Toji sighed and answered the phone.
"What is it?"
"Uh, well… Toji-kun. I'm sorry it's so late. I was in a hurry, so please excuse me."
Naoya's voice came from the speaker. The speaker was loud, so I could hear him clearly.
"Alright. I wasn't sleeping, so go ahead."
"It's nothing else, but is that person there? You know, the pink-haired one…"
"You mean Koyanskaya? Yes, she's right next to me."
"Really? That's perfect."
Naoya's voice brightened. He probably had something to say to Dark Koyanskaya.
"I'm listening, so speak."
"Uh, uh. It's nothing else, but I called to see if I could meet her. I want to become stronger."
He called because he wanted to become stronger. I understand what he means.
"Master? What should we do?"
Dark Koyanskaya, Foreigner, asked. Since she was in charge of Naoya's training, if anyone should step forward, it should be her.
"I'm fine. Foreigner?"
"I… don't particularly mind either. So, should we accept?"
"It would be good to accept. It seems like something is improving, doesn't it?"
"Understood."
As Foreigner nodded, Toji opened his mouth.
"She says it's fine."
"Really?! Thank you very much!"
"You don't need to thank me. But, can you come quietly? We made a Binding Vow, didn't we?"
"I don't think it's possible right now. I also have to go to school."
Wow. Why does saying he's going to school sound so awkward? It's really strange.
Toji also blinked, as if dumbfounded. He probably couldn't argue with that.
"That's true. Then there was no need to call right away, was there?"
"But, isn't there a weekend?"
"You'll come and go during the weekend?"
"I'll tell my father I'm looking for Toji-kun. Isn't that a pretty good excuse?"
Naoya asked in a bright voice.
Naoya's father was the head of the Zenin clan. He was Zenin Naobito, who shone with a character score of 3.8 out of 5.
Like a Jujutsu Sorcerer, he was crazy, but not trash. He also had tolerance. That's why he shone even brighter in the Zenin family, which had many trashy individuals.
"Just don't get caught."
"Of course, I'll be moving alone, so don't worry. But where should I go?"
"Uh. Right."
Toji glanced at me sideways. Asking me to decide?
'Where would be good?'
After a moment's thought, I recalled a suitable location. After all, he'd be a face I'd see often.
"Toji. Could you guide him to the hotel where we're staying?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. We've already made a Binding Vow, and he'll improve once we remodel him."
"If the boss has decided, I'll follow."
Toji spoke into the phone again. The hotel name, even the address.
"Ah, so I should go there?"
"Yeah. It's room 1201. Contact us through the lobby desk, or find us directly. Do as you see fit."
"Understood. Then, I'll see you then."
Naoya said a polite farewell and hung up. Had he really improved a bit?
I don't know. I'll know for sure when I see him in person.
Weekend. Naoya visited Room 1201 of the hotel, the agreed meeting place.
A while ago. His pride had been utterly shredded, and he had been wounded.
A dull yet burning pain. A stinging sensation as if his skin was peeling. His body had healed completely, but the pain of that day was still vivid.
However. The more he replayed the pain, the stranger the thrill that surged within him.
Naoya was intoxicated by that sensation, but it wasn't just that. He felt that he himself had improved somewhat.
His mind, senses, Cursed Energy manipulation. He sought hell himself for the sake of that improvement.
"Excuse me. Is anyone in?"
"Please wait a moment."
After Naoya knocked on the door and waited for a moment, Foreigner emerged from beyond the door.
"We'll move to the rooftop. Please follow me."
"Yes. I look forward to it."
Foreigner went ahead, and Naoya followed behind.
The hotel rooftop. As soon as he heard those words, Naoya's heart pounded.
Moreover, after arriving, it pounded even more fiercely. As if he had met his first love.
Foreigner sighed and cast a spell on the hotel rooftop. Now, all she had to do was swing.
'The arrogant light has been erased, but in its place…'
Foreigner tilted her head.
Abuse, breeding, training. All were acts she enjoyed, but now it was ambiguously difficult to feel happy.
It was the Master's request, yes, but also his own doing. Because Naoya was happy.
A masochistic tendency to enjoy pain. As she tasted a fragment of it, Foreigner's mind cooled.
"Let's begin. I hope this time something is a little different."
"Yes!"
Naoya replied vigorously and unleashed his Jujutsu.
Even though excited, he was calm. Without arrogance, he persistently sought Foreigner's weaknesses.
"Ugh…!"
The third attack. Naoya, who had tried to get behind Foreigner, rolled on the rooftop floor.
On his bare skin, where his top had been removed, red whip marks were etched like an earthquake.
"Hoo…! Please continue."
"Alright."
The fourth time, he aimed for her leg but failed. The fifth time, he tried to grab her foot and spin her around but failed.
