Curse Return: Infinity

"Did he escape?" Suguru Geto leaned against the wall, catching his breath. Seeing Sōjun Minamoto return, he quickly asked.

Sōjun nodded, then shook his head, countering with, "Should I heal you?"

Suguru relaxed, letting go of his concerns, but upon hearing that, he quickly shook his head in refusal.

Sōjun didn't press further and walked to the edge of the barrier.

This barrier obscured visibility between the inside and outside.

When he deactivated the barrier, Riko Amanai was sitting on the ground, hugging her knees, her chin buried in them, looking like a frightened young animal.

The moment she heard movement, she lifted her head abruptly, only to see a pale, nearly naked figure. His face was covered with a ghastly bone-like mask.

However, the familiar clothing style helped her recognize him immediately.

She broke into a smile and scrambled to her feet, throwing herself into his arms.

Earlier, the chaotic sounds outside had terrified her. Not knowing what was happening had left her feeling helpless. When the noise finally subsided, the prolonged wait left her increasingly anxious. If her presence had caused harm to others, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself.

Riko released Sōjun and noticed Suguru in the corner. Her expression immediately shifted, her features tightening in concern.

Suguru brushed his bangs back and smiled. "I'm fine, really."

Footsteps echoed from the corridor.

Satoru Gojo and Misato Kuroi arrived soon after.

Sōjun deactivated his bone armor, his cursed energy slightly recovering as his muscles softened and the facial armor dispersed. However, his skin remained pale, and his entire body was sore.

The group exchanged glances until someone suddenly burst into laughter.

Although everyone except Riko Amanai looked worse for wear, they were all alive.

It truly was something to celebrate.

"Did that guy escape?" Satoru Gojo asked suddenly.

Who could say?

"If we're lucky, he's probably dead," Sōjun replied.

Toji Fushiguro had half his head severed and his left arm torn off. Sōjun's attacks targeted the very soul. He couldn't imagine the level of bad luck it would take for Toji to survive.

"No matter. I'll handle the rest," Satoru said, his face alight with confidence and an almost radiant glow in his eyes.

Suguru glanced at him, noticing the blood-streaked wounds on his body, especially the dramatic gash on his neck. "I thought you were dead."

"I was, sort of!" Satoru laughed maniacally, a manic energy in his voice. "When my throat was pierced, I stopped fighting back and focused entirely on Reverse Cursed Technique.

"Cursed energy is a negative force that strengthens the body but can't heal or regenerate. To heal, you need to multiply two negatives to create a positive. That's Reverse Cursed Technique."

His grin widened.

"This is exhilarating! It's the first time I've pulled it off. At the brink of death, I finally grasped the essence of cursed energy!"

Satoru suddenly floated off the ground, his feet leaving the earth as he spread his arms wide. "This world feels so clear now. I feel like—"

"—I'm the strongest."

"…Huh?"

"…Huh?"

"Let's get out of here before this spreads to us," Suguru whispered to the group.

Sōjun helped him to his feet, and they all made their way toward the surface.

As they neared the exit, Sōjun suddenly paused.

"What's wrong?" someone asked.

He shook his head and continued walking into the night.

Above them, a full moon hung in the sky, stars scattered around it. The moonlight bathed the world in its soft glow.

Tomorrow, it'll surely be good weather, he thought.

Just now, he'd heard a voice asking him, "Can we meet?"

The group headed toward Masamichi Yaga.

Among everyone in Jujutsu High, Yaga was unanimously regarded as the most trustworthy.

While Tengen had allowed Riko Amanai to leave, that didn't mean the higher-ups wouldn't take action. Today was the optimal time for assimilation, but it wasn't the last chance. Danger still loomed over Riko.

Sōjun contacted Shizuko Mishima, an insider among the jujutsu sorcerers, to arrange their movements.

On their way, they encountered numerous low-level cursed spirits, most of them flyheads.

The flyhead perched on Sōjun's head seemed invigorated, tearing into its kin with reckless abandon whenever it saw them.

Sōjun raised an eyebrow and let it be.

They navigated their way past various dangers, successfully escorting Riko to Masamichi Yaga.

Everyone gathered in a circle, except for Shizuko Mishima and Misato Kuroi, who stood behind Sōjun and Riko, respectively.

Riko fiddled with Satoru's sunglasses, chuckling to herself. When no one paid her any attention, she turned to Misato.

"…So you brought her to me?" Yaga asked, rubbing his temples.

He had been locked in a battle of wits with hidden enemies, nearing victory. Now, his students had delivered a massive headache right to his doorstep. He could already picture his adversary making a sudden comeback, only to have him kick them down once again.

"Hmm…" Yaga thought for a moment. "Jujutsu High is dangerous for her right now, but the outside world is no safer with groups like the Star Cult targeting her… The most dangerous place might be the safest. Keeping her within our sight means we can respond immediately to any trouble. Riko and Kuroi will stay at Jujutsu High for now."

"As for where they'll stay…"

Everyone turned to Sōjun.

Sōjun had been examining the flyhead, noticing its subtle changes. The sudden silence drew his attention, and he looked up to find all eyes on him.

"?"

"Technically, we're all internal staff. You're the only one considered external. Isn't your work badge labeled 'Temporary Employee'?" Yaga said matter-of-factly.

"No way. Kids are a hassle," Sōjun flatly refused, making Riko fume with anger.

Turning to Shizuko, he asked, "Can they stay at your place for now?"

Shizuko held his gaze for a moment before nodding. "Sure."

"There's also the Star Cult to deal with, and we need to confirm Toji Fushiguro's status…"

Sōjun…

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