JJK: Wheel of Time

Dojigiri Yasutsuna was said to be the finest creation of the renowned smith, Yasutsuna, from the Heian period. Later, it became famous when it was used by Minamoto no Yorimitsu to decapitate the demon king Shuten-dōji at Mount Ōe, earning the blade the name "Dojigiri."

The blade in Shin Shuichi's hand was slightly longer than most, measuring over a meter. Its hilt was wrapped in black cords, and the tsuba (handguard) was round, featuring intricate patterns. The scabbard was made of redwood and gave off a strange feeling. When Shin grasped the sword, he immediately sensed the presence of cursed energy emanating from it.

This was indeed a cursed tool. As he gripped the hilt, he slowly unsheathed the blade.

A cold gleam flashed across the room, accompanied by an even stronger surge of cursed energy.

It became clear that the scabbard had been concealing its true power. Moreover, the scabbard itself didn't appear to be that ancient, likely crafted by the Gen family to hide the cursed energy of Dojigiri.

The blade's edge gleamed dangerously, emitting an aura that made anyone looking at it feel an overwhelming sense of peril. However, the sword was also covered in a web of faint, dark brown lines that seemed both eerie and discordant.

"This is indeed a fine cursed tool. Are you sure the enemy is after this sword?" Shin asked.

Nao Gen thought for a moment and then replied, "That day, Grandfather had taken me to this room to find some books to read, but we happened to see a fish-like monster crawling toward the sword."

"I guess it didn't expect me to be able to see it. At first, my attacks didn't seem to do much, but I remembered the sword, and as soon as I drew it, I cut a huge wound into the fish monster. After that, it ran away…"

Shin considered the situation. It didn't seem right. The sword had been sheathed the entire time, its cursed energy hidden well. Without getting close, no one would be able to tell it was a cursed tool.

Even with the scabbard's power slowly diminishing, it shouldn't have been easy to detect the sword's presence. Moreover, this was their ancestral home, a place where few people had access. This meant the intruder must have known about the existence of the cursed tool through other means, intentionally coming to steal it.

After some thought, Shin said, "The enemy came prepared. I'd recommend that you don't keep this sword at home. It would be safer for Nao to carry it, or you could leave it in the school's safekeeping."

"To you, it's just a family heirloom, but now that a curse user is targeting it, those without any moral boundaries could do anything to obtain it…"

Shouki Gen, understanding the implication, nodded. Though he was somewhat reluctant to part with the sword, his family's safety took precedence. After all, their home was filled with heirlooms, and while none were as famous as Dojigiri, the sword was just one of many artifacts in the Gen family's collection.

"Shin-kun, are you confident you can handle this curse user lurking in the shadows?" Shouki asked.

Shin answered without hesitation, "Given the current situation, if they appear before me, I can kill them instantly. Curse users like this are usually sentenced to death."

Nao gasped softly. "Jujutsu sorcerers… kill people?"

Shin considered his words carefully before explaining, "Normally, sorcerers only need to exorcise curses. But curse users have often gone so far that it's hard to consider them human anymore. Indulging in their darkest desires, they are eventually swallowed by that darkness."

"I once dealt with a curse user who used their powers to gruesomely torture and murder several innocent women. Death was too merciful for someone like that. In a way, you could say we're like a jujutsu version of the police."

"We are on the side of justice." Nao said, her expression growing resolute. Shouki, on the other hand, wore a more pained and worried expression as he looked at his granddaughter.

Shin didn't say much more. The work of a jujutsu sorcerer wasn't easy. He was lucky to have the strength to handle most curses, or at the very least, escape if necessary.

But for lower-ranked sorcerers, encountering high-grade curses often meant death, and for many, that would be considered a relief. Not to mention the overwhelming number of missions they had to deal with.

Nao would have to come to terms with it on her own. Awakening a cursed technique meant that her life was forever changed. Even if she tried to return to a normal life, she would always be different at her core.

Moreover, curses didn't only target jujutsu sorcerers. Even if she tried to live as a "normal person," she could still be caught up in cursed incidents—just like her parents, who, to some degree, had knowledge of the jujutsu world but never expected their daughter to become involved in it.

On the bright side, not all jobs in the jujutsu world were dangerous. There were roles like teaching at Jujutsu High or working in support positions. Some even aimed for the higher ranks in the Jujutsu Council… though Shin thought that part was mostly a joke.

Shouki Gen then said, "Shin-kun, could we ask you to keep the sword for now until we deal with the curse user?"

Shin thought for a moment before agreeing. "Alright. In that case, there's no need to keep the scabbard on to conceal its energy. If the enemy is still after it, I can use it as bait."

"Since your home is heavily guarded, I might not stay here too often. It could make the curse user wary of acting."

Shouki smiled warmly. "No problem. I'll arrange a place for you nearby. If you have any requests, don't hesitate to let me know. Nao's parents are quite busy, so you might not see them often, but you can always speak to Sugihara if you need anything."

Later, Shin placed the Dojigiri in a new, ordinary scabbard, making the cursed energy even more noticeable. Even Nao, who was standing next to him, began to feel uneasy in its presence.

"I'm going to take a walk around the area to see if I can find any clues."

Nao immediately volunteered, "I'll go too!" Shouki, unable to refuse her request, agreed, as long as Sugihara accompanied them.

Once outside the Gen estate, the three of them—along with White Wolf—walked leisurely, with Sugihara quietly following behind, almost invisible unless one turned to look.

After a while, Nao couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you curious about my cursed technique?"

Shin, while staying alert for any signs of cursed energy, replied, "Some sorcerers openly reveal their techniques to enhance their power, using it as a binding vow. But others gain an advantage by keeping it secret, so I don't usually ask."

