Chapter 311
However, just before Gojo Satoru was about to leave, he suddenly stopped at the door.
Gojo Satoru paused for a moment at the doorway, then turned around and flashed a bright smile:
"In that illusion, I discovered that my future self, after losing both of you, always liked to say that one sentence..."
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi asked with some curiosity:
Which sentence?
"Because we're the strongest~"
Gojo Satoru smiled as he looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, half of his body blending into the night in the corridor, appearing somewhat illusory and hazy.
Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, Zenin Kiyoshi swallowed the grilled meat in his mouth and then said:
"Can you not be so greasy? You're making my grilled meat too oily."
Zenin Kiyoshi's crisp and witty retort made Gojo Satoru's face flush slightly, but it also dissipated much of the sadness in his heart. He scoffed and then said:
"You bastard, you really don't know how to talk. Oh well, I'll say that again in the future, so you'd better not embarrass me then!"
After saying that, Gojo Satoru closed the door and left Zenin Kiyoshi's room with a smile on his face.
Watching the door close gently, Zenin Kiyoshi sat alone in the light of the lamp. He picked up the last piece of roasted meat that had gone cold and chewed it slowly, a satisfied smile on his face.
Late-night snacks often bring more happiness than regular meals.
However... for people who are trying to lose weight, the feeling of happiness is followed by an even more terrifying sense of anxiety and guilt.
Zenin Kiyoshi felt a mix of emotions upon hearing what Gojo Satoru had just said.
He never imagined that one day he would actually be able to speak and communicate with Gojo Satoru in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Looking at the bamboo skewer in his hand and feeling the real aroma of roasted meat and cumin in the air, Zenin Kiyoshi knew that he might really be unable to leave this world.
Damn succubus system, now I'm bewitched by these guys too.
Is this thing bidirectional?!
Zenin shook his head and said nothing. He simply packed his things in silence and then fell into a deep sleep.
Time flies, and two months have passed in the blink of an eye.
In Gojo Satoru's memory, Nanako and Mimiko were abused around this time.
In order to prevent more tragedies from happening, Zenin Kiyoshi and Gojo Satoru explained the situation to Yaga without much hesitation, and also expressed their idea of taking the students of the high school with them.
Regarding Zenin Kiyoshi's request, Principal Yaga was frowning. He looked at the slightly cold tea in front of him, took a deep breath, and then said:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, I'm not doubting the authenticity of the information you two provided, but are you sure you want to bring those guys along for this? This isn't a good thing. If something really goes wrong, can you make sure you can get them back on track?"
"As for the two of you, or rather, I only have absolute confidence in you, Qing. As for the rest, including you idiots like Gojo, I don't really have much confidence. Your experience is too shallow; you really can't withstand that level of..."
At this point, Principal Yaga stopped talking. Some things don't need to be said too explicitly; the other person will understand.
Zenin Kiyoshi picked up the slightly cooled tea, took a small sip, and then, to Gojo Satoru's somewhat astonishment, saw Zenin Kiyoshi pick up hot water and, almost obsequiously, add a little more to Principal Yaga's cup, before smiling and saying:
"Principal Yaga, it is precisely because we know how great the impact is that we need everyone to witness it firsthand. After all, some things must be faced eventually. It's alright now that we are here, but if they have to face it alone, no one can guarantee that nothing will go wrong."
Even Gojo Satoru, unusually, put away his playful expression and leaned back in his chair:
"Old man Principal Yaga, it's fine with Zenin Kiyoshi and me, since we're both mature now. But what about that idiot Geto? What if he saw all of this? Do you think Geto wouldn't do something drastic?"
That guy is too kind, almost to an absurd degree. If he saw all this, wouldn't he start to doubt his own understanding? What if he lost control of his emotions and ended up killing an ordinary person? If it really comes to that, can you help me protect Geto?
At this point, Gojo Satoru clearly thought of Geto Suguru's fate in the illusion, and his tone involuntarily became somewhat somber.
Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, Yaga's brows furrowed even deeper:
"I know what you're worried about, Satoru! But compared to you, Geto is much more gentle. He wouldn't do something like that, and…"
Before Principal Yaga could continue, Gojo Satoru interrupted him, recalling the memory of killing Geto with his own hands, and his emotions were becoming increasingly difficult to control.
"Principal Yaga! Geto is not as reliable as you think. That guy is just a fool who likes to pretend and doesn't like to cause trouble for others. I can feel that he is more sensitive than anyone else. He will find this kind of thing more difficult to accept than anyone else."
If he had gone through this alone, he would definitely have had some extreme thoughts. If we hadn't been by his side at that time, and he had actually done something rash, it would have been too late!
At this point, Gojo Satoru's emotions became noticeably agitated. Seeing Gojo Satoru's state, the bewildered Yaga was somewhat confused. He looked at Gojo Satoru with an undisguised look of surprise in his expression. He didn't understand why Gojo Satoru was so agitated.
"What Satoru said is right, Principal Yaga. Facing those things together is at least a safety net compared to facing them alone."
We cannot educate sorcerers using the same methods we use for sex education for children; this approach has been proven to be a bad idea in many works of young adult literature.
Zenin Kiyoshi put down his teacup, his voice calm yet firm.
"The path of a sorcerer is never easy. Rather than letting them be crushed by reality someday in the future, it's better for them to learn to face it now with our support."
Gojo Satoru had calmed down a bit by now, and he looked at Principal Yaga and added:
"Besides, it's much better for us to be here than for them to face this kind of thing alone."
The Principal Yaga remained silent for a long time, then finally sighed:
"Alright. But you have to promise that if anything goes wrong..."
Chapter-312
Don't worry~
Seeing that Principal Yaga had agreed to their request, Gojo Satoru resumed his usual cheerful tone:
"With Qing and me here, nothing will go wrong. Besides, we're planning to bring you along too, Principal Yaga. Without you, the school trip just won't be the same."
Zenin Kiyoshi was also looking intently at Yaga, and said with a smile:
"Although I assure you that I will take good care of everyone, there are many times when we still need you to be there. Even if you do nothing, Principal Yaga, you will be a stabilizing force for all of us."
Hearing Zenin's words, Principal Yaga also said with a helpless expression:
"You two bastards, you didn't come here with any intention of getting my approval or disapproval. You're probably just here to tell me, aren't you?"
In response, Zenin Kiyoshi and Gojo Satoru both shook their heads, saying:
"Absolutely not!" x2
"Tsk!"
With Principal Yaga agreeing to their request, the two left the principal's office.
After leaving the principal's office, Gojo Satoru gazed at the sunlight-drenched corridor and suddenly asked Zenin Kiyoshi:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, are you really confident that everyone can accept those things smoothly? To be honest, even I, who was already in my twenties in that world, had some difficulty accepting those memories."
Zenin looked out the corridor window. On the playground, Geto was instructing Haibara and Nanami on their training. Mei Mei was also teaching the Utahime and Shoko how to use the [Curtain]. Megumi and Maki were playing on the side. Toji looked at the children with a bored expression.
