Chapter 128: The "Paramount War"
"What's wrong?"
Hikigaya Hachiman looked at the dazed Yukino Yukinoshita, wondering if the righteous young lady was feeling distressed after seeing the tragic deaths of the sorcerers.
"It's not that," Yukino shook her head. Seeing Hachiman approach, she spoke up. "I just felt there might be many remaining parasitic eggs and viruses in there."
Originally, Yukino had planned to quietly dispose of those things before Hachiman came up. Since Hachiman had already demonstrated his power to her, she wanted to show off her own technique a little. However, the Nine-Tailed Fox had adamantly refused, so she had to drop the idea.
"Oh, you mean those."
Hachiman's plan was to get both girls safely down before dealing with the mess. If he had gone down to clean it up first, he would have been covered in the scent of blood, which might have made them uncomfortable. He didn't trust the Association's people to handle it; if they triggered a secondary wave of contamination and started a real biological crisis, it wouldn't be worth the loss. It was better to solve it personally.
For Hachiman, the process was simple: release Psionic Flame to incinerate every corner covered in plasma and meat paste. His Psionic Flame was exceptionally effective against curse effects with high contamination factors. The only hassle was the sheer scale of sanitizing two whole floors, but otherwise, it was straightforward.
"Don't worry, I'll handle it."
As Hachiman spoke, a small orb burning with blood-red fire appeared in his palm.
"This is...?"
Yukino stared at the crimson fireball, no larger than an orange. The sphere radiated immense destructive power; even the residual cursed energy drifting in the air seemed to be purified by its light. Yukino stood frozen. It wasn't just the life-threatening aura of the blood-like flame; it was a sense of déjà vu. It felt as though she had seen this searing, sin-purifying fire somewhere before...
Hachiman didn't explain his psionic power in detail; it functioned like a curse technique anyway. When the golden-tinted orb touched the blood-soaked walls, it began to spread on its own. It moved with incredible speed—to Yukino, it looked like a lighter touching a pile of willow catkins, the fire radiating outward like a shockwave.
As it spread, the blood on the walls and all the physical chunks of meat and bone fragments were instantly vaporized. Like an eraser, it wiped away every abnormal cursed energy point within Yukino's sight. While bloodstains remained, the supernatural essence of the curse user's technique was gone.
The Nine-Tailed Fox was deeply displeased. She knew this was the primary power the brat used to suppress her. She had once dropped a multi-kilometer ice mountain on him, only for this unknown energy to swallow her entire technique whole. It was the ultimate "Natural Enemy" of sorcery. It was an unreasonable ability; every trace of filth and evil cursed energy was purified completely.
Under this dominant, almost tyrannical pressure, Yukino realized she couldn't even manifest her own cursed energy.
"Let me take you down first. This space is too oppressive," Hachiman said. He knew his psionic energy was overbearing; the violent fluctuations would naturally push against surroundings. High-grade sorcerers could barely stand it, let alone a Grade 3 like Yukino.
"Mm."
Under the weight of that power, Yukino felt a crushing pressure that made breathing difficult. The Fox could have helped her, but out of spite, she didn't. The Fox was fuming. Did Yukino know how she had suffered lately? Living in fear every day—now the girl was finally getting a taste of how terrifying this brat really was.
Hachiman picked Yukino up gently. Having done it once before, the second time felt natural, and she didn't find it strange. However, Yukino's mind was racing. She looked at his familiar face, overlaying it with the memory of the world-destroying figure behind the golden mask. An answer was forming in her heart.
But as she was held in his arms, Yukino realized her internal conflict was meaningless. Hachiman was Hachiman. Like her, he couldn't tolerate a grain of sand in his eyes when it came to evil. If anything, knowing this power was in Hachiman's hands made her feel more at ease.
For instance, the Fox was powerful, and only Yukino's power from the "Post Office" could control her. If things truly went out of control, Yukino would never forgive herself for letting the Fox loose. At the same time, she was terrified: if she faced an enemy that even the Fox couldn't resist, what would she do without the Fox?
With the wind whistling in her ears and his resolute face so close, Yukino widened her eyes, wanting to etch his image into her mind as clearly as possible.
'Perhaps that is the answer.'
A faint smile touched her lips. Her last trace of worry vanished, replaced by a tiny, lingering sense of resentment. But even that dissolved into a helpless sigh.
"What is it?"
Hachiman landed steadily on the ground. He tried to let go, but found that she was lost in thought, still holding on.
"Nothing."
Yukino shook her head, her mindset completely transformed. As she came back to reality, she realized she was still in his arms. Under the intense "stare" of Mutsumi Wakaba standing nearby, the thin-skinned Yukino found herself unable to cope. She quickly scrambled out of his arms and whispered:
"Thank you."
"No problem."
Hachiman didn't overthink it. He told the girls he had to go back in to finish the final floor. Mutsumi didn't know about the cleanup, so he made sure to tell her he'd be right back. He repeated the process inside and emerged shortly after.
Upon stepping out, he saw reinforcements from the Association arriving. This was the capital and the Association's home turf, after all. The arrival was as expected: Gojo Satoru. However, Gojo had Okkotsu Yuta with him, which surprised Hachiman.
'Why bring Yuta out today?'
Yukino was immediately wary of Yuta. In the Fox's eyes, the threat of this timid-looking brat was higher than even Gojo's.