Nao pondered this for a moment before saying, "My technique is probably one of those open types. I call it 'Spirit Form.' I can leave my body, like a ghost in those scary stories."

Shin paused mid-step. A technique related to the soul? That was incredibly rare. In fact, he couldn't recall ever hearing about a sorcerer with a similar ability, except for some infamous curse spirits with such powers.

"How well do you understand your own technique?" Shin asked.

Nao pouted. "Not very well… I always thought it was just some kind of superpower. I didn't know about any of this jujutsu stuff."

Shin nodded. "Don't worry. If you join the school, you'll be taught everything you need to know." He answered a few more of Nao's questions about Jujutsu High.

"Panda! Is he really a panda?"

"Nope, just looks like one. He's taller than me, walks on two legs, and can talk."

Nao's curiosity grew even more. A talking panda? How cute could that be?

After a bit more walking, without any sign of cursed energy, they arrived at a nearby riverbank. The gentle breeze from the water felt refreshing.

"Shin-kun, do you think things like ghost stories are always caused by curses?"

Shin, who had been messaging Gojo Satoru on his phone, looked over at Nao. "Has something strange happened at your school?"

Nao quickly waved her hands. "Not to me! But a friend of mine… she's been acting really strange lately. She seems scared of something but won't tell me what."

Shin considered this. "It's possible. Some urban legends or campus stories can give birth to curses. Your friend might be caught up in something like that. Has anyone died at your school under unusual circumstances?"

Nao thought for a moment before replying, "We have some scary stories, sure. Doesn't every school? But I'm not really sure about any mysterious deaths. However, there's a guy at school who knows all about that kind of stuff."

Shin looked at her and asked, "Are you really worried about your friend?"

Nao gazed at the river's flowing waters. "Yes. Ayako doesn't have many friends. I might be one of the few she has. If I don't care about her, no one else will."

Shin typed out a message to Gojo before saying, "Alright. Let's check out your school. If there's a curse, I'll take care of it."

Nao's face lit up with a bright smile. "Thank you, Shin-kun! You really are a hero of justice. And of course, so am I!"

Shin glanced at her, a little perplexed. 'Oh no… she's one of those chūnibyō types. She probably imagines herself as some kind of magical girl…'

While he agreed to investigate the school, Shin had another objective. If there was indeed a curse, dealing with it might also lure out the curse user hiding in the shadows. If not, it would still give him a chance to test the powers of Dojigiri. After all, a curse user with a familiar spirit targeting this cursed tool was no simple matter. Something bigger might be at play.

"By the way, don't you have school today?" Shin asked.

Nao waved her hand nonchalantly. "I got permission to take a few days off. The headmaster is good friends with my dad. Besides, I've got good grades, so missing a few days won't be a big deal."

As their conversation drifted off, the peaceful sound of the river remained, flowing endlessly. After the group's figures disappeared into the distance, a ripple disturbed the calm water. Slowly, a shadowy figure emerged from the river's surface—a man with a grim, dark face. He glared in the direction Shin and the others had gone, frustration clear on his features.

"Damn it… a jujutsu sorcerer is involved now. That brat still has the sword on her. I'll have to test them first. If the opportunity arises, I'll kill them all and take the sword. I can't let Master Suguru's task fail."

The man's body slowly sank back into the river. In moments, he was gone, leaving only the clear waters and the fish swimming within.

Arriving at Nao's school, Shin immediately recognized it as a prestigious private academy, likely one of those elite institutions for the wealthy. Normally, someone like Shin, a complete stranger with a large dog, would never be allowed in, but Sugihara seemed to handle the matter with the school administration, and they were permitted entry without any issue. However, White Wolf had to remain at the gate, supervised by the guards.

After giving White Wolf a quick word of instruction, Shin followed Nao through the school gates, with the Dojigiri strapped across his back in a discreet instrument case. It was lunch break, so the campus was bustling with students. As they walked, Shin noticed that nearly everyone greeted Nao warmly, boys and girls alike.

"You're pretty popular here," Shin remarked, watching as a group of girls hugged Nao and whispered to her, casting curious glances at him before laughing mischievously. Nao shooed them away with an embarrassed expression.

Nao looked puzzled. "Aren't you popular too, Shin-kun? Or have you always just been at that one jujutsu school?"

Shin thought about his middle school days—the fights, the girls who were overly interested in him, and everything else. "I guess it was about fifty-fifty."

"Anyway, where's that classmate of yours who knows all the creepy school stories? We should also check in on your friend afterward."

Nao thought for a moment before answering, "He should be in his club right now. He's part of the Occult Club. He's always into ghost stories and school rumors."

Nao led the way to the clubroom of the Occult Club, a small room tucked away in one of the older school buildings. As they approached, they could already hear a voice inside, speaking in a low, dramatic tone.

Knock, knock.

Nao gently rapped on the door before pushing it open. "Keisuke?"

The voice inside stopped abruptly. A boy in a school uniform with a buzz cut turned around, looking excited to see Nao. "Nao, you're back at school!"

Inside the room, there were two other boys and a girl, all sitting around a small table. They had been listening intently to Keisuke's ghost story before Nao interrupted. After a few friendly exchanges, Nao introduced Shin to the group, though she kept the details vague about who he really was.

"So, you're asking if there have been any strange deaths or incidents at our school?" Keisuke asked, his tone becoming serious as he racked his brain for information. After a moment of thought, his face lit up. "Actually, there is one story that's pretty unusual."

"You all know the usual ghost stories, right? The piano that plays by itself in the classroom, the creepy mannequin in the art room, and of course, every school's classic ghost, Hanako-san. But there's one story that's different from the rest: the legend of the thirteenth step."

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