After hearing Panda and Toge Inumaki's words, Akiyama Ren raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He had always assumed that the Jujutsu Society's power structure stood above the others. If the world of Jujutsu Kaisen were blended with that of Tokyo Ravens, then surely Gojo Satoru—heir of the Six Eyes and wielder of the Limitless technique—would be stronger than Tsuchimikado Yakou, the famed Onmyōji.
But now, it seemed like that assumption didn't hold water.
"Was I underestimating them?" Ren muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing slightly.
In his previous life, Ren had watched Tokyo Ravens casually, barely paying attention to the finer details. To him, Harutora Tsuchimikado, the reincarnation of Yakou, had seemed... underwhelming. Mediocre. Hardly someone who could be called a monster on the same level as Gojo.
But hindsight painted a different picture.
Tsuchimikado Yakou wasn't just another Onmyōji—he was the Onmyōji who revolutionized the field. The progenitor of Modern-Style Onmyōdō, a fusion of traditional techniques drawn from Shintō, Esoteric Buddhism, Shugendō, and ancient Onmyōdō. Yakou had created a new system that outclassed the outdated, ritual-heavy practices of the past in both raw power and efficiency.
The general-style Onmyōdō now taught in the Onmyo Academy was merely a simplified, stripped-down version—omitting forbidden soul-based arts. Even so, it remained potent. And yet, Yakou had mastered all of it—every sigil, every chant, every boundary.
If Gojo Satoru was a genius of Cursed Techniques, then Tsuchimikado Yakou was a divine architect of spiritual warfare.
That realization sent a small thrill through Ren's spine.
This world... it's more than just Jujutsu and Curses. It's layered, interwoven with overlapping systems. Not just Cursed Energy, but Spiritual Power—Reiryoku. Not just Domain Expansions, but Spirit Summoning and Shikigami Contracts. A world where sorcerers and exorcists coexist... or collide.
Which brought up a very real question.
If this world housed not only the Jujutsu Society but also the Onmyo Agency and their elite forces—like the Twelve Divine Generals and potentially even Ashiya Dōman—why would Suguru Geto still risk launching the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons?
Even with a Special Grade Curse like Rika Orimoto under his control, how could he hope to reshape the world to one ruled solely by Jujutsu Sorcerers?
Onmyōji didn't rely on Cursed Energy. They utilized Reiryoku—Spiritual Power. Geto's vision, his obsession with eliminating all non-sorcerers, wouldn't account for those who drew their strength from entirely different systems.
Were Onmyōji just "shit" in his eyes too?
That seemed... unlikely.
Even Kenjaku—Geto's body thief—would need more than the Prison Realm to tip the scales. Gojo Satoru might be sealed, but what about Yakou's reincarnation? What about Dōman, or the Divine Generals trained to neutralize spiritual disasters?
The world was not so simple anymore.
Ren's thoughts swirled with possibilities. Alternate timelines, overlapping mythologies, multiple pantheons of power. He had to admit—it excited him. But also made prediction difficult.
"Trying to predict the future in a world like this is asking for a migraine," he muttered with a dry smile. "I should just focus on myself."
After all, Akiyama Ren wasn't someone who needed to worry about what-ifs. Not anymore. Not with the arsenal he carried—an innate technique that allowed him to assimilate supernatural powers and techniques from foreign universes, adapting them to his world's framework.
No matter how the story evolved, as long as he kept moving forward, no one could stop him.
"Anyway," he said aloud, brushing off the lingering tension, "Tsuchimikado Yakou sounds terrifying, but let's not dwell on it. Tell me more about the Jujutsu Society. Any good stories?"
"Heh, where do I start?" Panda beamed, thumping his chest. "I, Panda, am the master of juicy Jujutsu gossip!"
Ren chuckled. Toge Inumaki gave a rare nod of approval, and the three soon fell into easy conversation, exchanging anecdotes and insider tales of cursed spirits and absurd training sessions.
Time passed in the blink of an eye.
Half an hour later, Maki Zen'in stepped out of the dorms, freshly showered and dressed. Her short hair was still damp, and a faint scent of soap clung to her skin as she approached the group.
