Walking Corpse

New chapter is live.

Settle in, take your time, and let's see what waits in the dark 🖤

✦

"Relax."

White Zetsu sat down on Maki's desk with outrageous confidence.

"I don't even need to handle it myself. That kid Itsuki will arrange everything."

Sure.

The others looked at him in silence.

If they had not seen White Zetsu trembling when surrounded by cursed spirits earlier, they might almost have believed him.

"The so-called Jujutsu High higher-ups are just old men sent by the Big Three Families, right?"

White Zetsu waved a hand, unconcerned.

"If those old things refuse, at worst we slaugh-"

"White Zetsu!"

Maki cut him off, her expression serious.

"The rotten people in the Zenin Clan are one thing. Don't ever attack ordinary people."

"Even if Brother Itsuki protects you, if you lay a hand on non-sorcerers, Jujutsu High will never let it go."

Maki warned him solemnly.

In her heart, Itsuki was strong. Extremely strong.

But Gojo-sensei, who already stood at the top of the jujutsu world, seemed invincible too.

Precisely because she knew both of their personalities too well, Maki had to warn White Zetsu again and again.

She did not want anything to happen to him.

And she did not want White Zetsu to become the reason Gojo-sensei and Brother Itsuki fought.

"All right, Little Maki. You don't need to worry about me."

White Zetsu looked relaxed.

"Everything you are worried about, that kid Itsuki already told me."

"Besides, he came to Jujutsu High as a teacher. Why would I stay in that boring place?"

Maki frowned.

"What do you mean?"

White Zetsu spread both hands.

"That kid came here to teach. He needs students of his own, doesn't he?"

"No way."

Panda stood, horrified.

"You're not planning to study at Jujutsu High as a cursed spirit, are you?"

"Yes!"

Night came, and the full moon hung high overhead.

In a small detached building not far from the classroom block, Itsuki leaned back on a sofa while White Zetsu sprawled in front of the television.

After hearing about White Zetsu's experience in the classroom, Itsuki said softly, "The others don't matter much, but be careful around Satoru Gojo."

"Don't start trouble on your own. I don't want to reveal this trump card too early."

"You don't trust my acting?"

White Zetsu grinned, the smile stretching wider and more wicked.

"Hiding in the dark and doing secret work is what cursed spirits are best at."

"Besides, I'm actually looking forward to life at Jujutsu High."

"Jujutsu sorcerers bringing me, a cursed spirit, along to exorcise cursed spirits..."

White Zetsu folded his hands behind his head and snickered.

"Just imagining it is exciting."

Itsuki continued tapping on his phone, sending a steady stream of messages.

"As long as you're happy."

"But until their suspicion of you is gone, you don't need to start working."

"Just enjoy your exciting Jujutsu High life."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

White Zetsu watched a cooking show on the television and waved lazily.

"Right."

"There's something I'm curious about."

White Zetsu paused the program and turned toward Itsuki.

"In the Zenin Clan, you're absolute. Whatever you say goes."

"Other than those two girls, Maki and Mai, I almost never see you smile at anyone."

"But after one trip to Jujutsu High..."

"In just a few hours, you smiled more than I've seen you smile in years."

Itsuki looked up from his phone and gave the overly curious White Zetsu a chilly look.

"The Zenin Clan isn't even a pet to me."

"At most, it's a tool that happens to fit my hand."

"Have you ever seen someone smile at a tool?"

"I see."

White Zetsu shrugged.

"You give the Zenin Clan extraordinary prestige, and they obey your every command."

"Fair trade, I guess."

He grinned.

"Then what about Satoru Gojo?"

"Between you and him, who is stronger?"

After sending the final instruction, Itsuki's mouth curved into a cold smile.

"Who knows?"

At the same time, in the classroom building corridor, Yaga had just finished working overtime to analyze Suguru Geto's information and the credibility of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons.

When the meeting ended, he immediately went to find Gojo.

"Satoru, rein in that personality of yours."

"You're not the reckless high school student you used to be. You're a teacher now, responsible for your students."

Yaga's tone was earnest.

"I know you are interested in the Zenin clan head's technique, but you need to consider the consequences."

"He represents the face of the Zenin Clan, and you represent the Gojo Clan."

"If the two of you truly fight, win or lose, it will be a disaster for the jujutsu world."

Gojo leaned against the railing and quietly looked toward the small building in the distance. Whether he was listening to Yaga's long lecture was hard to tell.

At least now, he would not turn around, complain that it was annoying, and run off.

Because the only person left who still lectured him like this was Yaga.

Once, there had been another person who loved long speeches.

Gojo pushed the unnecessary thought aside and answered softly.

"I'm not that impulsive."

"Showing up because I'm curious and beating someone up..."

"I fixed that bad habit years ago."

Seeing Yaga's skeptical look, Gojo raised a hand.

"I promise."

Yaga let out a breath and followed Gojo's gaze.

"We can set aside the Zenin clan head for now."

"What did you see in that intelligent cursed spirit?"

Yaga had been watching White Zetsu all day.

With the naked eye and through cursed energy perception, he had found nothing that separated White Zetsu from other cursed spirits.

That was why he asked his student, the bearer of the Six Eyes.

The special trait inherited by the Gojo Clan, appearing only once every few hundred years.

The rare trait granted extraordinary visual perception, allowing its bearer to see across vast distances and read cursed energy and techniques in minute detail.

The special bandages over Gojo's face reduced the flood of information without truly blinding him.

"He's not hiding his strength. He really is just a weak Grade 4."

"But that cursed spirit named White Zetsu..."

"The feedback from the Six Eyes feels strange."

Gojo's face showed a trace of confusion.

"He resembles a cursed spirit, but even more than that..."

"He feels like a walking corpse."

"A walking corpse?"

Yaga repeated it with a frown.

If even Gojo's Six Eyes could not tell what White Zetsu was, there were only two possibilities.

Either that cursed spirit was truly a strange accident.

Or Itsuki Zenin and that cursed spirit were planning something against Jujutsu High.

"Fine. If you're certain he only has Grade 4 strength, that's enough."

"I will assign a dedicated assistant manager to keep watch over him."

Yaga looked up at the full moon, his expression growing complicated.

"Now we need to talk about..."

"Jujutsu High's plan..."

"To eliminate Suguru Geto."

✦

✦

✦

Want to keep going?

You can read ahead on my Patreon, with early access, previews, and extra story updates 🔑

https://www.patreon.com/c/EliasVane