Who Was Stronger?

Yuki Tsukumo once again set out to find a way to solve the Source of Curse, and Shinsuke Zenin's life returned to peace and quiet.

Every day, he guided Maki's training, teased Mai, and occasionally checked in on Toji's family.

As the balance of the Jujutsu World shifted, cursed incidents became more frequent. Each year, he could kill around ten Grade 1 Cursed Spirits, and if he was lucky, he might even run into a Quasi Special Grade. His strength continued to improve steadily.

As for Special Grades, apart from the one who had used a lightning Cursed Technique last time, he still hadn't killed another one.

That was because he simply couldn't find any.

Five years passed in the blink of an eye, and at last, a ripple disturbed his peaceful life.

"Master, I can exorcise Grade 3 Cursed Spirits on my own now."

Maki Zenin stood before Shinsuke Zenin, gripping a spear in her hands, her expression resolute.

She had a feeling that within a year at most, she would be able to exorcise Grade 2 Cursed Spirits on her own and reach the strength of a Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer.

Then she could officially become his disciple and learn more powerful techniques.

Looking at the girl before him, her hair tied in a ponytail and glasses perched on her nose, Shinsuke Zenin couldn't help reflecting on how quickly time had passed.

"Not bad. You're a little ahead of schedule," Shinsuke Zenin said with a nod.

He'd estimated that she wouldn't meet the requirements until the main story began. It seemed all those years of training hadn't gone to waste.

"Brother, I can exorcise Grade 3 Cursed Spirits too!"

Mai hurried to speak up beside her, like a little girl eager for praise, still a long way from grown-up.

"Then Mai's pretty impressive too."

Shinsuke Zenin felt a little pleased as he watched Mai twirl a pistol in her hands.

Exorcising Grade 3 Cursed Spirits was nothing special for a sorcerer who could use a Cursed Technique, but for Mai, who loved to play around, it was already quite an achievement.

After all, her Cursed Technique had its limitations. Even now, the most she could create in a day was a single bullet.

"Heh heh, of course! By the time my big sister can exorcise Grade 2 Cursed Spirits, I'll definitely be able to do it too!"

Unlike how she'd once given up on herself, Mai had worked much harder since Shinsuke Zenin came along.

"I hope you both manage it."

Shinsuke Zenin lay back in his chair and said it casually.

"Whoosh."

Just then, a figure appeared in the courtyard as if he'd teleported. He looked at Shinsuke Zenin lounging in his chair, then glanced at the two girls beside him.

Maki and Mai eyed the sudden intruder warily.

"You look pretty relaxed. Are these two your daughters?"

Gojo Satoru, who had broken into the house, spoke up.

"Didn't you know trespassing gets you fined? Remember to transfer the fine to my account."

Shinsuke Zenin looked at Gojo Satoru, who had barged in out of nowhere, and felt a bad premonition.

"We can deal with the fine later. Jujutsu High has some new students this year. Since you're so free, why don't you help look after them?"

Gojo Satoru smiled.

Jujutsu High had been busy lately, and all the strong Jujutsu Sorcerers were occupied, so nobody had been assigned to mentor this year's new students.

That simply wouldn't do. At the very least, first-years needed a teacher to show them the ropes: the procedures, work, and training involved in being a Jujutsu Sorcerer for the first time.

As for the second- and third-years, they could be left to their own devices.

"Are you kidding? I don't know how to teach people, especially Jujutsu Sorcerers."

As soon as Shinsuke Zenin heard he'd have to teach a class, he flatly refused.

He didn't mind taking a team out to kill Cursed Spirits, but what was he supposed to teach the students?

"Hey, don't reject me so quickly. You'd only have to look after the students for a year."

"Even though you don't have Cursed Energy or a Cursed Technique, you know as much about Jujutsu Sorcerers as any teacher at Jujutsu High."

Gojo Satoru looked at Shinsuke Zenin. He was certain of it.

Someone without Cursed Energy who'd still made a name for himself in the Jujutsu World had to be strong, and he was sure to know Jujutsu Sorcerers inside and out.

"Even if you really can't teach them, you can at least take them to exorcise Cursed Spirits, right? As for questions about Cursed Techniques, just send them to me."

Gojo Satoru made a promise.

He could still find time to answer the students' questions.

"Not interested." Shinsuke Zenin didn't budge.

Just because a Special Grade Sorcerer had come to his door didn't mean he'd give in. If he didn't want to do something, nobody could make him.

"Being a homeroom teacher comes with extra pay. And I can give you another ten million out of my own pocket!"

Gojo Satoru continued negotiating.

If he hadn't been busy dealing with Geto Suguru, who'd been causing trouble everywhere, he would've taken the students himself. He wouldn't have needed to find someone else.

"How much extra does a homeroom teacher get?"

Shinsuke Zenin asked seriously. It wasn't that he cared about Gojo Satoru's ten million. He just wanted to know how the pay compared between an ordinary Jujutsu High teacher and a homeroom teacher.

"Three times the base salary. Missions are paid separately, and if a student reaches Grade 1 Sorcerer level by graduation, there's a bonus too."

"Got it. I don't have much to do anyway, so I'll help you out. Remember to transfer the ten million and the trespassing fine to my account."

Gojo Satoru's mouth twitched. What did he mean, "I'll help you out"?

He wanted the money and a favor?

How could anyone be so shameless?

"Got it. Be sure to show up for work on time tomorrow."

With that, Gojo Satoru compressed space using Limitless and teleported away, leaving a deep crater in the courtyard.

For the sake of the ten million, Shinsuke Zenin didn't bother charging him for the damage to his property.

"Brother, was that Gojo Satoru, the one they call the Strongest Sorcerer?"

Between his vanishing and reappearing, his signature blindfold, and his hair, everyone in the Jujutsu World knew who Gojo Satoru was.

"Yeah."

Shinsuke Zenin replied casually. Seeing the transfer notification on his phone, he smiled with satisfaction.

No wonder he was a Special Grade Sorcerer. The guy was damn rich.

He wondered if he should kidnap Yuki Tsukumo and make her work for Jujutsu High.

Then he could finally lie around doing nothing.

"Master, who's stronger—you or him?"

Maki pushed up her glasses and asked curiously.

"What do you think?" Shinsuke Zenin turned to look at her.

"Hmm... I don't know."

Maki thought for a moment but couldn't decide.

By conventional wisdom, the title of Strongest Sorcerer was enough to prove that Gojo Satoru was the strongest.

But as Shinsuke Zenin's direct disciple, she didn't see it that way. Her master wasn't a Jujutsu Sorcerer, so he wasn't included in that category.

Even though her master held the rank of Special Grade 1, that was only a rough measure of strength. Besides, she didn't think her master was only Grade 1 level.

"Then who does Mai think is stronger?"

At that, Mai thought carefully for a moment, then answered seriously, "I think Brother is stronger!"

"Oh? Why?" Shinsuke Zenin asked, surprised.

He hadn't expected Mai to come to that conclusion after thinking so carefully. Maybe she had some unique insight.

"Gojo Satoru doesn't look scary at all. But Brother, have you forgotten? I cried just from seeing you back then. So...I think you're stronger!" Mai reasoned.

Shinsuke Zenin: "..."

Maki Zenin: "..."