All that was before him brought a slight smile to Zenin Kiyoshi's face. To Gojo Satoru's question, he answered softly:
"To be honest, I don't have much confidence."
He looked at Gojo Satoru, his voice not very firm, but then continued:
"But there are some things that you can't refrain from doing just because you lack confidence. For example, confessing your feelings. If you really like a girl, even if you know she might not agree, would you still not try to pursue her?"
Regarding the question raised by Zenin Kiyoshi, Gojo Satoru hesitated for a moment before replying:
"I don't know, I've never had that experience. Most of the time, it's girls who pursue me."
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi glanced at Gojo Satoru and a helpless expression appeared on his face.
Unlike those guys who are handsome but don't realize it, Gojo Satoru knows he's good-looking, but because he doesn't focus on his appearance, he doesn't try to look cool or give off a greasy vibe.
"Fine, I knew I shouldn't have used this example with you, but anyway, we still have to give it a try. You need to keep a close eye on Geto's performance, and the rest of the people..."
As he said this, Zenin Kiyoshi's gaze unconsciously drifted toward the location of Mei Mei and the others.
Gojo Satoru followed his gaze, suddenly chuckled, and then said in a somewhat sly tone:
"That's right. Then let me take care of Geto, and you take care of Mei Mei and all the other beautiful girls. After all, it's not your fault, since you're so popular. So, let's teach the younger generation the most important lesson together."
Looking at the energetic Gojo Satoru, Zenin Kiyoshi also showed a faint smile.
Three days later, the group boarded a bus and headed towards that remote mountain village.
Inside the bus, Principal Yaga was sitting in a seat near the front, a good spot for a teacher as it offered a wide view and made it easy to see the entire bus.
Although the students in the vocational college were no longer children, Principal Yaga subconsciously still treated them all like little devils.
He had some motion sickness pills and plastic bags in his pocket, in case someone felt nauseous.
In the driver's seat in front of Principal Yaga, there was an Assistant Manager from the high school. After all, this school trip had other purposes, so there were many spells and barriers on the bus. It would be dangerous for an ordinary person to drive the bus.
Zenin Kiyoshi sat in the back row near the window. The bus had a configuration of three rows on the left and two rows on the right. Next to Zenin Kiyoshi was Mei Mei, while the Utahime, who was in pain, sat near the aisle.
The singer usually doesn't get carsick, but because the mountain road was quite rugged, the bus was constantly bumping around. In addition, she ate some greasy food in the morning, so she's feeling terrible now.
Somewhat helplessly, Mei Mei kept massaging the Utahime's palms, trying to alleviate her motion sickness in this way.
Zenin Kiyoshi took a bottle of chewing gum from his pocket and handed it to Mei Mei and the Utahime, saying with a smile:
"If I eat a piece and put it in my mouth, that should help distract me. The destination isn't too far from here, and we should be there soon."
The Utahime took the chewing gum, smiled palely at the Zenin, and then gagged.
Seeing this, Mei Mei's expression became even more helpless. She looked at Zenin Kiyoshi and said with a smile:
"Could you please untie my chewing gum? I'm giving the Utahime a massage, and it's a bit inconvenient for me."
Seeing Mei Mei's expression, Zenin Kiyoshi couldn't refuse, so he nodded and unwrapped the chewing gum. Unexpectedly, Mei Mei opened her mouth and waited for Zenin Kiyoshi to feed her.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at Mei Mei's open lips and subconsciously swallowed. Then he turned his head slightly and gently fed the chewing gum to Mei Mei.
Behind them, Orimoto Rika and her mother also witnessed this scene.
Rika's face flushed slightly, and then she said to her mother:
"Mom, can I find a boyfriend as considerate as me in the future?"
Hearing her daughter's words, Rika's mother paused for a moment. She looked at her daughter in disbelief and asked in astonishment:
"How do you know these things? And Rika, do you even know what a boyfriend means?!"
Rika nodded, then said:
"I know what this means, Mom! And Yuta and I have already made a promise that I will marry Yuta in the future! He said he would give me a token of our love in a while!"
Upon hearing this, Rika's mother felt dizzy and immediately began to provide psychological counseling to Rika.
On the other side, Geto Suguru stared at Gojo Satoru, who was lying on top of him, drooling, and his face darkened.
However, looking at Gojo Satoru who was already asleep, he did not make any further movements.
But the closer they got to their destination, the more tense the atmosphere around them seemed to become, for some reason.
"Such heavy Cursed Energy and resentment..." Geto Suguru frowned and muttered to himself:
"I feel like... something's wrong here."
Chapter-313
Location: Gangshan Village.
Case Information: Starting from January 7, 2005, a small number of mysterious disappearances began to occur in the village. Four young women, around twenty years old, exhibited numerous abnormal reactions in the days following their passage through the "Well of the Cave" in the mountain village.
Its main abnormal reactions are as follows: intermittent mental instability, refusal to eat, repeated attempts to harm oneself, attempts to leave home at night, silence, and constant crying...
None of the women who exhibited abnormal behavior survived for more than a month. They were either found dead at home after committing suicide, or they disappeared into the mountains when their families were not properly watching over them.
More than two Assistant Managers were dispatched to study it, and after exploring it with the help of a large number of high-tech equipment, no natural phenomena were found.
The Well in the Cave does not contain any toxic gases, there are no hallucinogenic foods in the mountains, and none of the women have any medical conditions.
After about a week of exploration, the two Assistant Managers discovered remnants of Cursed Energy at the second intersection at the village entrance. However, due to the limited strength of the Assistant Managers, they were unable to conduct further exploration along the remnants of Cursed Energy.
What happened next...
Out of good intentions, the two Assistant Managers reminded local residents to avoid the second road near the village entrance to prevent encountering unclean things such as Cursed Spirits. However, because they were worried that ordinary people would be afraid, the two Assistant Managers used a more tactful way to dissuade them.
Its main points are as follows:
[There's an ominous aura surrounding this road; you'd better not approach it.]
There's a strong smell of blood on both sides of the road, and there are signs of wild animals, possibly large ones from the mountains. Please stay away for now.
The two Assistant Managers said many similar things, but their ultimate goal was to prevent the villagers from being harmed. However, the residents seemed to misunderstand the two Assistant Managers' meaning. The villagers thought that the [Gaba] family, who lived near the second road, was the culprit.
The enraged residents ignored the Assistant Managers' advice and stormed in, taking the Kaba family into custody. Claiming it was a village matter, they roughly drove the two Assistant Managers away. Consequently, the two supervisors applied to the director of the High School's Spellcasting Department for assistance.
Looking at the documents in her hand, Zenin Kiyoshi let out a soft breath and then took a sip of water.
"Does everyone understand what's going on? The main reason we're here is to rescue the innocent [Gaba] family and, incidentally, deal with any [Cursed Spirit incidents] that might occur here in the process."
As Zenin Kiyoshi's voice faded, Nanami Kento raised his hand, somewhat confused. After receiving Zenin Kiyoshi's permission, he asked him:
"Zenin-senpai, aren't we here on a study tour? Why do we have to carry out missions during this process?"
