JJK X FATE: Chapter 50/52

Chapter 50: What Are You Still Evaluating?

Swish, swish.

Sitting in the car, Eichi kept flipping through the Cursed Spirit dossiers in his hand.

These Cursed Spirits were the targets the four of them needed to exorcise during their Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer assessment.

Artoria quietly looked out the window, watching the scenery quickly recede.

Since her summoning, she had experienced the immense changes in the world and was curious about many things.

Eichi was fortunate that Artoria was not an electronics destroyer like Tohsaka Rin.

Although some said Rin's struggles with electronics came from her father, Tokiomi, there simply weren't that many electronic devices in his time.

Moreover, Tokiomi had servants to handle such things, while Rin had to rely on herself because her family had declined.

Clap.

After reading the last page, Eichi set the file aside.

"There really are a lot. Shuji, where did Jujutsu Headquarters find so many Grade 1 Cursed Spirits?"

When Suguru and I searched for a week before, we only found Grade 2 and Grade 3. How did Headquarters suddenly produce more than a dozen?

Something is wrong, very, very wrong.

"Those Cursed Spirits are actually under the Kamo Family's jurisdiction."

The Assistant Supervisor driving was from the Zen'in Family, named Zen'in Shuji.

His older brother was Shuichi, from the Kukuru Squad.

Before departure, Naobito had already instructed him to satisfy all of Eichi's needs, so he answered everything he knew.

In fact, Naobito had originally planned to assign a young and beautiful female Assistant Supervisor to Eichi, but after seeing the information about Artoria that Eichi sent, he decided to wait and see.

So, he sent this Assistant Supervisor, an elite even within the Zen'in Family.

"Kamo Family? Tell me in detail."

"Yes, Young Master Eichi."

Shuji quickly organized the information he had gathered over the past few days.

"Preparing so many Grade 1 Cursed Spirits is actually because of Gojo Satoru. The Kamo Family and the Zen'in Family believe only this would be worthy of Gojo Satoru's status and strength."

"You, Artoria-san, and Suguru-san can become Gojo Satoru's best friends, so I think these Cursed Spirits are nothing to you."

Eichi understood.

The Kamo and Zen'in Families wanted to trip up the Gojo Family.

If it worked, great. If not, there was no loss anyway.

"Later, because of you and Artoria-san, the head of the family originally didn't intend to get involved, but he considered your strength and Suguru-san's ability, so he didn't cancel the plan."

"These Cursed Spirits were raised by the Kamo Family after Gojo Satoru submitted his Grade 1 assessment three months ago."

"Raised?"

"That's right, intentionally leaving a group of Cursed Spirits with fixed habitats, which should have been exorcised on schedule, and feeding them some Cursed Spirits and useless cursed tool to accelerate their growth. The result is these Cursed Spirits."

Heh, as expected of old geezers, never daring to confront things head-on and always doing these little tricks to amuse themselves.

Eichi soon caught the implication in Shuji's words.

"You just said they left these Cursed Spirits alone because they knew about Suguru's ability?"

"That's right."

Shuji nodded in the rearview mirror.

"I see. So all these Cursed Spirits are for Suguru, and his Rank assessment will pass too, right?"

"Yes, Young Master Eichi."

"Our six will not interfere with the exorcism process, only confirm the final result."

Six?

Oh right, two more from the Kamo Family.

This time, a total of four Assistant Supervisors and four Jujutsu Sorcerers were dispatched for the assessment.

Among them, the Gojo Family dispatched two Sorcerers and two Assistant Supervisors for Eichi and Artoria's Rank assessment.

The Zen'in Family dispatched one Sorcerer and one Assistant Supervisor for Suguru's Rank assessment.

A guaranteed recommendation.

As expected of the adult world.

Eichi sighed inwardly.

He picked up the thick stack of Grade 1 Cursed Spirit dossiers again, and his gaze completely changed.

These weren't dangerous Cursed Spirits at all. They were clearly leeks.

Suguru, get up and harvest the vegetables already.

"Find a store to stop at and buy a box of honey tea."

"Yes, Young Master Eichi."

Shuji nodded, turned the steering wheel, and drove toward a nearby supermarket.

