Curse Return: Demon Void Girl Doesn't Want to Be a Weakling

First, we need to find a place to stay near the school to facilitate our next steps.

Her gaze fell on the apartment buildings and small two- or three-story buildings along the street, assessing their angles, distances, and concealment.

She stopped on a relatively quiet one-way street on the southeast side of the school.

In front of me is a five-story apartment building with a clean exterior. The fourth and fifth floors have west-facing windows and balconies.

She went upstairs to take a look and realized that living here offered an excellent view overlooking the entire school playground.

"This will do." Mashiro took out her phone and dialed the rental company's number posted in the hallway. "Hello, I'd like to inquire about..."

Fifteen minutes later, a young professional in his thirties arrived. After reviewing the identification provided by Mashiro, he took her upstairs to see the apartment.

The room available for short-term rental is a corner room on the fourth floor, with a usable area of ​​about 20 tucks (approximately 33 square meters, according to Doubao search).

The room was new, with a simple kitchen and bathroom, and basic amenities such as air conditioning, a refrigerator, and a washing machine. Most importantly, it had a large west-facing window—offering a wide view, clearly showing the entire Sugisawa Third High School area, and even the silhouettes of several students practicing shooting.

"The view is great, but it can be quite noisy at certain times," the agent explained. "The shortest contract is one month, with a monthly rent of 85,000 yen, including management fees. A one-month deposit is required. If you're sure, you can move in today." (It seems there are many other fees involved in renting in Japan, which I've omitted.)

Mashiro stood by the window, her gaze sweeping across the playground before settling on the school building further away. At this distance, with her enhanced vision using her magical powers, she could even see the students in the classrooms. The room itself exceeded her expectations, and it even had ready-made furniture, so she didn't need to buy any more.

"This is the one."

The leasing procedures were quickly completed at a nearby real estate company branch.

Mashiro paid the rent and deposit, and received the key and check-in instructions.

Back in my newly rented room, I locked the door, walked to the center of the room, put down my instrument case and backpack, organized my few belongings, and sat on the balcony looking at the school not far away.

"A bloody storm is coming soon."

Mashiro sighed, tracing circles on her knee with her fingers. She should make some appropriate contact tomorrow.

Chapter 11 Itadori Yasuke

It's been raining in Sendai for the past few days, and the mornings are always a bit damp.

Mashiro stood by the apartment window, looking at the map on her phone, her attention focused on two locations.

Sugisawa Third High School and Miyagi Prefectural General Hospital.

Her gaze lingered on the hospital for a long time.

Yamasuke Itadori left behind the dying words, "I want to die surrounded by people," a single sentence that defined Hisahito Itadori's role throughout his life.

She wanted to meet him, to see this legendary old man in person, which was also a small wish of hers as a fan of the work.

At the same time, this is also an opportunity. As long as we can gain the trust of Itadori Yasusuke, we can naturally establish a relationship with Itadori Hisahito.

This way, she can intervene in the plot later on. She needs an identity that can connect her with Hisahito Itadori, and his grandfather's guarantee is definitely the most effective way.

"Tell him something about the internal organ conflict, the heat, and the pain. He needs to be told what happened, what he needs to know, and what he needs to know about the internal organ conflict."

She changed into a mature outfit and tied her silver hair into a high ponytail, looking both formal and cute.

She put Cong Yu into her violin case, slung it over her shoulder, and walked out of the apartment.

Miyagi Prefectural General Hospital is an old building, and the air is filled with an overpowering smell of disinfectant.

Mashiro sniffed, feeling a little uncomfortable.

Instead of going directly to the ward, she stood there, the curse power gradually spreading from her body.

Hospitals, places rife with negative emotions, are prone to nurturing high-level cursed spirits; she needs to confirm this first.

"There was no particularly strong aura of the cursed spirit; only the faintest fly-head-like creature was wriggling in the corner, posing no threat whatsoever."

almost.

She got up, walked into the inpatient building, and took the elevator to the fourth floor where the internal medicine ward was located.

The corridor was quiet, with the occasional nurse pushing a medicine cart passing by. Her steps were light, her eyes quickly scanning the nameplates on the ward doors.

She stopped in front of ward 409. The door was ajar, and suppressed coughing could be heard from inside.

Mashiro stood at the doorway, took a deep breath, and gently patted her cheeks with both hands. "Now comes the main event, Mashiro."

She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door with her knuckles.

"Please come in," a hoarse voice said.

She pushed the door open and entered.

The ward was a single room, not very big, with the window open and a gentle breeze blowing through the light blue curtains.

An elderly woman with white hair sat leaning against the hospital bed. She was very thin, but her deep-set eyes were unusually clear, staring straight at her.

"Hello," Mashiro said at the door, her tone polite and respectful. "I apologize for bothering you, Mr. Itadori."

The old man squinted, looking her up and down. "I don't know you. Wrong room?"

"No. I came here specifically to see you." Mashiro entered the room, leaving the door ajar, not wanting to arouse suspicion.

She stood a short distance from the foot of the bed, maintaining a proper distance from the elderly man.

“My name is Kujo Mashiro. There are some things about your son, Itadori Jin, and your grandson, Itadori Hisahito, that I think you should know.”

Upon hearing his son's and grandson's names, Itadori Yasuke's eyes suddenly sharpened; even on his sickbed, the sharp-witted old man's gaze remained undiminished.

"What do you mean?"

