Honeycomb, glass, and dry landscape gardens, part one

"So, Miss Tsukumo, have you recently... made any concrete contributions to Jujutsu Society?

Or you could consider submitting a sufficiently persuasive 'political donation' to win me over."

He let his smile fade and looked at her seriously.

"But in all seriousness, a Special Grade is an enormous fighting asset in her own right. Even without a specific assignment for the moment, simply keeping you on the payroll for emergencies would be well worth it.

Deputy director or director's assistant. Take your pick."

Watching Yuki begin to consider it, Dio paused, then added meaningfully:

"In theory... a deputy director has to oversee a specific field, while the director's assistant only has to look after me.

But just as depicted in Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, the complexity and urgency of the matters the director's assistant actually has to handle and coordinate often exceed even the director's workload.

All the tedious, exhausting jobs I want done-or don't want to do myself-will go to my assistant.

I'd originally planned to press Kento Nanami into service and have him temporarily fill that 'firefighter' vacancy...

But the guy just left me with, 'I'm on vacation. No work-related interruptions,' and ran off without looking back to go on a date with some young woman who works at a bakery.

Ah, I'm just too softhearted.

Seeing him finally free of that burden for once, I really couldn't bring myself to drag him back into this mess."

When Dio finished speaking, Yuki Tsukumo narrowed her eyes slightly, as though swiftly weighing invisible pros and cons in her mind.

But that thoughtful look lasted only a brief moment before disappearing.

Clearly, she had no intention of wasting mental energy on such a complicated comparison.

Yuki opened her eyes wide and asked without any preamble, "Let's start with the practical stuff.

Pay and working hours-are those the same for both positions?"

"The exact salary details haven't been finalized, but the compensation can be set at the same level," Dio answered plainly.

"As for working hours... everything at the new Jujutsu Headquarters is still in its infancy, so we really haven't established a fixed set of rules yet.

Our two current deputy directors, Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto, are essentially task-driven.

They work for however long it takes to deal with the matters requiring their attention.

Geto mainly handles the coordination of and response to domestic cursed spirit matters, while Satoru focuses on managing and coordinating domestic sorcerer affairs.

In theory, they could keep delegating the detailed work to staff in the Secretariat...

But those two still prefer to handle things personally, and they take on quite a lot themselves."

Dio considered it briefly, then continued outlining the role. "If we added a third deputy director...

Perhaps you could specialize in intelligence, negotiations, and special operations related to curses overseas-a role something like a 'jujutsu diplomatic ambassador' combined with an 'overseas special commissioner.'

Serious public incidents directly caused by cursed spirits are relatively rare out there, and the environment might suit your usual style better."

"Isn't it obvious?" Yuki Tsukumo made her decision almost the instant he finished speaking, her smile turning sly and delighted. "The director's assistant, of course."

"Huh?" This time, Dio was the one caught off guard. "I thought you'd be more inclined to take my suggestion and choose the overseas deputy director position. It sounds freer, and its jurisdiction is relatively quiet."

"Heh-heh~" She planted her hands on her hips and raised her chin, looking smug, as though she had pulled off a prank. "One of Yuki Tsukumo's favorite things to do is give a loud 'NO' to people who think they've already got everything arranged!"

"All right, then." Dio chuckled and accepted the outcome. "In that case, when do you intend to start?"

"Right now works." Yuki Tsukumo answered crisply, pointing in the direction Dio had originally been heading. "Were you on your way to Jujutsu Headquarters?"

Dio answered in full detail. "Yes. I plan to show my face and give everyone busy dealing with the aftermath a little encouragement.

After that, I have a brief meeting with the Gojo Clan's architectural team to exchange preliminary views on key matters such as the new headquarters building's architectural style, functional zoning, and integration of defensive barriers.

Finally, I need to find somewhere suitable to practice the cursed technique I just acquired."

"Sounds like a pretty packed schedule." Yuki Tsukumo swung back onto her sleek motorcycle and turned the key. The engine immediately rumbled to life, low and powerful.

