As I called out her name, a familiar presence bloomed from the corner of the room.
It was ominous and viscous.
Vilely familiar, yet strangely reassuring.
"Lord, you truly are a mischievous one. Calling for me only now... My heart is aching with resentment. Whatever shall I do with you?"
When I opened my eyes, Shuten-douji's face was right before me.
She was smiling, her gaze fixed on mine.
Twin horns protruded from her forehead, framed by her violet bob. Her voice was thick with its signature languid drawl.
She looked exactly as she had in my dreams.
"I'm sorry. I have no excuse."
"Mmm... Just words? If you're truly sorry, shouldn't you show me a bit more... sincerity?"
Shuten-douji giggled and drifted closer.
Despite her petite frame, she radiated the same intoxicating, suffocating sex appeal as the other Servants around me. Instead of her usual skimpy attire, she wore a Spiritron Dress from the Festival Concept Essence—the Jiangshi-themed robes.
Even this outfit revealed a great deal, but it was modest compared to her standard form, which usually teetered on the edge of complete nudity.
"Shall I give you a hug?"
"Oh...? That's a start. Since you're still a bit small, I'll let it slide for now. But you'll have to make it up to me later."
As I opened my arms, Shuten-douji fell into them as if she'd been waiting for the moment. Her body felt warm and deceptively solid.
One of the Great Three Monsters of Japan. The leader of the Oni of Mount Oe.
Looking at her adorable features, it was hard to connect her to such a terrifying title. But beneath that exterior lay power and charisma worthy of the legend—alongside a personality that was dangerously volatile.
I had been tense when I first summoned her back in the old world, but not anymore. Now, her presence brought nothing but comfort.
"Honestly... I can't remember how many years it's been since I've felt your embrace. You were so gallant back in Chaldea, but now you smell like a babe. Not that I mind, though."
Shuten nuzzled her head against my chest, her behavior a blatant display of spoiled affection.
"I'm sorry. I kept you waiting too long, didn't I? The other two must be desperate to come out as well..."
"Fufu. Let those girls suffer a little longer. Don't you worry your head about it."
Shuten looked up at me with a seductive curl to her eyes. I felt myself falling for her all over again.
"I'll have to hope they're as patient as you."
"If you're that worried, you can just spend tonight convincing me otherwise. And don't fret, the 'Other Me' won't start any fights. You know the agreement we made amongst ourselves, don't you, Hubby?"
"I know. I trust you."
Ibuki-douji and Shuten-douji were technically the same existence. In the original setting, they weren't supposed to be able to perceive each other, appearing as nothing more than a faint, hazy mist—as if the other simply didn't exist.
However, when we crossed over into the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, that changed. They could see, hear, and feel each other's presence and temperature.
That change had initially led to a tension so sharp it could cut glass. Thinking back on it still made me break into a cold sweat. I didn't know the cause—then again, my very reincarnation was a mystery itself.
Regardless, if our Bond Level hadn't been at its peak, they probably would have ignored my mediation and torn the atmosphere apart.
"Master? Did you summon a Servant?"
Koyanskaya of Light, manifest in her Assassin class, knocked on the door. She had sensed the presence immediately.
"Yeah. It's Shuten."
I called her by her nickname, as most did. Of the six Servants under my command, only two were called by their full names. Coincidentally, they were the two who had yet to be summoned in this world.
"Ah, as expected. Understood. I'll let the others know."
Koyanskaya of Light didn't bother coming in, choosing to leave us alone—a small gesture of consideration.
"By the way, what's with the outfit?"
"You liked this one, didn't you? So I put it on. Why? Is it not to your taste? Should I change into my usual Spiritron Dress?"
Shuten asked with a knowing glint in her eyes. She clearly saw right through me.
"No. I like it."
"Thought so. I know all about your lewd preferences for revealing clothes. One only needs to look at those 'cows' you keep around for proof."
"Ahem."
I cleared my throat, unable to offer a rebuttal. She wasn't wrong.
"That's why I left my legs so nicely exposed like this. Cute, isn't it?"
