Chapter-321
Everything seemed to have had a predetermined ending from that day onward.
After taking a deep breath, Geto Suguru held the hands of Mimiko and Nanako. He could feel that the two girls' hands were also frighteningly cold.
Under the cover of night, the shadows of the three of them seemed to merge into one, leaving only a faint tranquility.
At this moment, Geto Suguru suddenly felt that perhaps his path was not lonely, and he was not alone.
Even if an unfamiliar road seems impossible to succeed on, as long as you keep going, no one knows how it will end.
Zenin Kiyoshi, Satoru, Shoko...
Familiar faces flashed by quickly before his eyes, then disappeared one after another. Geto Suguru didn't say anything, just watched all of this with a slightly calm expression.
Three days later, Geto Suguru looked at his ringing phone and the familiar caller ID, and fell silent for a moment.
The caller ID showed "Silver-haired bastard Gojo Satoru", and the category was "Close Friend".
He looked at the phone that he would usually answer without hesitation, and at that moment he felt as if he were in another world.
At this moment, Mimiko, who was lying on the hospital bed, was looking at Geto Suguru, holding a pear that Geto Suguru had peeled for her.
"Um, Lord Geto, your phone is ringing. Shouldn't you answer it?"
Mimiko's voice came, as if awakening Geto Suguru from the bubble of the past.
The hospital didn't smell particularly good. Mimiko and Nanako didn't like the smell of disinfectant alcohol and the unique medicinal smells everywhere, so the windows in the room were usually open.
However, Mimiko was a little afraid of insects outside, so Geto Suguru thoughtfully closed the screen window.
Everything was telling Geto Suguru that he was no longer the same person he used to be.
It's like a phrase that Zenin Kiyoshi often says.
"Life is like a train journey. The passengers who accompany you will always get off at some station you don't care about, and when familiar people get off, a group of strangers will get on and continue to accompany you for the rest of the journey."
The people like Mimiko now are probably the ones who will accompany me for the rest of the journey.
Zenin Kiyoshi, you've already gotten off the train. Satoru and I are going in different directions, so maybe I should change stations...
As Geto Suguru thought this, he hung up the phone and turned it off.
He had actually considered adding Gojo Satoru to his blacklist, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it.
"It's okay, it's just some nuisance calls. I went to see the house a few days ago and left my phone number with them. I guess they gave my number to the sales staff, because they've been calling me non-stop lately."
Hearing Geto Suguru's explanation, the confusion on Mimiko's face disappeared, replaced by a look of longing and anticipation for the future:
"Is Lord Geto Suguru taking my sister and me to live in a big house? Are we going to live in the mountains or in the city?!"
Looking at Mimiko, who firmly believed in what he had said earlier, Geto Suguru's melancholy caused by Gojo Satoru's phone call dissipated considerably. He patted Mimiko's head and then whispered:
"Let's live in the mountains, where we can get away from monkeys that don't know magic. I don't really like seeing monkeys, and I especially don't like using things created by monkeys."
"Once you're feeling a little better, we'll leave immediately."
As Geto Suguru spoke, an expression of utter disgust for ordinary people unconsciously surfaced on his face.
Even he himself didn't realize why he harbored such resentment and hatred towards ordinary people.
Clearly... clearly I haven't suffered any particularly great hardships, so why...?
However, the moment this thought arose, it was annihilated by some force, leaving not even a trace behind.
On the other side of the train, Gojo Satoru slammed his hand on the table in frustration. The sound made the surrounding passengers turn around in slight surprise, but after seeing Gojo Satoru's obviously unfriendly look, even though they were somewhat dissatisfied, they dared not make a sound.
At this point, Gojo Satoru's attitude towards ordinary people was not actually very righteous.
To be honest, the reason he became the way he was later was because he lived up to the image of Geto Suguru in his memory.
Rather than saying that Gojo Satoru in the Canon is the mature version of Gojo Satoru during his high school years, it would be more accurate to say that he is a person with Gojo's personality, but whose inner core is Geto from the high school.
Gojo Satoru, living in the past, used his body to trap Geto Suguru in his mind.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why did this happen?! There must be some mistake!"
Shoko stood at the door of Principal Yaga's office, smoking irritably, with cigarette ash scattered around her feet.
The last time this happened was when news of Zenin Kiyoshi's unexpected death came.
That day, Shoko smoked six packs of cigarettes, almost without pausing for a single minute.
It's worth noting that Shoko had actually promised Zenin Kiyoshi a long time ago that she would start quitting smoking.
Principal Yaga clutched his head, feeling a splitting headache. Looking at the analysis report provided by the Assistant Manager, he felt his vision blurring.
Geto Suguru massacred more than 300 people in the entire village, including about 40 children who were unable to fight back and about 70 elderly people who remained behind.
At first, when he saw all this, Principal Yaga did not believe it. However, the residual Cursed Energy at the scene and the photos, the traces that could only be created by Geto Suguru's Cursed Spirit Manipulation technique, Principal Yaga, as their teacher, could tell the truth at a glance!
Without a doubt, it was Geto Suguru who caused it!
But... but why would he do that?!
In the following days, Gojo Satoru searched for Geto everywhere like a madman.
He went to Geto Suguru's hometown, only to find that Geto Suguru's parents had already been killed by his own hands.
It wasn't until that moment that Gojo Satoru believed Geto Suguru had done those things.
Even so, he only thought about bringing Geto Suguru back with his own hands. Even when that time came, he was still wondering if Geto Suguru was being controlled by some kind of magic, otherwise how could he have changed so much in an instant?
The facts and the truth are laid bare, but intense emotions lead them to use countless absurd and woven scenarios to defend the other party.
It wasn't until the afternoon of the seventh day that Shoko finally saw Geto on the streets of Shibuya.
"I dreamt about Zenin Kiyoshi a few days ago. He knew what you did and he was very angry."
Shoko smiled as she looked at Geto, but her eyes were full of sorrow.
Chapter-322
Geto Suguru's expression changed slightly. He and Shoko were sitting on a bustling street in Shinjuku. The weather was getting a bit chilly, so he was wearing a long-sleeved black sweater. He looked very ordinary in the crowd, just like any other day.
However, when he looked at Shoko beside him, her words were like a sharp knife, precisely piercing the softest part of his heart.
"Yeah..."
Geto Suguru responded softly, his voice filled with an indescribable complexity and bitterness, but also a faint sense of relief.
He forced a smile, lowered his head, and mumbled:
"What did Zenin Kiyoshi say?"
Shoko took a deep drag on her cigarette, letting the smoke blur her vision. The cigarette's bitter taste left her speechless.
"What do you think that guy will say? He just repeats the same old things over and over again."
Listening to Shoko's words, Geto seemed to see the face that usually greeted him with a faint smile.
"Ah~ let me guess, he probably meant, what happened to that bastard Geto? Why has he become so fragile? If it's a psychological problem, he should hurry up and find a restaurant to have a good meal. Right?"
Geto Suguru's slightly smiling reply eased the atmosphere between the two considerably. Shoko also chuckled and exhaled a puff of smoke. Then, she leaned slightly forward, sitting up a little on the flowerbed, swinging her legs as she slowly said:
"You really know him well, but what he said wasn't much different from what you said. Anyway, he cursed you in a bunch of gibberish, but in the end, he grabbed my hand and said to me, even though you've done such a stupid thing, even if we have to kill you, we have to do it."
