Chapter 57: Special Grade Cursed Object
It didn't take long for Megumi Fushiguro to get the hang of things. He quickly adapted to the work, exorcising curses with growing efficiency.
Like a tireless, nuclear-powered mule, he kept earning money to support the household.
Toji couldn't help but feel he had made the right choice returning to raise his kids. The lump sum he'd once sold to the Zen'in clan couldn't compare to this steady, long-term stream.
He had, without doubt, a good son.
---
Tokyo Jujutsu High.
After completing a mission, Megumi ran into his homeroom teacher, Gojo Satoru—who happened to be in the middle of a discussion with his uncle, Shinsuke Zen'in.
"I'll be away on a business trip," Gojo said, that smug grin never leaving his face. "I'm leaving things at Jujutsu High to you for the time being. Don't let anything go wrong."
Shinsuke shot him a sidelong glance. "A business trip? Sounds more like a vacation on the school's dime. But why tell me? I couldn't care less where you run off to."
"Aw, don't say that. We're colleagues, aren't we? Gotta look out for each other." Gojo chuckled, clearly amused by something only he found funny.
But when his jokes didn't get a rise out of Shinsuke, his smile faded into something more serious. "Fine, truth is… I just have this feeling something's coming. Can't explain it, but my gut's telling me the calm won't last."
Gojo had always trusted his instincts, and right now, the eerie stillness of the jujutsu world bothered him. Ever since the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, things had been… too quiet.
With someone like him around, balance should never last long.
Shinsuke smirked. "So, even the strongest trusts his gut. Careful now, wouldn't want to see you chopped up into… what, 2.5 Gojos?"
Gojo blinked. "Two-point-what now? I'm being serious here."
Before the banter could continue, Megumi approached. He had been about to slip away unnoticed but thought better of it. "Uncle. Gojo-sensei. What are you talking about?"
"Oh, Megumi," Gojo waved casually. "Just talking over some business with your uncle. Heading off to another exorcism?"
"It's the mission you assigned me yesterday," Megumi replied evenly.
"Ohhh, right. The retrieval of that special grade cursed object, yeah? Important one. If you run into trouble, remember to ask your uncle for help."
Gojo then turned to Shinsuke, his grin returning. "Speaking of, I'm leaving soon. That mission's in your hands now. Special grade cursed object—your favorite. You won't refuse, will you?"
Shinsuke rolled his eyes. If it were a special grade curse, he'd be interested. But a cursed object? Boring. You couldn't fight it, couldn't kill it.
If it weren't for the fact that this particular object was one of Sukuna's fingers, he wouldn't have spared it a glance.
"…I'll be going then. Take your time."
Megumi gave a polite nod before excusing himself. He knew when adults were talking, it was best for a kid not to linger. Time to retrieve the object.
Watching his student's back retreat, Gojo stroked his chin and muttered, "Hard to believe that kid's Toji's son. Polite, well-mannered, talented… doesn't add up."
"Probably takes after his mother," Shinsuke replied dryly. He agreed—Megumi was nothing like Toji.
Then again, it was possible Megumi only behaved like this in front of them. Who knew how he was with outsiders.
"Anyway, enough chatter. I've got a trip to catch. I'll bring back souvenirs. And remember my warning—stay alert."
With a lazy slap on Shinsuke's shoulder, Gojo turned and strode off.
Originally, he'd planned to leave in a few days. But knowing there was another teacher around with nothing better to do, he decided he might as well depart immediately. At the very least, he intended to enjoy a full week abroad.
Shinsuke Zen'in brushed the spot where Gojo had clapped him, face full of distaste.
"Still so damn rude… souvenirs from Africa? As if I'd want that junk."
---
Meanwhile, Megumi Fushiguro arrived at a small schoolyard, where a sealed crate had been left upright on the grass. He frowned.
"They left a special grade cursed object lying around in a place like this? Too careless."
He opened the crate—then froze.
"…Huh?"
It was empty.
He shoved his head inside, searching frantically.
"Nothing?"
Pulling back out, Megumi scanned the area. He searched the ground, the nearby bushes, the surrounding path. Still no trace of the sealed object.
"No way…"
His expression hardened. Could someone have already taken it?
If a special grade cursed object fell into the hands of an ordinary person, it would spell disaster.
Without hesitation, he dialed his uncle.
"Didn't find it, huh? Keep looking," Shinsuke said flatly on the other end. "Ask around if anyone's seen it. That thing is dangerous—if a civilian has it, that's trouble."
Click.
The line went dead.
Megumi stared at his phone. "…He hung up?"
So, he was supposed to track it down alone?
Why did his uncle feel just as unreliable as Gojo-sensei?
Still, he didn't dare defy Shinsuke. All he could do was grit his teeth and keep searching for the cursed object.
---
By the next day, after combing the city nonstop, Megumi finally narrowed down the trail. His target was a well-known athlete at West Middle—nicknamed the Tiger of West Junior High.
He found him at the hospital.
"You must be Yuji Itadori," Megumi said, introducing himself as he cornered the boy. "I'm Fushiguro, from Jujutsu High. There's something we need to talk about."
"Oi, oi, I'm busy grieving here," Yuji grumbled, clearly annoyed.
Megumi dragged him into a shadowy corner. His tone turned sharp.
"There's no time. The cursed object in your possession is extremely dangerous. Hand it over, now."
"…Cursed object?"
Yuji blinked in confusion. But when Megumi showed him a photo on his phone, realization dawned.
"Oh, that thing? Yeah, I found it. But it's not with me. My senpai have it—they seemed to really like the creepy finger. Is it really that dangerous?"
To him, it was just a weird, shriveled finger wrapped in cloth. Hardly terrifying.
Megumi's brow furrowed. He explained tersely:
"That object was originally used to repel curses. But its seal has degraded. Now, instead of repelling them, it attracts them. Mishandled, it could unleash a disaster."
Yuji scratched his head, then casually tossed him the empty box.
"Well, the finger's with my senpai. If you want it, you'll have to ask them. Doesn't bother me. Oh, and I think they're planning to unwrap the bandages tonight."
"…What?!"
Megumi's face drained of color. He stared at the empty box in horror.
Yuji tilted his head, still oblivious. "That bad? I mean, if it's not too serious, I'd rather get back to handling my grandpa's funeral…"
Megumi immediately pulled out his phone, trying to reach his uncle while glaring at Yuji.
"'Bad' doesn't begin to cover it. If they unwrap that finger… they'll die."