Entangled by the whip, struck by her foot. There was no humiliation quite like this.
However, the more humiliation he endured, the brighter Naoya's expression became. Flames also blazed in his eyes.
'I can feel his will, but this is truly…'
Foreigner wielded her whip with a troubled expression. The joy of growth? It would have been good if it was just that, but it wasn't.
A tendency to perceive pain itself as pleasure. The flower of masochism was blooming.
"Hah… Hah… T-Thank you."
After the training ended. Naoya, with flushed cheeks, smiled pleasantly.
That malicious brat was a masochist. It was absurd, but far better than being malicious.
'This, too, must be part of a human's transformation.'
Today, Foreigner learned more deeply about humans.
Naoya truly visited the hotel every weekend.
From Kyoto to Tokyo. Despite the long distance, he never missed a session.
With each visit, he became more humble, stronger. His demeanor also visibly became calmer.
To summarize this in one word, he was evolving. In a very good direction.
Though it was a bit strange how he got excited seeing the two Koyanskaya… Knowing the reason, I could only feel pity for him.
"I wish to serve you as my elder brother. Would that be possible?"
"What?"
Moreover, he even treated me with utmost respect. Even though it was absurd and unsettling, I couldn't hate him.
Thus, on a certain Thursday in December. As his personality modification neared successful completion, a call came.
The caller was Yaga Masamichi. The request was to go to Cape Ashizuri in Kōchi Prefecture, Shikoku.
"Special Grade?"
"Yes. According to the investigation, there's a high possibility it's a Special Grade Cursed Spirit. For now, it's information only I know. And of course, it's unregistered."
The current Yaga Masamichi was merely a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer. He wasn't a teacher at Jujutsu High yet.
Did he become a teacher when he taught Gojō Satoru? Or even before that?
"Thank you. I'll go and devour it deliciously."
"The thought of expressing it as 'eating Cursed Spirits' is insane. Very much like a Jujutsu Sorcerer."
"Thank you for the compliment. I'll excuse myself first."
Outside Kōchi Airport. I returned the phone Toji had lent me and hurried along the road.
A cape, simply put, is a cliff. Apparently, whirlpools had been forming and wave currents were abnormal for a while now.
So, I investigated, and it was a Cursed Spirit? And a Special Grade one at that, they said.
With a pounding heart, I got into the car. We arrived faster than expected.
The vast blue sea and sky. Sheer cliffs and a lighthouse visible in the distance.
"Welcome."
As I got out, admiring the beautiful nature, someone greeted us. It was Yaga.
"Oh? You called yesterday, but you're still here?"
"I stayed because I wanted to observe. It doesn't violate the Binding Vow, and I needed to confirm."
"You're diligent."
I paid my respects to Yaga's diligence. Was it because he was this kind of person that he was so stoic even at his death?
"Besides, I also needed to cast a Veil."
Yaga raised his right hand, bringing his index and middle fingers together. The other fingers were folded.
An indispensable process in Jujutsu Kaisen. It was the posture for casting a Veil.
"Emerge from darkness, blacker than darkness, cleanse and purify that which is impure."
Immediately after Yaga's voice resonated, a black dome descended over a wide area, including the cape.
Not just the land, but even part of the sea. It was truly vast.
'Is his body alright?'
I glanced at Yaga and he seemed perfectly fine. There was no sign of fatigue.
Perhaps because he's a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer, casting a wide Veil doesn't hinder him. Or perhaps the Veil itself has nothing to do with Cursed Energy. I'm not sure.
"It'll come out soon."
Immediately after Yaga lowered his hand, something writhed beneath the indigo sea.
The shadow grew larger and clearer. It was rising from the deep sea to the surface.
A whale? Or some other creature?
I don't know what it is, but I should poke it before it fully emerges. It's best to beat it before its grand entrance.
"Assassin."
"Yes, Master."
"Let's use a Noble Phantasm. Prepare it."
I called Assassin and prepared the Noble Phantasm. Foreigner stepped up in the tunnel, so this time Assassin should use it.
"Oh my? It's been a long time since I've used a Noble Phantasm."
As expected, Assassin's eyes sparkled. She seemed excited at the thought of putting on a firepower show after so long.
The current Assassin, Light Koyanskaya, is the Minister of Armaments. She can literally become a god of armaments.
Goddess Metamorphosis. Because she possesses a skill that literally allows her to become a god.
However, being a god does not mean omniscience and omnipotence. Zeus, etc., as the gods of the Fate universe were.
"Alright, then… shall we begin?"
Assassin smiled and projected a smoke bomb. She immediately dropped it onto the floor.
Shhhhiii. Instantly, thick smoke billowed up and covered the area.
'It's coming.'
The moment I anticipated the Noble Phantasm's activation, Thud! A heavy roar struck the cliff.