Gojo and Geto returned to Tokyo Jujutsu High immediately.
They went straight for Yaga.
Because of that, the classroom was thrown into a state of absolute chaos.
It was enough to make anyone lose their mind.
"…So, you're saying he told us to ask him directly?"
"That's what I said. Hurry up and call him. I'm dying to hear what he has to say."
Gojo leaned back on his desk, waving his hand impatiently for the teacher to make the call.
He was clearly restless.
Geto, sitting at a nearby empty desk, nodded in agreement.
He was pretending to be calm, but his eyes betrayed a deep-seated curiosity.
"Fine, I get it."
Yaga sighed and pulled out his mobile phone.
The one on the other end was, inevitably, that child.
—Target Zero.
The bland name appeared on the screen, and after a few moments of ringing, the recipient picked up.
"Yaga-sensei?"
A familiar youthful voice drifted through the speaker.
Just as expected.
"Yes, it's me. You sent a message through Satoru, didn't you?"
"I did. I assume you've heard the explanation?"
"I have, but why go to such lengths?"
"It might be hard for you to swallow, but it was for Gojo Satoru's awakening. There was no other reason."
The boy answered flatly.
It was the simple, unvarnished truth.
Even if it sounded absurd, preposterous, or even infuriating to the one listening, it remained the truth.
"…Understood for now. You also requested that we not inform Jujutsu High's administration. Why is that?"
"As I've said before, I don't trust the higher-ups in the Jujutsu world. Corrupt trash needs to be thrown out… wouldn't you agree?"
Throw out the trash.
It was a polite way of suggesting they all be slaughtered.
'That's chilling.'
Yaga's shoulders flinched.
Total extermination? It was an extreme take, even for an outsider.
Conversely, Gojo's eyes sparkled at those words.
He, too, felt that the stagnant, rotten Jujutsu world needed a total overhaul. Finding someone whose intentions aligned so perfectly with his own brought him a sudden surge of affinity.
The fact that the boy had orchestrated an ambush and had him stabbed? It left a bitter aftertaste, but Gojo wasn't one to hold a petty grudge. To him, it was a proof of strength. A test.
He had only looked for Toji—the man who had defeated him—to measure his own growth.
—I'm not angry for Amanai's sake.
—Right now, I feel nothing but peace.
Gojo's psyche was transcendental, bordering on sociopathic. However, he wasn't a heartless man. Self-centered as he was, he still possessed deep affection for those close to him. That was why, when his best friend would eventually walk away, he would spend years regretting that he couldn't stop him.
"I have nothing to say to that," Yaga cleared his throat, a bead of cold sweat rolling down his neck.
The situation was incredibly awkward.
"Then let's end this here. If you have nothing else to say, I'll be hanging up."
"Wait, about that…"
Yaga trailed off. He had nothing left to ask, but ending it like this felt inconclusive.
"Hey! You! Let's meet again with that woman who looks like a Cursed Spirit! I want a proper rematch!"
Gojo broke the silence, shouting toward the phone to settle the lingering tension in his own way.
"Uh… I'm hanging up. See you next time."
Click.
The boy didn't even bother giving a straight answer before cutting the line.
An awkward silence filled the room.
Yaga and his students exchanged uncomfortable looks and sighed in unison. Even Shoko Ieiri, who had been quietly listening in the corner, shook her head.
"Boss, how should we split the cash?"
The day after the assault on Gojo, Toji called to discuss the payout.
How should they divide it? Since Toji had done all the heavy lifting and nearly died, he deserved a larger share, right?
"The full thirty million didn't come through, did it?"
"Yeah, I had to kick back a commission to the broker. Let's just call it twenty-nine million."
"Then just give me ten million. You keep the rest, Toji-san."
"I take more? Are you sure?" Toji sounded genuinely taken aback. It wasn't often the 'slave' walked away with the lion's share.
"You worked hard this time, and you handled the field work entirely on your own."
"I appreciate the recognition. You know I never turn down money."
"Treat Megumi and your wife to something nice. Oh, and stop by the apartment when you have a moment."
"Hm? Why?" Toji's voice wavered slightly. Was he worried about another high-stakes mission?
"It's not a job. I have a gift for you. I want you to take a bottle of liquor."
"Liquor? What kind? Boss, do you even drink?"
"Not me. It was a gift I received. I've already cleared it with the person who gave it to me."
I looked over at Ibuki and smiled. Back in Chaldea, she used to give me home-brewed sake for Valentine's Day. In the game, her Saber form gave chocolate cake, while her Berserker form gave alcohol. Here, I'd received both.
—Eeeh? You can't drink yet?
—This body is way too young. I'll save it for later. Thanks for the gift, though.
I had sneaked a sip back then, but I couldn't do that now. I was simply too young. Meanwhile, Koyanskaya of Light had given me a handgun, and Koyanskaya of Darkness—the Foreigner—had given me a chocolate in the shape of a lipstick. It wasn't just decorative; it was a high-performance item that actually worked as a cosmetic. Chocolate with 'performance'? It sounds weird when put into words, but they were masterpieces.
