The topic Naobito Zenin had raised should have been easy to handle. Chinatsu had already come up with dozens of effortless answers, but Satoru Gojo's remark had gradually changed the whole nature of the conversation.
If I don't become the Clan Head, I have to get married?
You've got to be kidding me.
The calm expression on Chinatsu's face began to crack. Had they not been in public, she would have clenched her fist and punched Satoru Gojo right in the head.
No... I need to stay calm... Stay calm...
Chinatsu quickly composed herself, and an icy aloofness far beyond her years settled over her.
Honestly, as much as Satoru Gojo's backstabbing annoyed her, she was even more upset that Naobito Zenin had so casually discussed her marriage in front of everyone.
So what if she was the Six Eyes Divine Child? Until she grew strong enough to earn people's respect, Chinatsu was still nothing more than a little girl in their eyes.
At that thought, Chinatsu let her icy aura radiate without restraint and met Naobito Zenin's gaze.
The strongest Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer, huh?
I'll become Special Grade!
Few people in the Zenin Clan could meet Naobito Zenin's gaze head-on. Most trembled at the ferocity in his eyes, but six-year-old Chinatsu showed no fear.
Under her stare, Naobito Zenin actually felt a slight physical discomfort. He smacked his lips, waved a hand at the people before him, then turned away and went back to drinking alone.
"Chinatsu, don't pay any attention to what that brat said."
The Elder turned toward Chinatsu, trying to comfort her after seeing her like this, but she did not actually need comforting.
"It's fine. I don't care."
Chinatsu gave a cool reply. The Elder failed to catch anything unusual in her words, but Satoru Gojo heard it loud and clear.
How did that tone sound like she didn't care? She clearly cared-very, very much...
This joint banquet of Jujutsu Society did not really have a theme. It was mostly just a get-together.
The older generation chatted about recent events in Jujutsu Society and exchanged information, while the more restless youngsters held sparring matches and the like.
It lasted from nine in the morning until three in the afternoon.
Throughout that time, Chinatsu and Satoru Gojo sat in a corner of the banquet hall.
But after the earlier commotion, and with both of them radiating an icy, unapproachable air, none of the other children dared come near them.
That left the other youngsters with even less to do, so after exchanging glances, they began holding one-on-one sparring matches on their own.
Their fighting styles, which could have come straight out of a classic Hollywood movie, were not much to look at, but their cursed techniques were somewhat interesting.
Techniques that shot flames or ice from their palms were fairly commonplace.
A technique that further amplified a body reinforced with cursed energy was a little more interesting. Unfortunately, the child using it had too little cursed energy for the enhancement to be impressive. At this stage, he was less effective in a fight than the children playing with fire and ice.
After watching the various matches, the Cursed Speech User still drew Chinatsu and Satoru Gojo's attention the most.
A Cursed Speech User wielded the technique "Cursed Speech." Put simply, it made spoken commands come true. Shout "Die!" at a cursed spirit, and it would burst apart on the spot.
However, the technique had its drawbacks. It consumed an enormous amount of cursed energy, and a large disparity between the two sides' reserves could cause a backlash.
In the original story, there was a Cursed Speech User named Toge Inumaki among the main cast. That was a long, long way off, though. At this point in the timeline, he had not even been born.
With food to eat and matches to watch, time passed fairly quickly.
"It's almost three."
"Thank goodness. We can finally leave."
Chinatsu stretched her limbs hard and let out a breath. Satoru Gojo did much the same, putting both hands in his pockets and leaning backward.
Just as they were about to get up and make their escape at the speed of light, both suddenly sensed something amiss.
Someone was watching...
They turned in unison toward an overlooked corner of the banquet hall, where a man in a loose kimono stood leaning against the wall.
Caught off guard when both of them suddenly turned to look at him, the man's eyes widened slightly.
"No way..."
During that brief exchange of looks, surprise also appeared on Satoru Gojo's face. He had realized that the man possessed no cursed energy whatsoever.
In this world, even ordinary people who were not jujutsu sorcerers possessed cursed energy. Their reserves were simply too meager for them to sense or consciously use.
Yet the man before them did not have even a trace of cursed energy. That was absolutely abnormal, something that should not have been possible.
Suddenly, a possibility surfaced in Satoru Gojo's mind. Just as he was about to voice it, Chinatsu spoke first.
"Physical gifts granted by a heavenly restriction."
A heavenly restriction.
It could be called a blessing from heaven or a curse-a binding vow imposed at birth. The man before them had been born without even a shred of cursed energy, and in return, he had gained an unrivaled physique.
The Heavenly Tyrant, Toji Zenin!
At that moment, Toji Zenin was equally shocked. This was the first time in his life that someone had detected him while he was observing them from outside their direct line of sight.
Was this the power of the Six Eyes?
No, it was probably more instinct than anything.
That thought surprised Toji Zenin even more. Although he had sneaked in to take a look at the so-called Six Eyes Divine Child, he actually had no interest in the Six Eyes Divine Child at all.
Toji Zenin raised a hand and scratched the back of his head helplessly. He had secretly followed them here, and it would be a hassle if Naobito Zenin discovered him.
Better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Time to go!
Toji Zenin let out a breath. Just as Satoru Gojo's curiosity stirred and he started to run over, Toji left the banquet hall in a flash, so quickly that he was already out of the Grand Hotel itself.
"So fast..."
Satoru Gojo could not help exclaiming in amazement. Chinatsu, meanwhile, remarked inwardly, Of course Toji's fast. In the original story, he stabbed you right through the head.
A few seconds later, the Elder emerged from a discussion with the other older attendees. Seeing the two children standing there doing nothing, he felt a little puzzled.
"Chinatsu, Satoru, did something happen?"
Both merely shook their heads at the Elder's question, saying nothing about Toji.
"Let's head back. I haven't done any jujutsu training today, so I'll have to catch up once we get home," Chinatsu said with a sigh.
The goal is Special Grade. First, I'll master Blue!
Before you continue