Geto Suguru's fists clenched involuntarily. He recalled that night a few years ago, remembering the words he and Zenin Kiyoshi had spoken when they were together in his cramped basement.
He himself said that he wanted to create a better world and protect all those who deserve protection.
He himself told Zenin Kiyoshi that sorcerers exist to protect non-sorcerers.
He spoke a great deal to Zenin, but now... the person who listened to him is dead, and his words, along with that person's death, have been buried.
He took a deep breath, looked at Shoko beside him, and said softly:
"The world has changed, Shoko. Just like how we used to walk on the same road home from school, we have now reached our own forks in the road."
Zenin Kiyoshi left us first, and now that we've arrived, it's time for me to leave too.
Geto Suguru's voice gradually turned cold, but the deep weariness remained unchanged.
"And at times like these, we must make some... necessary sacrifices before we can fully realize that our paths have become completely different."
Shoko suddenly stubbed out her cigarette and looked directly into his eyes:
"Necessary sacrifices? Including killing your own parents? Geto, what's wrong with you? I'll ask you one more time to make sure."
Hearing Shoko's words, Geto Suguru's pupils contracted slightly. At that moment, Shoko seemed to see the embodiment of bitterness.
"They…don't understand, or rather, neither do you. You don't understand me either, but I'm not a child anymore. I know that it's impossible to make everyone understand me."
Geto Suguru's voice became unusually calm, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
"I want to create a world where only sorcerers exist, and to do that, I must make some changes."
Upon hearing this, Shoko's face revealed a complex smile that was difficult to describe. She took out her phone and, in an as nonchalant tone as possible, dialed Gojo Satoru's number.
"If you want to act out and feel sad because no one understands you, then that behavior is actually quite childish."
Hearing Shoko's words, Geto didn't deny anything. He just lowered his head and remained silent, his sadness replaced by heavy dark circles under his eyes.
"Satoru? Yes, that's right. Geto is with me. Yes, that's right, right in Shinjuku, in front of the dessert shop we often go to."
What? You want me to keep him here? Are you kidding me? No way! I want to live a little longer. Don't worry, he won't leave. I had a dream yesterday about Zenin Kiyoshi. Geto is bothering me now, wanting me to tell him what happened in the dream.
"Hey? You bastard, are you even listening to me? Tsk... What an idiot, daring to hang up on me!"
Listening to Shoko's somewhat bland complaints, Geto Suguru felt as if he had returned to a certain afternoon at the vocational college.
How he wished that Zenin Kiyoshi would slap his forehead, wake him up, and then smile at him and say:
"Did you oversleep? Hurry up, Mr. Toji's PE class is coming up soon, be careful he doesn't make you do combat training with him again."
At this moment, he desperately hoped that Gojo Satoru would deliberately pat his numb thigh with a sly smile, to see him furious yet hesitant to make a move.
Geto Suguru wished, so much that it was all a dream.
But, thinking of Mimiko and Nanako's smiles, Geto Suguru resolutely tore apart the dream he didn't want to wake up from.
He is no longer Geto Suguru from the vocational college, but the guardian of Mimiko and Nanako.
Even so, let him savor this warmth of the vocational college for a final moment...
After all, he knew that once he left this place, he would probably never have such an opportunity again in his entire life.
So, Geto Suguru turned to look at Shoko, and said with a helpless smile:
"Shoko, you're spouting nonsense again. When did I ever beg you to tell me what Zenin Kiyoshi said?"
Geto Suguru's tone and expression were no different from when he was in the vocational college.
Even Shoko was momentarily stunned before gently shaking her head and smiling:
"What? Don't you want to hear it?"
Geto Suguru remained silent for a moment before pleading for mercy:
"I want to hear it, Shoko. Your mouth is as sharp as ever."
Hearing these words, Shoko smiled as if she had successfully pulled off a prank and said:
"Then don't be angry, okay? After all, what I'm imitating is what Zenin Kiyoshi told me in my dream."
The instant Shoko finished speaking, Geto Suguru suddenly felt that Shoko in front of him had become a completely different person in that instant. Her aura and temperament were no different from those of Zenin Kiyoshi in his memory!
"Shoko, Shoko?!"
"Geto! What the hell is wrong with you, you bastard?! Didn't I tell you...?"
Chapter-323
The sudden change in the glass left Geto Suguru completely stunned.
Because in his view, what he saw was not a glass that imitated Zenin Kiyoshi's speech, but the real thing!
That's the Zenin, isn't it?!
He's back?!
While Geto Suguru was in a daze, Zenin Kiyoshi also suddenly felt that he had recovered from that hazy consciousness.
He was still a little dazed by what he was seeing, and his body seemed to shrink. His perspective was strange, but looking at Geto Suguru in front of him, and seeing his attire and expression, Zenin Kiyoshi immediately knew what time it was.
Geto Suguru, Shoko, and Gojo Satoru bid their final farewell!
Not long ago, he vaguely seemed to have seen Shoko come and ask him this question.
All thoughts were processed in an instant, and Zenin Kiyoshi quickly understood what was going on. He looked at Geto Suguru in front of him and said without any politeness:
"Geto, I told you a long time ago that you are actually someone who doesn't have many of your own ideas from beginning to end."
Rather than following your heart's path to create a world only for sorcerers, you're more accurately describing a world where those you care about won't get hurt.
Haven't you realized it yet? From beginning to end, you've been prioritizing other people's emotions and feelings as the core of your actions. Your desire to protect ordinary people is what you uphold, as well as the hopes of your teacher, Yaga, and your parents.
The fundamental reason for wanting to destroy ordinary people and create a world where only sorcerers exist is not because you hate non-sorcerers, but because non-sorcerers, unable to control their emotions, will create Cursed Spirits after their Cursed Energy dissipates.
You just don't want your companions to be killed by the Cursed Spirits again, and you don't want to see the people you cherish get hurt by the Cursed Spirits again!
Everything you do is based on other people's emotions; you never consider what you actually want to do!
To put it bluntly, you are a complete self-sacrificing person; your emotions and thoughts don't belong to you at all.
Besides, have you forgotten what I told you?
If you become negative and extreme after I die, that is the real desecration of my death...
However, this time, before Zenin Kiyoshi could finish speaking, the strange feeling disappeared, and he could no longer control Shoko's body.
Shoko seemed to awaken from a dream. Looking at the somewhat dazed Geto Suguru, a faint look of confusion crossed her face. Then, she said with some bewilderment:
"Did I just say anything? I feel like I said something really important..."
Seeing Shoko's dazed expression, Geto Suguru didn't know how to answer for a moment.
His mind was almost entirely absorbed in the words he had just heard—words that undoubtedly came from Zenin Kiyoshi!
But... Zenin Kiyoshi is clearly dead!
Why would Shoko say something like that? Could it be...?
Thinking of this, Geto Suguru suddenly asked Shoko:
"Shoko, do you believe in the existence of souls?"
Hearing this, Shoko looked at Geto Suguru with an expression as if he were an idiot, and then said:
"Huh? Isn't this kind of thing a given? Have you forgotten? Didn't Zenin Kiyoshi explain it to us before? The former King of Curses, Sukuna, once used some method to divide his soul into twenty parts and placed them in each of his fingers."
Besides, didn't Zenin Kiyoshi personally demonstrate it to you? The way he communicated with Sukuna's soul—aren't all these things proof enough?
