Chapter 52: The Seal
"You're Yuji Itadori, aren't you?"
After Kamihara Hajime and Megumi Fushiguro dealt with the Cursed Spirits they encountered at the school, they inquired about Yuji Itadori. Learning that he visited his grandfather at a nearby hospital every day after school at five o'clock, the two rushed there. Kamihara Hajime had to charm his way into getting this information.
There was no other way; Fushiguro's cold face made him look like he was looking for trouble, so Itadori's classmates wouldn't easily tell him. They could have found out through the school, but it was too much hassle and required going through procedures. So, Kamihara Hajime stepped in, falsely claiming they were Itadori's middle school classmates, and that's how he got his whereabouts.
Upon arriving at the hospital, they saw Yuji Itadori handling some procedures at the front desk. If he remembered correctly, he should have been dealing with the aftermath of his recently deceased grandfather. Due to his grandfather's personality and his upbringing of Itadori, sadness was not directly expressed on Yuji Itadori's face.
Upon hearing an unfamiliar voice call him, Yuji Itadori had just signed the cremation consent form. He then turned his head and saw two teenagers, about his age, dressed in blue and black uniforms. It was the one with the spiky, sea urchin-like hair who had called him.
Itadori scratched his head, thinking he didn't seem to have any impression of these two. "I am. May I ask what you two need from me?"
Kamihara Hajime walked over and struck up a conversation with the nurse at the front desk. The young and pretty nurse was suddenly gently approached by a handsome young man with a perfect smile, and her attention was immediately drawn away.
Megumi Fushiguro quickly walked up to Yuji Itadori, his face anxious: "There isn't much time. I'm Fushiguro from Tokyo Jujutsu High. The Cursed Object you possess is very dangerous, please hand it over to me quickly."
Saying this, Megumi Fushiguro showed him a photo on his phone: "It's this. You should recognize it." On it was a small, elongated wooden box with talisman patterns carved on the lid. Inside the box was a strip-shaped object completely wrapped in talisman paper.
After a brief moment of confusion, Yuji Itadori recognized the photo: "Uh, I picked it up before. What's wrong? The seniors really liked this thing. And, you're being so sudden, at least explain it to me."
Megumi Fushiguro tilted his head to look at Kamihara Hajime, who was playing a palm-reading game with the nurse, completely oblivious to what was happening here. So, he motioned for Itadori to follow him. After the two walked to another deserted corridor, Fushiguro quickly began to explain to Yuji Itadori: "On average, there are over ten thousand abnormal deaths and disappearances in the country each year, most of which are victims of Curses born from humanity's negative emotions."
"A Curse?"
Although Yuji Itadori had joined the Occult Research Club, he had always been skeptical of such things. Even if they existed, it didn't seem like a big deal. Otherwise, when they went to those spooky locations, his two seniors would be scared to death, while he felt nothing at all.
Megumi Fushiguro's expression was serious: "Whether you believe it or not, places like schools and hospitals, where large amounts of negative emotions tend to accumulate and give birth to Curses, usually have Cursed Objects to ward off evil. And the thing you picked up is one of them."
"Ward off evil? Isn't that a good thing? Is it like a consecrated artifact blessed by a high monk?"
Seeing Yuji Itadori's puzzled expression, Megumi Fushiguro's face grew even more grim: "It's not what you think. This 'warding off evil' uses even more sinister Cursed Objects to suppress Curses, a bad habit of fighting poison with poison. As time passes, their seals will gradually weaken, and then they will attract Curses."
"And the one in your hand is classified as a Special Grade high-risk item. Do you understand now? Before anything happens, quickly hand it over to me."
Yuji Itadori then took out a palm-sized box from his person and tossed it to Megumi Fushiguro: "Then you can have it. I just picked it up anyway. It sounds pretty serious from what you're saying."
