'Then what about you? What about your own mental state?'
Higuruma's friend's voice echoed in his ears once more.
He had always been busy saving others, yet he had forgotten that before gaining his technique, he himself had only been a "weakling."
A stubborn weakling, to the point that after gaining power, he had even used violence to vent anger for his innocent clients.
"Can it really be done?"
He felt a little lost.
'I remember your goal was to become a lawyer or a prosecutor, right? Have you ever considered becoming a judge?'
Higuruma recalled a respected teacher asking him that after he had easily passed the difficult old judicial exams.
'No, I don't think so. I'm not that ambitious. I'm not suited to be a judge.'
He had refused.
A judge was directly tied to the upper levels of power, and he had no interest in fame or status, nor did he want to become a pawn in someone else's hands.
Yet somehow, things had turned out like this.
"As long as you follow behind me, that's enough. Ahead of me, there is no enemy," Mukuro answered his quiet question, and at the same time, their hands finally met.
Higuruma, who had been almost fully submerged in the tub, was pulled up.
If special grade sorcerers were the ones to set the rules of the jujutsu world, everything would fall into chaos.
They were people who lived without restraint, so how could they possibly create rules suitable for ordinary sorcerers? A genius's mindset could never be used to govern the masses.
But now, Higuruma was here. He was both a genius and someone who truly wanted to save the weak. Mukuro believed he would deliver an answer worth trusting.
"As for why I came to find you earlier, help me add a rule first. Something about point transfers."
Mukuro smiled as their conversation returned to his original purpose.
"Kogane, I want to add a rule."
After understanding what he meant, Higuruma casually waved his hand and summoned his own white bug.
"Understood! Rule addition approved!"
In the next moment, every player's Kogane appeared and announced the new rule.
Rule 10: Points between players can be transferred. And when a player is killed, their points will automatically transfer to the one who killed them.
At the same time, any points gained or lost through Rule 10 would also be subject to Rule 8's point changes.
Since the Culling Game was essentially designed to sustain itself, this kind of transfer actually improved its continuity, so Kogane had no reason to reject it.
* * *
"The one who added it… Higuruma? So Fushiguro-san handled it!"
Outside the theater, Nitta and the others couldn't help but feel excited when they saw the update.
Even though only a short time had passed, it had felt much longer for them.
It wasn't that they thought Mukuro would fail. They just felt uneasy waiting outside.
"That's insane… even Higuruma…"
Amai felt deeply relieved, realizing he had made the best decision of his life earlier.
This was enough. As long as he followed strong people and survived, even if it meant lowering himself, it didn't matter.
Just then, Mukuro walked out of the theater with Higuruma beside him.
"This is Hiromi Higuruma. From now on, he's our new ally. He used to be an excellent lawyer. You can trust him. He's reliable."
Seeing everyone hesitate, Mukuro gave an introduction.
Regardless of anything else, based on Higuruma's character alone, once he accepted someone as an ally, he would be someone they could rely on.
"Ah… welcome!"
Nitta and the two Windows were stunned for a moment, then hurriedly reached out to greet the man.
"I'll do my best."
Higuruma still wore that lifeless expression, but he was at least trying to respond to everyone's warmth.
These people… were all "weaklings" who were willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others.
For the first time, a faint light flickered in Higuruma's eyes.
"So, Fushiguro-san, what's the plan next?"
After the brief exchange, Nitta turned her attention back to Mukuro.
"Higuruma, I'll leave it to you to take them and continue helping players nearby who have no will to fight. Then head back to the original meeting point and wait for the new rule to be added."
Mukuro began giving instructions.
Within the entire Tokyo No. 1 colony, no one would be a match for Higuruma, so with him around, there was no need to keep Nitta and the others by his side.
Their safety would also be guaranteed.
"As for me, I'll go borrow some more points from others. Of course, you're coming with me."
Mukuro pointed at Amai.
"Eh! Me? I… I…"
He stammered, wanting to refuse but not daring to say it out loud.
"You don't have the right to choose."
That one sentence shut him up completely.
"Yes!"
Just like that, the group split into two.
Nitta and the others headed toward areas with fewer resources, while Mukuro brought Amai toward another busy district, Shinjuku.
* * *
"Um… I'm actually really, really weak. I'm afraid I'll just drag you down if I stay with you. And I've been in Ikebukuro this whole time, so I don't really know this area either…"
On the way, unable to bear the silence any longer, Amai finally gathered the courage to speak, his voice so soft he could barely hear himself.
"No need to worry. I just need to borrow your 'player' status. I won't kill you."
Mukuro saw through his concern immediately.
Since he wasn't recognized by the Culling Game, if he kept killing like before, all those points would be wasted, so he needed a "player" to finish off the targets.
"I… I see. Haha…"
Amai let out an awkward laugh as the weight in his chest eased a little.
Bang!
Suddenly, a girl with a long bun-like ponytail rushed out from a nearby alley, holding a sharp dagger as she stabbed straight at Amai.
But Mukuro flicked his finger lightly, and the dagger snapped before it could reach him, the force also knocking the girl to the ground.
"So numb…"
She looked at her trembling hands and puffed her cheeks in complaint.
"Perfect. I have something to ask you."
Mukuro walked up and looked down at her, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
He remembered her.
She had almost gotten his nephew killed.
"What the heck~ You did something so rough to me, and you're still acting so fierce!"
The girl pouted, clearly displeased.
In her mind, men weren't the type to behave just because you'd taken a hit from them; to make them willingly become your knight, to capture their heart…
Pfft!
Before she could finish her thoughts, a spray of blood interrupted her.
In front of her, Mukuro was already holding a severed arm, killing intent overflowing from his eyes.
"I'll say it again. I have something to ask you."
**
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