Because they planned for Suguru to subdue all the Cursed Spirits, the group chose to conduct the Rank assessment together.

The four gathered at an abandoned office building.

It was said there had been several jumpers and suicides here, and later no one rented the building anymore.

"Really?"

As soon as he got out of the car, Eichi saw a white-haired man suddenly rush to the front of the car.

"It really is Artoria."

Not to mention Suguru, the two had been classmates for years, and Suguru had read most of what Eichi wrote.

Satoru had also checked out the two recommendations, and this kind of youthful, passionate plot suited his taste.

He took off his sunglasses, and the Six Eyes, which seemed to see through everything, stared straight at Artoria.

"There is Cursed Energy, but it feels closer to a spirit than a Cursed Spirit."

Artoria frowned slightly.

She held her sword in her right hand and swung it forward.

Whoosh.

A sharp blade aura tore a long gash across the ground.

"Kowai, kowai. How scary."

For others, this was an invisible sword, difficult to perceive, but it was different through the Six Eyes.

The distorted air vaguely outlined the blade's shape, and the airflow from the swing was perfectly clear.

Before the slash reached Satoru, he had already appeared behind Suguru.

Taller than Suguru, Satoru placed his hands on his shoulders, peeking out with half his head, looking ridiculous.

"Satoru, you are being very rude."

Eichi spoke, dissatisfied.

Although the Six Eyes weren't the kind of perverted eyes that could see through things, their powerful perception made people feel exposed when facing them.

So it was normal for Artoria to be angry.

Although she had been raised as a boy, it didn't change the fact that Artoria was a woman.

Her gaze toward Satoru was already the look one gave a pervert and scum.

Hearing this, Satoru raised his hands in surrender and walked to her.

"Sorry, sorry, so, can you forgive me, beautiful and handsome Artoria-san."

He tilted his body slightly, extended his left hand behind him, then elegantly drew it back to his chest, and offered his right hand to Artoria like a gentleman.

His white hair was like snow, leaving a pure impression.

Under his long eyelashes, the Six Eyes seemed to hold a galaxy.

His slender figure, and the faint pink and white flowers appearing around him.

Wait, where did those flowers come from.

Eichi looked around in disbelief.

There was no Hanami. Satoru, did you hide a beauty-enhancing cursed tool?

"Do not do that again."

Unlike Eichi, Artoria, who was used to handsome men, remained calm.

Knights of the Round Table… let me tell you, there was no shortage of handsome men.

Bang.

Watching Satoru still flirting, Eichi couldn't help but punch him hard.

"Do not flirt with girls you just met."

"Artoria, don't mind him. He's a pervert who's perfect in every way except personality."

Eichi introduced Satoru.

Satoru's body trembled, as if pierced straight through the chest.

"Suguru, I'm injured. I can't get up without your hug."

"Ah, my hands are busy, but I can let it hug you. Do you want that?"

A humanoid Cursed Spirit about 1.5 meters tall, weighing over 300 pounds, tongue hanging out, facial features mismatched, but with vaguely feminine traits, appeared beside Satoru.

"No, absolutely not."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 51: Disappear?

"Oh, right. It's rare to have so many Grade 1 Cursed Spirits. Suguru, don't waste them."

"Hmm? But the requirement for Rank assessment is to exorcise your own Cursed Spirits."

"It's fine. We can just beat them until they're on their last breath, then give them to you."

"Is that so?"

Suguru heard this and was a bit confused.

Because Satoru had previously said that in the Jujutsu Sorcerer Rank assessment, only the person being assessed could act.

What if Eichi and the others beat the Cursed Spirits to their last breath and then he absorbed them, only for it to be judged as non-compliant?

"No problem. You agree, right, Satoru?"

Eichi glanced at the Gojo Family Jujutsu Sorcerers and the Assistant Supervisor.

Satoru instantly understood Eichi's meaning.

"Daijoubu, daijoubu. It's fine."

He waved his hand at Suguru.

"The Jujutsu Sorcerer Rank assessment is to test a sorcerer's strength. As long as the strength is sufficient, there's no problem."

"You agree, right?"

