At that moment, it seemed as if air, space, and even time itself had frozen. The courtyard was eerily still, the only sound the soft rustle of leaves under the moonlight.
""Eru! Eru!""
Two voices pierced the silence simultaneously.
Chitanda Tadayo and his wife ran toward the unconscious Chitanda Eru, the mother clutching her daughter in bitter relief and tears.
Behind them, Satoru Gojo remained perfectly still, his right eye now visible beneath the signature blindfold, cold and calculating.
The pressure radiating from him made even the demons hesitate to breathe.
After a few tense seconds, the void demon finally spoke, its husky, distorted voice reverberating through the courtyard.
"Who… are you? An Onmyoji? An exorcist!?"
The creature adjusted its massive, black-robed body, preparing to counterattack. Flames of cursed magic flickered along its arms, illuminating the courtyard with an eerie crimson glow.
"Again—the same dialogue," Gojo repeated calmly, his tone deceptively casual, almost bored.
The demon's face twisted in shock.
"You… human… How can you—"
Whoosh!
A massive explosion erupted. The demon's lower half was obliterated in a crimson spray, blood splattering across the courtyard. Its upper body collapsed heavily to the ground, narrow, panicked eyes wide with disbelief.
"How… when did…?!" it shrieked, unable to comprehend the sudden assault.
Step, step.
Footsteps echoed like the toll of an execution bell. Gojo's right foot slammed onto the demon's skull, leaning down with a faint, mocking smile.
"Say it again," he murmured.
"No… no! Don't!"
The demon's panic intensified.
Its expression, now twisted with terror, only seemed to delight Gojo further.
Even Kikyo, standing to the side, felt a shiver of unease.
How had the demon been reduced to such a state—and why did Gojo seem… like a villain?
Gojo pressed down harder, rubbing the demon's face with his foot.
"How much is 1000 minus 7?" he asked suddenly, eyes glinting with mischief.
"Huh?" The demon froze. Confusion flickered across its face.
Why was he asking such a trivial question?
Whoosh!
Bang!
The demon's narrow eyes flared, as Gojo's foot hit its head, hard, its dark blood shattering and was going to stain Gojo's cloths, but was isolated in the air by Gojo's Technique, not letting it fall.
"Ahhhhh!" it howled, clutching its face. As he was finally free from his foot.
Gojo repeated the question, calm and deliberate.
"1000 minus 7—how much?"
"It's… 993! 993!" the demon stammered desperately, arms flailing in pain as magical energy tore at its body, in search for escape.
"Oh? Too fast," Gojo remarked with mock disappointment.
Bang!
Another explosion rippled through the demon's body.
"Ahhhhhhh!" it screamed, the agony reverberating through the courtyard, its muscle getting torn apart by Gojo's cursed energy while it regeneration continue to keep him alive.
"1000 minus 7… how much?" Gojo asked again, his tone like a relentless teacher.
The demon's mind reeled.
Its eyes, now bloodshot, seemed ready to explode; even its arms began to falter.
How much more could it endure?
This Humiliation!!
Finally, it whispered slowly, trembling:
"...993… sir…"
"Huh? Why so slow this time?" Gojo teased.
BANG!
The upper half of the demon exploded violently, a purplish-red fissure ripping through its chest, exposing its core essence.
"AHHHH! Kill me… kill me now… you monster!" the demon roared, madness consuming it completely.
Kikyo watched, stunned.
Gojo— usually calm, playful, almost gleeful—had become the tormentor, while the demon writhed in helpless fury.
"Remember this," Gojo said, finally stepping down gently, his voice echoing with authority. "In your next life… if anyone asks what 1000 minus 7 is… don't answer."
BANNNG!!
The last remnants of the demon burst into a crimson cloud of blood and energy, splattering across the courtyard. A few droplets landed on Kikyo's pristine white witch uniform.
"Ugh…" Kikyo grimaced.
This dress… twenty washes won't be enough. Probably fifty… no, a hundred.
Gojo, meanwhile completely clean and unaffected, turned his attention to Eru, lying unconscious but stable.
"Chitanda-san is fine," he said lightly, a small smile returning to his face. "She lost a little life force, but I've healed it. She should wake up soon."
"Thank… thank you, Sir!" Chitanda Tadayo ran forward, clasping Gojo's hand with both of his. His voice quivered with relief. "If it weren't for you… my daughter…"
He choked back tears.
"It's alright," Gojo replied, releasing his hand and patting Tadayo's shoulder. "By the way… don't tell her this was my doing. She'd probably pester me every day for explanations about spirits, curses, and magic. I'd rather avoid the headache."
Kikyo nodded silently, her arms crossed.
She knew Gojo wasn't exaggerating—Eru's curiosity could be relentless.
Even for other students, it was manageable somehow, but for someone like Chitanda Eru?
That was a lifetime of questions waiting to happen.
"Also… Kikyo," Gojo added, taking out his mobile phone, "I recommend adding contact info."
"Contact info?" Kikyo blinked, uncertain.
"Yeah," Gojo said with a faintly playful smirk.
He held out his hand, presenting his phone.
Kikyo's eyes widened, looking at the mordern smartphone in his hand.
She glanced at her own old flip phone and couldn't help but sigh.
"Seriously…" she muttered. "You're making me feel like a village girl."
Gojo's grin widened.
"What's a village girl? Don't argue—just exchange numbers."
Kikyo flushed in embarrassment but, realizing he wouldn't relent, handed over her phone while taking his. After a few careful taps, the exchange was complete.
"Done," Kikyo said quietly, her cheeks still red.
"Good," Gojo replied, slipping the flip phone back into his pocket. "Now we're connected. Don't lose it."
Kikyo rolled her eyes subtly, muttering under her breath about washing her dress, and reckless exorcists—but the tension of the night had eased, and she felt a quiet relief.
Chitanda Eru stirred slightly, groaning as life returned to her body. She opened her eyes slowly, blinking at the moonlight.
"Ah… Kikyo… Gojo-sensei?" she whispered, voice hoarse, tired.
Gojo gave a small wave, a casual smile on his face.
"All in a good night's work," he said.
Kikyo, still glaring faintly at the bloodstains on her uniform, shook her head.
Somehow, the chaos of demons, exploding bodies, and magical warfare had ended with a strangely calm resolution.
And somewhere deep down, she couldn't help but feel… grateful.