The soul must exist.
So, you know, after what you did, Zenin Kiyoshi is probably sitting right next to us, looking at you with a face full of annoyance.
As she spoke, a complex and bitter feeling welled up inside her.
Upon hearing this, Geto Suguru almost instinctively looked to his side, but apart from a few wisps of weeds swaying in the wind, there was nothing there.
However, the aura emanating from Shoko that was almost identical to that of Zenin Kiyoshi still left Geto somewhat stunned.
Seeing that Geto Suguru remained silent, Shoko let out a long sigh. She looked towards the dessert shop in front of her and said softly:
"Do you remember that dessert shop? The four of us used to go there all the time. Zenin Kiyoshi loved their lemon cake the most. It was a bit sour, but it was also quite refreshing. I bought you your favorite mango pie. Do you want to go eat it?"
Upon hearing this, Geto Suguru raised his head, looking at Shoko with somewhat weary eyes. He remained silent for about three or four seconds before slowly speaking:
"No, Shoko, thank you for your kindness, but you should keep the cake for yourself. I want that four-person dinner to be my last memory."
Upon hearing this, Shoko fully understood Geto Suguru's meaning. She didn't press the matter further, but nodded gently, then stood up and dusted herself off.
"Looks like you've made your choice too. Well, I knew you weren't the type to be easily persuaded. I'm off now, the cake won't taste good if you don't pick it up soon."
Geto, bye-bye...
Shoko forced a smile. She looked at Geto Suguru, then took two steps toward the dessert shop ahead. She could feel Geto Suguru's gaze still lingering on her.
So, Shoko stopped again, turned around to look at Geto, and asked once more:
"Are you really not going to eat together? It's a new dish, it's really delicious."
When Geto Suguru saw Shoko turn around, his smile became even gentler and brighter, just like when they first met.
However, this time Geto Suguru did not follow him as he had the first time they met. Instead, he gently shook his head and said:
"I've already eaten. You can go get it yourself, Shoko."
Hearing this, Shoko nodded silently, then bit her lip and walked towards the dessert shop without looking back.
She knew she couldn't turn back now, because if she did, she really wouldn't be able to hold back her tears.
Damn it, damn it! She promised that bastard Zenin Kiyoshi that she would never shed tears easily, no matter what!
As Geto Suguru watched Shoko's departing figure, he felt his eyes burning. He lowered his head and rubbed the corner of his clothes with his hand, feeling that the weather was unusually stuffy today.
Chapter-324
Geto Suguru sat in the same spot, watching Shoko's figure disappear into the dessert shop.
The sunlight was shining on the street, bathing everything in a warm gold, but it couldn't penetrate the gloom in his heart. Or rather, Geto Suguru had found a ray of light in that gloom that he needed to protect.
The light from the two candles wasn't dazzling; it was only enough to illuminate the area where he was. But Geto Suguru knew that he could no longer leave those two candles.
He didn't rush to leave, but sat there, stunned, for a long time.
About ten minutes later, Geto Suguru slowly raised his hand and looked at the clear lines on his palm.
He felt the familiar aura emanating from Shoko just now, and recalled those words that struck his very soul.
It all looks so real... so real it can't possibly be an illusion!
Zenin Kiyoshi... are you really still watching over me somewhere?
Are those words really what you wanted to say to me through Shoko's mouth?
My persistence...
No, as long as Mimiko and Nanako are there, his actions are not entirely wrong.
This thought both comforted and pained him.
After all... if Zenin Kiyoshi existed in some form, how disappointed and pained he would be to see his current choice.
Thinking about this made Geto Suguru feel even more depressed.
He took a deep breath, then slowly stood up, preparing to leave this place full of memories. At least he didn't want to linger in front of this dessert shop any longer; it held too many memories for them.
But just as he took his first step, a familiar voice suddenly rang in his ear:
"Geto…"
He turned around abruptly, and the crowd on the street seemed to have all stopped moving, except for the owner of the voice who was still running.
"Tell me what exactly happened?! No matter what, there's still a way back!"
Geto Suguru looked at Gojo Satoru in front of him, at his panting face, and at his bloodshot eyes.
He stood there, stunned, his heart inexplicably racing. The owner of the voice looked angry and sorrowful, or rather, he felt a deep, hidden plea.
He was pleading, begging that he hadn't done those things, begging for a ridiculously flimsy excuse at this moment.
Even if he said that he was controlled by a level-three Cursed Spirit, Gojo Satoru would believe him without hesitation and try his best to exonerate himself.
Gojo Satoru was such a person, and also his close friend.
But Geto Suguru also knew that at this moment, he absolutely could not give Gojo Satoru any more hope.
Any tenderness I show to the other person now will eventually turn into a hundred times more cruel blade, piercing their heart.
Instead of trying to entangle Gojo Satoru with that kind of hypocritical pretense, it would be better to just make him give up completely!
"Geto?"
Seeing that Geto Suguru hadn't said a word, Gojo Satoru even began to accept his guess.
Geto Suguru must have been controlled by some kind of magic! He is innocent!
Please, Geto! It has to be like this!
Gojo Satoru softly called out to Geto, hoping or rather pleading for a reply; his voice trembled with excitement.
"Is it as you told me? Geto, no matter what happens to you, I'll always be there for you, so... Geto, tell me the truth!"
Geto Suguru did not respond immediately. The two were about thirty meters apart, and a gentle breeze swept across the street, stirring up a few fallen leaves.
The curled-up fallen leaves are interspersed with some broken leaf veins.
Geto Suguru took a deep breath, then raised his head and looked quietly at Gojo Satoru, a barely perceptible pain flashing in his eyes.
Immediately afterward, under Gojo Satoru's somewhat expectant gaze, Geto Suguru spoke, his voice eerily calm:
"Satoru, what you saw is real. Everything is real. And I did not do it because I was forced or threatened by anyone. All my actions, including killing my parents, were choices I made while I was fully conscious."
The hope on Gojo Satoru's face shattered the moment he heard Geto Suguru's answer. He lowered his head, anger and sorrow surging in his heart. In a hoarse voice, he questioned Geto Suguru:
"No...impossible! You're the kind of person who always talks about protecting ordinary people, the kind of person who even calls his mother when packing his bags, how could you possibly become like this?! You must be..."
"Because I have found true righteousness!"
Geto Suguru interrupted Gojo Satoru's speech, his voice gradually becoming firm, as if both to convince himself and to make Gojo Satoru give up completely:
"The right path is to create a world with only sorcerers and kill all the monkeys who cannot use sorcery."
Only in this way can the ever-growing Cursed Spirits be dissipated, and only then can our companions no longer die from attacks by Cursed Spirits.
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru could no longer contain his anger. He rushed forward and grabbed Geto Suguru by the collar:
"Are you out of your mind, you bastard? What are you doing, making decisions on your own?! The deaths of sorcerers are none of your business to define or judge! Have you forgotten what Zenin Kiyoshi told us before?"
Geto Suguru did not resist, but simply looked at his close friend quietly:
"Are Zenin Kiyoshi's words necessarily correct? Don't forget, Zenin Kiyoshi is dead now!"
Looking at this incident, what do you see about how ordinary people treat Nanako and Mimiko? How did Kiyoshi die? Can't you see any of that?
I don't want to define the deaths of others; I'm not qualified to. But I have the right to choose where I go and how I do it!
