"Are you sure about this? It's not like you're related to this thing the way Itadori is."
"I'll be fine. I'm going to make sure I'm useful to you, Megumi!"
"That's not what I'm worried about. My concern is—"
"You fear I will cause Hana harm, do you not? You truly are loved, Hana."
"Wh-What are you talking about, you stupid Angel?!" Hana Kurusu's face turned a brilliant shade of crimson as her scream echoed through the devastated streets of Osaka.
The city had been reduced to a wasteland. Megumi Fushiguro, a Special Grade sorcerer, and Hana Kurusu—who had awakened a unique cursed technique after the ancient sorcerer sealed within her was roused—had been deployed into this urban hellscape. As one of the largest metropolises in Western Japan, the city was crawling with sorcerers and cursed spirits alike, having effectively transformed into a realm of demons.
Yet, despite the swarming monsters, none dared to approach Megumi's group.
He was the first in history to fully master the Ten Shadows Technique. As if to prove his majesty was no mere illusion, Megumi stood with ten shikigami manifested around him, a blatant display of overwhelming military force.
Since childhood, he had been forged in the fires of constant combat. One day, a certain silver-haired man in sunglasses would force him into forbidden spars while rambling about how 'it isn't good for Megumi to be too reliable.' On another, Naoya would drill him relentlessly in cursed energy control, insisting that 'the basics are all about physical reinforcement, ya know?' Then there were the days his father would strip him of his cursed energy entirely to engage in brutal hand-to-hand combat, preaching the truth he had learned through experience: "The moment your technique is sealed, you're more pathetic than a common civilian."
Through these various trials, Megumi's strength had reached a Special Grade level that he could display anywhere with pride, despite only being a third-year in middle school. Now that he had reached the point where he could manifest all his shikigami simultaneously, he often finished his missions without taking a single scratch.
Of course, not wanting to let a good opportunity go to waste, Megumi kept the adaptation process active at all times. When Angel had first awakened, Hana's very first words had been, "We have matching accessories!" This was because the Dharma Wheel was now a permanent fixture above Megumi's head, clicking and rotating as it adjusted to their surroundings.
Megumi, however, had no interest in 'matching outfits' that leaned so heavily into the angelic aesthetic. If anything, the sudden appearance of the halo and his wariness toward Angel itself had soured his expression, leading to their current, somewhat strained conversation.
Still, Megumi understood the reality of the situation. Angel's cursed technique would be an unparalleled asset in the fight against Sukuna. The ability to 'extinguish any and all cursed techniques' was absurdly powerful—an incredible comfort as an ally, and a nightmare beyond imagination as an enemy.
Because of that, Megumi had reached a conclusion.
"...Since there's no reason to trust you but also no immediate reason to treat you as an enemy, I'll consider you an ally for now. However, I have one condition."
"You want my technique to be learned by your shikigami, correct? I do not mind. In fact, I welcome it. The more cards we have to eliminate the Fallen... or Sukuna, as you call him, the better."
"...Why are you so obsessed with Sukuna?"
"A grudge from a thousand years ago... though that may be too vague. To put it simply, I rose up with the cry: 'This defies the laws of God! The Fallen must be purged!' However, my strength was insufficient, and my comrades were slaughtered. That brings us to today. Unlike back then, when the Fallen had a physical body, the one manifesting in this Culling Game is an incarnated entity. If his foundation is a cursed object, then erasing him should be more than a mere dream."
"What are these 'laws of God' anyway? Were you some kind of cult leader?"
"It is more of a personal philosophy than a religious dogma. It isn't particularly complex. One should respect their neighbor, shouldn't they? To devour them is simply out of the question."
"I mean... that's a fair point, but..."
Megumi felt a strange sense of déjà vu. The conversation felt familiar in a way that set him off-balance. His mind drifted to his serious, non-blood-related older sister. Currently working as an assistant manager trainee under Kiyotaka Ijichi and helping her senior, Akari Nitta, she was the type of person who helped others as naturally as breathing.
"—Fine. Start the adaptation."
[SYSTEM: UNDERSTOOD. BEGINNING ANALYSIS AND ADAPTATION TO THE CURSED TECHNIQUE OF THE INDIVIDUAL TENTATIVELY DESIGNATED AS 'ANGEL'.]
"It seems the preparations are complete. Now, Hana, release your—what is the matter?"
"—I feel like Megumi is daydreaming about Tsumiki again! I don't mind being the second wife, but you have to love us both equally!"
"We aren't even dating, let alone getting married! Besides, Tsumiki is my sister!"
"You aren't blood-related, so that's basically a guarantee you'll get married!"
"I'm telling you, I see both you and Tsumiki as family!"
"Is this... what they call a lovers' quarrel? I must say, Hana, you have a formidable opponent in Megumi Fushiguro."
[SYSTEM: RESPONSE. THIS IS THE 184TH OCCURRENCE OF THIS SPECIFIC ARGUMENT. DATA INDICATES THAT MEGUMI FUSHIGURO'S SECRETION OF OXYTOCIN AND ANDROGEN INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN VISUALLY CONFIRMING HANA KURUSU OR TSUMIKI FUSHIGURO. FURTHERMORE, THE FREQUENCY OF HIS GAZE DRIFTING TOWARD THEIR CHEST AND HIP REGIONS HAS SHOWN AN ANNUAL UPWARD TREND. BASED ON THIS, THE STATEMENT THAT HE DOES NOT VIEW EITHER AS A SEXUAL INTEREST IS PRESUMED TO BE FALSE.]
"You...!" Megumi's face burned with fury.
"Nice assist! I'm definitely telling Tsumiki about this later!"
"Don't you dare!"
Megumi and Hana continued their chaotic banter. As middle schoolers, their youth had arguably not even truly begun. Yet, as they fought to seize their own futures, a clear heat burned in their eyes—a determination to bring the Culling Game to an end.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]