Chapter 145 ⟴ Ashiya Dōman
The desolate and lifeless Shibuya district.
A faint gray mist hung over the city like a death shroud, while large raindrops pelted down from the sky like scattered soybeans.
Though the magnificent buildings and skyscrapers remained untouched by the Smallpox Deity, Shibuya presented an eerie and tragic scene — one far more terrifying than if Cursed Spirits had razed it to the ground.
Everywhere, people writhed in agony, beating their chests and stamping their feet from joint pain. Their skin erupted with horrifying rashes, and their bacteria-laden coughs spread through the air unchecked.
The intense fear radiating from them transformed into pure energy, flowing directly into the Cursed Spirit.
From its perch atop a high-rise building, the Smallpox Deity unleashed its bacteria and viruses, spreading a smallpox-like plague throughout Shibuya.
A mysterious energy surrounded it — one that shared its origins with Cursed Energy but had merged with hellish Devilish power and become tainted with Impurity.
Even in its Cursed Womb state, the Smallpox Deity had evolved far beyond its previous form — truly a mad scientist's twisted creation.
None could foresee the terrifying heights this Cursed Spirit might reach after merging these three energies, nor the extent of its destructive potential.
Jōgo, the cursed spirit born from humanity's fear of volcanoes, watched in horror as the Smallpox Deity — now reverted to a Cursed Womb state — continued to grow, radiating what felt like true divine might.
As one of the few Special Grade Cursed Spirits, Jōgo knew the Smallpox Deity well. Despite its Special Grade designation, it had never been particularly powerful.
Like the Special Grade Imaginary Vengeful Cursed Spirit, Tamamo-no-Mae Incarnate, the Smallpox Deity hadn't sprung from humans' fear of disease. Instead, its true nature was that of Hōsō Babā, a Yōkai from Japanese mythology.
This origin explained its relatively modest power — among Domain Expansions, its sure-hit effect ranked as the weakest.
Unlike other Special Grade Cursed Spirits who could target everyone within their Domain's range, the Smallpox Deity could affect only one person at a time, and its Domain needed three full seconds to activate.
Three seconds!
Jōgo was confident he could kill the Smallpox Deity countless times in that span.
But now? The aura emanating from the Smallpox Deity made even Jōgo tremble.
As the virus spread through Shibuya, the Smallpox Deity's power grew exponentially. This being could no longer even be called a Cursed Spirit!
"What exactly did you do to it?" Jōgo's face darkened as he warily watched the person behind him.
The white-haired old man stood alongside Kenjaku, hunched over in all black clothing, his round glasses reflecting an eerie red light.
"This old one was merely curious and conducted a small experiment. Who could have imagined that merging several powers would create such a terrifying monster."
The white-haired old man adjusted his sliding glasses, the gleam behind the lenses making Jōgo acutely aware of humanity's depravity.
No wonder the Special Grade Cursed Spirit Mahito could grow so rapidly from birth — its learning ability and speed of mimicry had left Jōgo far behind.
"Let me introduce you — this is a friend I happened to meet three hundred years ago. For now, you can call him..." Kenjaku turned to look at the white-haired old man, as if asking.
"Names don't really matter. But if you must call me something, then... Ashiya Dōman." The white-haired old man raised his black umbrella to block the falling rain.
{T/N: Ashiya Dōman was possibly a powerful Onmyōji or Jujutsu Sorcerer who existed during the Heian Era, being the rival and evil counterpart to Abe no Seimei. Both are figures used in TYPE-MOON, Twin Star Exorcists and other anime.}
Jōgo stared at the old man in shock, as if seeing a ghost.
"A-shi-ya Dō-man!! Who's that?"
The intense atmosphere suddenly shifted.
Kenjaku and Ashiya Dōman watched as Jōgo's mouth twitched.
"Hahahahaha... Ashiya Dōman? Who's that? Just dust in history." Ashiya Dōman wasn't angry, just laughed heartily while looking up at the sky.
{T/N: I will continue using his full name to avoid confusion in the future.}
Kenjaku remained silent — Jōgo's lack of education wasn't anything new. Comparatively, the newly born Mahito was much more exceptional.
Though being too clever wasn't necessarily good — Kenjaku still preferred Jōgo.
"Cursed Spirit, does the Smallpox Deity's power not move you? You're a Special Grade Cursed Spirit born from humans' fear of volcanoes! Your potential for growth far exceeds this Disease Cursed Spirit." Ashiya Dōman looked at Jōgo maliciously, but it didn't respond.
"To make a fully formed Cursed Spirit revert to a Cursed Womb state — what exactly did you put in there?" Kenjaku circled around the Smallpox Deity's massive form.
While marveling, he was also curious about Ashiya Dōman's methods.
Though they appeared to be close friends, there was almost no connection between them. If he hadn't continuously disturbed the Spiritual Veins, this old fox might have stayed hidden indefinitely — truly as cunning and devious as a snake.
"Impurities from the Magano, two percent Gun Devil flesh fragments — the Gun Devil flesh fragments should have played the dominant role."
The Smallpox Deity's birth could only be called an accident.
The Impurity power from the Magano mixed and mutated with the Smallpox Deity's virus, giving birth to a virus stronger than smallpox and similar diseases. Then the Gun Devil's flesh fragments dominated this power to form a Cursed Womb.
That was roughly the principle, though Ashiya Dōman wasn't entirely certain.
"Enough talk, this old one must leave." He observed the Smallpox Deity once more before continuing, "Regarding the details of detonating Mount Fuji, this old one needs more time to study the technique. Don't be hasty for now, stay low — it would be a shame if you all got killed by Sorcerers or Devils before this old one perfects the technique."
"The Public Safety Demon Hunter Division's Chief Makima is strange — she can't be killed, likely not human but a Devil from Hell."
Hearing this, Kenjaku pondered briefly, "I understand, we'll be careful."
Jōgo asked in surprise, "Wait, you're not going to manage it anymore?"
Ashiya Dōman raised his black umbrella and chuckled, "This old one is merely the creator!"
With that, he leaped down from the high-rise with his umbrella.
Jōgo stared blankly at its friend and asked, confused, "What does that mean?"
Kenjaku waved his sleeve, dispersing the surrounding rain with his Cursed Energy.
"It means it's completely out of control — he can't control it at all."
His answer made Jōgo's face darken.
If it's out of control, just say that directly. What's with this 'I'm merely the creator' nonsense? And how did he not die from that jump?
"Let's go. The Smallpox Deity contains too many uncertainties. If it wakes up and turns on us, we might not make it out alive."
Kenjaku left the Shibuya area with a reluctant Jōgo.
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Meanwhile, at Tokyo Jujutsu High, Yoshinobu was negotiating terms with Daiki.
He finally understood what kind of person this Jujutsu Inspector General truly was.
It was indeed a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained. Without the bargaining chips Makima had prepared in advance, he had no doubt this Inspector General would have cut him in half without hesitation.
"This is one of the gifts Chief Makima prepared for you. One of the Devils imprisoned in the depths of the Public Safety Demon Hunter Division..."
"The Future Devil."
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