"The High School is great in every way, except it's so inconvenient to buy things when it's located in the mountains."
"Indeed, the vending machine doesn't have enough variety."
"No, no, that's because you, Saber, eat too much. Be careful not to get fat."
"Don't worry, I convert what I eat into Cursed Energy and store it, so I won't get fat."
"You're kidding, right? How do you do that? Teach me."
Hearing that Artoria possessed such a coveted ability that countless girls dreamed of, Shoko Ieiri, who had been listless, instantly perked up.
"I can only do it because I'm a Heroic Spirit, Shoko. I can't teach you."
Artoria's words brought a look of disappointment to Shoko Ieiri's face.
"I know, it's a shame."
It was already 2 AM, and Shoko Ieiri, halfway through her overtime, wanted to relax, so she decided to go out and buy some snacks and coffee.
When Shoko Ieiri walked to the vending machine, she remembered that Artoria had already bought all the snacks.
Therefore, Shoko Ieiri had no choice but to go out and buy them, and conveniently, the Assistant Supervisor sent by the Jujutsu Headquarters, who she could order around, was still there.
Because Shoko Ieiri was a natural user of Reverse Cursed Technique and could also output Reverse Cursed Technique externally.
So Shoko Ieiri had always been a treasure of the Jujutsu World, protected meticulously.
Curse Users had also been offering high bounties for Shoko Ieiri's life on the black market.
Therefore, Shoko Ieiri was not allowed to go out without a bodyguard.
Shoko Ieiri had grown used to this, especially after several assassination attempts.
Fortunately, among her classmates, there was Artoria.
She was not only beautiful and powerful but also kind and considerate.
For Shoko Ieiri, this classmate was simply perfect.
You ask about the other three boys?
They're just trash.
How could anyone who gets along so well with Gojo Satoru be a good person?
Eichi: Wait, why am I included in that?
"Speaking of which, Shoko."
Artoria looked at Shoko Ieiri's faint dark circles.
"Why are you working so late today?"
"It's all because of the people from Jujutsu Headquarters. They sent a strange Cursed Spirit today and told me to research what was going on."
"I see."
Artoria nodded.
"Saber, aren't you curious what it is?"
"Hmm, a little curious."
Artoria had seen many Demonic Beasts in her lifetime, so she wasn't particularly interested in the strange Cursed Spirit Shoko Ieiri mentioned. However, since Shoko Ieiri brought it up, Artoria continued the conversation.
Artoria could tell Shoko Ieiri was tired.
So Artoria didn't mind chatting with Shoko Ieiri for a bit longer to help her relax.
"This time, they sent a Cursed Spirit that is suspected to have been cursed and transformed. Its appearance is quite similar to the Western Mothman."
"Mothman?"
It was the first time Artoria had heard that name.
"Young Miss Ieiri, we've arrived."
Zenin Shuji, who was driving in front, turned his head and interrupted their conversation.
Zenin Shuji was the one who had delivered the Cursed Spirit to Shoko Ieiri today.
Although the Cursed Spirit was on its last breath, it had been sealed and restricted by several cursed tools to prevent it from harming Shoko Ieiri before being brought here.
"Alright, let's talk as we walk."
"Okay."
Artoria got out of the car first, then walked to the other side and opened the car door.
Only then did Shoko Ieiri get out of the car.
This scene looked very much like a butler and a Young Miss.
Incidentally, Artoria's school uniform was not a skirt but a modified style resembling a women's suit, as requested by Eichi.
The two chatted as they walked into the convenience store.
The moment they entered, Artoria's ahoge instantly stood up.
"Watch out, Shoko!"
Artoria pushed Shoko behind her, then, clad in her skirt armor, she vigilantly looked inside the convenience store.
Just as the two entered, Artoria's intuition had sounded a warning.
Zenin Shuji, who was waiting in the car, felt the sudden burst of Cursed Energy from inside the convenience store. He turned to see Artoria, clad in her skirt armor and in combat stance, and was startled.
Zenin Shuji quickly got out of the car and rushed towards the convenience store, forming a hand sign at the same time.
"From darkness, darker than dark, impure and defiled, all be exorcised."
The curtain was lowered.
"Shoko, you go out first."
Zenin Shuji took over the task of protecting Shoko Ieiri.
Through her recent perception, Artoria could confirm that the danger was only present within this convenience store.
Artoria carefully observed everything inside the convenience store.
Toppled shelves, scattered goods, bloodstains in the center of the convenience store, and two people desperately covering their mouths and hiding.
Covering their mouths?
That meant sound would attract danger.
Artoria flicked her toe.
A metal box was kicked up and flew onto a shelf, making a clanging sound.
Clap, clap, clap.
Footsteps, as if covered in liquid, suddenly appeared in the convenience store, which had been so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Is it there?
Artoria instantly locked onto the enemy's position through the footsteps.
Nothing? An invisible enemy?
No presence was detected anywhere her gaze fell.
If not for the clear sound of footsteps coming from there, no one would have imagined there was a Cursed Spirit there.
Artoria's gaze swept over the shelves, then she swung her sword.
A sharp Sword Qi sliced across the beverage bottles on the shelf, and colorful liquids spilled, outlining the silhouette of a monster.
Having confirmed the enemy's situation, Artoria charged forward and slashed the monster with her sword.
"Hiss!"
The Cursed Spirit let out a cry of pain, and its invisible state was forcibly dispelled.
It was a large toad, about a head bigger than a person.
If it had some makeup to make its surface smoother, it might even be able to cosplay Tahm Kench.
The large toad shot its tongue towards Artoria.
Artoria dodged by tilting her head, then severed the tongue with a sword strike.
The large toad retreated in pain. Artoria didn't give the large toad a chance to escape and followed directly, cutting the large toad almost in half with a single sword strike.
"Is it over?"
It was Shoko Ieiri, who had poked her head out from the doorway, who spoke.
This sentence also attracted the attention of the two ordinary people hiding inside the store.
Although they didn't know what had happened, they had seen someone die just now, so they had been hiding, afraid to come out.
"It's over."
After speaking, Artoria was about to exorcise this Cursed Spirit.
"Wait."
Shoko Ieiri immediately entered the convenience store and knelt beside the large toad.
"This… it's very similar to the Cursed Spirit the Jujutsu Headquarters sent to me today."
Shoko Ieiri carefully observed the dying Cursed Spirit on the ground, while Artoria stood with her sword ready to strike at any moment.
"Send this thing to my operating room immediately."
"Yes, I'll arrange it right away."
Zenin Shuji nodded and then started making calls to summon people.
Shoko Ieiri stood up and picked up a shopping basket, then can after can of coffee was placed inside.
"These, and a carton of those cigarettes for me."
"Huh?"
The cashier, who had just crawled out from under the counter, feeling a sense of relief after surviving a catastrophe, was a bit slow to process.
The danger just ended, and she's already shopping?
However, the instinct of a worker still made him act.
"For cigarettes, you must be of legal age to purchase. May I ask…"
Although tall, Shoko Ieiri's appearance certainly didn't look like she was an adult.
"Hello, the cigarettes are for me."
Zenin Shuji, standing nearby, leaned over and explained.
Seeing Zenin Shuji, dressed like a social elite, the cashier said nothing more.