Ten minutes later.
Ren walked along a quiet neighborhood street with Chizuru Akiyama in tow.
The two of them strolled at a relaxed pace, sipping milk tea and taking in the scenery, completely giving off the vibe of an older brother taking his little sister on a casual outing.
There was no sign of panic or tension, despite the fact that they'd just annihilated an armed paramilitary squad.
Ren: unfazed.
Chizuru: can't see. Also unfazed.
As for the corpses under the bridge? Ren wasn't worried about someone discovering them.
And even if they were found, it didn't matter.
The scientists behind those experiments weren't just some underground gang. They had power. Real, terrifying power. Losing a team of soldiers? They'd just send another batch within hours and clean up the mess. Nothing would ever leak to the public.
Honestly, it was… convenient.
"It's been about a month since I arrived in this world," Ren muttered to himself.
"The Cleave technique's getting pretty refined, but something still feels off… The Domain hasn't awakened yet either."
His brows furrowed slightly in thought.
Because, truthfully, he wasn't originally from this world. Just one of countless transmigrators in the great isekai wave.
A month ago, Rikumizu Ren had been lying in bed, binge-watching Jujutsu Kaisen, when he let out a thunderous fart…
…and promptly died from the stench.
When he opened his eyes again, he had landed in this superpowered world.
On an operating table.
As a test subject.
The body he now inhabited had the same name and face, but had dropped dead from sheer fear before the procedure could begin. Poor bastard.
From there, things escalated quickly.
He inherited the body's memories and learned about the world:
A land of adolescent superpowers.
A shadowy organization of scientists.
And kids betrayed by their own parents, sold off like livestock.
Ren had arrived powerless, so they hadn't bothered dissecting him right away. Instead, they tossed him into a holding cell to wait for signs of awakening.
The plan? Cut him open the moment his powers surfaced.
Lovely.
But then, that same night, just when Ren thought his new life would be spent as a human lab rat,
He awakened his technique: Cleave.
The very same innate ability wielded by Sukuna, the King of Curses. Along with that came all his monstrous talents: domain manipulation, grotesque growth potential, the full cursed package.
Upon understanding what he now possessed, Ren's mood shot from rock bottom to Mt. Everest.
Bro… I'm cracked!
Then he got to work.
Using his newly gained abilities, Ren unleashed a weakened Domain Expansion: Malevolent Kitchen, an homage to Sukuna's Malevolent Shrine, and sliced the entire laboratory into ribbons.
Scientists. Subjects. Guards. Everyone and everything was obliterated without distinction.
The process lasted ten full minutes.
After that, every trace of him being a superpowered test subject was wiped from existence.
His next stop? Home.
The original body's parents, who had sold him out, were immediately executed.
Ren didn't believe in forgiveness for betrayal.
With some leftover allowance money, he rented a modest apartment and began training to fully master Sukuna's cursed techniques.
That was his life, until today, when he ran into Chizuru Akiyama, freshly escaped from another lab.
And so… here they were.
After a few more turns, Ren and Chizuru reached an aging apartment building.
They headed up the stairs and stopped at Unit 501.
"Here we are. My place."
Ren opened the door and casually tossed his empty milk tea cup onto the floor.
He wasn't exactly what you'd call tidy.
"Ugh… it stinks…"
The moment Chizuru stepped inside, she instinctively pinched her nose.
What is this terrifying smell?!
Just one sniff made her head spin.
"Yeah… sorry about that. My lifestyle's probably not as picture-perfect as you imagined."
Ren grinned.
"Sorry or not," Chizuru mumbled, "this is kinda… excessive…"
Even without sight, her brain filled in the visual, a living room that probably looked like a hurricane had been living rent-free.
"Exactly. 'Excessive' is the point. Otherwise how would I justify having you here?"
"Huh?"
"You're cleaning, obviously. Can't live here for free, can you?"
Ren bent down to meet her height.
He didn't like freeloaders.
"O-Oh… I see…"
"Mhm~"
"Got it."
Chizuru nodded.
"You sure you're okay with that?"
"Yes! I'll clean diligently!"
She sounded completely sincere.
After all, she had no one left. Going back home meant being handed to the scientists again. Living on the streets? Probably wouldn't survive. Worse, some creep might snatch her away.
That kind of fate… she couldn't even bear to imagine it.
Better to stay here.
Better to survive, even if it meant sweeping floors.
Of course…
Hopefully he doesn't slice me in half over a dirty cup…
"Great. Deal."
Ren extended his left hand for a handshake.
At the same time, he retracted the two fingers on his right hand, the ones he'd silently raised just in case she refused.
Had she said no… she'd already be a corpse on the floor.
He didn't keep useless people around.
"D-Deal~"
Chizuru reached up and clumsily slapped his palm.
Contract: sealed.
"My name's Rikumizu Ren. You can call me Rikumizu, or Ren… but honestly, I'd prefer 'Onii-chan.'"
"Yes, Onii-chan! Of course, Onii-chan!"
Chizuru nodded with an angelic smile.
She had excellent social instincts.
"And you?"
"Chizuru Akiyama~"
"Nice. I'll just call you Chizuru from now on."
Ren snapped his fingers, locking in her name.
"If Onii-chan likes it, then that's what I'll be~"
"Aww~ so cute."
He patted her head with a rare, genuine smile.
He'd always wanted a little sister.
And now, he finally had one.
A very obedient one.
"O-Onii-chan, I'll start cleaning now, okay?"
Chizuru asked, still slightly afraid of him.
Ren patted her head again.
"Sure. I'm heading out to grab some stuff. Hopefully, the place will be sparkling by the time I get back."
"Okay~!"
She gave a soft nod.
Then, with her cane in hand, she slowly felt her way into the apartment.
Ren stood up, glanced at her back for a moment, then turned and left.
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200 P.S / 1 Extra Chapter