Chapter 127 (Patreon)

Underground.

“You’re late. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about me.”

Kokichi Muta, his entire body wrapped in bandages, stared at Mahito and Kenjaku as they approached.

“We’re not foolish enough to do that,” Kenjaku replied. “You’ve already experienced how terrifying those cursed talismans can be, haven’t you?”

Mahito glanced around the underground chamber with an expression of open disgust.

“What a miserable place. It still reeks of mold.”

“You’ve already leaked information about Jujutsu High to us,” Kenjaku continued. “Why not keep doing it? You can no longer return to Jujutsu High, so joining us would be the logical choice.”

Mahito tilted his head.

“Huh? Are we recruiting him now?”

“Jujutsu High most likely hasn’t discovered his betrayal yet,” Kenjaku said. “As long as he continues supporting us during the operation in Shibuya, not only will his body be restored, but attaining the rank of Special Grade may also be within his reach.”

Kokichi lowered his head and remained silent for a moment.

“A Binding Vow.”

Kenjaku’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“You don’t need to remind us. After all, there’s no telling whether you might secretly contact someone at Jujutsu High.”

“I don’t trust either of you,” Kokichi replied. “A Binding Vow guarantees that neither side can betray the agreement. Now fulfill your part of the vow and heal my body.”

Mahito reluctantly walked toward him.

“Seriously… even standing near you makes my skin crawl.”

“Save it. Hurry up.”

Mahito stopped in front of Kokichi and stared at him.

“What should I do? I feel like I might accidentally turn him into a bean weevil.”

“A Binding Vow made with another person is different from one imposed upon oneself,” Kenjaku reminded him. “Breaking a self-imposed vow merely causes you to lose whatever benefits you gained from it. But when a vow is made between two people, no one knows when or how the punishment will come.”

His expression became slightly more serious.

“If you break it, the consequences could interfere with everything we have planned.”

Mahito sighed as Kenjaku continued lecturing him.

“Fine, fine. I understand.”

He placed his hand against Kokichi’s body.

Idle Transfiguration.

Mahito’s Cursed Technique activated, reshaping Kokichi’s soul and restoring his ruined body along with it.

Kenjaku watched the transformation in silence before speaking again.

“Now then… let’s continue establishing the terms of our Binding Vow.”

Kokichi raised his head.

“Go ahead.”

October 31, 2018 — Shibuya, 7:00 p.m.

A Curtain with a radius of four hundred meters had been lowered around Shibuya, with the Tokyu Department Store’s Shibuya branch at its center.

Ragnar Kagenou, Satoru Gojo, and Suguru Geto stood atop a high-rise building, looking down at the Curtain below.

“It seems Kenjaku and the others finally lost their patience,” Ragnar said. “They’ve erected a barrier over Shibuya.”

“This is meant for me,” Satoru said. “The Curtain doesn’t prevent me from entering, which means they intend to deal with me first.”

“Satoru, there’s no need for you to go inside immediately,” Geto said. “We could gradually dismantle their defenses from the outside.”

He paused and glanced at his old friend.

“That would have been the sensible plan, but you were never going to agree to it, were you?”

“You know me too well,” Satoru replied with a grin. “We can’t let them drag us around by the nose. That’s not how I do things.”

“They’ve erected four separate layers of Curtains,” Ragnar said. “They’re being extremely cautious. But that isn’t the real problem.”

His eyes narrowed as he focused on the enormous barrier surrounding Shibuya.

“Tengen is behaving strangely.”

Geto frowned.

“Tengen couldn’t possibly be working with them.”

“That isn’t necessarily true,” Satoru said. “My connection to Tengen has been severed. Kenjaku may still be Tengen’s enemy for the moment, but once Kenjaku is dealt with, I’ll likely become Tengen’s next target.”

Geto looked between them.

“Did something happen while I was gone?”

“To put it simply, the Tengen we know now is little more than a will residing within an empty shell,” Ragnar explained. “The true Tengen failed to merge with a Star Plasma Vessel and has already become one with the world itself.”

