The sudden new function nearly made Jinsuke short-circuit on the spot.
So killing Cursed Spirits… actually sped up his training progress?
Then what the hell had all those years of grueling workouts been for? Character development? Moral discipline?
Killing one Semi–Special Grade Cursed Spirit had given him more progress than weeks of intense training.
If he'd known earlier, he wouldn't have wasted time lifting rocks—he'd have gone Cursed Spirit hunting instead. The Jujutsu World was crawling with those things, after all.
"Looks like I'll need to adjust my training schedule."
The revelation was unexpected, but not unwelcome. His little "scripture" had just gone from mysterious cheat item to full-blown farming system.
Originally, he'd planned to wait until Megumi entered Jujutsu High before taking on any teaching jobs there. But now? Maybe it was time to start building some connections—keep tabs on Cursed Spirit activity and farm EXP efficiently.
His musing was cut short when Suguru Geto suddenly spoke up.
"I don't think a simple apology's gonna cut it."
Jinsuke looked up—and his eyes lit up with realization.
Wait. This guy had… a lot of Cursed Spirits, didn't he?
His gaze shifted, turning sharp and calculating. Predatory, almost.
For some reason, Geto felt a chill crawl down his spine. What was with that look? Why did it feel like he was being hunted?
He cleared his throat. "By the way, you're a non-sorcerer too, aren't you?"
His tone darkened slightly. For the sake of his greater good, Geto intended to rid the world of every non-sorcerer alive. Even his own parents wouldn't have been an exception.
And the man standing before him—was one of them.
"Of course," Jinsuke said lightly. "Not only am I a non-sorcerer, I don't even have Cursed Energy. I'm exactly the kind of 'monkey' you want to wipe out, right, Geto-kun?"
A grin stretched across his face—sharp, amused, and just a bit too eager.
"So?" His tone dipped lower, teasing, dangerous. "Want to kill me here and now?"
The excitement in his voice wasn't feigned. If Geto really did try something, Jinsuke could find out what would happen to all those Cursed Spirits he kept under control. Would they go berserk? Could he absorb their energy too?
Perfect opportunity for testing new features.
"Geto! Don't you dare!"
Riko Amanai stepped forward, shouting before Geto could answer. The warning in her voice broke the tension instantly.
Geto blinked, his dangerous aura fading as he slipped back into his usual lazy smirk. "Relax. I'm kidding. I wouldn't raise my hand against you guys."
He waved dismissively. "I just hate the non-sorcerer monkeys, that's all."
And with that, he turned and walked away, vanishing into the shadows of the forest.
Jinsuke watched him go, a faint frown tugging at his mouth. Geto's words might've sounded casual—but his conviction was solid. That kid was walking a path no one could pull him back from.
"Shame," Jinsuke muttered.
He turned his attention to the dozens of low-grade Cursed Spirits lingering around them—weak, trembling things too scared to flee, too stupid to understand what had happened.
He tightened his grip on Playful Cloud.
BOOM!
The air cracked as he swung, the sonic blast ripping the ground apart in front of him. The shockwave vaporized every Cursed Spirit in its path—dozens of Grade 2 to Grade 4 creatures erased in an instant, without even time to scream.
But this time, the scripture inside him stayed silent. No hum, no warmth. Nothing.
Apparently, these small fries didn't even register.
"So it only works on strong ones, huh?"
He sighed. "Guess I'll still need to train the old-fashioned way too."
Gulp.
"Jeez, Jinsuke… was that really necessary?" Riko peeked out from behind him, her face pale. Even she felt bad for the poor things.
Nanami, on the other hand, stood frozen in shock.
So this was the power of their non-sorcerer instructor. No wonder Jujutsu High had assigned him to lead the mission. It all made sense now.
Jinsuke glanced sideways at Riko. "What, you wanted to take one home as a pet?"
"..."
Riko puffed out her cheeks in protest. That wasn't what she meant.
It was just—well, maybe leaving a few alive for them to train on wouldn't have hurt.
So much for "I won't interfere." That teacher of hers was all talk.
Once the area was cleared, Jinsuke left the rest of the cleanup to the kids and headed home.
A few days later, the reward for their mission hit his account—an impressively fat payment.
Not a bad haul.
He'd earned money, discovered a new cheat ability, and even gotten some free exercise out of it. Maybe Jujutsu High wasn't so useless after all.
Time passed, and summer quietly faded away.
The streets filled with people bundled up in heavy coats, snow blanketing the city.
In the Zenin courtyard, Jinsuke was still keeping up his daily routine.
Even in the middle of a snowstorm, he was shirtless, muscles rippling and steaming with heat like a living furnace. Every movement sent clouds of vapor swirling around him, his body glowing faintly against the white backdrop.
Standing beside him, Mai Zenin looked like a round little snowball—wrapped head to toe in thick winter clothes, a scarf covering half her face, cheeks flushed pink from the cold.
"It's so warm next to Cousin Jinsuke," she mumbled happily, basking in the heat radiating off him.
Compared to her, Maki Zenin—out in the open snow, swinging a wooden staff with fierce precision—looked like she was in an entirely different world.
Jinsuke glanced down at Mai's blissful face, then sighed.
"You two really are complete opposites," he muttered, reaching out to pinch her soft, red cheeks.
One was bold, the other timid. One never stopped training, the other would rather nap next to a human heater.
Still... both of them had changed. Even the timid one was getting braver these days.
"Ow! Cousin, that hurts!"
Mai pouted, tears welling up in her big round eyes like pearls about to spill over.
Jinsuke ignored her dramatics and went inside. When he came back out, he was holding two red envelopes.
He crouched down and handed them to her. "Here. One for you, one for your sister. Don't come tomorrow—I've got business outside."
His breath fogged in the freezing air. It was that time of year again.
Maybe it was his upbringing, maybe it was instinct, but something in his bones told him to give the girls a little something for the New Year.
It wasn't much, but the gesture mattered.
"Whoa! Red envelopes! Cousin Jinsuke, you're the best!"
Just moments ago she'd been sulking—now Mai's eyes sparkled like stars. She grabbed the envelope, grinning so wide her cheeks nearly split.
"Mwah!"
She planted a quick kiss on Jinsuke's cheek before dashing off toward Maki.
"Big Sis! Look! Cousin gave us red envelopes!"
"That brat…" Jinsuke chuckled softly, shaking his head. She was getting bolder by the day.
Maki paused mid-swing, caught the envelope Mai handed her, then turned toward him. "Thank you, sensei."
"I told you already—you're not qualified to call me that yet."
Jinsuke sighed, though there was no real annoyance in his tone.
Mai could at least act like a normal kid. But Maki? Once she set her mind on something, she was as stubborn as a bull.
"Hmph. It's only a matter of time," Maki muttered, tucking the envelope away and resuming her swings.
Jinsuke couldn't help but smile.
Good thing he had patience for little brats like these—if it were anyone else pestering him this much, they'd have been spun like a top by now.