Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

"That boy! The one standing next to the quintuplets!" Mimiko exclaimed, exasperated by her clueless behavior.

Haruno's gaze involuntarily turned to Yukino beside her. Since he was her classmate, surely she had some impression of him?

"Miss Mimiko Hasaba, are you referring to Daiki Tsukasa? He's a second-year student at Sōbu High. His homeroom teacher is Ms. Mafuyu Kirisu, his grades are excellent, and he ranked in the top ten in this exam. He's currently dating Miku Nakano, a student from another class." Yukino, who had memorized the entire school roster, inquired.

"How would I know who he is? Isn't he the only boy over there?" Mimiko rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Then it must be this junior Daiki. What about him?" Haruno recalled his face, noticing nothing particularly unusual.

"Heh... Junior... You're really... ignorance is bliss." Mimiko said, amused by her words.

Hearing the sarcasm, Haruno's smile faded.

"Ignorance is bliss!" This phrase alone indicated that Daiki was no ordinary person. Combined with Mimiko's nervous state, it further confirmed her suspicions.

"Miss Mimiko, would you mind telling me more? I can pay extra!" Haruno asked cautiously, her interest suddenly piqued.

"Hmph... That Daiki your sister mentioned... he's very powerful! Judging purely by Cursed Energy standards, he's probably Special Grade."

Special Grade!

Haruno's pupils dilated. Beside her, Yukino looked on in disbelief.

With the Yukinoshita family's influence, they barely knew about the Jujutsu World. Although they couldn't establish communication channels with orthodox Jujutsu Sorcerer factions, Haruno had learned about the classification of Jujutsu Sorcerers through various inquiries.

From Grade 4 to Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers — these people form the backbone of the Jujutsu World. Above them are the Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerers, a force so rare they can be counted on one's fingers in the entire world.

The disparity in numbers is extreme. Even Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers are rarely seen, let alone Special Grade. Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerers are rarer still — like catching a glimpse of a dragon's head but not its tail.

According to Mimiko, the Star Religious Group's leader is a Special Grade.

Now, she was telling them that Yukino's male classmate was a Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer on par with the Star Religious Group's leader! It seemed like an impossible fantasy.

But Mimiko's revelation didn't end there.

"The most terrifying thing is his Cursed Energy — it reminds me of the King of Curses."

Members of the Star Religious Group collect Sukuna's Fingers worldwide. Mimiko had encountered Ryōmen Sukuna's terrifying aura firsthand.

This kind of extremely evil Cursed Energy is rarely seen in millennia. She couldn't possibly mistake that aura!

What puzzled her was how he had obtained it. Sukuna's Fingers are Special Grade Cursed Objects! Countless Jujutsu Sorcerers over thousands of years couldn't destroy them, let alone harness their power.

"The King of Curses?" Haruno and Yukino were stunned.

How could a second-year student at Sōbu High School be connected to the King of Curses?

Yukino suddenly recalled the dancing cat she had seen outside her apartment the other night. She quickly recounted this incident to Mimiko.

"Based on what you're saying, he can't be the King of Curses. But his background might be even more mysterious than I imagined." Mimiko pondered.

It could be an Innate Technique — different from the King of Curses' one.

The legendary King of Curses single-handedly dominated the Heian era. 'Capricious' and 'unrestrained' are synonymous with Ryōmen Sukuna.

Dating a student from Sōbu High? Even a fool would know that's impossible. Not razing the school to the ground is already a blessing.

'No wonder the number of Cursed Spirits and Evil Spirits at the foot of the mountain suddenly decreased.'

Spirits with the strenght of a young jujutsu sorcerer comparable to a Special Grade — those poor things really had it rough.

Mimiko felt relieved. She had worried this Jujutsu Sorcerer might cause trouble. Now it seemed he had simply come to pray with his girlfriend.

She quickly sent a message to Nanako, who was staying at the shrine.

Putting away her phone, she said, "Let's not discuss this further. We should leave. When Mr. Geto returns, we'll let him handle this matter personally."

"Mr. Geto" referred to the leader Mimiko had mentioned.

Daiki merely accompanied his girlfriend for a visit, yet he could alarm the leader? Meanwhile, the Yukinoshita family had expended so much effort and still wasn't even qualified for a report.

Haruno suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Miss Mimiko, I just remembered I haven't prayed for my mother yet. Why don't we go back to the shrine for a while?"

Her suggestion made Mimiko think she had gone mad.

"You don't really think that guy would care about classmate friendship, do you? He possesses Cursed Energy comparable to a Special Grade! Plus an Innate Technique! He's a monster who could truly make your Yukinoshita family vanish without a trace!" Mimiko warned, unable to contain herself.

She didn't care if Haruno was courting death, but she couldn't let his anger burn towards the Star Religious Group.

"We really are going to pray for my mother." Haruno said sincerely.

Her expression was complex, but this was indeed an opportunity. Previously, she had been kept in the dark by her sister and mother, completely unaware of how intricate the world's hidden side was. Now that she knew there was a chance to save the family, she didn't want to give up.

The situation with the Matsushita Group was particularly strange. The local powerful family that used to fight them tooth and nail had suddenly changed their tune. They now expressed support for the Matsushita Group's entry into various industries in Chiba and secretly spared no effort to rapidly expand the group.

It was as if... they had become puppets controlled by someone... Yet they showed no obvious signs of being manipulated.

Even the Public Safety's Devil Hunter Department classified it as a dispute among ordinary people.

'Daiki... Miku... He's actually a Jujutsu Sorcerer... and a Special Grade...' Haruno's emotions were truly indescribable.

She didn't know whether to envy that girl named Miku.

For the sake of the Yukinoshita family, Haruno was forced to wear a mask of hypocrisy every day. No matter whom she met, she had to put on that fake smile she despised from the bottom of her heart.

It had even caused a rift in her relationship with Yukino.

While she was exhausted both physically and mentally, running around for her family's safety, she suddenly discovered that such people existed in this world.

For her, meeting a Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer was as difficult as ascending to heaven, yet others already had a handsome boyfriend comparable to one.

If he were her boyfriend, who knows how many troubles could be avoided?

"This world... is so fucking unfair!"

Thus spoke Haruno Yukinoshita, the young lady of Chiba's local powerful family.

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