SWNOVELXO Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Totsuka-no-Tsurugi
Chapter 23: Totsuka-no-Tsurugi
Osaka.
Kamihara Hajime picked up his luggage and White Wolf and walked out of the airport. He had been wondering how to bring White Wolf along, but this flight allowed pets. Although White Wolf was large, its husky appearance and intelligent eyes made it seem completely non-aggressive.
This mission wasn't difficult, just a bit peculiar. Kamihara Hajime was here not only to resolve a mission involving Curse Masters, but primarily because someone in the family related to this mission had awakened a Technique.
Originally, this area was closer to Kyoto Jujutsu High, so they should have handled it. However, although this long-standing family hadn't produced any Jujutsu Sorcerers in recent times and was just an ordinary family, their ancestors did have a legacy related to Jujutsu. It's just that by now, no descendants had such talent. According to Gojo Satoru, it seems a descendant in this generation of the family awakened a Technique through a generational skip.
Because there was no related guidance, the person in question always thought she had superpowers or something (Kamihara Hajime: What a coincidence!). It wasn't until a recent accident that her family discovered it. Then, her grandfather, who was quite knowledgeable about the family's ancient texts, eventually found the Gojo Family.
The so-called accident was that it seemed Curse Masters had targeted their family. So Gojo Satoru sent his dear student to handle it and see if a new student could be added to Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Kamihara Hajime hadn't even left the airport when he saw someone holding a sign with his name on it. It seemed there was someone to pick him up. Of course, Gojo Satoru hadn't told him the exact location, only giving him a phone number and saying someone would handle all the miscellaneous things once he arrived.
The person who came to pick him up was a woman in a black suit. Her appearance was average, perhaps a few points better with makeup. She was estimated to be around 1.7 meters tall, looking quite statuesque.
Kamihara Hajime walked closer, his slightly lowered sunglasses revealing his eyes. He thought for a moment and said, "It's the Minamoto Family, right? I'm Kamihara Hajime."
The woman bowed: "Hajime-kun, I am Sugihara Riko. The vehicle to pick you up is already prepared outside. Please follow me."
Outside the airport, Kamihara Hajime saw an expensive-looking extended luxury car parked by the road. The car logo seemed to be a triangular pattern, which Kamihara Hajime didn't know much about. Then Sugihara Riko opened the car door for him, and White Wolf darted in while she was momentarily stunned. Kamihara Hajime then sat in as well.
The spacious back seat only had two chairs. Kamihara Hajime was momentarily stunned upon entering, as someone was already sitting on the other side. It was a youthful and beautiful girl with an oval face, almond eyes, and willow eyebrows. Her neatly placed legs were covered by a short skirt, long and slender without any excess fat, probably the kind of person who would be approached by talent scouts constantly if she walked down the street.
The girl seemed very curious, looking at Kamihara Hajime and White Wolf. Even with a large dog squeezed in, there still seemed to be enough space. Kamihara Hajime took off his sunglasses: "Are you from the Minamoto Family?"
The girl extended her hand: "My name is Minamoto Naine."
Kamihara Hajime politely shook her hand: "Kamihara Hajime. You're the one who awakened the Technique, right?"
Minamoto Naine's eyes lit up: "How did you know? Are you a Jujutsu Sorcerer too?"
Of course, Kamihara Hajime didn't 'know,' he guessed. Minamoto Naine's Cursed Energy was very well contained, and according to intelligence, it seemed related to her Technique.
The reason for guessing was much simpler: he was here for this matter, and this girl named Minamoto Naine in the car didn't look like an employee like Sugihara Riko.
And she was very curious about him, so she was likely the Minamoto Family descendant who had just learned about Jujutsu Sorcerers.
The car started smoothly. Kamihara Hajime saw a partition between the front and back seats. Sugihara Riko was sitting in the front passenger seat.
Without answering Minamoto Naine's question, Kamihara Hajime leaned back in the comfortable seat and asked, "You know a bit about Jujutsu Sorcerers now, don't you?"
Minamoto Naine was visibly excited, nodding repeatedly at his words. She had once wondered if there were others in this world who also possessed "superpowers."
In the end, she learned about the existence of the Jujutsu World. Her own family had once been a part of it. The old books her grandfather, who guarded the ancestral home, dug out from various corners, contained information that opened the door to a New World for her.
