Chapter 3: The Twelvefold Sorcerer
She had already said that much.
What choice did Ren really have?
"Enough, enough."
He pushed the handgun back into her hand, clearly irritated.
"I don't accept that kind of apology. So don't ever joke like that with me again."
...
After that small incident, Ren officially—and relatively smoothly—joined this strange school.
Utahime Iori explained some basic rules to him, along with general knowledge about the jujutsu world.
Once that was done, they headed toward the training grounds, preparing for some practical exercises.
After all, jujutsu was not knowledge that existed only in textbooks—it was a very real form of power. Accordingly, the school did not focus on written exams, but on cultivating actual combat capability.
"Ren,"
just as they stepped out of the classroom and onto the corridor, Mai Zen'in—the dark-green-haired woman who had treated him so rudely earlier—suddenly sidled up beside him.
Leaning casually against his shoulder, she asked with open curiosity,
"How did you do that just now? Why couldn't I even see you move?"
Her enthusiasm—bordering on excessive familiarity—was completely different from her earlier hostility.
Ren shifted uncomfortably and took a small step sideways.
"My movement speed," he replied simply,
"is twelve times that of an ordinary person."
His Polymorphic Soul Isomer was formed by the fusion of twelve human souls. As a result, all of his physical attributes were amplified twelvefold. This was the true source of the aberration's terrifying strength—and the reason he could rival a Grade 1 sorcerer using only raw physical power.
"Twelve times…?"
Mai Zen'in couldn't help but click her tongue in disbelief.
"Is that your innate technique?" she asked instinctively.
She knew that the Zen'in clan possessed a technique capable of accelerating the body to extreme speeds—the current clan head Naobito Zen'in's signature ability, Projection Sorcery. From her limited understanding, that technique could boost a sorcerer's speed up to twenty-four times, though it came with numerous restrictions.
Could this boy's innate technique be Projection Sorcery as well?
But to her surprise, Ren shook his head.
"No."
As for why it wasn't, or what it actually was, he offered no further explanation. Clearly, he still harbored some resentment over her earlier actions and had little interest in continuing the conversation.
Mai Zen'in, however, didn't seem bothered by his cold demeanor at all. She grinned and leaned in again.
The moment her chest brushed against his arm, she was pleased to see him stiffen and instinctively shift away.
Not bad at all…
Watching the faint flush spread across the boy's fair face, she found herself increasingly amused. He was good-looking—and impressively strong.
"So amazing," she purred, praising him in a tone bordering on reverence.
"No wonder I couldn't even catch a glimpse of you, Ren~"
...
Before long, the group arrived at the training field.
Utahime Iori began by explaining to Ren the nature of cursed energy—what it was, how it functioned, and the basic principles behind cursed energy control.
After that, she turned toward the blue-haired girl standing nearby, dressed neatly in a tailored uniform with a katana resting at her waist.
"Miwa," Utahime said, "among this year's students, you're the most experienced when it comes to cursed energy control. Why don't you guide Ren?"
"O–Okay!"
The blue-haired girl nodded repeatedly. Turning to Ren, her cheeks flushed slightly—clearly nervous and shy.
"K–Kanzaki-kun… c–cursed energy c–control…"
Her explanation was halting and a bit stuttered, but overall it was clear, structured, and surprisingly thorough.
From Miwa's explanation, Ren learned that cursed energy was the foundation of all jujutsu—it was the power source used to activate techniques. But cursed energy wasn't limited to techniques alone. It also had many fundamental applications.
For example, coating one's body with cursed energy could dramatically enhance physical attributes—allowing a sorcerer to run faster, jump higher, hit harder, and withstand greater impact. This was the most common and basic application of cursed energy.
Following Kasumi Miwa's guidance, Ren attempted to concentrate cursed energy into his fist.
Instantly, he felt every cell in his hand come alive—brimming with vitality, surging with boundless strength.
He glanced toward a sandbag hanging from a metal frame not far away.
"Is this okay?" he asked, looking to Utahime for confirmation.
Utahime nodded. "Of course. That's exactly what it's for. Don't worry—it's a sandbag specially designed for jujutsu training. Even when reinforced with cursed ener—"
She didn't finish her sentence.
Ren's fist slammed into the sandbag.
BOOM—!
A thunderous explosion echoed across the field. The sandbag burst apart instantly, sand blasting outward in every direction as if a bomb had gone off.
Ren turned back, looking puzzled—his expression practically saying, Didn't you say it was fine?
Everyone else stood frozen in shock.
"P–ptoo, ptoo!"
After several seconds, Utahime finally snapped out of it, awkwardly spitting sand from her mouth while brushing grit from her hair and clothes.
"How is that even possible…?"
Off to the side, Mai stared wide-eyed, disbelief spilling from her voice.
"My physical strength," Ren explained calmly,
"is twelve times that of a normal human."
"And that's without any cursed energy enhancement."
Now that cursed energy had been added, his actual output had skyrocketed to a terrifying level. No wonder even a sorcerer-grade sandbag couldn't withstand the blow.
That punch hadn't been twelve times the strength of a normal person—
It had been twelve times the strength of an average sorcerer.
Realizing this, Ren surveyed the training field. His brows furrowed as he looked at the surrounding equipment, all of it suddenly seeming woefully inadequate—like a vast reservoir trapped in a shallow pond.
This place was too small.
Too fragile.
Unworthy of his strength.
"P–ptoo, ptoo ptoo!" Utahime hurriedly said, waving her hands.
"This was an accident—an accident, Ren!"
"I didn't take your physical capabilities into account."
"I'll have the equipment division rush a special set of cursed training tools made just for you!"
Only then did Ren nod, his expression easing slightly.
"Miwa, please continue explaining," Utahime said.
"Y–Yes!"
Still stunned, Miwa quickly regained her composure and resumed her explanation with renewed seriousness.
"K–Kanzaki-kun, you're already doing extremely well."
"But cursed energy control has many advanced techniques. These can improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and greatly enhance output."
"Next, I'll explain some basic techniques for reinforcing the body with cursed energy…"
...
"Are you still following along?"
After explaining for a while, Miwa suddenly paused and asked gently.
She realized she might have explained too much at once without leaving enough time for him to process it.
Ren nodded calmly, unfazed.
"Please continue. My cognitive ability is also twelve times that of a normal person."
"So there's no need to worry about my comprehension."
"…What?"
This time, no one could stay standing.
Even Mechamaru's brass jaws clacked open and shut with a clatter, its glowing green eyes spinning wildly.
The only one who fared slightly better was Utahime.
She had already conducted a full physical examination on the boy in the hospital on the day he woke up—and had questioned him in detail. She already knew this information.
Even so, the shock hit her all over again.
A rare and powerful innate technique.
Talent that eclipsed all peers.
In her mind flashed the image of a silver-haired young man—arrogant, unruly, sunglasses perched on his face.
Just wait, Satoru Gojo.
At the next Exchange Event,
Kyoto Jujutsu High will give you one hell of a surprise.