Chapter 6

The feud between the Gojo family and the Zenin family dates back to the Edo period.

It supposedly began during a formal duel between the heads of the two clans at the time. In that match, the Gojo head—who possessed both the Six Eyes and the Limitless cursed technique—fought seriously against the Zenin head, who wielded the inherited Ten Shadows Technique. The battle ended with both of them killing each other.

Even if the Zenin head realized he was going to lose, the moment he brought out Mahoraga, the best outcome he could hope for was a mutual kill. Honestly, it makes me think the Zenin head back then must have been an idiot. Or maybe someone like Kenjaku was lurking behind the scenes. Or perhaps he already had a promising successor lined up.

Anyway.

Right now, as Megumi-kun’s guardians, it’s me and Satoru-kun. And already, the situation is being used as fuel for a power struggle between the clans. The Zenin want him so their inherited technique doesn’t fall into another family’s hands. The Gojo want him so they can study the Zenin technique. Both sides want Megumi-kun.

Naturally, I was expected to charm Megumi-kun and bring him back to the Zenin family. But… well, there’s no way stubbornly pushing my own way would ever beat someone like "Gojo Satoru." At the extreme, all he would have to do is say, "If things don’t go my way, I’ll stop working as a jujutsu sorcerer." That alone would end the argument. Even if all of us fought him together, we still wouldn’t win. Unless Ryomen Sukuna suddenly decided to take our side, it would be impossible.

Since Megumi-kun clearly doesn’t want to join the Zenin family, the question became where to settle the compromise. After years of pointless arguing, it finally concluded with the arrangement of "entrusting the child with the inherited technique to improve relations between the two families."

Though "entrusting" doesn’t mean he will live in the Gojo estate or anything like that. He stays in his original home, while Satoru-kun provides financial support. As for me, since Satoru-kun is busy, I handle Megumi-kun’s basic education as a sorcerer. Teaching people isn’t exactly a natural fit for a genius, after all.

That said, because of where I live, I can’t visit very often. Frustrating as it is, he’ll have to learn a fair bit on his own. Honestly, I wanted to dye him completely in my own colors… but well, rushing things isn’t good either. They say if you get too close, it starts to feel like family, and then they stop seeing you as a member of the opposite sex.

And so, despite everything, I ended up spending my days in the main household again, unchanged as ever. I thought things would only start getting interesting once Megumi-kun began working as a sorcerer—but then something happened.

Each of the groups "Akari" and the Kukuru Unit received one new recruit. To be precise, more people came in from branch families and such, but those worthless guys hardly count as people.

In "Akari," the only one who ever seemed to have any promise was Ranta-kun. Just having a cursed technique doesn’t make you strong. Though I suppose the Ten Shadows Technique’s "Mahoraga bomb" is another story.

Anyway, the two I mentioned are Maki-chan and Mai-chan. My cousins.

Mai-chan is a girl born with the Construction Technique—a cursed technique that’s incredibly inconvenient to use. Honestly, there’s no way she’ll ever reach "Hei," meaning semi–Grade 1. Personality-wise, she’d probably be better suited working as a servant anyway. You can’t survive as a sorcerer unless you’re a bit unhinged.

On the other hand, Maki-chan is a girl with no cursed technique at all. Normally that would put her on the servant track too, but in her case the problem is the opposite—her personality is completely unsuited to being a servant. She’s the type who can’t prop up a man.

…Me? If a man is actually worth supporting, I’ll walk three steps behind him properly, you know?

Usually, personality issues like that get corrected during a girl’s upbringing. But the reason these sisters joined the Kukuru Unit was their parents forcing the matter. They think that if their children are talented enough, they might become the clan head—despite the fact that their own abilities are nothing special. Thinking about it like that, you could say these sisters are victims of Uncle Ogi.

Mai-chan… well, watching her isn’t that interesting. I wonder how someone with the Construction Technique is even supposed to get stronger. Wouldn’t it be better if she just fought normally without using it? Though I guess if she could make cursed tools, that’d be something.

Watching "Akari’s" training was interesting at first. You get to see cursed techniques you’ve never seen before. But as a kid I eventually realized most of them were unimpressive, and it wasn’t nearly as exciting as I’d hoped. I wish they’d do something more dramatic—like splitting into five bodies, manipulating gravity, adapting to any phenomenon, or controlling killing intent with actual mass.

And then there’s Maki-chan—

The Kukuru Unit’s training grounds. As always, it’s incredibly plain. It’s basically a place where men gather, so a single girl stands out immediately. Looking at it from the outside like this, I guess I must have stood out a lot too when I came here to play before. Not that it matters.