Satoru looked at the two Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers from the Gojo Family next to him.

Eichi also followed Satoru's gaze.

Familiar faces. Weren't these the two bodyguard elders who often drank tea outside his courtyard before?

Under the benevolent gazes of Satoru and Eichi, the two decisively nodded.

They knew the inside story.

This, however, displeased the Kamo Family's Jujutsu Sorcerer.

Kamo Yoshitaka, a sorcerer who used Blood Puppet Manipulation.

Although it could not compare to Blood Manipulation, in an era without a successor to Blood Manipulation, he was already considered one of the Kamo Family's representative figures.

It was estimated that after Kamo Noritoshi awakened Blood Manipulation in a few years, the Kamo Family would be happy for a while.

Though it would not be very useful.

Yoshitaka was the oldest among the four Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers present.

"Hmph, conducting the Jujutsu Sorcerer Rank assessment separately is to ensure fairness. What if someone cheats if it's done together?"

After speaking, Yoshitaka looked toward the two Zen'in Family members.

With support from the Zen'in Family's Jujutsu Sorcerers, it was not just a 2-on-2 in numbers.

It also represented two of The Big Three Families simultaneously putting pressure on the Gojo Family.

This had been the law of survival for the Kamo and Zen'in Families in the decade since Satoru's birth.

The high bounty on Satoru in the black market might not have been without the push from these two families.

However, the situation this time was very strange.

Facing Yoshitaka's gaze, the Zen'in Family's Jujutsu Sorcerer actually looked up and started whistling.

Yoshitaka, helpless, could only turn his gaze to Zen'in Shuji.

He knew Shuji's identity. Although his combat strength was low, he had achieved a good position in the Zen'in Family due to excellent support abilities.

Shuji's stance was the same.

"We are only responsible for Suguru-san's Rank assessment."

Shuji smiled and nodded at Yoshitaka.

No, is looking at Suguru useful?

The Kamo Family had already prepared for the Cursed Spirits assigned to Suguru to be subjugated by him.

Therefore, the Cursed Spirits assigned to Suguru and Satoru were relatively weak.

The problem now was that they were going to give all those Cursed Spirits to Suguru. Wouldn't this fail to achieve their goal of annoying Satoru's group, and instead become a painstakingly prepared big gift?

No, absolutely cannot let the other three give all the Cursed Spirits to Suguru. The Rank assessment must be conducted separately.

"According to the regulations of Jujutsu Headquarters, interfering when someone else is undergoing a Rank assessment is a violation."

Yoshitaka finished speaking and once again directed his gaze at Shuji.

I have already made my point, hurry up and take it.

"According to the regulations of Jujutsu Headquarters, privately cultivating or utilizing Cursed Spirits also violates the rules, you know."

Eichi smiled as he looked at Yoshitaka.

Impossible, has the matter been exposed?

Only the Kamo and Zen'in Families knew about this. Wait a minute…

Yoshitaka seemed to have thought of something.

"You actually dare to betray…"

"Betray what?"

The moment the enraged words escaped his mouth, Yoshitaka realized his mistake and quickly stopped.

Eichi, however, pressed on.

"Is the Zen'in Family willing to become a subordinate of the Gojo Family?"

There was no answer to Eichi's question.

Yoshitaka ignored him and asked Shuji another question.

"You seem to have misunderstood something. The Zen'in Family was one of The Big Three Families before, and will always be one of The Big Three Families. It will not become anyone's subordinate."

Shuji still had a faint smile on his face.

"Then why?"

Yoshitaka finally calmed down a bit.

It was good they were not becoming a subordinate of the Gojo Family.

No, how could the Zen'in Family abandon its status as one of The Big Three Families? Was he overthinking in anger?

"No why."

The sudden voice made Yoshitaka's anger flare up again.

We, The Big Three Families, are talking. What right does a brat like you have to interrupt?

Just as Yoshitaka was about to reprimand him, a terrifying killing intent sent a chill down his spine.

"Divine Dog: Totality."

A dark figure emerged from the shadow behind Yoshitaka.

Yoshitaka wanted to dodge, but a hand had already grabbed his arm.

