Gojo Satoru's Surprise; Makima, the Jujutsu World's New Higher-Up / Seele and Makima's "Reward"

"Could a single Chain of Restraint instantly strip a veteran Grade 1 sorcerer of the ability to resist?"

As she sensed the old clan head's aura growing increasingly feeble beneath the Golden Chains, to the point where his life might be in danger in another dozen seconds, Makima recalled the chains and walked over to him.

The Chains of Restraint were an ability Makima had developed by using the Authority of the Herrscher of Restraint, modeled after Judgement, the Eleventh Divine Key forged in the Honkai World using the Herrscher of Restraint Core.

It was not some particularly formidable skill. At most, it was another way to employ the Authority of the Herrscher of Restraint besides opening the Restraint Barrier. Strictly speaking, it occupied the same role as a basic attack. However, because Makima wielded Herrscher Authority directly rather than through a Divine Key, the Chains of Restraint were far more powerful and effective than the chains unleashed by Judgement.

Even so, it was an extraordinarily powerful ability in the world of jujutsu.

One chain could instantly rob a Grade 1 sorcerer of all ability to resist. Ordinary Special Grade cursed spirits would likely fare no better; a single chain would be enough to subdue them with ease.

As for more powerful Special Grade cursed spirits and Special Grade sorcerers, that depended on the situation.

However, even against sorcerers and curses vastly stronger than other Special Grades, such as Gojo Satoru or twenty-finger Sukuna, Makima estimated that three or four chains would be enough to strip them of their ability to resist.

After all, while the restraining power of the Chains of Restraint could not compare to directly opening the barrier, it was already absurdly powerful.

As for the maximum number of chains Makima could summon?

Makima estimated it in her heart. In her normal state, it was probably somewhere between several hundred and several thousand. If she got serious and went all out, she would not be using chains at all, but the Restraint Barrier.

Unleashing the Restraint Barrier to its limit, with a radius of one hundred kilometers—even against Gojo Satoru or twenty-finger Sukuna, using that move would be showing them a little too much "respect."

"Then, next..."

Activating the Dominion of the Devil Authority, Makima stared at the clan head lying on the ground. As a high-ranking figure in the Jujutsu World, his eyes had become chillingly indifferent at that moment.

Without any surprise, Makima brought him under her control in a single instant.

Under the Dominion of the Devil Authority, every controlled target would not only obey all of Makima's commands absolutely, but Makima could also freely use their abilities.

The prerequisite for controlling someone was for Makima to sincerely believe, deep in her subconscious, that they were inferior to her and place herself above them.

Once the controlling relationship had been established, the controlled person would be almost completely unable to escape Makima's grasp unless Makima herself chose to release them.

Of course, that was how it worked in theory. But as always, every powerful ability required sufficient scale and output to support it. The Dominion of the Devil Authority, which cost only 6,000 points even without a discount, was destined to lose its effectiveness against beings whose scale exceeded its threshold.

However, no one in this jujutsu world was clearly capable of that.

Now that Makima had controlled a clan head who was one of the Jujutsu World's higher-ups, she had naturally acquired his cursed technique as well. However, Makima had little interest in it.

There were only a handful of cursed techniques in the entire Jujutsu World that could be called interesting, and the one before her was clearly not among them.

"What a pity. It's already rather late today, so I can only control one Jujutsu World higher-up for now."

"Still, with one higher-up helping me, controlling the other higher-ups in the Jujutsu World will become much easier."

"And not just the Jujutsu World's higher-ups. I can also control some of the higher-ups in the ordinary human world. Master should have use for them."

An Xiu wanted to turn the Jujutsu World into his own backyard, but Makima felt that since conditions allowed it, she might as well work a little harder and turn all of Japan into An Xiu's backyard. Wouldn't that be even better?

Gojo Satoru's Surprise, Makima, the Jujutsu World's New Higher-Up

Tokyo Jujutsu High School.

It was noon, with the blazing sun hanging high overhead. Students from every grade at the school were currently immersed in intense training.

They were doing so because they were preparing for the upcoming Inter-school Exchange Event.

Kyoto Jujutsu High School and Tokyo Jujutsu High School were the two major institutions that trained young sorcerers in the Jujutsu World. As such, there was naturally a degree of rivalry between them, so when students from the two schools met, they certainly would not just sit down for tea and conversation.

Both sides consisted of hot-blooded young sorcerers from the new generation. Naturally, when they met, they had to determine who was superior—in other words, they had to fight.

That was the true purpose of the so-called Inter-school Exchange Event: gathering the young sorcerers from both schools for a warm and friendly sparring competition.