These words struck like a heavy blow, causing Gojo Satoru to loosen his grip.
Seemingly unable to withstand this blow, Gojo Satoru staggered back two steps, his voice filled with bitterness and helplessness:
"Zenin Kiyoshi's matter... has nothing to do with ordinary people."
"Irrelevant?"
Geto Suguru sneered, his words full of sarcasm:
"If it weren't for protecting those innocent ordinary people, how could Zenin Kiyoshi have died?"
The two faced off on the street, and the air around them seemed to freeze.
Passersby avoided the area, instinctively sensing the danger. No one dared to approach and watch; the terrifying atmosphere seemed to crush one's soul.
"Last chance, Geto."
Gojo Satoru's voice turned cold.
"Come back with me."
Chapter-325
Looking at Gojo Satoru's reddened eyes, Geto couldn't tell whether it was from anger or sadness.
Perhaps it's a combination of both, but Geto Suguru no longer wants to think about those things.
From the moment he took Mimiko and Nanako's arms, he knew he was destined to leave the Jujutsu High, and to leave Gojo Satoru, Shoko, and the others.
Now that we've already let go, there's no point in talking about these things anymore.
Geto Suguru then looked directly at Gojo Satoru, gently shook his head, and said in a calm yet firm voice:
"There's no need for that, Satoru. It's impossible for me to go back with you. I've already embarked on a different path from you, and I have someone important on this path that I can't let go of."
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru took a deep breath. His expression was somewhat ferocious, and he spoke slowly, each word uttered as if he had used up all his strength.
"Geto, if that's the case, then even if I have to break your limbs and knock your head out, I'll still take you away!"
Listening to Gojo Satoru's words, Geto Suguru looked at him calmly, his eyes revealing a knowing and confident understanding that he had seen through Gojo Satoru:
"Satoru, don't talk nonsense. Why do you think I chose to meet you here? There are many people around, and your abilities are not the kind that can control the scope of the conflict. If you want to fight me here, then you will inevitably cause everyone here to die."
"If I wanted to rebel, there wouldn't be many survivors within a 500-meter radius of this street. You should know that, right?"
Hearing Geto Suguru's words, Gojo Satoru's pupils dilated slightly. He looked at Geto Suguru, raised his fingers, lowered his center of gravity slightly, and subconsciously formed the Blue Hand gesture.
"You're welcome to try and see if I'll actually do it!"
Gojo Satoru's voice was icy, as if he would immediately take action and unhesitatingly envelop Geto in the gravity of the sky if Geto dared to take even a step.
However, Geto Suguru was not afraid of Gojo Satoru's threat at all. Without any hesitation, he stepped forward and looked at Gojo Satoru's trembling arm, his voice almost without any fluctuation.
"Satoru, no one in this world understands you better than me. Although you often say that you hate righteous arguments, you are actually a good person. I have absolute confidence that you can't bring yourself to do it."
But you should also know that I am different now. If you make a move, I will attack the surrounding area without hesitation. Believe me, Satoru, I am absolutely capable of doing such a thing now.
I have absolutely no pity for those pesky monkeys!
As Geto Suguru finished speaking, his voice even carried a chilling and murderous aura.
Feeling the chill emanating from Geto Suguru, Gojo knew that Geto Suguru was not bluffing at this moment; he really meant to do it!
After Geto Suguru finished speaking, he did not linger. Instead, he walked into the crowd without looking back, leaving only Gojo Satoru's somewhat gaunt figure behind.
Watching Geto Suguru's departing figure, Gojo Satoru felt a bitter taste in his mouth and was speechless.
Gojo Satoru's fingers trembled slightly, and Blue's Cursed Energy flowed at his fingertips, but he ultimately did not release it.
He watched helplessly as Geto Suguru's figure blended into the crowd, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, never to be found again.
Gojo Satoru had a feeling that after today, he might not see Geto Suguru for a very long time.
"Damn it... They're all like this, always acting recklessly and wantonly. How awful! How awful! Don't they always say that I'm the one who's acting recklessly?!"
Why is it that at times like this, you bunch of bastards always put your own feelings first?! Bastards!
Gojo Satoru cursed under his breath, but he didn't know if he was cursing Geto Suguru or cursing his own powerlessness.
The pedestrians around them kept moving, as if the confrontation had never happened. No one cared about their argument, and no one was obligated to care.
Ironically, if it weren't for the existence of these ordinary people, Gojo Satoru could have forcibly taken Geto back.
Looking at the ordinary people walking by on their own, Gojo Satoru felt his eyes sting. He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with bitterness.
But just then, Shoko's voice rang in his ears, carrying a hint of weary comfort:
"Hey, Satoru, you idiot, don't make that weird face, like some Shibuya gya who gets dumped by her boyfriend in a TV drama. Cheer up a bit. That guy isn't dead. You can still text him and bother him."
Based on my understanding of him, he would never delete you as a friend, but he probably won't reply to your messages either. However, he will definitely read every message you send, so it's not a bad idea to annoy him a little once in a while.
"Oh, right, here, this is a new dessert from that shop, a durian jasmine matcha cake. Didn't you keep saying you wanted to eat this? I bought it for you now, and you absolutely have to finish it and then behave yourself."
Hearing Shoko's words, Gojo Satoru's eyes were somewhat vacant. He simply took the cake but remained silent.
Seeing this, Shoko could no longer suppress the bitterness in her heart. She lowered her head gently, bit her lip hard, and her voice even sounded a little like a sob.
"Satoru, I'm begging you, don't end up like those two. At least, at least you both have the right to choose, while I can only stay here and watch you leave one by one. Don't leave me alone..."
Looking at Shoko, who had never shown any weakness in front of him before, and at the tears that had fallen from her eyes, Gojo Satoru felt as if his heart was being crushed by some kind of painful emotion.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to comfort her, but before Gojo Satoru could speak, a voice caught both him and Shoko off guard:
"Shoko, Satoru, can you hear me? If you can, have Shoko put the cake up Satoru's nose and then have him lick the cake out of his nose with his tongue."
Upon hearing that sound, both Shoko and Gojo Satoru froze, and they shouted out in near astonishment, startling passersby.
"Well, judging from your expressions, you've probably heard me speak. Don't be so surprised. Since sorcerers have souls, it's not particularly strange that I can speak to you in soul form, is it?"
Chapter-326
"Zenin Kiyoshi...?!"
The moment that familiar voice fell, Gojo Satoru was so shocked that his voice even changed slightly.
"It really is you?! I knew you bastard couldn't have died so easily! Damn it! Damn it! You bastard!"
Shoko trembled as she covered her mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks.
"This is impossible... But, it's good to be alive, it's good to be alive."
Why is it impossible?
That familiar voice, tinged with laughter, spoke to the two with a gentle and relaxed tone:
"Do you really think I would die so easily? It was just that the energy from Master Tengen's side temporarily exceeded my expectations, which caused my physical body to be annihilated."
Right now, I'm in a state of spirit, which I'd guess is like a ghost?
Gojo Satoru suddenly looked around, trying to find Zenin Kiyoshi's figure. He wanted to see Zenin Kiyoshi's figure more than hear his voice.
"Where are you now? Why aren't you coming out?"
"Not yet, and are you an idiot? If it really were a ghost, wouldn't it have been baked to death under the sun long ago?"
Zenin Kiyoshi's voice seemed to carry a hint of helplessness, as well as a touch of teasing towards Gojo Satoru.