“I had no idea…”

“That discussion can wait,” Ragnar said. “Kenjaku has chosen to declare war on us. It seems they’re even more impatient than we expected.”

The moment he finished speaking, an even more powerful barrier engulfed all of Shibuya.

In an instant, the sky appeared to fracture into hundreds of separate sections. Even the space surrounding them was divided along with it, forming a vast structure resembling a honeycomb.

Geto stared at the distorted space around them.

“What is this sensation? Another barrier?”

Satoru pulled down his black blindfold and examined the sky with the Six Eyes.

“That’s right. This entire area has been enclosed by a barrier.”

His expression grew more focused.

“It covers the whole city, yet it can still divide the space within it into countless separate sections. Whoever created this possesses a level of barrier technique far beyond anyone else.”

“There’s only one person in this world capable of constructing a barrier on this scale,” Ragnar said.

He looked toward the center of Shibuya.

“Tengen.”

Geto’s brow furrowed.

“But didn’t you just say that Kenjaku is still Tengen’s enemy?”

Satoru used the Six Eyes to look through the Curtain.

Beside Kenjaku stood a figure he immediately recognized as Tengen.

“Now this is interesting,” Satoru said. “It looks like Kenjaku has taken control of Tengen.”

“Control?” Geto repeated. “What kind of Cursed Technique could possibly control Tengen?”

His eyes suddenly widened.

“Wait… my Cursed Spirit Manipulation?”

Satoru turned toward him.

“Why would Kenjaku possess your Cursed Technique?”

“I suspect Kenjaku extracted it from Geto,” Ragnar said. “That would explain why Geto has been unable to use it.”

“That’s most likely what happened,” Geto replied. “My Cursed Technique may have been extracted, but as long as I reconstruct its framework, I should eventually be able to use it again.”

Satoru continued examining Tengen.

“Tengen’s current form is remarkably similar to that of a Cursed Spirit. No wonder Kenjaku can control Tengen through Cursed Spirit Manipulation.”

“Satoru, you’ll take the lead,” Ragnar said. “Geto, they still don’t know you’re here. Remain hidden and support Satoru from the shadows.”

Ragnar’s gaze shifted toward another presence inside the Curtain.

“There’s a Special Grade Cursed Spirit among them named Mahito. Capture him if you believe you can.”

Geto looked toward Mahito.

“I’ve captured several Special Grade Cursed Spirits in the past. I’m not certain whether the Cursed Technique I reconstructed will be capable of subjugating this one.”

“That won’t be a problem,” Ragnar replied. “If you can’t capture him, kill him.”

Satoru rolled his shoulders.

“Looks like I’m taking the vanguard.”

“There are two particular Special Grade Cursed Spirits I need to kill myself,” Ragnar said. “Cover me, Satoru. All you need to do is keep Kenjaku and Tengen occupied.”

Satoru grinned confidently.

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Once the fighting starts, I’m not losing to anyone.”

Geto stepped forward.

“Then let’s go.”

“Of course.”

The next moment, all three vanished from the rooftop.

8:14 p.m.

At Shibuya Station, Exit 13, Kento Nanami led Megumi Fushiguro and Takuma Ino in intercepting the Cursed Spirits outside the first layer of the Curtain.

At the entrance to Shibuya Mark City’s Restaurant Avenue, Naobito Zenin led Maki Zenin, Nobara Kugisaki, and Akari Nitta. Their team was also stationed outside the first layer of the Curtain.

At the New South Gate of JR Shibuya Station, Atsuya Kusakabe led Panda and Junpei Yoshino, remaining outside the first Curtain.

At Aoyama Cemetery, Mei Mei was accompanied by Ui Ui, Yuji Itadori, and Riko Amanai.

Following Ragnar Kagenou’s instructions, Rika Orimoto had gone ahead to Meiji-jingumae Station.

Two layers of Curtains had been erected in that area, and Rika was positioned inside the second layer.

Yuta Okkotsu was also inside the second layer of the Curtain within Shibuya.

Meanwhile, Ragnar Kagenou, Satoru Gojo, and Suguru Geto had entered the third layer.