Ch.17 Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College

Tokyo is vast and bustling, but there are also many rural areas. Jujutsu High is located outside the suburbs, making it a quiet place. Gojo Satoru, along with Hayashi, Yuji Itadori, and Megumi Fushiguro, walked along a mountain road. Although it was in the countryside, the roads were well-paved for cars.

The area was surrounded by forests, and the air was fresh. It truly felt like a great place for seclusion.

"It's really deep in the mountains. Is this still Tokyo?" Yuji Itadori crouched down and picked up a branch from the ground, gazing at the distant forest with a somewhat dazed expression.

Gojo Satoru walked ahead, saying, "The outskirts of Tokyo are like this too."

"This place looks like it'd be inconvenient without a car," Hayashi joked.

"As students, isn't it too early for you to worry about that?" Gojo glanced at Hayashi and continued, "Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College is one of only two jujutsu education institutions in Japan. On the surface, it's a private religious school. Many jujutsu sorcerers begin their careers here after graduation. This place doesn't just focus on education but also missions and support, making it an important part of the jujutsu world."

As Gojo spoke, the four of them quickly arrived at the entrance of the school.

"Itadori, you'll need to have a one-on-one interview with the principal. You too, Hayashi. There's a chance both of you might be rejected from joining, so do your best." Gojo led them to a tall building.

Megumi Fushiguro spoke up, "I'll be heading back to my dorm. I'm not going in."

With that, Megumi turned and left without another word, seemingly returning to his dormitory.

"Don't mind him. That's just how he is," Gojo clapped his hands, then gave Hayashi and Yuji a push. "Go on in."

Hayashi had thought that he'd be able to enroll directly, but after thinking it over, it made sense that it wouldn't be that easy. After all, he was a mystery with no known background, and he hadn't yet demonstrated any jujutsu or cursed energy. It wouldn't be that simple to be accepted into the school.

"What's this? You're not the leader here, not ranked by power? How boring," Sukuna's voice suddenly echoed, coming from Yuji's body. Yuji immediately slapped the extra mouth that had appeared on his face, silencing Sukuna.

"Sorry, teacher. He pops out sometimes," Yuji apologized, not knowing how to deal with the problem. It was really annoying.

Gojo was about to think that Yuji was being possessed again, but it was just Sukuna talking. Yuji still had control of his body. "Your body is quite interesting."

"I still owe you one," Sukuna's voice came again, this time from a mouth that appeared on Yuji's hand. "When I fully take over this brat's body, the first thing I'll do is kill you, and then I'll take care of that kid next to you."

Hayashi: "???"

"Why me? What did I do to you?" Hayashi was bewildered. This was the first time he was meeting the fusion of Sukuna and Yuji, and Sukuna already wanted to kill him!

"Brat, don't think I don't know what you took from me," Sukuna's words made Hayashi's heart skip a beat. How did Sukuna know?

"It's quite the honor to have Sukuna eyeing you, Hayashi. You'd better be careful," Gojo remarked, but didn't ask Hayashi what he had taken. After all, Sukuna had existed a thousand years ago, so there was no way any of his belongings would still be around.

"I'll be careful." Hayashi was well aware of Sukuna's strength. Even though Yuji's body currently only had two of Sukuna's fingers—one from the school and one Gojo had given him—Sukuna was still strong enough to kill most special-grade curses.

"Is this guy famous?" Yuji smacked his hand again, trying to shut Sukuna up.

"Sukuna, also known as the King of Curses, was once a human with four arms and two faces. He lived over a thousand years ago during the golden age of jujutsu. All the sorcerers banded together to challenge him, but they failed miserably. After his death, Sukuna's body became a cursed object known as 'dead wax,' which even we can't destroy. He's undoubtedly the King of Curses," Gojo explained leisurely.

"So who's stronger, Sukuna or you, teacher?" Yuji asked, blunt as ever.

Hayashi, standing beside them, pondered the same question. Sukuna at full power during his prime must have been unimaginably strong, but Gojo was terrifyingly powerful too—he wasn't called the strongest sorcerer for nothing.

"Well," Gojo rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "if Sukuna regained all his power, he'd be a tough opponent."

"Would you lose?" Yuji asked directly.

Gojo continued walking and responded casually, "I'd win."

Hayashi chuckled, following them into the building. The inside was spacious but had a traditional look, with wooden beams and dim candlelight flickering on the supporting columns.

"You're late, Gojo!"

A deep voice echoed through the hall as the large doors behind them closed quickly, and the surrounding environment became a bit dimmer.

"You're eight minutes late. While I won't scold you for it, I wish you'd fix your habit of being tardy."

The speaker was a middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle, seated at the far end of the room. Surrounding him were various stuffed toys that looked oddly cute.

"Well, if you're not scolding me, then don't blame me. After all, you were just making dolls. What's another eight minutes?" Gojo said, then glanced at Hayashi and Yuji. "This is Principal Masamichi Yaga."

"Gojo, which one is it?" Principal Yaga, wearing black sunglasses, looked very authoritative.

"Oh, this one." Gojo poked Yuji in the shoulder.

Yuji, caught off guard, immediately bowed. "My name's Yuji Itadori. My type? Jennifer Lawrence. Nice to meet you!"

Hayashi couldn't help but sweat for Yuji. Did he really have to mention his type of woman in this setting? Now Hayashi felt like he'd have to do the same when it was his turn to introduce himself.

"And who's the other one?" Principal Yaga hadn't been informed of a second student.

"Oh, I forgot to mention…" Gojo began, but Hayashi quickly spoke up.

"I'm Hayashi. My type is pretty much the same as Yuji's, but I also like Elizabeth Olsen, Gal Gadot, Kim Kardashian, and Marilyn Monroe."

"Hold it! I was asking him!" Principal Yaga interrupted, finding Hayashi's overly familiar attitude a bit much.

"Oh, right. Sorry." Hayashi realized he had said too much. If Yaga hadn't interrupted, he probably would've listed off ten more names.

Yuji, on the other hand, looked at Hayashi with newfound camaraderie. So we share the same taste in women!

"What are you here for?" Principal Yaga fixed his gaze on Yuji.

"Uh, an interview?" Yuji replied, a bit confused.

"I mean, why are you coming to Jujutsu High?"

"To learn jujutsu, right?" Yuji answered.

"I'm asking about after that. Once you understand curses and master the art of exorcising them, what will you do next?"

"What will I do…" Yuji hesitated before answering, "I'll collect all of Sukuna's fingers. Leaving them unchecked would be dangerous."