Megumi Fushiguro breathed a sigh of relief after receiving the box, then prepared to open it to confirm the integrity of the Cursed Object. If the seal was severely damaged, he would have to reinforce it quickly. However, what happened next made his eyes widen. The box was completely empty; the Special Grade Cursed Object—Ryomen Sukuna's finger—that had been inside had vanished without a trace.
So, what he and Genichi had been tracking all along was just the residual Cursed Energy attached to it?
"Where's what was inside?"
Megumi Fushiguro grabbed Itadori's collar and questioned him loudly. If something went wrong and a dangerous Cursed Spirit was created, even though the school was already evacuating, there were still many people around here. If something went wrong, it could easily become a serious incident.
Yuji Itadori was also bewildered and confused. You wanted the thing inside, why didn't you say so earlier? And the seniors were very interested in this thing when they saw it, so they kept it.
"Didn't I already say it's with the seniors!"
Upon hearing Itadori's explanation, Megumi Fushiguro became even more anxious. This meant they could have found and recovered the Cursed Object earlier at school, but now school was out, and they had missed the perfect opportunity. So, he quickly asked Itadori for the seniors' address.
"I'm not sure, I think it's in the Izumi district, but..."
Yuji Itadori seemed to recall something, remembering, "They said they were going to unseal the talisman at school tonight..."
Seeing Megumi Fushiguro's ominous expression, he also had a bad premonition: "Could the situation have gotten really bad?"
Megumi Fushiguro took a deep breath: "More than that, people will die."
Just as Megumi Fushiguro was about to call Kamihara Hajime to hurry to the school, the latter had already walked over from the corridor. After explaining the situation in two sentences, the two quickly left the hospital. As soon as they exited, they saw a white wolf emerge from the darkness. The two people and the dog quickly rushed towards the school, and Itadori, worried about his two seniors, also followed.
Kamihara Hajime knew the item was at the school, but he didn't interfere too much. It seemed those two seniors of Itadori's were not in mortal danger in the end. This incident would serve to teach them the gravity of such matters. This time, someone was there to resolve the issue. What if they encountered such a situation without professional help? At that point, immediate death might even be a release.
Moreover, Sukuna on Itadori's body was, after all, half a "cheat code," although not a very easy-to-use one. And later, when he encountered Mahito, it was thanks to Sukuna that he was unharmed and even severely injured Mahito. Oh right... he still needed to exterminate him if he got the chance.
Just as Kamihara Hajime was racking his brain on how to subtly allow Itadori to successfully swallow Ryomen Sukuna's finger, a distant, sudden Cursed Energy interrupted his thoughts. This feeling was definitely Special Grade! Was it coming for him?
Megumi Fushiguro and Yuji Itadori also sensed this aura. Although the latter wasn't as clear as the former, he was also shaken by this inexplicable pressure. Even the white wolf beside them was almost bristling. Kamihara Hajime looked into the deep night sky: "You two go to the school first to retrieve the Cursed Object. I'll go check it out and be there soon."
After separating from Megumi Fushiguro, Kamihara Hajime pursued the direction of the Cursed Energy, only to find only residual Curses along the way, not a single trace of a Cursed Spirit. Frowning, Kamihara Hajime followed the residual Curses for a while longer, still finding nothing. He then activated his Technique, searching everywhere to his limit, but still found no abnormalities, as if everything was just an illusion.
"Excluding these, there's only one possibility: this isn't the work of a natural Curse; someone or something else deliberately lured me here."
Kamihara Hajime recalled those special Cursed Spirits, including Mahito. Was it them? Realizing something was wrong, Kamihara Hajime immediately turned back and rushed towards the school. If there was a hidden hand interfering behind the scenes, then Megumi's situation would be unpredictable. Kamihara Hajime didn't believe that the events in his memory were 100% unchangeable.
Under the shroud of night, pale moonlight draped over two figures standing on the rooftop of a tall building. One of them was barely human, just a rough humanoid shape, with a bizarre, pot-shaped volcanic crater for a head, and a face with only a large mouth and an unusually large vertical eye.