First of all, let me clarify that it's not that I'm unwilling to save the innocent Kaba family, but rather that I'm dissatisfied with the fact that they told us in advance that it was a "vacation," but then told us during the process that we still had work to do.
If we officially start working in the future, will we still be forced to do work during our holidays?
Zenin Kiyoshi already had a response to Nanami's question; he knew Nanami would definitely ask it.
"I understand your dissatisfaction, Nanami. Being suddenly told there's a mission can certainly disrupt the mood for looking forward to a vacation, but I assure you that I will relay everyone's opinions to the Director's Office and fight for compensatory leave for our group."
At this point, Zenin Kiyoshi paused slightly, then said in a slightly more serious tone:
"However, as the information states, an innocent family is now being imprisoned by villagers due to a misunderstanding. Every minute of delay increases their danger. In addition, the truth behind the mysterious deaths of four women needs to be investigated."
"As the sorcerers who can respond to this matter most quickly right now, our personal leisure must give way to this. If we can't do that, we don't deserve to be called sorcerers."
This is not an unreasonable demand from a vocational college; this is a matter of human life!
"Once we've sorted this out, how about I treat you to the best barbecue? Now, let's focus on the task at hand."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's reply, Nanami's mood improved considerably. He looked at Zenin Kiyoshi and explained softly:
"It's not that I don't want to deal with this matter, it's just that there are some procedural disagreements. Thank you for understanding me, Zenin-senpai."
Zenin Kiyoshi responded with a smile to Nanami, indicating that he understood.
Just then, Gojo Satoru lazily addressed the crowd:
"Tsk, this time the situation is much more difficult to handle than usual, Principal Yaga. If I heard correctly, this time we seem to be going to have to contend with those villagers, right?"
"Ugh, this is so troublesome. If it's a Cursed Spirit, we can just kill it. But if it's a villager, we'll probably be in a very passive position, right?"
Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, Yaga nodded, then sighed:
"You brat, be patient with me and don't hurt anyone. Ordinary people are often not friendly towards sorcerers, and may even be hostile because they can't understand this power. You might encounter this situation today."
Upon hearing this, Geto Suguru frowned, then added somewhat disagreeingly:
"I don't quite agree with your idea, Principal Yaga. I think the reason why ordinary people can't understand sorcerers is because they find it hard to accept the existence of Cursed Spirits in this world."
If they can truly understand the spirits and the sorcerers, I don't think they would have any prejudice or opinion against the sorcerers. After all, we have always been protecting them at the cost of our lives.
More importantly, when faced with the fear of the unknown, ordinary people often react by finding a scapegoat instead of confronting the problem directly. This is a common human failing, not unique to ordinary people, and we cannot generalize like this.
At this moment, Haibara asked in a low voice:
"So... this time we not only have to exorcise the Cursed Spirit, but also persuade those villagers?"
"Persuade?" Mei Mei chuckled lightly, somewhat casually saying:
"To be more precise, it's about making them pay the price for their ignorance. I estimate that there probably won't be any particularly good interactive atmosphere during our trip there."
Hearing Mei Mei's words, the Utahime said with concern:
"But those villagers were also acting out of fear... Mei Mei, you wouldn't..."
"Silly Utahime, don't try to guess what I'm thinking."
Chapter-314
Principal Yaga also heard the Utahime's words. He frowned, his voice devoid of any hint of jest:
"Utahime! Fear is no excuse to hurt others."
At this point, Principal Yaga paused slightly, then glanced at everyone and said seriously:
"If we harm others recklessly because of fear, then what's the difference between us and Curse Users?"
That's why we need to draw a line between ourselves and curse casters. The fundamental purpose of our existence as curse casters is to prevent tragedy before it happens and to correct mistakes after they occur. I don't want to explain this point too much; you're not children anymore, and everyone has their own perspective.
Whether it's fear or desire, harming others for personal reasons is unacceptable, especially when you possess superhuman strength; you must earnestly uphold your bottom line.
Yaga took one last look at everyone, then concluded:
"This mission will count towards your practical credits. Remember, a sorcerer's job is never just about exorcising Cursed Spirits; many of your struggles won't involve direct combat with the Cursed Spirits..."
At certain crucial moments, your greatest enemy is yourself.
The moment Yaga's voice fell silent, the entire carriage fell silent. Few people spoke; everyone was around seventeen or eighteen years old at this point, and each had their own basic beliefs and thoughts.
This mission is a bit strange, as everyone has noticed by now, but they don't have a clear idea of the specifics. In short... let's take it one step at a time.
Gojo Satoru glanced at Geto Suguru, who was silent beside him, then suddenly looked up, patted Geto Suguru on the shoulder, and said with a grin:
"What's wrong? You seem pretty nervous?"
"Idiot, I'm just a little worried about the [Gaba] family in the mission information. When I was very young, I was also treated badly by the people in my village because I saw some different things."
Although it happened a long time ago, those memories did leave me with many bad impressions.
Satoru, as you know, the remnants of Cursed Energy usually stay in places with more Cursed Energy. If there are many remnants of Cursed Energy near the Naga family, it is highly likely that there is a sorcerer in their family.
Look at the information here. The Kaba family has two children, both only seven or eight years old. If they…"
At this point, Geto Suguru stopped talking, but his obviously embarrassed expression still revealed his inner emotions to Gojo Satoru.
He looked at the two familiar faces on the documents in his hand and softly comforted them:
"Don't worry, Geto, it's only been a day or two, we should have enough time. If the villagers aren't willing to listen to us, we can just take them all down!"
Gojo Satoru's words of comfort improved Geto Suguru's mood somewhat, but regarding Gojo Satoru's actions, he still smiled and shook his head, saying:
"Satoru, stop talking about that nonsense. We are sorcerers, and sorcerers exist to protect ordinary people. No matter what, we must never turn our swords against ordinary people. Otherwise, we would be no different from sorcerer spirits."
"Ahem, of course, this isn't all of them; some Cursed Spirits are quite good."
At this point, Geto Suguru seemed to notice Zenin Kiyoshi's gaze. Remembering Miss Hanami from Zenin Kiyoshi's family, Geto Suguru immediately changed his words.
However, Zenin Kiyoshi didn't say anything about it, since Geto Suguru had just said it offhand and his intentions weren't bad.
As everyone remained silent, the vehicle slowly drove into Gangshan Village.
When everyone got off the bus, a few scattered villagers gathered around. This was a remote village with only this one road leading to the outside world, so almost everyone in the village knew when any vehicle or outsider came.
For some reason, even though the group had never met these villagers before, they could feel the unease and hostility in the air from the moment they got off the bus.
The villagers eyed the group of "outsiders" with wary looks, their unfriendly and malicious gazes almost undisguised. Meanwhile, from the other end of the village, faint cries could be heard.
The group didn't rush to talk to the villagers. Facing their cold stares, Mei Mei chose to ignore them, the Utahime lowered her head, and the more straightforward Gojo Satoru and Nanami glared back at them.
Especially Gojo Satoru, who looked at the tallest villager, ignored Geto Suguru's obstruction and rushed to the man, staring intently at him.