"Your daughter-in-law, Kaori Itadori, passed away before your grandson, Hisahito, was born." She spoke calmly, staring directly into Itadori Yabusuke's eyes. "Later, the one living under the identity of Kaori Itadori was someone who possessed your daughter-in-law's body, named Kaori Itadori!"

The ward fell into dead silence, with only the rhythmic ticking of the medical equipment and the old man's heavy breathing.

“…Evidence.” After a long silence, Itadori Yasuke squeezed out two words through clenched teeth, his fingers gripping the bedsheet tightly.

"I have no evidence, but I know that the judge has fabricated the story! He has been accused of tampering with the evidence, and I know that he has been accused of tampering with the evidence, and ...

"Your son, Yuhito, was part of the 'Skipping the Bridge' plan. Yuhito is a vessel it deliberately created for a certain purpose."

The old man's pupils contracted sharply. "Container...what container?!" Itadori Yasuke's voice trembled with excitement as he struggled to sit up, triggering a violent cough.

Mashiro stepped forward and gently helped him up. "In order to house the vessel of the cursed king Sukuna, Yuujin's future is destined to be anything but peaceful. He will attract danger and encounter things that ordinary people cannot even imagine."

She paused, observing the old man's reaction.

Itadori Yasuke's face was ashen, but besides shock and pain, there was also a trace of regret in his eyes. He believed it.

He had long sensed something was off about his son and daughter-in-law; if only he had been a little more resolute back then...

"Why... are you telling me all this?" the old man asked breathlessly, his gaze fixed on Mashiro. "What is your purpose?"

“I want you to know the truth.” Mashiro looked directly at him. “You have the right to know the truth about your family’s fate before you leave. As for what I want…”

“Yujin Itadori, I will make him the vessel for Sukuna.”

"What?!" Itadori Yasuke's eyes widened, but before he could finish speaking, Mashiro interrupted him.

“This is the only way to eliminate Sukuna. In exchange, I will guarantee Hisahito Itadori’s personal safety.” Mashiro told him frankly, “I need someone he trusts to vouch for me. You, Mr. Itadori, are the only person Hisahito Itadori can completely trust.”

"You expect me to agree just like that?" The old man's eyes held a mixture of mockery and probing. "Based on these few nonsensical words of yours?"

“Things always proceed as usual, and they don’t change because of an individual’s will.” Mashiro sighed. “Itadori Yuujin is destined to become the vessel of Sukuna. This is his fate, and we can only change a small part of it.”

The ward fell silent again, with only the sound of the wind outside the window.

Itadori Yasuke stared intently at her, trying to discern her true intentions.

This silver-haired girl was too young, yet her behavior was too composed. He didn't know whether he should believe this girl who was saying things that were no different from driving his grandson to his death.

After a long while, the old man let out a long, weary breath and closed his eyes.

“…Youren is such a kind child, so incredibly kind.” He spoke hoarsely, his voice heavy with weariness and love for his grandson. “He always thinks of others, never of himself. But I also hope he can help others, even if he doesn’t receive any thanks.”

He opened his eyes and looked at Mashiro, his expression complex. "Will he survive?"

Don't tease the Tiger Emperor; he'll be invincible after he settles down.

“No matter what,” Mashiro smiled, her cute smile dispelling the previous serious and cold atmosphere, “I will let him live.”

Chapter 12 First Contact

“I will let him live.” The old man repeated softly, then gave a bitter smile. “I’ve lived my whole life, and I haven’t made many right choices. Especially regarding Jin and Kaori…”

His gaze fell on Mashiro's face, his sharp eyes softening considerably. "You...you're not an ordinary person, are you? You can see those things?"

Mashiro understood his meaning and did not answer directly. Instead, she raised her right hand, gathered a wisp of magical power at her fingertips, and gently swept it through the air, leaving a fleeting glimmer of light.

"A family of jutsu, a descendant of the Kujo family," Mashiro said with a smile, "though I'm the only one left in the entire family."

Itadori Yasuke's eyes widened slightly as he looked at the traces left by Mashiro's cursed power. As if he had finally confirmed something, he slowly nodded.

“The spell… I understand.” His voice was soft, with a hint of relief. “I will tell Yuujin that I can trust you and can come to you for anything, but please promise me one thing.”

"Please speak."

"Don't tell him everything." The old man's gaze drifted out the window, towards the school. "Don't tell him the truth about Jinwa Kaori. At least not now. That child... has already lost enough."

Mashiro was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I promise you."

The old man breathed a sigh of relief, his body relaxing slightly as he leaned back against the pillow. He then changed the subject: "How old are you?"

Huh? Why are we suddenly talking about age?

What does that mean? Did they see through it?

Mashiro blinked, touched the silver hair hanging down from her temples, and said hesitantly, "Ah, my ID says I'm 20 years old."

"Actually what?"

They're obviously questioning her age! Did they think everything she said was just childish chuunibyou (a Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur)?

“…Twelve.” Mashiro turned her head away, a little embarrassed, and whispered with a slight blush.

As Itadori Yamasuke looked at her embarrassed state, so different from her previous calm and composed demeanor, the corners of his mouth gradually turned up, and then he burst into laughter: "Pretty much, pretty much the same age as I thought."

After laughing, he stopped laughing, straightened up, and bowed slightly to Mashiro, "Then I'll leave Yuujin's matter to you."

Mashiro looked him straight in the eye and nodded solemnly.

Just then, Itadori Yasuke heard a familiar set of footsteps outside the ward, followed by the voice of a vibrant young boy.

"Grandpa! I brought your favorite red bean buns—"