“The Goodwill Event.”
“Its full name is the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event between Tokyo Jujutsu High and Kyoto Jujutsu High.”
Two days had passed since Atsushi formed a Binding Vow with Kenjaku and contacted Mechamaru.
At that moment, on the beach formed within the innate domain of a Special Grade cursed spirit, the scenery remained that of a bright, peaceful tropical resort, with sunlight overhead and waves gently rolling onto the shore.
A warm sea breeze drifted across the pale golden sand.
Everything seemed calm and peaceful.
Kenjaku reclined in a lounge chair and set down a glass of juice filled with ice.
Then the words leaving his mouth mercilessly shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
“Your assignment is simple.
Once the Curtain created by the other curse users comes down, enter the Goodwill Event grounds…”
“And cause as much chaos as possible.”
“Of course, our real objective is to create a diversion.”
“We need to disrupt Jujutsu High’s understanding of the situation so that they, especially Gojo Satoru, can’t determine what we’re actually trying to accomplish.”
As he spoke, Kenjaku sat upright and turned his wrist.
Somehow, an old paperback military strategy manual appeared in his hand.
“Basic military doctrine teaches that visible signals and obvious movements can be used to mislead an enemy about your true numbers and intentions.”
“It also warns that when the battlefield is filled with suspicious obstacles, you should always consider the possibility that they were placed there deliberately to confuse you.”
Kenjaku recited the principles with perfect precision.
Is this guy seriously trying to teach military strategy to cursed spirits?
Standing nearby with his usual expressionless face, Atsushi had barely finished making that comment internally when Kenjaku deliberately drew out his next sentence.
“Although Hanami already understands something this basic, so I’m actually teaching you, young sorcerer.”
Kenjaku smiled pleasantly.
“By the way, when you went out earlier, you spent quite a while wandering all over Shibuya like some wide-eyed tourist.
Is this your first time in Tokyo?”
“If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can always ask Mahito or Hanami.”
“They haven’t existed for very long either, but they’ve already become quite familiar with the city.”
Kenjaku’s words sounded casual.
But the warning hidden beneath them was obvious.
He was letting Atsushi know that his movements were being watched.
Not that Atsushi had ever doubted that.
Still…
So the way I searched Shibuya for Mechamaru’s communicator looked like some clueless tourist sightseeing for the first time?
Did I really look that embarrassing?
And what does he mean, ask Mahito and Hanami?
Does Kenjaku seriously think my common sense is worse than a cursed spirit’s?
At that moment, Hanami spoke.
“This human feels…
different from ordinary people.”
“Although he is a sorcerer, there is something unusually pure about him.”
A strange, difficult-to-understand language entered Atsushi’s ears.
Yet its meaning was conveyed directly into his mind.
The sensation was deeply unpleasant, and Atsushi couldn’t help frowning.
“…Was that supposed to be a compliment?
If so, thanks.”
“But I understand the strategy just fine.”
“The reason you’re pairing me with Hanami is because Hanami is the only Special Grade cursed spirit here capable of keeping their killing intent under control.”
Atsushi rubbed his temple before continuing.
“Jogo has trouble restraining himself.
Mahito has another assignment, and Dagon has to remain here to maintain the innate domain.”
“So Hanami is the best choice.”
“And compared to Hanami, my cursed energy is barely worth noticing.”
“If Gojo Satoru spots us, he won’t consider me the main threat.”
“Which means I’ll have a chance to land that shot.”
Under Kenjaku’s approving gaze, Atsushi took two steps across the sand and brought his hands together, mimicking the stance used to fire Piercing Blood.
“Exactly.”
“Inside the Goodwill Event grounds, the two of you need to cause a major disturbance.”
“But just as you said, you must keep your killing intent under control.”
“Your goal is to draw as much of Gojo Satoru’s attention as possible.”
“You may injure the students of Jujutsu High if necessary, but unless there’s no other option, avoid killing them.”
“If one of the students is actually killed…”
Kenjaku spread his hands.
“That Curtain won’t keep Gojo Satoru out.”
“The worst-case scenario is that both of you die and the entire plan fails.”
Atsushi immediately shook his head.
“Getting killed by Gojo isn’t part of my plan.”
“If Hanami starts killing people, I’m pulling out immediately and making it very clear to Jujutsu High that I’m not with them.”
Kenjaku didn’t seem surprised by Atsushi’s response.
“As long as you don’t violate our Binding Vow, do whatever you like.”
Kenjaku smiled faintly with narrowed eyes.
“One more thing.”
“Although your attacks possess an unusual property, and I doubt you’ll lose easily against Jujutsu High’s students, you’re still lacking in several areas.”
“Your cursed technique control, physical ability, and total cursed energy are all insufficient.”
As he spoke, Kenjaku slipped the military strategy manual back into his sleeve.
Then the sleeve shifted strangely.
Somehow, he pulled out a large, elongated weapon wrapped tightly in white cloth.
