It was still a far cry from the level of loathing she harbored for Natsuki Subaru.
Something unprecedentedly interesting has happened, Gojo Satoru thought, leaning back against the soft upholstery with his eyes half-closed.
Behind those partially veiled lids, there was none of the tension gripping Subaru; instead, there was a spark of intrigued anticipation. During the previous "loop," his studies in the Forbidden Library had significantly expanded his understanding of this world. He was well aware of how high the power ceiling here could be—in some respects, it even surpassed the Jujutsu world he came from.
But just when he thought he had a handle on things, the current situation had broadened his horizons once more.
Reversing time.
Setting aside the sheer shock such an event would cause, the concept itself was extraordinary. Strictly speaking, the only beings capable of such a feat would likely be the gods of myth and legend.
Wait, could it be the Supporting Character System?
Fragments of thought flashed through his mind as a spark of inspiration struck. Gojo suddenly focused on the blue text floating in his field of vision. He wasn't entirely sure what this system was, but the fact that it could whisk him away from his original world to this one without a sound was already an exaggerated display of spatial manipulation. If it could do that, adding time reversal to its repertoire didn't seem impossible.
But if the System was the cause of the time loop, what was the reason?
Is it because the plot has been too dull lately?
Granted, compared to the battle with Elsa the Bowel Hunter, their time at the mansion had been exceptionally peaceful. If they weren't reading, they were tasting delicacies or teasing the little loli, Betty. However, if that was the reason for all this, it was a bit unreliable. Even for the sake of higher "ratings" or making the story more exciting, surely he wasn't expected to be in a constant state of combat? He wasn't a battle maniac; was he being forced to become a berserker?
On second thought, Gojo felt that was unrealistic. If it were a pacing issue, the System could simply fast-forward through time via "editing." There was no need for a reset. Development should be natural. If forced intervention were the goal, it would be simpler just to issue a direct mission.
After pondering for a while, Gojo couldn't come up with a truly plausible explanation.
"Honestly, this kind of thinking really isn't for me," Gojo muttered with a yawn. He pushed his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose and flopped over, resting his head directly on Felt's.
If he couldn't figure it out, he'd stop thinking about it. The journey was long; he might as well get some sleep.
"Don't just suddenly lean on me without saying a word, you jerk!"
"Oh."
"Don't think just making a noise makes it okay!"
Natsuki Subaru watched Gojo's calm demeanor, seeing that he even had the heart to bicker with Felt. I can't fall behind!
Though his behavior earlier had been odd, he had, after all, spent many days with Emilia in the first loop. He was no longer a stranger to her personality. Under Subaru's concerted efforts, it didn't take long for Emilia to be successfully charmed into laughter, and the two began chatting and joking.
The journey continued. Just like the first time, the group arrived at the mansion uneventfully and safely.
That night, after dinner.
Gojo called Subaru to his room. "We still aren't sure exactly what's going on. For safety's sake, keep doing exactly what you did before. Don't make any suspicious moves. Keep your eyes peeled for whatever event might trigger the time reversal."
"Yeah, I get it," Subaru nodded seriously. While he could be unreliable at times, he was surprisingly dependable when things got serious.
After dismissing Subaru, Gojo thought for a moment and stepped out of the room. He had noted Rem's behavior today, but he knew he wouldn't get answers by questioning her directly. Rather than starting there, he decided to visit the Forbidden Library.
Gojo sauntered through the mansion, unconcerned about being spotted. Soon enough, he located the door to the Forbidden Library.
He pushed the door open and entered. Though it was late at night, the library was still brightly lit.
"Good evening."
Standing by the door was the familiar blonde girl with the vertical drills. Except, this version of the little girl had absolutely no memory of him. Gojo offered a greeting and walked in as if he'd lived there for years.
He approached Beatrice, leaning down slightly to peer at her closely. "Still as cute as ever."
"A person who barges in uninvited and speaks nonsensical words... Betty's cuteness does not require your validation, I suppose," Beatrice said coldly.
Despite her words, she didn't immediately move to throw him out. She had been in this library for four hundred years. The greatest value of anyone who entered was the chance to confirm if they were "That Person."
Beatrice silently picked up a book from the table and began to flip through it. As she did, the pages revealed themselves to be stark white, devoid of any text. Seeing the blank pages, her eyes lowered, a flicker of faint disappointment passing through them.
But that was all. She had experienced this disappointment countless times over the centuries. She was long used to it.
"A book with no words... looks pretty special. Is there a specific way to read it?" Gojo asked curiously, having picked up Beatrice's teacup and begun sipping her black tea.
"That is none of your concern. You may leave now. This place—"
Beatrice gave her dismissal in a flat tone, but when she closed her book and looked up at Gojo, she nearly bristled like a cat.
"You—what are you doing with Betty's cup?!"
"Eh? This? Drinking tea. Is that a complicated concept for you?" Gojo shrugged airily. "It's fine. You might mind it now, but you'll be used to it in no time..."
Before Gojo could finish, the teapot came flying at him. However, it came to a dead stop in mid-air, a clear space away from him. Not just the teapot, but even the tea splashing out of it was frozen in place.