"Don't pay any attention to what those old fossils say. Just let their words go in one ear and out the other."
Roy waved his hand dismissively at Maki, his expression full of indifference.
"I made some agreements with those old relics and promised them certain things, but you really don't need to worry about it. I don't actually mean any of it."
Isn't that just another way of saying you don't intend to keep your promises to those old men?
Maki was momentarily speechless at his attitude.
"But if that's how you think, Sensei, it actually helps me a great deal."
She didn't have the slightest intention of trying to please anyone.
Even if he was one of Japan's only four Special Grade sorcerers, she had no desire to grovel before him without dignity like her mother had.
But if a Special Grade sorcerer himself wanted to do something to her, her position would become extremely troublesome. Countless people would probably try to force her into submission.
The result would be either her defecting from Japan's jujutsu society...
Or her dying at the hands of that Special Grade sorcerer.
For Maki, submission wasn't an option.
The fact that Roy, the person at the center of this matter, said he had no such intentions and told her not to worry about it came as a relief. It essentially freed her from the whole situation.
Thankfully, Roy-sensei was a reasonable person—not like those rotten bastards.
"But earlier, you were aiming at a very bad spot. Was that really not because you dislike me?"
"Who cares about that in the middle of a fight? You just attack wherever gives you the best chance to win."
Maki's expression didn't change, maintaining her indifferent demeanor.
"It's the Zenin family I dislike, not you, Roy-sensei."
She said this with complete seriousness.
It made Roy wonder whether she had actually been deliberately aiming there or not.
"Anyway, you're not allowed to do that again. That's an order from your teacher."
"Fine."
Maki agreed without hesitation.
"By the way, which year are you teaching? As far as I know, all three grades at Jujutsu High already have teachers assigned to them."
Jujutsu High followed a four-year system.
However, fourth-year students didn't have assigned teachers. They were practically semi-graduated, spending most of their time on missions outside the school. None of them remained at Jujutsu High full-time. The fourth year mainly served as a transitional period to help students gradually adjust to the mission intensity of full-fledged jujutsu sorcerers.
In simple terms, it was like an internship period—they rarely returned to school.
In the jujutsu world, even students had to take on missions.
This was because jujutsu sorcerers were severely understaffed. To exorcise as many curses as possible and protect ordinary people, students had to be mobilized for missions too. However, students were generally only assigned low-level missions and received generous compensation.
In any case, Jujutsu High only had teachers for the first, second, and third years.
But Maki remembered that all three grades currently had teachers assigned.
"Now that you mention it, Yaga Masamichi never actually told me which year I'd be teaching..."
Under Maki's questioning, Roy suddenly realized a crucial oversight.
It was true that he had joined Jujutsu High as a teacher.
But Yaga Masamichi had never actually specified which year he would be teaching.
Gojo Satoru was handling the first years.
There's that guy in the second year, and there should be someone in the third year too.
So which grade does he teach?
Why was he called here?
"Maki, could you tell me about the current structure of Jujutsu High? Also, show me around the school. I've been here for days but still don't know what the place looks like."
After some thought, Roy made this request to Maki, finally showing interest in learning about the school where he would be working.
In Japan, calling someone by their given name usually indicates close familiarity.
Roy disliked such formalities and preferred addressing people directly by their names.
Maki didn't mind at all.
She nodded readily.
"Alright, consider it repayment for our earlier spar. I can see room for improvement."
She also disliked being called by her family name.
Being addressed by her given name actually suited her better.
Under Maki's guidance, Roy gained a preliminary understanding of Jujutsu High's personnel and facilities.
The school was currently in a transitional period between academic years.
Unlike regular Japanese schools, here April marked the end of the academic year, followed by a two-month break. The new school year would begin in June when fresh students arrived.
This unique schedule related to the seasonal activity patterns of curses. During early spring, curses became increasingly active, requiring all available hands—even students—to be busy with exorcisms, leaving no time for classes.
The previous fourth-year students had already graduated.
Most third-year students had left school for internships, making introductions unnecessary.
The previous second-year class had only two students:
Kokichi Muta and Kirara Hoshi.
Both were currently on indefinite suspension after clashing with and even physically assaulting higher-ups during a mission, with no clear return date—hence beyond current discussion.
This left only first-year students worth introducing.