The other person stood in the shadows, his figure a normal human shape. A corner of his clothes could be seen in the scattered moonlight. His hands were clasped in his sleeves, and he seemed to be observing something in the distant, sleeping night. The volcano-headed one impatiently spoke: "Is it really necessary to be this troublesome? That brat makes you so wary? Why don't I just go deal with him directly?"
The person standing in the shadows reached out and drew a bizarre figure that had appeared on the rooftop at some unknown time into his sleeve. He replied with a smile to the volcano-headed one: "Don't underestimate him. You've seen the intel, haven't you? He has independently exterminated Special Grade Cursed Spirits multiple times, and handles Grade 1 and 2 missions with overwhelming ease. He's already a Special Grade Sorcerer at such a young age. He also has a deep relationship with Gojo Satoru, and according to the latest intelligence, his Technique... it's simply inconceivable."
A few sparks erupted from the volcano-head's top: "That's just intel. There's no invincible Technique. Whether he's strong or not, we'll only know after we fight. And that 'strongest' Gojo Satoru you speak of, I don't believe he's truly invincible!"
"Didn't your companion experience this young man's methods before? You should at least have some understanding. As for Gojo Satoru, you'll know in time." Then, his body, which had been leaning against the wall, moved: "Let's go. We've been discovered. Staying here is useless, and the target is probably ready."
The volcano-head, following him, said disdainfully, "Mahito was only recently born; he hasn't truly mastered his power yet, so it doesn't mean anything..." The two walked into the open door on the rooftop and instantly vanished into the thick darkness.
Sugisawa Third High School, 9:23 PM, the seal on the Special Grade Cursed Object—Ryomen Sukuna's finger—was broken. The Cursed Object manifested, and Curses were drawn to it.
Sasaki, terrified, covered her mouth and hid in a corner, listening to the unconscious murmurs of the monsters roaming the corridors. Ever since she and Iguchi peeled off the talismans to reveal the withered finger inside, strange things had begun to happen.
She could see those strange monsters! The monster that burst from the ceiling scared her and Iguchi out of the room, and then the two of them separated. There was also a monster in the hallway that kept repeating a sentence and wandering around, scaring her so much that she could only suppress her fear and hide there, not daring to make a sound.
Then she saw a figure emerge from the shadows ahead. The familiar figure and the school uniform made her recognize the person: "Iguchi? Where did you go? I finally found you, you—"
All the words that followed were swallowed by her. Iguchi, who staggered out in front of her, revealed his full appearance. The upper half of his head was completely covered by a basketball-sized monster. That thing had many eyes and small, hand-like tentacles.
"Help me…"
Amidst Iguchi's almost inaudible cry for help, Sasaki felt her blood run cold, and her thoughts seemed to freeze. At this moment, to make matters worse, the monster that had been shouting "What time is it now?" in the hallway also appeared nearby, clearly having noticed the commotion.
When Megumi Fushiguro, led by his two Jade Hounds, found Sasaki and Iguchi, who were bound and unconscious by a Cursed Spirit, the surface of the massive, flesh-ball-like Cursed Spirit was growing many hand-like organs, dragging the two into its body. They were already sinking into its muddy body, and he was still some distance away.
"Damn it… Is it too late?"
Just as he was about to cross his hands and use his Technique to summon a Shikigami, the glass of the window at the end of the corridor suddenly shattered, and a figure leaped in. The force of the foot from above was astonishing, actually kicking the Cursed Spirit to the ground. Then, that person scooped up Sasaki and Iguchi, who had fallen to the ground, and jumped back.
"Is that… Yuji Itadori? How did he get here? This is the fourth floor!"
The person who arrived was indeed Itadori, who had originally been left outside. He somehow climbed up to the fourth floor from outside, and then kicked the Cursed Spirit over. A white wolf also appeared on the stairs. Seeing Megumi Fushiguro look at it, it showed an innocent expression. It was just a dog, so how could he expect it to persuade Yuji Itadori to stop?
