Sōjun Minamoto followed Masamichi Yaga through a long and winding route before finally reaching their destination.
They had arrived in a remote mountainous region on the outskirts of Tokyo.
It was hard to believe there were even mountain roads built in such a secluded area. On one side loomed jagged rock walls, while the other was lined with a dense, ancient forest. The entire mountain range was blanketed in greenery.
As they drove along the mountainside, mist drifted through the trees and across the peaks, making the scenery feel like something out of a dream.
In the distance, a sprawling complex of buildings came into view.
They continued forward until they reached the entrance to the facility.
To the left of the gate stood a wooden sign that read: Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College.
A pair of komainu statues flanked the gate—one with its mouth open, the other closed—both carved with cloud-like patterns in their fur, exuding an imposing presence.
Passing through the gate, they were greeted by a majestic Zen temple. Further inside were a variety of buildings—some ancient, others modern—dotting the landscape.
Temples and shrines stood side by side.
On the surface, it appeared to be a private religious school. In reality, it was a hub for Jujutsu Sorcerers.
In the Jujutsu world, aside from the sorcerers born into prestigious clans, many powerful individuals also came from ordinary backgrounds.
Some of them, despite having no knowledge of Cursed Energy, could see Curses. As one might imagine, their lives were a living hell, constantly surrounded by grotesque spirits.
Others, gifted with natural talent, might learn to wield Cursed Energy on their own—but without proper guidance, they were prone to losing control. Once they strayed from the right path, the consequences were often disastrous.
And because they were geniuses, once they turned dark, they became even more dangerous. Their threat to society only escalated, sometimes even surpassing that of actual Cursed Spirits.
To prevent such cases, Tokyo Jujutsu High was founded.
As Japan's capital, Tokyo had a high population density, and with it came a greater concentration of Curses. That's why it was established here, with its operational costs covered by both the national and Tokyo governments.
Most sorcerers used Jujutsu High as their base even after graduation. The school provided mission support and arranged assignments for them.
Naturally, it became a gathering place for Jujutsu Sorcerers.
The two Jujutsu Highs were also responsible for evaluating and promoting sorcerers, further proving their status in the community.
Besides the student and teacher tracks, there was a separate mission-focused track, mainly consisting of freelance bounty sorcerers.
They took on assignments in exchange for rewards, while also helping the school manage the constant pressure from Cursed Spirits. The arrangement benefited both sides.
The two tracks intersected mainly through the Auxiliary Supervisor and Window departments.
Auxiliary Supervisors served as support and drivers for the Jujutsu High's sorcerers, capable of using basic Barrier Techniques and shikigami. Windows were non-sorcerers who could see Curses. They worked undercover across society, assisting sorcerers in the field.
Sōjun Minamoto had chosen the latter.
He would join Jujutsu High as a bounty sorcerer.
...
Masamichi Yaga led Sōjun Minamoto deeper into the school.
They barely saw anyone on the way, and the few people they did see were rushing past in a hurry.
"Are you sure you don't want to enroll as a student?" Yaga suddenly asked. "By the way, tuition and all fees would be completely waived."
He couldn't understand why Sōjun Minamoto, who was fifteen and just over a month away from the start of the semester, had rejected the offer. Why insist on becoming a bounty sorcerer instead?
Though the two tracks weren't overtly different, it was obvious to anyone that one was the 'official' path, nurtured by the High, while the other was outsourced.
Of course, the treatment wasn't the same.
"No thanks. I've already made up my mind," Sōjun replied absentmindedly. He was trying to memorize the route—they weren't kidding when they said Jujutsu High was huge, and his sense of direction was terrible.
He just didn't want to. No particular reason. He had no strong feelings about the school. As long as no one messed with him, he had no intention of bothering anyone either.
So his attitude came off as extremely indifferent.
Yaga noticed it, and a vein twitched at the corner of his eye. He didn't like everyone at the Jujutsu High, but he cared deeply about the institution itself. Sōjun's dismissiveness rubbed him the wrong way.
Still, something else was affecting him too...
They stopped in front of a two-story wooden loft.
Yaga handed Sōjun an envelope labeled "Letter of Recommendation."
"This is where I live," he said, barely glancing at the boy. "If you need anything, come find me here."
Then he pointed to a nearby tower. "Go there to register. Someone will explain everything."
Without waiting for a response, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
Huh?
Sōjun blinked, confused. What the hell was that? Was that seriously it?
He'd been persuaded to come all this way to the Jujutsu High, and now, before he even fully joined, he was being left on his own?
They wouldn't even let him come inside for a bit?
Behind the door, Yaga stood with his back turned. Ever since they got to know each other, he had stopped treating Sōjun like a child. While he still worried about him from time to time, he knew he had to let go eventually.
Might as well start today.
Yaga wasn't in high spirits. Beneath his burly exterior was a soft, emotional heart.
Outside, Sōjun cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "I'm leeeaaaving!"
Then he turned and walked away, not a care in the world.
To him, developing a technique at home or at Jujutsu High made no difference. As long as it made him stronger, the location didn't matter.
He made his way to the tower, where the crowd was a bit denser.
As he stepped inside, a professionally dressed woman approached.
Sōjun handed her the letter of recommendation.
She efficiently guided him to the service window, passed the letter to the staff inside, and then bowed and took her leave.
The staff member didn't seem very interested at first, lazily skimming through the information.
That changed the moment he saw the recommender was Masamichi Yaga and that Sōjun was registering as a Grade 2 sorcerer. His demeanor shifted instantly, and he put on a polished, professional smile.
"Our benefits are excellent. You've made the right choice joining Tokyo Jujutsu High. The pay is high, housing is provided, meals are subsidized, and you'll have dedicated support staff available for one-on-one assistance whenever needed."
He handed Sōjun a form to fill out and kept talking non-stop.
"There are also great prospects for advancement. You might even make it into the upper ranks someday and hit the peak of your career!"
"You won't regret the choice you made today!"
It all felt too familiar. Sōjun quietly shook his head.
Sure enough, no matter where you went, people were always selling dreams—either painting them for others or being sold one themselves.
He ignored the spiel and filled out the form carefully.
The staff member let out a relieved sigh and clenched their fist discreetly.
A Grade 2 sorcerer—this month's performance quota was as good as secured.
Now with a genuinely pleased smile, the staff handed Sōjun a manual.
"All important information is in here. Please read it thoroughly."
"Also, your ID badge will be delivered by your assigned support staff tomorrow. Please keep it safe. If it gets lost, report it immediately so we can issue a replacement."
Then she gestured to another staff member, handed them a nameplate, and the two exchanged a quick nod—clearly used to the procedure.
The newcomer took over and guided Sōjun to select a dorm.
In the end, he chose a loft-style villa on the edge of campus, right against the outer wall. Just beyond the wall lay the forest.
The loft was a traditional wooden duplex in natural tones, rich in texture. It came with its own courtyard, centered around a large tree with some flowers and plants surrounding it.
The setup was actually quite nice.
Sōjun was satisfied. The area was secluded, with few people around—peaceful and quiet.
The staff here were impressively attentive, clearly good at reading people. She kept her eyes on his face the entire time.
"Until you receive your ID badge, please avoid wandering around. The school is protected by Barriers, and since your registration isn't complete yet, you might trigger an alarm."
"If you need anything, feel free to contact me."
She gave him a playful wink and turned to leave.