"I don't even know what my current state is like... If I had to explain it, it would be a bit complicated."
Unlike Gojo Satoru, Shoko wasn't preoccupied with the matter. Instead, she suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked:
"So, in my dream last night, those things I wanted to say to Geto, those words really were spoken by you! And not just things I imagined?!"
"Hmm, Shoko, you are indeed much smarter than that idiot Gojo."
Zenin Kiyoshi's voice carried a hint of amusement, but then turned somewhat helpless:
"It's a kind of way of sending a message in a dream, but Shoko, you didn't sleep long enough to say much. You stayed up so late that I had to wait for you to fall asleep for ages."
Upon hearing this, Shoko's face instantly turned bright red. She remembered that she would take a quick shower before going to bed. After all, working in that kind of place, taking a shower was a necessary personal hygiene measure for personal hygiene and safety after being around corpses for a long time.
If Zenin Kiyoshi was waiting for me to fall asleep yesterday, doesn't that mean he might have witnessed the entire process of me falling asleep?!
He even saw everything from the time he was taking a shower!
Thinking of this, Shoko felt the bitterness in her heart instantly dissipate, replaced by a desire to dig up Zenin's corpse and whip it hundreds of times.
However, Gojo Satoru did not notice Shoko's abnormality at this moment; he was still immersed in the joy that Zenin Kiyoshi was not completely dead.
Gojo Satoru excitedly grabbed Shoko's arm, completely oblivious to her expression, his voice brimming with undisguised joy:
"I knew it! I knew that bastard Qing wouldn't die so easily. He's still alive, he really is... Hmm? Why does your face look a little off, Shoko? Is it because you're too excited and your face is flushed?"
Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, Shoko knew that if she brought it up directly now, that big-mouthed bastard Gojo Satoru would definitely lose control. So she took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shame and indignation in her heart, and then nodded slightly to Gojo Satoru:
"Yes, I'm so so happy that Zenin Kiyoshi is alive!"
Towards the end, Shoko's tone became so deliberate that she spoke each word as if it were being uttered one by one.
However, Gojo Satoru, immersed in joy, did not notice this. Without much thought, he directly said to Zenin Kiyoshi:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, since you're still alive, come with me to find Geto now. He shouldn't have gone far. As long as you're here, he'll definitely be able to be persuaded to come back! Hurry, can you come with me?! If you really can't, you can even take over my body!"
Hearing Gojo Satoru's somewhat anxious words and seeing the sweat on his forehead from being too excited, he felt a little uncomfortable.
Although this was the second time he had entered this illusion, Zenin Kiyoshi still couldn't treat the people here as NPCs.
Or to put it another way, Zenin Kiyoshi prefers to describe it as "another timeline" rather than an illusion.
However, his current situation is still very unstable. He is in a state of extreme confusion and there is no good way for him to communicate stably with the people here.
Even this time, communicating with Gojo Satoru and the others took him a lot of effort before he finally managed to get them to hear his voice.
Moreover, Zenin Kiyoshi could sense that his contact with the two of them this time would not last long, and would definitely not last until they found Geto Suguru.
At the same time, Zenin Kiyoshi also discovered that whenever he got close to Geto Suguru, there would be an invisible force in the world that would constantly push him away, preventing him from getting close to Geto Suguru.
It seems the Balancing Mechanism is more intelligent than he imagined.
Zenin Kiyoshi took a deep breath, gazing at Gojo Satoru, whose face was filled with hope and excitement. Though reluctant, he still said:
"No, Satoru."
There was a hint of helplessness and bitterness in Zenin Kiyoshi's voice:
"Those choices were indeed made by Geto himself. I was there at the time and I saw it all, but I couldn't stop him, or even offer him any advice."
"Then, did Geto really do all those things?! But how is that possible! That guy was perfectly fine not long ago!"
Pedestrians on the street began to notice Gojo Satoru's unusual behavior and cast curious glances at him.
Seeing this, Shoko tugged at Gojo Satoru's sleeve, then lowered her voice and said:
"Satoru! Calm down! Let's talk somewhere else."
Then Shoko pulled Gojo Satoru along, and the two quickly walked into a nearby alley.
Seeing that the surroundings had quieted down a bit, Gojo Satoru couldn't wait to ask:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, what exactly happened? How are you feeling right now? And what's going on with Geto?!"
"Let me start by talking about myself. To put it simply, I am indeed dead."
Zenin Kiyoshi's voice carried a bitter smile.
"But my soul did not dissipate for some reason; instead, it became attached to some special Cursed Spirit Orbs (likely context for 'cursed object' based on previous translation, but 'cursed object' is more general)." [Correction: Keeping it as 'cursed objects' as it's a general term here, not necessarily Geto's orbs] ...attached to some special Cursed Objects."
Shoko keenly noticed:
"So you can communicate with us through some medium? What exactly is that medium? What kind of Cursed Object?"
Zenin Kiyoshi replied softly:
"I don't know exactly what kind of Cursed Object it is, but I do know that each time I appear, it consumes a lot of energy and I can't last too long."
Chapter-327
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the two people in front of him, deep in thought, and sighed inwardly.
He made up the story about curses and such, since he couldn't possibly explain so many complicated things in a place like this.
Even Zenin Kiyoshi himself wasn't quite sure about his current state.
It's somewhat similar to the state one is in when first entering Gojo Satoru's illusionary realm, a state where one could dissipate at any moment.
He must find a way to exist in the long term, or even to influence the world, during this period.
Otherwise, if the timeline continues to unfold in such a bland manner, once Geto Suguru dies, it is very likely that the same situation will occur in the real world.
According to Zenin Kiyoshi's estimation, the final deadline will most likely be Christmas ten years from now. If Geto Suguru fails to change the fate of this world before his death...
Taking a deep breath, Zenin Kiyoshi calmed himself down and organized his thoughts.
He looked at the two people in front of him, who were somewhat stunned, and softly offered his advice:
"You don't need to show that expression. At least I can keep my consciousness from dissipating and maintain my own state. There will always be a way to deal with the rest."
Anyway, this is already the lowest point; from here on out, it's all going uphill, don't you think?
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words of comfort, Gojo Satoru's expression visibly improved. The gloom that had previously lingered on his face due to Geto's departure had lessened considerably. He looked in what he believed to be Zenin Kiyoshi's direction, and his voice was noticeably more relaxed:
"You're still as optimistic as ever, but you're right, at least that's true..."
Before Gojo Satoru could finish speaking, Zenin Kiyoshi interrupted him.
"Hey, Satoru, I'm to your right, what are you saying to a trash can?"
"Shut up! You bastard, couldn't you at least give me a heads-up?! I can't even see you!"
"Why didn't you just ask me directly? Oh~ Is it because you don't want to bow down to me and want to maintain your persona?"
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's familiar teasing, Gojo Satoru's face instantly flushed red again, and Shoko also showed a long-lost smile at this moment. He looked at Gojo Satoru, who was chattering away again, and for a moment he felt as if he had returned to the past.
However, thinking about Geto Suguru's farewell not long ago, Shoko couldn't help but feel depressed. She knew that some things and some people could never go back to the past.
Seeing Shoko's silence, Gojo Satoru naturally knew the reason. He looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, his voice somewhat bitter:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, is there really nothing you can do about Geto's situation?"
