Takuto Yasuwaki understood one thing perfectly.
If everything Satoru Gojo had said was true, then Cursed Spirits, beings that could almost completely ignore physical attacks, were even more terrifying than the Gastrea.
Unless someone possessed the power known as Cursed Energy, there was simply no way to fight them.
Still...
There was one important detail.
Gojo had also said that Cursed Spirits would only become widespread once large numbers of people learned to use Cursed Energy.
If only a handful of people mastered it, perhaps only a select few like himself, then the overall impact on the world shouldn't be nearly as severe.
"Are there many Cursed Spirits right now?" Takuto asked.
"Besides the one attached to me, I haven't seen any others yet."
His heart immediately leaped.
If that was the case, then adding one or two more users shouldn't be a problem.
"So there's still room to work with."
His expression turned serious.
"What about magic?"
"Magic doesn't have those drawbacks. It's pretty much what you'd expect from fantasy stories. The only real difference is that magic is divided into different attributes."
Takuto's eyes lit up.
"What kinds?"
"Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, Yin Attribute, and Yang Attribute."
"The power you experienced earlier was Yin Attribute magic."
Gojo smiled casually.
"That's about everything worth mentioning. Is there anything else you'd like to know, Mr. Yasuwaki?"
Takuto suddenly stood and bowed deeply.
"Mr. Gojo."
"I know this request may be presumptuous."
"But if it's at all possible..."
"I hope you'll teach these two powers to more people."
"We don't need many users of Cursed Energy because of the danger posed by Cursed Spirits. A small number would be enough. But if magic could be taught on a large scale, humanity would have a much easier time fighting the Gastrea. People wouldn't have to keep living like..."
"Mr. Yasuwaki."
Gojo interrupted him with a smile.
"You don't have to dress it up with grand speeches."
"I'm not particularly interested in lofty ideals."
"I already told you why I came to Tokyo."
"I just want to live a peaceful, ordinary life."
He rested one arm on the table.
"If you want something, it's only natural that you give something in return."
"So..."
"What exactly can you offer me?"
His bright blue eyes settled on Takuto.
"I don't think that's something you're authorized to decide."
For the first time, Takuto's composure faltered.
Only for an instant.
The subtle change disappeared almost immediately as he regained control of himself.
"You can rest assured about that, Mr. Gojo."
"I came here under Seitenshi's direct orders."
"If you're interested in cooperating, I'm certain Lady Seitenshi will provide an answer that satisfies you."
"Seitenshi..."
Gojo smiled.
"In that case, let's continue this conversation tomorrow."
He stretched lazily as he stood.
"It's getting late."
"Staying up all night isn't exactly healthy."
Beside him, Betty finished the last sip of her juice and climbed to her feet.
"You don't need me to tell you where we're staying."
"I'm sure you'll find it."
"See you tomorrow, Mr. Yasuwaki."
Without waiting for another reply, Gojo and Betty left the reception room together.
Takuto watched them disappear through the doorway.
For just a moment, a cold gleam flashed through his eyes.
Then it vanished without a trace.
...
After leaving the military base, the pair rose into the night sky and flew back toward their apartment.
"I don't like that man," Betty remarked.
"It doesn't matter."
Gojo shrugged.
"He's just a stepping stone."
"The important part is the people behind him."
"Is that really necessary?" Betty asked. "From what I've seen, the people in this world only rely on firearms, mechanical enhancements, and the Cursed Children. I don't think there's much to care about."
"I'm only doing this because it's convenient."
He spread his hands.
"Whether it's getting legal identities or finding things that interest us, having connections makes everything easier."
"It'll save us a lot of trouble."
"And it'll make living here much more comfortable."
Betty glanced at him.
"Like when you supported Felt in the royal selection?"
"I only did that because I thought we were trapped there forever."
He grinned.
"I figured I might as well earn enough money to live comfortably."
"When you put it that way..."
"It's basically the same as now."
"Do whatever you want."
Betty yawned.
"But don't expect me to become some teacher."
"Relax."
Gojo laughed.
"You think everyone is a genius like me?"
"Even if I taught them magic, they'd probably spend ages just trying to learn Shamak."
Laughing together, they returned quietly to their apartment without disturbing any of the other residents.
Moments after they entered the building, a drone that had been following from a distance drifted into position above the apartment.
Several military jeeps also arrived and parked nearby, silently monitoring the building from every direction.
...
Back at the military base, Takuto remained seated in the reception room.
He absentmindedly turned the empty chocolate wrapper Gojo had left behind while staring at a map displayed on his phone, replaying every word of their conversation.
"Sir."
One of his subordinates entered.
"The targets have returned to their apartment. Surveillance teams are already in position."
Takuto looked up.
"Good."
He handed over the chocolate wrapper.
"Investigate this address."
"And send the remaining crumbs for analysis."
"I want to know when this chocolate was actually produced."
The soldier blinked.
"A chocolate wrapper?"
He couldn't understand why a candy manufacturer was worth investigating.
Then he looked more closely at the printed address.
His expression immediately changed.
The soldier was around thirty years old.
When the Great Gastrea War broke out, he'd just entered adulthood.
Unlike many younger people, he still remembered life before civilization collapsed.
Which was precisely why the address shocked him.
It wasn't located anywhere within present-day Tokyo.
The city still carried the same name, but its territory had shrunk to barely a quarter of what it once was.
