Special grade cursed tool! Magic!

As the dinner gathering broke up.

A string of people staggered down Jujutsu High's corridor.

Panda walked at the front, supporting Maki Zenin with one furry arm and keeping the other against Toge Inumaki's back.

Inumaki wasn't drunk, but Maki really had drunk quite a bit. Her glasses sat crooked on her nose, and her steps floated as though she were walking on cotton, though her mouth was as sharp as ever.

"Kinji Hakari..."

"...That Gojo... can't hold his liquor... I can still drink..."

"Yes, yes, nobody can drink like you," Panda agreed good-naturedly.

"Tuna." Toge Inumaki nodded beside him, meaning, "Don't push yourself."

He glanced back at Kinji Hakari and Kirara Hoshi, who were still making a racket behind them.

Kinji Hakari was draped entirely over Kirara Hoshi's shoulders.

His blond hair was a bird's nest, and he was mumbling something along the lines of "another round tomorrow."

Kirara Hoshi supported him as they walked, smiling and patting his cheek.

"All right, all right. Time to go back to bed, Kinji."

The group straggled onward.

The people at the front rounded the corner of Jujutsu High's portico, their voices gradually fading, leaving Satoru Gojo, Wangchuan, and Mei Mei walking behind at an unhurried pace.

Yuta Okkotsu followed quietly about two steps behind the three.

Neither so close as to seem rude nor so far away that he couldn't hear them.

Mei Mei had changed her look that evening.

She had let down the high ponytail she'd worn during the day, her long white hair falling over her shoulders and gleaming softly beneath the streetlights.

She held the remaining half cup of her drink in her hand.

She tilted her head to glance at Wangchuan, her tone as composed and unhurried as ever when she spoke.

"Back to business. That big job I mentioned to you yesterday."

Wangchuan turned his head. "Mm-hmm. Let's hear it."

"A property belonging to a wealthy man in Tokyo, a commercial complex. Cursed spirit activity started there last year."

Mei Mei's voice remained measured.

"It's become increasingly frequent over the past few months. Several night security guards have already been injured."

"The owner hired a few grade 2 jujutsu sorcerers to take a look. None of them came back out."

"What do you mean, didn't come back out?"

"They disappeared," Mei Mei said calmly. "Not one of them has been found. Not even their bodies."

Wangchuan raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. What grade?"

"Special grade. And not a newly formed one. It's had at least two years to develop."

"The site is complicated, with extensive underground spaces and a very considerable amount of residual cursed energy."

Mei Mei paused. "Gojo should know about this job too."

At the mention of his name, Satoru Gojo drew his gaze away from the roof beams.

"Hm? Oh... that one."

"I know. The higher-ups approached me and asked me to take a look."

He winked at Wangchuan, the blue behind his sunglasses flashing in the light.

"I told them I was busy."

Wangchuan glanced at him. "You didn't take it?"

"Nope."

The corners of Satoru Gojo's mouth lifted with a hint of "you know why."

"Didn't I promise you? I'd leave the high-paying special grade jobs to you."

Wangchuan remembered.

It was a "verbal agreement" he and Satoru Gojo had made at a barbecue restaurant a few months earlier.

Back then, Satoru Gojo had thumped his chest and said, "From now on, I won't touch any high-paying special grade jobs. They're all yours."

The reason was simple: Satoru Gojo certainly wasn't short of money.

But Wangchuan was a bounty hunter who worked for money. High-paying jobs meant something different to him.

"...You certainly remembered that clearly." Wangchuan turned his gaze back to Mei Mei. "How much? Give me a number."

Mei Mei lowered her cup, a trace of a smile in her eyes.

"The owner is offering one billion. Because of the high risk rating, and because Gojo won't be taking action, Jujutsu Headquarters is adding another five hundred million as a risk allowance."

"One point five billion." The corners of Wangchuan's mouth finally lifted.

"One point five billion yen in total." Mei Mei nodded. "Well? Are you taking it?"

"Yes." Wangchuan was decisive, without a second's hesitation. "When?"