"I remember you are an elder of the Kamo Family, right? A pleasure, a pleasure. Let me introduce myself, my name is Azuma Eichi, and my technique is Ten Shadows Technique. Nice to meet you."

As he spoke, Eichi fumbled in his shadow. Hmm, these are all things he is used to, he does not want to give them away.

"Shuji, get Elder Kamo a bottle of honey tea."

"Yes, Young Master Eichi."

Shuji bowed slightly, then opened the trunk and took out a bottle of honey tea.

"Come, come, Elder Kamo, you have been talking for so long, you must be thirsty. Have some honey tea, honey is good stuff…"

At this moment, Yoshitaka was too shocked by the turn of events to speak.

Did he just say Divine Dogs?

He can use Ten Shadows Technique?

The Zen'in members call him Young Master?

The Zen'in Family has Ten Shadows Technique?

Has the Kamo Family been abandoned?

Yoshitaka was sweating profusely.

Because the application for the Rank assessment was arranged by Satoru, the form reached the Gojo Family's person in charge at Jujutsu Headquarters first.

The Gojo Family did not submit the application directly but planned to approach Eichi and Suguru first, intending to recruit the two into their family before submitting it.

However, Satoru refused.

He did not want his family's reasons to affect his pure friendship with Eichi and Suguru.

The Gojo Family Head's heart was shattered.

However, the Gojo Family Head did not give up and secretly sent people to contact Eichi.

Suguru could be forgone, but they had to find a way to get the Ten Shadows Technique.

Eichi showed enough goodwill but never expressed a stance.

The Family Head's heart completely collapsed.

The only thing worth celebrating was that Eichi clearly stated he would not be an enemy of Satoru.

Finally, the Family Head could only convey some of Eichi's information to the Zen'in Family.

Look, your family's Ten Shadows Technique was found by us, and it was returned to you by us. You must remember this favor and repay it.

As for the Kamo Family?

Actually, the Kamo Family once had someone who knew about Eichi's existence and information, and that was Kenjaku, who occupied the body of a Kamo Family elder.

However, Kenjaku had gone to experience the joy of giving birth in recent years, so currently, no one in the Kamo Family knew Eichi's information.

This time, the Kamo Family was triple-stabbed by the Gojo Family, the Zen'in Family, and Kenjaku, who often returned to use the Kamo Family and then left.

Yoshitaka did not know how he got into the car.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 52: Artoria’s Battle

After inviting Kamo Yoshitaka into the car, Eichi and his three companions entered the office building.

The Gojo Family Jujutsu Sorcerers just symbolically followed them in, then waited on the ground floor.

As the group went deeper, a Cursed Spirit that looked like a rotten pile of flesh appeared before them.

"Work, work, work."

Before they even approached, the group felt an immense surge of resentment.

This Cursed Spirit had decent power for a Grade 1.

Eichi and Suguru looked at it with interest.

"Eichi, step back."

Artoria stepped forward decisively.

Blue and white skirt armor instantly equipped her entire body.

"Hey, why only tell Eichi to step back? I also need to be protected, mmph..."

Satoru's words were cut off as Eichi pinched his face.

Artoria ignored the ruckus, gripping her Holy Sword as she walked to the front of the Cursed Spirit.

"Work, work, work."

The Cursed Spirit lifted its decaying body, lifeless, stone-like eyes staring at her.

Sensing an intruder in its territory, it attacked.

At the same time, Artoria charged forward.

The two figures crossed, and her probing strike left a huge wound on the Cursed Spirit.

The sword felt heavier.

When the Holy Sword struck, the weight increased instantly.

Artoria glanced at the Cursed Spirit.

"Work, work, work."

Negative words kept spilling from its mouth.

"So that is it, pressure?"

This Cursed Spirit's technique applied immense pressure to any enemy it touched.

It was a debuff that weakened an opponent's strength.

"Enough."

Artoria pointed her Holy Sword at it.

"Is your life only about work?"

"Eat well, sleep well, and love yourself well."

The Invisible Air dissipated, revealing the Holy Sword veiled in wind.

Golden Mana covered the entire blade.

Artoria stepped in and swung.

Golden light flashed three times.

