"It's not surprising if Mechamaru turns out to be the traitor," someone remarked.
Following investigations led by Maki, the traitor within Jujutsu Tech's Kyoto School was soon identified as Kokichi Muta, better known as Mechamaru. Despite Maki's reluctance to suspect her own student, the series of incidents—including the invasion during the exchange event and the theft of Sukuna's fingers and the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings—left her no choice.
Even with her lingering trust in Kokichi, Gojo Satoru had requested her assistance in uncovering the truth. Although Maki and Gojo appeared to have a strained relationship—fueled by rumors that Gojo had frequently reduced Maki to tears during their student days—she still trusted his character deeply.
Upon finding some evidence that pointed to Kokichi, Maki refrained from involving other students like Aoi Todo, as they were all classmates. Instead, she turned to Gojo for help, and together with Daniel Davis, Yuji Itadori, and Megumi Fushiguro, they began their investigation alongside her.
"It's just suspicion for now, not confirmed," Maki responded with some irritation when Daniel voiced his thoughts. Despite the evidence pointing at Kokichi, a part of Maki still hoped he wasn't the traitor.
"Why do you think it's him?" Megumi asked, his expression puzzled.
"You'll see soon enough," Daniel replied cryptically, avoiding a direct answer.
His mind had already jumped to Mahito. Kokichi's Heavenly Restriction set him apart from others like Toji Fushiguro and Maki Zenin. While Toji and Maki lacked cursed energy—Toji entirely and Maki mostly—they still possessed intact, even enhanced, physical abilities. Kokichi, however, was different.
Due to his Heavenly Restriction, Kokichi was born without his right arm or lower legs. He had no sensation below his waist, and his fragile skin could be burned by mere moonlight. His entire body endured constant, needle-like pain. In exchange, Kokichi gained access to a vast repertoire of cursed techniques and incredible cursed energy output, but his physical condition confined him to a specially designed room. He could only interact with the outside world through puppet proxies.
Under normal circumstances, someone with Kokichi's condition wouldn't have survived. His ability to live at all was thanks to his proficiency as a sorcerer. But such a life—so far removed from normalcy—made him vulnerable to persuasion. If someone offered him the chance to restore his body, it would be incredibly hard for him to refuse. Even someone like Yuji, with such a debilitating condition, might have been tempted to make a similar choice.
Unfortunately, a body like Kokichi's was incredibly difficult to treat. If it were possible, figures like Shoko Ieiri and Yuta Okkotsu would have already done so. But since Kokichi's condition remained unchanged, it was evident that they couldn't help him.
In theory, neither sorcerers nor curses had the ability to fully regenerate limbs. While curses could reattach severed limbs, even humans with Reverse Cursed Techniques couldn't achieve limb regeneration. That being said, Mahito's Idle Transfiguration was a game-changer. His cursed technique could theoretically restore Kokichi's body in exchange for a binding vow. Such vows were unbreakable, meaning Mahito couldn't go back on his word even if he wanted to.
Given these circumstances, Daniel figured Kokichi couldn't resist such an offer.
"He's in here," Maki said as the group arrived at a hidden underground chamber in Kyoto. She pointed toward the entrance and began preparing her cursed technique. Even though she hoped Kokichi wasn't the traitor, as a sorcerer, she couldn't afford to let her guard down in the event of a confrontation. Maki's technique required some time to charge, as it was a supportive type.
Yuji and Megumi nodded at each other. Yuji then smashed through the iron door blocking their path and charged in, with Megumi following closely behind in perfect synchronization.
"He's not here," Yuji called out, scanning the area.
The large underground room was empty except for a pool-like structure in the center.
"Even the puppets are gone. It really was him," Maki sighed heavily, visibly disheartened. With Kokichi's physical condition, it would normally be impossible for him to leave this chamber without experiencing extreme pain. The absence of his puppets further indicated that he'd realized he had been exposed and fled in advance.
This underground chamber was not only Kokichi's living quarters but also his workshop for creating puppets. Few people at Jujutsu Tech truly understood the extent of his condition. Kokichi avoided interacting with others because he hated seeing pity or disdain in their eyes.
"Damn it," Yuji muttered, visibly frustrated. He had hoped to capture Kokichi to track down Mahito and avenge Junpei Yoshino and others who had fallen victim to Mahito.
"This complicates things. You two head back. I'll scout the area," Daniel instructed Megumi and Yuji. His primary goal was to capture Kokichi and extract information about the enemy's plans. Doing so would allow them to devise countermeasures and potentially reduce casualties.
