"Help us capture Kenjaku. Our own intelligence network has its limits, and the search has hit a definitive wall."
"You... what could you possibly know of Kenjaku?"
Tengen blinked slowly, her four eyes reflecting a flicker of genuine bewilderment.
Her expression remained largely impassive, a mask of stone-like neutrality, but for an entity like her, this was as close to a display of utter shock as one could get.
"That is a trade secret," I replied, my voice steady. "The critical point is that Kenjaku is moving with the express intent of bringing this nation to its knees. We want to stop him."
"Bringing Japan to its knees?"
"Yes. This is an undeniable truth."
"I was well aware that Kenjaku survived," Tengen said, stroking her chin as she pondered. "However, I judged that it was not yet time to intervene..."
As far as I knew, Kenjaku was once Tengen's disciple. Given their history as master and pupil, she couldn't possibly be ignorant of his tendencies. Yet, she only recognized the threat once the disaster had already struck. It was the classic folly of one who refuses to intervene in the secular world.
"He plans to synchronize you with the non-sorcerer population of all Japan," I stated bluntly. "If that happens, the Japan you know will effectively cease to exist."
"I am intensely curious how you came by that knowledge as well... but I suppose you won't answer?"
"No. The important thing is that our interests currently align. Why not focus on that?"
"And what interest would that be?"
"Peace in this nation. Or, if we're being grander, the peace of the world."
If Kenjaku succeeded, would it stop at Japan? Absolutely not. Whatever monstrosity was born from his plan would eventually sweep across the entire globe.
"...Hmm."
Tengen lowered her head, sinking into deep contemplation. The bait was clearly working.
She watched us, weighing her options, thinking and rethinking. Even with my experience with Heroic Spirits, it was impossible to read the mind of an entity like her.
"Isn't the reason you remain in this place, sustaining your existence, ultimately for the sake of humanity?" Assassin spoke up first, her tone sharp and direct. "Kenjaku is a cancer that intends to destroy them all."
"I cannot deny that. His philosophy is... dangerous."
"Exactly. Furthermore, he is an extreme hedonist—a 'dopamine addict,' in modern terms. And besides, hasn't he already tried to sabotage your merger several times before?"
"You even know of that?"
Of course I did. In the past, Kenjaku had attempted to block the merger multiple times to further his goals. Each time, a Six Eyes user would appear alongside the Star Plasma Vessel to thwart him. Even when he managed to kill them, they would inevitably reappear on the day of the merger. It was because of those failures that he eventually pivoted to the idea of sealing Gojo Satoru rather than killing the Six Eyes user. He couldn't kill Gojo anyway; only Sukuna stood a chance at that.
"Yes. It seems you've been content to wait and see because you know that, but shouldn't you tear this out by the root now? For the sake of a safer, more stable peace?"
Tengen was currently in a state where a merger was complete; she was safe for the next 500 years. But what about the 500 years after that? Would things go according to plan then? Koyanskaya of Light, playing her role as Assassin, pricked at those doubts.
She stimulated Tengen's anxieties while maintaining an expression of earnest desperation, carefully guiding her target. If Tengen were a human man, he would have succumbed instantly to her charm.
'She's definitely mulling it over.'
Silence filled the Tombs of the Star Corridor as Tengen remained mute. The weight of her contemplation was palpable. Finally, she slowly lifted her head. A conclusion had been reached.
"I shall accept your request."
Perfect. With Tengen's permission, the hunt for Kenjaku was as good as over. It seemed there was no formal non-aggression pact or truce between the two after all.
'Then why did she stay idle all this time?'
The more I thought about it, the more bizarre it seemed. She didn't feel like a mastermind, but there didn't seem to be a special reason for her passivity either. In the later parts of the original story, her actions were so riddled with forced Binding Vows that it was hard to keep track. Perhaps she simply trusted Gojo's power too much, only to be caught off guard when he was neutralized. After all, Gojo's combat power was the absolute peak—even Kenjaku couldn't handle him head-on.
"Thank you. However, could you keep this a secret from the Jujutsu High higher-ups? We want to handle this discreetly and quietly."
Assassin bowed politely. It was a flawless, professional display of etiquette.
"There is no need for excessive gratitude. While I acknowledge the danger Kenjaku poses, I simply judged that the burden of refusing your request would be far greater in the long run."