Previously, when her home was attacked by ill-intentioned individuals, it was thanks to her "superpower"—no, it should be called a Technique—that she managed to drive away the so-called Cursed Spirit.
"Do you have a Technique too? What's your Technique?"
"Is this dog a normal dog? Why does it seem a bit... different?"
...
For a moment, the girl was like a curious baby, asking questions left and right. Kamihara Hajime listened quietly until she finished rambling, then he spoke: "While most people's Techniques are public, try not to ask others directly when you meet them. By the way, my Technique is related to speed."
"Its name is White Wolf. Although it has the appearance of a dog, it is essentially a Cursed Corpse, made by our principal."
Afterward, Kamihara Hajime casually answered some of her questions. From her questions, it was clear that Minamoto Naine did have some basic understanding of the Jujutsu World, but due to curiosity and knowing 'what' but not 'why,' she had many questions she urgently wanted answers to.
The car drove extremely smoothly throughout the journey. Kamihara Hajime almost forgot they were still traveling until he felt a slight halt, and then Minamoto Naine said with a smile, "We're here!"
Opening the car door, White Wolf darted out first. Then, Kamihara Hajime got out and saw the car parked in front of a mansion. There were also several other cars in front and behind theirs, likely bodyguards or something.
Only then did Kamihara Hajime have time to survey the surroundings. As far as the eye could see, most of the area consisted of various green spaces, with very few houses. It seemed quite far from the urban area, but the scenery was quite pleasant.
After Kamihara Hajime and Minamoto Naine got out of the car, a man, a woman, and an elder standing at the mansion's entrance walked over. Minamoto Naine went to greet them; they were her parents and grandfather.
The middle-aged man, who clearly looked like a successful person, walked over with a kind smile: "My name is Minamoto Masahiro, this is my wife Minamoto Meiko, and this is my father Minamoto Masayoshi."
"As for my beloved daughter, Minamoto Naine, I presume you've already met her. Refreshments have been prepared inside. Please come in so we can talk in detail."
Kamihara Hajime politely bowed slightly and introduced himself. He was always too lazy to perform the ninety-degree bow; perhaps Gojo Satoru had influenced him in this regard?
As they entered the main gate, they realized this ancient-style courtyard was actually very large, and the atmosphere was somewhat tense. If one looked carefully, they could see many people in black suits patrolling everywhere.
Passing through multiple courtyards, the group arrived at a room where a tea table was set up, with freshly brewed tea still steaming.
Sugihara Riko pulled the door shut, leaving only Kamihara Hajime and the family of four in the room. Minamoto Masahiro spoke first: "First, thank you for your assistance. Let me first explain the situation at home."
Kamihara Hajime picked up a cup of tea and drank it in a few gulps; he was a bit tired from talking in the car. He then casually added, "You can just call me Hajime."
Minamoto Masahiro nodded and continued: "Actually, I know a bit about the so-called Jujutsu World. My family is a branch of the Settsu Minamoto family, and it's only in the last two generations that our business has started to pick up."
"As our status improved, we started to hear faint whispers about certain things, coupled with the old texts in our home that no one paid much attention to. I just never expected my daughter to have awakened this talent so early. As a father, I've been a bit neglectful."
Minamoto Masahiro's expression suddenly turned serious: "A few days ago, when Naine came back to visit her grandfather, she encountered those things. And according to clues, they were being controlled by someone."
"Fortunately, Naine injured that invisible entity with her 'superpower'—no, it should be called a Technique—and that's how we discovered Naine's abnormality. My father is quite familiar with the family's ancient texts, and that's how he learned that after so many generations, Naine had actually become a... Jujutsu Sorcerer."
"Afterward, I sought many channels and invited a professional. Then, through family connections, I contacted people in the Jujutsu World. I ask Hajime-kun to resolve the person hiding in the shadows. The Minamoto Family will be eternally grateful and will surely offer a generous reward."
Kamihara Hajime said calmly, "Mr. Minamoto, there's no need to be polite. This is precisely the task I came for. I have a question that I'd like you to answer."
"That ill-intentioned person, whom we call a Curse Master, why did he target you? Was it for money?"
