Article 9 of the Jujutsu regulations:
Any Jujutsu Sorcerer who deliberately uses a technique against a non-sorcerer and kills them will be deemed a Curse User and executed.
Suguru Geto spoke to the people beside him.
"The two you captured simply have the talent of 'exorcists.' They aren't monsters. Detaining them was never going to remove the curse's influence on you."
Naoya Zenin planted his foot on the face of the man he had just knocked to the ground, who was now slurring something unintelligible.
"Say one more word, you pig. Go on."
In truth, he had no intention of killing anyone outright right now. There were too many people watching. Doing it at home would be one thing, but killing someone openly outside would be hard to smooth over, even with the Zenin Clan stepping in.
He really didn't want to end up locked in a dark room for over a week because of people like this…
On top of that, under the influence of Akira Zenin's idea of "everyone in their proper role," Naoya Zenin had developed his own line of thinking atop the Zenin Clan's belief that "non-sorcerers aren't human":
Non-sorcerers might not possess full "human rights," but each of them still had their uses.
Ordinary people were like "pigs," raised by sorcerers for emergencies, to satisfy a sense of "protection," or to serve as material for forming "Bindings"…
Those with skills or specialized knowledge were "sheepdogs," used to lighten a sorcerer's workload, some even performing remarkably well.
Good-looking ones were simply "non-human girls," meant to expand one's tastes.
…
At the very least, it wasn't the same rigid, brainless contempt the rest of the Zenin Clan had for everyone else. This approach emphasized "species diversity."
And besides…
Naoya Zenin glanced at Suguru Geto.
"Even when slaughtering pigs, you still have to consider what the farmer thinks."
At this point, Suguru Geto wasn't thinking about anything complicated. There was just one thing he really wanted to say to Naoya Zenin:
I think you're taking this a bit too far…
Nearby, Akira Zenin nodded slightly.
The "broken window strategy" was working rather well. By seeing the Zenin Clan's more extreme ideology firsthand, Suguru Geto was instinctively pushed to think from the opposite side, which in turn weakened his identification with the idea that "non-sorcerers aren't human."
What Akira Zenin hadn't expected was that Naoya Zenin had managed to hold back until now. His little uncle really had grown up…
With a satisfied look, Akira Zenin walked over and patted Naoya Zenin on the shoulder.
"Relax. These people don't deserve to die."
As he spoke, Akira Zenin raised a hand. A serpentine shadow lashed out, coiling around the village chief, who had tried to run off for reasons unknown, and dragged him back.
Akira Zenin looked down at the village chief, now bound by the shadow snake.
"Imprisoning young girls. Abusing children.
Ignorance and stupidity alone aren't crimes, but what you did broke the law."
The village chief, completely terrified by the situation, dropped to his knees. Even though he still believed Mimiko and Nanako were monsters, he didn't dare say it out loud anymore.
"Yes, yes, yes. We didn't know they were descendants of 'exorcists.' We were wrong. We were wrong."
...
The village chief cautiously looked toward Akira Zenin again.
"But it doesn't deserve death… you'd agree, right?"
Akira Zenin didn't answer him. Instead, he turned to Suguru Geto.
"Geto, sometimes you don't need to be so rigid in how you think. Sorcerer problems should be handled with sorcerer methods. Ordinary people's problems should be handled with ordinary methods."
After that, he looked at Naoya Zenin.
"Uncle, notify the Seventh Elder later. Tell him those shady lawyers he keeps around finally have a use.
Mobilize the Zenin Clan's resources. Every single one of them—send them all in."
Naoya Zenin readily agreed. He was actually quite interested in how "proper procedures" were used to process "pork"…
Suguru Geto nodded as well.
"True. What they did would still be illegal in the normal world. It should be handled by the authorities."
"But just handing things over to the authorities isn't always enough, Geto."
Suguru Geto looked at Akira Zenin, a little confused.
Akira Zenin continued,
"I don't think you've really realized what your biggest advantage is."
Suguru Geto tilted his head, squinting at Akira Zenin. The lock of hair on his forehead almost seemed to curl into the shape of a question mark.
"Your real advantage is that you're friends with me, Akira Zenin, and Satoru Gojo."
Suguru Geto laughed.
"Of course. We're best friends. I've never forgotten that."
"What I mean is that behind you, there are the resources of both the Zenin Clan and the Gojo Clan…"
Akira Zenin went on,
"If you still see me and Satoru as friends, then you can try talking to us about what you're really thinking. Working together is the safest option. At the very least, you won't have to keep thinking about taking shortcuts."
Seeing Suguru Geto frown, lost in thought, Akira Zenin added one more thing.
"You should respect your own dreams, shouldn't you?"
"I understand."
Akira Zenin walked over and patted Suguru Geto on the shoulder.
"That's good."
After Naoya Zenin secured the main planners and executors of the "imprisoned girls" incident, he stepped out to notify the clan and make preparations.
Akira Zenin and Suguru Geto moved to free Mimiko and Nanako from the cage.
Akira Zenin squatted down and put on what he thought was his gentlest smile.
"Hello. I'm Akira Zenin."
But from Mimiko and Nanako's point of view, Akira Zenin—the man who had just summoned a shadow serpent—combined with those lifeless eyes and an intentionally forced smile… looked overwhelmingly gloomy.
Seeing Akira Zenin standing there completely stiff, Suguru Geto shoved him aside in one motion. There was a sharp crack, as if something had shattered all over the floor…
Shaking his head helplessly, Suguru Geto crouched down in front of the two little girls, who had curled up even tighter than before, and spoke in a soft, calming voice.
"Don't be afraid. We're the same as you. We're here to save you. It's all over now…"
The brown-haired girl, Nanako, who was a bit more outgoing, gathered her courage and responded.
"R-really?"
Suguru Geto smiled gently.
"Next, I'll help you remove the shackles. Don't be scared."
He raised a hand and summoned a bull-shaped Cursed Spirit to gently smash open the cage. Then he called forth several Cursed Spirits shaped like stuffed rabbits, which carefully gnawed through the shackles around the girls' ankles.
"See? Everything's alright now."
Suguru Geto held out his hand, just as he had once done when saving Riko Amanai, leaving the choice to them.
Nanako reached over, grabbed the black-haired girl Mimiko beside her, and cautiously placed her hand into Suguru Geto's. Then she nodded at him firmly.
"Mm!"