"Yeah. It suits you."
"Then that's all that matters. If my Lord is pleased, then so am I."
Shuten clung to me for a while longer before finally pulling away, her earlier resentment seemingly dissipated.
"It's good to have your scent back in my nose. I suppose I should go greet the others now."
"Right. Let's head out."
I took Shuten's hand and led her to the living room. The two Koyanskayas and Ibuki, who were sitting there, turned to look at us.
"So Shuten-douji arrived first. Welcome," Koyanskaya of Darkness greeted warmly in her Foreigner class. Koyanskaya of Light also offered a welcoming smile.
"Thanks. It's good to see all of you again."
Shuten returned the smile but then locked eyes with Ibuki. A strangely awkward tension filled the air—the conceptual rejection felt between identical beings, a form of self-loathing turned outward.
"Welcome back," Ibuki said calmly.
It was dry, but considering their history, it was a massive step forward. Shuten chuckled lightly.
"Yeah, I'm back. You look like you've been eating well. The two left behind are going to be green with envy."
The two had spent years forced into the same living space. My constant efforts to mediate had finally paid off.
"Oh, right. We're heading out for dinner tonight. Geto said he wanted to meet."
"Geto? Ah... was that the little trash... I mean, the boy who manipulates Cursed Spirits?" Shuten tilted her head. She had never met him, so she didn't have a solid grasp of his identity.
"Yeah. Want to come along?"
"I'd love to. But what about these girls? Wasn't there a set order for your dates?"
"You just arrived today."
"Ah, right. You're giving me a newcomer's privilege? I'll take it without hesitation, then."
Shuten smiled brightly and latched onto my arm. Since she was slightly taller than me, we looked like a sister and her younger brother.
"I suppose it can't be helped since she just got here."
"She must have been very frustrated waiting."
"Mmm... Fine. Master decided it, after all."
The other three Servants accepted it easily. They had all been in the same position before.
"In any case, you said we're going out this evening? Should we all follow along?"
"You can rest if you want. Things are stable enough now."
I currently had four Servants. I had enough leeway now that I didn't need a full escort. I could operate in pairs—one for offense, one to protect me. That was more than enough.
"Thank you," Shuten smiled softly, standing tall and confident even among the more 'well-endowed' Servants.
"Actually, a new face might be too startling for him right now. We'll do a proper introduction later. Today, Koyanskaya of Darkness will come with us."
"Oh, is that alright?" The Foreigner tilted her head. She seemed surprised that I was pivoting away from Shuten being the sole focus of the outing.
"The mood seems pretty serious with him. Bringing someone he doesn't know might just cause more confusion."
"Aw. And I was getting my hopes up. You better make it up to me later," Shuten complained lightly, though she wasn't truly upset.
"I will. Promise."
After finalizing the plans, we headed out when the time came. Ibuki walked beside me while Koyanskaya of Darkness followed in Spirit Form.
We got off the subway and navigated the frantic chaos of the Shibuya scramble.
"If it weren't for Magecraft, I'd be wilting in this heat."
"Master, are you tired? Want me to carry you?" Ibuki asked as she held my hand. To onlookers, we looked like a big sister and her little brother—or perhaps a mother and child. She had hidden her horns, so there was nothing out of the ordinary... except for her sheer presence. Between her bust and her height, she turned heads. A woman standing 180 centimeters tall was the equivalent of a man over two meters.
"Ah, over here!"
As we neared the Hachiko statue, Geto Suguru, with his distinctive bangs, waved us over.
"Sorry. Am I late?"
It was ten minutes before our scheduled time, but he had arrived earlier.
"Not at all. Thank you for coming. And to you as well... miss."
Geto greeted Ibuki with a look of slight discomfort and intimidation. He had met the Foreigner before, but this was his first time seeing Ibuki. No doubt he'd heard about her from Satoru Gojo, or perhaps from Nanami and Haibara, whom she had rescued.
"Yep. Nice to meet you. You said you were buying meat? I'll be sure to enjoy it."
