Living Off Avatars from Jujutsu Kaisen

"Have a seat."

Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru didn't stand on ceremony and immediately sat in the chair opposite An Xiu.

"Since I didn't expect a guest, I didn't prepare any tea. If the hospitality is lacking, please bear with it."

"Hey, hey, those aren't the kind of things you should say to a guest, are they?"

Hearing that he wouldn't even get a drink, Gojo Satoru's mouth twitched slightly. But remembering the main business, he pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Can you tell me what happened after I passed out?"

"What else could have happened? After you were defeated, Seele healed you, then left you at the construction site until you woke up. That's it."

An Xiu, sitting opposite, said nonchalantly. Gojo Satoru was clearly not satisfied with this answer.

"That's obviously not the point. If I'm not mistaken, the curse that was occupying Miss Seele's body clearly emerged. Can you tell me what happened afterward? How did you reseal the curse?"

Gojo Satoru's expression was unusually serious as he asked this question. However, the only response he received was An Xiu's gaze, as if he were looking at an idiot.

"I already told you, after you were defeated, Seele came out and healed you. Seal? What seal? After defeating you, the other Seele just went back on her own."

No seal?

She went back on her own after defeating him?

"Wait, little brother, are you saying that the curse occupying Miss Seele's body, after taking control of her and defeating me, returned the body on its own? It didn't try to seize the body, and you didn't impose any restrictions on her?"

"Why else? If you want, I can let her out again right now."

An Xiu replied.

"The other me isn't a curse; she's Seele's family."

At that moment, Seele, who had arrived behind An Xiu at some point, also spoke.

"You, if you dare speak disrespectfully to me again, don't blame me for being rude!"

Finally, a black and red cursed energy surged, and Black Seele, manifesting separately from Seele's body, also appeared in the living room. She floated behind An Xiu, her eyes filled with malice as she stared at Gojo Satoru in front of her.

Even a clay figurine has some spirit, let alone Black Seele, who wasn't known for her good temper. Being repeatedly targeted by the other party, Black Seele felt extremely displeased and was already finding it difficult to restrain herself from teaching him a lesson again.

Feeling that familiar black and red cursed energy that had brought him defeat, Gojo Satoru took a deep breath.

"Alright, it seems I misunderstood. Your relationship is much closer than I, an outsider, imagined."

Seeing that Black Seele could even detach from Seele's body and manifest as a cursed spirit independently, Gojo Satoru knew his previous assumptions were likely mistaken.

The relationship between the curse before him and the girl was not that of a typical curse and its vessel. It was somewhat similar to the situation of his former student, Okkotsu Yuta.

The only difference was that Okkotsu Yuta and the cursed spirit beside him had a less direct connection than the girl and the curse before him, which involved a vessel.

Well… there was also a gap in strength.

Faced with this situation, Gojo Satoru decided to stop probing into Black Seele's identity as a curse.

Firstly, in his observation, the relationship between this curse and the Seele beside her didn't seem fake. Secondly… never mind.

"Then let's change the topic. Are any of you interested in joining the Jujutsu world?"

"Don't rush to refuse. If little brother An Xiu and Miss Seele are willing to join the Jujutsu world, I can personally apply for a Special Grade sorcerer assessment for Miss Seele. For little brother An Xiu, you can also apply for a Grade 1 sorcerer assessment."

Although Seele and Black Seele were clearly much stronger, Gojo Satoru seemed to sense that both Seele and that curse implicitly deferred to An Xiu's opinions. Therefore, he directed most of his previous remarks towards An Xiu.

Gojo Satoru was actually still a bit puzzled about the relationship between the three. It was one thing for Seele; Gojo Satoru could tell at a glance that she was the type of obedient girl. For someone with such a personality, it wasn't surprising that even if she were powerful, she would listen to the people around her.

But what about that curse? This clearly wasn't someone with a good temper. It was somewhat understandable that she would listen to Seele, but why would she listen to An Xiu and proactively prioritize his opinions?

It couldn't be that she liked him, right? A curse liking a human…

It wasn't impossible, was it?

After carefully examining the relationship between the three, Gojo Satoru found that this idea could indeed serve as a plausible explanation, even if it sounded somewhat unbelievable.