The Gastrea had steadily driven humanity back until the construction of the Monoliths finally halted their advance.
The factory listed on the wrapper was deep inside territory long since occupied by the Gastrea.
Even stranger...
The production date printed on the package was more than twenty years old.
Chocolate could last for years if stored properly.
Even over a decade wasn't impossible.
But the wrapper in his hand looked almost brand new.
The crumbs inside certainly didn't resemble something manufactured decades ago.
The entire thing was inexplicably bizarre.
Under ordinary circumstances, Takuto would've dismissed such an oddity as meaningless.
But this wrapper had come from that mysterious man.
That alone made it worthy of investigation.
"Yes, sir!"
The soldier carefully packed away the wrapper before leaving to carry out the order.
Takuto turned toward the pitch-black window.
Instead of fading, the ambition burning inside him only grew stronger.
Having personally witnessed that overwhelming power...
He wanted it even more than before.
"No matter what..."
"I'll obtain that power."
He slowly clenched his fist, whispering the vow to himself.
...
The next morning.
As soon as his alarm rang, Rentaro Satomi rubbed the sleep from his eyes and climbed out of bed.
As a part-time high school student trying to save every yen he could, he woke up early every day to prepare breakfast and packed lunches for himself and Enju Aihara.
The meals weren't luxurious, but they had to be filling.
If he was called out on a mission that afternoon, he'd need the energy to fight.
After washing up, he found Enju still fast asleep.
She hadn't even stirred while he busied himself in the kitchen.
Compared to yesterday, the refrigerator looked completely different.
Thanks to Gojo's generosity, it was now packed with every kind of ingredient imaginable.
Before, he could barely afford enough food to add any variety to their meals.
Now there were so many expensive ingredients that he didn't even know what to cook first.
Looking at the overflowing refrigerator, Rentaro couldn't help smiling.
Happiness had arrived so suddenly.
Humming softly, he quickly finished preparing breakfast.
He intentionally made extra so the leftovers could be packed into lunch boxes.
"Enju."
He untied his apron.
"Wake up. Breakfast's ready."
Still rubbing her eyes, Enju threw off her blanket and climbed out of bed.
Seeing him head toward the front door, she asked drowsily,
"Where are you going?"
"Aren't we leaving together today?"
"I'm going to ask if Gojo and Betty want breakfast."
Their identities were still suspicious.
He couldn't deny that.
But so far, neither of them had shown any hostility toward him.
On the contrary, they'd helped him.
The least he could do was return the kindness.
As soon as he stepped outside his apartment, a warning instinct prickled across his skin.
Someone was watching him.
Without changing his expression, he calmly walked toward Gojo's apartment.
As he turned the corner, the mechanical eye hidden beneath his bangs activated.
In a fraction of a second, his enhanced vision swept across the street, nearby buildings, and rows of windows.
By the time he reached Gojo's door and turned his back to the hallway, his expression had become considerably more serious.
During that brief scan, he'd already spotted several concealed figures observing the apartment from a nearby window.
He'd also noticed newly installed surveillance cameras overlooking the street.
A bad feeling settled in his stomach.
Everything had been perfectly normal yesterday.
The only thing that had changed...
Was the arrival of his new neighbors.
A cold weight settled between his shoulders.
The hand he'd raised to knock on the door suddenly felt much heavier.
Reason told him that after only one day of contact, he probably hadn't been dragged too deeply into whatever this was.
But if he kept getting involved...
Rentaro hesitated.
Then he knocked.
Knock. Knock knock.
The sound echoed through the apartment.
Silence answered him.
No footsteps.
No voices.
Frowning, he knocked again.
This time he finally heard movement.
Footsteps approached before the door opened.
Betty stood there in her pajamas.
"What is it?"
"I made breakfast."
Rentaro spoke calmly.
"I wanted to ask if you'd like to join us."
He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.
Betty looked at him in confusion.
Rentaro immediately pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message before holding the screen between them.
The angle was carefully chosen.
His body blocked one side while the wall blocked the other, making it nearly impossible for anyone outside to read the screen.
The message read:
[Someone is watching the apartment.]
Betty stared blankly.
She couldn't read.
"...Wait."
She turned and walked away.
Rentaro quickly flipped the phone back before anyone else could see it.
A moment later, an indignant cry from Gojo echoed through the apartment.
Soon the two of them emerged together.
"Oh, it's Rentaro."
Gojo yawned, looking thoroughly half asleep.
"Morning."
"What's up?"
"I came to invite you to breakfast."
As he spoke, Rentaro briefly showed him the phone screen again.
Gojo glanced at the message.
"Breakfast?"
He smiled.
"That sounds great."
"I'll wash up and be right over."
"As for this..."
He casually waved a hand.
"Don't worry about it."
"We'll talk properly once I get there."
He turned toward Betty.
"Come on."
"Go brush your teeth."
Only moments earlier, Rentaro had been convinced something serious was happening.
Yet somehow, seeing Gojo remain so completely unconcerned eased the tension in his chest.
Maybe...
It was simply because of how confident the man was.
As Rentaro walked back to his own apartment, that thought lingered in his mind.
A few minutes later, Gojo and Betty arrived.
Two steaming plates of breakfast were already waiting on the table.
"This is nice."
Gojo's eyes lit up.
"Whoever marries you someday is going to be a very lucky person."