Chapter 126: I Allow Them to Challenge Me!

By the time dusk settled over the riverbank, Yuji finally gathered the courage to ask.

"Hey, about that movie theater you went to before... someone died there." He held up the Fly Head in his hand. "Did you see anything? Something like this?"

Junpei's expression barely changed.

"I didn't see anything that day," he answered calmly. "I've only started seeing these things recently."

"Oh."

Yuji sat back down.

"Then I guess there's nothing else to ask."

Junpei blinked. "That's it?"

Even he had not expected the interrogation to end so simply.

Since the mission was technically complete, Yuji relaxed and shifted into small talk. "So, what movie were you watching that day?"

"Earthworm Man."

The two remained on the stone steps by the river, talking as the sky slowly dimmed.

Not far away, on a bridge overlooking the river, a hooded figure stood among the evening shadows.

Kenjaku looked down at Yuji with unconcealed curiosity.

"Asuramaru..." he murmured. "Tonight, I'll finally know what kind of Cursed Technique you truly are. I look forward to it, legendary god."

Inside Yuji's body, Asuramaru had already sensed him.

The corner of his mouth curved slightly.

Down by the riverbank, Yuji and Junpei were having a surprisingly natural conversation. For Junpei, it was a rare thing. So rare, in fact, that he almost did not know how to react.

It felt like having a friend.

Just then, footsteps sounded from the road above the stairs.

Junpei's mother happened to be passing by. When she spotted the two of them sitting together, surprise lit up her face.

"Well, this is rare. Junpei, is he your friend?"

Junpei stiffened at once.

"We just met."

Yuji, however, answered without hesitation. "We only just met, but I think we'll probably become friends."

"Oh, is that so?"

Mrs. Yoshino walked down the steps with a smile. "Then would you like to come over for dinner tonight?"

"Don't trouble people," Junpei said at once, trying to stop her.

Unfortunately, that sentence landed directly on the wrong nerve.

Mrs. Yoshino's smile sharpened.

"Are you saying my cooking is trouble?"

The moment her words fell, Yuji's stomach gave a loud growl.

Both mother and son turned to look at him.

Yuji's face flushed red. He lowered his head and muttered, "Sorry..."

Meanwhile, in a sewer pipe on the other side of the city, Kenjaku appeared among a pile of broken rubble.

He looked down and spoke mildly.

"Still alive?"

Something earthworm-like crawled out from the debris, writhing and reshaping itself. Soon, it became a handsome young man with long blue hair.

His body was covered in stitched lines. His mismatched eyes curved with amusement.

"That Jujutsu Sorcerer taught me quite a lot," Mahito said with a laugh. "Even if my body is crushed to dust, I won't die as long as I preserve the shape of my soul."

He stretched his arms, testing the movement of his new form.

"And there's no problem no matter how I modify my own soul. I should be bolder next time."

Kenjaku smiled. "It's about time, Mahito. Jogo will be angry if you're late."

Mahito's lips curled into an innocent, almost childish smile.

"I know, I know. But is this Asuramaru inside Yuji Itadori really worth all this trouble?"

He tilted his head.

"In the end, it's only a legend."

Kenjaku did not answer.

Legends were still legends until witnessed with one's own eyes.

And tonight, he would peel away the veil around Asuramaru himself.

The thought alone made him want to laugh.

The sun sank completely.

Night fell, and darkness covered the city.

Inside the Yoshino household, the atmosphere was peaceful.

Yuji sat at the dining table with Junpei and his mother, eating while chatting. Most of the conversation was between Yuji and Mrs. Yoshino, who seemed delighted by how lively he was.

Junpei sat to the side, quietly watching them.

His mother was already a little drunk, and he could not help complaining inwardly.

This is terrible. She's such a drunkard...

"Oh my, Yuji-kun, you really are interesting."

Mrs. Yoshino laughed, resting her cheek on one hand.

It was a warm scene.

A normal scene.

And precisely because of that, the darkness approaching from outside felt even colder.

Asuramaru, who had been watching the surroundings through Perception, suddenly sensed four Special Grade presences enter his range.

His eyes narrowed, then curved with faint amusement.

"You really dare to come?"

He immediately warned Yuji.

"You're surrounded by Cursed Spirits."

"What?!"

Yuji shot to his feet.

Before he could say anything more, the lights in the room began to flicker violently.

The next instant, four figures appeared inside the living room.

Kenjaku's group had arrived.

Mahito moved first.

In a blink, Junpei and his mother were forced to the floor and bound in place, their mouths gagged before they could scream.

A strange smile spread across Mahito's face.

Kenjaku, his face hidden beneath a mask, reminded him in an easy tone, "Mahito, be gentle. We still need the mother and son later."

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

Mahito laughed.

Facing four Special Grade presences at once, Yuji felt crushing pressure descend on him. He summoned two swords with a thought, black mist gathering around his hands before solidifying into twin tachi.

"Why are you here?!"

He drew his swords and threw the mask at his waist onto the ground.

The sealed Special Grade Cursed Spirit emerged, kneeling in front of him like a summoned servant.

At the same time, Yuji shouted inwardly, "Sukuna, you don't want me to die here either, right? Then come out and help me!"

An eye opened on Yuji's cheek.

A mouth formed beneath it, curling with obvious disdain.

"Brat, what do you take me for?"

Kenjaku looked at that mouth and smiled faintly.

"It's been a long time, Sukuna."

"Kenjaku?"

Sukuna recognized him immediately.

For a moment, they sounded almost like old acquaintances reunited after many years.

But Sukuna was not stupid. He understood at once why they had come.

His mouth curved into a savage grin.

"You're here for Asuramaru, aren't you?"

Kenjaku's smile deepened.

"Obviously."

Sukuna laughed.

"Asuramaru hasn't acknowledged this brat yet. If you've got the nerve to try and tame him, you might actually have a chance to gain his recognition."

His voice became openly mocking.

"How about it? Want to give it a try?"

Yuji stepped forward at once, fury burning in his eyes.

"As if I'd ever let you try!"

Kenjaku gave a sinister smile.

Behind him, Mahito moved.

He reached toward Mrs. Yoshino and altered only one of her arms. Flesh twisted and warped, bones bending into a grotesque shape that no human limb should ever take.

"Which part should I modify next?" Mahito asked cheerfully. "Maybe the other arm? I'm very considerate, you know. Symmetry is important."

Junpei's eyes went wide.

He struggled desperately against his restraints, but no matter how hard he fought, he could not move. When his gaze landed on Mahito, the one who had once guided him, hatred and malice flooded his eyes.

Kenjaku watched Yuji calmly.

"Make your choice, Yuji Itadori. Refuse us, and watch this mother and son die horribly. Or let us in."

Yuji looked at Junpei.

Then at Mrs. Yoshino.

His heart twisted with agony.

At that moment, Asuramaru's voice rang in his mind, steady and decisive.

"Have them establish a proper Binding Vow."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"I allow them to challenge me."

.....

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