After all, even his former student Okkotsu Yuta had a close emotional bond with Rika before she became a curse. The situation with the curse before him was clearly different.

It didn't seem like a curse that had transformed from a human, but rather a naturally born cursed spirit from the girl named Seele.

To be able to "conquer" even a curse born from malice like this, Gojo Satoru could only inwardly click his tongue.

Was he getting old? Why did it feel like the new generation of sorcerers in recent years were becoming increasingly incomprehensible?

Unaware of what Gojo Satoru was imagining across from him, An Xiu was currently feigning thought.

Joining the Jujutsu world and utilizing its information network was a plan that had already been set. However, he couldn't agree too readily; he could extract some additional benefits.

"Joining the Jujutsu world is not out of the question, but let's make it clear beforehand: we will not accept any orders from the Jujutsu world, and the Jujutsu world must provide us with information on cursed spirits when we need it."

"In other words, you want to be free sorcerers with higher authority? Alright, I can make the decision to agree to this small matter myself. Do you have any other requests?"

"Yes, also detailed information about the Jujutsu world, including the distribution of personnel among the higher-ups and their behind-the-scenes families…"

An Xiu listed a series of requests, which caused Gojo Satoru to feel a bit surprised.

Why would they want information on the Jujutsu world's higher-ups and their backing families for no apparent reason? Were they doing a census?

Although he didn't understand An Xiu's purpose in proposing such conditions, with the mindset of screwing over those higher-ups, Gojo Satoru directly provided all the information he knew about them.

Chapter 12: A Major Earthquake in the Jujutsu World's High Command

As night fell over Tokyo Jujutsu High School.

Inside the principal's office, Gakuganji Yaga held a needle and thread, his expression serious and intent as he mended a plush toy that seemed out of character with his demeanor.

Under the faint candlelight, the needle and thread moved back and forth. It was hard to imagine that this burly middle-aged man was so skilled at such delicate work.

Finally, as if he had finished sewing the toy, Gakuganji Yaga carefully placed it on the table beside him before turning to look behind him.

"Satoru, you're back."

The principal's office door opened at the opportune moment, and Gojo Satoru walked in with a relaxed stride.

"Ah, I'm back. What a huge surprise I've encountered this time."

However, upon seeing Gojo Satoru enter, Gakuganji Yaga's brow furrowed deeply.

"Satoru, what's with this disheveled state you're in?"

It wasn't that Gakuganji Yaga was being unreasonable; Gojo Satoru's current appearance was a stark contrast to his usual self.

His clothes were tattered, as if he had been through a terrifying battle, with gaps everywhere that looked like they were torn by some sharp weapon. His normally meticulously styled hair was a mess, making him look like a destitute beggar.

Gakuganji Yaga found it hard to fathom what Gojo Satoru, with his Infinity technique, could have possibly gone through to end up like this.

He remembered that Gojo Satoru was supposed to be investigating information about a suspected Special Grade sighting today.

"It's nothing much. I just found the target while investigating the intel, fought them, and I lost."

"What did you say?!"

Gakuganji Yaga wondered if he had misheard.

Gojo Satoru had just said he fought the suspected Special Grade and lost? Gojo Satoru, the strongest, had actually lost?!!

"Satoru, do you know what you're saying? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"I'm sure. If I lost, I lost. I'll win it back next time."

As the person involved, Gojo Satoru seemed much more open-minded about his defeat as the strongest than Gakuganji Yaga standing before him.

"Who exactly is this person, and what kind of technique do they possess that even you are no match for them?"

"That's what I'm about to tell you. The opponent is a girl who has become the vessel for a curse."

Gojo Satoru waved his hand as he spoke.

"Let's go to the Director's Office. We can talk there."

Because Gojo Satoru did not deliberately conceal the information, and even actively pushed it forward to some extent, the intelligence regarding Gojo Satoru's defeat and the fact that the person who defeated him was a girl possessed by a curse quickly spread among the higher echelons of the jujutsu world, even though it was already evening.

In front of the Tokyo Jujutsu High School gate, the Assistant Supervisor Ijichi, who had been specifically called to drive them, carried Gojo Satoru and Gakuganji Yaga towards the Director's Office, sweating profusely.