The Cursed Spirit's body was severed into several pieces.

She did not finish it because she remembered Eichi's instruction to leave it alive.

"So strong."

Satoru closely observed every motion of her battle.

"I wonder if Excalibur can break through my Limitless."

Eichi, nearby, heard Satoru's murmur.

Hmn, I am a little curious, what should I do? Maybe let Artoria try?

I am sure she would not mind.

While they were thinking, Suguru had already stepped forward and subdued the Cursed Spirit.

"What is wrong?"

Suguru noticed Artoria watching him the whole time he was subduing it.

"Um... does it taste good?"

"Huh?"

He did not expect that.

"It tastes terrible."

He had wanted to say it tasted like swallowing a rag that had wiped up vomit, but looking at Artoria's beautiful face, he could not bring himself to say it.

"Eichi, it is over."

Artoria returned to Eichi's side, sword in one hand.

Satoru pulled out a handkerchief from somewhere and bit it, face full of envy.

"Damn it, I am so jealous, I also want my own lady knight."

"Satoru."

Suguru looked at him speechlessly. Was that something you said right to someone's face?

Eichi ignored him.

Taking the Cursed Spirit information Shuji had given him in the car from his shadow, Eichi began to plan the night's route.

They were originally supposed to split up, but now that they were together, the old route was unusable.

"How about we fly there?"

"Hm?"

"What is wrong?"

Suguru and Satoru leaned in, looking at the map in Eichi's hand.

"There are too many targets. If we go by car, we will spend more than six hours just on the road, and that is without traffic."

Anyone who knows big-city roads knows a straight kilometer can take five or six winding kilometers to reach.

Saying this, Eichi looked at Suguru.

"I will take Artoria, you take Satoru, and we will just fly directly to each target. This way, we can finish by early evening."

"What about the people outside?"

"I will send the route map to the Assistant Supervisors, and they can follow behind to check."

"Oh, what do you want for a late-night snack?"

"How about sushi?"

"Sushi, huh? That works too."

Perhaps wanting to finish quickly for the late-night snack, Artoria held nothing back in the subsequent battles.

Invisible Air.

Mana Burst.

And her refined swordsmanship.

Several Cursed Spirits did not last more than a minute.

Eichi, realizing her intentions, also went all out.

In confined indoor spaces, he and Black Divine Dog and White Divine Dog handled it themselves, while in open outdoor areas, he let Qiongqi and Black Divine Dog pin them down directly.

Satoru moved swiftly as well. Clearly, he preferred hanging out with friends over catching Cursed Spirits.

Only Suguru looked dejected.

Collecting so many Grade 1 Cursed Spirits should have been very satisfying.

Not having to do anything himself, just waiting for high-quality Cursed Spirits to be delivered, should have been even more satisfying.

When two happy things appear together, one should feel double the joy.

So why could he not feel happy?

"What is wrong, Suguru?"

"N-nothing, I am just a bit full."

Full?

Oh, right, Suguru had already drunk six bottles of honey tea.

Eichi picked up a can of honey tea and gently rotated it.

Net content 330 milliliters.

Almost two liters?

That was quite a lot. Aside from beer, which people could chug by the dozen, other drinks should not be consumed too much at once.

"How about we leave the rest?"

Eichi asked cautiously.

"N-no, it is fine. I will just drink less honey tea later."

Suguru was still persistent.

When an opportunity to earn a year's salary by working hard for a day appears before you, would you take it?

Suguru said yes, he must take it.

Even without honey tea to mask the taste, he would still consume all the remaining Cursed Spirits.

The final result was Eichi using Reverse Cursed Technique to alleviate Suguru's symptoms, and Suguru endured it, subdued all the Cursed Spirits, and then went home to rest.

Without a hint of sadness at Suguru's departure, the three immediately rushed to the sushi restaurant.

After the late-night snack, despite Satoru's relentless pestering, Eichi sternly refused his request to taste Excalibur.

The next day, when Eichi went to visit Suguru at the Geto Family, he found him acting as if nothing had happened.

As expected of someone who could become a powerhouse in Jujutsu Kaisen, even a gorilla would be ashamed of that physique.

(To be continued.)