And just because she’s a girl doesn’t mean she’s treated kindly… or doted on. Not at all. If I had to wrap the Kukuru Unit’s feelings in about ten layers of politeness, I’d call it "insolence." She’s stronger than her peers, but the older members can still swat her aside.

And those older guys happen to have memories of being thoroughly beaten down by me, so they’re eager to vent their frustration on a weaker girl.

…Wait.

Is this my fault?

"Hey. Long time no see."

Looks like Nobuaki-kun isn’t around right now. Though honestly, even if I say "long time," I’m not sure I actually know anyone here. I’m not so bored that I’d bother remembering the faces of trash. Still, the ones avoiding eye contact are probably the guys I’ve beaten before.

"I’m borrowing Maki-chan for a bit. Anyone got a problem with that? Now’s your chance to say it."

Of course, silence.

They don’t want their stress-relief toy taken away, but they’d rather avoid the pain of opposing me. Honestly, those spineless idiots can’t be helped. Aren’t they ashamed as men, letting themselves be pushed around by a woman? Any guy who can’t walk three steps ahead of a woman might as well drop dead.

"Maki-chan’s problem is obvious. Your physical ability is great, but your technique can’t keep up. Maybe forcing yourself to learn martial arts just isn’t your thing?"

After a light sparring session, I tried giving her some guidance. Not that teaching is really my thing. If it were Megumi-kun, I’d go full-on hand-holding—chest protector and all.

"Since I don’t have a cursed technique, it can’t be helped… I’m not like you, after all."

"You don’t need to be all formal… didn’t I already say that? Ah, whatever. So, cursed technique? Don’t be dumb. Even I don’t usually use mine, you know."

Being twins in a jujutsu family is bad luck. And unlike my father, hers is just a mediocre loser. Her mother simply goes along with her husband. But her rebellious streak is twice as strong as anyone else’s. No wonder she gets hated and beaten. Being physically superior to those weak, half-cursed guys only adds fuel to the fire.

"So, what am I supposed to do then?"

She adapts quickly. That’s a good thing.

Maybe I’m just being hated for no reason, though.

"Hmm… alright… then, Maki-chan, say you had to fight Uncle Ogi. How would you do it? Just imagine it. It doesn’t need to be exact."

"How…? Well, he’s using a sword, right? If I can prepare, I’d just grab a long weapon or something, I guess."

"Maki-chan, your thinking’s way too rigid. There’s only one person I truly respect… well, if it were them, they could probably just beat Uncle Ogi head-on and be done with it… but that’s not the point. What if that person had the same physical ability as you? And of course, they wouldn’t have a cursed technique either."

"…An ambush, maybe? Or use some kind of projectile?"

"Hey, your mind’s loosening up a bit, huh? I’ll give you 50 points. A projectile you’re not used to would just get blocked, but for that empty brain of yours, that’s actually not bad."

"So what do we do then?"

"You’d fight head-on, right? While you do that, Mai-chan would sneak in from behind and take him out. He’s not a cursed spirit, so one well-placed hit is enough. Even if she misses, he’d have to watch out for sniping from then on, right?"

"…Isn’t that cheating? Using more than one person?"

"Then isn’t it cheating for Uncle Ogi to use cursed energy you can’t? If you can win, you can do anything. That’s meritocracy."

Being a jujutsu sorcerer doesn’t mean you have to use cursed techniques. If your physical ability is strong enough, that’s more than enough.

"What about cursed tools? …Well, that would need permission anyway, so not now. What else? If it’s too tough, you can rest today. Or, if you want, I can continue bullying you."

"I’ll make you bark like a dog."

"Losers just yap and accomplish nothing. Don’t say things you can’t actually do, okay?"

Still, it’s better than turning into a pet dog. If it were going to come to that, the sisters might as well have just become housemaids from the start.

…I tried flipping the original "training in the name of bullying" into "bullying in the name of training."

Does it even make a difference?

Training Maki-chan—the reason she might die—could be like tightening the noose around my own neck. But if I don’t get involved and simply wait for the Zenin family’s downfall, I’d be eliminated for lacking favor.

Checkmate.

I’d die.

Me.

…Maybe… being nice to Mai-chan would be more efficient?

Next practice… well, my spirit might break, so maybe I’ll just go chat with her instead.

Should I think of ways to use the Construction Technique?

…Can’t think of a thing.

That technique’s trash.