All in a day's word(Part-2)
"Umm...Ryusei-san, I thought we were going to the sewers for the mission?" Itadori questioned as he and Ryusei stood in front of a small apartment complex.
"We just gotta get some stuff first. Since barely anyone lives here anymore, this is also a good place for you to hang around without being found out," Ryusei responded, and the two entered the apartment.
As soon as the doors of the apartment were opened, a scene of an abandoned apartment filled with spiderwebs and a bad odor revealed itself.
"Ah... I forgot I was unable to clean this place yesterday because Yaga called me for that mission," Ryusei said as he and Itadori entered the apartment, holding their noses.
"Isn't this too much dust just for a day of not cleaning?" Itadori questioned as he looked at the apartment that seemed to have been abandoned for more than three years.
"Well, I was out of Tokyo for the last four years of training. I returned yesterday and was buying essentials as Yaga called me about an emergency mission," Ryusei responded as he approached three suitcases lying on his bed.
"While the pay for formal sorcerers is great, for students, they pay us an allowance instead of proper pay. The allowance for a Grade 1 is roughly about 700 US dollars monthly."
"It might look like good money at face value, but for sorcerers like us who risk our lives every mission, it's really damn low. For comparison, a Grade 4 cursed tool costs about 70,000 US dollars."
"The katana I carry costs 200,000 USD, and it's only Grade 3. If Satoru was not paying me for his missions, I would have to collect two years of this allowance just to afford it."
"And so, I decided to start YouTube. Since I already have such a handsome face paired with my great personality, I decided to start doing videos."
'That is not really something someone with a great personality says about themselves,' Itadori quietly thought to himself.
"I was thinking about musical stuff, but I realized I was pretty bad at that. Then I tried fitness, but it didn't blow up much either."
"But then two years ago, while I was scrolling through the internet, I came across people explaining paranormal stuff"
"As I dug deeper, I realized a lot of the stuff that these guys use gives a similar response as curse spirits do."
"After that, it was just a matter of time. It didn't take long for these types of videos to blow up. Then another idea popped up: why not make two parts for every investigation? with the first part being the findings and the next part about exorcising."
"And so the money started to pour in like rain."
'And the amount of FP I get just from evoking any emotions is just off the charts,' Ryusei thought to himself.
"Eh? But if you show curse spirits on camera, won't the whole world be notified of their existence?" Itadori questioned.
"A camera cannot record curse energy unless you use one programmed for it or a curse technique."
"A lot of curses have some physical presence where they can use their claws and other body parts to damage walls and even some equipment, but that makes for even better content."
"Amazing~ I never thought of exploiting curses like that," Itadori responded, his eyes sparkling with adoration.
"It's not just you; no other sorcerer had thought about using curses like that."
"Most sorcerers are dependent on their curse techniques. A curse technique basically determines a sorcerer's 80% of potential."
"And since most sorcerers live within the boundaries of Jujutsu Academy, their living finances are covered completely. Not only was I overseas, but I basically joined the Jujutsu society two months ago."
"To be honest, despite his shitty personality, Satoru really is a good guy," Ryusei stated with a small smile on his face.
"Anyways, if you have any questions regarding all this curse stuff, feel free to ask me," Ryusei said as the two were now at the back of a car, waiting to reach their destination.
"Say, Ryusei-san, do you think you can win against Sukuna?" Itadori questioned.
"To be honest, I am not sure. The reason I joined Jujutsu High was because I hit a wall in my progression. No matter how much I exercised, how many curses I fought, I was unable to get any stronger."
"Anyways, we are near the location already. Here, help me record this one," Ryusei said as the two got off the
"Hey, hey! How is it going, guys? It's me, the best ghost hunter in the world, Spectral Seeker, out here investigating another haunted site!(English)" Ryusei said as he stood in front of Itadori, who was holding the camera.
"Today we are in front of an abandoned sewer system. Here, many people have been reported missing and dead. There have been some sightings of a tall man with white skin. (English)"
"But before we start, let me introduce to you all today's cameraman, Itadori Yuji! (English)"
"Umm, Nish to meet you all? (English)" Itadori said, stumbling in his speech a little.
