I'm not going to be an Spirit! (Translate)

"A deal?"

Hearing the word deal from Nightmare, Megumi Fushiguro felt a surge of conflicting emotions.

On the one hand, since Nightmare apparently wanted something from him, that meant she wouldn't really kill him. One way or another, his life was safe.

On the other hand, he didn't see Nightmare as any kind of benevolent figure. Whatever she wanted from him was surely tied to some evil scheme.

But… did he have a choice?

Although it was framed as a deal, both he and Nightmare knew perfectly well—it was nothing more than coercion.

The weak had no room to negotiate. They could only passively accept what was imposed.

"I can't die here. I still have to find a way to lift the curse binding my sister."

Fushiguro struggled inwardly for a moment but soon made up his mind.

"Say it—what's the deal?"

Knowing how to assess the situation made a wise man.

Nightmare was clearly pleased, the smile on her face growing deeper.

It was a bit of a shame that Nobara Kugisaki wasn't around, but then again, her presence in the original story wasn't very strong anyway. In the later parts of the original, it wasn't even clear if she was dead or had just mysteriously disappeared.

The main targets of her "deal" were Megumi Fushiguro, who wielded the Ten Shadows Technique, and Yuji Itadori, the vessel of Sukuna.

"Sukuna destroyed Yuji Itadori heart. That's got you pretty troubled, right?"

Tokisaki Kurumi toyed with the Sukuna Finger in her hand, throwing out her offer.

"I can restore Yuji Itadori heart."

"You… can use Reversed Cursed Technique to heal others?"

Hearing that Tokisaki Kurumi could resolve his immediate crisis, Fushiguro eyes lit up.

Reversed Cursed Technique wasn't something one was born with. It could be learned later in life.

However, as one of the most advanced applications of cursed energy, even if it was learnable, it was far beyond the reach of ordinary sorcerers.

To Fushiguro knowledge, only four people were capable of using it:

Three Special Grade Sorcerers—Satoru Gojo, Okkotsu Yuta, Yuki Tsukumo—and the doctor at Tokyo Jujutsu High, Shoko Ieiri.

Among these four, while Gojo and Yuki knew how to use Reversed Cursed Technique, they weren't proficient enough to heal others—they could only use it on themselves.

Only Okkotsu Yuta and Shoko Ieiri could apply it to others.

Which meant that a sorcerer capable of healing others with Reversed Cursed Technique was extremely rare.

"I don't know Reversed Cursed Technique," Kurumi said calmly, "but I have something similar. I can guarantee that I'll restore Yuji Itadori heart."

"What's the condition?" Fushiguro asked warily.

"Once Yuji Itadori wakes up, I'll tell both of you together."

As she spoke, she clenched her left hand in midair.

A flintlock pistol with an archaic design materialized in her grasp.

Seeing her weapon, Fushiguro instantly tensed.

Some intel about Nightmare was public knowledge in the jujutsu world—especially regarding her two Special Grade cursed tools.

It was said that the bullets fired from those weapons could pierce steel and, if they struck a vital spot, even a Grade 1 cursed spirit could be killed with a single shot.

"Bang!"

Kurumi didn't bother explaining. She simply pulled the trigger.

However, the scene that followed was not what Fushiguro had expected.

Yuji Itadori head didn't explode in a shower of blood and brain matter—there wasn't even a scratch.

Then, Fushiguro saw something that made his eyes widen.

The lifeless heart that had been discarded on the lawn by Sukuna started beating again.

Not only that, but it seemed to be drawn by some invisible force—and in a flash, it flew back into Itadori body.

Blood vessels, muscle, bones, and skin all regenerated like magic.

"This…"

Fushiguro stood frozen, not knowing how to react.

He had seen Reversed Cursed Technique before. He knew its essence was accelerating the body's natural healing to a miraculous level—even re-growing limbs.

But what had just happened was less like healing, and more like...

