Ultimate Man [JJK X SOL]: Loading Golden Entries at The Start

Smack!

As soon as Sukuna finished speaking, Yuji slapped his face again, trying to silence him.

"I'm so sorry! So sorry!" Yuji blurted, waving his hands apologetically toward Ryuji. He wanted to make it clear that he wasn't intentionally disturbing anyone.

"It's fine," Ryuji replied calmly, brushing off the interruption.

"What's more, I'm quite curious about the King of Curses from a thousand years ago."

"This…"

Hearing that, Yuji hesitated. After a brief moment of consideration, he lowered his hand and didn't try to suppress Sukuna any further.

"Hmph!"

Sukuna let out a disdainful snort. Being interrupted repeatedly by Yuji only fueled his anger. He mentally swore that once he was fully resurrected, he'd make Yuji pay for the humiliation.

"Boy, you still haven't answered my question."

For now, however, Sukuna had more pressing matters and couldn't be bothered to argue with Yuji. He focused his attention back on Ryuji.

"That tone…"

Maki frowned at Sukuna's words, her irritation clearly visible.

Before she could act, Ryuji raised his hand to stop her, his expression calm.

"Yes, you're correct. That was the Malevolent Shrine," Ryuji confirmed without hesitation.

"So, you can use my domain after all."

Even though Sukuna had expected this answer, hearing it directly from Ryuji made his expression darken.

"Wait, what?!"

Yuji's jaw dropped. "That domain belongs to Sukuna?!"

The atmosphere shifted into an awkward silence. Sukuna's eyes twitched slightly, unsure how to respond.

Yuji's reaction made it clear he had no clue that Sukuna had used his domain before, even though Sukuna had done so during the brief moments he had taken control of Yuji's body.

"How can he not know?" Sukuna muttered to himself, genuinely annoyed at Yuji's obliviousness.

"Uh…"

Sensing the tension, Yuji scratched his head in confusion. He wasn't sure what he'd said to make things so awkward.

"I'll just… let you guys talk," he mumbled, stepping back.

Sukuna ignored him completely, too focused on his conversation with Ryuji to care about Yuji's awkward retreat.@@novelbin@@

"I've never used Malevolent Shrine in front of you. Even if your copying technique is extraordinary, you shouldn't be able to replicate my domain without seeing it," Sukuna said, narrowing his eyes.

Although he had briefly used Yuji's body to expand his domain, Ryuji hadn't been present at the time. It didn't make sense for him to know about it.

"..."

Everyone assumed Ryuji's ability was some kind of advanced copying technique. How else could he use so many different techniques and domains?

But Ryuji didn't bother correcting them.

"Who said a technique can only be copied after witnessing it firsthand?" he replied with a faint smile.

"..."

Sukuna was momentarily at a loss for words.

Hmm. Technically, there wasn't a rule stating that copying required seeing the technique. Thinking about it that way… it seemed almost reasonable.

No. Not reasonable at all.

"You've got to be kidding me," Sukuna thought. If this wasn't outright cheating, then what was?

"You two of my fingers in your possession, don't you?"

Deciding not to dwell on the copying issue any further, Sukuna shifted the topic to something more important: his missing fingers.

"Hmm?"

Ryuji raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised Sukuna had been able to sense them.

Then again, it made sense. Though the fingers were stored within Ryuji's Third Dimension space—a separate dimension—there were occasional overlaps between that space and the real world when he used his abilities. It was during those moments of overlap that Sukuna must have picked up on their presence.

"That's right," Ryuji admitted openly.

There was no need to deny it.

When Ryuji had first obtained Sukuna's fingers, he had sealed them away as a precaution. Back then, his strength was far from the level it was now, and Sukuna posed a significant threat. Taking steps to avoid empowering him further was simply common sense.

Even with the advantages of transmigration and his abilities, Ryuji wasn't reckless.

A genius who acted without caution would never live long enough to realize their potential.

But things were different now.

With Ryuji's current strength, even if Sukuna were restored to his peak and joined forces with two, three, or even ten versions of himself, it wouldn't be enough to pose a real threat to Ryuji.

There was no longer any reason to worry.

"Haha!"

Sukuna let out a cold laugh, his voice dripping with mockery.

"So you were afraid of me. That's why you hid my fingers, to stop me from regaining my full power."

His laughter grew louder, carrying an unmistakable tone of ridicule.

"You're scared of me, aren't you?" Sukuna taunted, his voice echoing in the air.

"You—!"

Maki clenched her fists, glaring at Sukuna angrily.

Though she didn't voice it, Maki had developed a deep respect for Ryuji. Hearing Sukuna mock him so openly lit a fire in her chest.

Even Nobara, who usually kept her cool, couldn't help but shoot Sukuna a look of irritation.

Meanwhile, Yuji Itadori looked utterly lost.

"Why is everyone looking at me like I'm the one who said it?" he thought miserably.

It wasn't like he could control what Sukuna said. Yet somehow, he felt like he was being blamed for the King of Curses' words.

"Should I stop him?" Yuji wondered nervously, glancing at Maki's furious expression.

The way she gripped her weapon made him genuinely worried. If Sukuna kept running his mouth, Yuji had a feeling Maki's next target wouldn't be the cursed spirit but him.

***

For every 200 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 50+ advanced chapters: /Blownleaves.