Maki's Direction of Effort

Maki Zenin, born into the Zenin Family of the Three Great Families, had a worse fate than Kamo Noritsuna ever did.

Kamo Noritsuna had a good life until he was eight. Maki, on the other hand, had never known a single good day since she could remember. The fact that she couldn't see curses had already doomed her career as a Jujutsu Sorcerer.

What was worse, the Zenin Family was the most extreme among the Three Great Families when it came to Jujutsu Supremacy. One could imagine Maki's treatment.

Maki was one of the two individuals from the Zenin Family that Akesato was targeting.

According to Zenin Family tradition, Maki should have been oppressed like this until her death, but she refused to admit defeat.

Who said that without cursed energy, without cursed techniques, and unable to see curses, one couldn't become a Jujutsu Sorcerer?

I will become one! If I lack cursed energy, I will compensate with cursed tools.

If the Zenin Family doesn't accept me, I will leave and prove myself on a bigger stage.

Her ultimate goal was to become the Family Head of the Zenin Family, change the stagnant and old-fashioned atmosphere of her family, make everyone look at her with new eyes, and vent her anger.

Akesato felt inferior to her spirit.

Although it was inefficient, looked a bit foolish, and had nothing to do with choices like "best" or "optimal," those who achieved great things throughout history could not do without this kind of "foolishness."

"You have chosen the most difficult path," Akesato said with emotion.

"No, it's at least much better than admitting defeat without even trying."

Maki casually threw aside the polearm that Akesato had interrupted her with, sending the front end flying towards Akesato like a projectile.

Akesato countered with a "catch and neutralize," catching the weapon and dissipating its force.

"Then you should understand that you need to work harder than others, with less room for error. First, stop using this child's play of a weapon."

After speaking, he applied more force to the remaining half of the wooden handle, snapping it in two.

The Polearm Battle Blade itself was not a problem; an inch longer, an inch stronger.

Using a wooden handle was also not an issue; it could effectively control weight, balancing hardness and softness, which was worthy of the title "Thief of a Hundred Weapons."

But this was for ordinary people, not applicable to Jujutsu Sorcerers.

Skilled Jujutsu Sorcerers could unleash physical attacks with tonnage-level force, and ordinary materials themselves could not withstand the high load brought about by high-intensity cursed energy.

"I understand. The master who taught me martial arts was not a Jujutsu Sorcerer, so I didn't consider that aspect."

Maki nodded. Her easy defeat by Akesato was not due to her lack of skill, but because her weapon was too fragile.

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes, and quite a bit."

Prefectural Jujutsu High School students are all straightforward good people, and Ari had no inconvenience in saying anything.

"Because you have no cursed energy, you must put a lot of effort into equipment and tools to ensure that you won't be helpless in any situation. Against large cursed spirits, against small cursed spirits, against fast ones, against numerous ones.

And against Jujutsu Sorcerers, because unlike cursed spirits, you can't see or touch them if you have no cursed energy, so there are more options for dealing with people. For the advice I just gave Maki, consider it tripled."

"This..." Maki hesitated to speak.

Ari hinted, "What, still thinking about so-called fairness? Don't forget your position and innate conditions."

"No." Unexpectedly, Maki shook her head. "I was just thinking about how to fight back when I encounter such a person. Let's just say it like this, if even the Technological Creations you look down on can't block it, then so-called Cursed Techniques aren't that amazing either—how does that sound?"

Ari made a classic clicking sound with his tongue. "Nice! Remember to beat them to a pulp first, and if possible, break all their limbs."

"Hahahaha." Satoru Gojo had devolved into a laughter machine, unable to stop. "Saikō da! You two, why don't you just get together and overthrow the Three Great Families."

"Your Gojo family is also one of the Three Great Families," Ari retorted.

"It doesn't matter. If you can surpass me, I'll be very happy."

Satoru Gojo flicked his hair, almost as if he were carrying a speaker playing "Loneliness, oh, such loneliness..."

"Get together?"

Panda's eyes lit up, sparkling.

Maki didn't think much of it. "You said it, Assistant Teacher. Do you think I have this possibility?"

"The possibility is extremely low, but not zero, if you prepare thoroughly," Ari said sinisterly. "First, develop your Physical Ability to the extreme, then prepare corresponding tactics, such as Nullify Cursed Technique, Counter Domain, Counter Inherent Technique, preventing escape, etc..."

"Not zero is good enough," Maki said, rubbing her hands together, eager to try.

"I'll help too," Panda said, raising his paw.

"Salmon, mentaiko," Inumaki's speech, meaning "Okay (count me in), be careful."

"Then I'll give you a little more motivation," Satoru Gojo also joined the ranks of considering how to defeat Satoru Gojo. "The examples Ari mentioned all have corresponding cursed tools. I was also beaten to the brink of death once. If he had been a little more ruthless and hadn't given me time to use Reverse Cursed Technique, you wouldn't be seeing me."

"There are people like that?" Maki was surprised. "What kind of monster was it?"

"Someone like you who has no cursed energy," Satoru Gojo's expression was complex and obscure. "Maki, when you applied for Enrollment, you told me you didn't need pity. I said it wasn't pity, I genuinely saw potential in you, and this is why."

"Who is he, where is he?" Maki asked.

"He died about ten years ago. It's all in the past. I'll tell you more when there's a chance. I have something to do, so I'll leave today's class to the Assistant Teacher."

Satoru Gojo waved his hand dismissively and turned to leave.

Although Maki was curious, she couldn't ask more since Satoru Gojo didn't say.

As for Akesato, he naturally knew who Satoru Gojo was referring to.

That was precisely the Second Person from the Zenin Family he had been benchmarking against, the only one who had pushed Satoru Gojo to the brink of risking his life. The various advice he gave Maki was all based on this person.

However, the relationship between this person and Satoru Gojo was rather complicated. If Satoru Gojo didn't speak up, Akesato wouldn't meddle.

He was perfectly clear about what should be said, what shouldn't be said, what jokes could be made, and what jokes couldn't be made.

He said, "An incompetent teacher is no longer my concern. Maki, my second piece of advice for you is to learn to sense cursed spirits. Not being able to see them doesn't mean you can't sense them. Vision is just one of the five human senses; besides the five senses, there's the Sixth Sense. If you can 'see' cursed spirits without relying on glasses, your understanding of cursed spirits, your control over yourself, and all related conditions will reach a higher level."

This was another thing Maki hadn't considered. She confirmed, "Is it really possible to do that?"

"Of course, I've seen more than one example," Akesato said with a determined expression.

One was the person who almost beat Satoru Gojo to death.

The other was an ordinary waiter with no talent for Jujutsu Sorcery, who didn't even deserve a name.

The only known fact about him was that he had four foster sisters.