Chapter 194: Kechizu: We are Best Friends!
In truth, the actual situation in Shibuya was far more complex than the average person could imagine.
For example, although nearly a hundred sorcerers remained on the perimeter of Shibuya, they had no way of entering the [Curtain] to provide direct assistance to Jujutsu High.
This was because the mastermind behind these crimes had utilized the panic and ignorance of the trapped citizens to send a message to the outside world—a demand for Gojo Satoru to come alone to resolve the trouble.
The original message spreading through the crowd was roughly: Only if Gojo Satoru arrives on the scene will we have a chance of being released.
However, due to the high degree of hearsay and the fact that humans are a species prone to outbursts of malice during crises, by the time the auxiliary supervisors received the information, the meaning had twisted into another extreme.
'Hurry up and trade Gojo Satoru's life for ours.'
This was essentially the final sentiment being relayed.
While it was inevitable that a few thousand "trash" individuals among the 200,000 would unashamedly expose their filth and warp the message, it likely represented the will of the majority.
After all, the ordinary people trapped in the [Curtain] knew nothing of the jujutsu world or Cursed Spirits; naturally, they didn't understand what Gojo Satoru represented to the world, nor even who he was.
If it were a matter of trading one's own life for another's, most people (excluding the aforementioned trash) would find it hard to express such an intent; a few good souls might even choose self-sacrifice.
But what happens when one side of the scale holds hundreds of thousands of lives—including one's own—and the other side holds only one person?
They begin to feel their side's lives are more important, becoming self-righteous in their subconscious. After all, who wants to die an innocent death? Especially since the young people in Shibuya were the types who had specifically come out to enjoy life.
However, comparing actual value, the lives of 200,000 non-sorcerers might truly not equal Gojo Satoru alone... though the moment humans begin comparing lives in such a manner, they have already lost.
Nevertheless, the General Headquarters issued a similar order: Gojo Satoru was to enter the [Curtain] alone for a solo confrontation, while everyone else was to remain on standby within designated zones.
This was allegedly to ensure the safety of the non-sorcerers, but anyone could see through it—is a hostage safer under the protection of the kidnapper or the guard of the police?
If you believe a kidnapper who says they won't "kill the hostage," what kind of three-year-old child are you?
Unfortunately, while Gojo Satoru could ignore the HQ's orders at will, Grade 2 sorcerers and auxiliary supervisors could not.
This was why Gojo had spoken to his students as he did; the Higher-ups would never acknowledge that the students possessed combat power above Grade 1, nor would they allow them to step inside the [Curtain]. Gojo's speech was intended to prepare them for a total fallout with the General Headquarters. Who told the "old guys" to push things to such an irreconcilable state?
Gojo wasn't afraid of such things. He had chosen to endure previously only to provide a safe growth environment for his students. Now, with Emiya's help, the students had grown faster in one month than he had ever expected, reaching the level he had hoped for with even more room to grow.
It was perfect! With students like these, why follow orders from an HQ that only caused negative outcomes? Was he a masochist?
Fortunately, many people at the lower levels of the jujutsu world were sensible.
They knew how to save more lives and were willing to provide the students with a degree of help.
The six students were split into two teams. Itadori's first-year team entered from the East, while Zen'in Maki's second-year team entered from the South. The division of three per team was reasonable, though Itadori's side had the unexpected addition of the brothers, Eso and Kechizu.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! This thing is huge too!"
After being the first to step past the edge of the [Curtain], Itadori Yuji once again let out a shout of awe while gazing at the sky. Fushiguro and Nobara, half a step behind, were about to scold him for his shouting, but the moment they subconsciously looked up, they understood.
"Such a massive [Gate]... what kind of ritual are they trying to prepare?"
It was a shock that could only be understood by seeing it in person. The tall pillars standing before them even exceeded the skyscrapers humans took pride in. Two pillars merged to support a [Gate] for some unknown creature. Compared to this, even the exaggeratedly large Mahoraga would look like an insignificant ant.
According to the intel from the auxiliary supervisors, there were four such "gates" in the North, South, East, and West of the barrier's range.
"Fushiguro, Fushiguro, what do you think we should do? Do we go inside and head to another world?" Itadori sounded almost excited for an unknown isekai adventure.
"Forget it. Stopping the ritual isn't the task Gojo-sensei gave us, and the way to stop it definitely isn't to walk inside like an idiot.
Our priority is to save the non-sorcerers inside. That's the enemy's biggest leverage... once that concern is gone, Gojo-sensei and Emiya-sensei can easily deal with the enemy."
While Fushiguro was seriously considering the possibility of rescuing the civilians, he didn't realize that their entry into the [Curtain] had been spotted—especially with Eso and Kechizu following them.
"Look over there! Those people seem to have come from the transparent wall!"
"It's true, I saw it!"
"And what kind of monsters are those following them? Why do they look so scary..."
"Regardless, they must know what's going on. Let's grab them and ask!"
A normal person's first reaction to something they can't understand is fear. But when their numbers reach a certain point and the "other side" looks somewhat easy to pick on, the nature of "bullying the weak while fearing the strong" kicks in. If the towering Mahoraga were standing there instead of Kechizu—who was no bigger than a small dog—would they dare speak so loudly?
"Not good... let's move!"
Seeing the crowd beginning to swarm toward them, Fushiguro immediately turned and called for everyone to start running.
"Why, Fushiguro? Aren't we here to save them? They should be thanking us."
Smart people were already running; the "not-so-smart" Itadori was still stunned and asking questions.
"Are you an idiot? Do you have any reason to make them believe you? Do you really think they'll listen to your questions?"
Jujutsu High didn't have stamped student IDs, and even if they did, he couldn't expect a mob of ordinary people to understand them. They had no time to waste on civilians!
"Why do you have so many questions? Just move!" Compared to Fushiguro's explanation, Nobara was more direct. She kicked Itadori in the butt, nearly dragging him away.
With their abnormal physical stats, they easily lost the crowd, but were immediately faced with a more severe problem. Where exactly was the core of the technique within this barrier?
This was a massive area with a two-kilometer radius. Without a specific target, they would be looking for a needle in a haystack of 200,000 people. Within this radius, there were several
large malls and dozens of skyscrapers; searching just one would take over an hour. They didn't have time to waste.
"So what now, Fushiguro? Where's the enemy?" Standing on a building rooftop, Itadori asked.
"I can't tell... even [Gyokuken] can't pick up a specific scent. Or rather, the anomalies in this barrier are too cluttered." Fushiguro patted the Divine Dog's back and shook his head. The dog's ability could smell residual traces, but this place was somehow covered in them, making the shikigami's nose useless.
"Aw, man..."
"Itadori, Itadori, I have a way! I do!"
Just as Itadori lowered his head in frustration, Kechizu suddenly leaned in and whispered.
"Really?!"
"Really, really!"
"Great! Can you tell us where the enemy is? I'll definitely ask Emiya-sensei to give you credit!"
"No problem. I'm not doing it for a reward... we're friends, after all."
"Right, right!"
Aside from Eso, who was moved to tears because his brother had found a "soulmate," the faces of Fushiguro and Nobara were masks of pure exhaustion.
Receiving the praise, Kechizu raised his head proudly and explained: "As the brother of two big brothers, I have a special ability—I can sense my brothers' locations! Our blood connection can never be severed!
According to my sensing, Big Brother's position should be... over there!"
After a moment of deep concentration, Kechizu pointed his stubby claw in a specific direction.
"Shall we go then?"
"Yeah!"
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