[23]: Dojigiri

Osaka.

Shin Shuichi grabbed his luggage and, with his white wolf, walked out of the airport. He had initially wondered how to bring the wolf along, but it turned out that this flight allowed pets. Even though the white wolf was a bit large, its husky-like appearance and intelligent eyes made it seem completely non-threatening.

The mission this time wasn't particularly difficult, though it had its unique aspects. Shin had come here not only to deal with a mission involving a cursed user but also because someone from the family connected to this task had recently awakened a cursed technique.

Typically, since Kyoto Jujutsu High was closer, they should have handled it, but this particular family, although ordinary in recent generations, was known to have a long history of connections to jujutsu. Though there hadn't been any jujutsu sorcerers in the family for many years, it seemed that one descendant had recently awakened a technique, a case of a skipped generation.

According to Gojo-sensei, a descendant in this family had indeed awakened a cursed technique. With no one in the family knowledgeable enough to teach them, the person initially believed they had some sort of superpower (Shin thought, "Well, isn't that familiar"). It wasn't until a recent incident that the family realized what was really going on. Her grandfather, who was somewhat knowledgeable about the family's ancient texts, eventually reached out to the Gojo clan.

The "incident" in question involved a cursed user targeting the family. Gojo Satoru then dispatched his beloved student, Shin, to handle it, and to possibly recruit a new student for Tokyo Jujutsu High.

As Shin exited the airport, he noticed someone holding up a sign with his name on it. It seemed like someone had come to pick him up. Gojo hadn't told him the exact address of the family's location, only that someone would be responsible for taking care of the details once he arrived.

The person sent to meet him was a woman dressed in a black suit. Her appearance could be described as average, and with makeup, she might look a bit better. She was about 170 cm tall and had a slender build.

Shin approached, sliding his sunglasses down slightly to reveal his eyes. He said, "You must be from the 'Gen' family, right? I'm Shin Shuichi."

The woman bowed politely. "Shin-kun, I'm Riko Sugihara. The car is waiting outside. Please follow me."

Outside, Shin saw a luxurious extended car parked by the curb. The car emblem appeared to be a triangular logo, but Shin didn't recognize it. Sugihara opened the car door, and as she paused for a moment in surprise, the white wolf leaped into the car, followed by Shin.

The spacious back seat had only two chairs. As Shin got in, he was momentarily startled because there was already someone sitting there. It was a young, attractive girl, with an oval face, almond-shaped eyes, and perfectly groomed eyebrows. Her long, slender legs were modestly covered by a short skirt. She looked like the kind of girl who'd constantly be approached by talent scouts if she walked down the street.

The girl seemed curious as she observed Shin and the white wolf. Even with the large dog inside the car, the space still felt comfortable. Shin removed his sunglasses and asked, "Are you from the Gen family?"

The girl extended her hand. "My name is Gen Nao."

Shin shook her hand politely. "Shin Shuichi. You must be the one who awakened a cursed technique."

Nao's eyes brightened. "How did you figure that out? Are you a jujutsu sorcerer too?"

Of course, Shin hadn't figured it out, he had simply guessed. Nao's cursed energy was well-concealed, likely related to her technique. But the reasoning was straightforward. He had been sent for this specific task, and this young woman didn't seem like an employee like Sugihara. Coupled with her curiosity, Shin was almost certain she was the family member who had only recently learned about jujutsu.

The car smoothly began to move, and Shin noticed a partition separating the front and back seats, with Sugihara sitting in the front passenger seat.

Ignoring Nao's question, Shin leaned back in his seat and asked, "You must have learned a bit about jujutsu by now, right?"

Nao looked excited and nodded repeatedly. She had always wondered if there were other people in the world with abilities like hers. Now, having discovered the existence of the jujutsu world and learning that her family had once been part of it, she felt as though her grandfather had uncovered ancient texts that had opened a door to a new world for her.

Previously, when her family had been attacked by a malicious entity, it was only through her "superpower"—or rather, her cursed technique—that she managed to fend off the enemy.

