Chapter 247: What a Shame

"There are way too many cursed spirits here!" 

Ino Takuma wore a ski mask that only revealed his eyes and nose. Stepping lightly on the water's surface, he weaved skillfully between the cursed spirits, landing deadly blows as he moved. 

Even while fighting, he still had the energy to complain. 

"No, compared to the battle in Shinjuku, this isn't a lot at all." 

As always, Nanami Kento wore a spotless white suit, his blond hair neatly combed. Adjusting his tinted glasses with one hand, he swung a blunt blade wrapped in bandages with the other, slicing through an oncoming cursed spirit. 

"I'd say this is only about a quarter of what we faced in Shinjuku," he estimated. 

But their overall strength was much greater than back then. 

Suguru Geto… A dead man couldn't come back to life. Either Geto hadn't actually died back then, or someone else with the Cursed Spirit Manipulation technique was behind this. 

But Gojo Satoru had said the residual cursed energy he found belonged to Geto himself. 

Even though Gojo had a terrible personality, always acting carefree and unserious, he wouldn't joke or lie about something like this. 

And honestly, he had no reason to lie. 

"Nanami-senpai, even a quarter of that is still a lot!" Ino Takuma complained, tugging at his mask. 

"Either way, this isn't the only place being attacked. Let's finish up here quickly and go support the others." 

Nanami calmly loosened two buttons on his tight suit, speaking in his usual composed and methodical tone. 

He swung his blunt blade, striking precisely at three-tenths of the cursed spirit's body. 

The massive creature froze, and in the next instant, its head separated from its body. Dark purple blood gushed out like a fountain. 

Nanami Kento didn't even look back. He had already moved on to his next target, cutting down cursed spirits with precise and swift strikes like a cold, ruthless executioner. 

His seamless movements left Ino Takuma momentarily stunned. But the sight filled him with excitement, and he shouted enthusiastically, "Ohhh! Nanami-senpai, I won't lose to you! Watch this! My transformation!" 

"Summoning Auspicious Beast No.1—Kaichi!" 

Through his technique, the divine beast descended upon Ino Takuma, granting him its power. 

A massive surge of cursed energy gathered between his hands, forming a cone-shaped projectile. Under Ino Takuma's control, the projectile began spinning at extreme speed, shredding the air and producing a high-pitched humming sound. 

With a sharp whistle, the projectile shot forward, tearing through the air and striking multiple cursed spirits. 

Guided by Ino Takuma's control, the spinning blast curved gracefully in midair, forming a crescent-shaped arc. Every cursed spirit caught along its path—grotesque creatures of all shapes and sizes—was pierced through, leaving behind massive holes marked with spiral wounds. 

"In battle, you can't afford to lose focus watching someone else's technique, Ino," Nanami Kento said, his face as serious as ever. "Besides, I've already seen your technique before." 

The blond man unfastened his suit jacket, calmly sheathed his blunt sword at his waist, and buttoned his jacket back up. He then reached up and adjusted his tie. 

His every movement was neat and meticulous, just like a respectable salaryman who always maintained a proper image to avoid embarrassing himself in front of clients. 

Ino Takuma ripped off his mask, his excited expression instantly deflating after hearing Nanami's blunt remark. "Nanami-senpai never fails to kill the mood…" 

A total of 45 cursed spirits—32 grade-two and 13 grade-one—had been exorcised by the two of them. 

The entire battle had taken 5 minutes and 36 seconds. 

Ignoring Ino's complaints, Nanami slightly raised his head and looked in the direction of the student dorms, his mind deep in thought. 

Last time, "Geto Suguru" unleashed nearly 2,000 cursed spirits in Shinjuku, but that had only been a diversion. His real goal was to steal the special-grade cursed object stored at Jujutsu High—Ryoumen Sukuna's fingers. 

So this time, what was the reason for launching such a direct attack on the school? 

First, he secured Sukuna's fingers. That meant the next logical step for "Geto Suguru" would be to go after the unstable ticking time bomb sealed within Itadori Yuji's body—Ryoumen Sukuna himself. 

If the enemy had more fingers beyond the five they stole from Jujutsu High, they might have enough to awaken Sukuna and let him take over Itadori Yuji's body. 

If that happened, Sukuna would return to the real world, and even someone like Gojo Satoru would have a real fight on his hands. 

Nanami didn't believe Gojo would lose, but it would definitely be troublesome. More importantly, if that scenario played out, it would mean extra work for him. 

This attack had already happened outside of working hours, so he could at least count it as compensatory time off. But if it dragged on and forced him to work overtime, that was something Nanami absolutely could not accept. 

Right now, Gojo Satoru should be on his way back to Tokyo from Kyoto. As long as they could protect Itadori Yuji until Gojo arrived, everything would be fine. 

With his thoughts in order, Nanami pulled out his phone and called Itadori Yuji. While waiting for the call to connect, he turned to Ino Takuma and said, "Ino-kun, let's go." 

"Huh? Go where?" 

"To find Itadori." 

Behind his perfectly combed blond hair and tinted glasses, the dependable adult's eyes remained calm and composed. 

Overtime? 

Not a chance. 

… 

*Ring ring ring~!* 

The sudden ringing of a phone broke the moment. Itadori Yuji took out his phone, looking confused. "Who's calling me at a time like this?" 

Everyone turned toward him. When he saw the name on the screen, he froze for a moment. 

"Oh, it's Nanami." 

He quickly answered. "Hello? Nanami? Are you okay over there?" 

"No need to worry," came Nanami Kento's steady, low voice. "Now, tell me your location." 

"Huh? Oh, I'm with Fushiguro and the others. We're heading toward the Tombs of the Star." Itadori answered honestly.

"Palace of the Fallen Star?" After a brief pause, Nanami Kento's approving voice came through the phone. "I see. So, Fushiguro, you've realized that the enemy is after Ryoumen Sukuna, who's sealed inside you. That was the right call." 

Itadori Yuji grinned silently, winking at Fushiguro Megumi while giving him a thumbs-up. 

Fushiguro, looking annoyed, turned his face away. 

"Well then, continue on to the Palace of the Fallen Star. We'll meet up there." 

"Got it!" 

Just as Itadori Yuji finished speaking, the sound of slow, unhurried footsteps echoed behind them, as if someone were taking a casual stroll. 

"So this is why we ended up on the same path. Turns out, we have the same goal." 

A laid-back yet mocking voice rang out. Kenjaku, hands in his pockets, smiled as he spoke. 

Beside him stood a girl with short white bobbed hair, dressed in a shrine maiden's outfit. Her expression was cold and emotionless. 

"You're planning to hide in the Palace of the Fallen Star and buy time until Gojo Satoru returns, aren't you?" 

Kenjaku clapped his hands, smiling in amusement, but the cold, snake-like aura he gave off made his praise feel anything but genuine. 

"What a shame." 

… 

That noisy summer— 

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