Once they were out the door and walking down the hallway, Gojo Satoru spoke up only after confirming that Miwa couldn't hear them.
"What's the situation? Besides the gender swap?"
Gojo Satoru's attitude remained flippant.
He didn't think the current situation was serious at all.
Although the old farts at the top were clamoring to kill Miwa, as long as he was alive, it was impossible for them to move against the girl openly.
Gojo Satoru once told the girl that he had some power in the Jujutsu world.
He wasn't lying to her.
He had more than just 'some' power.
Gojo Satoru was not pedantic; as the current strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer on this planet, if he wanted to, he could violate many matters of principle without being held accountable.
The only reason he hadn't killed that group of people at the top was that he hadn't yet found replacements for their positions.
Once he found them, an armed coup would only take him one day—no, half a day.
In half a day, he could overturn the modern Jujutsu world.
He was not stingy about killing, and he had indeed killed quite a few people.
The people at the top naturally knew Gojo Satoru's thoughts clearly, yet Gojo Satoru was still alive and well today.
Was it because the higher-ups didn't want to kill him?
No, it was because they couldn't!
It was precisely because they couldn't do it that Gojo Satoru was so dismissive of the higher-ups.
This was the confidence of the modern era's Strongest.
Ieiri Shoko knew Gojo Satoru's thoughts clearly.
They were once inseparable companions.
She naturally knew Gojo Satoru's attitude toward the higher-ups.
She even knew that the reason Gojo Satoru was willing to stay at this school was that he wanted to foster Jujutsu Sorcerers who could replace those people at the top.
Gojo Satoru had told her more than once that he wanted to overturn the current rotten state of the Jujutsu world.
To that end, he wanted to train students who could keep up with his footsteps.
So, is Miwa also one of the members you are training?
Ieiri Shoko pulled back these stray thoughts, took a cigarette pack out of her lab coat pocket, pulled one out, and expertly lit it, letting it dangle from her mouth.
"Where should I start?"
Ieiri Shoko thought for a moment and asked, "Satoru, do you know about the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings?"
Gojo Satoru said confidently, "Just tell me the conclusion, I'll understand."
Ieiri Shoko glanced at him and said flatly, "Miwa is a Half-Cursed Spirit."
Gojo Satoru's expression turned solemn, and he took a deep breath.
"Sorry, I was arrogant. Please explain from the beginning, Shoko."
He didn't understand!
I mean, is there a 'Half-Cursed Spirit' case in the academics of the Jujutsu world?
Aren't the categories only 'Jujutsu Sorcerer', 'Cursed Spirit', and 'Cursed Object'?
When did a Half-Cursed Spirit appear?
Could this be a term specifically coined for Miwa-chan?
Ieiri Shoko said flatly, "It's normal that you don't understand."
"'Half-Cursed Spirit' is originally a term I coined."
"It appeared specifically to explain the problem with Miwa's body."
It really was a coined term!
"Back to the original question," Ieiri Shoko said. "Satoru, how much do you know about the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings?"
Gojo Satoru organized his thoughts and said slowly:
"That originates from a scandal of the Kamo Clan."
"Around the Meiji era, a woman appeared who could give birth to Cursed Spirit children."
"The man known as the most evil Jujutsu Sorcerer in history, Kamo Noritoshi, performed inhumane experiments on this woman and mixed his own blood into the experiments."
"This woman was pregnant nine times and had nine abortions, producing nine stillbirths."
"Ultimately, these nine stillbirths turned into Cursed Objects. These are the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings we are familiar with."
Ieiri Shoko nodded slightly.
"That is the widely known version."
"But because of my profession, I have had the privilege of observing the Death Paintings..."
"Death Paintings numbers 1 through 3 did not die. Instead, they were sealed as living Cursed Wombs. Did you know about this?"
Gojo Satoru was truly shocked this time.
"I didn't know that. Are you saying that Cursed Wombs 1 through 3 can actually continue to grow? In other words, become normal infants?"
"I don't know."
"To be honest, I'm just making a deduction based on my professional knowledge."
