We walked toward the colony barrier and passed through it without any trouble.
The moment we stepped outside, the strange pressure of the Culling Game faded.
Then we began the long walk back to Tokyo Jujutsu High.
None of us was in a hurry. For the first time in a while, there was no immediate fight waiting for us.
The air was warm. A quiet breeze moved through the empty streets.
Yuji stretched his arms above his head as we walked.
"It feels weird walking normally again."
Choso glanced around.
"Yuji, be cautious."
Yuji laughed a little.
"Yeah, but compared to everything else lately? This feels like a vacation."
I walked between them
A vacation…
After fighting curses, sorcerers, and getting nearly killed several times, even a four-hour walk felt peaceful.
We passed abandoned streets and quiet neighborhoods where no one lived anymore.
Yuji suddenly spoke again.
"Kita-san… what are you going to do once this is all over?"
I looked at him.
"Over?"
"The Culling Game. Kenjaku. All that stuff."
I thought about it for a moment.
"Invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum."
Yuji blinked.
"What?"
"Yes."
Choso nodded approvingly.
"I do not understand, but it sounds like a wise goal."
Yuji burst out laughing.
"I don't understand either."
We continued walking.
After about an hour, Yuji started humming some random tune while kicking small stones on the road.
Choso walked calmly, always alert, his eyes scanning the surroundings like a guard.
Eventually, the forest surrounding Tokyo Jujutsu High appeared.
The tall stone steps leading up the mountain came into view.
Yuji sighed as he relaxed even further.
After four hours of walking, the climb felt even longer.
Finally, after making our legs cry in exhaustion, we reached the top.
I chuckled as I looked at tired Choso and Yuji
Reverse Cursed Technique is a wonderful thing... I murmured
Without taking a breath, we moved toward the Tomb of the Star Corridor.
We then entered the Tomb, and after only a few minutes of walking, Tengen opened the barrier.
The air inside the tomb was cool and calm.
A familiar presence greeted us.
"Child of Flames… Sukuna's vessel… Death Painting… welcome back."
Tengen's voice echoed.
I watched as Tengen performed several hand signs. Barriers formed around the area, sealing off the space.
She was blocking Sukuna's senses again.
Smart.
We stepped further inside.
And immediately, I noticed something.
Yuta was already there.
But he wasn't alone.
Another man sat nearby with him, leaning back casually as if he owned the place.
Black, weird-looking hair.
Sharp eyes. A wide grin.
Jane Juliet... Ah, no, it's wrong
Ryu Ishigori.
He and Yuta were talking comfortably like old friends.
The moment Yuta noticed us, his eyes lit up.
"Kita-san!"
He stood up immediately and walked over.
"How are you? Are you alright?"
"I'm doing well," I said with a small smile.
We shook hands.
His grip was warm and relieved.
Then I glanced toward the black-haired man.
Then back at Yuta.
He actually did it…
I had told him about Ryu… but I didn't think he would actually convince him.
I turned toward the man.
"You must be Ryu-san."
I gave a small bow.
"My name is Ikuyo Kita."
I pointed to Yuji.
"This is Itadori Yuji."
Then to Choso.
"And this is Choso."
Ryu slowly stood up.
He was tall. Broad shoulders. He had a presence about him, that made him stand out.
He looked at each of us carefully.
Then his grin widened.
"So these are the interesting ones."
His voice was loud and energetic.
He stepped closer and leaned down slightly, staring directly at me.
"You're the girl Yuta talked about."
Yuji leaned toward me and whispered.
"He's intense…"
"And you... " He looked at Yuji.
"You are Sukuna's Vessel..." He murmured as he licked his lips.
Ryu suddenly laughed.
"Hah! Good! You both look strong!"
He crossed his arms.
I blinked.
"…Thank you?" Both Yuji and I replied.
He nodded approvingly.
Then I turned to Tengen.
"Tengen-sama, where is Yuki-san?"
Tengen answered calmly.
"When Okkotsu and Ishigori arrived, Yuki chose to temporarily enter the Tokyo No.1 Colony."
"She wished to avoid any risk of technique removal."
"She will return in a few hours."
I nodded. Makes sense.
Then Ryu suddenly spoke again.
"Kita."
I looked at him.
"Yeah?"
He grinned.
"Fill me."
"…What?"
I pointed at myself.
"Me?"
He nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah."
"Yuta told me about you."
"How you're a new sorcerer… how fast you grew… how you unlocked Reverse Cursed Technique after getting beaten half to death."
Ah. Hakari probably told Yuta... and Yuta told Ryu...
"Well… yeah…"
"But what do you mean by fill you?"
I scratched my head.
"I can cook good pancakes if you like."
Behind me, Yuji and Choso instantly nodded.
"True," Yuji said.
