"I'm not repeating the simplistic notion that powerful Jujutsu Sorcerers tend to become extreme when using their power. In fact, even that understanding is wrong.
"The correct answer is the Soul.
"Some Souls are simply prone to generating negative emotions—anger, sorrow, fear, irritation, or jealousy. It may not be apparent when they are young, but as the Soul matures, a person's thoughts increasingly slide toward darker directions. This is the most fundamental instinct for becoming a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
"Think about it: if Jujutsu Sorcerers were born purely through genetic inheritance, how did the very first Jujutsu Sorcerers come into being? Special Grade Sorcerer Geto Suguru—his parents were genuine ordinary people. How was he born?
"It originates entirely from a mutation of the Soul."
Yuki Tsukumo watched the waves of the canal, her tone tinged with reminiscence:
"I was stunned when I first realized it too. In fact, many pieces of evidence are right there, but few bother to study them, and even if they do, they don't want to admit it.
"The Soul is engraved with human cognition and memories.
"Therefore, all Souls summoned back through Soul Summoning can clearly know who they are. Moreover, once they invade a body, they can even use Cursed Techniques. This is because when a Soul invades a body, it also remodels the flesh. The residual Cursed Energy matches that of the deceased Soul, and the Cursed Technique becomes engraved on the body.
"I even suspect that if the Cursed Technique is suitable, the Soul itself might be able to use Cursed Energy.
"So, do you understand now? Jujutsu Sorcerers are born madmen!
"This distortion originates from the Soul; no Jujutsu Sorcerer can escape it.
"You think we Jujutsu Sorcerers are normal? That's only because there are even crazier Jujutsu Sorcerers keeping us in check.
"You should really see how terrifying the past was without Gojo Satoru. Curse Users emerged endlessly, Jujutsu Sorcerers were run ragged, the Jujutsu Higher-Ups monopolized Cursed Energy, and the Big Three Families still follow the rules of the Heian era to this day!
"And then there's Gojo Satoru."
Yuki Tsukumo paused, revealing a cold smile:
"He is the biggest madman of all... He actually wants to bring fairness to the Jujutsu World. If he were still a child, I wouldn't say much, just find him cute. But he's 28 years old now, and he still clings to such ideas?
"What a joke! Do you think this is child's play? That whatever you say goes?
"In this world, the strong deserve privilege because it's a world where individual power surpasses everything.
"When a person can effortlessly dominate the entire world without relying on any social connections, and you expect him to work nine-to-five, plus overtime until nine or ten, return home, wash up, collapse into bed without even eating dinner, living more tiredly than a dog—
"Do you think that's possible?
"Let me be blunt: Gojo Satoru is a giant infant!
"It's just that this giant infant has a slight sense of self-awareness, knowing he can't govern the entire Jujutsu World by himself. So, he became a teacher, collecting promising Disciples everywhere, deludedly trying to overthrow the existing order that has maintained stability for millennia."
This was the reason Yuki Tsukumo had always looked down on Gojo Satoru. She fundamentally believed he had gone utterly insane, completely beyond comprehension.
This isn't to say fairness is bad. Doesn't human society advocate for fairness too? Never mind whether it's achieved; the propaganda says so. But that's ordinary human society!
No matter how strong or skilled an ordinary person becomes, a single bullet is enough to kill them. So ordinary people deeply crave fairness. They know that despite individual differences, they are essentially the same and deserve equality.
But Jujutsu Sorcerer society is not like that!
A Jujutsu Sorcerer like Yuki Tsukumo could single-handedly kill everyone in the world. She could skillfully use Reverse Cursed Technique; bullets and shells were useless against her. Even if you nuked her, she could dodge it and if she didn't? Then she'd drag the entire world down with her before she died.
You expect someone like that to be a wage slave? Even if she were willing, do you dare ask the bosses if they'd dare hire her?
That's why Yuki Tsukumo concluded that Gojo Satoru was truly insane, to a bone-chilling degree.
Mahito laughed. "You should really share your evaluation with Mr. Gojo. I think that would be quite amusing."
"I won't say it." Yuki Tsukumo said calmly. "It's useless to say anything to a madman like him. Even if I did, he'd just laugh heartily and retort, 'Isn't having a little ideal fun?'"
Mahito thought about Gojo Satoru's portrayal in the original work and had to admit Yuki Tsukumo's judgment was quite accurate. That was indeed something Gojo Satoru would say.
"Do you understand now?" Yuki Tsukumo looked at Mahito, twirling a strand of golden hair around her finger. "Jujutsu Sorcerers may be mad, but at least they have physical bodies that can produce positive energy to neutralize their extreme emotions.
"Even so, before Gojo Satoru took action to reform the Jujutsu World, Jujutsu Sorcerers falling and becoming Curse Users emerged endlessly. It's not that it doesn't happen now; it's that if it happens, Gojo Satoru directly kills them. That's survivor bias.