Seeing this, just as Geto Suguru was about to rush forward to pull Gojo Satoru away, a somewhat hoarse, aged voice came from behind the villagers:
"Who are you? What are you doing in our village?"
At this moment, Principal Yaga also got out of the car, then handed the old man a document stamped with the red seal of a government department, and said:
"Isn't your village going to upgrade its electrical equipment recently? We're from outside and are here to repair and test the existing equipment. We'll need to stay in your village for a while."
Hearing Principal Yaga's words, the hunched old man didn't rush to answer. Instead, he slowly took the document from Principal Yaga's hand, carefully read it, and then said:
"No wonder you're all wearing such aesthetically inferior clothes. Do as you please, just don't cause trouble here. The village is currently holding an ancestral worship ceremony, so you're not allowed to go to the other side of the village, understand?"
The Principal Yaga calmly replied:
"If our work requires consideration from the other side, we will not take your opinions into account. We hope you will not mind, as this is a line-related issue that needs to be handled with utmost care."
The old man raised his head, stared at Yaga without speaking, and then after a moment of silence, slowly said:
"Don't blame us if you die."
"I'm more worried about not having a job than about dying."
Yaga retorted without hesitation, without any politeness.
At that very moment, the faint cries for help coming from the distance became increasingly clear.
Chapter-315
Seemingly having heard the faint cry for help, the old man looked at the students with an unfriendly expression. He then said nothing and silently walked towards the direction from which the sound came. The threatening look in his eyes as he left sent chills down everyone's spine.
Principal Yaga didn't rush over immediately, as doing so would only anger the villagers and could potentially lead to a direct conflict.
If this situation arises with ordinary people, either our side has to be ruthless and kill all the ordinary people, but if we do that, our side won't be called a master of sorcery.
I train sorcerers, not Curse Users.
Furthermore, given that they are still unsure of the specific situation, rushing over rashly might not guarantee a successful rescue.
After careful consideration, Principal Yaga simply stayed where he was, calmly watching the villagers leave.
After the villagers left, Geto Suguru looked somewhat anxious. He walked to Principal Yaga's side and asked, somewhat puzzled:
"Principal Yaga, you should have heard the cry for help just now. Just from the sound, you could clearly tell that the other person was very weak. Why didn't we go over there immediately?"
If we continue to delay, they might not survive until we arrive to rescue them!
Seeing Geto Suguru's anxious expression, Principal Yaga's heart stirred slightly.
Just as Zenin Kiyoshi had told him, Geto Suguru cared for ordinary people far more than the average sorcerer, and he also had a strong sense of responsibility and justice. However, his sense of justice and responsibility was not firm, and he could easily go astray because of some things.
Simply put, Geto Suguru is like a young man with an overflowing sense of justice but not a very deep understanding of the world. Before he has seen the dark side of society, he has an almost fairytale-like view of the whole society and will always assume the best of everyone and everything.
This kind of personality is good, but the problem is that people with this kind of personality often become corrupted after witnessing the dark side of society. After discovering that the world is not what they imagined, such people are likely to take a completely different path from before.
They use this method to stimulate and deny the past, erasing their past cognition and behavior in an extreme way.
When Zenin Kiyoshi said these things to him earlier, Principal Yaga thought that Zenin Kiyoshi was making a mountain out of a molehill, or that he was being too sensitive.
After all, from their perspective, Geto Suguru was just a model student who was a little stubborn.
Neither in terms of character nor ability has he reached a point where people should be worried.
But now... looking at the excessive worry and anxiety in Geto Suguru's eyes, Principal Yaga began to feel that Zenin Kiyoshi was not speaking without reason.
Geto seems to really... love ordinary people too much.
If I had to give an example, it would be just like the Uchiha clan from Naruto.
Is it because of an excessive pursuit of love that one often experiences extremely strong "hatred" when love is lost?
Seeing that Principal Yaga did not answer him, Geto Suguru's anxiety grew stronger. As he listened to the cry for help, he recalled everything he had experienced in his childhood.
I remember how I was almost sacrificed to the mountain god by the ignorant villagers, how my parents were ostracized by the surrounding villagers for favoring me, and how I had to come to Tokyo alone to avoid the villagers...
For a moment, Geto Suguru felt that he was increasingly unable to control his emotions.
Why should I be treated like this by those villagers who don't understand me just because I have the power of a sorcerer?
Why do these kinds of things keep happening again and again?
Why is it that when we risk our lives to protect ordinary people, we are always betrayed by those same ordinary people standing behind us?
Why does this kind of thing happen so many times?!
By what right did those guys make that choice?!
They stand behind others, enjoying the peace brought by the bloodshed of others, yet instead of being grateful, they turn around and bite back.
His emotions began to escalate, and Geto Suguru felt a throbbing sensation in his head.
Zenin Kiyoshi watched this scene, his eyes narrowing slightly.
He could sense that Geto Suguru was now also beginning to exude an aura similar to the one he had previously sensed from Gojo Satoru!
That aura was very clear; it belonged to the power of the [Balancing Mechanism]!
Geto Suguru's emotions at this moment are being influenced by the Balancing Mechanism and are developing in the direction described in the original work!
Seeing this scene before him, Zenin Kiyoshi felt a chill in his heart.
Actually, Zenin Kiyoshi had already sensed something was wrong while in the car.
Logically speaking, at this time, Geto Suguru had not experienced the series of events such as the death of Riko, the death of Haibara Yu, and the estrangement of his friends such as Gojo Satoru. If he had encountered the incident involving Mimiko and Nanako at this time, he would have been upset for a while at most, but he would not have been so emotionally agitated.
However, Geto Suguru is clearly acting strangely now; he is exhibiting emotional fluctuations that are not comprehensible to normal.
Indeed... the Balancing Mechanism can play a role far beyond creating an illusion; it can guide and subtly change those around us in all aspects of life.
We must find a solution; otherwise, if we continue to let the "Balancing Mechanism" run rampant, who knows if an irreparable regret might arise one day.
For example, Riko is shot and dies, Eri passes away from illness, and Hanami suddenly loses her memory due to an accident, and once again stands on the opposite side of humanity...
Anything is possible, and the Balancing Mechanism can proceed from any angle.
Thinking of this, Zenin Kiyoshi felt a headache coming on, but he quickly composed himself.
Looking at Geto Suguru, who was still standing in front of Principal Yaga, he said:
"Geto, this is the best choice for Principal Yaga. Going there directly now would easily provoke the villagers. I just checked with the Black Bird Manipulation Technique. The Jia family is currently in relatively good condition. They only have some wounds from being beaten, but they are all superficial injuries."
Regarding their safety, there are no immediate concerns. We will conduct the rescue tonight. During this time, I will have the crows keep watch so that I can provide immediate assistance should any unexpected incidents occur.
Hearing Zenin's words of comfort, Geto Suguru's complexion improved slightly, but even so, he still looked somewhat off.
Chapter-316
Geto Suguru didn't press the matter further. Instead, he stood silently to the side, saying nothing.
Gojo noticed Geto Suguru's unusual emotions and recalled his memories of being in that illusion.