She patted the rear seat and turned toward Dio. "If you're not in a hurry, once you've finished all that 'official business'... want to grab a drink together? My treat."

"Oh? Of course. I can put off practicing my cursed technique until tonight." Dio nodded his agreement. "So, besides drinking... is there anything in particular you'd like to ask me about over drinks?"

"Nothing in particular~" Yuki Tsukumo put on her helmet, her smiling voice coming through the visor. "I'm just curious about you and want to take the chance to get to know you a little better~ Hop on. I'll give you a ride."

"...Then I'll gladly take you up on that."

Dio readily sat sideways on the motorcycle's rear seat.

He sat upright, his hands resting naturally at his sides rather than wrapping around the driver's waist. Relying entirely on his powerful core and abdominal muscles to maintain his balance at high speed, he remained as steady as a rock.

After arriving at the old Jujutsu Headquarters site, Dio first made a brief inspection, then publicly announced Yuki Tsukumo's appointment as "director's assistant," prompting a small stir and a flurry of whispers among the staff present.

Yuki stood half a step behind him to one side, her back straight and her expression unremarkable, calmly accepting the varied looks directed her way.

Once the brief appearance was over, Dio did not linger and moved straight on to the next item on his schedule.

The meeting with the architects was held in a conference room that had yet to be demolished.

The seven-person team sent by the Gojo Clan was already waiting there quietly.

Every one of them wore a neatly fitted black kimono.

Their leader was an elderly man whose silver hair had been meticulously woven into a ponytail and tied behind his head-Terunobu Gojo.

He was one of the Gojo Clan's few "barrier artisans" proficient in both architectural design and Barrier Technique.

"Lord Dio, Lady Tsukumo." Terunobu bowed slightly and went straight to the point without much small talk.

He unfurled a parchment blueprint prepared using traditional methods, its edges already faintly yellowed, while signaling an assistant to use a portable projector to display the 3D models from a fifth-generation iPad clearly on the conference room's blank screen.

"If I may, I would first like to present three preliminary proposals for your review and decision."

Dio nodded. Rather than sitting down, he walked straight to the window and stood with his hands behind his back.

It was an old building, after all, and poorly ventilated. Only here was the air somewhat better.

"The first proposal follows the traditional style of the clan's main estate." Terunobu opened the first model file and picked up a laser pointer, moving its red dot across the screen to trace the building's outline.

"Taking the original Kyoto Gojo Estate as its basis, it combines Shinden-zukuri and Shoin-zukuri forms, with some traditional architectural features from Zhengguo incorporated as well.

The main structure is wood and stone, with white walls, black roof tiles, sweeping eaves, and interlocking brackets.

For the grounds, we propose incorporating the aesthetic of dry landscape gardens alongside a strolling pond garden, seeking to unite Zen tranquility with vitality."

The laser pointer moved to the barrier diagram.

"As for the barrier, we can make use of the existing terrain-with mountains to the north and water to the south-to establish a grand Four Symbols Alignment formation.

With all four symbols-the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise-in place, it can draw upon the natural terrain for exceptional stability.

Its advantage is that this style carries on Kyoto Jujutsu Society's established traditions. It offers excellent compatibility with other barriers, and cursed energy will flow through it with extraordinary smoothness and harmony.

But its drawback is also obvious..."

The laser pointer stopped on four flashing nodes.

"Should a traditional grand barrier formation of this kind face a targeted, concentrated attack from a Special Grade curse, its key nodes would be vulnerable to pinpoint destruction, creating a risk of the defensive system being rapidly torn apart."

Dio listened patiently to the end before saying with mild displeasure, "I remember saying I didn't want a traditional style.

We're not building a tourist attraction. We don't need an 'antique charm' to show off our heritage."

Terunobu nodded slightly, showing no surprise. Clearly, he had expected this.

"Yes, I understand."

He immediately operated the tablet and switched to the next proposal.

"Then please take a look at the second proposal, in the modern style you requested."