"Well, guys, currently we are in front of an opening of an abandoned sewer system. It is located in Japan, Yokohama. This place was built about 2 decades ago; it was supposed to be a large network connecting many houses to support sewage disposal at that time. (English)"
"However, its construction was stopped as one of the workers suddenly went missing. Since then, people have reported seeing scratch marks and apparitions of a tall man with white skin. (English)"
"People assume that the place is actually haunted by the ghost of a man who was buried here in the 1800s. However, any further evidence about such theories has yet to appear. (English)"
"That's all we know of from its past. Now then, it's time to enter and hopefully exorcise any evil being residing here. (English)"
As the two took a step inside the sewer system, their surroundings immediately shifted. The creepy-looking sewer pipes were now replaced by a long and narrow cave system.
"Itadori, switch off the camera," Ryusei commanded, his demeanor shifting to a serious one.
"What? We just started this, right?" Itadori responded, slightly confused.
"We are now inside a domain. Only Grade 1 curses or above can use one. The domain is different from other curse techniques and can actually be recorded, as it affects the physical world," Ryusei explained as Itadori switched the camera off.
The curse was a distorted and grotesque creature. It had a hulking and misshapen form, with four arms protruding unevenly from its body. Its face was menacing, featuring sharp teeth and a malicious expression.
-[Unique Quest: Finger Bearer]-
-[Exorsize the special grade curse bearing one of Sakuna's Fingers.]-
-[Rewards: 10 GP, 2000FP, Slight increase in curse reserves]-
"Pft, I really tensed for something like that?" Ryusei stated with a smirk on his face and his posture relaxed.
"Ryusei-san, this curse looks similar to the Special Grade I encountered," Itadori said as his body tensed up a little.
"Relax, little guy, it's a finger bearer," Ryusei responded casually, and the curse spirit let out a burst of eerie laughter.
"Then it is exactly like the one we faced before," Itadori said.
"Well, not exactly like that one, this one should be a tad bit stronger," Ryusei responded.
"However, it's still just a small fry. Itadori, you said you have no curse energy, right? How about you have a go first?" Ryusei asked.
"Ehh, you're not putting me out as bait, right?" Itadori questioned.
"Who do you think I am?! Just go and fight it. If it looks bad, I will intervene," Ryusei declared.
"Fuuu, alright!" Itadori responded with a smile on his face, a little more confident now.
"KIIIII!" The curse spirit let out a screech and recognized Itadori as his opponent, rushing at him.
With his hands clenched, Itadori intercepted the first blow. As Itadori grabbed one of its arms, the curse's other arm formed a ball of cursed energy and launched it at him.
Seeing the upcoming danger, Itadori released the arm and tried to duck under it; however, the curse was too fast for him, and the ball of cursed energy connected, sending him flying into a wall.
"It's way faster than the one I fought before, but its strength falls short," Itadori thought to himself as he managed to get up. His nose was bleeding, and he had a wound on his chest from the impact of the blow.
"So, you are just at this level, huh?" Ryusei said as he appeared in front of Itadori, crouching.
"Ryusei-san..." Itadori mumbled, still in pain.
"Well, you should sit now. Let me show you how to deal with these things without any curse techniques," Ryusei stated confidently as he approached the curse spirit.
"KIIIIAHHHHH!!" The curse spirit screeched, enraged as if it could understand that Ryusei was underestimating it.
"What the hell are you screaming about!" Ryusei yelled with a grin and rushed at the curse.
Seeing Ryusei approaching, the curse formed a ball of curse energy and launched it at Ryusei. Seeing the ball, Ryusei, with a toothy grin still plastered on his face, let curse energy flow in his hands and punched at it, destroying it easily.
"He easily countered it while I was not even able to react to its speed. So, this is someone close to Gojo-sensei's strength?" Itadori questioned himself as he sat on the ground, watching Ryusei fighting the curse.