The previous first-years—who would become second-years in two months—plus one transfer student, totaled four students:
Zenin Maki, Inumaki Toge, Panda, and Itadori Yuji.
That's right.
The entire Tokyo campus of Jujutsu High had only about ten students total. Maki's class was actually considered large.
Itadori Yuji was the transfer student.
One of Japan's four currently active Special Grade sorcerers.
Though about the same age as Maki, he had entered the jujutsu world directly as a Special Grade.
However, at the end of last year, he lost his Special Grade rating, dropping to Grade 4. Remarkably, within just three months—by last month—he had regained his Special Grade status. His current strength hadn't even peaked yet, making him genuine potential—a rare talent that might appear only once in a hundred million people.
Currently on a mission, his exceptional power made him a nationwide troubleshooter, constantly moving between assignments.
The other two students, Inumaki Toge and Panda, were Semi-Grade 1 and Semi-Grade 2 sorcerers respectively, also currently on missions.
Maki herself had just returned from a mission, never expecting to immediately encounter troublesome matters upon her return.
Additionally...
The first-year homeroom teacher is Gojo Satoru, the pinnacle of the jujutsu world, known far and wide by all.
The second-year teacher is Kusakabe Atsuya, who, despite lacking a cursed technique, is recognized as the strongest Grade 1 sorcerer.
The third-year teacher is an unnamed passerby who prefers to remain anonymous.
However, all three are currently away on missions.
Especially Gojo Satoru, who frequently travels overseas and is so busy he barely has time to catch his breath.
"The rest are this year's new students."
At this point, Maki suddenly turned and headed toward the dormitory area.
"Perfect timing—that guy's already moved in early. Let's go meet him!"
Roy had no objections and followed her.
The school didn't have many people to begin with, so students could pick any dorm they liked. All the rooms were spacious singles, equipped with beds, wardrobes, and even laptops. Given the life-threatening nature of the job, the benefits were generous.
"Megumi, open up! It's already this late—are you still sleeping?"
On the second floor of one dormitory building, at the corner room, Maki knocked loudly on the closed door without hesitation, completely unconcerned about waking whoever was inside.
Before long, the door opened.
"...So energetic this early in the morning, Maki-senpai."
A boy in black pajamas rubbed his head, his face full of sleepiness as he appeared at the doorway, glaring at Maki with a hint of annoyance.
"You're just too lazy. If you have time to sleep in, you might as well join me for morning training."
Maki brushed off his complaint and gave him a once-over.
Then she took half a step to the side, revealing Roy behind her.
The black-haired boy blinked in surprise.
White hair. Handsome.
Tall, with glasses.
At first glance, he almost thought Gojo Satoru had returned from a mission.
"Let me introduce you. This is Roy-sensei, just joined the school—a Special Grade sorcerer."
Maki emphasized the words "Special Grade sorcerer."
Then she turned to Roy and introduced the black-haired boy.
"Sensei, this is Fushiguro Megumi. He's one of the first-years starting this year."
Roy quickly sized up the boy.
Slightly slender, with spiky black hair like a sea urchin. Whether it was because he'd just woken up or not, he seemed completely listless, his eyes dull like a salted fish. Still, his face was strikingly handsome—definitely the type who could coast by on looks.
Megumi paused for a moment before snapping back to attention and giving Roy a slight bow.
"Hello, sensei."
A perfectly ordinary greeting.
"Hello, Fushiguro-kun."
Roy responded with a warm smile.
This year's first-year class only had two students: Fushiguro Megumi and Kugisaki Nobara, who wouldn't arrive until the school term began in June.
After the brief introduction, Maki led Roy away from the dormitory area under Fushiguro's unimpressed "What did you even come here for?" glare.
Before leaving, Roy subtly flicked his hand behind his back, summoning a small familiar. He cast an invisibility rune on it and discreetly slipped it into Megumi's room.
The familiar lingered for a moment before finding a few strands of hair on the pillow, picking them up in its mouth, and carrying them out.
"Thanks for showing me around the school, Maki-kun."
"No problem."
Maki shrugged casually.
After a pause, she added thoughtfully,
"Roy-sensei, will you be staying at the school for a while?"
"Hmm? Probably, yes."
"Do you train every morning?"
"Unless something comes up, yes."
Roy nodded naturally.
"Martial arts is a path where you either advance or regress. You have to stay sharp."
