Chapter 28
After these words, a brief silence fell over the table.
The waiter brought another new strawberry cake—Utaha must have noticed that Genji had a sweet tooth and quietly added to the order. A silver fork rose, cut off a corner of the cake wrapped in bright red jam, and lifted it into the "air."
Geto didn't sit down immediately.
He maintained a slight bow until Genji waved his hand, signaling that there was no need to bow, and then sat down again. This detail made Eriri understand that in Geto's heart, Genji's status was probably very high—this was almost "religious reverence."
"Alright," Genji swallowed the cake, and a napkin—or rather, a floating paper towel—elegantly wiped the corner of his non-existent mouth. "Since you want to help me investigate, I should also know some things about you. Suguru, tell me about the current state of the jujutsu world."
He leaned back in his chair, his indigo hunting robes softly glowing in the warm yellow light of the café.
His posture was lazy and casual, as if he were asking, "How's the weather today?" But those deep indigo eyes flashed with a sharp light—the focused gaze of a decision-maker.
Geto sat up straight. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he first looked at Nanako and Mimiko: "You two go over there, sit down first, and order whatever you want to eat."
The two girls exchanged glances, obediently nodded, and sat down at an empty table nearby with their glasses of milk—neither too far nor too close, both within sight and unable to overhear the whispered conversation. Although the girl named Nanako was sitting down, her back was straight, and her eyes occasionally darted around, maintaining vigilance.
"The current state of the jujutsu world…" Geto adjusted the cuffs of his robe, his tone returning to the calm precision of a scholar. "Overall, it continues the framework you established back then. The Jujutsu Headquarters is responsible for the overall situation. There are 'windows' in various places responsible for monitoring cursed spirits. Sorcerers receive assignments according to their ranks, exorcise cursed spirits, and maintain the surface world's peace."
"Is the Headquarters still controlled by that group of old men?" Genji raised an eyebrow.
"For the most part, yes," Geto nodded. "Most of the conservatives are rigid in their thinking. They adhere to the principle of 'non-sorcerers are not human,' treating the protection of ordinary people as a duty rather than a personal intention. Over the years, some incidents have occurred… For example, to maintain the 'purity' of the jujutsu world, they secretly eliminate potential folk sorcerers or force gifted children to join the jujutsu clan."
Genji frowned, but didn't say anything. He should have thought of this long ago—the rules he had meticulously formulated a thousand years ago would sooner or later be twisted by future generations to preserve privilege after the suppression was lost.
"However," Geto continued, "there are also forces for change. My teacher, Masamichi Yaga, and my… classmate—are both trying to change the status quo."
"Classmate?" Genji noticed a subtle fluctuation in his voice.
Geto was silent for two seconds, then smiled. There was nostalgia, complexity, and indescribable emotion in that smile.
"His name is Satoru Gojo. The current head of the Gojo clan. He is also… now the strongest sorcerer."
"Gojo?" Genji repeated the surname, looking thoughtful. "That clan with the Six Eyes? So the legacy of the Six Eyes hasn't been broken?"
"Not only is it not broken," a hint of unnoticed pride crept into Geto's voice, "Satoru is the strongest bearer of the Six Eyes across all generations. The moment he was born, he changed the balance of the jujutsu world. There are currently four special-grade sorcerers in the jujutsu world, but only he stands above all rules."
"Oh?" Genji became interested. "Tell me in detail."
"He possesses both the 'Six Eyes' and the 'Limitless' technique," Geto explained. "The Six Eyes allow him to see through all flows of cursed energy, with no blind spots and almost precognitive insight. The Limitless technique allows him to manipulate space, achieving 'infinity' with nearly absolute defense and the 'Hollow Purple' that crushes everything."
He paused and added, "Three years ago, he was ambushed during a mission and sealed by a special cursed technique called the 'Prison Realm.' But before he was sealed, he realized a higher application of the Reverse Cursed Technique, achieving 'automatic continuous activation of the Limitless technique.' Since then… he has truly been 'invincible.'"
Upon hearing this, Genji didn't comment immediately. He picked up his cup—the same black cup that Eriri had ordered for him—and with a light touch of his fingertips to the rim, the surface of the tea rippled, and steam rose again.
"Automatic continuous activation of a technique…" He murmured, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. "That's quite an idea. But if the Six Eyes are still there—"
He suddenly remembered something and looked at Geto. "Wait, the Six Eyes are still there. What about that guy Tengen? Has he solved the problem with his technique yet?"
This question came suddenly, and Geto was clearly stunned for a moment.
"You know Lord Tengen?"
"An old friend," Genji said lightly. "When I set up the barrier a thousand years ago, I asked for his help. That guy's 'Immortality' technique is very interesting, but the side effects are troublesome—he needs to assimilate with a 'Star Plasma Vessel' from time to time to renew his physical body. Otherwise, he'll evolve to a higher dimension and lose his humanity."
He took a sip of tea and continued, "I told him back then that this method treated the symptoms, not the root cause. If he was really tired of living, why not try other ways of living—for example, giving up 'immortality' or changing his technique. But he didn't seem to listen."
Geto's expression became extremely complex.
"Actually…" He said slowly. "Lord Tengen did listen."
This time, it was Genji who was stunned.
"About nine years ago," Geto's voice became soft, as if he were telling some dusty secret, "Satoru and I received a mission. We were to escort a Star Plasma Vessel—a girl named Riko Amanai—to Lord Tengen to complete the assimilation."
Eriri held her breath. She felt that what she was about to hear might be a story that changed the fates of many people.
"The mission went smoothly, right up to the end," Geto continued, looking out the window, as if traveling back in time to see the scene back then. "We escorted Riko to the Star Palace and met Lord Tengen. According to the plan, the assimilation was supposed to happen immediately. But…"
He paused, a flash of pain in his crimson eyes.
"She said she wanted to live. Not as a 'Star Plasma Vessel,' not as a part of Lord Tengen, but as 'Riko Amanai'—an ordinary fifteen-year-old girl, continuing to go to school, making friends, seeing scenery she had never seen before, and growing very, very old."
The café was so quiet that the soft clinking of a fork against a plate at the next table could be heard.
"Satoru stood there with me at that moment," Geto said, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "I had never seen him look like that—as if what he had believed in for so many years had suddenly shattered on the ground. He asked me, 'Geto, are we really going to do this?' Sacrifice a girl who wants to live for the sake of an old man's immortality technique?"
"And then?" Genji asked, his voice very soft.
"Then we made a decision," Geto looked up, staring directly at Genji. "We decided to confront Tengen. If he insisted on forcing the assimilation, we would fight him—even though the odds were slim, we had to try."
The pen in Utaha's hand stopped over her notebook. Eriri felt her palms sweating.
"But Lord Tengen didn't do that," Geto said, an incredulous tone in his voice. "He looked at us, then at the trembling Riko, and suddenly smiled. He said—"
Geto cleared his throat, imitating an ancient, calm, almost all-knowing voice:
"'A thousand years ago, a troublesome friend told me: If you're tired of living, try a new way of life. Since even my own Six Eyes vessels are unwilling to help me, it's probably time for me to move toward a new 'self' as well.'"
The cup in Genji's hand stopped in mid-air.
"He released the binding," Geto said. "The assimilation contract was lifted. He allowed her to live as an ordinary person. As for himself… he said he wanted to 'try a new form' and disappeared into the depths of the Star Palace. No one has seen him since."
Silence enveloped the entire table.
"So," Genji finally spoke, his voice devoid of any emotion, "he listened to my words. Just a thousand years late."