He deserves to be damned to eternal hell.

The shikigami stepped forward, first bowing politely to the young shikigami user, then speaking gently.

“Master, my name is Tamayo. I have come at your summons.”

Though appearing as a young girl, the female shikigami bore a trace of melancholy and grace in her eyes, radiating a saintly aura.

She was especially gentle when facing Yukiie Ieiri.

[Such a beauty…]

[When Tamayo first appeared, that moment she scratched herself to activate her blood demon art was so beautiful, surrounded by swirling purple smoke, dreamlike and ethereal.]

[The Yujiro capture device.]

[By the way, Yujiro is the only demon who survived the final battle, right?]

[Will he appear?]

Satoru Gojo: “Hmm…”

The Six-Eyes determined that Tamayo was not a special grade, yet she and Muzan shared a perfectly human appearance.

Interesting.

“Teacher Gojo.”

Gojo tilted his head, signaling he was listening. “Yes?”

Yukiie Ieiri said, “Unlike last time, I now have more information about Miss Tamayo’s technique—her cursed technique is the fragrance of illusion, activated through self-inflicted bleeding.”

Tamayo smiled and nodded gently to everyone.

Though Tamayo appeared to be nineteen, she had actually lived four hundred years.

After death, her soul had drifted into a chaotic space, and it was unknown how long she lingered there. Only today was she summoned, suddenly realizing she had become a different species—a cursed spirit.

The young shikigami user exuded a warm presence, and Tamayo felt a fondness for him.

Furthermore, he carried cursed talismans, which reminded Tamayo of the child—Yujiro.

He, too, used cursed talismans.

Thinking of him, a slight smile appeared in Tamayo’s eyes.

“Looking at it this way, Muzan is truly abnormal, isn’t he?” the white-haired teacher mused with a hint of amusement.

Information about Muzan was a complete mystery.

Megumi Fushiguro: “…”

Isn’t it obvious?

Would a normal shikigami attack its master?!

[God of Complaints]

[Megumi Fushiguro, an incredibly reliable minor. Since six years old, he has painstakingly raised Satoru Gojo…]

[Laughter]

“…Did you just say Muzan?”

Upon hearing that name, Tamayo suddenly looked up, her lashes trembling.

“Kibutsuji… Muzan, is he still alive?”

Memories flooded her mind—hatred, fear, and murderous intent intertwined.

The hatred etched deep in her bones was stirred.

So many sacrifices, so many schemes, only for that monster… to still be alive?

“Alive? Maybe not exactly,” Yukiie Ieiri explained. “Like Miss Tamayo, he is a cursed spirit shikigami summoned by me.”

Tamayo was taken aback, then bowed her head. “I see. Apologies for my outburst.”

A cursed spirit shikigami.

That meant Kibutsuji Muzan was dead.

Noticing Tamayo’s hatred and disgust toward Muzan, Gojo playfully tattled.

“Miss Tamayo, you don’t know yet?”

“My poor student just summoned him, only to be killed by him!”

Gojo feigned wiping tears. “If it weren’t for the ‘immortality’ curse on my dear student, the shikigami would have failed to devour the master, and his death anniversary would have passed already!”

Playing the victim, playing the victim.

[At twenty-eight, the perfect age for pity plays.]

[Death anniversary overdue, hahaha!]

[Gojo’s mouth again.]

[The current background music is light, but it can’t hide that Muzan is a heart-wrenching psycho from the moment he appears.]

[Guess the person above just rhymed.]

[He’s still unrestrained. Imagining Yukiie’s position, I’d be terrified even if I didn’t die, as if there were a venomous snake curled up beside my pillow.]

[But little Mrs. Koyuki handles it smoothly…]

[Too many mood swings.]

[From a heart-extracting psycho to a generous late-night teacher.]

[Mainly, we know he’s faking it, and so does Yukiie.]

[But Yukiie’s reaction…]

[He seems like he’s… playing a game.]

[Speaking of which, it’s no wonder the fans ship them nonstop—Muzan is a volatile lunatic, Yukiie is unusual, both a bit twisted… Yet whenever they share the screen, there’s this strange aura, indescribable.]

[Commonly called: sexual tension!]

[If there was an IF storyline, Yukiie would be the protagonist. Would it explore how this personality formed? So fascinating.]

[Didn’t the production team drop a hint before? That ‘immortality’ curse.]

Listening to Gojo’s words, Tamayo’s pale face and intense gaze revealed her concern for the shikigami user.

“Luckily, you are safe…”

Tamayo said softly.

Gojo observed her expression and took the opportunity to ask about Muzan.

After some thought, Tamayo shared what she knew:

Kibutsuji Muzan was originally human.

He was born without breath or pulse and was considered stillborn.

About to be burned alongside firewood, he cried out for the first time, narrowly escaping death.

Growing up, on the brink of death, he found a medicine that rendered him immortal and ageless, a demon who fed on humans.

But he had a fatal weakness—

Fear of sunlight.

Only by consuming the “Blue Higanbana” could this weakness be removed.

