Cursed Technique Extension of the Projection Cursed Technique

Utahime Iori had learned that Satoru Gojo had known all along about Dai Li having two cursed techniques, and that he trusted Dai Li as well. This was hardly the first time Satoru Gojo had done whatever he pleased, and Dai Li's case certainly would not be the last.

To her, this would simply become another instance of Satoru Gojo acting with impunity and the higher-ups being forced to compromise out of fear of his strength.

After all, that obnoxious man's only redeeming quality was that he was absurdly strong.

Shoko Ieiri was a little surprised.

Only then did she realize that Satoru Gojo had known all along, but had not told them the specifics of Dai Li's situation.

"Forget it."

She sighed.

"Gojo probably has his reasons again."

Shoko Ieiri leaned back in her chair and said casually,

"He does like doing that."

"He always thinks that as long as he can solve every problem himself, no one else has to shoulder the pressure."

"But in the end, he's usually the one under the most pressure."

Utahime Iori fell silent for a moment.

She thought of that man who always wore such a nonchalant expression.

He possessed power that stood above everyone else.

Yet he always stood alone at the front.

"But..."

Shoko Ieiri looked out the window.

"He must be pretty happy this time."

"What?"

Utahime Iori sounded puzzled.

"He's found two people who can stand beside him."

"One is Dai Li, and the other is Okkotsu."

"Perhaps they really will change the future of Jujutsu Society."

Shoko Ieiri produced a white metal can from somewhere. Even its simple packaging made it clear that it was probably canned malt juice.

"Shoko, isn't doing that in front of a patient a little inappropriate...?"

"Okkotsu doesn't mind, does he?"

Utahime Iori offered a reminder.

Standing beside the open window, Shoko Ieiri turned back to ask Yuta Okkotsu what he thought.

"It's fine, it's fine. Don't worry about me.

Please, go ahead, Miss Shoko."

Yuta Okkotsu hurriedly waved both hands. He did not mind, especially since Shoko Ieiri had just spent quite a bit of cursed energy treating him and had grown rather tired.

Hearing Okkotsu's answer, Shoko Ieiri did not stand on ceremony. With a light push of her thumb, the can of malt juice opened with a soft click.

She stood by the window as wind blew in through it. The white curtains slowly parted, and the strong breeze lifted her long brown hair.

Shoko lowered her head and took a sip, then looked at Utahime Iori as though she had just remembered something.

"Thanks for all your hard work this time, Utahime."

"With something this serious happening at Kyoto Jujutsu High, you must have your hands full. I'll give Gojo a good talking-to later."

After Shoko's words, Utahime Iori no longer concealed the resentment toward Satoru Gojo that she had been holding back.

"Exactly! It's all that Satoru Gojo's fault! He hid information about his student.

And then the commotion at the Goodwill Event brought the higher-ups down on us, leaving me scrambling like this."

"It makes me so mad!"

Utahime Iori vented all her anger at Satoru Gojo. Even if she could not find him right now, that did not stop her from cursing him in his absence. Her lips kept twitching as she pointed her right index finger at the sky and railed at him.

"When Gojo hid things before, at least we could say they were his own business. But Dai Li's situation involves two cursed techniques, and one of them is extremely unusual. Once the higher-ups hear about this, I'm afraid it won't be so easy to settle."

"What do you think the higher-ups will associate with someone having two cursed techniques?"

Shoko took another sip of malt juice and spoke without turning around.

"Huh? What would they associate it with?"

"An ancient jujutsu sorcerer resurrected through incarnation. According to the records we have, that's the only possible way for a single jujutsu sorcerer to possess two cursed techniques."

"The ancient sorcerer's own cursed technique, plus the incarnated vessel's cursed technique."

Yuta Okkotsu listened intently to the conversation between Shoko Ieiri and Utahime Iori. Shoko's final words made him realize that Dai Li would be facing considerable trouble. He did not care about the Jujutsu Higher-Ups; his loyalties had always lain with Dai Li.

