You call this a projection?

A dark night for murder, a high wind for arson.

In this world where Cursed Spirits have habitually integrated into human society—transforming into strange ailments like shoulder pain or headaches—Kenjaku, the holder of [Cursed Spirit Manipulation], truly lacks neither spirits to command nor eyes to watch.

In fact, even if the spirits he used to track Gojo Satoru were discovered, it wouldn’t matter. Cursed Spirits are essentially like stray dogs. While not exactly an infestation, it’s truly nothing special for a few spirits to inhabit places where human negative emotions and rumors congregate. As long as the spirit’s grade isn’t high and it isn’t harming anyone, Gojo Satoru wouldn’t go out of his way to deal with a tiny lifeform no more significant than a mosquito.

So, upon realizing things weren’t going according to plan, Kenjaku had deliberately chosen some weak spirits to act as lookouts, sending them to shadow Gojo.

That was how it was supposed to be. However...

”...!?”

Kenjaku, who had just reached an agreement with the scheming Jogo, suddenly experienced a change in expression. This caused Jogo—who thought Kenjaku wanted to break their deal—to immediately act protective.

”Hey, Geto, let’s get this straight: the binding vow between us is set! Even if you want to regret it now, it won’t work. I’m not giving the [Prison Realm] back to you once I’ve fulfilled my end!”

’Idiot. A world-class idiot fit for a museum display!’

Seeing that Jogo still regarded the [Prison Realm] as something already in his grasp, Kenjaku felt a surge of irritation. Even though he had deliberately indulged this delusion, Jogo really should think for a moment: was the binding vow they agreed upon one-sided rather than mutual?

True, if Jogo could defeat Gojo Satoru, Kenjaku would be forced to give him the [Prison Realm]. But conversely, if Jogo failed to defeat him, then even if Jogo regretted it later, the binding vow would prevent him from ever snatching the [Prison Realm] from Kenjaku again.

And could Jogo defeat Gojo Satoru? Basically impossible. Did Jogo really think Kenjaku was some ignorant rookie or a moron who would just casually leak the news of possessing the [Prison Realm]?

Relying on years of accumulated poker-face management, Kenjaku finished his internal screaming and suppressed his emotions before speaking: ”No, it’s not about the [Prison Realm]. It’s that the spirits I sent out were wiped out by Gojo Satoru.”

”What? Just for that? Geto, you’re too timid,” Jogo said, looking at Kenjaku with disdain. ”We spirits and sorcerers are enemies. Never mind sorcerers killing spirits—when spirits encounter sorcerers or humans, don’t we kill them just the same? What is there to care about?”

Jogo’s identity was that of a Cursed Spirit. But not just any spirit was qualified to be viewed as a comrade by him. Low-grade spirits were, at most, the same species to Jogo. A spirit truly worthy of being called a comrade had to be, at the very least, an intelligent Special Grade like them. Therefore, Jogo showed no emotion over the death of a few spirits. For the sake of fulfilling the great vision in his heart—where Cursed Spirits replace humans as the new masters of Earth—this level of sacrifice was acceptable.

”Yes, it is normal. If only things were truly that simple...”

But Kenjaku didn’t think so. To monitor Gojo Satoru without being observed by the [Six Eyes] and subsequently killed, he had specifically sent out the lowest-grade spirits. This way, even if Gojo discovered them with the [Six Eyes], he wouldn’t make a fuss or move against them after sensing their low grade.

Yet the reality was different. The moment Gojo discovered them, even before the spirits could set eyes on him, he killed them. This ”better to kill a hundred innocents than let one culprit go” attitude simply wasn’t Gojo Satoru’s personality.

Unless... Gojo knew these spirits were eyes? That someone was using [Cursed Spirit Manipulation] to control them?

This was not good news for Kenjaku.

The activation conditions for the [Prison Realm] were exactly as he had told Jogo: they were heavily restricted and bound. Or rather, when the person to be sealed was Gojo Satoru, the conditions were essentially impossible to achieve.

Kenjaku had specifically seized Suguru Geto’s corpse not only for the [Cursed Spirit Manipulation], but also because the relationship between Geto and Gojo could provide a fatal opening at a critical moment. Until then, Kenjaku had to ensure he never appeared before Gojo’s eyes to prevent this ”surprise” from being spoiled.

But now...

— ”I’m probably overthinking it.” Kenjaku thought uncertainly.

”Hey, Geto, what’s wrong with you?” Jogo, unaware of the thoughts flashing through Kenjaku’s mind, looked at him in confusion.

”No, it’s nothing,” Kenjaku regained his composure. ”You’re right, Jogo. This was likely just an accident. By the way, because the spirits I sent out were killed, I can’t provide a precise location. Even so, are you still going?”

Since Kenjaku said it was fine, then it was fine. Jogo, whose brain didn’t bother with complex thoughts, immediately declared: ”Of course! Besides, your little petty tricks can’t stop me. It’s just a tiny error; given my attack range, such a small discrepancy won’t matter! I won’t let you take back the [Prison Realm] I worked so hard to get!”

-

-

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”What’s wrong? Why did we stop suddenly? Is it because we’ve reached this ’Jujutsu High’ you mentioned? Let me see...”

At this point, following the negotiation and binding vow between Emiya Shirou and Gojo Satoru, Itadori Yuji was being taken along by Gojo to enroll at the college—partly due to his unique circumstances and partly due to the talent Megumi described in his report (seeing and touching spirits). Itadori Yuji had no objections to this.

Thus, seeing the vehicle they were in come to a sudden halt, Itadori looked out the window with a face full of curiosity.

...

RUMBLE—

A raging fire, like a volcanic eruption, instantly swallowed the entire area within a radius of dozens of meters around them!

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