Muzan’s blood could transform humans into demons, so he continuously multiplied demons to search for the blue higanbana.

“…Transform?!”

Yuji Itadori’s eyes widened, turning to his companions for confirmation:

“At that time, Muzan tried to turn Ieiri into a demon, right?!”

“Definitely.”

Nobara Kugisaki, arms crossed, suddenly spoke: “Ieiri, I suspect he wanted to domesticate you by transforming you.”

“Itadori/Fushiguro: “What do you mean?”

“When Ieiri first summoned him, it was daytime, meaning he became a cursed spirit, losing his only weakness, and his appetite became paramount.”

Kugisaki: “Don’t forget, his menu is the same as Sukuna’s.”

“To him, Ieiri is an endlessly ‘refillable’ hamburger.”

“No, Ieiri must be a double-cheese burger, even more delicious to him.”

Silent Yukiie Ieiri: “…”

Megumi Fushiguro, stunned: “…”

Yuji Itadori, dazed: “…”

Satoru Gojo: “…”

Gojo: “Nobara, promise me one thing, okay?”

“Don’t use hamburgers as analogies anymore, alright? Because I still want to eat hamburgers in the future without distractions!”

[Laughter]

[Kugisaki’s analogy is really something.]

[What’s even more amazing is that this logic somehow explains Muzan’s instability.]

Tamayo furrowed her brow slightly, worried that Kugisaki’s suspicion might come true.

To Tamayo, Kibutsuji Muzan was the embodiment of evil, a fallen being stubborn in his wickedness.

Even reborn as a cursed spirit, he would only stubbornly devour his master.

Such an existence…

Should belong in eternal hell.

Yet he had climbed back up. Becoming a cursed spirit.

And now, the shikigami users stood as obstacles in his path. He would never submit.

Tamayo whispered, “Master Ieiri, please be very careful of him.”

Then, as if making a decision, she added, “Master Ieiri, may I have a few cursed spirits?”

Ieiri instinctively glanced at Gojo, then nodded in agreement. “Of course. But what do you need cursed spirits for, Miss Tamayo?”

“I want to dissect them,” Tamayo said.

Itadori’s eyes lit up. “Wow!”

Fushiguro and Kugisaki were stunned. Could that really be done?

Tamayo: “By understanding cursed spirits better, perhaps we can find ways to counter them.”

This way, shikigami users would not face the demon king empty-handed.

[?!]

[Miss Tamayo—amazing!]

…

Midnight fell.

Satoru Gojo sat on the sofa, legs crossed, tapping his temple with his fingertips.

“Cursed spirits are the amalgamation of humanity’s negative emotions, intangible energy, so humans cannot study them, only exorcise.”

“But Tamayo is different…”

Gojo smiled wryly, “Because she is one of them.”

She possessed the conditions to investigate thoroughly.

Throughout history, this was a first.

[Simply put: Humans can’t do it, but Miss Tamayo can.]

[With Miss Tamayo, sorcerers’ research on cursed spirits will take a truly significant step forward.]

[I don’t know why, but I suddenly got goosebumps, ahhhh!]

The white-haired teacher turned proudly toward the principal struggling with paperwork.

“Yaga, look! My dear student has surprised me again!”

Yaga said calmly, “…”

He was pleasantly surprised and used to Gojo’s eccentric attitude.

Rubbing his forehead, Yaga handed the documents to Gojo.

“Want to take a look? The shrine mission you chose is preliminarily rated as a grade two cursed spirit.”

Gojo: “Who isn’t busy in second year?”

“You mean…”

Gojo: “Students’ first mission always needs a ‘guardian’ to accompany them.”

The next day.

Outside Gojo’s home, a black car was parked.

Kiyotaka Ijichi, the assistant supervisor, stood beside the car, trying to minimize his presence, nervously waiting for someone.

Ijichi was somewhat introverted, especially standing before Gojo’s imposing mansion, which alone exuded pressure.

He felt the guards’ eyes lingering on him, cold and sinister.

Within minutes, he was drenched in sweat.

Finally—

Several figures emerged.

Ijichi felt as if delivered from doom, immediately greeting them excitedly.

“Ieiri-san, nice to meet you!”

He immediately realized he had been overly enthusiastic but was relieved that Ieiri didn’t seem offended.

As he prepared to greet Itadori and the others, they were already playing out a tearful farewell scene with Ieiri.

“Ieiri, you must come back safely!”

“We’ll wait for you!”

Itadori and Kugisaki coordinated perfectly, even feigning sobs as if parting forever.

Fushiguro stayed out of it, being cooler and more rational.

Ieiri was only going on a mission; the other two were just caught up in the drama.

No, make that three.

Ieiri joined in their antics.

“I will definitely return safely. Before I go, let’s take a photo; I will cherish it.”

Ieiri looked touched, holding their hands.

Kugisaki: “That’s a flag, a flag!”

“It’s true! The kind of character destined to sacrifice on the battlefield!” Itadori chimed in.

…Such childish three.

Fushiguro turned his head.

Though thinking this, a faint smile unconsciously curved his lips.

*Click—*

The camera froze this moment in time.