Kokichi's escape wouldn't change the overall situation much, but uncovering the enemy's detailed plans would undoubtedly be advantageous.
"This doesn't look like a hasty retreat. It seems more like a calculated plan," Daniel mused. He activated his sensory abilities, combining Observation Haki and the precision of "En" from Nen, to locate any trace of Kokichi.
"Something's there," Daniel murmured after detecting faint cursed energy approximately four kilometers away. He flew into the air for a better vantage point and quickly spotted the source: a black veil covering an area of about several dozen meters in diameter.
"So, someone set up a veil here. Time to check it out," Daniel said, descending toward the location.
The veil was placed around an abandoned building—another incomplete construction project. Such sites were common in this world due to the presence of curses. Many areas became ghost towns after repeated hauntings, leading construction to halt. Sorcerers and curse users often capitalized on these areas as a source of income, with sorcerers purging curses and curse users exploiting the fear surrounding them.
"This veil isn't particularly restrictive," Daniel observed as he touched it. Most veils served to obscure visibility, ensuring that curses and cursed energy remained hidden from ordinary people. This veil seemed to have no additional barriers, allowing him to step inside easily.
"It must be Jujutsu Tech exorcising a curse," Daniel speculated as he entered stealthily. Inside, he immediately heard the sounds of intense combat. A massive puppet was locked in a fierce battle with a monstrous curse.
"Mechamaru and Mahito," Daniel muttered to himself, instantly recognizing the combatants. From Kokichi's puppet technique to Mahito's grotesque transformation abilities, it was clear who they were.
"Are they fighting each other? Or did negotiations fall through?" Daniel wondered as he observed the fight. Nearby, another sorcerer, identified as Suguru Geto, watched the battle with a calm, amused expression.
"This veil allows entry but prevents exit. They're trying to kill him," Daniel realized. It was clear now: the enemy's goal was to eliminate Kokichi to prevent him from revealing their plans to Jujutsu Tech.
Daniel continued observing as Mahito and Kokichi traded blows. Initially, Kokichi's puppet had the upper hand, thanks to its specialized techniques. Mahito's Idle Transfiguration required direct contact with his hands to activate, making Kokichi's long-range puppet technique a strong counter.
However, as the fight dragged on, Mahito began adapting. His transformation abilities allowed him to grow blades, claws, and wings, giving him the edge over Kokichi's puppet.
"That guy's a natural in combat," Daniel thought as Mahito used his cursed technique creatively, pushing Kokichi to his limits. Despite this, Kokichi had prepared countermeasures specifically for Mahito, managing to injure him multiple times. But Mahito's self-healing through Idle Transfiguration kept him in the fight.
Eventually, Mahito unleashed his trump card: Domain Expansion: Self-Embodiment of Perfection. With astonishing speed, he completed the domain's hand seals using miniature hands inside his mouth—a technique so quick that even seasoned sorcerers like Nanami Kento had failed to evade it.
"He's done for," Daniel thought. Mahito's domain, with its guaranteed-hit effect, allowed him to manipulate Kokichi's soul without physical contact.
But just as Mahito's domain expanded, a massive explosion erupted from within. The domain shattered, and Kokichi emerged unscathed, revealing he had prepared for this exact scenario.
"Well, that was unexpected," Daniel muttered, impressed by Kokichi's foresight.
"Geto, you're next," Kokichi declared, his puppet advancing toward the observing sorcerer.
"Is that so?" Geto replied, smiling without any sign of concern.
Just as Kokichi turned his attention to Geto, Mahito—who had faked his defeat—reappeared. His body, having shrunk and hidden itself during the explosion, suddenly swelled up again. Transforming his right hand into a giant claw, he struck Kokichi's puppet, destroying it and exposing the real Kokichi inside.
"So that's what he really looks like," Daniel remarked, stunned. Kokichi, now fully restored, was a handsome man, his previous frailty completely gone. It was clear Mahito had fulfilled his promise to restore Kokichi's body in exchange for his betrayal.
"Trading looks for power—what a gamble," Daniel thought wryly.
Mahito prepared to finish Kokichi off, but Daniel finally
decided to intervene. "That's far enough," he muttered, firing a precise shot at Mahito's giant arm. Simultaneously, he appeared next to Kokichi and pulled him to safety.
"Who's there?" Mahito and Geto exclaimed, startled by the unexpected intrusion.
Daniel remained silent, firing another round to cover their retreat as he carried Kokichi out of harm's way.
------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!
Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]