He had promised Fan Xinglou that he would train diligently even without her supervision, so he could satisfy her insatiable thirst for battle in the future.
If he returned with no progress—or worse, if his skills had regressed—Fan Xinglou would surely beat him to death, right?
"That's right."
Upon hearing this, Maki nodded in strong agreement.
"I don't like beating around the bush, so I'll ask directly. I don't have any missions these next few days—can I join you for morning training? And if we can spar, that'd be even better!"
Maki had never been one to rely on others.
It wasn't out of arrogance or anything like that. She simply never considered depending on someone else to grow stronger.
But.
Roy was different from the rest.
She had seen the videos circulating online (though they had since been deleted). At first, she thought Roy's formidable close-combat prowess was achieved by reinforcing his body with vast amounts of cursed energy.
But now, it seemed her judgment had been terribly off.
She saw something in Roy that was completely unlike other sorcerers.
And it just so happened to be the field she excelled in.
In short—
She wanted to find her own path through Roy.
Maki stared at Roy with blazing eyes, her gaze alight with the certainty of a newfound direction.
"Training alone is pretty boring. If you want to join, then come along."
Roy replied without a second thought.
Since he had become a teacher at Jujutsu High, he might as well do what a teacher should.
Besides, they say that teaching others also brings personal growth. He wasn't sure if that was true—this was his first time being a teacher, after all—but he was willing to give it a try.
"Thank you very much, Roy-sensei!"
Maki took a deep breath and bowed solemnly in gratitude.
After she turned to leave, a bird-shaped familiar flew over from a distance and landed in Roy's palm, spitting out a few strands of hair.
"Fushiguro Megumi's genes… The inherited technique he possesses is the Ten Shadows Technique—a power comparable to the Limitless wielded by the Six Eyes user."
Especially the most terrifying of the Ten Shadows, Mahoraga.
Roy gazed at the black strands in his palm, a pleased smile spreading across his face.
"Mahoraga, with its ability to adapt to all phenomena in the world… What kind of reaction would occur if I—someone who possesses adaptability to all world laws—became its master?"
How exciting!
...
Roy spent a few more days at Jujutsu High.
Each day, he sparred with Maki in the mornings and devoted the rest of his time to researching his innate technique.
The progress was highly encouraging.
But on this late April day, Yaga Masamichi suddenly summoned him to the principal's office.
"A mission?"
Roy raised an eyebrow as he took the file handed to him.
The document clearly stated that traces of a suspected first-grade cursed spirit had been detected in Okinawa. Jujutsu High was to dispatch a first-grade or higher sorcerer to investigate and, if the presence was confirmed, exorcise it on the spot.
"Correct. This is a first-grade mission."
Yaga nodded expressionlessly.
"All our sorcerers are currently occupied. April is when cursed spirits start becoming more active. Would you like to take this one? Of course, there's no obligation."
After all, Roy was now a high-ranking official in the Jujutsu Headquarters, second only to the Chief, on par with Yaga himself.
Moreover, as a Special Grade sorcerer, no one could force him to take on missions.
So Yaga was merely seeking Roy's opinion, not trying to push the mission onto him.
"A Grade 1 mission, huh… I can take this one!"
After a brief moment of consideration, Roy readily accepted the mission.
"If there are similar missions in the future, you can assign them to me as well. But I'll only take Grade 1 or higher missions—specifically, exorcising Grade 1 or higher curses. Hmm, retrieval missions for cursed objects are fine too, but only if they involve Grade 1 or higher cursed objects."
"It's great that you're willing to take it."
Masamichi Yaga also breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't expected Roy, who had been holed up at the school like a shut-in these past few days, to agree to the mission.
He had only asked out of courtesy, without much hope.
"As a Special Grade, missions below Grade 1 wouldn't even cross your path. They'd just be a waste of your time."
"Good."
Roy was more agreeable than he had imagined, and he had even been teaching students these past couple of days.
Perhaps he had been overthinking it—there was no need to be overly wary of Roy.
"By the way."
Roy suddenly remembered his earlier discussion with Maki.
"Principal Yaga, school starts in just over a month. Which year's students are you planning to assign me to?"
"..."
At this question, Yaga's hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched tightly.
But his expression remained unchanged.
"About that… I'll inform you when the time comes."
Roy rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Fine.
He'd wait until then.
He didn't mind the extra free time anyway.