Chapter 166 — Our Minds are as One!
"I've checked it over; there are no hidden dangers, nor are there any negative side effects... Overall, it's quite well-made."
Although Miwa Kasumi claimed she had only come to express her gratitude in person, Emiya took the opportunity to give [Emiyamaru] a thorough inspection.
After all, unlike the "ordinary" weapons he provided for the students' temporary use, this was a weapon upon which Emiya had truly imbued a Cursed Technique.
Regardless of their form, all Cursed Techniques—with the exception of [Reverse Cursed Technique]—are essentially composed of negative energy and curses, both of which carry the potential for undesirable effects.
Even for jujutsu sorcerers, humans who seemingly have mastery over Cursed Energy and curses, isn't there still a certain probability of falling into corruption and becoming a Cursed Spirit upon death? While an accident occurring while a sorcerer is still alive has never happened, it remains a dangerous possibility.
Emiya didn't fear his own forged tools suddenly opening their mouths to bite their owner; his primary goal was simply to rule out the possibility of Cursed Energy interference or flaws in the technique engraving that might cause the weapon to suddenly spiral out of control.
"How does it feel when you use it yourself?" Emiya asked suddenly.
"How it feels?" Miwa Kasumi tilted her head. After a moment of careful thought, she said, "Well, I've found that Cursed Spirits seem infinitely easier to 'cut' than before. They slice open with just a little bit of force.
Also... the shapeshifting ability is very useful! Once, when I almost fell from a high place, I relied on [Emiyamaru] turning into a short grappling hook to snag onto the eaves."
Even Emiya's own [Forging] technique had to follow the laws of physics, and this technique-inscribed Cursed Tool was no different. Even if the blade underwent a deformation, its mass would not differ from the original; though its density and volume could be adjusted within a small range.
"I see... Could it be that the combat effectiveness of the technique's ability isn't strong?"
Emiya could tell that Miwa Kasumi was intentionally glossing over this point, as if she were afraid of hurting his feelings.
"Ah, eh?!
I wouldn't say it's useless! It's mainly because my own imagination isn't that strong. I can't manage to transform it freely in the middle of a battle.
Mai mentioned the idea of changing the blade directly into a firearm, but I haven't quite mastered that structure yet..."
In reality, even if Miwa Kasumi did learn the firearm mode transformation, she would still need to spend a significant amount of time learning marksmanship; it was a case of diminishing returns.
Regarding versatility, the technique on this blade was better suited for shifting between types like machetes, rapiers, or foils—types that focused on specialized techniques. But if she did that, wouldn't the amount of required study increase even more?
Worse yet, it wouldn't necessarily yield great results. Since a sorcerer's primary task is dealing with Curses, mastering a single skill is usually sufficient; trying to learn multiple sword styles often leads to being a jack of all trades and master of none.
"In that case, how about I add another technique ability to it?" Emiya proposed.
"Another ability? Is that possible?!"
Miwa Kasumi had never heard of a Cursed Tool that could have a new technique added to it. No—before meeting Emiya, she hadn't even heard of anyone capable of forging a Cursed Tool that possessed a distinct, defined technique at all.
"There won't be any problems. The core of the technique remains [Forging]; I'm simply adding a new variation to it.
[Flame Release: Kagutsuchi]. It manifests as flames that incinerate everything. I can add this technique effect to the blade as well."
This wasn't a difficult task for Emiya. It was only because he had just mastered [Kagutsuchi] when he forged his first Special Grade Cursed Tool—and his technique wasn't quite as mature back then—that he had been a bit conservative.
According to Emiya's estimation of Miwa Kasumi, relying solely on the original [Emiyamaru] and her own hard work, it might be difficult for her to even reach the level of a Grade 1 sorcerer. After all, to this day, hasn't there been only one single instance of a sorcerer without an innate technique successfully being promoted to Grade 1?
Having high expectations for a child's growth is a good thing, but one must also provide sufficient support. Since Emiya himself hadn't had much time to deeply develop [Kagutsuchi] due to his busy schedule, perhaps Miwa Kasumi could achieve some wonderful results using the Cursed Tool?
"Flames? You mean... I can use that kind of technique ability too?!"
Miwa Kasumi desperately wanted to refuse. Her reasoning was that she had already inconvenienced Emiya so much that she truly felt ashamed to ask for more.
Other "simps" showered their idols with gifts; how did it turn out that she was the one constantly taking things from him?
If she accidentally ended up so far in debt that she couldn't pay it back even if she sold herself, how was she supposed to ever blow the horn of counterattack and take charge of the household!
However...
She couldn't refuse!
What sorcerer who had never awakened an innate technique could refuse the temptation of a powerful technique?
Damn it, there was no way—it was simply impossible to resist!
"Then, then, then, I..."
Miwa Kasumi reached out her hand for the third time, only to quickly use her powerful willpower to restrain her desire.
She really couldn't go further into debt!
Emiya saw her internal struggle, so without hesitation, he grabbed her hand and turned to walk out the door.
"It's fine. It's decided. Just consider it a safeguard I'm providing for your personal safety."
To Emiya, protecting a friend's safety was a matter of duty, and attempting to improve their strength was simply a form of protection. At most, he was just updating the effects of the technique engraving; it would take him barely fifteen minutes to complete, and it wouldn't take much time away from Miko at all.
Emiya thought this way, but to those watching, it looked like something else entirely—
"Mr. Gojo, do you know what that girl is to Emiya-kun?"
In the other room, Miko's expression was even calmer than that of her fellow sufferer, Gojo Satoru.
"That's a student from the Kyoto school. As for their relationship... I recall that Emiya-kun's first commission before joining Jujutsu High was with her.
I feel a strong sense of threat..."
It was unclear if Gojo Satoru was saying this to Miko or simply stating it to himself.
"The first!?"
Indeed, those sounded like very threatening words.
"And that weapon, could it be..."
"That's right. Emiya-kun forged it with his own hands and gave it to her as a gift." Before Miko could finish, Gojo Satoru—as if sharing a psychic link—provided the answer she was looking for.
Furthermore, he quite considerately omitted the fact that the students actually had several weapons each. After all, a student is definitely different from a friend.
If even he, Gojo Satoru, didn't have one, why should Miwa Kasumi have one!
Exactly—that was what Miko was thinking too!
Their minds were now officially as one.
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