What is going on with those sleeves?
Is there a storage space in there or something?
How the hell was he hiding something that big?
Watching Kenjaku, Atsushi couldn’t help making another silent comment.
“Special Grade Cursed Tool, Dragon-Bone.”
Kenjaku held the extremely heavy-looking weapon in one hand and offered it to Atsushi.
Because [Glass Cannon] had reduced Atsushi’s maximum health, his physical condition was poor enough that without cursed energy reinforcement, he couldn’t even properly support the weapon with both hands.
Only after cursed energy surged through his body did Atsushi manage to hold it securely.
He began unwrapping the white cloth saturated with cursed energy.
A thick-backed blade nearly one and a half meters long was revealed beneath it.
The weapon had an immediately striking appearance.
Its hilt and guard appeared to be constructed from grotesque sections of bone.
The clearly segmented structure offered an unexpectedly comfortable grip, while the entire weapon continuously radiated an oppressive, murderous presence into the surrounding air.
“Since your attacks possess that unusual property, allowing them to bypass defensive measures and directly harm the target, I gave some thought to how you should fight.”
Kenjaku smiled as he watched Atsushi examine the Special Grade Cursed Tool with mild amazement.
“I decided giving you this weapon would make things considerably more interesting.”
“This isn’t an ordinary blade.”
“Dragon-Bone can absorb both the force of incoming impacts and the cursed energy of its user during clashes.”
“The stored energy can then be released all at once to strengthen the next attack.”
“For someone like you, whose attacks can bypass defenses, your biggest weaknesses are your limited ability to withstand an opponent’s attacks and the lack of a reliable medium besides your own blood for carrying that special property.”
Listening to Kenjaku, Atsushi experimentally poured cursed energy into Dragon-Bone.
For a moment, the segmented bones around the handle seemed to come alive, producing a faint, unsettling sound.
Even the air surrounding the cursed tool distorted slightly beneath the fluctuation of cursed energy.
[Equipment registration detected.]
At that exact moment, the system spoke again.
It had been silent for so long without Atsushi exorcising any cursed spirits that he had almost forgotten about it.
[Special Grade Cursed Tool, Dragon-Bone.]
[Searching corresponding equipment database.]
[B.
F.
Sword located.]
[Special Grade Cursed Tool Dragon-Bone can be registered into the system as a direct substitute for B.
F.
Sword and used in equipment crafting.]
[Register equipment?]
The Hextech System could do that too?
It could substitute cursed tools for League equipment?
Check the price of B.
F.
Sword.
Atsushi issued the command internally.
[B.
F.
Sword.
Price: 1,300 gold.
No lower-tier crafting components.
Grants 40 Attack Damage.
Sell value: 910 gold.]
The system’s response was exactly what Atsushi expected.
Do not register it yet.
After confirming that, Atsushi closed the system window in his mind.
So it was probably something similar to an equipment conversion system.
A cursed tool of the corresponding category could replace a League of Legends item and provide its direct stat bonuses.
But converting it immediately wasn’t particularly cost-effective.
Dragon-Bone gave Atsushi an enormous combat boost in his current state.
And 1,300 gold was something he could earn naturally just by doing nothing for thirteen days…
Assuming the current pace of events actually gave him thirteen quiet days.
As for the 40 Attack Damage, Atsushi had no idea whether that would increase his cursed energy output or directly strengthen his physical attacks.
Either way, there was no reason to pursue it right now.
Because the equipment at the very top of his current shopping list…
Didn’t require B.
F.
Sword as a component.
His anemia severely limited how often he could rely on Blood Manipulation.
A cursed tool like Dragon-Bone was exactly what he needed to compensate for that weakness.
Besides, Kenjaku had just casually pulled a massive weapon out of his sleeve right in front of him.
If Atsushi casually made the weapon vanish into thin air immediately afterward, explaining that would be impossible.
No amount of Kenjaku’s bizarre parental enthusiasm would make that conversation reasonable.
With that thought, Atsushi acted as though nothing unusual had happened.
Maintaining his usual calm expression, he tested the weight of Dragon-Bone in his hands while cursed energy continued flowing through it.
“Thanks, Geto.”
“I’ll put it to good use.”
Atsushi wrapped Dragon-Bone back in the cloth and carefully stored it away.
“I certainly hope so.”
Kenjaku sat upright and tucked both hands into his sleeves.
“Tomorrow, the operation at the Goodwill Event officially begins.”
The conspiracy he had spent centuries preparing could no longer be hidden behind the expression on his face.
“And with it…”
“The first step toward sealing the strongest sorcerer of the modern era.”
Listening to Kenjaku, Atsushi experimentally poured cursed energy into Dragon-Bone.
For a moment, the segmented bones around the handle seemed to come alive, producing a faint, unsettling sound.
Even the air surrounding the cursed tool distorted slightly beneath the fluctuation of cursed energy.
(To be continued.)