"Next week. I'll let you know once the exact time is settled."

"All right."

Walking behind them, Yuta Okkotsu caught every word of their conversation.

He lowered his head, looking at the paving tiles in front of his feet, one thought turning over in his mind.

One point five billion.

Did jujutsu sorcerers... make that much money?

He unconsciously touched the ring on his left ring finger.

Rika rested quietly inside, making no movement, but he could feel that warmth against his skin, quiet and steady.

The three ahead were still talking.

Satoru Gojo suddenly tilted his head to look at Mei Mei, a hint of curiosity entering his tone.

"Still, Mei Mei, this isn't like you."

"Hmm?"

"Don't you only ever make deals that guarantee a profit?" Satoru Gojo tapped his fingers in the air.

"A one-point-five-billion job, and instead of taking it yourself, you're offering it to Wangchuan?"

"So generous? Since when were you this kind?"

Mei Mei glanced at him. The curve of her lips remained unchanged, but her eyes held a little more of that composed, mind-your-own-business look.

"What choice do I have?"

"What choice?"

"First, this job really is rather risky. I'm not completely confident."

Mei Mei's tone was matter-of-fact, as though she were stating an objective fact. "There are too many variables with special grade cursed spirits. I don't like doing things I'm not confident about."

"And second?"

Mei Mei's gaze settled on Wangchuan. "Second... well, Wangchuan did promise to craft a special grade cursed tool just for me."

Satoru Gojo abruptly stopped walking.

"Huh?!"

He whipped his head around to look at Wangchuan, his sunglasses nearly slipping off his nose. "Chuan! You can forge cursed tools?!"

Wangchuan was somewhat speechless at his shocked expression.

He had inherited more than Tso Lan's authority. He had also inherited knowledge and memories of spells.

With the support of limitless cursed energy, along with the scattered forging knowledge in the Tso Lan Shards.

Crafting special grade cursed tools according to this world's rules of cursed energy was hardly difficult.

Besides, among the memory fragments that had surfaced in his mind a while ago.

There was a cursed technique for infusing magic into objects and letting it solidify into a tool.

He had tried it once, and it had worked.

In this world, his magic became cursed energy. He only had to change the application of magic into curses.

He pushed Satoru Gojo's shoulder as the latter leaned closer.

"Didn't I tell you? I'm a magician. What's strange about a magician making things?"

"You said you knew magic! But you never said you could make things!" Satoru Gojo's voice rose half a pitch, like a big cat discovering a new toy.

"Hey, hey, hey... make one for me too!"

"I want something, something really cool, with special effects!"

"Five billion." Wangchuan named a price without batting an eye.

"That's way too expensive! Ordinary special grade cursed tools only cost around a billion!"

"Mine are custom-made by hand." Wangchuan continued walking, his tone saying take it or leave it.

"One of a kind in the entire universe, special craftsmanship, and after-sales service included. Five billion is a very fair price."

"How much did you charge Mei Mei just now?"

"She and I are business partners," Wangchuan said without looking back. "Friends' discount."

"What about me?!"

"You? You don't qualify as a friend."

"Chuan!"

Satoru Gojo chased after him. Their shadows stretched long across the ground, their voices gradually fading.

Yuta Okkotsu trailed at the very back, his fingers tightening slightly around his schoolbag strap.

He lowered his head to look at the ring on his hand.

Its surface gave off a dull silver gleam beneath the streetlights, resting quietly against his finger.

Rika was inside, making no movement, but he could feel that familiar, warm presence.

"Magic."

He had heard Wangchuan use that word. Not a cursed technique, but magic.

Did something like that really exist in this world?

He gently clenched his fist.

"...Then could it..."

His voice was very soft, so soft that only the night wind and the distant chirping of insects could hear it.

The laughter and bickering of the three ahead still drifted through the night breeze.

Yuta Okkotsu raised his head, looking at the tall, white-haired figure and the dark-haired figure being pestered helplessly beside him.

The corners of his mouth lifted too, and he quickened his steps to catch up.