"Ah. You aren't wrong. We are in quite a hurry; there's no telling what rudeness we might have committed otherwise."
Assassin flashed a wicked smile. It was breathtakingly attractive yet sent a primal chill down the spine. Even Tengen wasn't immune; she swallowed hard, though her facial expression didn't change.
"Phew... very well. That man moves frequently, like an overworked salaryman on business trips. We will need a way to maintain contact. How do you propose we do that?"
I nodded silently. Hearing Tengen talk about salarymen was surreal.
"That's exactly what we want. Do you have a cell phone?"
"I shall have a sorcerer from the school procure a burner phone for me. Please wait until then."
"My, do you even know the term 'burner phone'?" Assassin asked, her eyes widening in mock surprise.
I was genuinely surprised myself.
"I may look like this, but I enjoy the fruits of civilization within the Star Corridor. I eat udon while watching the year-end broadcasts, and I have even been known to ask for adult DVDs."
"You're more modern than I expected."
"It has been a minor hobby of mine for quite some time—enjoying the flow of human progress."
Tengen clasped her hands and lightly tapped the floor with her foot. The movement was as delicate as a cat patting a toy with its paw.
Crackle.
The moment her foot touched the ground, the barrier flickered like static on a television screen. It was brief—shorter than a blink—but it definitely happened.
"Lord Tengen. Did you call?"
A few moments later, Yaga, who had been waiting above, entered the chamber. He scanned the room and his eyes went wide. The headcount had increased during his absence. He soon let out a sigh and straightened his posture, seemingly resigned to the absurdity of the situation.
"Yes. Please procure a mobile phone for me to communicate with these guests. I only plan to use it until this matter is concluded."
"In that case, please use my phone. My number is already registered; just call me when you are finished, and I will come to retrieve it."
"But wouldn't that be an inconvenience to you?"
"It's faster than searching for another device, isn't it? I don't know the full intent behind this, but speed is rarely a disadvantage."
Yaga spoke while adjusting his sunglasses. Every word was logical.
Tengen agreed, nodding simply. "Fine. Then I shall borrow your phone for a time."
"Understood."
Yaga walked up to Tengen and handed over the device. Tengen manipulated the phone with surprising dexterity before tucking it into her pocket. She really did know how to use it.
"The tracking is confirmed. You may call Yaga's phone to reach me. His current position appears to be in the Aomori region."
Aomori. That was near Hokkaido, wasn't it?
"Got it. We'll turn in for today and depart first thing tomorrow."
"Find a place nearby to rest. If you require financial assistance, speak now."
"Thank you, but we're fine," I answered instead of Assassin.
Accepting money? I'd love to in principle, but funds from Jujutsu High are too easily traced. And it wasn't like they'd facilitate money laundering the way Toji did. Refusing it was simpler and more sincere in its own way. It saved a lot of headache.
"Very well. Even though you were the ones to seek my aid, our interests coincide. May I assume we are acting as equals?"
"Naturally. I'll contact you once we reach Aomori tomorrow."
"I am counting on you."
I nodded and turned my back. It was a successful meeting.
"Mr. Yaga. Please take us back to where we met. It's quite a long walk."
"Hm? Ah... right."
Yaga nodded and glanced at Tengen, asking permission to leave with a subtle gesture.
"Go ahead. Our business is concluded; you may see them out."
"Yes. Please excuse us."
Tengen's quick approval allowed Yaga to bow and lead the way. At least the return trip would be convenient.
"I can only perceive his Cursed Energy signature; I do not know his physical appearance. Think of me as a sort of radar. I cannot specify a Cursed Energy signature I haven't encountered before."
Tengen's voice reached me just as we were about to exit. I glanced back over my shoulder.
"That's more than enough."
I wanted to ask about the Special Grade Cursed Spirits as well, but since she claimed not to know, there was nothing for it. I'd just have to catch the Special Grades as they appeared. That policy remained unchanged. Furthermore, if Kenjaku realized that Tengen—whom he viewed as nothing more than a sedentary plant—was intervening, he would surely change his strategy.
'Those spirits aren't the real problem.'
In the end, capturing Kenjaku was the only thing that mattered. Curses are just Curses; they could be dealt with slowly. I refined my thoughts as I exited the Tombs of the Star Corridor. My heart raced at the prospect of finally hunting down the mastermind.