Minamoto Masayoshi, who was beside them, spoke: "I'll tell you. The Curse Master's target was a treasure passed down in my Minamoto Family, a famous sword—Dojikiri Yasutsuna."
Kamihara Hajime looked at him with a puzzled expression: "Old sir, if I'm not mistaken, this ancient artifact is kept in a museum, isn't it?"
Minamoto Masayoshi rested his hands on his legs, not looking like he was joking, and then continued: "Not that one, but the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi from the history of the Jujutsu World. It is said to be the object used by the Minamoto Family ancestor to slay the famous great demon, Shuten-dōji."
"It has always been enshrined here, in our branch's ancestral home. I used to think this was just a legend, until..."
The impatient Minamoto Naine finally raised her hand and interjected, "I used that sword to injure that... um... Cursed Spirit! And then it ran away."
Naine's mother showed a blaming, worried expression, while her grandfather showed a kind smile. It was clear that Naine was much loved by her family.
"Cursed tool."
Kamihara Hajime concluded in his mind. It seemed to be a case of a Curse Master coveting someone's ancestral cursed tool. What he was more concerned about was the old man's mention of "Shuten-dōji."
Terrifying presences like these mythical legends or urban legends, when they manifest as Curses, are called "Imaginary Vengeful Spirits." And because people's fear of them is so precise and real, they are often incredibly powerful.
Many of the Special Grade Cursed Spirits recorded or controlled by Jujutsu High are of this type, known as "Special Grade Imaginary Vengeful Spirits."
Could it be that there was once an Imaginary Vengeful Spirit called Shuten-dōji, or a Curse that people called Shuten-dōji?
However, there was another matter at hand. Kamihara Hajime spoke: "Aside from this Curse Master issue, I'm also here for another reason. Jujutsu Sorcerers, in addition to their innate Techniques, also require inheritance and learning."
"First, allow me to introduce—Tokyo Jujutsu High."
Using a formal tone, he explained the existence of Jujutsu High in detail, subtly mentioning Gojo Satoru and the reason for his visit.
Minamoto Masahiro and the others looked thoughtful, while Minamoto Naine became even more eager. A school that taught "superpowers"—she was incredibly excited. Such a scenario had only ever appeared in films or fantasies, and she never expected it to come true one day.
After Kamihara Hajime finished speaking, he stood up: "You can take your time to consider whether to enroll. For now, could you please take me to see the location where the attack occurred? I'd like to see if there are any clues."
Minamoto Masahiro nodded: "Of course. Then... Father, please take Hajime-kun and Naine to see the place. Meiko and I will arrange those other matters."
Minamoto Masayoshi nodded and stood up: "Follow me."
After the elder left the house, he waved away the bodyguards who followed, only allowing Sugihara Riko to accompany them. They then proceeded to an old wooden hall.
The elder took out a key and opened the heavy door. Inside, besides a large number of wooden shelves and ancient texts, there were only some well-maintained armors covered in historical marks.
In the very center of the room was a long table, and on a rack above it lay an ancient sword, sheathed.
Kamihara Hajime and White Wolf walked around the hall. He could still see some fallen bookshelves and signs of damage. The books had been put away, but other traces had not been disturbed.
The damaged window hadn't been touched either, almost maintaining the original crime scene. Fortunately, not much time had passed, and the residual Cursed Energy in the room could still be identified.
He had White Wolf memorize the two types of Cursed Energy in the room; one of them should be Minamoto Naine's. If they encountered the owner of the other scent, White Wolf would be able to identify them.
Minamoto Naine, who was beside him, asked curiously, "How is it? Did you find anything?"
Kamihara Hajime stood up: "A little. The enemy shouldn't be strong, probably around Grade 2, and it was a remotely controlled shikigami. It escaped after you injured it, so it seems it didn't want to reveal its whereabouts."
"This sword..."
Kamihara Hajime looked at the ancient sword on the wooden table, deep in thought, when suddenly an old hand took it down. Kamihara Hajime looked up at Minamoto Masayoshi.
The elder said with a smile, "This is the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi. Naine used it to injure that invisible enemy that day."
Minamoto Naine whispered from the side, "That thing looked like an enlarged, ugly monster fish..."
Kamihara Hajime stored this information in his mind, then looked at the ancient sword—Totsuka-no-Tsurugi—that Minamoto Masayoshi offered him.
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