Ibuki smiled. It was implied by the meeting, but he hadn't explicitly said it was his treat yet.
"Eh? Ah... yes. Please follow me. Since I asked for the meeting, it's only right that I host."
Geto nodded, looking slightly dazed. I guess we were getting a free meal.
We moved to a yakiniku restaurant, drawing a few lingering stares before settling into an inconspicuous spot. The corner table, partitioned by hanging cloth, provided near-perfect privacy.
'I don't even think I need Magecraft for privacy here.'
The restaurant was packed, the air filled with the clamor of conversation and the constant sizzle of meat. It provided a natural sound barrier.
"Shall we talk after we eat? Or while we eat?" I asked as I began grilling the short ribs. I couldn't very well let the benefactor do the cooking.
"Since you're already grilling... let's talk after. Thank you so much for coming today."
"The pleasure is mine. Free meat, after all."
"Free... right. Indeed." Geto laughed like a man whose soul had left his body for a second, likely contemplating the hit to his wallet. Even though he was a minor, I knew he had plenty of funds from his Grade 1 sorcerer commissions.
Sizzle—!
The sound and aroma of the meat teased the senses. Grilled meat is always divine when you're hungry.
I grilled piece after piece while Ibuki diligently brought over side dishes and vegetables. It was a perfect division of labor.
"Master, say 'ahh~'."
"Ahh~."
I kept grilling while chewing on the pieces Ibuki fed me. Before long, I was quite full. Geto watched us with a complicated expression, seemingly questioning if this was a normal scene.
"Um... should I take over? It feels wrong to have a child doing all the cooking..."
"It's fine. The benefactor should sit back and relax. It makes things easier for me."
"Ah... I see. Very well." Geto slumped his shoulders, looking somewhat hollow.
"Thanks for the food." I patted my stomach after eating about five plates worth of meat.
"Could we... begin our conversation now, if that's alright?" Geto asked with a weary face. Having been swept up in our eating pace, he looked quite stuffed himself.
"Yes. I'm all ears."
"Thank you."
Geto took a few deep breaths to compose himself. His expression turned deadly serious.
"To be honest, I feel like I can only say these things because we aren't close. If we were friends, it would actually be harder to bring up."
What followed was just as heavy as his expression. The duty of protecting the weak—was it right for his comrades to bleed and die for people like that? The people who had applauded Riko Amanai's death. Those kinds of people.
The types Geto described were extreme cases, the kind that would breed misanthropy in anyone.
'So I'm the one listening to the dilemma from the manga.'
In the original timeline, this conversation would have happened with Yuki Tsukumo. Now, it was being directed at me. Given the timeline, he hadn't yet rescued those two girls from the mountain village, but that was probably coming soon.
"...Ultimately, it's led to a lot of doubt. A skepticism that's been growing stronger lately."
"You're saying you don't know what's right anymore?"
"Yes." Geto nodded.
He'd spoken at length, but the core was simple: Is it right for his allies to sacrifice themselves for the sake of human trash? It was an easy question. So easy I didn't even have to think about it.
"You should keep protecting them."
"...Huh? How can you be so certain?" Geto's eyes widened. He seemed baffled by how quickly and confidently I answered.
"It's not like the entire world is made of trash, right?"
Being weak doesn't make one good. Being strong doesn't make one evil. There are simply good people and bad people, regardless of their power. Through the Incineration and Pruning of Human History, through all those Singularities, I had learned that truth firsthand.
Geto probably knew it too, but he had likely forgotten because he was mentally exhausted.
"...Ah." Geto blinked, his eyes clear for the first time.
"Right."
"I doubt you became a Jujutsu Sorcerer to protect 'trash.' You became one because you saw something you wanted to keep safe. Don't forget what that was."
"Yes. Thank you." Geto smiled his usual narrow-eyed smile. He looked significantly more refreshed.
"You seem better now. Shall we head out?"
"Of course. Thank you so much for meeting with me."
We parted ways on good terms. I had prevented a death and provided counseling. It didn't look like he was going to turn into a 'fucking racist' like in the original story after all.