Even though Zenin Kiyoshi knew the two of them couldn't see, he still subconsciously shook his head and then said:
"What has already happened, how could I possibly undo it? Those ordinary people were indeed killed by Geto with his own hands, and Geto was in a conscious and normal state when he killed them. No matter what, this matter cannot be washed away."
Even if I could be resurrected right now, the only thing I could do would probably be to arrest Geto and make him face the judgment he deserves.
Zenin Kiyoshi's words weighed heavily on Gojo Satoru's heart like a boulder. He sighed deeply. The scene before Geto Suguru left, and the words he spoke, still felt like a sharp thorn stuck in his heart, growing more painful with each heartbeat.
"So I want you to try and persuade him. At least it's not too late, not too late for us to..."
Zenin Kiyoshi interrupted Gojo Satoru once again, saying to the two of them:
"Now is not the time to say these things, Satoru and Shoko. Just know that I am not dead yet. Don't be as dejected as before. You still have a lot to do. Don't keep being so downcast."
I don't have much time left to communicate with you. I don't know when I'll appear again, but believe me, I'm not a figment of your imagination. I'll go check on Geto, and I'll try my best to contact you here at the college.
In short, that's all I can say. If there's anything else...
Before Zenin Kiyoshi could finish speaking, he found himself being forcibly pushed away from Gojo Satoru and Shoko by some force, and he was completely unable to get closer to the two of them.
Seeing this, Zenin Kiyoshi only sighed and did not continue to rush forward stubbornly. After all, he had tried several times before, but it had done almost nothing except to make him weaker.
Meanwhile, Gojo Satoru and Shoko, after noticing that Zenin Kiyoshi's words had suddenly stopped, tried calling out to him twice, but found that it had no effect.
"Shoko, what we just encountered wasn't an illusion, nor was it some kind of Cursed Spirit, right?"
Gojo Satoru lowered his head, his voice sounding somewhat heavy, but the almost trembling tension in his words still revealed his thoughts slightly.
Shoko looked at Gojo Satoru, then at the empty alley around her. She wanted to say something to encourage him, but she didn't know how to start. Just then, she noticed the trash can next to Gojo Satoru.
Recalling what Zenin Kiyoshi had just said, Shoko smiled and glanced at Gojo Satoru, then said:
"Were you really talking to the trash can just now? It's like you want to talk bad about Zenin Kiyoshi behind her back, but you need to find a suitable target to vent on. Compared to a trash can, Zenin Kiyoshi is more like a robot vacuum cleaner, isn't she?"
"Huh? What kind of nonsensical analogy is that?"
Gojo Satoru didn't quite understand Shoko's metaphor, but he knew in his heart that Shoko was affirming his question from earlier.
They both paused for a moment, then looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter.
"Shoko, you heard what Kiyoshi said just now, didn't you?"
"I'm not some idiot who spends all day using Reverse Cursed Techniques to repair his brain; I naturally remembered everything he said."
Shoko's sarcastic remark left Gojo Satoru somewhat helpless. He poked his head, then laughed and said:
"My brain is very fresh. It's basically a brand new brain that's been repaired every minute using the Reverse Cursed Technique. But since you remember it too, we two need to work hard from now on. We can't let Zenin Kiyoshi still worry about and be tired for our sake while she's in this state."
"Idiot~ I understand this without you having to tell me."
Chapter-328
Neither Gojo Satoru nor Shoko spoke at that moment, but they knew that they had returned to those carefree days.
The wind blowing from the alleyway carried the noise of the street corner, but it couldn't blow away the renewed hope in their hearts.
"However, in this situation, we first need to find out exactly what happened to Zenin Kiyoshi."
Gojo Satoru frowned, stroking his smooth chin, and then murmured:
"Since Zenin Kiyoshi can communicate with us through Cursed Objects, there might be relevant records in the archives of the college. After all, there are cases of sorcerers from the past thousand years in there, and we might be able to find a similar case."
Moreover, given Zenin Kiyoshi's current state, where he has difficulty even speaking to us, he certainly wouldn't be able to turn the pages of the books, so we'll have to do these things ourselves.
Shoko nodded without hesitation at Gojo Satoru's suggestion. She glanced at the dessert shop not far away, her voice slightly unsteady:
"Hmm, I'll check the information in a bit, but before that..."
At this point, Shoko paused slightly, then pointed to Gojo Satoru's dirty uniform and said with a smile:
"You need to go back and change your clothes first. Even though Geto has become like that, you know perfectly well that he will not leave before you arrive, even if you make him stay there for several hours."
If I were you, I would definitely let that guy Geto stand here for the whole afternoon, instead of running over here panting like you.
Look at your clothes, they're covered in dust. If Principal Yaga sees you like this, she'll say you're damaging the image of the college again.
Gojo Satoru chuckled and shook his head at Shoko's teasing and concern, then said:
"The old man is such a worrywart~ But it's a bit surprising that you reminded me of that, Shoko. I never thought you were the type to be so concerned about others~"
Although his words were full of teasing, the relief and warmth in Gojo Satoru's eyes were undeniable.
Shoko turned her head slightly, her gaze still fixed on the dessert shop not far from the street, as if the four figures were still there.
"Ah~ you mean this? It's all thanks to Zenin Kiyoshi. After Zenin Kiyoshi died, I dreamed about him one night. He was really fierce then, and he told me with a serious face that I should take good care of you two. He said a lot of random things..."
How should I put it? It's like I'm a mother hen, entrusting you two immature brats to me. But unfortunately, I've already lost one of you. As for you, I can't let you go astray, can I?
Hearing this, a flicker of sadness crossed Gojo Satoru's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by strength and hope. He looked at Shoko and remarked:
"It's like a divorced couple's parting words. You two are really strange."
Upon hearing the words "divorced couple," Shoko felt her face flush slightly. She turned around and said directly:
"You idiot, hurry up and go!"
Just as they were about to leave the alley, Gojo Satoru suddenly stopped, looked at Shoko with a serious expression, and said in a low voice:
"Shoko, regarding the issue with Zenin Kiyoshi, we must not reveal this information to anyone before he personally tells others about his existence. After all, Zenin Kiyoshi is very fragile right now and doesn't even have the ability to talk to us. If those bastards find Zenin Kiyoshi before us, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
After all, Kenjaku is still around, and he might figure out a way to see Zenin Kiyoshi even before we do.
If they manage to arrest Zenin Kiyoshi, then it will be beyond our control to turn the situation around!
"Including Geto?"
After Gojo Satoru finished speaking, Shoko softly replied, her voice tinged with numbness:
"Well, we can't tell Geto these things right now. Geto's behavior is very strange. I have a feeling that things aren't that simple. Just look at Zenin Kiyoshi's situation. That guy probably hasn't been telling us the truth."
Hearing Shoko's words, Gojo Satoru turned around in surprise, looked at Shoko, and asked with some curiosity:
"Shoko? What do you mean? What do you mean Zenin Kiyoshi didn't tell the truth?"
Upon hearing this, Shoko nodded, a bright smile on her face, and said softly:
"You're such an idiot, Satoru. No wonder Zenin Kiyoshi came to me in her dreams but not you. After all these years, don't you know what kind of person Zenin Kiyoshi is?"
This guy is the same as always, he's never changed. He's always preferred to shoulder everything alone, and the more he cares about someone, the less willing he is to tell them the whole truth.
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru was somewhat taken aback, and even his Six Eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, seemed a little dazed.