"I can only say that numbers 1 through 3 can continue to grow, but I can't guarantee whether they could grow into a normal life if they continued."
"No one would actively break the Seal on a Cursed Object. Even if they did, they are already Cursed Objects. No one knows if they can still grow into a normal life."
Ieiri Shoko exhaled a puff of smoke.
Gojo Satoru nodded thoughtfully.
"I think I understand what you mean."
"Is that the case with Miwa-chan now?"
"The difference is that the Cursed Womb was forced to become a Cursed Object before it could grow, while she... is a finished product."
"So, that's why she's a Half-Cursed Spirit."
Gojo Satoru fully understood the meaning.
"The term 'Half-Cursed Spirit' is indeed easy to understand and incredibly precise."
Ieiri Shoko praised, "Even though you're a terrible and selfish person, your mind certainly works fast."
"Hey—!" Gojo Satoru shouted in dissatisfaction, but Ieiri Shoko acted as if she hadn't heard.
She paused and said slowly:
"Although she is biologically female beyond a doubt, her Cursed Energy form is more similar to a Cursed Spirit compared to us Jujutsu Sorcerers."
"When you first brought her to me, you said the reason she possesses such massive Cursed Energy might be due to a 'Binding Vow'—that she exchanged her entire physical transformation for a huge amount of Cursed Energy."
"But now I must overturn your conclusion—"
She took the cigarette from her mouth and stared at the tip with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
"The reason she obtained massive Cursed Energy is not because of a Binding Vow, but because she has already become a 'Clone' of a certain Cursed Spirit. That is why she obtained such massive Cursed Energy."
Gojo Satoru's flippant expression vanished, and the Six Eyes beneath his blindfold suddenly contracted.
"She... is a Clone of a certain Cursed Spirit?"
"It might be even more terrifying."
Ieiri Shoko's eyes returned to their lazy state as she put the cigarette back.
"A Cursed Spirit placed a Cursed Shell on her, making her body more adapted to the Cursed Energy characteristics of a Cursed Spirit."
She thought about how to explain it in simple terms.
"Yes, let's use a way you can understand—she was modified into a Vessel for that Cursed Spirit."
"If that Cursed Spirit wants to, it could take over Miwa's body at any moment with perfect adaptation."
Cursed Spirits do not undergo incarnation because there is no need.
Only Cursed Objects need incarnation, because Cursed Objects cannot act purely in the form of a Cursed Spirit; a Cursed Object must have a Vessel to act.
Although Ieiri Shoko's words might make one doubt her professionalism as a Jujutsu doctor, Gojo Satoru understood.
Ordinary Cursed Objects do not actually have specific Vessels.
No matter who is fed a Cursed Object, the Cursed Object will react to the host body and modify it.
Eventually, the Cursed Object will override the host's will, bring the Curse to the surface, and possess the body.
But there are also extremely special Cursed Objects that require specially prepared Vessels.
If it's not a special Vessel, it won't be able to withstand the Cursed Object's Curse.
This is the case with Miwa now—she was specifically modified to one day adapt to a certain Cursed Spirit's Curse.
Although he had already praised her once in his heart, Gojo Satoru couldn't help but secretly admire Ieiri Shoko's professionalism again.
With just a few sentences, she had allowed him, a semi-layman, to fully understand Miwa's current physical state.
This also explained why the Cursed Spirit let Miwa go.
It wasn't a matter of letting her go, but rather that it had 'already made its move.'
Ieiri Shoko slowly exhaled, smoke rings drifting with the wind:
"Satoru, I'll be blunt."
"If it weren't for you, I'd be standing with the old geezers this time."
"If we can't find that Cursed Spirit and kill it in time, it's better to deal with Miwa sooner rather than later."
"She's too dangerous—not because of herself, but because she could become an incarnation for that Cursed Spirit at any moment."
Gojo Satoru rejected the idea without a second thought: "I don't agree—"
Ieiri Shoko shrugged, not surprised at all.
"Then, you'd better pay more attention."
"You should understand what I mean."
Ieiri Shoko turned to look at Gojo Satoru with her brown eyes:
"An unprecedented Intelligent Cursed Spirit is collaborating with a Curse User."
