"No need to apologize, I understand."
Satoru Mikami came back to his senses: "Instead of a verbal apology, why don't you teach me some powerful Magic—or fight me. That would feel more sincere."
"...I understand."
Facing Satoru's unexpectedly calm reaction, Rias paused, then agreed.
From channeling magic power to the foundational structures of spells, Rias personally instructed him.
Like a sponge meeting water, Satoru absorbed the knowledge rapidly, his growth accelerating again.
---
A week later, on the outskirts of Kouh Town.
A thunderous roar split the air as blazing flames swallowed a two-meter-tall yellow Curse Spirit.
"Rias, how was it?"
Satoru turned toward her. "Anything I should fix?"
"...You've already surpassed me."
Tucking a loose strand of crimson hair behind her ear, Rias gave a helpless smile.
In just one week.
Aside from the untransmittable Destruction Magic, Satoru had emptied her arsenal.
And not just that—he improved much of it.
He streamlined casting efficiency, boosted spell output, and raised destructive power beyond what she thought possible.
Even knowing his talent was monstrous, this level of mastery was overwhelming.
Swordsmanship. Close-quarters combat. Magic. Mana control.
Flawless in every field.
"To have lasted a whole week, Rias, you already know a lot," Satoru said, trying to soften the blow.
"Even knowing you mean well, that still sounds harsh."
Straightening, Rias changed the subject: "The Curse Spirits are all cleared. Let's return to school."
"By now, the Jujutsu Sorcerer sent from Tokyo to reinforce the seal should have arrived."
"Then let's go."
Satoru flicked open his status panel.
The loosened seal around Sukuna's finger had drawn countless Curse Spirits into Kouh Town.
They came in all strengths, most dropping traits when defeated.
Noticing this, Satoru took charge of eliminating them.
Combined with dojo challenges and nonstop battles, he harvested piles of white and green low-level traits.
After consuming them, he unlocked two new slots.
[Satoru Mikami]
[Race: Devil]
[Strength: Level Two]
[Traits: Magic Sword Creation (Blue), Spiritual Healing Bracelet (Blue), Pawn (Purple), Immortal Arts (Purple), Boost (Red), Destruction Magic (Red), Limitless Potential (Rainbow)]
[Destruction Magic (Red): Imbues mana with the attribute of Destruction, vastly amplifying offensive power.]
He had gained Destruction Magic during a spar with Rias.
Perhaps out of guilt, she had held back.
Satoru hadn't.
By stacking Boost to the fourth layer—sixteen times his base strength—he overwhelmed her completely.
Closing the panel, Satoru followed Rias back toward the Occult Research Club.
Since they'd been nearby, Himejima Akeno and the others had already gathered.
Inside the room stood another figure—a black-haired girl in glasses, speaking with Akeno.
Seeing her, Rias blinked in confusion.
"Sona, why are you here?"
"Sukuna's finger is missing."
"...???"
The bombshell left Rias clutching her temple.
"Explain. What happened?"
"Didn't you think the number of Curse Spirits in Kouh Town was unusually high just now?"
"I did. Are you saying… those were deliberately released?"
Sona nodded: "Exactly. The culprit used them to lure everyone out, then stole the finger from the academy."
"And Teacher Nagatsuki?"
"She accepted a special mission abroad this morning."
"...Interesting."
Rias's eyes narrowed.
First confirm the teacher's absence. Then release just enough Curse Spirits to draw them away.
The enemy clearly understood their combat strength.
But only a handful knew she had recruited Satoru a week ago.
An internal leak was nearly impossible.
Which meant…
"The surge of Curse Spirits wasn't only because of Sukuna's finger."
"You noticed as well."
Sona nodded: "The culprit has been testing our limits by continuously releasing them."
Rias: "Any leads on identity?"
Sona: "Not yet. But I collected the residual cursed energy left behind."
"Let me see."
Satoru spoke up suddenly.
"Of course."
Sona produced a green crystal.
Through Rias's introduction, she had already met Satoru once before.
Though their encounters were brief, she had seen enough of his monstrous talent to trust him.
"Satoru, you can also track energy signatures?"
"I know a little."
He activated Immortal Arts, recording the aura sealed inside the crystal.
While he worked, Rias and Sona quietly exchanged information.
Then—a knock.
The door opened, revealing a boy with spiky black hair.
"Good evening. I'm Fushiguro Megumi, sent from Kyoto Jujutsu High to reinforce the seal."
"You've come at the worst time."
Rias sighed: "Sorry, Fushiguro-kun. Sukuna's finger has just been stolen."
"...Huh?"
---
Fushiguro Megumi felt like the sky had collapsed.
Before leaving, his teacher had called this a simple mission—little more than a stroll.
Now the Devil tasked with guarding the seal was telling him Sukuna's finger was gone?
After hearing the details from Rias, Megumi immediately called Gojo Satoru.
"Oh my, I didn't think anyone could actually steal it from Devils. Megumi, your luck really is awful."
"Cut the jokes. Shouldn't we be retrieving it?"
"True, but that's not your concern."
"...What?"
"Leave it to those two young Devil heiresses with you. They'll find it."
Beep~ Beep~ Beep~
Megumi's temple throbbed as the call ended.
"This is serious! Can't he take anything seriously?"
"I think Gojo-sensei is fine."
Rias's voice was calm: "This failure lies in our supervision, Fushiguro-kun. Please wait for good news."
"No. I can't just stand here and do nothing," Megumi argued.
"I understand." Rias turned to the side. "Satoru, what did you find?"
"The culprit is a Curse Spirit."
Satoru returned the crystal to Sona.
"A Curse Spirit? Are you certain?"
Sona frowned.
Normally, any Curse Spirit would devour Sukuna's finger instantly.
Yet she had sensed no massive cursed energy anywhere nearby.
If Satoru's reading was right, it meant only one thing—
A Curse Spirit had resisted the temptation.
"...Then it must be a Special Grade."
Rias's face hardened.
Only a Special Grade Curse Spirit could hold back after obtaining Sukuna's finger.
"Satoru, can you locate it?"
"I'll need to search. If it hasn't left Kouh Town, I can probably find it."
"If it's a Curse Spirit, I can help."
Megumi stepped forward, tone firm.
A Special Grade… he couldn't defeat it.
But he could still fight.