Chapter 181 Panda

Chen Nuo stood on the podium, facing Itadori Yuji and the other students. He slapped the table indignantly, looking as if he were about to start a revolution.

"I just don't understand one thing. We came here to study, not to be beasts of burden. Why are we spending every single day exorcising Cursed Spirits? Let me ask you guys—have you learned basic Cursed Technique Extension yet? Have you mastered the concept of Simple Domain?"

Itadori Yuji and Kugisaki Nobara shook their heads like rattles.

One was a jujutsu student who started late as an athlete, and the other was a country sorcerer; neither understood these advanced jujutsu techniques at all.

As for Yoshino Junpei, there was no need to mention him. He had almost no presence and only had eyes for one person.

As for Fushiguro Megumi, he looked as restless as if he had hemorrhoids.

He actually understood these advanced techniques, but he hadn't fully mastered a single one. Thinking back, since the start of the term, it seemed they really hadn't learned any jujutsu knowledge besides fighting and killing.

They hadn't even attended a few proper jujutsu classes.

Although their strength was rapidly improving through constant combat, it seemed their level of jujutsu application hadn't broken through much.

The main issue was their homeroom teacher, Gojo Satoru, who was also the primary instructor. He was on business trips every day and was rarely seen, essentially leaving his students to fend for themselves.

It seemed that jujutsu teachers throughout history were all the hands-off type.

"As the Student Council President of both schools, I think it's time to make a change."

Chen Nuo braced his hands on the table, his voice loud enough to reach the Principal's office upstairs.

On the top floor, Yaga Masamichi was already trembling.

With Gojo Satoru away, this was clearly aimed at him.

Sure enough, before long, the door to the Principal's office was kicked open. Yaga Masamichi, who had a bad premonition and was preparing to jump out the window to escape, was grabbed by Chen Nuo and pinned to his seat, unable to move.

"Principal Yaga, where do you think you're going?"

Chen Nuo asked in a slightly cold voice.

"No... nowhere. I just wanted to get some fresh air."

Yaga Masamichi gave a sheepish smile, his eyes avoiding Chen Nuo's gaze.

Having personally seen Chen Nuo toy with two Special Grade Cursed Spirits like balls, probably no one had the guts to speak loudly to him.

Didn't you see how the previously arrogant Principal Gakuganji tried his best to squeeze out a smile upon seeing Chen Nuo, attempting to show his kind side as an elder?

"I didn't come here for anything else; I just want to have a good talk with you as the student representative."

"No problem, I'm listening."

Yaga Masamichi straightened his posture, looking very serious.

"We want to improve the students' welfare and benefits. For example, renovating the dormitory building. The requirements don't need to be too high; just referencing five-star hotel standards will do."

Chen Nuo began to list them simply.

Actually, these material conditions weren't hard to satisfy. There weren't many students in Jujutsu High in total, so it wouldn't cost much money.

The main issue was that there was no precedent.

If it went through normal procedures, the Jujutsu World Higher-ups would definitely prefer to avoid trouble and just veto it.

"That's right! Exactly!"

Itadori Yuji and Kugisaki Nobara cheered for Chen Nuo from behind. If they were actually made to face the Principal, they wouldn't have the courage; after all, anyone who has been a student understands.

"Such small matters are simple. When Gojo Satoru returns, I'll have him communicate with the higher-ups. If that doesn't work, I'll have the Gojo family provide the funding."

Yaga Masamichi didn't dare lower his guard yet; he could see that Chen Nuo wasn't finished.

"The bonuses for exorcising Cursed Spirits also need to be increased by thirty percent. There must be at least ten rest days every month, and overtime pay must be doubled!"

Chen Nuo stated the second point.

Home-grown Jujutsu Sorcerers who graduated from Jujutsu High were very busy. They had to go out to work every day even as students; one could imagine what kind of beast-of-burden life they would have after graduation.

Gojo Satoru's criticism of the higher-ups was very justified: they were closed off, decayed, and occasionally depraved.

Looking at the events that occurred in the original plot, how many jujutsu families provided support to the teachers and students of Jujutsu High?

Those ancient families with long heritages only knew how to guard their own small territories.

"This..."

Yaga Masamichi was in a bit of a bind. He didn't even have many rest days in a month; during periods of Cursed Spirit outbreaks, he had to work overtime continuously.

"Hmm?"

Chen Nuo narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I'll try my best to fight for it for you."

Yaga Masamichi raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. For now, he had to bite the bullet and agree. After all, Chen Nuo's sandbag-sized fist was dangling in front of him, and his old bones really couldn't take it.