"I don't even have to guess what they're planning; it must be to overturn the current Jujutsu world."
"And among them, you are their biggest obstacle."
"They will definitely plot against you."
"At this very moment, a girl who could be used for incarnation at any time suddenly appears before you, looking at you pitifully."
"You soften your heart and take her in."
"So, if—and I mean if," Ieiri Shoko said softly.
"There comes a day when the girl is used for incarnation, the Cursed Spirit gains her Physical Body and stands before you... Satoru, what do you plan to do?"
Kill her.
Gojo Satoru wanted to say those words the moment he opened his mouth.
But he couldn't say it.
Gojo Satoru had become soft-hearted.
He just smiled and said: "I won't let that happen."
Ieiri Shoko gave him a deep look and stopped trying to persuade him.
"Then you must be careful."
"Don't fall before the dawn, Satoru."
"Otherwise, the student you worked so hard to train will definitely be dealt with by the old geezers at the top."
"You should understand what I mean," she said.
Perhaps even Ieiri Shoko herself didn't realize that her voice trembled slightly as she said this.
Before this, she couldn't even imagine a situation where Gojo Satoru would be defeated.
In fact, eleven years ago, when she learned that Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru had failed a mission, she thought she was dreaming.
She knew better than anyone how strong Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru were; for a mission involving both of them to fail made her question if the world was even real.
Afterward, Gojo Satoru entered a period of rapid growth.
Even now, Gojo Satoru still has concepts he hasn't completed; he is still growing.
But now, an unprecedented situation has occurred, and its conspiracies are aimed directly at this invincible man.
Ieiri Shoko didn't want to think this way, but with the precedent from eleven years ago, she now had to consider it—
The possibility of Gojo Satoru failing and dying.
Gojo Satoru sensed Ieiri Shoko's unease.
He gave a disdainful smile, putting on his usual arrogant expression, and said as if it were obvious:
"Who do you think I am?"
Ieiri Shoko waved her hand. "Alright, the serious talk is over. Let's move on to a lighter topic. The matter you entrusted to me—checking if she has an Innate Technique—has a conclusion."
Gojo Satoru forced himself to forget the gloom from just now.
"Oh? And the conclusion?"
"Congratulations, she does," Ieiri Shoko said with a smile on her lips.
Gojo Satoru's smile widened, and he laughed triumphantly.
"Hahahaha, I knew it! That child could definitely do it!"
"Now, combined with her own massive Cursed Energy, as long as she follows the steps, becoming a Special Grade is a sure thing, isn't it?"
"Without a doubt, she will become a big figure in the Jujutsu world."
Ieiri Shoko finished her sentence: "Her Innate Technique is—Poison."
Gojo Satoru's expression froze for a moment.
He immediately realized that Miwa's identity was already controversial, and having such a 'special' Innate Technique would very likely affect her future.
After all, an Innate Technique like Poison is naturally looked down upon by the 'righteous' factions.
But he quickly regained his usual nonchalant expression:
"So what? She is my student."
Ieiri Shoko looked at him deeply and repeated what she had just said: "Satoru, don't die."
Gojo Satoru also naturally repeated the previous dialogue: "Who do you think I am?"
Suddenly, Gojo Satoru's phone rang.
He pulled it out, glanced at it, and clicked his tongue.
Ieiri Shoko asked casually: "What's wrong? Another mission?"
"Megumi is back with a mission," Gojo Satoru said indifferently.
"It seems there's a Curse on a Cursed Object at some school. He wants me and Megumi to go handle it."
Ieiri Shoko's forehead was covered in black lines.
"You're Megumi's teacher, right?"
"You should be the one giving him orders."
"How did it flip around to him telling you the mission?"
"Did you willfully block the orders from the higher-ups again, forcing Megumi to come and remind you?"
"Hehe."
"...Try to be more mindful," Ieiri Shoko sighed deeply.
"So, for you to be called out, it must be at least a Special Grade Cursed Object, right? What is it?"
Gojo Satoru put his phone in his pocket and said casually:
"It seems to be... one of Ryomen Sukuna's fingers."
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