Chapter 70 (Patreon)

Just then, Ragnar Kagenou suddenly felt as if he had forgotten something.

“...Well, whatever. If I forgot it, it probably wasn’t important.”

If it had slipped his mind that easily, then it could not have been anything serious.

At that same moment, in Kyoto—

“Hey, Yuta. Do you think Ragnar-sensei forgot about us?”

Maki Zen’in sat on the curb, staring at Yuta Okkotsu in front of her.

Yuta scratched his cheek, visibly unsure.

“I... don’t think so. Probably.”

Maki’s expression darkened.

“That irresponsible sensei... Why is he just like Gojo-sensei?”

Far away, Satoru Gojo suddenly sneezed.

“Huh? What was that about?”

— — — — — —

The next day.

Tokyo.

Ragnar Kagenou looked at Maki Zen’in and Yuta Okkotsu standing in front of him.

He cleared his throat.

“Ahem. I’m glad to see you two aren’t the type to blindly wait for orders. Knowing how to adapt on your own is an excellent quality.”

Maki’s eyebrow twitched.

“Hah? Don’t try to dress it up! You clearly forgot to bring us back!”

Yuta tugged lightly at Maki’s sleeve.

“It’s okay, Maki-san. It really wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Ragnar’s expression turned serious.

“How about this, Maki? I’ll recommend you for promotion to Second Grade.”

Maki glanced at him.

“That’s not what I was talking about... Besides, the Zen’in clan keeps blocking my promotion from above.”

Ragnar smiled faintly.

“Don’t worry about that. Just answer me. Do you want it?”

Maki bit her lip.

“I want to become a proper jujutsu sorcerer. A strong one. Strong enough to become head of the Zen’in clan myself.”

Ragnar looked at her and said calmly,

“Only the head of a clan? Maki, you’re my student. If that’s what you want, it’s not impossible.”

Maki took a deep breath.

“No, Ragnar-sensei. I don’t want someone handing it to me. I’ll kick them out of that seat with my own strength.”

Ragnar nodded.

“That’s fine too. But right now, you already have the ability of a Second Grade sorcerer. That much is certain.”

“Ragnar-sensei...”

“Submit the application. No one will dare interfere this time.”

Maki’s eyes widened slightly. Then, a rare smile appeared on her face.

“Yeah. Thank you, Ragnar-sensei.”

Seeing her smile, Ragnar nodded to himself.

Good.

That matter was settled.

Yuta, watching from the side, was left a little speechless.

Honestly, they had not even intended to blame Ragnar that seriously. They were just complaining.

“Ragnar-nii, this katana...”

Ragnar glanced at the sword in Yuta’s hand.

“It’s yours.”

Yuta froze.

“N-no! I can’t accept this. It’s way too valuable.”

“I said it’s yours. Why are you panicking over it?”

“But didn’t you say I had to become Special Grade first before—”

“Then consider it an advance payment.”

Yuta looked down at the Enma sword in his hands.

His grip tightened slightly.

In his heart, he silently made up his mind.

He would become Special Grade.

He would not waste Ragnar’s trust.

“Yuta!”

A familiar voice rang out.

The next instant, Rika Orimoto flew over.

“Waaah!”

Rika slammed straight into Yuta and tackled him to the ground.

After a while, the two finally got back up.

Maki noticed Rika staring at her with open hostility.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Rika clung to Yuta and declared,

“Yuta is mine.”

Maki’s face went blank.

“Who said I wanted to fight you over him?”

Yuta hurriedly began explaining to Rika before things got worse.

— — — — — —

The next day.

Jujutsu Headquarters.

Ragnar Kagenou walked in and glanced around.

“Oh? No curtain blocking the entrance this time?”

“...”

No one answered.

Ragnar casually found an empty seat and sat down.

“Special Grade Sorcerer Ragnar Kagenou. May I ask what brings you here today?”

Ragnar looked toward the speaker.

It was the same man whose hand he had cut off last time.

He smiled faintly.

“Only four people? Aren’t the higher-ups supposed to have five seats?”

“The principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High has yet to respond positively to our invitation. For now, the fifth seat remains vacant.”

“The Tokyo principal? Kenjaku... No, wait. Kamo Noritoshi. He really has terrible taste in people.”

The moment those words left Ragnar’s mouth, the three higher-ups stiffened.

Only for a moment.

Then they forced themselves to remain composed.

“What exactly are you referring to, Special Grade Sorcerer Ragnar?”

“Nothing important.”

Ragnar leaned back in his chair.

“I just remembered a saying. If you don’t want anyone to know, then don’t do it.”

The three higher-ups fell silent.

They were genuinely afraid Ragnar would kill them on the spot.

After all, they knew very well that Ragnar had spent four years hunting Kenjaku overseas.

Ragnar smiled.

“Relax. I’m not here for that today. So, who’s the new one?”

His gaze shifted.

“The principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High. Yoshinobu Gakuganji.”

Gakuganji leaned on his cane, his aged body slightly hunched.

“That would be me, Special Grade Sorcerer Ragnar.”

Ragnar looked at him for a moment before continuing.

“So Yaga Masamichi refused to come?”

“That is correct. We invited him several times, but he never gave a proper answer. Most likely, he has no intention of taking the seat.”

“Fine. I don’t really care how many of you there are.”

Ragnar’s gaze swept over the room.

“I came here because I need something handled.”

“Please speak, Sorcerer Ragnar.”

The higher-ups were clearly wary of him.

“I heard Maki Zen’in’s promotion has been getting blocked.”

One of the old men paused.

“Maki... from the Zen’in clan?”

“That’s right.”

The higher-ups exchanged glances.

Then one of them carefully replied,

“As you said, Sorcerer Ragnar. Maki Zen’in’s promotion has been interfered with in secret by members of the Zen’in clan.”

Ragnar smiled.

“So you knew.”

A faint gulp sounded in the room.

“Y-yes. But that was the Zen’in clan head acting on his own. It was not an official decision from us.”

“Calm down. I’m not a curse.”

The higher-ups immediately nodded.

“Of course. Sorcerer Ragnar is absolutely correct.”

Ragnar’s voice remained calm.

“Then here’s your warning. The Zen’in clan is reaching too far. Cut that hand off before I do it myself.”

“Understood. We will issue the order immediately.”

Ragnar looked at them for a moment.

Good.

At least they were obedient.

There was no need to clean house again.

He rose from his seat and turned to leave.

Then he paused.

“Oh, right.”

The moment they heard his voice again, the higher-ups tensed.

“I’m recommending Rika Orimoto as a Special Grade sorcerer. Any objections?”

“None at all. Rika Orimoto’s strength is more than enough to qualify as Special Grade.”

“Good. And Maki Zen’in is to be promoted to Second Grade. Don’t get it wrong.”

“We will remember it.”

After Ragnar left, Yoshinobu Gakuganji let out a quiet sigh.

“In the end, the jujutsu world still speaks through strength.”

— — — — — —

Zen’in Clan.

“Damn it!”

Zen’in Naoya flew into a rage after hearing the order from Jujutsu Headquarters.

Although he had not yet become head of the Zen’in clan, someone had actually dared to back Maki Zen’in.

And worse, the matter had reached the higher-ups directly.

“Special Grade Sorcerer Ragnar Kagenou...”

Naoya’s expression twisted.

“Maki, you really found yourself one hell of a backer.”

That trash woman with no cursed energy.

Without a Special Grade standing behind her, how could she possibly have the qualifications to become a Second Grade sorcerer?

“Damn it!”