"Let's stop there with the welfare benefits. Let's talk about academic matters."

Chen Nuo changed into the appearance of a good student.

He was quite interested in Yaga Masamichi's Cursed Corpse techniques.

However, this old man kept his trump cards very hidden; even the Jujutsu World Higher-ups couldn't pry his mouth open.

Chen Nuo could only use some gentler methods.

Yaga Masamichi's gaze sharpened; so this was the main event.

...

A moment later, Chen Nuo walked out of the office with a look of displeasure.

"That old geezer's bones are quite tough. You think because you won't teach me, I have no other way? Initiate Plan B!"

Chen Nuo said coldly.

"...Big brother, when did we have a Plan B? I haven't heard you mention it."

Itadori Yuji scratched his head and asked in confusion.

"I just made it. Follow me."

Chen Nuo waved his hand and spoke aggressively, looking like he'd kick even a dog on the side of the road.

...

...

When Jujutsu High students went on exorcism missions, most of them teamed up, and the second-year students were no exception.

Zenin Maki, leading Panda and Inumaki Toge, had just exorcised a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit together. The process was completely uneventful, taking less than a minute.

To describe it, Panda found the Cursed Spirit, Zenin Maki landed a basic attack, and the Cursed Spirit was exorcised.

"By the way, Maki, why did you put your hair up? Is that red flower hairpin a cursed tool?"

Panda noticed a difference in Zenin Maki. It wasn't the explosion in her strength—everyone already knew about that.

After undergoing Chen Nuo's soul surgery and fully awakening the power of her "Heavenly Restriction," Zenin Maki immediately tested it on her companions to confirm her current strength level.

Rather, it was another, more subtle change.

How to describe it?

It felt like a flower that was originally a bud had suddenly bloomed, gaining a feminine charm she hadn't possessed before.

It was beyond suspicious.

Intuition told Panda that there was definitely something fishy going on.

Maki must have secretly done something extraordinary behind their backs.

"Yes, this is a cursed tool Nuo gave me. It can control plants, and most importantly, it can absorb and convert the life force of plants, which is equivalent to having a built-in Reverse Cursed Technique."

Zenin Maki said, an unconscious smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

"Salted fish roe~."

Inumaki Toge narrowed his eyes. As a man, his intuition in this area was sharper than Panda's.

Maki's appearance was clearly that of someone in love, and the progress was rapid—it was highly likely she had already reached home base!

As long as one wasn't blind, they could tell who the partner was.

It wasn't easy; Inumaki Toge had originally thought Zenin Maki would be single for her whole life.

Then again, does this count as an older woman eating young grass?

(Laughs)

"Hmm?"

Zenin Maki glanced sideways at Inumaki Toge. He immediately shuddered and lowered his head to show he was behaving, hiding the amusement in his eyes.

It was better not to tease Maki right now. If she threw a punch, he'd probably go see his great-grandmother.

She had only fully awakened recently, but Zenin Maki had already adapted to this power, showing the initial signs of a tyrant's demeanor.

"Eh, where's Panda?"

Zenin Maki looked back and saw him walking toward a small alley by the street.

"Who called me?"

Panda muttered, stepping into the shadows and picking up a steamed corn bun from the ground.

"...Why would there be a steamed corn bun here?"

Just as Panda was wondering, a pair of hands suddenly reached out from the shadows and grabbed his legs. Simultaneously, a large sack was pulled down over his head.

Two people worked in sync, one high and one low, then hoisted Panda up and ran.

"Were those two...?"

Zenin Maki couldn't quite believe what her eyes were seeing and rubbed them hard.

"Salmon!"

Inumaki Toge said with absolute certainty.

"Yuji! Megumi! What are you two doing? Let me go!"

Panda had recognized who was ambushing him at a glance and thought it was some kind of prank.

"Sorry, Panda, this is Big Brother's order."

"We have no choice either."

Although Itadori Yuji and Fushiguro Megumi said so, their joyful tones made it very hard for a bear to believe them.

Big Brother was right; doing something bad once in a while really does relax the mind.

"Salted fish roe?"

Inumaki Toge looked up at Zenin Maki and asked.

"Forget it. Who else could command these two?"

Zenin Maki withdrew her gaze, just like that, selling Panda out.

"Salmon."

Inumaki Toge nodded in agreement. It wasn't like Chen Nuo was going to dismantle Panda, right?

On the other side, seeing that no one was chasing them, Itadori Yuji and Fushiguro Megumi quickly delivered Panda to the destination.

Chen Nuo was already waiting.