He clearly remembered that Geto Suguru had chosen to go completely apart from him because of this incident. Although the current situation was very different from that in the illusion, no one could say for sure how things would develop in the future.
What if Geto Suguru still chooses the path in the illusion?
Do I really have to kill him again on Christmas?
Thinking of the memories in the illusion, and the figure of his dearest friend lying in front of him, Gojo Satoru couldn't help but tremble.
Without thinking much, he walked over to Geto Suguru and said instinctively:
"Geto, if anything happens to you, remember to tell us immediately. Absolutely, absolutely do not try to handle things alone. We are always one, so don't think about solving problems by yourself."
Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, Geto Suguru was a little stunned, and it seemed that it took him a while to recover. He opened his mouth, wanting to respond to Gojo Satoru's comfort, but after his mouth was open for a long time, he didn't know what to say.
In the end, Geto Suguru could only force a smile and nod at Gojo Satoru, then continued to lower his head and remain silent.
The rest of the students at the college also realized that the situation seemed to be getting worse, and the already not-so-pleasant atmosphere became even more oppressive.
Seeing this, Principal Yaga felt a pang of inexplicable annoyance. He took a deep breath and addressed the crowd:
"You can go around and explore on your own for now, just walk around the village, but don't get into any conflicts with the villagers. Zenin Kiyoshi and I will discuss the rescue operation for tonight, and everyone will gather here at 6 p.m.."
After saying that, Principal Yaga ignored everyone's reactions and led Zenin Kiyoshi towards a relatively secluded grove of trees.
Before Zenin Kiyoshi could even stand still, the voice of Principal Yaga rang out:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, have you realized something is wrong? From the moment we stepped into this village, I could clearly feel that my emotions were being pulled by something unseen."
That force kept filling me with all sorts of negative emotions, even trying to directly control my body, making me do, do...
Before Principal Yaga could finish speaking, Zenin Kiyoshi interrupted him:
"The idea was to kill all the ordinary residents here and then rescue the two little girls who might be sorcerers?"
Upon hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Principal Yaga's expression stiffened, then he immediately nodded and hurriedly said:
"Hearing you say that makes me even more certain that I am being controlled by some kind of force, but I can't get rid of these emotions. Even though I know it's wrong, I just can't get rid of these thoughts!"
I can even feel my hatred and murderous intent towards those villagers rising steadily. If they were in front of me right now, I might even be unable to resist killing them.
Before he could finish speaking, Zenin Kiyoshi could already sense an extremely chilling killing intent emanating from Principal Yaga.
"Zenin Kiyoshi, given the current situation, there is absolutely no way I can lead those guys in a rescue operation. I'm almost losing control of my emotions. There's something here, and I need you to help me manage everything here, at least to prevent those guys from making mistakes!"
Or rather, I hope you can take everyone away from here, and then...
Seeing that Principal Yaga's eyes were starting to look strange and were turning bloodshot, Zenin Kiyoshi didn't hesitate for long and directly chopped Principal Yaga's neck with a hand chop.
As Principal Yaga's eyes rolled back, Zenin Kiyoshi steadied his limp body and then said softly:
"Don't worry, Principal Yaga. Leave the rest to me. You can just get some sleep in the car. I'll handle everything else."
To prevent Principal Yaga from being further affected by the [Balancing Mechanism], Zenin Kiyoshi chose to cleanly and decisively make Principal Yaga lose consciousness. Otherwise, given the extent to which Principal Yaga was affected, it wouldn't be long before he was completely controlled by his emotions.
At that time, I will not only have to take good care of Nanako and Mimiko, but also pay attention to Principal Yaga and Geto Suguru, whose emotions are currently somewhat abnormal. With my attention divided, there is a high possibility that something will go wrong.
Fortunately, he only sensed the aura of the balancing force in Principal Yaga and Geto Suguru. Zenin Kiyoshi did not find anything unusual in the others.
It seems that the direct means of this Balancing Mechanism are limited, and it cannot be said that it can directly guide the emotions of everyone here.
The reason for choosing Principal Yaga and Geto Suguru as targets is actually quite easy to understand.
Geto Suguru is the key target of the incident, while Principal Yaga is the main implementer of the subsequent plan. If Principal Yaga advocates killing these villagers, then it's hard to say what the others will do under Geto Suguru's leadership...
After setting up several Curtains with different functions beside Principal Yaga, Zenin Kiyoshi controlled the crows to keep a close watch on each member of the advanced training program. He needed to monitor everyone at all times to prevent them from being misled.
While using crows to observe everyone, Zenin Kiyoshi also personally came to Geto and Gojo Satoru's side.
As he watched Geto Suguru gradually calm down, a greater worry rose in his heart.
The influence of the Balancing Mechanism is more insidious and dangerous than imagined. It is exploiting the weaknesses in everyone's heart. Gojo Satoru also told Geto Suguru about his past. He knew that these things might resonate more with Geto Suguru, so he paid more attention to Geto Suguru.
"We'll operate tonight, Geto. We'll rescue them as soon as possible. There won't be any danger, don't worry."
Zenin Kiyoshi comforted Geto Suguru, and at the same time said to Gojo Satoru:
"Satoru, let's go rescue them together. The others will be responsible for providing backup and keeping watch."
Gojo Satoru nodded in agreement, then hesitated for a moment before continuing to speak to Zenin Kiyoshi:
"But you should also be careful. I have a feeling that those villagers are in a dangerous state right now; they seem a bit different from normal people..."
As night fell, Gangshan Village fell into a deathly silence.
Zenin Kiyoshi and Gojo Satoru moved like ghosts through the village paths and soon found the courtyard where the Kaba family was being imprisoned.
Chapter-317
"Zenin Kiyoshi, there's something off about those guys, just like the ones we saw in the illusion. Do you think... something might be wrong here?"
Gojo Satoru looked at Zenin Kiyoshi beside him, his voice tinged with worry.
Zenin Kiyoshi nodded slightly upon hearing this. He looked around, and perhaps because the [Balancing Mechanism] was specifically targeting Zenin Kiyoshi, he sensed this aura more clearly than Gojo Satoru.
It was precisely for this reason that Zenin Kiyoshi was able to clearly sense that the same aura as when Gojo Satoru was taken into the illusion a while ago was beginning to emerge around him.
Having realized this, Zenin Kiyoshi didn't hesitate much and directly said to Gojo Satoru:
"Satoru, the illusion has probably appeared again. This time, the person affected should be that guy Geto. I'll go check if he's in any trouble. I need to ask you to handle the Kaba family. The others should be blocked by the [Balancing Mechanism]."
I can't sense anyone else's presence right now, only Geto's magical power. If he's also pulled into the illusion, the timeline here might be altered!
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Gojo Satoru's expression instantly turned serious. He looked at Zenin Kiyoshi and said solemnly:
"Is there anything I can do to help in the illusion? I can handle the situation here myself quickly, so I should be able to spare some time to help you!"
Zenin Kiyoshi shook his head at Gojo Satoru's concern.