Nao eagerly continued, "Do you have a cursed technique too? What is it? And this dog— is it a normal dog? It seems... different."

...

The young girl's curiosity unleashed a barrage of questions. Shin listened patiently as she prattled on, and when she finally paused for breath, he replied, "While most people's cursed techniques are publicly known, it's still best not to ask directly. As for mine, it's related to speed."

Pointing to the white wolf, he added, "This is White Wolf. Though it looks like a dog, it's actually a cursed corpse, created by our principal."

Shin casually answered a few more of her questions, realizing that while Nao did have some basic understanding of the jujutsu world, her knowledge was still shallow, leading to her numerous questions.

The car ride was so smooth that Shin almost forgot they were still traveling. It wasn't until he felt a slight deceleration that Nao announced, "We're here."

As the car door opened, White Wolf jumped out first. Shin stepped out and saw that they were parked in front of a large estate. Several other vehicles were parked around them, likely filled with security personnel.

Taking a moment to survey the surroundings, Shin noticed that the area was primarily green with very few houses around, giving it a rather peaceful, scenic vibe. It was clear they were far from any urban centers, but the view was pleasant.

After Shin and Nao got out of the car, a man, a woman, and an elderly man came over to greet them. Nao introduced them as her parents and grandfather.

The middle-aged man, who had a polished, professional look about him, smiled warmly and said, "I'm Eiji Gen. This is my wife, Miku Gen, and my father, Shouki Gen."

"You've already met my daughter, Nao Gen. We've prepared refreshments inside; let's go in and discuss the matter further."

Shin gave a polite bow and introduced himself, though not as deeply as custom might demand. He had never been one for overly formal greetings, likely due to Gojo's influence.

Once inside, Shin noticed that the estate had a traditional, almost ancient atmosphere. The tension in the air was palpable, with security guards in black suits patrolling the grounds. The estate was much larger than Shin had anticipated.

Inside, they were led to a room with a tea table where freshly brewed tea was waiting. Sugihara quietly slid the door shut behind them, leaving Shin alone with the Gen family.

Eiji Gen began the conversation. "First, I want to thank you for coming to assist us. Let me explain the situation in our family."

Shin, sipping the tea in front of him, gestured with a nod. "Just call me Shin."

Eiji Gen nodded in acknowledgment before continuing. "I am somewhat familiar with the world of cursed energy. My family, the Gen clan, is a branch of the Settsu Minamoto clan. In recent generations, we've had some success in business."

"As we moved up in the world, we started hearing rumors about certain things, coupled with the old texts we've kept in the family, though no one paid much attention to them. I never expected that my daughter would awaken such talents at such a young age. As her father, I feel I have failed her."

Eiji's expression grew more serious. "Not long ago, while Nao was visiting her grandfather, our home was attacked by something... unnatural. From the evidence, it seems someone is controlling it."

"Fortunately, Nao was able to drive away the invisible intruder with her... well, I guess you'd call it a cursed technique. That's when we discovered her abilities. My father is more knowledgeable about our family's old records and identified her powers as those of a jujutsu sorcerer."

"I've since contacted various people and eventually reached someone in the jujutsu world. Shin-kun, we ask for your help in dealing with the person behind the attack. The Gen family will be forever grateful and will reward you handsomely."

Shin remained calm as he replied, "There's no need to be so formal, Mr. Gen. That's the task I've been sent here for. However, I do have one question. What does the cursed user want from your family? Is it money?"

At that moment, Shouki Gen, the elderly man, spoke up. "I'll explain. The cursed user's target is an ancestral treasure of our family: a famous sword known as Dōjigiri Yasutsuna."

Shin raised an eyebrow in confusion. "But isn't that artifact supposed to be kept in a museum?"