"Don't blame me, Panda. It's all Principal Yaga's fault."

"Wait, Nuo, what are you going to do to Panda?"

Upon hearing this, Panda felt entirely unwell and tried to struggle, but it was in vain as Itadori Yuji held him down firmly.

Seeing Chen Nuo wearing gloves and walking toward him step by step, the unease in Panda's heart soon turned into reality.

"Be cooperative, lift your butt up, let me feel..."

"No, no... Nooo, Brother Nuo—!"

Panda's broken and shrill screams echoed in the room.

"What are you shouting for? I'm just feeling your core."

Chen Nuo rolled his eyes speechlessly and pulled his hand out from Panda's navel.

His "Non-Action Hand" was covered in a layer of fluffy stuffing.

Panda was a fully autonomous Cursed Corpse that could form its own Cursed Energy cycle and possessed an independent personality. He could act independently without relying on a Jujutsu Sorcerer.

Although Yaga Masamichi publicly claimed he was an accidental creation and even refused the higher-ups' Special Grade Sorcerer evaluation because of it, Chen Nuo knew that Yaga Masamichi could completely replicate this success.

The reason he refused to make this technology public was naturally due to various factors.

At least in Yaga Masamichi's view, this technology was not a good thing for the current Jujutsu World.

"So that's how it is... artificial souls... a trinity... Principal Yaga really was hiding something big."

Chen Nuo muttered, a trace of fanaticism flashing in his eyes.

Panda had a total of three cores inside his body. Three incomplete artificial souls constructed a stable cyclic reaction that could be seen as a whole; this was the key to full autonomy.

The seemingly useless Yaga Masamichi could actually achieve such a creative feat. Even if it was just luck, as long as he wanted to, he could certainly leave a significant mark on the Jujutsu World and even human history.

In life, most pursuits are simple.

Nothing more than fame, fortune, wealth, and lust.

Clearly, Yaga Masamichi was a person who had transcended such low-level interests.

"I, Panda... am no longer pure..."

Panda lay flat on the table, the light fading from his eyes.

"You really should change your cotton stuffing; it's getting a bit yellow."

Chen Nuo nodded and blew on his palm, the cotton lint fluttering away.

If you removed Panda's core, he was actually just a large plush toy. It was only with the enhancement of Cursed Energy that he exceeded the limitations of his materials.

"I'm really going to get angry..."

Panda looked at Chen Nuo, anger appearing on his face.

This wasn't because Chen Nuo had reached into his navel—he could take that kind of joking among classmates and friends who had fought side-by-side—but because the other party was exposing what Yaga Masamichi was trying so hard to hide.

This could bring big trouble to the Principal.

"What do we do, Big Brother? Panda seems really angry."

Itadori Yuji hid guiltily behind Chen Nuo, while Fushiguro Megumi was already considering how to retreat.

If Panda really went berserk, his punches would be very painful, especially if he put on those gauntlets of his.

"Don't be angry. I'll treat you to a Bowl of milk."

Chen Nuo took out the apology gift he had prepared long ago.

A bowl of creamy white milk with a few drops of oil floating on top, and honey added to it.

"Big Brother, I don't think Cursed Corpses can eat, right?"

Itadori Yuji had recently been cramming a lot of basic jujutsu knowledge.

Cursed Corpses didn't even have digestive organs; how could they eat and digest?

As a true life form, Panda was clearly incomplete.

Did Yaga Masamichi not want to perfect his work?

Of course not; he just didn't have the ability, and he was unwilling to accept Chen Nuo's help.

The old man was afraid, which was understandable.

"..."

Panda looked at the Bowl of milk right in front of him. His nose twitched involuntarily as a scent he had never experienced before reached the depths of his soul, and he became intoxicated without realizing it.

By the time he came to his senses, a ring of milk foam had already appeared around his mouth.

"Big Brother... you didn't drug it, did you?"

Itadori Yuji witnessed the whole process and couldn't help but become suspicious.

"I just added a few soul fragments."

Chen Nuo explained. Just as he had originally guessed, Panda's growth required the strengthening of his cores, and the key to strengthening the cores lay in the completion of the soul.

After all, he was only the first generation of fully automatic Cursed Corpse. Through the observation of the "Non-Action Hand," it was easy to see the gaps in the simulated soul.

"I was rude just now, Master. Please give me another bowl; I'll introduce my sister to you."

Panda threw himself into a five-point prostration, looking like a completely different bear.

"What the hell is 'Master'? You've fallen way too fast! You entered the pet role in an instant!"

Itadori Yuji roasted him fiercely.