"Even I'm not entirely clear on the exact mechanism of the illusion realm. The reason I was able to enter your illusion realm last time was probably because of my own [Complete Imitation] technique."
"You can't imitate Geto's spell and magical aura, so you probably won't be able to get in. The situation here is also very important. Right now, the magical power of the others is blocked, so they probably won't be able to get here for a while. Therefore, someone can't leave the Gaba family's side; you need to stay there and guard them."
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru's face flashed with resentment. He then instructed Zenin Kiyoshi:
"In that case, you need to be careful on your side and prioritize your own safety. If the illusion on Geto's side becomes difficult to deal with, he should come out immediately, and the two of us will work together to find a solution. We can always manage to resolve it."
Even if Geto is misled by that illusion, it's just a cognitive problem. As long as he's alive, there's still a possibility of solving the problem. But if you die in the illusion because of this, there will be no way to undo the damage.
Therefore, no matter what, Zenin Kiyoshi, you must put your own safety first!
Hearing Gojo Satoru's blessing, Zenin Kiyoshi smiled faintly, nodded, and then spoke with a teasing tone:
"It's really rare to see you like this. Have you missed me after not seeing me for ten years in the illusion?"
"Although I want to argue with you, the reality is pretty much what you said. Anyway, I don't want to experience that feeling of being alone again."
Gojo Satoru's sincere demeanor made Zenin Kiyoshi somewhat uncomfortable. He had originally thought that Gojo Satoru would be stubborn and then he would make a few lighthearted jokes, which would at least make the atmosphere less tragic.
However, sincerity is a deadly weapon, and it is extremely effective no matter where it is used.
Seeing this, Zenin Kiyoshi nodded and then said:
"Don't worry, what I promised you in the illusion still stands here. Take good care of this place, I'm going to Geto's place."
"Okay, take care on your journey."
As Gojo Satoru's voice faded, Zenin Kiyoshi's figure had already disappeared from the spot.
The instant Zenin Kiyoshi disappeared, thick white mist suddenly rose around them. The mist was extremely strange; even Gojo Satoru's Six Eyes could not see through it to observe anything.
The fog was filled with fine Cursed Energy. In the Six Eyes' vision, the surroundings were almost like solid walls, and he could not see anything around him at all.
The lingering remnants of the incantation that Zenin Kiyoshi had just left were now completely wiped away by the mist, as if he had never existed.
Looking at the mist, Gojo Satoru felt as if a part of his memory had been erased at that moment; he found himself gradually unable to recall the words he had spoken to Zenin Kiyoshi earlier...
Taking a deep breath, Gojo Satoru slapped his face and, without any hesitation, rushed straight towards the Kaba family.
He didn't encounter many villagers along the way, but when Gojo Satoru stepped into the corner of a small alley, he saw a number of villagers with somewhat sinister expressions around him.
Their expressions were strange, their eyes revealing absolutely no human emotion, as if the people standing before Gojo Satoru were not human, but rather puppets created by someone.
Upon seeing Gojo Satoru, those people didn't waste any words. They simply picked up their kitchen knives or hoes and swung them fiercely at his head.
If it were any other time, Gojo Satoru might have thought of avoiding the situation or resolving it in a gentler way upon witnessing this scene. Unfortunately, Gojo Satoru was in a bad mood at the moment.
Therefore, he chose to solve the problem in a slightly more forceful way.
He took off his sunglasses and threw them into the air. The sunglasses were a birthday gift from Zenin Kiyoshi, and he didn't want to break them.
Immediately afterward, as his sunglasses fell to the ground, Gojo Satoru's figure darted into the crowd like a ghost.
In the final exams at the vocational college, Zenin Kiyoshi, Geto Suguru, and Gojo Satoru's close-combat scores were almost overwhelmingly ahead of the others.
Toji once commented that even if Gojo Satoru lost all his incantation power and techniques, he could still easily take down five or six adult men with his fighting skills alone.
With the blessing of the spell, before the sunglasses had even completely fallen, all the villagers were already lying on the ground, almost all of them temporarily incapacitated.
Gojo Satoru didn't go too far; he simply made them lie in bed for a while.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Geto Suguru had fainted under a large tree. He was surrounded by thick fog, and his face showed an extremely painful expression.
Chapter-318
Looking at the somewhat familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings, Geto Suguru looked down at his blood-soaked clothes and felt a throbbing pain in his head.
Memories flooded back like a tide, accompanied by the strong smell of blood in his nostrils. Looking around at everything, Geto Suguru suddenly felt a little breathless.
Why am I here?
What's with the smell of blood on my body?
Why are there so many corpses around?
These corpses were all ordinary people... and the lingering aura on them proved that they were killed by their own magic.
But how could I possibly kill an ordinary person?
Is there a problem with the Cursed Spirit Manipulation?
Has your own Cursed Spirit gone berserk? Or is there some other problem?
His mind was in complete chaos. Geto Suguru forced himself to take two deep breaths, but this did little to improve his mood. Instead, it made the already strong smell of blood even more suffocating.
"Cough cough!"
The overwhelming stench of blood made Geto Suguru cough uncontrollably. He looked at the corpses around him and gagged.
Although he had seen many corpses slaughtered by Cursed Spirits before, Geto Suguru had never seen such a scene before, with so many ordinary people's corpses piled together.
Moreover, the main reason he vomited was because he realized a possibility.
The corpses of ordinary people here were most likely killed by his own hands!
The lingering curses on those corpses are the strongest proof that he was the murderer.
But how could I possibly do such a thing?
How could he possibly harm ordinary people? He has always believed that "sorcerers exist to protect ordinary people!"
Just as Geto Suguru's thoughts were beginning to break down, a timid thank you suddenly came from beside him.
"Um... thank you, thank you for saving me and my sister."
The voice was clear and crisp, but it carried an indescribable fear and weariness.
Geto Suguru looked in the direction the sound came from and saw a little girl of about seven or eight years old standing there covered in wounds. Next to her stood another girl of about the same age, also covered in wounds.
The two girls looked at the corpses scattered around them. Although the fear on their faces could not be hidden, the sense of satisfaction after revenge was also inevitably revealed.
The moment Geto Suguru saw the two girls, that bloody memory surfaced in his mind.
Yes... I received orders to come and investigate the unexpected disappearance of the villagers in this village.
After learning the details, he discovered the villagers' atrocities, including their capture and torture of young sorcerers. Overwhelmed by emotion, he couldn't help but kill them all.
Memories kept filling in my mind, and those bloody scenes flashed by one after another.
The villagers' cries of agony, the wails of women and children, the pleas of the elderly...
An arm torn apart by a Cursed Spirit, a corpse convulsing and collapsing after its head has been swallowed, a man running with his entrails dragged after his belly has been bitten open...
The sounds and images came one after another, playing a symphony in Geto Suguru's heart that seemed to come from hell.
And along with those images, there seem to be even more distant memories.
Zenin Kiyoshi, Gojo Satoru, Haibara Yu...
Various memories kept intertwining in his mind, making Geto Suguru feel an excruciating headache.
But looking at the two girls whose faces were filled with fear, Geto Suguru still forced a smile and said:
"you..."
