually taking notes.
"You have two kinds of….how should I describe it….chains on you." I did my best to describe what I could figure out. She looked confused and I continued further
"One of those is preventing your body from having any Cursed Energy, like literally but instead it is boosting your physical capabilities."
A look of realisation came to her face and she nodded. "That's probably the Heavenly Restriction. It's an anomaly of sorts." She explained briefly.
"That's almost the same." I said.
"Almost?"
"Yes, almost. You see, the second chain….that's not exactly a Heavenly Restriction or whatever you call it. That one is….a connection or sorts."
"Connection?"
"Hmm and it is due to that connection….that your Heavenly Restriction….is actually weakened."
"What!"
"You cannot use your full power due to that other chain." I explained and she was left stunned in place.
At this point Yuji went still for a while after which he raised his hand.
"Yes Yuji."
"Umm….he….Sukuna says he knows what's wrong with her."
Suddenly all of them were in an alert position.
"What does it want?" Gojo-san asked casually.
"He says he wants to see what we do about it. This is the first time he has heard about anyone being able to see what he is seeing in Maki-senpai."
"Oh! Curiosity. I see. Why not? Amuse yourself." Gojo-san shrugged noncommittally.
"You can't be serious, Gojo." Nanami-sensei complained loudly.
"Why? What's the problem?" He asked.
"We don't know…."
"Hahahaha don't worry Nanami-kun. I am….still the strongest." He smirked, making Nanami-sensei quiet.
"We would need assurance that his words are true." Shoko-san interrupted.
Yuji became quiet for a moment and then nodded. "He is willing to make a binding vow."
"Do it."
Over the next moment, Yuji made a binding vow with Sukuna who then appeared as an extra mouth on the side of his face.
"The girl is being dragged down by her twin."
"Huh?"
"Twins are born with connected fates. If one is lazy, the other becomes stagnant. She might not have Cursed Energy….but her twin does….which is also considered to be her own energy and thus the Heavenly Restriction is not being enforced completely….due to a technicality. In fact, her Heavenly Restriction is probably the reason why she has such low cursed energy. It is due to their connection.Hahahaha it's rarer than those clowns in a circus. Aren't you all so strong? Let's see what you can do about that?" He laughed after which Yuji frowned and pushed it back.
"That's….."
Maki looked extremely sad about the whole situation.
I didn't know about the situation between her and her twin but I had my doubts that they were not good.
"So it's all that girl's fault?" Nobara asked.
Shoko-san looked serious too. "That means, for her to completely gain her power….Mai Zenin….has to die."
"Let it go. Thanks for your help today, Silas. But it looks like I just have to work harder to become stronger." She shook her head.
….
"Well, if nothing, it's good research material." Shoko-san also said.
"That bastard Sukuna probably knew this and that's why he told us this, to drive a wedge between us." Yuji cursed.
They were all down when I decided to give it a try.
"Umm…." I started and they all looked at me again. "Maybe….and I make no promises….just maybe….I can do something about it."
"Yeah, no thanks. Mai not be the best person out there but we don't kill normal people." Nobara said.
"Hmm? Who said anything about killing her?"
"Then?"
"I think….I might be able to….cut off that connection between Maki and her twin."
"That's impossible. That's not just something one can cut. It's fate." Maki denied.
"And? I haven't tried so how would I know? Let's see it like this, if I am successful, we win. If not, nothing bad happens and I know my limit." I shrugged.
After some deliberation, we decided to go through with it.
I drew my knife once more. This time however, I was using my Chef Skill to imbue the Knife.
It shone with a bright silver light and changed into the cleaver form as I began to think about what I wanted to do.
Cut the chain, cut the chain, just cut the damn chain and make her independent.
I concentrated and waved the knife.
In the very next second, I felt a large part of my power drain off of me and I fell to my knees.
Maki on the other hand collapsed too.
The teachers both ran to check up on us.
"I am alright, just exhausted. Check on her." I asked.
Shoko-san did just that and verified that she was fine.
In fact, her body seemed to be getting stronger according to Shoko-san.
"Hahahahahaha. You really are awesome, Silas-kun. Did you just cut through fate? Oh, I can't wait to see the look on the faces of those stuck up Zenin." Gojo-san laughed.
Maki woke up after some time and looked at herself in amazement.
She repeatedly thanked me and was about to go out and test her abilities but was stopped by Shoko-san who wanted to monitor her over the entire day to see if there were any other new changes.
After the party, Nanami-sensei came to Sakura and I. "You have already learned most of the things I could teach you. In fact, with your talents, I would be dragging you back if I were to keep being your teacher. To learn further, you should ask Gojo. He is currently one of the only four Special Grade Sorcerers in the world and would be the best guy to teach you about Domain Expansion."
"Domain Expansion?" I asked.
