The hallway feels like usual as we follow Yaga-sensei toward the classroom.
"Frankly, this mission is too much for you guys, but Tengen-sama asked for you specifically," Yaga-sensei says over his shoulder. "Your mission has two goals. The Star Plasma Vessel — the one compatible with Tengen-sama; you are to escort that girl and erase her."
"Escort and erase the brat?" Satoru asks, making a face.
"That's right!" Yaga-sensei opens the classroom door and enters.
"Have you finally gone senile?" Satoru peaks into the classroom, his tone dripping with mock concern.
"It's spring; he probably got his head full with thoughts of being the next principal," Suguru says, putting a hand on Satoru's shoulder. "Jokes aside, though—"
"I'll be the one to decide if I let that off as a joke!" Yaga-sensei's voice booms as we all take our seats.
Once we settle in, the atmosphere turns serious.
"Is this about renewing Tengen-sama's technique?" I ask.
"Huh?"
"What's that?" Satoru and Miko-chan ask in unison.
Yaga-sensei steps to the front of the room to explain. "Tengen-sama possesses the cursed technique of immortality, but it is not eternal youth. It wouldn't be an issue if all he did was get older, but after his body ages to a certain point, the cursed technique begins rewriting his body."
"Evolution," I mutter.
"He will cease to be human and become a higher form of existence," Yaga-sensei confirms.
"What's wrong with that?" Satoru says, leaning back. "Sounds cool."
Suguru takes over the explanation. "According to Tengen-sama himself, those who reach that state of being have no will. It means Tengen-sama would cease to be Tengen-sama. All the Jujutsu Schools and the barriers that form the foundation of jujutsu society—the many barrier techniques of assistant supervisors—they are all strengthened by Tengen-sama. Without the aid of his power, we could hardly maintain security or clean up after missions."
He pauses, his expression darkening. "In the worst-case scenario, Tengen-sama could even become a threat to mankind. That's why every 500 years, he finds the Star Plasma Vessel—someone compatible with him—and assimilates them, overwriting the information of their body."
"By renewing his body, he resets his cursed technique back to the start and avoids evolution," I conclude.
"I get it," Satoru says, his eyes lighting up with a sudden realization. "It would be fine if he turned into MetalGreymon, but we can't have him becoming SkullGreymon. So we have him start over from Koromon."
😑
"What? Yeah... sure, that works," Suguru says, making a face at the Digimon analogy.
Yaga-sensei ignores the banter and gets to the meat of the danger. "The Star Plasma Vessel's location has been leaked. Right now, there are two major groups after the young girl's life. One is the curse user group 'Q', which seeks to upend society by letting Tengen-sama rampage. The other is the Star Religious Group, also known as the Time Vessel Association, which worships Tengen-sama as a god and views the merger as a desecration."
He looks at the five of us, his gaze lingering on each. "Tengen-sama will assimilate the Star Plasma Vessel two days from now. You are to protect the girl and make sure she reaches Tengen-sama safely. If you five fail, the effects will ripple throughout even normal society."
"Don't forget that." Yaga-sensei repeated.
..
"I get why 'Q' is after her," Satoru says, glancing back at us as we move toward the target's location. "But why is Star Religious Group want her dead too."
"The object of their worship is the 'pure' form of Tengen-sama," Suguru explains, his eyes fixed on the horizon as we move. "To them, allowing the Star Plasma Vessel—an 'impurity'—to merge with him is an unforgivable act of desecration."
"The Star Religious Group is an organization formed by non-sorcerers, so they aren't the real problem," Shoko adds, dismissively waving a hand. "What we should be wary of is 'Q'."
"I think this mission is going to be a piece of cake," I say, interlacing my fingers behind my head as I walk.
"How do you know?" Miko-chan asks from beside me, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Just a gut feeling," I say, shrugging my shoulders.
In my head, I'm already running through the facts.
This mission should be a piece of cake.
The only real threat in the original timeline was Toji Fushiguro, the Sorcerer Killer. But in this world, Shizuka-san is alive, and Toji is busy running a gym and living a quiet life with his family.
Suddenly, a flashback of yesterday hits me. I can see myself running to the store to buy groceries for them and then scrubbing the gym floor until my teeth ache.
"It's all part of your training." That dialogue has been haunting me for a whole year. Every time I think I'm done with the "chores," Toji finds something else for me to clean.
But, looking at the silver lining, I've gotten incredibly strong in hand-to-hand combat.
Between that and the new application of my technique I'm currently developing, I'm confident I could whoop Satoru and Suguru's asses as easily as Toji beats them.
Hehe. And it won't be long before it's Toji's turn.
I start laughing internally, a low, villainous chuckle that apparently isn't as "internal" as I thought. Miko-chan, standing right beside me, gives me a look that is equal parts confused and concerned.
I clear my throat loudly, catching myself.
Cough.
Continuing my thoughts—without a "Heavenly Restriction" assassin on the payroll of the Star Religious Group, they're just a bunch of angry non-sorcerers with no fangs.
"Q" wasn't even a major threat in the anime, and now that the team has both me and Miko-chan added to the roster, the power gap is just ridiculous.
As I ponder, we approach Riko Amanai's apartment building and come to a stop.
"So, how are we going to approach this mission?" Shoko asks, her eyes shifting between the four of us.
"Satoru, Shoko, and Suguru should go and be with the girl directly," I suggest, taking the lead on the tactical split. "The two of you are the heavy hitters—if anyone makes a move on her room, you'll end it instantly. Plus, if she gets injured, Shoko can heal her on the spot. Meanwhile, the two of us will monitor the outside perimeter and meet up with you shortly."
I catch Miko-chan's eye. Honestly, it's a perfect opportunity for the two of us to be alone, I think to myself with a hidden grin.
"It will be easy to monitor the outside with our summons," I add, keeping my voice professional.
"Sounds like a plan," Satoru grins, cracking his knuckles. "I get to be the first one the brat sees. Lucky her."
"Just try not to scare her, Satoru," Suguru sighs.