Shouki Gen, leaning on his cane, didn't seem to be joking. He continued, "Not that one. I'm talking about the Dōjigiri from jujutsu history that was used by our ancestors to slay the legendary demon, Shuten-dōji. It has been passed down through our family and is stored here, in our ancestral home. I always thought it was just a myth, until…"

Unable to hold back, Nao excitedly interrupted, "I used that sword to wound the… um, the cursed spirit! It was hurt and then ran away."

Her mother showed a concerned and worried expression, while her grandfather smiled fondly, clearly proud of Nao. It was obvious that she was cherished by her family.

'Cursed tool.' Shin thought to himself, concluding that the sword was indeed a cursed tool with a significant history. It seemed that the curse user was after this family's heirloom, a valuable weapon passed down for generations. But what intrigued him even more was the mention of Shuten-dōji.

In jujutsu terms, mythological or urban legend figures that manifest as curses are referred to as "Imaginary Vengeful Spirits." Since these curses are born from human fear and belief in their accuracy and reality, they are often extremely powerful.

Several registered or controlled Special Grade curses were of this type—known as "Special Grade Imaginary Vengeful Spirits."

Could it be that there was once a curse known as Shuten-dōji, or that a curse was given the name Shuten-dōji?

But Shin had another matter to address first. "Aside from the issue of the curse user, I was also sent here for another reason. A jujutsu sorcerer not only inherits their innate technique but also requires proper training and education."

He paused for effect, then continued, "Let me introduce you to Tokyo Jujutsu High."

With a formal tone, Shin explained the existence of the school, detailing its purpose in teaching and nurturing jujutsu sorcerers. He briefly mentioned Gojo Satoru as well, explaining that his visit was to potentially recruit Nao as a new student.

Eiji Gen and his family listened intently, their expressions showing varying degrees of understanding and contemplation. Nao, on the other hand, looked even more excited and eager, her eyes practically sparkling at the thought of attending a school for "superpowers." It was something she had only seen in movies and TV shows—never imagining that she could experience it herself.

Shin concluded his explanation and stood up. "You don't have to decide about enrolling just yet. Take your time. For now, could you show me the site of the attack? I want to see if I can gather any more clues."

Eiji nodded. "Of course. Father, could you and Nao take Shin-kun to the site? Miku and I will make arrangements in the meantime."

Shouki Gen nodded and stood up, gesturing for Shin and Nao to follow him. Sugihara stayed close, trailing behind them as they made their way to an old, traditional wooden building on the estate.

Shouki produced a key and unlocked the heavy door. Inside, the room was filled with wooden shelves stacked with ancient books, alongside well-preserved suits of armor that showed clear signs of age and history.

At the center of the room was a long table, and on top of it lay a sword, sheathed and resting on a display stand.

Shin, accompanied by his white wolf, walked around the room, inspecting the overturned bookshelves and signs of damage. Though the books had been cleaned up, the other signs of destruction had been left untouched. The broken windows remained as they had been after the attack, allowing Shin to survey the scene as it had originally occurred.

He could sense the residual cursed energy in the room. Even though some time had passed, the lingering traces of both the cursed energy and the malevolent aura left behind were still detectable.

He had the white wolf memorize the two distinct cursed energy signatures present in the room—one of them likely belonging to Nao, and the other presumably from the attacker. If they encountered the culprit, White Wolf would be able to identify them immediately.

Nao, curious, asked, "Did you find anything? Is there a clue?"

Shin stood up. "A bit. The attacker wasn't particularly strong—probably around the level of a Grade 2 curse. They controlled the situation from a distance, using a shikigami to attack. After being injured, it fled, probably to avoid revealing its identity."

"This sword…"

Shin's gaze returned to the ancient blade resting on the table. Just as he was about to say more, Shouki Gen stepped forward and picked up the sword, holding it out for Shin to see.

"This is the sword, Dōjigiri," the elderly man said with a smile. "This is the blade Nao used to wound the invisible enemy."

Nao chimed in quietly, "That thing looked like a big, ugly fish."

Shin took note of the information and focused on the sword, accepting it from Shouki Gen. This was the famous Dōjigiri—the weapon that had injured the cursed spirit.

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