Reversing time itself.

He had no idea how Nightmare had accomplished it, but Itadori body was undoubtedly restored.

Even Sukuna, who had been thrashing in helpless rage, was stunned. He stared at the once-destroyed chest that was now perfectly intact, as if it had never been damaged.

"Is that her technique?" Sukuna furrowed his brow, baffled.

"But wasn't her technique supposed to be shadow-based? That power had nothing to do with shadows."

Having witnessed this woman's abilities firsthand, his fury slowly began to subside.

He had been humiliated, treated like a living stool—that was unforgivable.

But now he was more curious about what kind of ability she had used.

Unfortunately, his mouth was still tightly sealed, preventing him from uttering a sound—his questions would go unanswered.

Fushiguro, unlike Sukuna, was also deeply curious. But seeing that Nightmare had no intention of explaining, he figured asking would be pointless.

Whatever that ability was—whether a cursed technique or something else—it didn't matter to him. What mattered was that Itadori heart was restored. The biggest issue was resolved.

All he needed to do now was report everything he had witnessed to Satoru Gojo.

Not long after the heart was restored, the black markings across Itadori body began to fade.

This signaled that Sukuna will was losing control of the body.

As expected, once the markings disappeared completely, the rage and arrogance in Itadori eyes vanished as well. His entire demeanor softened.

The real Yuji Itadori had finally awakened.

"Ugh…"

But having just regained consciousness, he couldn't make sense of the situation.

He blinked in confusion.

Why am I being used as a chair by some random woman?

Seeing that Itadori was back to himself, Tokisaki Kurumi released the restraints on his body. As she gracefully stood up, the pale arms holding him in place retracted back into the shadows.

"Wait a sec, aren't you that person—?!"

Climbing to his feet, Itadori looked Kurumi up and down. His face suddenly changed, and he dropped into a fighting stance.

"Nightmare! Right, you're Nightmare!"

"Itadori, calm down!"

Seeing that this athlete seemed like he was about to start throwing punches at the slightest disagreement, Megumi Fushiguro broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly stopped him.

Are you kidding? Even Sukuna inside him had been instantly defeated. As the vessel of Sukuna, how could he possibly defeat the Nightmare?

Megumi Fushiguro quickly explained everything that had happened earlier, and only then did Yuji Itadori hesitantly lower his fists.

"Even though you're the enemy, thank you for saving my life," Yuji Itadori gave a sincere nod of gratitude after learning that it was Nightmare who had restored his heart.

"No need to thank me. This was merely part of the deal," Tokisaki Kurumi replied blandly. "Alright, now that I've fulfilled my part, it's your turn."

"What kind of price do we have to pay?" Megumi Fushiguro asked.

"It's simple. All you need to do is place a binding on yourselves," Tokisaki Kurumi replied with a smile.

Bindings hold an extremely important place in this world.

There are many types of bindings, and their applications are vast. If used properly, they can produce unexpected effects in many situations.

The most basic binding — and the one all sorcerers know — is "by exposing one's technique, gain enhanced power from that technique in return."

Simply put, the essence of combat-related bindings is to place a restriction on one aspect of oneself in exchange for strengthening another.

But bindings aren't limited to combat. They can also be used as absolute, enforceable vows.

So, bindings are a double-edged sword. Used well, they yield miraculous results. Used poorly, they truly become the noose that strangles you.

"What kind of binding?" Now that the topic had come up, Megumi Fushiguro didn't dare be careless and asked cautiously.

"When I say the word 'Qi-Kuo', your bodies will, for one minute, obey my commands unconditionally — and you may not reveal this binding to anyone." Tokisaki Kurumi laid out her condition.

Upon hearing Nightmare terms, Megumi Fushiguro brow didn't relax. In fact, it furrowed even deeper.

To be honest, he had initially thought Nightmare would demand they act as her spies within Tokyo Jujutsu High — perhaps to steal something important from within, or to help her go up against Satoru Gojo.