Seeing Gojo Satoru's foolish appearance, Shoko stopped keeping him in suspense and sighed helplessly:
"You're really incredibly stupid. Zenin Kiyoshi said he can only communicate with us through [Cursed Objects], but he didn't explain what those objects are. You can tell from that that Zenin Kiyoshi is lying."
That guy is used to lying, and he often tells lies without thinking. Although he says his lies are for our own good and to keep us out of danger, if you observe him a few more times, it's actually quite easy to spot his lies.
For example, this time, he was most likely unable to talk to us for some reason, but I don't know the specific reason now. However, I am certain that it is most likely related to Geto's situation, rather than the Cursed Object he mentioned.
Believe me, Satoru, Geto will definitely be involved in what follows.
Hearing this, Gojo Satoru nodded blankly. He didn't quite understand what Shoko was saying. After all, there had been too many things to do today, and they were all important people, so he couldn't quite process his emotions for a while.
They walked out of the alley, and the sunlight shone on them again.
Pedestrians come and go on the street, and life goes on.
But Gojo Satoru and Shoko knew that from this day forward, everything would be different, at least not like those dark and hopeless times.
"Speaking of which..."
Gojo Satoru suddenly remembered something:
"Did Zenin Kiyoshi just say I was talking to the trash can? And she said it two or three times?"
Shoko couldn't help but chuckle:
"Yeah, you've asked twice already, and you even made a heartfelt confession to the trash can."
"Hey! That was just a wrong direction! And what kind of confession is that?! What are you talking about?!"
Chapter-329
At the hospital, Geto Suguru, along with Mimiko and Nanako, were paying the fees and preparing to leave.
Because Geto Suguru was worried about Nanako and Mimiko's health, he used the best of everything for their hospital stay, which made the prices relatively high.
However, at this point, money and such things are no longer of any use to Geto Suguru.
Moreover, he has worked diligently as a sorcerer over the years, completing many tasks, so he still has a lot of savings.
After paying the medical fees, he took Nanako and Mimiko's hands and walked out of the hospital.
Looking at Geto Suguru, who was silent at the moment, Mimiko assumed that he was feeling distressed because of the high bill, so she said timidly with some concern:
"Um, Lord Geto, did we pay too much money for our illness? We'll definitely earn a lot of money in the future to make up for it..."
Before Mimiko could finish speaking, Geto Suguru gently interrupted her, reaching out to pat both of their heads and whispering:
"Don't say things like that again. To me, no amount of money is as important as the two of you. Also, from now on, just live well. As for money and such, the adults will take care of it."
Upon hearing this, Nanako nodded to Geto Suguru and then said:
"Lord Geto, where are we going next?"
Geto Suguru smiled slightly upon hearing this, then looked in a direction not far away and said softly:
"Go to Okinawa. There lies the legacy left by my dearest friend. The Star Religious Group is one of the few things Zenin Kiyoshi left behind. It was because those people in the Star Religious Group wouldn't listen to advice that Zenin Kiyoshi was implicated and died. The only value of those guys is to become nourishment for me to create a new world."
Geto Suguru spoke softly, but the murderous intent in his words was almost overflowing.
At that moment, Zenin Kiyoshi stood not far from the hospital entrance, looking at Geto Suguru, who was with two girls.
Zenin Kiyoshi took two tentative steps forward, but was blocked by an inexplicable force.
However, Zenin Kiyoshi did not choose to leave. Instead, he followed Geto Suguru and the others from a distance and also went to Okinawa.
However, long afterward, Zenin Kiyoshi still couldn't find an opportunity to speak with Geto Suguru.
He went back to the Jujutsu High, but he still couldn't talk to Gojo Satoru and the others. The only thing he could do was make some noise in certain places to tell them that what happened that day was true.
Gojo Satoru and Shoko were initially frightened by Zenin Kiyoshi, but later they realized that it was Zenin Kiyoshi who was making the move, and they relaxed. Moreover, after confirming that Zenin Kiyoshi was still alive, their mood improved a lot.
Gojo Satoru would type out everything he wanted to say to Zenin Kiyoshi whenever Zenin made a commotion. Even though he didn't get a response, doing so made him feel a little better.
As for Shoko, after confirming that Zenin Kiyoshi was still alive, the first thing she did was frantically ask Zenin Kiyoshi whether he had seen her taking a bath that day.
Even if Zenin Kiyoshi wanted to answer Shoko's question, he didn't know how. After all, although he could influence reality, the way he did so was random, and even he himself couldn't be sure.
Sometimes it can move objects, sometimes it can make lights flash, and sometimes it can appear briefly in front of the other person.
So even when Shoko offered some simple answers, Zenin Kiyoshi still couldn't answer them, which made Shoko even more suspicious that Zenin Kiyoshi had seen something...
Therefore, during that period, Shoko never gave Zenin Kiyoshi a friendly look.
Of course, during this time, Zenin Kiyoshi also tried to get in touch with other people, such as Mei Mei and Principal Yaga.
Unfortunately, he couldn't even get close to those people.
However, during this process, Zenin Kiyoshi also discovered a pattern: in this illusion, the closer one gets to someone, the more approachable they become.
For those who weren't particularly close to Geto Suguru, he could barely even get close to them.
For example, he could only get within about fifty meters of Mei Mei, and even with his desperate efforts, he could only get within about seventy meters of Gakuganji Yoshinobu, with whom he had a more distant relationship.
Nanako and Mimiko were able to get within about ten meters of each other, and as time went on, Zenin Kiyoshi was also able to get closer and closer to the two of them.
On the night of the third month after Geto Suguru arrived in Okinawa, Zenin Kiyoshi successfully communicated with Mimiko and Nanako for the first time.
It was quite a coincidence that Geto Suguru happened to need to go to Star Religious Group to handle some matters that evening, and he wouldn't be home all night.
Before leaving home, Geto Suguru used his Cursed Spirit Manipulation technique to control many Cursed Spirits to protect Nanako and Mimiko, fearing that the two might be harmed.
However, those Cursed Spirits were of no use to Zenin Kiyoshi. After all, in his current state, the Cursed Spirits couldn't even detect his presence, let alone attack him.
Moreover, when Zenin Kiyoshi appeared this time, he was pleasantly surprised to find that Mimiko and Nanako could actually see him!
Although Zenin Kiyoshi didn't figure out the exact reason, it at least gave him room to maneuver.
Geto Suguru absolutely cannot continue like this. Zenin Kiyoshi has already seen for Geto Suguru that the path he is taking will, in the end, only lead to his best friend dying from scheming and the two girls he cherishes in his heart being chopped into pieces.
That kind of future is absolutely not what Geto Suguru wants to see.
When Mimiko and Nanako saw Zenin Kiyoshi suddenly appear in the corner, both of them showed an expression of extreme astonishment.
Almost the instant she saw Zenin Kiyoshi, Nanako grabbed a kitchen knife from the side and cried out in terror towards him:
"Who are you?! Why are you suddenly here?!"
As Nanako spoke, she shielded Mimiko behind her. Although she exuded a strong aura, the hand holding the kitchen knife was trembling.
Looking at Nanako, whose face was pale and body trembling slightly, Zenin Kiyoshi smiled gently, a smile identical to that of Geto Suguru. He gently raised his hand to show that he meant no harm, and said softly:
"You two don't need to be nervous. Didn't Geto tell you? He has two close friends, one named Gojo Satoru and the other named Zenin Kiyoshi, right?"
