Koyanskaya of Light and Koyanskaya of Darkness.
Ibuki-douji.
The three of them huddled together in Koyanskaya's room, their heads bent in deep deliberation.
"By now, all three of us have seen and felt the signature of Cursed Energy. We know the sensation of how it's discharged, correct?"
"Indeed. We even have a sample right here."
Koyanskaya of Light, the Assassin, had barely finished speaking before her counterpart took over.
Koyanskaya of Darkness, the Foreigner, gestured toward the Inverted Spear of Heaven lying on the desk.
"By the way, Ibuki-douji. You mentioned you personally traded blows with that 'Anomaly,' didn't you? How did it feel?"
The Assassin tilted her head curiously.
The 'Anomaly' in question was Gojo Satoru.
"Mm. It felt as if everything became infinitely slow, to the point of standing still."
"As expected. He's going to be a difficult one to handle."
"Yes. The mechanism by which he manifests his Mystery is fundamentally different from ours. We need countermeasures. Neither of you have Magic Resistance, after all, do you?"
The ancient Divine Spirit pointed out the mechanical discrepancy with startling clarity.
It was a frustrating point, but an accurate one.
She was also correct about their lack of Magic Resistance.
In the hierarchy of Heroic Spirits, Magic Resistance was the passive skill that nullified magecraft below a certain rank. Neither version of Koyanskaya possessed it.
"So, you're saying we should devise a thaumaturgical method to neutralize Cursed Energy itself?"
"Precisely. Magical Energy is generally higher on the conceptual hierarchy than Cursed Energy. Given that Magic Resistance seems to work against their techniques, it should be possible, shouldn't it?"
Cursed Energy was a power born from negative human emotions.
Magical Energy was an energy derived from life force itself.
The vitality of living beings.
The breath of nature.
Broadly speaking, it manifested in those two ways, and while there were differences in scale and volume, there was almost no difference in quality.
Naturally, dark emotions were merely a subset of life force.
Calling Cursed Energy a 'lesser' version of Magical Energy was a bit nuanced, but practically speaking, it fit the bill.
"In any case, we should begin the analysis. We need to develop Magecraft that can scramble or outright negate Cursed Energy. Any objections?"
"None at all."
"I'm in as well."
The Foreigner asked, and the other two raised their hands.
Unanimous.
"Then, let us begin."
As the first representative summoned, the Foreigner signaled the start of the project.
***
"Please. Please, just save me this once."
A few days had passed since the Star Plasma Vessel incident.
Yaga Masamichi had called me.
His voice was trembling with such desperation that it was almost pitiful.
"What on earth is happening?"
"God damn it! Gojo, that problem child, won't stop pestering me to let him meet you! And Geto is right there with him!"
"Ah, well that's a bit..."
I let out a sigh as soon as I heard the news. He must have been through hell.
"I know you understand the situation, so just help me out this once. I'll make sure to warn them sternly not to pick a fight when you meet."
I weighed Yaga's plea. He was the one who had secretly provided us with information on Cursed Spirits, and he was generally a likable character. It was hard to turn him down.
'There's really no way out of this.'
I pondered for a moment before answering. Even if it was a hassle, it was better to accept.
"Fine. Tell them to meet me at a burger joint in Roppongi. Today at 3 PM."
"Thank you!"
Yaga hung up after expressing his overwhelming gratitude. Just how much had they been tormenting him?
"Tsk, tsk."
I clicked my tongue and stood up.
The three Servants had been shut in their room for days. I felt bad that they were working so hard, but I had to take at least one of them with me.
"Sorry. Could I see you for a moment?"
I knocked on the door, feeling a pang of guilt.
The door clicked open, and three heads poked out simultaneously.
Three sets of heavy, swaying breasts. Three deep, alluring cleavages.
A heavy mass of beauty and a sweet scent wafted toward me instantly. Was this heaven?
"Master. Is something the matter?"
The Assassin asked, her eyes sparkling. Being Servants, they didn't show even a hint of fatigue from their research.
"I have to head out, but could one of you accompany me?"