"Well… alright then. If you're giving it, I'll take it. I'll head over now."
"Okay. I'll be waiting."
I hung up and caught my breath. Ibuki's sake aged well, but it would take way too long before I was old enough to enjoy it. At least several years? It seemed like a waste to let it sit, so after discussing it with Ibuki yesterday, we decided to give it to Toji as a reward for his labor.
"We'll drink together when I'm older."
"Mhm. I'll wait for you." Ibuki's lips curled into a smile. Once this body matured, I'd definitely have a drink with her. Counting my life before the reincarnation, my time in Chaldea, and my current life, I'd lived far longer than a normal adult anyway.
"Master, about that man, Gojo Satoru… do you think he'll try to track us down?" Assassin asked, fiddling with her pink handgun. I wasn't sure what model it was supposed to be.
"Maybe, maybe not. But the possibility is high. He's the competitive type."
"And if he does track us?"
"You heard the call. We'll just have to humor him, won't we?"
Gojo's goal was a rematch. It seemed he wanted to settle the score with Ibuki. Was he infatuated with her? Highly unlikely.
"I see. Then, will Ibuki-douji be his opponent again?"
"Most likely. He's fixated on her."
"I don't mind. You can use me however you like, Master—whether for battle, or as a woman." Ibuki reclined on the sofa, her eyes gleaming flirtatiously. Because of her height—normally 180cm, though she could grow to three meters in combat—the long sofa looked almost cramped under her.
'Is she really flirting right now?' I blinked at her natural seductiveness. It was both startling and delightful. If only I weren't trapped in this child's body, I would have pinned her down and shown her exactly what—!
"Phew." I sighed, calming my racing heart. Being a kid really was a crime. 'Let's just watch TV.' I redirected my attention to the screen, where a variety show rerun was playing.
Ding-dong.
Just as I was getting into the show, the doorbell rang. I went to check and found Toji at the door.
"Pardon the intrusion. Where's the booze?"
"Just a moment." I went to the fridge and brought out the brew Ibuki had made. To the naked eye, it looked like a bottle of premium sake. I handed it over in a decent gift box; giving just the bottle felt a bit too informal.
"Hm? This isn't store-bought?" Toji tilted his head. The plain packaging probably gave it away.
"It's a special brew Ibuki made. Even people who don't like alcohol find it delicious. It has certain… beneficial effects."
"What?" Toji's eyes widened. He looked genuinely stunned. "If it's a drink brewed by a god… isn't that a sacred sake? It probably has incredible jujutsu properties."
"I'm not sure about that… or is there? I can't remember." It had been so long since I'd had Ibuki's sake that the specifics escaped me.
"Well… I'm not sure if I should be taking something this valuable, but I'll enjoy it."
"Right. Also, Toji, I'm sorry but could I borrow the Inverted Spear of Heaven?"
"The Inverted Spear?" Toji blinked, still confused and looking a bit uneasy. If I had demanded it, he would have handed it over with a sigh, but I had no intention of stealing it.
"I want to research it briefly. It managed to pierce Gojo Satoru's Limitless, so I want to use it as a reference."
"Ah… I see."
"I won't damage it. Can you trust me with it?"
"I trust you. Besides, even if I didn't, I'm in no position to refuse, right?"
Toji promptly regurgitated the small, compressed Cursed Spirit he used for storage. After enlarging the weapon-storing larva, he pulled out the Inverted Spear of Heaven and handed it to me.
"Let's just consider this a deposit for the liquor. Sound fair?"
"If that makes you feel better, Toji."
"Then that's how it is. Thanks for the drink." Toji compressed his storage curse, swallowed it again, and left with the liquor in hand.
I walked back into the living room with the Inverted Spear. My three Servants were waiting, their eyes gleaming at the sight of the Cursed Tool.
"As you can see, I've secured it. Can we utilize this through magecraft?"
"We just need to analyze the structure and replicate the effect. That 'Limitless' technique is just another form of magecraft in the end, isn't it?" Assassin said confidently. Foreigner nodded in agreement. Both were exceptionally skilled and could handle a wide variety of tasks. Analyzing the Inverted Spear should be well within their capabilities. Ibuki had many options with her divine power as well, though she wasn't sure if this was her area of expertise.
"That's true." Gojo's Limitless was indeed a technique rooted in Cursed Energy, meaning it wasn't an absolute, invincible defense. One could simply nullify the Cursed Energy or bypass the spatial distortion using a Domain Expansion's sure-hit effect. Of course, it was easier said than done… but if any of these three held the Inverted Spear, it became as easy as breathing.
"We'll take a break from other jobs for a while. Focus on deciphering the Inverted Spear first."
"Understood."
"I'll help too. I'd feel bad just sitting around," Ibuki added enthusiastically. The two Koyanskayas nodded, and the team was ready. They were nothing if not reliable.