"Domain Expansion is an advanced barrier technique and is considered the pinnacle of Jujutsu sorcery. It constructs the user's innate domain inside a barrier infused with their innate cursed technique. Within a domain expansion, the user's cursed techniques are improved and any that are activated are guaranteed to hit. There are very few people who can use this technique and whoever can do so has their name firmly on the top of the Jujutsu Society. This is the last step you two need to take and Gojo would be the best person to teach you this."
We discussed a few more things and even talked to Gojo-san who was very excited about the whole thing.
He said that he was planning to go on a hunt for some Cursed Spirits and it might take him some time so he decided to teach us before leaving.
At the party, I got to know them better.
Yuji was….well he was like Naruto.
Todo was weird.
Megumi seemed the sanest one among them all. Actually, Yuta was cool too.
He was still scared of Sakura however but that eased over the course of the party.
Panda and the Salmon guy were also cool, although pranksters.
They all got along well with Naruto.
Finally, when it was time to leave, I gave Shoko-san half the jug of healing potion and despite my repeated denials, she sent over millions of yen to my account.
"You don't need to mind this, Silas-kun. Shoko would totally swindle the other Sorcerers for far more with this." Gojo-san laughed.
"Oh."
"Goodbye, Silas, Sakura-chan, Naruto. See you guys again soon." Yuji waved.
"Yes! Let's meet again, brother." Todo shook hands with Naruto with tears in his eyes.
….yeah, this guy was weird.
Megumi nodded towards us and Yuta shook hands with each one of us before leaving.
"I am looking forward to the next meeting. Thank you for showing me the difference between our strengths, Sakura-san. I will work hard to catch up."
Maki also waited beside him and bowed to me. "I….thank you."
I smiled back. "I was just doing what I could. After all, friends help each other, don't they?"
She looked taken aback at my reply and then nodded.
They all went outside and I was about to close the door again when Yuji returned quickly. "Silas, I think I left my purse back there."
He said and I looked back at the seat and his purse was indeed there.
I picked it up and went outside and was about to give it to him when his expression changed completely into that of horror. He moved quickly and put his hand on my face. I felt him forcing something into my mouth and forcing me to eat it.
As soon as that thing went down my throat, I felt a surge in power.
It was nothing like the time Rimuru had named me but still quite large. Even with the Sage, it took me a second or so to realise what had happened.
Yuji….no, Sukuna….had tried to force his soul in my body….and was eaten.
It was unbelievable but then I remember that I was a demon and demons did eat souls.
But I didn't have enough time to ponder over it as barely a second later, he was smashed in the side of the Restaurant and Sakura had grabbed him with her shadows, her Cursed Energy raging and threatening to swallow everything.
Tohru was also half transformed, her hands changed into claws, blazing as she was about to punch Yuji's head into a barbequed meat pulp.
"Wait!" I shouted, stopping her quickly.
Everyone came running back quickly.
"What happened here?" Nanami-sensei asked.
I went to Yuji who looked like he had lost his consciousness. His hand had one finger missing.
Sakura was still on my side, not moving one bit. She still had Yuji on a chokehold against the wall.
"Let him go, Sakura and step back Tohru. He….wasn't in control. It was probably Sukuna."
"What! What did Sukuna do?" Nanami-sensei asked.
"He….well, he force fed me his finger." I accepted.
"Are you alright? Can you control yourself?" He asked, becoming completely pale at the information.
"Eh….about that….well you see…."
"What is it, Silas? This is not the time to talk in circles." He scolded.
"Well you see, Sukuna….he's gone."
"Hah?"
"Umm….I….think….I ate his soul?"
"What?" He asked, not understanding what he was hearing.
"Umm, like you know what I am right?" I asked and he nodded. "I ate or rather….he fed me his finger….his soul and it got digested. He's gone."
Gojo-san removed his blindfold and looked closely at me. "Well, I'll be damned….hahahaha. The King of Curses….dies by becoming poop. That's the best end I can imagine for him. I wonder how everyone will react when they find out. Do you think we can use this as an advertisement? We turn Cursed Spirits to poop."
….
"You are disgusting!" I deadpanned, suddenly feeling sick in the stomach due to his words.
He didn't say anything and checked on Yuji, confirming that the guy was now truly free of the cursed spirit.
The teachers didn't want to say much so Nanami-sensei took the students back to the school while Shoko-san and Gojo-san stayed back and checked up on Yuji and healed him.
After he woke up, he repeatedly apologised to me but I didn't blame him.
The guy had no control over himself at that moment so what could I even say?
"By the way….you….technically exorcised Sukuna on your own so….maybe you should get certified as a Jujutsu Sorcerer too. Actually, all of you can easily become certified Jujutsu Sorcerers. I will talk to Sensei about this." Shoko-san said before leaving.
It was sudden but Nanami-sensei had already taught us about the grades of Jujutsu Sorcerers so we decided to give it a try.