Chapter 42 – Playing Both Sides, Maki's Decision
"I've brought the kid. The rest isn't my problem."
Zen'in Shinsuke swaggered into Jujutsu High with Yuta Okkotsu in tow, leading him straight into a chamber lined with talismans.
"You'll be staying here. Whether you ever walk out again depends on your luck."
After hanging up his phone, he tossed the words at Yuta like they were nothing.
"Eh? Aren't they going to judge me?"
Yuta blinked in confusion. Even if they didn't demand his life in exchange, shouldn't there at least be some kind of punishment?
"Judgment? I didn't get paid to care about that."
With a wave of his hand, Shinsuke turned and left. He still had to collect his "assassination fee" from the higher-ups.
Once alone, Yuta stared at the talisman-covered walls, his stomach knotting with unease. Was this his punishment? To be sealed in here forever?
"You're Yuta Okkotsu, right?"
"Ah!"
He nearly jumped out of his skin. Gojo Satoru had appeared beside him without a sound.
"Relax, relax. You're safe—I paid ten million yen for you, after all. So loosen up."
Originally, Gojo had wanted to handle Yuta's case himself. When the higher-ups exposed Yuta's incident, Gojo dug into his background. There was no way an ordinary curse from an ordinary boy could have that kind of power.
His suspicions were right—Yuta's lineage traced back to the Three Great Vengeful Spirits, and more than that, there was likely a blood tie to the Gojo family itself. A talent like this shouldn't just be erased.
But before Gojo could make his move, the higher-ups had already dumped the mission on Shinsuke. Knowing Shinsuke's obsession with curses, Gojo called ahead, making him promise to spare Yuta's life.
The price: ten million yen.
In other words, Yuta's life had literally been bought.
Good thing Gojo was a special grade who never needed money—otherwise, at this rate, Shinsuke would bleed him dry.
"Who… are you?" Yuta asked hesitantly. This didn't feel like punishment at all.
"I'm Gojo Satoru. Your future teacher."
Gojo decided then and there—Yuta would be hidden from the higher-ups for now. If Shinsuke handed in his mission only for Yuta to stroll around campus alive the next day, that would raise too many questions.
Gojo clicked his tongue. He'd actually covered for Shinsuke. That alone was reason enough to make sure the man paid for it later.
---
Meanwhile, Shinsuke had already gone to report in.
"The boy's dead?"
"Yeah."
His tone was cool and indifferent. Bringing Yuta into Jujutsu High in broad daylight had been deliberate. As far as anyone else needed to know, the mission was complete. Whether Yuta was alive or not was irrelevant—the job was "done."
"Where's the body?"
"Still at Jujutsu High. If you're that worried, go bother Gojo—he took care of it."
He shamelessly tossed the blame onto Gojo. After all, the strongest sorcerer could shoulder it, and the higher-ups didn't like him anyway.
"..."
Silence from the other side of the door. Suspicion lingered, but no one pressed further.
"The payment will be transferred to your account."
And with that, the conversation ended.
Shinsuke left whistling, another ten million richer. Between the higher-ups and Gojo, neither side seemed short on cash. Perfect sheep to fleece.
---
At the Zen'in estate, inside the clan head's chambers, Naobito Zen'in sat cross-legged with a sake cup in hand, eyeing Maki.
"So, you really won't join the Kukuru Unit? You're of age now, your talent is mediocre. If you don't join, what exactly do you plan to do?
"I know you're close with Shinsuke, and you want to be strong like him. But you don't have his talent—or his guts."
His words were blunt, cruel even, but realistic. Maki's limits were clear. The twin's curse wasn't something one could just shrug off. The cases of Toji and Shinsuke were one in a million.
"Hmph. I'll become strong enough to take the Zen'in clan head seat with my own power. And when I do, I'll make you all shut up."
Maki's grip tightened around her staff. Her gaze was firm as she turned to leave. She'd already been stuck at this bottleneck too long—it was time to break through.
Naobito burst out laughing, nearly spilling his drink.
"Hahahaha! I'll be waiting for the day you become clan head!"
He didn't fault her determination—her spirit was commendable. But the Zen'in family wasn't so easily conquered. The next head had long been decided.
Before leaving the estate, Maki stopped to see Shinsuke.
"Master," she said, her eyes resolute, "I've decided. I'm going to Jujutsu High."
Zen'in Maki stood tall, her gaze unwavering. The decision was made—her path forward was clear.
Her strength had hit a wall. If she wanted to break through, she needed real combat—facing more sorcerers, more curses. Nothing else would do.
"Then go," Zen'in Shinsuke said calmly. "Have you told Mai?"
He didn't object. He had already taught Maki everything he could. In pure taijutsu, she was now on par with any grade 1 sorcerer. But her physical body still lagged behind. And without cursed energy, her overall strength was only around grade 2 or 3.
With a special-grade cursed tool in hand, though… she could probably take down a grade 2 curse on her own.
"No. I don't plan on telling her." Maki shook her head.
She knew her sister too well. Mai had grown bolder these last few years, yes—but deep down, she never intended to resist the Zen'in clan. In her heart, such a thing was impossible for the two of them.
But what Mai didn't want, Maki did. She would force the clan into silence with her own hands. As for her sister? Let Mai live more comfortably. This fight was always the elder sister's burden to bear.
"The business between you two sisters isn't something I'll interfere with," Shinsuke said. "Inside—you'll find Playing Cloud. Take it with you."
"You're serious?"
Maki's eyes went wide. For a moment she froze, then her whole body lit up with excitement.
For people like them, cursed tools weren't just important—they were everything.
And Shinsuke was actually entrusting her with a special-grade cursed tool.
How could she not be moved? His trust burned inside her, solidifying her resolve. Even if not to slap the Zen'in clan's face, she would persist—for her master's faith in her, if nothing else.
"Take it. But remember—our training duels are still with ordinary tools."
"Got it!"
With a sharp nod, Maki dashed into the room, hands trembling slightly as she lifted Playing Cloud at last. The weight, the aura—it was overwhelming.
She gave it a light swing, and the raw power pulsed through her arms.
And yet she knew—this blade, mighty as it was, had once been broken in her master's hands. Just how much strength did it take to shatter something like this?
Watching her brimming excitement, Shinsuke allowed himself a faint smile.
"Someday," he murmured, "I hope you can draw out its true strength."