"What's with all the noise?" she asked, adjusting her glasses. "You guys look like you're up to no good."
"I was just educating Ren-Sensei on the secret lives of Jujutsu Society members," Panda grinned.
"Sounds like a waste of time," Maki said flatly, though a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "Anyway, the principal and that blindfolded moron should be done with dinner soon. Let's hit the cafeteria before Gojo eats everything."
"Sounds good. I'm starving," Ren replied, stretching.
"Let's go!" Panda cheered.
Toge silently followed behind.
When the group reached the cafeteria, they found Yaga Masamichi plating the final dish. Gojo Satoru, unsurprisingly, was already sneakily taste-testing from the finished plates.
"You're just in time," Yaga said without looking up. "Dinner's almost ready."
Soon, Yaga Masamichi finished plating the last dish. With Gojo Satoru acting as his overly eager assistant, they brought everything over to the table.
Akiyama Ren glanced at the spread before him, mildly surprised. The table wasn't just filled with classic Japanese comfort food like miso soup, tempura, and grilled fish, but also featured several stir-fried dishes with bold aromas and vibrant colors—clearly inspired by foreign cuisine.
"Didn't expect this from you, Principal," Ren said with a half-smile. "You've got some serious culinary skill."
Yaga Masamichi chuckled as he wiped his hands on a towel. "Back in the day, I picked up a few recipes from an Onmyoji who was obsessed with spiritual balance in food. Something about stir-fried elements aligning with the Five Phases. Tasted good, so I kept the technique."
Just then, Gojo Satoru strolled over with a case of beer slung under one arm, grinning like a fox. "Ren, want a drink to go with all this? A little beer never hurt anyone."
"Sure, I'm down," Ren replied instinctively, already reaching for a bottle. In his previous life he'd always enjoyed cold beer during late-night takoyaki runs with friends.
But before he could even crack the seal, Maki Zen'in snapped, "Absolutely not! Ren, you're still underage!"
Yaga gave a fatherly nod of agreement. "She's right. Underage drinking is prohibited. A sorcerer's body is a weapon—you need to treat it with respect."
Gojo, completely unfazed, waved his hand. "Come on, he's already a teacher at Jujutsu High. You expect me to believe that a guy who can pull off a Reverse Curse Technique mid-air combo needs to wait till twenty to sip beer?"
"Blindfolded idiot!" Maki slapped the beer case with the back of her hand. Several bottles burst instantly under the sheer force of her Heavenly Restriction-enhanced strength, spraying foam across the floor.
Gojo let out a dramatic wail. "My precious babies! Alright, alright! I'll drink solo. Happy?"
He salvaged the few remaining bottles with exaggerated care. Maki just rolled her eyes and turned her back on him with a huff.
"Still as intense as ever," Panda muttered, scratching his head with a nervous chuckle.
Toge Inumaki gave Ren a sideways glance, his expression saying, You're into that kind of personality?
Ren met his gaze and grinned. His expression answered everything: Of course. It's never boring with her.
Both Panda and Toge gave a silent thumbs-up in perfect sync.
"Okay, everyone sit down," Yaga said, handing out bowls and chopsticks. "Let's eat before everything gets cold."
Ren grabbed his chopsticks, ready to dig in, but paused as he noticed everyone around him place their hands together reverently and call out in unison, "Itadakimasu!"
He blinked for a second, momentarily caught off guard. Even after all this time in Japan, this particular custom still felt… foreign.
Maki leaned in slightly, smirking. "Ren, you're from the mainland, right? You probably don't use this phrase much."
Technically, Ren was raised in this world since childhood. But Maki's words offered him a graceful exit. She wasn't mocking—just covering for him.
"She's sharper than she looks," Ren thought, a little warmth flickering in his chest.
He smiled back at her and said, "Nah, I was just too hungry to think straight. Blame the smell of the Principal's cooking."
Yaga roared with laughter. "Flattery works better when your stomach isn't growling loud enough to exorcise a Curse!"
Even Gojo, mid-sip, raised his bottle with a grin. "You've got a silver tongue, Ren. You'll fit in just fine around here."