The Master and his entourage arrived in Aomori the following morning. The trip was a blur of subways and trains, followed by constant communication with Tengen to narrow the search radius.
—Hmm... I have just cross-referenced the map. He is near a place called the Shuji Terayama Memorial Hall. Head in that direction.
I checked our map, since we didn't have a smartphone. We moved toward our destination, occasionally utilizing taxis. It was mid-afternoon; the sun was high in the sky, yet it felt as if it would dip below the horizon at any moment. The cold autumn air was unforgiving, and unlike the long days of summer, the dusk approached quickly.
'He shouldn't be out here collecting Cursed Spirits just yet...'
In the original story, he didn't take over Geto's body until several years from now. It was still too early. Would the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons in Shinjuku and Kyoto even happen? It was highly likely that the events leading to Geto's death would never transpire now. And even if they did, Kenjaku himself hadn't been strong enough to kill Geto. Okkotsu Yuta had shredded him, and Gojo had finished the job; Kenjaku had simply swooped in to steal the remains. In other words, Kenjaku could not defeat Geto in a direct confrontation. Geto was a Special Grade sorcerer, after all.
'That's why he was so patient, taking his time and waiting.'
But the timeline was distorted, and Geto was still at Jujutsu High. It was difficult for Kenjaku to draw up a new plan. In the original work, Toji's intervention had been a stroke of sheer luck for Kenjaku—it wasn't something he could have easily orchestrated. The Heavenly Restriction, the Star Plasma Vessel... he simply didn't miss the moment the cards fell into his lap. He could certainly devise other schemes, but the window of opportunity looked small. It had only been a few months since the Star Plasma Vessel incident. Not even half a year. That wasn't enough time to execute a complex contingency.
—As I noticed when we first met, I cannot detect your signatures at all. That is why this communication link was necessary.
She couldn't sense any Cursed Energy from us. We were something entirely different. I recalled the words Gojo had spoken when we first met.
"Yes, I'm aware. More importantly, is the target still in that same spot?"
—Yes. There is a lake nearby called Lake Ogawara. He appears to be lingering there. I cannot say whether it is a base of operations or not.
"Because you didn't look closely?"
—I have been tracking his signature since yesterday afternoon as you requested. He likely hasn't noticed my surveillance. I did not tamper with any barriers, after all.
Pure observation without manipulation. Even a master of barrier techniques wouldn't be able to notice that. It was Kenjaku who had likened Tengen to a plant; it was Kenjaku who had told everyone she was harmless, so he wouldn't be on his guard against her.
"Master."
The Foreigner accompanying me narrowed her eyes. Ahead lay the vast expanse of Lake Ogawara. She had spotted a lone man walking along its shore.
"I see someone in the distance. Could it be?"
"I can't see his face yet, but he looks suspicious. Let's follow and confirm."
I nodded. I moved forward from the rear, held in Foreigner's arms for mobility. Ibuki-douji and Shuten-douji guarded our flanks.
—Koyanskaya.
—Yes, Master?
—Go and confirm if it's the target. If he has clear surgical stitches on his forehead, that's our man.
—Understood.
I sent the command through our Mental Link. Ibuki and Shuten shifted into their spiritual forms to monitor the perimeter, while Assassin moved to a separate vantage point to prepare for a long-range assassination. Toji hadn't come with us; he had his own business, and my current Servants were more than enough for this hit.
—Master. I've confirmed it from the front. It's him. The stitches on his forehead are unmistakable.
The confirmation came barely a minute after she had moved. Much faster than I expected.
'We got him.'
Men with scars are common enough, but those specific stitches? They were a telltale sign. I was certain the man walking in the distance was Kenjaku. Time to open fire. However, I needed one last confirmation. I couldn't afford to gun down some innocent bystander.
—Koyanskaya. Can you snipe him while moving?
—An easy task, naturally.
—Then stay on the move and stay ready to fire at a moment's notice.
—Understood.
We slowly closed the distance with the man. Incrementally. Cautiously.
Fifty meters. Thirty-five meters. Once the distance had closed to roughly ten meters...
"Kenjaku!"
The moment I shouted his name with all my might, the man in front of us spun around, startled. To name a thing is to call it forth.
'There's no doubt.'
I saw his eyes widen in shock. The sight of those stitches, identical to the ones from the original story, was all the proof I needed.
—Koyanskaya. Shoot him.
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