If those people sentence Dai Li to death, I have to step in and stop them. With Sensei joining us, the three of us can work together to stop the Jujutsu Higher-Ups.

Meanwhile, on a rooftop at Kyoto Jujutsu High.

Dai Li was swinging a long blade. The curse contained within it made its extraordinary nature palpable.

"Well? This is the 'Imitation Soul Liberation Blade' I projected from my imagination."

"So the principle behind projecting the Imitation Soul Liberation Blade is manifesting your imagination?"

Watching Dai Li swing the Soul Liberation Blade from the side, Satoru Gojo analyzed it with his Six Eyes.

"More or less, I guess. I only figured this move out recently, and the Soul Liberation Blade is a pretty unusual special grade cursed tool to project, so it's probably nowhere near as good as the original."

Satoru Gojo took the Soul Liberation Blade from Dai Li and examined it carefully.

"No, it won't work at all. Even with my Six Eyes, which let me assess the state of someone's soul, I can't use this Soul Liberation Blade."

"Strictly speaking, your attempt at manifesting your imagination wasn't a failure. But cutting souls with this Soul Liberation Blade requires an extremely deep understanding of souls. You have to reach the point where you can see completely through the shape of a person's soul."

"So for now, it can only serve as a fairly sharp, sturdy blade."

Dai Li looked at the imagined Soul Liberation Blade he had spent a vast amount of cursed energy projecting, but did not seem particularly disappointed.

After all, he had known from the start that there was a large gap between something he manifested from his imagination and a genuine special grade cursed tool.

The Projection Cursed Technique could reproduce "existences" within the scope of his understanding. A weapon like the Soul Liberation Blade, which directly involved the essence of the soul, was not something he could reproduce through appearance, structure, and a little imagination alone. His understanding was still far too shallow.

Its true essence was not how sharp its edge was.

It was its ability to reach a realm that ordinary attacks could not.

"Still, getting this far is already pretty incredible."

Satoru Gojo stood beside him, his Six Eyes still fixed on the blade in Dai Li's hand.

"After all, you forcibly constructed a special grade cursed tool using nothing but your own understanding, the information you had, and a huge amount of cursed energy."

"If there were other users of the Projection Cursed Technique, they'd probably struggle just to give it form."

Dai Li flicked the blade.

The dark gray edge swept through the air with a low whoosh.

"So I'm lacking knowledge about souls?"

"Yeah."

Satoru Gojo nodded.

"Jujutsu sorcerers can sense cursed energy and use it to determine an enemy's position and condition, but souls aren't something they deal with in their everyday work."

"And I rely on my Six Eyes to perceive souls. Unfortunately, no one at Jujutsu High, myself included, can teach you about that. You'll have to figure it out on your own."

At this point, Satoru Gojo raised a finger and lightly tapped his temple.

"Besides, seeing and understanding are two different things."

Dai Li sighed helplessly.

Looks like I'll have to take it slow for now. I can't expect to master everything in one go, especially when I've already picked up so many new things.

"Gojo-sensei, sorry for the trouble, but could you demonstrate that for me?

You know-'Cursed Technique Reversal: Red.'"

Dai Li even made a clumsy attempt to imitate Satoru Gojo's intonation at the end.

"I don't know what you're planning, but it's hard to turn down a student's request. Sure."

"Cursed Technique Reversal: Red."

As he spoke, a small red orb suddenly appeared on the tip of Satoru Gojo's right index finger. A vast amount of cursed energy surged around it, rotating counterclockwise with the orb at its center.

Dai Li immediately leaned closer to study it carefully, stopping just short of touching it.

"What's with the close inspection? Don't touch it."

Once Satoru Gojo finished speaking, Dai Li took a few steps back and extended a finger on his right hand.

A small red orb was taking shape at an extremely slow pace on his fingertip.

Satoru Gojo exclaimed, "What?! Are you serious?!"