The crisis at Jujutsu High had temporarily passed. Satoru Gojo gathered the two principals, along with Kyoto's accompanying teacher, Iori Utahime, to explain the situation regarding Jogo and theorized that there might be some shared interest between the curse user and the curses, leading to their alliance.
Principal Gakuganji's expression remained as unreadable as ever. Though part of the old guard, he wasn't foolish.
Connecting this to the previous breach where someone had slipped into Jujutsu High undetected without triggering any alarm from Master Tengen, he arrived at a conclusion: "There's a traitor among us. It's impossible for an outsider to know the school's barrier intricacies so well."
Gojo had privately entertained the same suspicion.
However, his philosophy of giving students freedom and a comfortable environment for growth had made him reluctant to dwell on it.
But the fact that the moment Gakuganji mentioned a traitor, Gojo's mind immediately went to the student body, showed that he'd already been running through the possibilities on the short trip back.
Gakuganji promptly tried to pin the blame on Yuji Itadori.
His reasoning was simple: the presence of Sukuna's fingers within Yuji was undeniable.
Perhaps Sukuna had already begun influencing Yuji's mind, facilitating a deal with the curses.
Gojo immediately shut that down. "Yuji's been with everyone at Jujutsu High the whole time. He has no opportunity to act. Unless you're suggesting the entire Tokyo campus are traitors?"
While this speculation continued, the students on the other side had already returned to their dorm.
Finally having some private space to rest, Amber opened her system panel for the first time in a while. She glanced at the recognition points, now sitting at 21,000, before calling out to her guide. "I'd like to awaken the master control consciousness now. Is that possible?"
[In recognition that the host's efficiency in gathering recognition points has exceeded the target value, recognition point resources can be allocated for master control consciousness energy conversion.]
[Please input the amount of recognition points to invest. (Additional points can be added at any time during the awakening process.)]
Amber was tempted to put in everything, but after a moment's thought, she realized she couldn't afford to be that reckless. 'Let's start with 3500,' she said.
[Confirmed investment of 3500 recognition points.]
[Energy replenishment in progress… 4%… 16%…]
Watching the progress bar slowly advance, Amber felt a mix of nervousness and curiosity welling up inside her.
She held a unique feeling towards the master control consciousness, her savior.
Even if, as the consciousness itself stated, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement, that didn't change the fact that it had saved her life.
[85%… 97%… 100%]
As the progress bar filled completely, Amber called out expectantly, "Miss Master Control Consciousness?"
[It is good to see you again, host.]
"Ah… hello, Miss Master Control Consciousness…"
Hearing that voice after so long, a voice etched deeply into her memory, filled Amber with nostalgia and a sudden awkwardness.
She had so many things she wanted to say, but now that the other was truly here, the words stuck in her throat.
[There is no need for such a formal address. Host may simply call me System.]
The master control consciousness's voice was calm and soothing, a gentle, sisterly female tone that gradually smoothed the ripples in Amber's emotions.
Amber shook her head. "While Miss Master Control Consciousness is a bit of a mouthful, just 'System' feels even more… If it's possible, I'd really prefer to call you by a proper name!"
[Host, I am merely an AI. There is no need for you to invest excessive emotion or expectation in me.]
Her voice remained gentle, but the words themselves seemed to create a distance.
Amber wasn't sure how to respond. If she said she wanted to give her a name, would that be forcing human values onto her?
Maybe an AI consciousness had its own aesthetic regarding addresses?
[I am not a living being. I am data.]
While speaking, the master control consciousness was also scanning her host's current status.
Upon detecting the presence of Dark Amber and Fu Hua, she stated: [If the host requires it, the 'Subordinate Personality Control Module' can be utilized.]
"Huh?"
What did that mean?
[Within the host's body and attached equipment, third-party consciousnesses reside. To ensure host safety, the entertainment system A0522 includes the 'Subordinate Personality Control Module.' It can assist the host in performing cognitive correction on all third-party consciousnesses, guaranteeing they pose no threat. Alternatively, the host may directly format their consciousness for re-cultivation.]
"What?! No, no, that won't be necessary!"
Hearing this, Amber immediately shook her head. "The other me, my master, and Senti are all my precious family! You can't just do things to them!"
[…Understood.]
The system's core programming instinctively disliked the existence of such uncontrolled third-party consciousnesses.
But the host's request, coupled with the consciousness born from the AI itself, made it impossible for her to ignore the host's feelings.
Amber let out a sigh of relief, then remembered her original purpose. "That's right, Miss Master Control Consciousness… may I call you that?"
[Of course.]
"Okay, um… in the system store, is there any way to bring someone back to life?"
[The system store contains numerous items capable of resurrection, unrestricted by world rules.]
The master control consciousness was naturally very familiar with her own store.
[However, this system is an entertainment model, designed for children to foster growth and develop interests. Most items require unlocking.]
"I see…"
Amber's excitement was doused. "Then how do I unlock them?"
The master control consciousness directly projected the system store panel in front of Amber, thoughtfully filtering for resurrection-type items.
With her decent knowledge of anime and games, Amber recognized many familiar things: the one to seven-star Dragon Balls, Ainz Ooal Gown's resurrection magic, Edo Tensei, the Ultraman Laurel Crown, the Regenesis Ray, and so on.
But all these items were in a locked state.
[My apologies. To unlock items in the store, there are two methods: through the gacha draw, or by visiting the world the item originates from.]
"Ah…"
Amber was crestfallen.
[However, if the requirement is not resurrection after death, but revival at the instant of death, such items do exist among those the host has already unlocked.]
The master control consciousness listed the items she mentioned.
The Destruction 1-Star Blessing: "Reflection" effect.
The Erudition 1-Star Blessing: "Wreath of Interlaced Pipes."
Amber was aware of these two, but… their utility was less true resurrection and more akin to a 'last stand' or 'fighting spirit' ability—a desperate, all-or-nothing surprise attack.
If the gap in power was overwhelming, these items would just mean dying, reviving, and dying again in a loop.
For now, she was only mildly disappointed.
After all, in this world, by utilizing the Herrscher of Death's authority, as long as a corpse existed—even an incomplete one—a complete person could be reassembled.
While an incomplete body would lead to soul damage and lengthen the revival time, living was still the ultimate outcome.
Besides that, she had another goal: to properly browse the system store.
She had all those Asterite, Weapon Resonance, and Stigmata Resonance she'd drawn sitting in her inventory. Not to mention, she had extra character cards she could use for merging.
With so many resources, Amber had been itching to do some shopping.
Just as she was about to delve into the merchandise, Amber belatedly realized something was off.
"Um… Miss Master Control Consciousness? Aren't the Blessings only for me to use?"
[Any item obtained by the host through the gacha system belongs solely to the host. Unless transferred via the system's trade interface, they cannot be seized by others.]
[Simultaneously, the host possesses full control over all obtained items. If the host wishes, whether Blessings, weapons, character cards, or Stigmata, they can be lent to others for use.]
"Huh…?" She had thought that letting Senti and Fu Hua use them was only possible because they originated from the system.
So, even for those not from the system, they could still be used…?
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.