Chapter 8

**Curse of Franken Stein** (フランケン シュタイン の 呪い, *Furanken Shutain no Noroi*?) is the eighth chapter of the *Jujutsu Shori* series.

## Plot Outline

After defeating the zombie, Allen and Lena tie-up sid and force him to take them to the location where he was turned. They return inside the Tower of God and to the old obsolete laboratory area that hasn't been used or refurbished in a while. Hidden behind some old equipment is a strange-looking door with stitches running through it. Sid claims this is the office of Dr. Franken Stein, to which Allen responds "like the book?". Lena asks if that makes Stein an imaginary vengeful spirit, to which Sid isn't sure.

Sid explains Stein used to work at the Tower of God as a researcher before the jujutsu technical school initiative was introduced. He's one of the most brilliant minds the Komui ever recruited to the research team. They're interrupted when Allen abruptly notices a mouse toy with stitches crawling across the ground. Stein sits inside his laboratory at his desk, continuing to rotate the screw sticking out his head until he comes to a sudden stop mid-turn.

The stitches on the laboratory door are automatically unfastened, allowing it to slowly slide open, kicking dust off the door hinge. The view inside the room is dark, making Allen and Lena anxious as they can't see inside. Stein begins rolling his chair backwards out of the room. The students can only hear the noise, kind of freaking them out. Stein's chair hits the bottom of the door frame, making him and the chair fall over out into everyone's view, less than impressing them. Embarrassed, Stein sits his chair back up, sits down, and heads back into his lab to try again. Allen asks if they should stop him but Lena wants to know what happens next.

Stein disappoints and does the exact same thing again, making the students and sid shake their head in shame. Stein gets up again and asks what the kids need him for. Allen wants to know why he turned sid into zombie and suggests maybe it was revenge or a grudge. Stein insists it was nothing like that. He's simply a scientist and the world is full of his test subjects. He was a test subject and believes Allen would make a great one as well.

Stein adds a sinister to grin to this comment, putting Allen on the defensive. The mad scientist rolls his chair quickly across the dimly lit storage area straight for the cursed boy. He palm strikes Allen, which the student responds to by activating his cursed claw and blocking. Stein tells Allen he was smart not to underestimate his attack, commending him for activating his cursed claw right away. However, Stein adds that this attack can't be blocked. He twists his wrist and blasts him with a burst of green light, sending Allen flying back into one of the old machines. Lena yells out to see Allen if is okay and he's able to answer back and confirm that he's fine. Although, Allen does feel slightly paralyzed and confused as to what Stein even hit him with.

Allen asks if it was electricity and Stein says that's a good guess as he spins around in his rollie chair. The mad doctor stops and reveals that he simply shocked Allen with his cursed energy, confusing him. Sid adds that normally cursed energy is volatile and difficult to control outside the body, as Allen knows. Stein can condense his cursed energy and release it on impact, channeling it into his opponents like a current of electricity. Allen understands quickly, comparing it to like static shocking your friend after walking on a rug. Lena says that feels like an oversimplification.

Moving alone, Stein asks how he should begin his experiment. Lena runs at him to attack but Stein simply puts out his palm and unleashes a quick burst of his energy before she reaches him. While she's paralyzed for a moment, Stein grabs her hair and brings her close, saying that sorcerers make fine test subjects. Allen yells at Stein, telling him to get away from her as he slashes at the mad doctor. Lena gets out of Stein's grip and Allen lands a clean shot on the mad doctor. However, Allen is shocked when Stein isn't hurt. The evil doctor says that it's his turn and charges both hands with cursed energy.

Lena pushes Allen out of the way and gets violently electrocute by Stein's hand's on both sides of her head. Her insides appear to get fried as she screams out in pain before collapsing, horrifying Allen. Sid says he was never a coward when he was alive but she suggests Allen retreat. Allen considers it before a moment, but then he regains his focus and refuses to run. He says he's not giving up and channels his negative emotions into power, impressing Stein as he watches the green glow illuminate the dark space.

Allen unleashes a full power Cross Grave but Stein his able to grab it barehanded between his palms. He commends Allen for his energy output but says his overall control is still far too rough. The mad doctor breaks apart the energy cross as if it were glass and even Sid is surprised that wasn't enough. They're both surprised when Allen rushes past Sid, carrying away Lena over his shoulder. Allen believes as long as he's cursed, as long has this power, he must keep walking the path.. to save as many people as he can! He wants to save people like Mao and John, help rescue people from curses.

Stein throws the chair in Allen's path with incredible speed and accuracy. The impact of the smashed pieces stops Allen in his tracks, allowing Stein to blitz him and places his hand on his head. Allen feels Stein's cursed energy and certain death, but then nothing happens. Stein reveals that Allen has passed, commending him for a job well done.

Another few silent moments go by before Allen loudly screams out what the hell Stein means by that. Stein lights a cigarette and reveals that this investigation was a mock field test to simulate what real missions will be like. Allen is dumbfounded and asks about Lena, but she gets off his shoulder, further surprising him, and sticks out her tongue. She says she's totally fine and the shock wasn't anything more than a static doorknob tingle. Comically expressed, Allen asks Sid next and the zombie says when he was alive he was never one to lie. Lena adds that she tested him in the sparring match and with the reappears getting loose. The entire scheme was just another day of jujutsu practical training at the tower of god, horrifying Allen.

Allen is able to calm down and appreciates that everything is okay. Stein reveals that he concluded the assignment because Allen succeeded in his mission. Allen is clearly confused, so Stein clarifies. He adds that Allen's assignment was to stop the zombie and investigate what happened to Sid. Allen successfully ascertained that Stein was the cause and subdued Sid as well. On top of it all, Allen made sure to rescue Lena and made a wise decision attempting to escape to get help. Stein offers his hand and tells Allen he passed his extra credit assignment with flying colors. Allen thanks him but he's terrified at the same time.

The next day, Allen meets Lena in class and asks if Sid will return to teach. Lena doubts it and suddenly Stein's new rollie chair hits the bottom of the door frame, making him fumble into the room. Shocked, Allen yells out "you gotta be kidding me!" in comical terror.