In Japan, where even normal civilians created cursed energy, there was someone devoid of it. In this country, cursed energy should be akin to an organ humans possess. At least that’s what he thought of it.
“No cursed energy, huh.” Even as a sword’s tip pressed against his neck, Adam looked to his left without a change of expression. He met the murderous eye of the girl they were searching with languid eyes. “This looks interesting.”
The last time he saw Maki, she definitely had some cursed energy, but not now. And she definitely wasn’t this fast either. So, what changed?
“Senpai, stop that! I brought him here!!!” Nobara, who had finally registered Maki, quickly moved in before anything bad happened.
With the state Maki was in right now, Nobara feared she might attack Adam. That would totally collapse the one plan she had.
“It’s fine, not like it would do anything.” Adam didn’t seem the least bit fazed by the sword, and Nobara believed that it should be thanks to his strength.
‘It felt like I was poking at the Earth.’ Maki also withdrew the sword. And, this gave her a bit more information about what Adam was capable of. He had easily followed her movements at her top speed and had enough time to scan the room in the meantime.
So far, she only knew him as the guy that Nobara knew, and the latter also didn’t seem keen on explaining more. Since she didn’t feel anything sketchy from him, Maki had decided not to press further either.
However, these days she had no interest in the topic and, on top of that, no time. She had to keep a promise. It’s just that Nobara had reached out this morning and said that it might be possible to help bring Mai back to life.
Nobara was the last one she’d expect to waste her time in the current situation. Now, she had come to find her with Adam.
“Let’s sit down and talk about this.” Nobara could feel the awkward tension as they sat in the rundown food court.
Fortunately, Maki sat down without much of a fuss. Adam also seemed unbothered. Still, Nobara felt a great weight on her shoulders regarding how to take the subject further.
“Can you bring back Mai?” However, Maki had become even more of a straight shooter than ever.
“Yes.” Adam also liked bluntness in these matters; there was no point in shadowing the subject after all.
Maki didn’t show much surprise at that moment. From what she had heard, Nobara was almost in a death-like state, too. And Geto was still prancing about, not to mention all the new ancient sorcerers that woke up now. She didn’t doubt that a way to bring Mai back existed.
Still, she had to make one thing clear.
“I want Mai back, but not as a curse, and certainly not in someone else’s body. I want Mai as she was.” Maki’s fist clenched harder the more she spoke.
She had witnessed the death herself, and even if she didn’t like to admit it, had accepted it to an extent. Maki had also fully carried out her sister’s last wish, hoping it would grant her some peace.
However, if there was a way to bring Mai back, of course, she would want that. And, Maki understood the weight of those words ever so clearly now.
“So, what’s the trade-off?” She asked.
“About the con-”
“I’ll handle that part, don’t worry, senpai.” Nobara hastily spoke over Adam.
“Huh?” Maki tilted her head; there definitely was a catch. But it was Nobara’s over-the-top actions that really troubled her.
And, before she could speak further, Adam spoke up.
“You can’t do that, Nobara.”
“What do you mean I can’t? No wait, come with me!” Nobara dragged Adam away from the table in a hurry and drilled into him as soon as they arrived on the lower floor. “Explain.”
“The one who benefits the most from a wish has to sign the contract.” Adam shrugged; he wasn’t the one who made those rules. It was just a precaution to prevent others from taking advantage of the client.
He did make a bit of an exception during Celestine’s contract. But there, he could categorize it as passive gain for the world thanks to Celestine. Maki’s wish, however, will serve no one but herself.
“Also, we haven’t been through your current contract, so you can’t make another.” He sighed.
“Grrah, these damned rules.” Nobara looked ready to bash someone’s head in, but she could only cool her jets.
‘Is Adam hinting that he’ll try to help make the other contract if I complete my current one?’ Nobara held her head with a sigh. ‘But to complete the contract… I am not that ready for that stuff… but I want to help Maki Senpai.’
“Being nice is so tough. Who told you to be so perfect, Nobara…” As Nobara muttered to herself, leaning against the dusty wall like a tragic heroine.
And, she had failed to notice the one who had just stepped out from the pillar’s shadow.
“Contract? Rules? What’s all this about?” Maki stood beside her junior.
“Ah!” Nobara, half mortified and half taken aback, jumped back like a cat. “Senpai… you didn’t actually…”
“Heard it all loud and clear, you idiot.” Maki bonked Nobara on the head with the back of her hand.
“Ack!” Stumbling back, Nobara looked up with slight tears in her eyes. Although it looked playful, that hit was similar to a hammer’s strike. Still, she had much to say. “Senpai, let me discuss this wi-”
“As he said, the one who benefits the most should pay. That’s only natural.” However, Maki didn’t give her an inch as her resolute gaze turned to Adam. “Let’s talk, just you and me.”
***
After much struggle, they sent Nobara back to Jujutsu High and scaled the outside wall to reach the terrace. The day was coming to an end as the orange glow enveloped the broken, old building, momentarily hiding the disrepair and death-like smell.
“So, tell me about this contract thing, don’t leave anything out.” Maki rested her sword against the cracked water tank and turned to Adam.
And he didn’t leave things out as she wanted. He even explained Nobara’s plan and why he wasn’t able to do it that way.
“So, one can get any wish as long as they have sex with you?” Even the stoic Maki looked perturbed, and she only had one question. “Why?”
“Because I turned a wheel.” Adam’s sigh only seemed to strengthen the awkwardness.
“Can’t you like change it to something, um, different?”
“It’s not in my power to do so.” Adam shrugged. “It is too much, I understand, but…”
“No, I don’t mean it that way.”