Megumi Fushiguro took this opportunity to stop summoning Shikigami and rushed like a gust of wind to the Cursed Spirit struggling to get up on the ground. Then, with a Cursed Energy-filled uppercut, he sent it flying, followed by a straight kick that slammed it against the corridor wall. The window glass shattered completely from the impact, and Megumi Fushiguro, who followed closely, then sent it into a near-death state.
This Cursed Spirit was not strong, probably only a Grade 2 or 3. Itadori, who had rescued the two seniors, looked at the dying Cursed Spirit, and then at the two large black and white dogs that were eating it?
"Is that the Curse? I thought it was a ghost like Sadako. By the way, those two happy-eating dogs are…"
Megumi Fushiguro looked at him: "You can see Curses and my Shikigami?"
Looking at Yuji Itadori's puzzled expression, Megumi Fushiguro explained: "Ordinary people cannot see Curses, except in some special circumstances, like when they are on the verge of death."
Yuji Itadori thought about it and indeed: "That's right, I've never seen any vengeful spirits or anything like that before."
Yuji Itadori picked up a withered finger that had fallen to the ground along with the two seniors he had rescued. He examined this ominous object: "Is this the Special Grade Cursed Object you mentioned?"
Megumi Fushiguro's eyes widened: "Quick, give it to me, it's very dangerous."
"Oh."
Just as Itadori was handing over the finger, Megumi Fushiguro's peripheral vision caught sight of the ceiling above his head rippling like a troubled water surface. With no time for extra movements, Megumi Fushiguro could only push Itadori, and then had the Jade Hounds carry Itadori, who was holding Sasaki, and the unconscious Iguchi to dodge backward.
"Run!"
The dust stirred up by the subsequently falling ceiling obscured Megumi Fushiguro. Yuji Itadori, who had gotten up from the ground, anxiously shouted: "Fushiguro!"
The quickly dispersing smoke soon revealed the scene. Megumi Fushiguro, who had saved Itadori, was now held in the hand of a Cursed Spirit that almost filled the corridor. This Cursed Spirit was like a large fleshy worm with six large hands as limbs. Its uneven black eyes on both sides looked over, making one's heart tremble.
Megumi Fushiguro, squeezed in its hand, struggled to free his hands under the immense pressure. Forming a hand sign, he was about to summon "Nue." The Cursed Spirit, seemingly sensing this, quickly fixed its gaze on Megumi Fushiguro, then grabbed his hand, pulling out an afterimage. Megumi Fushiguro, thrown out and crashing into the wall, causing a web-like crack, coughed up a large mouthful of blood.
The Jade Hounds, who were about to attack, also slowly "melted" into flowing shadows and disappeared in place due to Megumi Fushiguro's severe injury.
"Damn it…"
Subsequently, under the relentless attack of the Cursed Spirit, the corridor wall near the outside of the building was shattered. Megumi Fushiguro, flying out of the opening, landed on the roof of an adjacent lower building, lying on the ground, feeling excruciating pain as if his body had fallen apart. Then, the Cursed Spirit, leaping out of the gap, landed not far from Megumi Fushiguro, staring at him menacingly.
Just as it was about to attack and devour this human, a huge force on its head made the Cursed Spirit stumble, its head even hitting the ground. Megumi Fushiguro's eyelid twitched; he saw it clearly. It was the arriving Yuji Itadori who, with a sudden kick from above, unexpectedly tripped the Cursed Spirit.
But it wouldn't work. This Cursed Spirit was not as easy to deal with as the previous one. Itadori… would die.
Megumi Fushiguro, struggling to get up, then saw Itadori, who was attempting to fight the Cursed Spirit, easily knocked to the ground by the Cursed Spirit after a few dodges. Fortunately, his body was extraordinary, so he wasn't immediately crippled.
"Only Curses can deal with Curses. You have no Cursed Energy, so you can't cause effective damage to it."