But the condition she gave was...unexpected.

Fushiguro didn't even know what word to use to describe it.

But truthfully, compared to this vague kind of binding, he would have preferred one of the other three, more concrete options.

Because he knew — Nightmare wanted them to create this binding so she could use them as a hidden piece on the chessboard, to be activated at some critical moment.

Yet he had no idea what kind of move Nightmare was planning.

There were very few people capable of matching wits with Nightmare — probably only top-tier powerhouses like Satoru Gojo had that qualification.

So for small fry like them, it was impossible to see what Nightmare game was.

"No way. I don't know what you're planning, but this sounds really fishy!"

Unlike the meticulous and cautious Fushiguro, Yuji Itadori was always outspoken and blunt — he immediately refused.

"Oh? You dare reject me?" Tokisaki Kurumi tilted her head with a fake smile, her tone as sweet as poison. "If I could restore your heart, I could also take it away again. Think carefully."

"So what if I die?" Yuji Itadori stiffened his neck and replied, "Rather than be used by an evil person like you, I'd rather die."

From the moment he had stepped into the jujutsu world by his own will, he had already prepared for death.

Though he hadn't yet fulfilled his grandfather's dying wish — to die surrounded by people — he would never bow to the most wicked curse user of the era.

"What a stubborn hero of justice."

Tokisaki Kurumi let out a helpless sigh and seemingly relented a little. "Then how about this — I promise that within that one minute, I will not kill or harm anyone, nor will I make you do anything evil. That should satisfy you, right?"

"Hmph…"

Yuji Itadori paused, somewhat conflicted.

"We agree."

Managing to get Nightmare to compromise even a little was good enough. Megumi Fushiguro didn't believe dragging this out would result in a better outcome.

You have to understand — Nightmare was a decisive killer. Don't be fooled by her current graceful and polite demeanor. The number of lives her hands were stained with probably surpassed Japan's annual number of missing persons!

If they truly provoked this woman, their lives would be forfeit.

Although Fushiguro was still hesitant, since she had already agreed not to kill or harm anyone and even promised not to use their bodies to commit evil, rejecting her at this point would truly be a slap in the face.

Pulled along by Fushiguro, Yuji Itadori had no choice but to accept as well.

Soon, after they swore the oath, the binding was complete.

But as they watched the increasingly satisfied smile forming at the corner of Nightmare lips, both Megumi Fushiguro and Yuji Itadori felt like they had just made a decision they would one day deeply regret.

A faint sense of foreboding settled in their hearts — and they had no idea when that dread would manifest into reality.

"I'm very pleased we were able to smoothly complete our first deal."

After finally managing to restrain the smile that kept tugging at the corners of her mouth, Tokisaki Kurumi cleared her throat and waved the Sukuna finger in her hand. "Would you be interested in hearing about a second deal?"

"Just hear it out?"

"That's right. It's okay if you refuse — I won't force you to make the second deal."

"Alright then. Since that's the case, we'll at least listen to what the deal is."

The two exchanged glances, then nodded. Since there was no risk in just listening, there was no reason not to hear it out.

The importance of the Sukuna finger went without saying. Yuji Itadori existed to consume them and completely eliminate any chance of Sukuna resurrection.

If possible, they naturally wanted to reclaim such a dangerous special-grade cursed object from the even more dangerous hands of Nightmare.

"I can give you this Sukuna finger," Tokisaki Kurumi said. "But in exchange, you must help me find…"

However, before she could finish her sentence, a heavy thud exploded beside the three of them.

All three turned toward the source of the sound — and Megumi Fushiguro and Yuji Itadori immediately lit up with joy.

"Nightmare, I've finally found you."

Somehow, despite supposedly being on a mission elsewhere, Satoru Gojo appeared not far away, with cracks in the ground beneath his feet from instantaneous movement.

"This time, I won't let you escape again!"