By the time Shinsuke Zenin arrived at Tokyo Jujutsu High, most of the teachers had already gathered.
Even a few teachers from Kyoto Jujutsu High had come.
"Quite a crowd. Do we really need this much fuss for one Special Grade?"
Shinsuke took his seat, looking a little surprised.
Special Grade Cursed Spirits were powerful, but was there really any need to call in so many people?
"Because this isn't just about a Special Grade Cursed Spirit. It involves a Curse User organization."
Satoru Gojo spoke expressionlessly, with an unusual note of seriousness.
He didn't care much about Cursed Spirits, but since this involved his good friend, Geto Suguru, he had no choice but to take it seriously.
Even now, he still hoped Geto would come back.
As long as Geto was willing to return, Gojo could handle any opposition from the higher-ups on his own.
Just then, Shoko Ieiri wheeled in a chair carrying Riko Amanai, who was wrapped in bandages from head to toe.
Looking at the Jujutsu Sorcerers in the room, Riko greeted them. "I'll be counting on you all this time."
"Uncle? You're here too?"
When she spotted Shinsuke, Riko suddenly felt a little awkward. She'd been mooching meals off him just a few days ago, and now she was wrapped up like a mummy. It was pretty embarrassing.
"Tsk, tsk, Little Riko. You still have a lot of work to do. It's only been a few days since I last saw you..."
Looking at Riko's sorry state, Shinsuke shook his head.
Still, if a Special Grade Cursed Spirit could beat someone who was already a Grade 1 Sorcerer into this state, it had to be pretty capable.
"Ahem. Riko, tell us exactly what happened."
Masamichi Yaga cleared his throat twice and got down to the business at hand.
Riko glanced at everyone and nodded. "The mission took place in Shibuya. I ran into the Curse User... Geto Suguru. When I reached the scene, he was fighting that Special Grade Cursed Spirit..."
Riko recounted what had happened during her mission.
It had originally been a simple exorcism mission.
After exorcising the curse, she sensed a powerful surge of Cursed Energy nearby. Thinking another Cursed Spirit was causing trouble, she decided to take care of it while she was there.
That was when she saw Geto Suguru fighting a Cursed Spirit.
Since even Geto hadn't been able to take it down quickly, she judged that the Cursed Spirit was at least Special Grade.
She'd come out to exorcise Cursed Spirits anyway, so she decided to take advantage of Geto being tied up with it, build up her strength in secret, and land a fatal blow.
After all, she didn't want Geto to absorb the Cursed Spirit and help him destroy the world.
The outcome was predictable.
Before she could finish building up her strength, the Cursed Spirit and Geto spotted her.
The Cursed Spirit then switched its target and beat her into critical condition. If Geto hadn't been there too, she probably would have been a goner.
"It could do this to Riko? Then it wasn't an ordinary Special Grade."
"Has Geto Suguru absorbed the Cursed Spirit?"
The others asked.
Riko shook her head. "No. It escaped. According to Geto, it doesn't seem like an ordinary Special Grade. Its strength is growing every moment."
"Before long, even he won't be confident he can beat it."
"Geto Suguru thinks highly of this Cursed Spirit. He'll probably make another move soon."
The meeting room fell silent.
Geto Suguru had become a Curse User, but everyone knew how strong he was.
If even he hadn't managed to take down that Cursed Spirit, then even allowing for Riko getting in his way, it was clear how powerful it was.
"Growing stronger every moment?"
Shinsuke pondered this. Could it be a natural talent like Mahito?
A Special Grade of that caliber should provide him with plenty of vital energy...
"The main problem is that we don't know where the Cursed Spirit is, or where Geto Suguru will fight it next.
"If it appears in a busy area, it'll cause widespread panic and damage."
Masamichi Yaga explained why he'd called so many teachers together.
Geto Suguru wanted all non-sorcerers dead, so he certainly wouldn't care about the lives of ordinary people.
And the Cursed Spirit was even less likely to care.
"There's a good chance the Cursed Spirit is still in Shibuya, so your task is to search every part of the area in groups, find it, and exorcise it."
"Gojo, you'll be on your own. The two Grade 1 Sorcerers will work as a team. If you find the Cursed Spirit, don't engage it right away. Report its location to everyone first."
Masamichi Yaga briefly explained the plan for the mission.
In short, they would find the Special Grade Cursed Spirit, focus all their firepower on it, and take it out in an instant, keeping the damage to a minimum.
Since the mission involved Geto Suguru and they might end up clashing with his organization, Yaga had called in every teacher who could be deployed.
"I'm heading over first. Take your time."
After giving them their assignments, Satoru Gojo stood and walked out. He clapped his hands, sending himself to a corner of Shibuya. He couldn't wait to see Geto Suguru.
"What a rude guy. He couldn't even see his senior off."
Shinsuke also slowly rose and headed outside.
Over short distances, he might be faster than Satoru Gojo, but Gojo was much quicker when it came to long-distance transportation.
He'd just take a leisurely ride over.
"I'll team up with Meimei!"
Utahime Iori ran over to Meimei and hooked her arm.
Atsuya Kusakabe, the only one left, glanced at Yaga and was about to speak, but Yaga cut him off. "I won't be taking part in this mission."
"What? Ah, Teacher Shinsuke! Wait for me!"
With no other choice, he could only team up with Shinsuke Zenin.
They didn't usually talk much. Judging by the other man's face, he was handsome, sure, but he seemed a little hard to get along with.
There was no point overthinking it. Kusakabe hurried to catch up with Shinsuke.
If he was hard to get along with, then he'd just have to spend more time with him.
As for the rest, Yaga had already sent a number of Grade 2 Sorcerers to Shibuya to help them complete the mission.
"Teacher Shinsuke, wait up!"
Kusakabe finally caught up with Shinsuke, breathing a little heavily.
"Hm? Is there something you need, Teacher Kusakabe?"
Shinsuke looked at Kusakabe in confusion.
He vaguely remembered the man. Wasn't he called the strongest Grade 1 Sorcerer?
"Teacher Shinsuke, didn't you hear Principal Yaga just now? The Grade 1 Sorcerers are supposed to work in pairs. You and I are partners."
Kusakabe reminded him of Yaga's instructions.
"Oh, that's right. Nice to meet you."
Shinsuke realized what he meant, smiled, and shook Kusakabe's hand.
He'd been so busy thinking about how to seize the Cursed Spirit's right to live or die from all these people that he hadn't paid any attention to what Yaga was saying.
As a Special Grade 1, he was essentially a Grade 1 Sorcerer too.
"Uh... Nice to meet you too!"
Seeing Shinsuke's reaction, Kusakabe froze for a moment, then quickly reached out his hand.
"Come on, we should get going."
"Ah, right, yes. We should go," Kusakabe replied.
Teacher Shinsuke seemed pretty easy to get along with after all. He wasn't as stern as he looked.
It was just... why did being around him make Kusakabe feel a little nervous?
Before you continue