If they wanted to shine at the exchange event, they at least had to make sure they would not be taught a painful lesson by the people from the other school. Naturally, that required strength.

"N-No more... I'm so tired I feel like I'm about to die..."

"Break. I need a break!"

Watching Itadori Yuji and Kugisaki Nobara, two members of the exhausted first-year trio, collapse onto the ground without any regard for their appearances, Panda could not help scratching his head as he guided the juniors.

"Even if you say that, it's perfectly normal for training to be tiring. If you push yourselves harder now, you'll be in less danger when you face stronger cursed spirits in the future."

Zenin Maki and Inumaki, standing nearby, nodded in agreement as well.

"Exactly. Sweat more during training, and bleed less when facing cursed spirits. Besides, how could getting stronger possibly be easy? Stop daydreaming."

"Salmon."

Just then, a voice came from not far away.

"Yo, everyone looks energetic. You're all so motivated. Your teacher is very pleased."

"Gojo-sensei?"

Seeing Gojo Satoru approach them with a smile on his face, students from every grade could not help feeling confused.

"Didn't you say you were going on a business trip? Why are you back so soon?"

Gojo Satoru waved a hand dismissively.

"I finished things over there a while ago. I heard something had happened in Tokyo recently, so I came back specifically to take a look."

"What could have happened in Tokyo that would make Gojo-sensei return in person? Don't tell me another Special Grade cursed spirit appeared?"

Itadori Yuji sat up from the ground and asked curiously.

"It's not about cursed spirits. The Jujutsu World recently promoted a new higher-up here in Tokyo."

"Would merely promoting a new higher-up require Gojo-sensei to come back personally?"

"Normally, no. But this time is a little different."

Gojo Satoru spoke in a leisurely tone.

"The newly promoted higher-up is not only very young, but she is also fully responsible for managing the vast majority of sorcerer-related affairs in Tokyo. That is an enormous amount of authority, even within the Director's Office."

"Huh? Fully responsible for managing the vast majority of sorcerer-related affairs in Tokyo? Doesn't that mean even Gojo-sensei and Principal Yaga have to listen to her?"

Being fully responsible for the vast majority of sorcerer-related affairs in Tokyo was already an almost terrifying amount of power. Considering that the Director's Office was also located in Tokyo, it meant that most of the Director's Office's affairs would likely be managed by her as well.

Good heavens, when had the Jujutsu World gained such an important figure without them even knowing? And judging by what Gojo-sensei said, she seemed to be very young?

Gojo Satoru was not surprised to see the students looking as though their worldview had collapsed. In fact, he had been stunned for quite a while when he first received the news.

No one knew better than him what kind of people those Jujutsu World higher-ups were. Those rotten old fogies acted as though giving up even the tiniest bit of power to make room for young people would kill them. Would such people suddenly grow a conscience, decide they ought to yield their positions to the young, and promote a new higher-up?

So Gojo Satoru's first reaction had been that the entire group had finally developed dementia.

Thus, the first thing he did after returning to Tokyo was visit the various Jujutsu World higher-ups in the city. Yet, to his surprise, every single one of them behaved completely normally.

Their manner of speaking and conduct were exactly as before, and even his Six Eyes had detected nothing unusual.

In other words, these higher-ups seemed to have genuinely made the decision to promote someone new on their own?

Even with all of Gojo Satoru's experience, that made him uneasy.

Could it be that those old bastards had truly found their consciences? Had they realized that the modern Jujutsu World had become too stagnant and decided to begin promoting young people?

Did the new era he had always hoped for and worked toward finally show signs of arriving?

Involuntarily, Gojo Satoru developed a trace of interest in the person who had been promoted.

Her name was Makima, right? Gojo Satoru vaguely remembered her. She seemed to be a highly capable and exceptionally shrewd female Grade 1 sorcerer, someone who was not cut from the same cloth as those decaying Jujutsu World higher-ups.

Now that she had been promoted to a new Jujutsu World higher-up, regardless of what those original higher-ups were thinking, the final result should bring some new vitality to the Jujutsu World. Perhaps he could try working with her to change the current state of the Jujutsu World.

However, Gojo Satoru was in no hurry to meet her. After all, he had heard that she intended to attend the upcoming Inter-school Exchange Event to inspect the strength of the Jujutsu World's new generation. There would be a chance to speak then.

Tokyo, Director's Office, inside an office.

"Lady Makima, it's time for lunch."

A person dressed like a secretary pushed open the office door and spoke to Makima, who was busy at work.

