In the Heian era of jujutsu, the sorcerer Sadatsuna Ashiya racked his brains to create the Simple Domain, hoping that ordinary sorcerers would gain a way to resist a Domain.
To prevent the technique from falling into the hands of curse users, he established a binding vow that it would be taught only to members of his school.
After a thousand years of development, that vow had gradually twisted into something increasingly absurd. It began to demand that disciples could not refuse certain missions from the school and imposed other similar conditions. The most tragic part was that each disciple also had to offer a portion of their lifespan to the current head.
The evolution of the world was always like this. The public-spirited Simple Domain, originally created for the safety of orthodox sorcerers, had become the exclusive property of a private faction.
The school that formed and survived through this process was what was now known as the New Shadow Style. Most sorcerers who understood Simple Domain today were its disciples, aside from a very small number of geniuses who could learn it after seeing it only once.
"New Shadow Style? I don't understand what you two are talking about."
Even now, the old woman's confused expression looked perfectly natural, as if she were truly an ordinary person.
After all, the most brutal special grade sorcerer stood right in front of her and had named the current head of the New Shadow Style the moment he arrived. No one in her position would admit it.
Besides, the identity of the head was normally unknown. She was betting they had only a small clue and were testing her.
"The New Shadow Style has many restrictions. The changes didn't start with you, and overall it has saved quite a few ordinary sorcerers. Hand over the position of head and I won't kill you."
Mukuro casually picked up a small toy from the nearby table and delivered his final warning.
"You can't do this. The previous head personally passed the position to me. How can you take it away just like that!"
Panic finally appeared on the old woman's face. For years she had recruited disciples and absorbed their lifespans, all to build a new force that could one day rival the Big Three Families, surpass them, and control the entire world.
And now, with a single sentence, Mukuro wanted to erase everything she had created. She could not accept it.
"A friendly reminder. He isn't negotiating with you. How much do you think your life is worth?"
Mei Mei spoke from the side, taking out the smallest denomination bill from her wallet and holding it up between two fingers in front of the old woman.
The meaning was obvious. In Mukuro's eyes, her life was worth no more than that bill—so insignificant that he would not even care.
In fact, if he had not spoken first, Mei Mei might already have attacked. After all, her only younger brother had also learned the Simple Domain in the New Shadow Style.
"Damn it…"
Instead of answering, the old woman's gaze shifted as both hands quietly moved beneath the counter, feeling for something.
"New Shadow Style—"
In the next instant, a katana appeared in her hand.
The essence of the New Shadow Style's drawing technique was to counter anything that entered a certain range centered on the user. But if the opponent was already within that range, then all she needed was to pour every bit of cursed energy into a single slash.
She completed the draw in that moment. The speed was completely at odds with her wrinkled appearance.
Decades upon decades of obsession and ambition had left her with only one path. The only way she would ever give up the position of head was through death.
At this distance, with a drawing technique she had immersed herself in for so many years, even a special grade sorcerer might not be able to avoid a sneak attack. This strike would work.
As the blade was about to leave the sheath, she seemed to see victory.
But imagination was always full and beautiful, and always stood in sharp contrast to cruel reality.
Her vision froze on a headless body still locked in the stance of drawing a sword. Her own head had already been embedded into the wall behind by an overwhelming force.
"An old thing that doesn't know when to stop."
Living so long by draining lifespans had probably ruined her brain. With barely grade 1 strength, she had actually tried to compete in speed with a Heavenly Restriction user at this distance. So Mukuro simply removed her head and let her see the result.
"Too violent. This is a marketplace. Some elementary school kid might run in and get scared."
Mei Mei put away the small bill and reminded him.
"I already informed them. Principal Gakuganji will send someone to handle it."
Mukuro pulled several tissues from a nearby shelf, wiped the nonexistent blood from his hands, and turned to leave.
Simple Domain had always been a coveted technique in the jujutsu world, especially among the higher-ups.
If it could be controlled by their own people, unnecessary expenses would drop and the danger of missions would decrease. If most people had been able to find this old woman, someone would have done this long ago.
Unfortunately for her, she had remained within Tengen's barrier to recruit disciples, which made locating her extremely easy for Mukuro.
Special grade sorcerers like him and Satoru could go directly to the Tombs of the Star Corridor and speak with Tengen. A single question was enough to learn her location.
* * *
"So what now? The current head is dead. What are you going to do with the New Shadow Style?"
Back in the car, Mei Mei twirled her fingers, clearly wanting some kind of benefit. Or rather, knowing that her younger brother had once been calculated into that old woman's scheme left her dissatisfied. Her anger had not yet been vented.
"Let Kusakabe and your brother recruit students and teach Simple Domain. Allow them to charge only the minimum tuition."
The inheritance of the New Shadow Style normally passed when the head, before dying, named a favored disciple as the next head and transferred the authority through the existing binding vow.
But this situation was different. The old woman had died instantly and had no time to appoint a successor.
In such a case, the binding vow would automatically transfer the position to the strongest person within the New Shadow Style. The new head could then remove the vows that were not set by the original creator or add new ones.
And without a doubt, the one who had gone the farthest on this path was only one person.
Mukuro's colleague. The one in charge of Kyoto Jujutsu High's second years. A top grade 1 sorcerer.
Atsuya Kusakabe.
"Only the minimum…"
Mei Mei sighed, obviously not very satisfied, but Mukuro's expression left no room for negotiation.
Simple Domain was meant to be a public good. It should follow the creator's original intention and exist only to protect sorcerers.
**
**
**
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:
P@treon/SilverShark769
Vote with Power Stones for Bonus Chapters!
Your support means a lot, thank you!