"Very good pancakes," Choso confirmed.
Ryu stared at us.
"…What is a pancake?"
"It's a dessert."
Ryu's grin slowly returned.
"Good."
"I'm also talking about a dessert."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Feed me."
"By fighting me."
"I want to see how much you will grow."
His eyes were shining with excitement.
Honestly… it was kind of hard to say no to that level of enthusiasm.
Besides, a fight would be useful.
"Alright," I said.
"When do you want to fight?"
He thought for a moment.
Then pointed somewhere behind us.
"I want that blonde girl here too."
"Yuki. That was her name, right?"
I nodded.
"Yeah."
Ryu's grin widened even further.
"I want to taste her too."
I paused.
You sound incredibly perverted right now.
I decided not to say that out loud.
He then pointed toward Tengen.
"You also have things to talk about with that ancient finger."
"…Ancient finger?"
Tengen remained silent.
Ryu shrugged.
"Anyway."
"I'm staying with Okkotsu."
He stretched his arms.
"Find me when you're done."
I nodded.
Then turned to Tengen.
"Tengen-sama."
"Follow me, Ikuyo Kita."
We left the others behind and walked deeper into the tomb.
Soon, we reached a quieter chamber.
Tengen turned toward me.
"Almost everything you told us has come true."
"However, some events have changed."
"Is that because of the actions we took?"
Time to bullshit again... I thought
"Yes," I replied.
"We changed things from the original path of my divination."
"That caused some deviations."
Tengen nodded slowly.
"When will you be able to perform divination again?"
Ah.
Right.
I need to keep this lie going.
"In a few months."
She accepted the answer without questioning further.
"Tengen-sama."
"What is it, my child?"
"Where are Maki and Mai?"
Tengen began explaining.
"Maki located Mai and convinced her not to return to the Zenin Clan."
"They came here instead."
"However, the Culling Game recognizes Maki Zenin as a non-sorcerer."
"And Maki decided not to enter the Colony like we had wanted originally."
"So she was never registered as a player."
"They are both currently here."
I let out a long breath of relief. "I had realised how Maki wouldn't have survived in a colony."
Good.
That part went right, even though that was the opposite of what we planned.
"What about the others?" I asked.
"Hakari fought Kashimo in the Tokyo No.2 Colony alongside Panda."
"Kashimo agreed to assist us if Sukuna separates from his vessel."
"After the new rule you added, their location became unknown."
I nodded.
"Megumi?"
"He is currently alone in the Sakurajima Colony."
I frowned slightly.
Then asked one more question.
"What about the Zenin Clan?"
"They are experiencing a succession crisis."
"Several members wish to kill Megumi."
"However, no internal conflict has begun yet."
Of course they do…
Then I asked the most important question.
"Did Kenjaku bring foreign soldiers into the colonies?"
Tengen nodded.
"Yes."
"Military forces are arriving gradually."
I sighed.
"So it started."
Then I looked directly at Tengen.
"We should swap Megumi and Yuji."
"Yuji should move to the Sakurajima Colony."
"Megumi should come here."
Tengen looked at me carefully.
"Why?"
"Because Kenjaku is coming for you."
Silence filled the chamber.
"We have Yuta, Ryu, Yuki, Choso, and me here."
"Kenjaku will expect a strong defense..."
"But there is no way he would expect this kind of strong defence."
"He will likely arrive with Uraume."
"Possibly Yorozu if he convinces her with Sukuna's Vessel also being in the area."
Tengen's expression shifted slightly when I mentioned Yorozu.
"In that kind of battle…"
"If Yuji is here and Sukuna takes control…"
"We end up getting decimated."
Tengen slowly nodded.
"This is not the only reason," I replied with.
"Angel actively pursues Megumi; they might have already met."
"But Yuji's location must remain hidden," I continued.
"They may try to isolate him and force Sukuna out."
"We can also call Kusakabe and other Grade 1 sorcerers for support."
Tengen thought quietly.
Then nodded.
"Your reasoning is sound."
"We don't even have to worry about points anymore."
"We can keep modifying points repeatedly with +1 and -1 adjustments."
"And time is on our side. If Megumi arrives along with Angel, it's game over for Kenjaku."
We would free Gojo Satoru, and we would instantly win this.
Then I looked directly at her.
"Tengen-sama…"
"Would we win this clash?"
"I know Kenjaku is not a fool; he probably knows he is in danger, and he will come for us."
"So I am asking again... Would we win this fight with the participants we currently have?"
Tengen remained silent for a long moment.
Then she finally answered.
"…It is impossible to say."
"But one thing is certain."
Her voice echoed through the chamber.
"This will become the greatest and most important battle in the history of Jujutsu."
Beach give me a proper answer. I yelled in my mind.
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End of Chapter