His voice was terribly hoarse at that moment, like the sound of a withered tree trunk rubbing against something:
"Are you all alright? Can your bodies handle it? It's a bit far from here to the hospital, but if we fly there on a spirit medium, it should only take about ten minutes..."
Before Geto Suguru could finish speaking, both girls timidly shook their heads. The older girl, Nanako, mustered her courage and said:
"Thank you for saving us... If it weren't for you, we'd probably be dead by now. There's nothing wrong with our bodies; we don't need you to take us to the doctor. These kinds of wounds will heal in a couple of days with just some rest. But you seem to be in a bit of a state..."
She looked uneasily at the corpses around her, and at Geto Suguru, whose expression was clearly off, her voice filled with barely concealed worry:
"These people deserved their fate, you..."
Geto Suguru followed her gaze and felt a wave of nausea wash over him.
He now remembers exactly how he made the move.
The villagers rushed over, brandishing farm tools and shouting that they wanted to "eliminate the monster."
In the process of protecting the two girls, his emotions completely collapsed. The nerves that had been wounded by the deaths of Zenin Kiyoshi and Haibara Yu were torn apart at that moment. Looking at the ordinary people who were screaming to kill the sorcerer, Geto Suguru suddenly felt that his persistence was somewhat ridiculous...
Are the people that sorcerers are supposed to protect really like this?
Then what meaning do these things I've been holding onto really have?
Thinking about this, Geto Suguru felt that his previous life was somewhat ridiculous.
"This is not your fault."
Seeing that Geto Suguru remained silent, the younger girl suddenly spoke after a moment of silence, her voice trembling but unusually firm:
"They are bad people... They killed my parents... But if we hadn't tried to protect them in the first place, they would have been killed by that weirdo long ago, but they, they treated us like this!"
Geto Suguru stared blankly at the wounds on the two girls' bodies; the old and new bruises and cuts stung his eyes.
At this moment, something deep inside him was collapsing.
"We have to get out of here."
Geto Suguru forced himself to calm down. He looked at the sky not far away, as if he could already see his dear friend with the azure blue eyes.
"The people from the vocational college will be here soon. Come with me first; this place is no longer suitable for you."
But before leaving, Geto Suguru did something he himself didn't know why he did.
He took out his phone and carefully took photos of the scene, especially the injuries on the two girls and the cages that imprisoned them.
"This is the evidence."
Geto Suguru said to himself, but he himself did not know what this evidence would be used to prove in the future.
As they left the village, Geto Suguru looked back one last time.
The village was eerily quiet under the cover of night, with only crows circling in the sky, waiting for their soon-to-be-full meal.
The smell of blood on his body couldn't be dispelled at all. Holding the hands of the two girls, he felt a chill in his heart that was almost unbearable.
Chapter-319
Has the Zenin died?
No... Geto Suguru rejected this answer in his heart.
Zenin Kiyoshi should not be dead. Even though the information from the high school shows that after the Tengen Incident suddenly went out of control, Zenin Kiyoshi fought against Sukuna alone to protect ordinary people and maintain the out-of-control Barrier, and died from exhaustion at the last moment.
Even when Zenin Kiyoshi's death report was handed to him, even when he saw Zenin Kiyoshi lying lifeless in the morgue, even when he saw Gojo Satoru, unable to accept Zenin Kiyoshi's death, causing a scene within the high school...
No matter how many images appeared before his eyes, Geto Suguru never felt that the Zenin Kiyoshi was dead.
Deep down, he had an indescribable feeling that Zenin Kiyoshi was still alive!
I clearly spoke to him not long ago, how could he be dead like this?!
Standing on the back of the Cursed Spirit, Geto Suguru looked down at the village that had been completely transformed into a living hell. He smelled the extremely strong stench of blood in the air and felt nauseous at the sight of everything before him.
Did I go too far? Or was it something I had actually been hoping to do all along?
The conflicting thoughts made Geto Suguru feel nauseous at that moment.
It was at this moment that Mimiko and Nanako, who were standing beside him, also noticed that something was wrong with Geto Suguru. Nanako, suppressing her fear of the creature beneath her feet, slowly approached Geto Suguru, gently tugged at his sleeve, and said with some concern:
"Um, are you alright? You don't look well. We... we can survive on our own, please don't worry about us."
Hearing the words of the little girl beside him, Geto Suguru felt a pang of sadness in his heart, and at the same time, he no longer felt so much regret about the bloodstains under his feet.
He took several deep breaths to calm himself down. He touched Nanako's still trembling and fearful head, feeling her hair now congealed with blood. His voice was hoarse, but full of tenderness:
"It's okay, you don't need to blame yourself or feel guilty. I didn't do these things because of you. Even if anyone else had been treated that way today..."
Geto Suguru paused slightly at this point.
Then, his voice, both gentle and firm, sounded exceptionally clear in the night breeze:
"I would make the same choice no matter what."
Nanako and Mimiko looked up at him, their eyes glistening with tears. Under the moonlight, the tears in the corners of the two girls' eyes shone like pearls.
Geto Suguru gently wiped the blood from their faces, his movements so tender that they contrasted sharply with the bloody scene at his feet, as if he were not the executioner who had just killed all the villagers.
The bloodstained hands and the two girls' pale faces made the scene look even stranger, but upon closer inspection, there was a strange harmony to it.
"But...you don't look well. If it weren't for us, you wouldn't be in this predicament, would you?"
Mimiko spoke timidly, her eyes filled with self-blame and worry. She held her younger sister's hand tightly behind her, her heart filled with worry and fear.
After their parents died, the two of them had long since lost their support and the right to rely on others without limit.
Looking at the suddenly silent Nanako in front of him, Geto Suguru naturally knew what she was thinking.
He is an extremely thoughtful person, so he unconsciously tries to figure out what others are thinking. Coupled with his gentle nature, people like Geto Suguru are destined to live a very tiring life.
People who are good at being considerate of others are themselves a blessing to others in this world.
It's like Prometheus protecting the flame with his own flesh and blood, using his own flesh and blood to ignite the darkness around him.
But the more people are like this, the shorter their lives tend to be.
A life like a candle, gentle and selfless.
Life is like a shooting star, dazzling yet fleeting.
Geto Suguru paused, looking down at the village now in ruins, the shattered corpses starkly visible in the moonlight.
At that moment, he seemed to hear Zenin Kiyoshi's voice again:
"Geto, the most important thing is not to judge who deserves to die, but to stick to your bottom line and your principles. If you can't even stick to these things, then is the choice you make or some kind of emotion?"
But where is his bottom line? A fierce battle raged within him between a sense of justice to protect the weak and a sense of guilt for massacring civilians.
Sorcerers exist to protect ordinary people...
He uttered these words to Gojo Satoru on the basketball court. He even remembered the weather, the temperature, the smell of the basketball court, and the rough texture of the back of the basketball in his hand when he said those words that day...
Everything seemed like it had just happened yesterday, and he felt as if his mind was about to split apart.
Those azure eyes seemed to pierce through memories at this moment, staring straight at me.