As soon as the words left my mouth, the three of them exchanged glances. Sparks flew between them.
"Oh my. Then I should certainly be the one to go."
"Hmm? Shouldn't it be me? From what I've heard, I'm the one who actually clashed with them, aren't I?"
"In times like this, an excellent secretary is the proper companion. Since Yaga Masamichi already knows about us, it shouldn't be a problem if I go."
Each of them boasted of their own merits with fierce intensity. Their arguments all made sense, and all were equally reassuring. Who should I choose?
I hesitated for a brief moment, but ultimately, there was only one answer.
"I'll go with the Foreigner."
"As expected of Master. A wise choice."
The Foreigner smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. On the other hand, the remaining two were visibly disappointed.
"Aww. I would have been fine, too."
"Master... do you not trust your big sister?"
"It's not that. Any of you would be reliable, so I just chose based on habit. Thank you all for stepping up."
As an apology, I kissed the backs of the two disappointed women's hands. It was the easiest gesture since I was shorter than them.
"Mmm... well, if you go that far, I suppose I have no choice. Have a safe trip."
"If anything happens, don't hesitate to call us. You know our Mental Link works even if they drop a Curtain, right?"
Their expressions brightened immediately. Crisis averted.
"Thanks. I'll be back."
I changed my clothes and headed out, with the Foreigner following close behind.
"It's been a while since it was just the two of us."
"True. Were you feeling lonely?"
"A little. But as our numbers grow, I feel more secure and the burden is lightened. Even this Cursed Energy research is a testament to that."
We chatted as we walked down the street. Countless eyes followed us. Since we were near a subway station, the attention was manageable. Otherwise, we would have been stopped or hassled multiple times by now.
"How is the research on Cursed Energy going?"
"It's faster than expected, thanks to Ibuki-douji. She seems quite familiar with it, perhaps because the artifacts she's familiar with are from Japan."
"Does that mean we can create Mystic Codes soon?"
"Yes. We're also working on Magecraft to neutralize Cursed Energy, but that's proving more difficult."
A Mystic Code was a general term for equipment imbued with magical concepts—think of it as an item from a game.
"Mystic Codes are possible, but spells are hard?"
"None of us are exactly specialist magi. Still, the possibility isn't zero."
"Don't push yourselves too hard. Gojo Satoru isn't exactly an enemy, so don't be excessively wary of him."
"Yes. I'll keep that in mind."
In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, there was only one truly threatening individual: Gojo Satoru. Sukuna? He might be the ultimate villain, but he was easier to handle than Gojo.
Sukuna's technique was centered on slashing. If it was just cutting, all you had to do was evade. Furthermore, he didn't possess an absolute defense like the Limitless. We could handle him the same way we handled the Servants or Phantasmal Beasts we'd fought before.
Why? Because he didn't require a specialized 'conceptual' countermeasure.
All that talk from his subordinates about how "Lord Sukuna hasn't even gotten serious yet," or how he hopped into Megumi's body because he couldn't take over Itadori's... By the time the Shibuya Incident rolled around, he was alright, but later on... it just started looking pathetic. It felt like the story was being dragged out unnecessarily.
'Thinking about it makes me sigh again.'
Still, the techniques that drove both fans and haters crazy were top-tier. I wouldn't have watched until the end if they weren't.
"Master, we've arrived."
Lost in thought, I reached my destination before I knew it. It felt as if I had teleported.
"Let's head inside and wait. We'll grab some ice cream while we're at it."
"Understood."
We took our seats in the burger joint. It was ten minutes before the meeting time, and there was no sign of the others yet.
"How dare they make Master wait. Utterly insolent."
Five minutes past the meeting time, the Foreigner finished her ice cream and frowned. She was already strict about punctuality as a secretary, but this went beyond that—it was driven by her affection for me.
"They'll be here soon. Should we just order some burgers?"
"I'll go. What would you like?"
"A chicken set for me. Get whatever you want, Koyanskaya."
"Hmm... sounds good. A simple burger won't make me gain weight anyway."
