Just as Ai Yamanoya stood frozen in terror, the apartment door burst open.
Kenshi Takana, leading Early Warning Team 1, immediately grasped what was happening. He threw his gun to the ground and snatched the mirror from the teammate beside him.
A moment earlier, he had heard Noritoshi Kamo speaking to a team member named Shimizu. But Shimizu was clearly struggling. He hadn't even seen the Cursed Spirit yet, and he was already so tense he could barely move.
"The person inside is still alive! I'll hold the Cursed Spirit down. Send the signal and get out of here, now!"
Without waiting for a reply, Kenshi Takana rushed into the room, pulling out the [Unkai-kyō] and angling it toward the Cursed Spirit's reflection.
Under the interference of the Cursed Tool, the Cursed Spirit's movements slowed dramatically. The 'Intelligence-Specialized' Cursed Spirit seemed momentarily confused by the change, but instinct quickly took over. Muttering in broken, delirious whispers, it lunged wildly at the woman in homewear closest to it.
"5… 4…"
Kenshi Takana counted down silently, his face pale. Unable to reinforce himself with Cursed Energy, using the [Unkai-kyō] placed an immense strain on his brain. He didn't even have the mental capacity left to shout for the others to run. Even so, he could only hold it for five seconds.
All he could do now was trust the Jujutsu Sorcerer leading the operation.
"3…"
Boom!
Blood sprayed outward as chunks of wall exploded apart. Noritoshi Kamo dropped down from above.
To save time, Noritoshi Kamo had activated [Scarlet Dragon Leap], vaulting up from the outside of the apartment to the rooftop above the fourth floor. Then he condensed his blood and blasted a hole straight down through the ceiling.
Before he even landed, he pulled a box from behind his back. When it flipped open, five steel needles lay inside, each as thick as a thumb and as long as a forearm, their surfaces lined with vicious barbs.
Dense pentagram-like runes were carved along each one. They were "Life-Preserving and Longevity Charms," used to keep the blood sealed within the needles fresh.
"Purify and Pierce."
At Noritoshi Kamo's low murmur, the five steel needles shot out at blinding speed, spinning violently as they pierced through the Cursed Spirit from every direction.
Its slowed body couldn't react at all.
Blood burst into the air. The curse-formed "organs" split open and spilled out. Torn chunks of flesh scattered across the floor, then gradually dissolved into Cursed Energy and faded away.
Kenshi Takana, pale as paper, let the [Unkai-kyō], now bearing another crack, fall from his hand. Enduring the splitting headache, he tore off his mask and braced himself against the ground, breathing in harsh, ragged gulps as if that alone might steady him.
Noritoshi Kamo's lips twitched faintly. Expressionless, he picked up the mirror, which had gained two more cracks.
"Well done. I'll record your performance and submit it."
But crouched on the floor, Kenshi Takana gave no response. The violent ringing in his ears left him incapable of reacting to anything.
As the Cursed Energy inside the apartment weakened and the Curtain fully dissipated, Tagoto entered with Nitta Akari, making their way up to the fourth floor.
Noritoshi Kamo looked at them and pointed toward the corner.
A boy in a school uniform lay there. Both his legs and one of his arms had been completely chewed apart.
"The marker point here should be that boy. I've checked. He should still be salvageable.
Take him and the person beside him to the hospital.
Also, this window operator played a significant role in this mission. Make sure it's recorded."
"Yes."
"Then contact Aoi Todo and hand over the mission results."
...
"It's not over yet."
Those were the first words Aoi Todo said when he saw Noritoshi Kamo.
"A Window just reported that some of the marks that hadn't fully dissipated have re-formed. Another Cursed Spirit incident has already occurred."
Noritoshi Kamo frowned.
"I should have exorcised it. That Cursed Spirit didn't even activate its technique at the time."
Aoi Todo shook his head.
"I'm not doubting you. Those marks really did start to fade for a while."
Noritoshi Kamo's eyes widened slightly.
"Revival? It's true that the same type of Cursed Spirit can reappear, but this is too fast. Something this dangerous should be eradicated as soon as possible. We should contact Sensei."
After a brief silence, Aoi Todo looked up at the night sky and spoke calmly.
"Noritoshi Kamo, I'm not interested in preaching to someone as dull as you.
But Akira-san taught me for a year, and you're his disciple.
So I want to remind you of something."
"What is it?"
"Akira-san has a good temper. He rarely refuses our requests. If we report this to him, he'll definitely find a way to solve it for us.
But!"
Aoi Todo locked eyes with Noritoshi Kamo.
"Don't treat a Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer like a service center.
That thing's overall strength is only around mid–Grade 1. Its technique is nothing more than marking and tracking. In a straight fight, we can defeat it easily. If that's the case, there's no need to ask someone else to handle it."
"But that thing is cunning by nature. Now it keeps reappearing. If we leave it alone instead of completely eliminating it, the number of victims could spread further—"
"Then exorcise it until it stops appearing!"
"That will consume a huge amount of our manpower. And there will be more casualties. If Akira-sensei steps in, he could resolve it effortlessly—"
"Noritoshi Kamo.
In my impression, you've always been steady and composed. But have you realized that lately you've become overly reliant on your teacher?
Are you truly incapable of handling this?"
"I…"
"Raw strength isn't everything. What you really need to learn is how to think.
Ask yourself what Akira-san would do if he were here. Would he just keep clearing it out over and over again?"
Noritoshi Kamo fell silent and began sorting through how this incident differed from other Cursed Spirits.
"Most Cursed Spirits are unknown to the public. Or if they are known, the information is suppressed.
This time, however, the public already knew. Fear had spread on a wide scale. And within that focused fear, a Cursed Spirit was born."
"Exactly. The core of this incident may not be the battle between Jujutsu Sorcerers and Cursed Spirits, but the public itself. The officials publicized this case so we could enter those locations legitimately. They didn't mention Cursed Spirits, of course, but some people love to imagine the worst.
I think I understand now why Akira-san had you work with me.
You have something I don't."
Noritoshi Kamo paused, then slowly regained the calm bearing of a young clan heir.
"The clan?"
Aoi Todo nodded and began walking away. As he passed Noritoshi Kamo, he gave his shoulder a light pat.
"The rest is up to you. I'm going to replenish the energy that's almost run dry in my heart. See you tomorrow."
After Aoi Todo left, Noritoshi Kamo took out his phone and dialed a number.
"What are your instructions?"
"Notify the officials immediately. Arrange for a series of celebrity and conglomerate scandals to be exposed one after another. Then have multiple experts publish articles debunking them.
Seize control of public opinion and dilute the presence of 'Your Turn' in the public's perception.
After that, coordinate with Kyoto Campus's auxiliary supervisors to calculate the Cursed Spirit's next area of activity."
"Yes."