Author's Note: I have found a proper rhythm for writing so everything should slowly go back to normal. Thanks for waiting.
Chapter 7
One and a half weeks after the previous narrative event, Josefu and the others went through their classes and socialized during that period. One day after that time, Josefu was sent on a lone mission by himself after absorbing ten alternate perspectives, which caused him to hold ten weakened attacks. Josefu went to an old house where multiple construction crews were missing or expired. A window scouted the place and found that three curses were responsible and appeared to be holding a talisman within the center of the building. Josefu's job was simple. Exorcize the spirits within the area and retrieve the talisman without damaging it.
Using his battle experience and ability to predict the movements of the curses, Josefu got a general idea of their routines and planned to infiltrate and destroy them quickly in one fell swoop. As Josefu waited for the right moment, he reminisced on the alternate perspectives he obtained, most related to Nobara, Megumi, and Yuji. Josefu saw the internal bonding between the three, demonstrating their growing affinity for each other. Josefu also saw their current perspectives and opinions of his character. Yuji saw Josefu as another friend to protect with his hero complex. Megumi gained significant respect for Josefu after Josefu exorcized the flame-resistant curse but remained distant because he didn't want to give Josefu an ego trip. Nobara saw Josefu as a silent golem who kept to himself.
At the right moment, Josefu crept along the edges of the house, using his weakened attacks to distract the curses and move them to his desired location. Suddenly, Josefu's intuition activated his Fire Tyrant technique too early, forcing him to adapt by relying on it to maneuver around the curses to lead them away instead of using distractions. Once the curses were all in place, Josefu unleashed three punches reinforced by his flames, dispatching all of the curses as he deactivated his technique. Josefu went to the basement and found the talisman, one of Sukuna's fingers tied to a stick, and a colorful feather with razor-thin string. Josefu brought it to Kiyotaka Ijichi, a window at Jujutsu High, who brought it to Gojo. Gojo dismantled the talisman and placed the finger with the others in the Sorcerer's collection.
After returning to his room, Josefu looked back on the experience and understood one thing: the task was too easy. A grade-three jujutsu sorcerer would be able to clear that task. That is when Josefu realized that he saw a few individuals looking into the house, observing the events of the whole debacle. Josefu witnessed all these sights at brief moments between the planning and exorcizing, causing a brief epiphany in Josefu's mind palace. Josefu knew the higher-ups were testing him slowly, checking what he could do outside his curse techniques. The realization horrified Josefu. There was no potential outcome where Josefu would accept being a pawn to an alternate dimension, let alone the politics of the Jujutsu world.
The forces chuckled in Josefu's mind, savoring Josefu's reaction to the truth. It seems those old idiots are planning something big for you. How interesting. 'What? Idiots?' Josefu pondered, 'Do you agree with Gojo's mindset?' Don't be foolish. That buffoon is just as stupid but in different ways. See, unlike you, he always allows power and experience to rule him. That fool is arrogant, reckless, and a pathetic specimen. 'Woah…' Josefu thought, 'Those are fighting words…' What? Does the Jester of Infinity have a fan club? 'Yes, he does,' Josefu confirmed. Huh. How silly. Then again, that fool holds charisma that pulls others to his side. Still, our opinion remains unchanged. That imbecile has no hope of beating the nuisance, let alone gaining an inch on our ground. 'You mean Sukuna?' Josefu pondered. The forces smirked in response. Who else? The forces left Josefu with their words, eagerly waiting for the next day.
The next day, Josefu attended classes with everyone, as usual, going through the standardized topics in academia to further their education. The window, Ijichi, acting as the assistant director in Jujutsu High, taught all classes when he wasn't out exploring Tokyo for signs of curse activity. On the other hand, Akari Nitta, the other window, acts as an axillary manager in Jujutsu High. Therefore, Nitta is responsible for scheduling when students have classes, accounting for Ijichi's schedule, and any missions the students have.
A few days later, the inevitable day arrived. Ijichi confirmed the existence of the cursed womb and had to send the original trio to the juvenile detention center. However, this time, Josefu is included in this mission. Josefu believed that the Higher-ups arranged this to mask the intentions of the higher-ups who wanted Yuji dead. Ijichi drove the group to the location, where he explained the various grades to Yuji before the group entered the detention center, ready to begin the mission. Checking the area with curse energy, Josefu noticed several curses looming out of Megumi's range of senses. Due to this issue, Megumi's Shinigami couldn't sniff out the existence of those curses. The damning matter was the fact the curses were holding a portal shard.
So, how will you solve this? The forces asked, amused by Josefu's shock. 'How did you manage all this?!' Josefu pondered. We had a negotiation. They help us, and we give them life. Josefu knew that by "life," these forces meant they would turn these people into their puppets. "Hey, what are you staring at, Hanto?" Megumi questioned. "There are some curse spirits down that hall. You all go ahead. I'll take care of this," Josefu answered. Megumi nodded in confidence. "Ok, don't get killed," Megumi told Josefu. "I won't," Josefu replied, walking down the hall. The trio moved further into the building as Josefu faced the curses. The forces chuckled at the sight. Are you sure you made the right choice? 'Don't patronize me,' Josefu thought aggressively.
Josefu and the curses began a long chase through the creeping, twisting, creaking halls of the detention center that was warping due to the influence of the curse womb. Josefu used his Fire Tyrant ability to lasso the curses to him with the fiery whips after dashing close enough to the one at the back and lobbing it towards the one at the front, disorienting their sense of direction as they dropped the portal shard. Josefu grabbed the shard and absorbed it into his body, causing the curses to wail as the forces exorcized them. "What the?!" Josefu exclaimed. Well done, you passed. Josefu looked at the spot where the exorcized spirits once were and steeled his nerves before tracking down the trio and returning to them. Once he arrived, Josefu noticed the special grade curse just arrived from the curse womb and had its sights on Nobara. Josefu ran and pushed Nobara out of the way, falling into the darkness meant for her.