Megumi Fushiguro, standing up despite his injuries, while struggling to activate the Cursed Energy in his body, said to Itadori on the ground: "Didn't I tell you to run? There are still two people who need to be rescued. It's meaningless for you to stay here without Cursed Energy."
Itadori, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, suddenly spoke: "Why are they trying to take this finger?"
Megumi Fushiguro replied without thinking: "Of course, to absorb it and gain more powerful Cursed Energy."
Itadori, seemingly understanding something, unhesitatingly picked up the finger he had been carrying and put it into his mouth. With a movement of his throat, he swallowed it: "If that's the case, then if I eat it, I'll also have this Cursed Energy, right?"
Megumi Fushiguro was hampered by his body's injuries and had no time to stop this idiot. That was not candy or a miracle cure; it was a Special Grade Cursed Object filled with filth and evil Curses, and it was highly poisonous!
But he had only spoken half a sentence when Itadori had already completed the swallowing motion. Fushiguro anxiously looked at Itadori, his mind involuntarily going to the worst-case scenario: "What if…"
Itadori, who had swallowed Sukuna's finger, stood. A strange atmosphere then enveloped the area. The Cursed Spirit opposite hesitated for some reason, and Itadori did not appear to die instantly. He stood there for a while until the Cursed Spirit opposite couldn't help but rush over.
Just as the Cursed Spirit's claws were about to touch the previously motionless Itadori, he suddenly transitioned from extreme stillness to extreme motion. His raised right hand cut an afterimage in the air, and the swirling wind instantly sent the Cursed Spirit flying.
"Yuji Itadori," as if swatting a fly, raised his right hand, whose nails had grown longer. Some lines had appeared on his closed-eyed face at some point. Then, Yuji Itadori, suddenly opening his eyes, was completely changed, his eyes filled with surging ecstasy and brutality.
He tore open his clothes, and similar bizarre patterns appeared on his muscular body. Sukuna spread his arms wantonly, looking extremely pleased: "As expected, one must rely on the physical body to feel the light!"
"It's too wonderful!"
He stood at the edge of the rooftop, looking at the city sleeping shallowly in the night: "Women… children… the taste of Cursed Spirits is too bland. Fresh flesh is the best!"
Megumi Fushiguro watched the scene before him, his heart sinking to rock bottom. Genichi hadn't returned yet, and now the worst-case scenario had occurred—the Special Grade Cursed Object had obtained a physical body, meaning that this legendary Curse had been resurrected!
"Should I use that move…?"
Megumi Fushiguro, having made up his mind, hadn't even acted when he saw Itadori, no, it should be Ryomen Sukuna, standing at the edge. He suddenly raised his hand as if to block something. However, just as he made the move, his body suddenly trembled, and his left shoulder instantly exploded into a bloody hole. Then, a light blue, almost transparent Cursed Energy trajectory slowly appeared in the air and dissipated simultaneously.
"Genichi!"
Kamihara Hajime appeared beside Megumi Fushiguro, placing a hand on his shoulder and using Reverse Cursed Technique on him. Megumi Fushiguro felt a warm current in his body, and his injuries improved significantly. He was about to say something but was interrupted by the former: "I know. Leave it to me. This is a bit complicated. Someone deliberately lured me away just now. We'll talk about it when we get back."
Sukuna, who had lowered his head to curiously examine the wound on his shoulder, then looked up at the black-haired young man who had appeared there at some point. "What was that attack just now? Was it a long-range attack completed with Cursed Energy… but it was abnormally fast! I only defended because I sensed killing intent; I couldn't see it at all!"
Sukuna, whose wound healed in the blink of an eye, looked at Kamihara Hajime as if he had found an interesting prey: "You're very good. I'm interested in tasting you!"
Watching Sukuna heal the injury he had inflicted with Extermination using Reverse Cursed Technique, Kamihara Hajime smiled lightly: "Coincidentally, I also want to see if the legendary Ryomen Sukuna lives up to his name. Do you, who are called a demon god, possess the power of a demon god?"
"Besides, you've also noticed your own abnormality, haven't you?"
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