The Foreigner nodded and went to the counter. Usually, Servants didn't gain weight from eating food, since nutrients were processed as magical energy for them—unless the food was something special.
"They're here."
By the time she returned with two sets, two familiar faces entered the shop: Gojo and Geto.
"So, here you are?"
They walked straight up to us the moment they spotted us. It was a bit overwhelming.
"You're late for your appointment, and yet you carry yourselves with such arrogance? Do you have no concept of time? Or perhaps you simply never received a proper education in etiquette?"
The Foreigner didn't hold back as she sipped her cola. Her voice was sharp as a blade. It was chilling, even for me sitting right next to her.
The targets of her pressure were, of course, far more tense. They looked ready for a fight then and there.
"Calm down and sit. Unless you want to be arrested for sorcerers massacring civilians," I interjected.
If a fight broke out here, the store would be obliterated.
"Ah... our apologies. Being late was definitely our fault, so there's no excuse for that."
The more level-headed Geto bowed first. Gojo, however, remained stiff-necked.
"As long as you understand," the Foreigner replied, withdrawing her pressure. She wasn't forgiving them; she was holding back for my sake.
"Thanks."
I gave the Foreigner a light pat on the backside and a gentle brush of her hip as a sign of appreciation.
"Mmm... Oh, Master. If you give me such a reward, I might just behave badly on purpose next time, you know?" she whispered in my ear. Her cheeks were flushed, her smile bright yet devious.
Gojo and Geto sat across from us. The passing glances from other customers were stinging. Koyanskaya was beautiful, but Gojo's looks were exceptional as well. It was a lot of attention for one table.
"I heard you wanted to see us. What is your business?"
"Before that... where's the woman from last time? Why is there another different woman here? And another monster-class one at that?" Gojo frowned. Hadn't he heard the news?
'He's loyal, I see.'
Even with a loose Binding Vow, Yaga had kept the information hidden. I felt both grateful and sorry for him.
"Koyanskaya is my woman as well. Just leave it at that."
"Your woman? For a kid, your way of speaking is certainly... unique."
"I've heard that before. Anyway, why did you want to see me?"
When I brought the conversation back to the point, Gojo spoke up.
"Whatever the reason, the fact remains that you attacked me. I'm here to claim compensation for damages."
Huh? That was unexpected. Knowing Gojo's personality, I thought he would insist on a rematch.
"How surprising. I thought you came here for a fight."
"A fight? I was pretty pissed the day you guys left, but by the next day, I changed my mind. I can't win."
The strongest jujutsu sorcerer of the modern era declared his surrender. Quite nonchalantly, too.
"Ibuki couldn't even bypass your Limitless, could she?"
"Don't play coy. If she'd had more time, she might have broken through. Besides, you had the Inverted Spear of Heaven, didn't you? It's frustrating to admit, but if that woman had wielded it, it would've been over already."
Gojo adjusted his sunglasses and sighed, looking genuinely dejected. Admitting defeat must have been one of the hardest things for him to do.
"I think so too."
"Besides, the name 'Ibuki' reminded me of something. Ibuki-douji, right?"
"That's also correct."
"She's not a Cursed Spirit, so she isn't an Imaginary Vengeful Spirit. If she isn't one of those, it means she's the real deal, the original deity. Utterly ridiculous."
"You've hit the mark."
An Imaginary Vengeful Spirit was a Cursed Spirit born from the collective fear surrounding a original legend—a manufactured image, essentially. The Tamamo-no-Mae in the Jujutsu Kaisen world, or the slit-mouthed woman (Kuchisake-onna), were prime examples.
'Wait, both of those were used by Geto Suguru. Does he still use them now?'
I blinked as I looked at the man who used Imaginary Vengeful Spirits. Geto blinked back at me.
In any case, if he was here for compensation, I had no choice but to listen.
"What do you want?"
"I know I can't exactly demand whatever I want from you. I shouldn't cross the line. So, how about we reach a settlement? I am the victim here, after all."
That was fair. Intent aside, I was the perpetrator.
"Let's hear it."
Once I gave him the floor, Gojo grinned.
"How about you help me out once when I ask? Just once."