"In fact, those people in the current Jujutsu Higher-Ups were even worse in the past, more excessive than you can imagine. You can't even fathom their lower limits.
"You probably don't know that the Jujutsu Higher-Ups once threatened Principal Yaga with death to force him to hand over his unique new technique. You might not know Principal Yaga; he was Gojo Satoru's teacher! Now he's even the principal of Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School. But I dare swear, if anything happens to Gojo Satoru, he'll be the first to die.
"And that's a Sorcerer... You, however, are a Cursed Spirit."
Yuki Tsukumo looked at Mahito and spoke plainly:
"A Cursed Spirit is the manifestation of a curse. No matter how normal, righteous, or benevolent you appear now, I cannot trust you.
"The more supremely benevolent and virtuous you are, the more you exhibit the aura and charisma of one who stands above all, the less I can let you go."
Because you would only go mad on a grander scale!
"I dare not imagine what calamity you would bring to this world if you truly stood above all."
This time, Mahito truly understood. In fact, before Yuki Tsukumo presented this theory, he had said something similar to Kokichi Muta.
However, he never imagined back then that Sorcerers don't become extreme from using Cursed Energy, but rather, it's because they are twisted and extreme from the very Soul that they can become Sorcerers.
His understanding had been too shallow.
Now he finally understood why the original Jogo insisted that the fundamental nature of humans is deceit and betrayal, merely wrapped in a skin called kindness and honor.
Jogo only ever saw Sorcerers. Although ordinary people filled the streets, he never bothered to understand them. Since he only ever encountered Jujutsu Sorcerers, no wonder he reached such a conclusion.
Although Jogo's intelligence is a fatal flaw, he was quite perceptive about the nature of Jujutsu Sorcerers.
Mahito smiled. "I thought you were simply prejudiced."
"I am prejudiced." Yuki Tsukumo openly admitted. "I don't even think much of Jujutsu Sorcerers.
"Even if you were a Jujutsu Sorcerer, I'd still beat you up. Because I fundamentally believe that any being possessing Cursed Energy, whatever it may be, is unfit to rule the world as a sovereign. That's prejudice, genuine prejudice."
Mahito declared arrogantly, "I am different."
Yuki Tsukumo looked at him deeply and nodded gently. "Yes, you are different."
Mahito was dumbfounded.
Yuki Tsukumo smiled gracefully. "Did you think I would mock you sarcastically?"
"You just delivered a whole tirade of sarcasm."
"That wasn't sarcasm; I was stating my research, an objectively existing reality." Yuki Tsukumo laughed. "You felt it was sarcasm because you empathized with the people I described. If you set aside your subjective feelings and look objectively, which point of what I said was wrong?
"Aren't Jujutsu Sorcerers madmen? Isn't Gojo Satoru a giant infant? Aren't the Jujutsu Higher-Ups a terrible governing body? Aren't these facts?"
Mahito broke out in a cold sweat.
Is this what veteran scholars in the Jujutsu World are like? Even their insults are reasoned and justified, just short of quoting famous sayings to back themselves up...
Wait, Yuki Tsukumo herself is the most authoritative Soul research expert in the Jujutsu World. Her words are the famous sayings!
This really is...
Mahito showed an indescribable expression.
"Remember what I said earlier? Precisely because Jujutsu Sorcerers are twisted from the Soul, they can develop organs capable of extracting Cursed Energy and prefrontal lobes capable of executing Cursed Techniques. That's why the relationship between Cursed Energy and the Soul is profoundly deep."
Yuki Tsukumo continued slowly:
"Taking your earlier example of a cursed object and a vessel, the Soul can indeed remodel the body. But how can a twisted Soul remodel a normal body? All beings possessing Cursed Energy are incurably mad... I originally firmly believed that."
"Originally?" Mahito asked.
"Until I saw you." Yuki Tsukumo said solemnly. "Mahito, you possess a noble Soul. This noble Soul can even suppress the corruption of Cursed Energy, allowing you to become a normal person."
Mahito was astonished.
"I'm not joking." Yuki Tsukumo stood up, walking over to face Mahito. She stared directly into his heterochromatic eyes with her own bright, piercing gaze. "I don't know if it's innate or because of your ability, but your Soul is almost completely unaffected by Cursed Energy.
"Although you use Cursed Energy normally, your Soul hasn't been distorted. In principle, this is impossible, but during our battle, I saw it. I felt it deeply."
She reached out her hand and gently placed it on Mahito's chest.
Yuki Tsukumo said slowly:
"In our final confrontation, I saw your pure Soul. I felt the pride in your heart. You used your willpower to overwhelm the distortion of the Soul, allowing your supreme benevolence and goodness to remain lofty in the heavens. You are the only normal person in the Jujutsu World.
"You possess the talent to rule the world. You are a born..."
—King.
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