"Your new life has only just begun."
Yoru's calm words were like a bombshell dropped into the still, dead waters of Riko Amanai's heart.
The girl snapped her head up, her eyes red and swollen from crying, filled with disbelief.
"A new life..."
Riko murmured to herself, as if savoring a luxury that had always been out of her reach.
As the Star Plasma Vessel, the trajectory of her fate had been set in stone by those high-and-mighty adults from the moment she was born.
For the stability of the jujutsu world, for Master Tengen's merger.
She was the sacrifice destined to be laid upon the altar.
But now, Master Tengen's merger had failed, and the terrifying assassin hunting her had been driven away.
She didn't have to die.
But did that mean she was free?
No!
Riko knew all too well that those Rotten Oranges at the top of the jujutsu world would never allow a Star Plasma Vessel who had 'lost her purpose and might become a variable' to continue living in this world.
Even if she fled to the ends of the earth, the General Headquarters' execution order would follow her like a shadow.
"It's impossible..."
Riko's eyes grew dim again as she shook her head bitterly.
"Those adults won't let me go. Even if you can protect me for a while, you can't protect me forever. I'll only become a burden to you."
"You're wrong."
Satoru Gojo, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.
He walked over slowly with his hands in his pockets, his long legs eating up the ground.
Although his uniform was still in tatters, the absolute confidence of the strongest radiating from his very bones made the surrounding air feel incredibly reassuring.
"It's not 'us' protecting you; it's me and my friends protecting you."
Satoru Gojo raised an eyebrow with extreme arrogance, his Eyes of the Blue Sky flashing with a defiance that didn't even acknowledge the higher-ups.
"As long as I say you're alive, who would dare let you die?"
"Satoru is right."
Suguru Geto forced himself into a sitting position. Though his face was pale, his gaze was unwavering.
"The mission we received was to escort and erase."
"Since the merger has failed, the 'erase' option naturally no longer exists."
"Therefore, our mission only has 'escort' left."
Suguru looked at Riko and spoke in a gentle tone.
"We will protect you until you are truly safe."
Hearing their resolute words, Riko's eyes welled up again.
But Yoru chose that moment to calmly pour cold water on the idea.
"Simply trying to force a protection detail is impossible."
Yoru looked at Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto, analyzing the situation logically.
"Satoru may have awakened the Reverse Cursed Technique and reached a new level of power, but our current opponent is the highest governing body of the entire jujutsu world."
"If we openly defy orders, the General Headquarters will surely issue an execution order for us on charges of rebellion."
"I don't care, personally. I'm not a jujutsu sorcerer anyway."
Yoru paused, his gaze becoming incredibly deep.
"But you two still have to work in the jujutsu world. Moreover, open attacks are easy to dodge, but it's the daggers in the dark you have to worry about. We can't protect Riko and Kuroi twenty-four hours a day."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Satoru Gojo ruffled his hair in frustration.
"Are we really supposed to hand Riko over? I'm not doing something that pathetic!"
"Of course we aren't handing her over."
A rare, cunning smirk played across Yoru's lips.
"In this world, what's the best way to make someone disappear completely?"
Suguru Geto reacted instantly, catching on.
"You mean... faking her death?"
"Exactly."
Yoru snapped his fingers.
"We just need to create a perfect illusion for the higher-ups that Riko Amanai died during the attack."
"Then, using some of my private channels, I'll arrange entirely new identities for her and Kuroi."
"Private channels?"
Satoru Gojo sharply picked up on the phrase.
"Just how many secrets are you hiding from us?"
Yoru simply shrugged, offering no direct answer.
As a transmigrator familiar with the story, he had been in this world for a while.
Even without cursed energy, his world-shaking martial prowess had allowed him to establish a hidden and vast intelligence network in the underground black market.
Securing two flawless fake identities was child's play.
"However, this plan needs the Gojo family to bleed a little."
Yoru looked at Satoru Gojo and spoke seriously.
"Riko and Kuroi need a lot of money to settle down abroad. I'm broke, so this bill has to be picked up by you, Young Master."
"Money isn't an issue."
Satoru Gojo waved his hand dismissively.
"As long as it makes those Rotten Oranges choke, I'll spend as much as it takes!"
The plan was set.
Everyone moved into action.
With Masamichi Yaga and Shoko Ieiri tactfully turning a blind eye...
Yoru used lifelike bionic corpses obtained from the black market to perfectly forge the death scene of Riko Amanai and Misato Kuroi.
Meanwhile, the real Riko and Kuroi were secretly moved by Yoru to a remote pier in Tokyo Bay.
It was late at night at the pier, the sea breeze salty and cold.
An unremarkable freighter sat docked at the shore, waiting for its passengers.
Riko Amanai stood on the pier.
She had already cut off her iconic long hair and changed into ordinary girl's clothing.
Beside her, Misato Kuroi had also undergone a thorough disguise.
"Is it really... time to go?"
Riko looked out at the vast, churning ocean, her voice trembling slightly.
Fourteen years of being the Star Plasma Vessel had finally come to a complete end in this moment.
"Go."
Yoru stood in the shadows, watching her calmly.
"Go live the life you want. Go to school, make friends, fall in love."
"Forget everything about the jujutsu world."
Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto stood to the side as well.
Satoru was rarely seen without his sunglasses; he looked at Riko and said seriously:
"If anyone bullies you out there, just give them my name. They might not understand it, but I'll definitely fly over and beat them up."
Suguru smiled warmly:
"Be happy, Riko."
Listening to the words of these three unreliable yet dependable boys...
Riko could no longer hold back her tears.
She took a deep breath and then bowed deeply to the three of them.
"Thank you."
"Thank you... for giving me a new life."
There were no flashy goodbyes or sentimental vows.
Riko and Kuroi turned resolutely and boarded the freighter that would carry them toward a new world.
Accompanied by the low blast of its whistle, the freighter slowly pulled away from the pier, eventually merging completely into the vast night.
Watching the direction the ship had vanished in, Yoru let out a long sigh of relief.
[SYSTEM: DING! HIDDEN MISSION: SAVE RIKO AMANAI HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED!]
The cold electronic voice in his head sounded surprisingly pleasant at this moment.
He had finally, completely severed this cruel cycle of karma!
"Let's go."
Yoru turned around to look at Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto.
"Riko's situation is settled, but we still have a massive problem ahead of us."
"Those Rotten Oranges at the General Headquarters won't be that easy to fool."
Satoru Gojo let out an arrogant sneer.
"What's there to be afraid of?"
"After all... I can use the Reverse Cursed Technique now!"
Suguru Geto let out a helpless sigh, but a firm light shone in his eyes.
"Yeah... the real battle starts now."
Three high-spirited boys walked side-by-side along the cold pier.
And behind them...
The corrupt and dark jujutsu world was brewing an unprecedented uproar!
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