He couldn't look directly into those eyes, much less face Zenin Kiyoshi's clear voice.
Geto Suguru remained silent, biting his lip. A faint taste of blood wafted through the air, carrying a bitter, rusty aroma.
"We should go."
In the very end, Geto Suguru chose to avoid the question. He looked at the two sisters, a feigned anxiety on his face:
"The concentration of Cursed Energy here is very high. The experts will be here to investigate soon. If we don't leave now, we might be left here. I don't want to die at their hands, so..."
He manipulated the Cursed Spirit to rise, preparing to leave this disgusting place.
But at that moment, a familiar aura suddenly appeared within his perception range. The instant he sensed that aura, Geto Suguru almost lost control of his Cursed Energy. It was an aura that should have died long ago, an aura that should only exist in his own memory!
Zenin Kiyoshi!
It's the serene atmosphere of a Zenin Kiyoshi!
You absolutely can't be wrong!
Upon realizing that the aura belonged to Zenin Kiyoshi, Geto Suguru was instantly propelled away.
He didn't even think, didn't consider whether his current state would disappoint Zenin Kiyoshi...
The body's instincts take precedence over rational thought.
He wanted to see Zenin Kiyoshi and tell him about his inner turmoil.
Even if he is denied by the other party, even if he is killed by the other party's own hands, he would be happy to accept it.
This damn world, this world that's driving him crazy...
Chapter-320
"Zenin Kiyoshi! Is that you there?!"
Geto Suguru's voice rang out, trembling slightly.
How can I describe this trembling?
Feeling a mix of trepidation, worry, and excitement?
The fear of being rejected by the other party?
The joy of seeing a close friend?
Perhaps it's all of those things; in any case, even Geto Suguru himself doesn't know what he's thinking right now.
The only thing he could still think about was "seeing Zenin Kiyoshi".
He no longer had the capacity or the inclination to consider the rest.
Just as a starving person doesn't think about having a partner or higher-level needs, satisfying one's instincts is the instinct of all living beings.
However, when Geto Suguru's voice rang out again, there was still no movement around him.
Even the faint trace of the incantation power belonging to Zenin Kiyoshi vanished the moment Geto Suguru arrived.
Geto Suguru stood there, stunned, as the night wind whipped up dust from the ruins and lashed his face.
The lingering aura of Cursed Energy in the air was rapidly dissipating, as if it had never existed. No... Geto Suguru couldn't even be sure if he was imagining things, even the process of dissipation.
"Is this...an illusion?"
Geto Suguru muttered to himself, his voice sounding particularly desolate amidst the blood-soaked ruins.
Behind them came the hurried footsteps of Nanako and Mimiko, tears streaming down their faces. They seemed worried that Geto Suguru would abandon them. They had no one to rely on anymore; only Geto Suguru, this man with the gentle smile, was their only support now.
He had clearly sensed Zenin's presence, and he had clearly noticed the familiar aura lingering in the air.
But... why did it suddenly disappear?
Geto Suguru was somewhat confused. He looked up and saw that apart from Nanako and Mimiko's rapid breathing from running, there was almost no other sound around him.
At this moment, Geto Suguru finally realized that everything that had just happened was nothing but his illusion.
He turned his head, looked at the two little girls with tear stains on their faces, and said gently and apologetically:
"I'm sorry to have worried you. I sensed something was wrong. Let's leave now."
After saying that, Geto Suguru squatted down and picked up both Nanako and Mimiko, one in each hand.
They rode on Cursed Spirits, departing from the sky above the ruins filled with blood and mangled flesh.
High in the air, Nanako raised her tear-streaked face and clung tightly to Geto Suguru's arm, afraid of being left behind.
"You, you looked terrible just now..."
Unlike her older sister, Mimiko, who was more vulnerable at this moment, sobbed as she said:
We thought...we thought you didn't want us anymore...
Looking at the two girls he had saved, Geto Suguru took a deep breath, his heart aching with heartache. He forced himself to calm down, then gently wiped away the girls' tears and tried to put on a gentle smile:
"No, that kind of thing is impossible. I said I would protect you, and at the very least, I will wait until you are both adults, no, until you are both able to live independently."
He comforted Nanako and Mimiko, but his gaze kept drifting involuntarily toward the direction from which the Zenin's aura had just appeared.
But now there is nothing there, only the howling of the night wind blowing through the ruins, like the wails and curses of the dead villagers.
Is it a hallucination? Or... is it real?!
The thought coiled around his heart like a venomous snake, and as he felt that familiar presence, the boundary between reality and fantasy became increasingly blurred.
"Lord Geto?"
Seeing Geto Suguru suddenly fall silent, Nanako worriedly tugged at his sleeve, accidentally touching his hands. She was immediately startled by the icy coldness of his palms and instinctively exclaimed:
Your hands are so cold!
Upon hearing this, Geto Suguru realized that his hands were trembling slightly.
The next moment, he clenched his fist, trying to conceal his inner turmoil, and his tone became gentler:
"It's so high up here, the wind is cool, it's normal for the temperature to be a bit low when you're being blown around."
Geto Suguru stood up, his voice becoming relaxed and cheerful.
"The members of the high-level special forces who are coming to arrest us should be here soon. We might become fugitives, so let's go now!"
With that, Geto Suguru smiled and controlled the Cursed Spirit beneath his feet, flying towards the distant sky.
But just as the village was about to completely disappear from sight, Geto Suguru still turned back to look at the ruins.
Under the moonlight, a familiar figure seemed to flash by in the distance, but when I looked again, nothing appeared.
Geto Suguru's heart skipped a beat. He felt his heart pounding violently and couldn't calm down for a long time.
"Let's go, let's go..."
Geto Suguru murmured softly to himself, it was unclear whether he was speaking to the girls or to himself.
The Cursed Spirit soared into the air and disappeared into the night with the three of them.
But Geto Suguru knew that some things had changed forever; he had gone down a different path from Gojo Satoru and from Zenin Kiyoshi.
At that moment, Geto Suguru suddenly remembered a school afternoon a year ago.
It was a mild spring, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, with pink petals everywhere on the streets.
He, Shoko, Gojo Satoru, and Zenin Kiyoshi walked out of the school gate of the vocational college together.
That was a road the four of them would walk together. Along the way, there were three vending machines, two dessert shops, one brothel, and two internet cafes...
Every stone on the road, every blade of grass, the fragrance of flowers that filled the air, the prank note Gojo Satoru left for himself that day, the lemon-flavored soda Zenin Kiyoshi bought for him that day, Shoko's disgruntled expression...
Everything was crystal clear at that moment, as if he had returned to that ordinary and gentle afternoon after school.
It was just an ordinary day, but it will never happen again.
Geto Suguru suddenly realized something.
He will never have such a beautiful day again in his life.
He also remembered that at the end of the road where everyone was about to part ways, there were three forks in the road.
Shoko walked towards the main street on the right, where there were many people and the lights were dazzling.
Gojo Satoru and Zenin Kiyoshi walked forward towards a park, which was sunny but somewhat secluded.
The direction he walked was the only shady spot, where he was all alone...