As the house shook violently, cracks spread across the floor. The sound of marble collapsing rang out one after another as a reeking liquid surged up from below, and a massive figure slowly rose into view.
Several spear-like bones pierced through the creature's head, with brain-like tissue hanging from or embedded into them.
Flesh and wiring were interwoven to form its body, while dark red fluid continuously seeped across its surface. It looked as if it had been forcibly awakened before its skin had fully formed.
The masked man lifted the upper half of his mask, revealing several ports embedded in his forehead.
He smashed a bottle beside him, pulled out the brain inside, and plugged it directly into the ports on his forehead. Whether from absolute confidence in his creation or a belief that victory was assured, he burst into an inhuman, frenzied laugh.
"A Jujutsu Sorcerer's power is limited! In my short life, I've learned this much. The more you research Cursed Corpses, the more you're shackled by so-called talent. If the range of control and the size of a puppet can't coexist, then why not just turn yourself into a Cursed Corpse and control it directly?"
Satoru Gojo raised an eyebrow and casually extended his hand. With [Blue], the massive puppet that hadn't even fully emerged was instantly crushed and dragged into a twisted lump of scrap metal.
"I've completed this great, epoch-making creation! Proof that Jujutsu Sorcerers can break past their physical limits! Ugh…"
The masked man's manic laughter froze the moment his giant puppet was compressed into a ball. He could never have imagined that the creation he'd devoted his entire life to would be so utterly fragile.
Satoru Gojo cupped a hand to his ear as if listening.
"Go on. I'm listening~"
"I… I mean, maybe I never really understood what a Jujutsu Sorcerer is."
Satoru Gojo waved his hand in front of his nose a few times.
"Ahem. There's dust everywhere, and the stuff you made stinks. I only stuck around this long because I didn't want to make too much noise. Suguru, you take it from here."
Suguru Geto nodded and summoned a worm-like Cursed Spirit, which swallowed the masked man whole. His face was blank, all traces of ambition gone.
"Don't digest him. Let the higher-ups in the Jujutsu world decide his sentence later."
The worm let out a series of gurgling sounds, as if answering him.
Satoru Gojo clapped his hands together, brushing off dust that wasn't there.
"We still need those people to keep things running for now. Let them act smug for a while longer. Once we have enough manpower, we'll just pull them all down."
The fight had ended so quickly, and the affected area was so small, that there was no need to lower a Curtain. Or maybe they had both simply forgotten.
When Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto left, the small earthen house remained wedged in the shadows of the surrounding high-rises. With its Barrier intact, it was still impossible for ordinary people to notice it.
As Suguru Geto walked down the street, a worm-like Cursed Spirit followed behind him. Passersby couldn't see it, only feeling an inexplicable chill in the air.
Satoru Gojo suddenly received a call from Masamichi Yaga.
"Hello? He's been saved already? That was fast."
"What? His intelligence will drop? That's fine. I don't think it makes much difference whether his intelligence goes up or down."
After hanging up, Satoru Gojo looked at Suguru Geto.
"It's all settled. The victim's been rescued too. Looks like the mission was a complete success. Though, since I stepped in personally, success was a given."
Suguru Geto nodded.
"That's good."
"Ah~ Another one done. Let's find a place to grab some desserts, then head off to the next mission."
They stopped beside a car. Suguru Geto had the worm-like Cursed Spirit spit the masked man out and hand him over to the personnel waiting to take custody. Then he turned to Satoru Gojo.
"Satoru, you're so strong now. You probably don't need my help anymore, do you?"
"Huh? Why bring that up all of a sudden? It's not really about whether I need it or not, is it?
Look at Shoko. Is she strong? But as long as she's around, we can do our jobs without worrying, and we don't have to stress over the victims either. Akira always says everyone has their own role.
Besides, I really admire you."
"Admire?"
"That Cursed Spirit orb must taste awful, right? I definitely couldn't stand eating something that isn't sweet."
"Haha."
"Oh, right. Next time you eat one, want to try dipping it in something? Like white sugar? Or red bean paste?"
"Spare me. Forget dipping sauces. The base flavor is already terrible. Adding toppings would just turn it into some bizarre new taste."
"Then try eating it with cold buckwheat noodles. Let me know next time before you eat one. I'll get everything ready."
"Alright, alright. I'll try it next time."
Suguru Geto suddenly felt that maybe the taste of Cursed Spirits wasn't completely unbearable. Eating something hard to swallow alone was one thing, but eating it amid teasing and understanding between friends felt different.
"Actually, Akira once told me he dreamed that the two of us disappeared from the world. He was left alone, running around exterminating Cursed Spirits with no time to rest. He sounded pretty down, but I think he just wanted an excuse to slack off.
Still, following that line of thought… if you or Akira suddenly left, and there was no one left to stand beside me, I think I'd be incredibly lonely."
"That kind of sentimental talk doesn't sound like you at all, Satoru."
"Then let's go eat buttered potatoes! They're amazing with cheesy milk ice cream!"
"Are you sure eating like that won't give you a stomachache?"