Since he was specially summoned, Ijichi also happened to learn some inside information, such as the purpose of Gojo Satoru and Gakuganji Yaga's trip to the Director's Office.

But at this moment, Ijichi wished he knew nothing at all.

The strongest's defeat, the girl who defeated the strongest, and the curse...

Damn it! Is this the kind of thing someone of my lowly status is supposed to hear? What if I end up being shot eight times and kill myself at home after work today?

At the Director's Office, in the conference room.

Gojo Satoru, who had changed his clothes and tidied himself up, slowly walked into the dimly lit room.

As the door closed, weak lights flickered on one by one, illuminating the dozens of screens erected around the room.

The many high-ranking officials, participating in the meeting through their connection with their shikigami, stared at Gojo Satoru in the center and eagerly began to question him.

"Gojo Satoru, as the head of the Gojo family, you must take responsibility for your words. Is the information about your defeat by an unknown Special Grade true?"

"Is the information about the girl possessed by a curse true? And is it true that she possesses the strength to defeat you!"

"Do you realize how significant this matter is to the jujutsu world? Gojo Satoru, you need to think carefully before answering!"

Faced with the barrage of questions from all sides, Gojo Satoru calmly picked at his ear.

"I am certain. It is indeed true that the other party defeated me."

"Although I couldn't use my Domain Expansion, neither could the opponent. Moreover, I could sense that even after defeating me, the opponent still seemed to be holding back."

Upon hearing Gojo Satoru's definitive answer, the usually noisy conference room fell into an unusual silence.

While the higher-ups in the jujutsu world generally disliked Gojo Satoru, it didn't mean they didn't acknowledge his strength.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have tolerated his various actions time and time again.

The strongest in the jujutsu world – Gojo Satoru was truly worthy of this title.

But now, Gojo Satoru claimed he had lost, lost to a girl he had never even heard of before, who was also possessed by a curse.

"Is that curse truly that powerful?"

For once, the inquiries from the high-ranking officials were not aggressive but rather cautious.

Seeing the opportunistic nature of these people, Gojo Satoru let out a mocking smile.

These were the kind of people who, relying on the fact that no one opposed them, would brazenly abuse their power to persecute others and openly accumulate benefits for themselves.

When faced with someone like Gojo Satoru, whom they couldn't oppress, they dared not confront him directly. Instead, they resorted to underhanded schemes in secret.

Upon hearing of an untamed, unknown entity whose strength they were completely unable to resist, they were utterly terrified, their words lacking any conviction.

"I need to correct something. It wasn't just the cursed spirit that was powerful. While I ultimately lost to them, the girl who was possessed possessed strength comparable to mine."

"So you don't need to worry about the cursed spirit going out of control. I believe that girl can handle it, and after communicating with her, she has agreed to join the Jujutsu world."

Before the higher-ups who heard this could express their delight, Gojo Satoru added.

"However, as a condition for joining, she will not accept any orders from the Jujutsu world. She also demands that the Jujutsu world provide her with information on the locations of cursed spirits. She can help the Jujutsu world clear them, but she must be compensated accordingly."

"Also, remember to approve her application for Special Grade sorcerer later."

Instantly, the faces of the many higher-ups who heard this through their shikigami turned grim.

"This is utterly outrageous! To join the Jujutsu world yet refuse to obey the higher-ups' commands and demand that the Jujutsu world provide her with information unconditionally!"

"Disrespectful and utterly absurd!"

Gojo Satoru, who had been silently observing the Jujutsu world's higher-ups spewing arrogant words and growing tired of listening, spoke up again.

"Do you want me to repeat your answers to her in their entirety?"

For a moment, the entire conference room fell silent again. After a brief pause, the higher-ups resumed their discussions as if nothing had happened.

"We approve the application for the new Special Grade sorcerer."

"The Jujutsu world can provide the other party with intelligence support regarding cursed spirits, but that is all."

Chapter 13: An Xiu's Fall, Gengmukai

Thus, with Gojo Satoru's assistance, An Xiu and Seele officially joined the Jujutsu world.

Of course, in the eyes of the unaware Jujutsu world higher-ups, An Xiu was more like an afterthought. The truly important figure was Seele, who had defeated Gojo Satoru.