Chapter 110 – Tengen's Refusal
"Thank you, Zen'in-sensei."
Yaga said it with genuine gratitude.
If Shinsuke hadn't shown up when he did, things could have ended much worse — not just for him, but also for Amanai and Nanami.
In the worst case, he might've been forced to hand over the formula for creating autonomous Cursed Corpses in exchange for their lives.
"It was nothing."
Shinsuke waved dismissively, his tone indifferent.
He had long since grown used to how despicable the higher-ups could be.
"Old man, where have you been all this time?"
Amanai pouted unhappily at him.
Everyone else had been nervously discussing how to save the world, while this old man had seemingly been off doing who-knows-what, without a care in the world.
"Obviously, I was working on self-improvement. You think I'm that free?"
Shinsuke gave her a sidelong glance. "Anyway, fill me in on what's going on."
"I'll leave you guys to it. I'm going to check on Panda."
Yaga didn't stay; he turned to go find his beloved "son," Panda.
After he left, Amanai and Nanami took turns explaining the situation in detail, bringing Shinsuke up to speed.
At present, only Okkotsu Yuta had entered the Culling Game barrier.
As for Itadori and Fushiguro, they were searching for Kinji Hakari, who had appeared briefly in Shibuya before vanishing again.
When Shinsuke had heard it all, he nodded slightly. "Sounds… kind of interesting."
The Culling Game — a ritual that could reshape the world itself. But to him, it was just that: a game. Whether the world changed or not didn't matter to him.
Even if humanity evolved into something new, so what? Chaos was always temporary. Given enough time, new order would always emerge from the ruins.
Still, neither Tengen nor the current generation of sorcerers seemed ready to welcome such a rebirth.
"Contact Itadori and Fushiguro. Tell them to return to Jujutsu High before entering the barrier. I'm heading to the Tombs of the Star Corridor to have a little chat with the old lady."
With that, Shinsuke turned and walked into the depths of the school, tracing the lingering traces of energy toward the sealed inner sanctum.
He passed countless doors, each leading nowhere, until he stopped before one closed gate.
Knock, knock, knock.
"It's me, old lady. Open up."
Three seconds of silence. Not a sound.
Shinsuke frowned slightly. "Did I come to the wrong place?"
He raised his voice. "If you don't open up, I'm kicking the door in."
Click.
Before he could make good on the threat, the door creaked open, revealing the familiar interior of Tengen's residence.
"What's the rush, boy?"
Tengen's voice was calm, amused even. "Do you think opening a barrier happens instantly?"
Then she smiled faintly, her ageless eyes glimmering. "Tell me, are you here to protect me?"
"Darling! You're here!"
Before Shinsuke could respond, Tengen was abruptly pushed aside—
by none other than Tsukumo Yuki.
The scent of perfume filled the air as a beautiful woman fell into his arms.
"Let's see what's going on here," Shinsuke said casually, patting Tsukumo Yuki on the back before turning to Tengen. "Hey, old lady, are you really that scared of dying? It's just Kenjaku. Do you really need two top-grade sorcerers to guard you?"
He glanced toward Choso, who was standing nearby, lost in thought.
"Don't underestimate Kenjaku, boy," Tengen said gravely. "If he truly wanted to eliminate me, one Cursed Spirit Manipulation would be enough."
Her tone was unusually heavy. It wasn't paranoia — it was simple fact. Kenjaku was her natural nemesis.
"Well, that's true. You might be ancient, but your combat power is pathetic," Shinsuke quipped, lips curling into a half-smile.
Inwardly, he added, Not just weak — she's a professional liability. The kind who gets the whole team wiped out.
Every plan, every move — all seen through by Kenjaku as if written in broad daylight.
Tengen didn't get angry at the jab; he was right, after all. Beyond her longevity, she had little else to brag about.
"Boy," Tengen said after a pause, "would you stay here to protect me?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—old hag, you think I've got nothing better to do?" Tsukumo's voice immediately hardened, her brows twitching. "You really think my man has that much free time? I'm a Special Grade Sorcerer — do you seriously think I can't protect you myself?!"
The irritation in her voice was sharp enough to cut glass.
Tengen's lips twitched. The woman's jealousy was palpable.
"Cough, cough… don't get mad, Tsukumo Yuki," Tengen said quickly. "Kenjaku is cunning beyond measure, but this boy—he's every bit as devious in his own way. Having both of you here would make me feel safer."
It was a genuine statement.
Kenjaku was an ancient schemer, but Shinsuke was a reckless, rule-breaking rogue — and that made him the perfect counter to someone like Kenjaku.
"Sorry," Shinsuke said, shaking his head. "For certain… reasons, I can't lay a hand on him until his so-called ideal world actually comes to pass. Even if I stayed here, if he showed up, all I could do is watch."
Unless Kenjaku attacked him first, his vow-bound restriction prevented any interference.
"So it's because of a binding vow, then?" Tengen sighed. "What a shame."
If it was a binding vow, then forcing him to stay would be pointless.
"Still," Shinsuke continued, a faint glint flashing in his eyes, "I do have an idea. You could leave your true body with me. That way, even if you die, Kenjaku's plan can't succeed. Of course…" — his tone turned sly — "you'd have to willingly entrust it to me."
The binding vow only forbade him from interfering with Kenjaku directly. But if Tengen voluntarily gave him her true form, then no matter what Kenjaku did, he'd never get his hands on it.
"Impossible."
Tengen refused without a second thought. How did Shinsuke even know she had a true body hidden away? That secret should've been beyond even Kenjaku's reach.
"If you trust me to protect you, but not enough to hand it over… what's the point?" Shinsuke sighed, shaking his head.
"Exactly!" Tsukumo crossed her arms, glaring. "We're trying to save the world here, and you still don't trust us?"
"Don't make this harder for me," Tengen said quietly. "I truly can't agree to that."
There wasn't even a hint of hesitation in her voice. To hand over her true body was unthinkable.
Maybe it was the wisdom of someone who'd lived for over a thousand years — the unshakable belief that no one's fate should ever be left in another's hands.
"…Fine," Shinsuke said at last, shrugging. "Suit yourself."
He waved it off like it didn't matter.
Truthfully, he wasn't doing this for Tengen's sake anyway. His only real concern was Yuki's safety.
"Yuki," he said seriously, his voice steady and low, "listen to me carefully. Kenjaku will find this place. When he does, don't hold back. If you need to open your Domain, do it. If you realize you can't win — turn around and run. Don't try to fight it out. Staying alive is what matters most."
He wasn't joking. As a Special Grade Sorcerer, Tsukumo could always escape if she chose to — Kenjaku wouldn't be able to stop her.
And since Kenjaku's real target was Tengen, he wouldn't waste time chasing her anyway.
If not for Tengen's blunders, the entire previous disaster might have been avoided — and Choso wouldn't have been the only survivor.
"Don't worry," Tsukumo said softly, cupping his face in her hands. A gentle smile bloomed on her lips. "I'm not that stupid. Besides… we still have a baby to make, don't we?"
Her teasing voice carried warmth, but also a quiet determination.
Shinsuke chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately.
"Alright, that's enough. I'm heading out."
Without another word, he turned and walked away — ignoring Tengen's twitching expression beside them.
Once outside the Tombs of the Star Corridor, Shinsuke pulled out his phone, found a familiar number, and pressed dial.
Ring, ring...
"What is it?"
"Bring Tsumiki to Jujutsu High," Shinsuke said. "I've got something I need your help with."