Chapter 56: The Cursed Doctor
This negotiation ended in dissatisfaction on both sides.
In the following period, the higher-ups became unusually quiet.
Minamoto Sōjun's decision to take action wasn't a spur-of-the-moment impulse. Back at the tower temple, he had already noticed that the people involved were not united, clearly divided into several factions. Moreover, the power behind him had grown considerable—there was the principal candidate, the higher-up Yaga Seidou, as well as the head of the Gojo family, Gojo Satoru, both showing clear support for him.
Most importantly, Minamoto Sōjun himself was not someone to be easily manipulated.
To strike the iron, one must first be strong.
The jujutsu world was ultimately a place where power ruled. They had realized that they seemed unable to deal with Minamoto Sōjun. It wasn't that Minamoto Sōjun was invincible, but rather, when they weighed the cost of dealing with him, they eventually chose to give up.
A few days later, the appointment letter was handed to Minamoto Sōjun, with relaxed conditions. Along with it came the transfer request notification for Mishima Shiko.
This was a win-win situation.
He had never understood why the weak would rule over the strong. Once someone had power, they wouldn't want to see just anyone pointing fingers at them or jumping around on top of them. On the path to becoming stronger, how could they tolerate these petty, insignificant beings? The only way to avoid future trouble was to strike fear into them, making them think twice before trying to provoke him.
This would save him a lot of trouble.
Minamoto Sōjun had considered going all the way, wiping them out completely to prevent more from coming. Unfortunately, he was no longer interested in crushing ants. Everyone had some form of restraint or attachment; otherwise, they would be like a kite with its string cut loose.
"Didn't I advise you to be patient and not act impulsively? Look at you, I just left, and you already made a move. You've made such a scene, let's see how you handle this," Yaga Seidou muttered, pacing back and forth in the room, his expression quickly becoming one of helplessness.
Being caught between the higher-ups and this guy recently, it felt as though he had aged several decades.
He was part of the higher-ups, aware of the kind of people they were, but he also understood Minamoto Sōjun. The guy always acted as though he did whatever he wanted, lacking... respect?
Yes, absolutely no sense of respect. Sooner or later, it would get him into trouble.
He suddenly thought of Suguru Geto. Ah, that guy was meticulous, always abiding by the rules.
If only the personalities of the two could merge.
He thought quietly to himself.
"Call your parents!" Yaga Seidou shouted in frustration. Immediately after, he regretted his words.
"You call them yourself," Minamoto Sōjun said indifferently.
Yaga Seidou was at a loss for words. As expected, everything could be traced back to a pattern. He thought of his sister, his heart filled with a strange sense of sympathy...
"I've transferred to become a bounty sorcerer!" Mishima Shiko's voice rang out from afar.
Before seeing her, her voice was already heard.
She rushed into the living room, her face filled with excitement. After circling Minamoto Sōjun a few times, she reached out and hugged him, only to notice Yaga Seidou standing next to him. She quickly greeted him:
"Teacher."
She also referred to Yaga Seidou as "Teacher."
Yaga Seidou nodded.
Mishima Shiko was genuinely happy, so much so that she ran over to share the joy with him as soon as possible. In fact, everyone present, except for her, knew the real reason behind her sudden successful transfer.
Minamoto Sōjun smiled and congratulated her.
Yaga Seidou also felt a little relieved.
The two didn't say much. It was just fine that way.
...
A few days later, Minamoto Sōjun officially joined the Medical Department.
He changed into a brand-new uniform, a white coat commonly worn by medical personnel. At the same time, he put on a pair of plain glasses, which concealed his sharp, eagle-like eyes, highlighting a refined and composed demeanor. Any patient who saw him for the first time would feel at ease and develop a sense of trust.
Minamoto Sōjun arrived at the headquarters of the high-level Medical Department. The building had a modern atmosphere, with bright, clean white walls. The air carried a faint scent of disinfectant, not pungent, as if it could cleanse the dust in one's heart.
"You're here!" The first person he bumped into was Ten'uchi Riko, who greeted him happily.
Recently, her sorcery power refinement hadn't been going smoothly, likely because she missed having him by her side.
"That white tree," she took several steps to Minamoto Sōjun, raised her tiptoes, and pointed at the distant, lush treetop. "Teach me, teach me, I want to learn this technique."
She liked beautiful and magnificent things.
"Do you know why it's white?" Minamoto Sōjun asked her in return.
"Why?"
"What color is the human bone?" he continued.
"White... white?" She seemed to realize something.
Minamoto Sōjun walked behind her, his tone softening as he lowered his voice to a hushed whisper. "Imagine compressing a bone as tall as ten stories and feeding it to someone..."
His gaze lingered on the pale back of her neck, where fine, soft hairs were clearly visible. Minamoto Sōjun's face was shadowed as he leaned in, his voice a low whisper next to her ear.
"Once they consume it, the seed will begin to root and sprout. It will first burst through the intestines, then fill the stomach. It will continue to grow, but lacking nutrition... what happens next? Its roots will keep drilling deeper, through every hole, embedding in the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. It will devour flesh, blood, soul, and curse, until everything is consumed. Then, its branches will slowly pierce through the remaining flesh, leaving only the scraps..."
Minamoto Sōjun gently traced his hand across the hairs on her neck, placing it in front of her face. Her gaze was firmly fixed on the hand as it slowly opened in front of her eyes, making a gesture of blooming.
Gulp~~ Her throat muscles moved slightly, as if she could feel a phantom pain in her internal organs.
"Then—whoosh—"
Ten'uchi Riko stiffly turned her head and saw Minamoto Sōjun staring at her with wide eyes, his face dark and unclear...
Wah!
"It grows into a towering tree."
Minamoto Sōjun laughed loudly.
Ten'uchi Riko's body froze, and even her fists became rigid.
See? I told you, having him around helps refine sorcery power!
"Aren't you the one who didn't want to become a medical worker?" Ieiri Shoko also arrived, as a senior, she needed to guide him.
Upon seeing Minamoto Sōjun in his white coat, with his frameless glasses and a completely changed image, she was a bit surprised. After all, the recent uproar hadn't been small, but now, she saw the towering white bone tree. However, he looked as if he had been preparing for this transformation all along.
"How could that be? I'm really interested in saving lives and healing the wounded," Minamoto Sōjun smiled gently, making Ieiri Shoko feel an inexplicable closeness, as though they were both medical practitioners.
He would probably get along well with the patients.
She thought to herself.
Minamoto Sōjun wasn't particularly interested in being a medical sorcerer, but he was very interested in the techniques. The reason he was here wasn't just for injured sorcerers, but for the curses that needed research.
Indeed, rare types of curses, unique cases, would first appear here, carefully studied and documented so that the next time a similar curse appeared, it could be handled with ease.
A doctor wasn't just about healing sorcerers—it was about curing curses and saving the world.
Minamoto Sōjun had been fond of this place for a long time. Where else could he find such a good place, with abundant resources and ample experimental subjects? Healing and curse research didn't conflict with each other.
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