"Itadori! This one is one of the curses that barely meets the quota of a special grade! Even without curse energy, if you have trained hard enough, you can exorcise these things easily," Ryusei said as he connected an uppercut on the curse's face.
"This one has little strength, but its durability and curse energy are what make it a special grade!" Ryusei yelled as he easily evaded the curse's attempts at hitting him.
"KIYAAAAHHHHH!!!" The curse screeched again as it cursed all four of its arms and connected a punch at Ryusei's chest.
"The hell? Was that supposed to hurt?" Ryusei questioned as he took the punches with no sign of pain.
-[Template Skill: Fighter's Will(SS+): Activated]-
Ryusei's aura covered the domain as a large pressure fell on the curse and Itadori. Sensing Ryusei as the source of the pressure, the curse started to back off a little.
"What, scared now? However, too late for ya!" Ryusei yelled with a glint in his eyes. A crimson hue gathered around Ryuse's fist as he launched a devastating punch on the curse's torso.
The crimson hue seemed to transfer onto the curse's torso as its body started to disfigure rapidly, and then it was blown into two halves.
-[Unique Quest; Finger bearer: Completed]-
-[GP: 20 -> 30]-
-[Curse Reserves: BB -> BB+]-
-[FP: 58,260 -> 60,260]-
"All done," Ryusei stated casually as he retrieved Sakuna's finger from the curse spirit as its body faded away.
"Ryusei-san, you are really amazing," Itadori stated with his eyes sparkling with admiration.
"That I am. Anyhow, let's get you some medical attention," Ryusei responded as the domain around them faded away, leaving them in the sewer network.
As the battle between Itadori and Yuji against the Special Grade ended another one started far away from them.
----
Inside a large apartment complex, a man casually walked past a series of apartments. He stood in front of one, inserted a key, and opened it.
Inside, the scene was absurdly different from what one would expect from a normal apartment. The other side of the door revealed a vast beach with two curse spirits relaxing there.
"This sure is a calm domain," Geto muttered as he entered the domain.
"What happened to Jogo?" the curse relaxing on the beach seat questioned.
"He was about to die; however, Hanami went ahead to save him," Geto responded.
"You are evil, Geto-san. You instigated this, right?" The curse asked.
"Far from it. I even tried to stop it," Geto responded.
"Speak of the devil, Jogo, Hanami, I am glad that you two are safe," the curse said as Hanami entered the domain carrying Jogo's head.
"Well, that's how it ended, and he is not in the wrong," Geto said as Jogo glared at him.
"I think you now understand that attacking Satoru Gojo can only be done at a certain time and place. After we establish our advantages, let's aim to seal him on October 31st in Shibuya. I will contact you with the details later," Geto laid out the plan to the other curses.
"Is that alright, Mahito?" Geto asked as he looked at the curse spirit.
"No objections from here," Mahito responded.
"Very well, there is one more we should look out for, just in case," Geto stated as Jogo looked at him with slight confusion.
"Except Gojo, who dares to stand up to us?" Jogo questioned.
"Special Grade 1 Sorcerer: Ryusei," Geto responded calmly.
"Tch, not even Special Grade? Do I even need to look at him to kill him?" Jogo responded arrogantly.
"If we are going just by the given grade, Ryusei truly poses no threat to our plans. However, I have been researching Jujutsu High Tokyo for a while," Geto stated.
"While against a group of curses, he may fall short. However, in a 1v1, his threat level is not that far from Satoru Gojo."
"His physical attributes surpass Gojo's, and his curse technique allows him to remove his presence completely."
"In a 1v1, the first strike is always guaranteed to him."
"However, that is all there is to him. Dealing with him is much easier; we just have to bait him out with a Grade 1, then attack him with a wave of curses," Geto stated confidently.
"Despite the easy method of dealing with him, his existence is that of a wild card. We should get rid of it before we really start our plans," Geto stated.
"In that case, let me handle him," Mahito offered.
"Sure, try to be as close as possible while keeping tabs on him. Tracking him is next to impossible," Geto stated as he agreed.