Special Grade Sorcerer Suguru Geto was engaged.
As that piece of gossip sprinted through the campus, and while Satoru Gojo, Shoko Ieiri, and Riko Amanai were having the time of their lives teasing him, Naoya Zen'in decided to keep his distance. 'If he gets poked any more, Geto's gonna explode. Better to watch the spectacle from the safety of the sidelines,' he thought. Thus, Naoya returned to his peaceful daily routine, splitting his time between his own training and mentoring his disciple, Mai Zen'in.
"Mai, your cursed energy has grown quite a bit. Shall we try manifesting something other than the mace?"
"Wait, really? Is it okay?"
"It's a judgment call made with plenty of safety margin. Both your output and total cursed energy reserves are finally at a level where you can craft the next cursed tool."
"Then teach me!"
Mai Zen'in—also known as the Cursed Girl, Magical Mai-chan—was more than eager. Due to the Binding Vows placed upon her, the items she could manifest with her Construction Technique were entirely 'up to Naoya.' As a Construction user, she was essentially playing life on 'Hard Mode' because she 'didn't even know everything she was capable of creating,' but she didn't seem to have reached the stage of regretting that just yet.
Naoya pulled the 'Magical Mai-chan Encyclopedia' from his pocket and flipped through it. Mai didn't have much of an aversion to the book yet, and Naoya showed her an illustrated introduction page.
"This spear is the item we're using this time. The construction process is the same as the mace. Just change the name, and you can make it."
"What's it called?"
"This one's a javelin, so the name is a bit unusual. It's not a lance or a spear; it's a pilum. Its name is the 'Magical Mai-chan Pilum'."
"Heh! Pilum! That actually sounds kind of cute."
"Does it? I wouldn't know... Anyway, want to give it a try right now?"
"Yeah! Turning everyone's feelings into power! Magical Mai-chan, Make Up!"
With a spirited shout, Mai transformed into the Cursed Girl, Magical Mai-chan. Her Magical Mai-chan Dress, which was usually kept in subdued colors, instantly shifted into a bright pink outfit. The transformation into her combat form—which lasted for a two-hour limit—was complete.
Mai still felt a little embarrassed by the outfit. However, since Maki Zen'in wore the same clothes and Naoya never openly made fun of her, her resistance to the transformation remained at 'just a little.'
Like Naoya, Mai had placed many Binding Vows on herself, and her cursed energy output was growing rapidly alongside her physical development. Not only that, but under Shoko Ieiri's guidance, she had even mastered the Reverse Cursed Technique within the past year. Her promising talent was highly evaluated even within the meritocratic Zen'in clan. In fact, people had started adding, "A kite has surely hatched a hawk," to the list of insults used to mock Ogi Zen'in.
Raising her voice, she called out the name of her new weapon: "Transforming everyone's feelings into form! Magical Make! 'Magical Mai-chan Pilum'!"
She constructed the weapon, and a javelin of a size manageable for a child manifested in her hand.
"Not bad. Well done, that's perfect."
"It's cool! And cute! Do I use this like the mace?"
"A bit different. It's a javelin, so you throw it. But we don't have a target. Hold on a second."
After saying that, Naoya vanished instantly using his Projection Sorcery. When he reappeared moments later, he was carrying Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto on his shoulders.
One might wonder what he intended to do with two Special Grades, but Naoya's answer was as blunt as it gets.
"So, Satoru, be a pal and be the target."
"Stop messing around! Why the hell should I be a target—"
"Naoya asked me earlier if I could lend him a Cursed Spirit to act as a target. I simply recommended that there was a much better target available," Suguru explained.
"Hah?! Suguru, you're kidding me, right?!"
"What's the harm? You're invincible anyway. Mai, what do you think of a guy who interferes in other people's romances?"
"He's the worst."
"And that 'worst' guy, sadly, is Satoru."
"Mai-chan Pilum, fire!"
"Wait, you brat—?!"
In the middle of the comedy routine, Mai hurled the javelin. Because it was thrown by a young girl, the aim was a bit wild. It looked like a total miss that would fly off toward tomorrow, if not the day after. However, the Magical Mai-chan Pilum itself fired a jet of cursed energy to correct its trajectory, charging straight toward Satoru Gojo without missing a beat.
"Hey, this is a legit cursed tool! Ugh, how annoying! It keeps following me even when I dodge!"
"As you can see, the spear is designed to automatically chase the targeted prey. It's limited to one use per spear, but it seems handy, right?"
"I see, so that's why Satoru is being chased around. A homing javelin is actually quite useful. How long does the effect last?"
"Until it hits something or breaks. It won't stop otherwise."
"I see. So that's why it's stubbornly stalking him even though he's blocking it with Infinity. Makes sense."
"Don't just stand there giving a calm commentary! —DAMN IT!"
"Ah! My Pilum!"
"If it's a construction, you can just make another one! Honestly... I just went around to offer Suguru some congratulations, isn't this a bit much?"
"Spreading the word to every Jujutsu High affiliate you can think of isn't usually called 'congratulating,' Satoru."
"Oh, right! I haven't said it yet! Congratulations on your engagement!"
"Thank you, Mai."
"You're welcome! Now Satoru is the only Special Grade guy without a fiancé!"
"Hah? Megumi is a Special Grade guy too."
"Megumi has Tsumiki and Hana!"
"Hana aside, isn't Tsumiki his sister?"
"Marrying a sister you aren't related to by blood happens all the time in manga!"
"What kind of manga is this kid reading...?"
"Well, the school shop does have a large manga selection for the students... But it's true, when you think about it, Satoru is the only one without any feminine presence. I see, I see. So Satoru was just lonely."
"Geh. Suguru, are you thinking of something awful?"
"No, not particularly? I just thought that if you're that lonely, maybe Shoko and I should find a fiancé for you. Maybe around Shinjuku 2-chome?"
"You're totally thinking of something awful!"
The strongest duo began to bicker and shout. Suguru ran off to find Shoko, and Satoru chased after him, both leaving the training ground.
Watching them go, Naoya let out a cynical chuckle. "They're energetic, aren't they? Good for them." To continue Mai's training, he decided to borrow Megumi's Mahoraga as a new target. He vanished again in an instant and returned shortly after, bringing Megumi and the other children to the field.
"Megumi, lend me Mahoraga for a bit. I'll buy you dinner when training is over."
"I want steak!"
"Let's go to that American-style place in Okinawa then. You wanted to go to the steakhouse, right?"
"Yay! —With this treasure, I summon... Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga! Mahoraga! Just take or dodge Sister Mai's attacks! No counterattacking since it's training!"
Lured easily by the promise of food, Megumi turned Mahoraga into a literal punching bag. Mai began energetically hurlng her newly constructed pilums at the General.
Inspired by her training, the other children joined in for a 'Target Practice Tournament.' As a result, Mahoraga would end up gaining intense piercing resistance and projectile interception capabilities, but that was a discovery for another day.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]