"You're lying! We know what Gojo Satoru looks like, but as for that guy named Zenin Kiyoshi, although we don't know exactly what he looks like, Lord Geto told us that he's dead!"
Chapter-330
Mimiko, listening to Nanako's words, peeked out from behind her older sister, glanced at Zenin Kiyoshi, and said timidly:
"I once secretly looked at the photos that Lord Geto Suguru hid. There was a group photo of four people, and this person was in it..."
Hearing her sister's words, Nanako's tense body relaxed slightly, but her gaze towards Zenin Kiyoshi remained unchanged. She pointed the kitchen knife at Zenin Kiyoshi, though her voice softened a bit.
"Mimiko! Don't talk to that guy yet. There are quite a few sorcerers who can change their appearance!"
Lord Geto Suguru said that Zenin Kiyoshi is dead, and now you've suddenly appeared here. I don't believe you are him!
Zenin Kiyoshi smiled slightly, showing no dissatisfaction with Nanako's questioning; on the contrary, he was quite pleased with the child's vigilance.
Moonlight streamed through the window at this moment, casting a soft glow on his translucent figure. Zenin Kiyoshi's voice drifted in, tinged with a hint of helplessness and bitterness:
"Yes, in theory he is indeed dead, but in his current state, even I can't explain it clearly. But I have an inexplicable obsession in my heart, which is to come and see Geto and see how that guy is doing now."
As he said this, Zenin Kiyoshi slowly took a step forward. He keenly noticed that the distance between himself and the two girls had now been reduced to less than three meters, which was the biggest breakthrough in three months.
At this moment, Nanako was still gripping the kitchen knife tightly, but the trembling in her body had noticeably decreased, and although her tone still revealed disbelief, it had softened considerably.
"How can you prove that you are Zenin Kiyoshi? I need something that can be directly proven, otherwise you should leave here immediately and come back when Lord Geto Suguru is here."
Zenin Kiyoshi thought for a moment about Nanako's question, then said softly:
"That guy Geto wasn't really good at math when he was a kid. He basically copied all the questions from my tests, and also..."
As Zenin Kiyoshi spoke of these matters, his gaze softened considerably:
"Also, Geto is actually allergic to mangoes, but he never dares to tell anyone because he feels ashamed. He once said that it was too embarrassing for a top-level sorcerer like himself to be defeated by something like a mango."
Upon hearing this, Mimiko's face revealed a faint smile, and she covered her mouth with amusement:
"Even we didn't know that..."
Nanako lowered the cleaver in her hand slightly. Zenin Kiyoshi had just described many details of Geto Suguru's life, and those details matched everything she had observed during this period. It was highly likely that the guy in front of her was Zenin Kiyoshi himself.
Even so, Nanako still harbored some resentment towards Zenin Kiyoshi. She slightly lowered the cleaver, then said with a mixture of confusion and reproach:
"But if you really are Zenin Kiyoshi, then why did you only come out now? And why did you become like this? Do you know that Lord Geto often calls your name in his dreams? Why did you choose to leave when Lord Geto needed help the most?"
Lord Geto considers you his most important partner, always putting you first. These past few days, Lord Geto has mentioned your name almost every single day. So why haven't you come to see him? Do you even know how much Lord Geto...?"
"I know."
Zenin Kiyoshi's voice was apologetic, and it was somewhat hoarse:
"It is precisely because I know these things that I must come to see you. I need to pass on some messages to Geto through you, but for some reason, I am currently unable to get close to Geto or say anything to him."
As Zenin Kiyoshi spoke, he looked around the fairly clean and tidy residence. On the wall of the room, there were "family rules" handwritten by Geto Suguru. The first rule was "to cherish every companion around you, just as Zenin Kiyoshi once said."
He looked at the note written on the wall and felt a little emotional. He squatted down, reached out, and patted the two of them on the head.
"Geto has gone down the wrong path."
Zenin Kiyoshi looked directly into the eyes of the two girls, his voice calm yet firm.
"And the only ones who can stop him are you."
Mimiko listened to Zenin's words, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, a slightly conflicted look on her face:
"But Lord Geto said... those monkeys, no, ordinary people, are the main cause of our deaths as sorcerers, and also the root of the birth of Cursed Spirits in this world."
Nanako glanced at Zenin with a hint of resentment, her voice tinged with disgust for ordinary people:
"I'm different from you guys. I'm a very selfish person. I can't sacrifice my life for those unrelated people, risk my life to kill monsters for them, and then be used as the source of all the calamities, locked in a cage and beaten and abused!"
At this point, Nanako clearly recalled past events, and her expression became somewhat agitated.
"There are indeed bad people among ordinary people."
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at Nanako's appearance without any surprise. He squatted down to be at eye level with them.
"But more often, there are kind people like your parents. I've investigated the records in your area. Weren't your parents killed by the other angry villagers while trying to protect you?"
There's something else you probably don't know: when you were a little over two years old, a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit appeared on the mountain where your village is located. There were two sorcerers in charge of your area at the time, and both of them died there.
The two men perished together with the Cursed Spirit. It wasn't until they were finally discovered that the sorcerer breathed his last. He told the Assistant Manager that they had completed their mission and protected the villagers at the foot of the mountain, and that those villagers were you.
These sorcerers' families are ordinary people, and what Geto is doing now is harming innocent people, harming those who once protected you with their lives.
Upon hearing this, Nanako felt a bit confused, but the thought of the villagers' faces immediately agitated her:
"But those bastards! The way they treated us! Do you know how we got through that time?! Do you know what kind of hell we went through?!"
Mimiko stepped out from behind Nanako, looking directly at Zenin Kiyoshi for the first time, her voice tinged with an indelible resentment:
"I absolutely cannot forgive them for what they did to us! I absolutely cannot forgive them!"
Zenin Kiyoshi smiled slightly. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating his translucent figure. He gazed at the two of them, his gentle gaze seemingly enveloping them.
"No one is asking you to forgive them. What those people did should not be forgiven by anyone. But those people you cannot forgive are now dead, aren't they?"
Ask yourselves, is the reason you can't forgive ordinary people your own thoughts, or is it because of the ideas that Geto instilled in you?
It's actually very simple. As far as I know, your parents are ordinary people. If they appeared in front of you right now, would you kill them too?
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Mimiko and Nanako, who were already quite young, fell silent. They couldn't refute the question, and they couldn't even confirm the essential question that Zenin Kiyoshi had raised.
Is their hatred of ordinary people truly due to their own nature?
No... to be precise, do those two really hate ordinary people?
The answer is obvious: they do not have the same intense hatred for ordinary people as Geto Suguru.
Because Nanako and Mimiko themselves did not have the kind of experiences that could support their hatred, they did not have the motivation to hate all ordinary people so much from the bottom of their hearts.
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the two silent people and was not in a hurry to make any more progress here. Things could not be rushed. Mimiko and Nanako were extremely dependent on Geto Suguru at the moment. It was unreasonable and unrealistic to try to change their minds quickly.
Rushing things will only bring back painful memories for the two sisters, making things even more difficult.
So Zenin Kiyoshi stopped trying to persuade them and instead whispered to the two of them:
"I came to see you two today because I wanted you to pass on a message to Geto. He would be very happy if you could help me convey it. But who knows, maybe you could also help me out?"