Chapter 37: You Can Live
Inside the Tomb Chamber, the vast space was like another dimension, with countless intricate wooden corridors leading into unknown depths, terrifyingly silent.
Amanai Riko followed behind Toho Hiroshi, while Geto Suguru led Kuroi Misato as they gradually ventured deeper.
"Miss, I will see you off only up to here."
When the group saw the light appearing at the intersection ahead, Kuroi Misato stopped and looked at Amanai Riko.
Riko's steps faltered, and she turned to look at her, only to see tears welling up in Kuroi Misato's eyes.
She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to offer comfort, but found she didn't know how to begin.
Amanai Riko was someone she had watched grow up, and she had always taken care of her with all her heart.
For Kuroi Misato, Riko was like her own daughter, which was why she had always cherished Riko so much.
Although she had long known about Amanai Riko's mission, when this moment truly arrived, her heart was filled with grief.
Her loved one was about to leave.
Amanai Riko felt the same.
She hurried forward and, just like when she was little, threw herself into Kuroi Misato's arms, choking back sobs as she said, "Sister Kuroi, thank you for taking care of me all this time... Thank you..."
At this moment, a thousand words turned into silent gratitude, pouring out from Amanai Riko's throat.
Toho Hiroshi and Geto Suguru watched them silently from the side, not disturbing their farewell.
After a long while, Amanai Riko looked up and wiped away her tear stains.
Kuroi Misato bowed solemnly to Toho Hiroshi and Geto Suguru and said sincerely, "I leave the young miss in your care."
After saying goodbye to Kuroi Misato, Toho Hiroshi and Geto Suguru brought Amanai Riko to the altar, gazing at the door in front of the giant tree.
Toho Hiroshi explained, "Inside is where Tengen resides, which is also the altar."
"Once you step through that door, you will never be able to return to the human world."
Amanai Riko lowered her head, remaining silent, but the light gradually dimming in her eyes undoubtedly proved the reluctance and unease in the young girl's heart at this moment.
Her heart was filled with reluctance to leave her friends and attachment to the human world.
She still wanted to continue seeing more scenery and doing more things with her friends.
But Toho Hiroshi's next sentence caused hope to reignite in Amanai Riko's eyes: "As Jujutsu Sorcerers, we have successfully completed our mission. As friends, we hope you can live."
Geto Suguru also smiled and said, "You can choose to go home and reunite with your friends."
Toho Hiroshi's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Amanai Riko's heart.
She suddenly lifted her head, tears still hanging on her eyelashes, her large eyes filled with disbelief and the small yet intense spark of hope that had suddenly ignited.
"You... what did you say?"
Her voice trembled so much it was almost incoherent, "Go home? And... reunite with friends?"
She thought she had misheard, or perhaps this was just the final comfort before cruel fate arrived.
Geto Suguru nodded gently, confirming she hadn't misheard: "Yes. The escort mission ends here. Push open that door, or turn and leave; the choice is in your hands."
He paused, his tone becoming firm: "No matter what choice you make, we will protect you. This is a decision made by the three of us: Gojo, Toho, and me."
Amanai Riko's gaze shifted back and forth between Toho Hiroshi's calm yet resolute blood-red eyes and Geto Suguru's gentle yet unquestionable smile.
An immense, previously unimaginable joy and a great sense of bewilderment struck her simultaneously.
It turned out that the people who had been guarding her had already paved another path for her.
It turned out her life didn't have to end at the cold destination of assimilation.
"I... I..."
She opened her mouth, but the massive emotional upheaval left her unable to organize her words for a moment.
But those eyes, which had lit up once more, said everything.
She didn't want to disappear; she wanted to live, to be with Kuroi, to be with her friends, and to see this world where they existed a little longer.
Just then—
"What a touching scene."
A mocking and malevolent voice abruptly shattered the hopeful atmosphere.
"Too bad, the money the employer paid only bought one kind of ending."
Bang!
A wooden corridor bridge above suddenly exploded, and the figure of Fushiguro Toji dropped like a cannonball, slamming heavily into the open ground not far in front of the three, causing the ground to crack instantly.
He casually threw something onto the ground—it was the still-twitching, tooth-marked remains of a Cursed Spirit, one of the ones Geto Suguru had left outside as a guard.
He had actually broken through Gojo Satoru's obstruction so quickly, silently dealt with the outer perimeter guards, and found this place.
Fushiguro Toji twisted his neck, making a clicking sound; the scar across his face twisted with excitement, and his beast-like eyes swept over the shocked Geto Suguru and Amanai Riko, finally locking firmly onto Toho Hiroshi, who stood at the very front.
His gaze fell on the scarlet blade at Toho Hiroshi's waist, and he licked his lips. "That's fine, saves me from having to find you one by one. Special Grade Sorcerer Toho Hiroshi... let me see if you really deserve this title."
A terrifying killing intent spread like a physical substance, instantly dispelling the warmth and hope from just a moment ago.
The color instantly drained from Amanai Riko's face, and she subconsciously hid behind Toho Hiroshi, clutching tightly to the corner of his clothes.
"Why are you here?"
The expression on Geto Suguru's face darkened.
"As for that, of course it's..."
Fushiguro Toji grinned hideously, "The Six Eyes brat has already been taken out by me."
"Is that so... Then go to hell..."
When he heard the news of Gojo Satoru's death, a thick anger surged in Geto Suguru's heart; now, hearing Fushiguro Toji personally admit to killing Gojo Satoru, that rage almost burned him to ashes, causing his entire body's muscles to tense up.
Toho Hiroshi's arm, as if cast from steel, steadily blocked Geto Suguru, who was about to erupt.
"Geto, take her and go."
His voice was low and calm, without the slightest fluctuation, his Mangekyo Sharingan locked tightly onto Fushiguro Toji, who was emitting a terrifying sense of oppression in front of him, not looking away for even an instant.
"This guy's target is Riko; leave this place to me."
Geto Suguru's chest heaved violently, his eyes burning with anger and grief for his companion's fate, but he was not an impulsive person. He glanced at Amanai Riko behind him, who was trembling in fear and clinging closely to Toho Hiroshi, and then looked at the unfathomable enemy before him who even claimed to have killed Gojo.
He understood that protecting Riko and ensuring she left safely was the most important task at hand, and also the goal that Gojo and Hao were willing to face a powerful enemy alone to achieve.
"Be careful."
Geto Suguru squeezed the three words through his teeth, no longer hesitating, and grabbed Amanai Riko's wrist, "Let's go!"
"Toho!"
Amanai Riko exclaimed, looking worriedly at Toho Hiroshi's back as he stood alone in front.
"Go!"
Toho Hiroshi's tone was unquestionable.
Geto Suguru firmly pulled Amanai Riko and quickly retreated toward the complex corridors in another direction.
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