Hearing that, Makima placed a processed document to one side and looked up at the time.

"Is it already this late? You've worked hard as well. Go take your lunch break early."

After dismissing the secretary, Makima stood and headed outside.

Along the way, many people respectfully greeted Makima, watching her departing figure with looks of admiration and longing.

A week had passed since Makima became a Jujutsu World higher-up. During that week, Makima had conquered every staff member in the Director's Office with her astonishing competence and conscientious attitude.

It could not be helped. The previous Jujutsu World higher-ups had simply been far too awful. In comparison, Makima managed the work of the entire Director's Office and all sorcerer-related affairs in Tokyo in perfect order, cared for her subordinates, and was exceptionally beautiful. Naturally, she seemed perfect. In an extremely short time, she had become everyone's ideal superior.

Seele and Makima's "Reward"

After leaving the Director's Office, Makima headed toward central Tokyo.

More than half a month had passed since the day she had been manifested. During that time, Makima had successfully controlled nearly half of the Jujutsu World's higher-ups, while progress with the remaining half continued steadily.

Now, in Tokyo alone, Makima could cover the sky with one hand. Apart from Jujutsu High School, nearly every higher-up in all of Tokyo had already fallen under her control.

Although the higher-ups in Kyoto were somewhat surprised that Makima had been promoted, they merely assumed she had gained the recognition of the major families among Tokyo's Jujutsu World higher-ups. They had not discovered the truth.

Therefore, it was only a matter of time before Kyoto's higher-ups fell as well.

Once she successfully controlled the Jujutsu World's higher-ups in both Tokyo and Kyoto, it would essentially mean controlling the entire Jujutsu World. At least ninety percent of the higher-ups would fall under Makima's control.

During this period, as Makima continually controlled Jujutsu World higher-ups, she not only steadily advanced An Xiu's plan to turn the Jujutsu World into his own backyard, but also provided An Xiu with a considerable number of points.

After all, Makima controlling the Jujutsu World for An Xiu could also trigger rewards according to the system's evaluation.

Controlling a Grade 1 sorcerer rewarded 1,000 points, a Grade 2 rewarded 200 points, and a Grade 3 rewarded 50 points.

That was approximately double the reward for cursed spirits of the same grade.

As Jujutsu World higher-ups, most of them possessed some level of strength. Most were Grade 1 sorcerers, so during this period, Makima had successfully provided An Xiu with nearly 30,000 points.

Such a large sum of points was an unexpected windfall. Therefore, An Xiu specifically contacted Makima and told her to find time to return. He wanted to give Makima a "reward."

At her master's willful request, Makima wore a helpless smile, but she had no way to refuse.

After all, he was her master.

As the master, An Xiu only needed to enjoy himself properly. Clones like her had many more things to consider.

Arriving at an upscale residential district in central Tokyo, Makima stopped in front of a detached villa.

This was the new home Seele had purchased for Master a few days ago, so it was likely that Seele would have a share in today's "reward" as well.

Using the Dominion of the Devil Authority, Makima controlled several birds and had them fly around the villa a few times. Only after confirming that there were no followers nearby did she take out the key, open the door, and enter.

The moment she stepped inside, Makima saw An Xiu seated on the spacious sofa in the living room, as well as Seele, who was busy in the kitchen carrying dishes to the dining table.

"Makima, you're back."

Seeing Makima enter through the door, An Xiu immediately spoke.

"Yes, Master. I'm back."

Knowing her master's intentions perfectly well, Makima answered as she slowly approached him.

"Sit."

At An Xiu's invitation, Makima sat beside him. Then An Xiu reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Feeling his restless hands wandering over her body, Makima's dark golden eyes gazed quietly at An Xiu.

"Is this the reward Master mentioned?"

"What, you don't like it?"

"As long as it is Master, I will like anything you do. After all, everything I have was given to me by you."

"So, Master, you may as well be bolder. If it is only this, it can hardly be called a reward."

Resting both hands on An Xiu's shoulders, Makima pressed her entire body against his chest.

Feeling the softness pressing against him, An Xiu's heart gradually grew heated.

Since transmigrating, An Xiu had restrained himself for so long. Naturally, he had not been without thoughts toward Seele and Makima. The only reason he had not made a move on them from the beginning was that he wanted to give them time to adjust.

Now, since Makima was being so proactive, he was not some impotent man. After being invited so eagerly by such a stunning woman, if he could still refuse, then the thing below might as well not exist.

Of course, An Xiu was greedy as well. Makima alone could not satisfy him, so...