Though his cursed energy wasn't as massive as hers, it was already more than two-thirds of her own. As a Special Grade Vengeful Spirit herself, she could sense that the spirit attached to him was on her level. The sense of danger was palpable.
"I'm late. What a shame," Gojo said with feigned regret. He had rushed over, hoping to find an opponent for Yuta to fight. What Yuta lacked most was actual combat experience.
But he was too late; Hachiman had finished the cleanup. Gojo had high hopes for Yuta, essentially raising him as a successor. In truth, once Gojo sensed Hachiman's cursed energy during transit, he knew it was likely over.
"Long time no see, Mr. Hikigaya."
Okkotsu Yuta looked much better than when they first met. He wore a katana at his waist—a high-grade cursed tool. Hachiman noted Gojo's intent: to have Yuta compress his cursed energy into the blade. Previously, Yuta was like a raw, exposed blade; now, the tool acted as a scabbard for his overwhelming power. He could only tap into his massive reserves when he drew the sword. This meant Orimoto Rika's power was largely contained, drastically reducing the chance of a rampage.
"Long time no see, Yuta-kun," Hachiman said with a smile. Gojo's training was showing results; Yuta's level was worlds apart from their last meeting, and he was beginning to radiate the killing intent of a proper warrior.
"This is Satoru Gojo and Okkotsu Yuta," Hachiman introduced them.
Hearing the names, Yukino immediately recalled what Hachiman had told her about the world's few Special Grade combatants. She had seen Gojo fighting Geto before. Seeing how familiar Gojo was with Hachiman, her suspicions were further confirmed.
"And who are they?" Gojo asked cheekily. Even behind the blindfold, Hachiman could tell the man was winking and nudging.
"My disciples. I brought them here to join the Association today."
Gojo recognized Yukino; he had seen her once while secretly observing Hachiman at a mall after school. As for the other girl, if he remembered correctly, she was the civilian caught in the crossfire of a cursed spirit from a cult during one of his and Hachiman's previous missions. He was genuinely surprised to see both had become sorcerers.
With his Six Eyes, Gojo saw everything. Both girls had incredible talent. With proper training, they could easily reach Grade 1.
Hachiman saw exactly what Gojo was thinking. The Association was short-staffed, and Gojo was always scouting the world for talent for Jujutsu High. Seeing two gems at once, Gojo could hardly contain himself.
"They have their own lives, idiot," Hachiman said, having anticipated this reaction. "And they are my disciples."
He spoke firmly to clear Gojo's doubts: Yukino and Mutsumi were his people. Jujutsu High wasn't for everyone. It was for those with talent but no resources, where they'd likely reach Grade 2 by graduation and then spend their lives working for the Association—retiring if they were lucky, or dying on the battlefield if they weren't. Hachiman had his own plans for them.
"Fine," Gojo relented. "Who can compare to the 'Grand Instructor' anyway? So, who was the unlucky bastard this time?"
Gojo wasn't too disappointed. Hachiman's level was high; his students would be fine. As long as they fought curses, they were contributing.
"Coincidentally," Hachiman said, "the curse user who attacked the branch is someone you supposedly killed yourself." He relayed the data he got from the Association.
"???"
Question marks virtually appeared above Gojo's head. His first reaction was that it was a joke. He only ever stayed his hand for Suguru Geto. For any other curse user, he was merciless. He bit his finger in thought.
"There's no way I left a survivor."
Hachiman seemed to remember something and asked: "By the way, do you know where the four curse users from last time are being hidden?"
He was referring to Nanako, Mimiko, Miguel, and Laru. The latter two meant nothing to him, but the twin girls were Komachi's friends. Knowing his sister, Hachiman knew she'd be worried sick about her missing classmates. Komachi was too considerate to ask her powerful brother for help, so she just worried in silence. Hachiman wanted their location just to give Komachi peace of mind.
"Let's talk over there," Gojo said, lowering his voice. He pulled Hachiman's arm to the side. As a high-ranking member and the mainstay of the Association, Gojo knew the inside scoop.
"This is currently classified. But hey, it's us, right?" Gojo said. "I don't know their exact location, but they're alive and haven't been tortured. They'll be released when the heat dies down."
Gojo looked slightly embarrassed mentioning it. The Association's plan wasn't honorable. The higher-ups intended to use the four captives as bait to lure Suguru Geto out and finish him once and for all. The Association had discovered Geto's massive ambition to overthrow them, and they decided it was time to close the net.
"A Paramount War, then," Hachiman remarked, deducing the plan instantly. He used a reference from a popular manga—capturing an important member of a faction to force a rescue attempt.
"That's basically the idea." Gojo would be the general guarding the base, facing Geto directly. Gojo was annoyed; it was a dirty tactic. But the Association was determined because they knew from Gojo that Geto was severely injured and hadn't recovered. It was an opportunity to settle the score once and for all.
"Hachiman, don't tell anyone. The Association is still preparing the stage." Building a stage for Geto—who had absorbed countless curses over the years—was no small feat. The location was a secret even to Gojo until everything was ready. But they had to involve him; even injured, Geto was someone only Gojo (and Yuta) could reliably defeat.
'They didn't notify me of something this big?' Hachiman sneered internally.
Geto's Cursed Spirit Manipulation was too dangerous; if he stood against the world, Hachiman would have to kill him. The only reason he hadn't was out of respect for Gojo.
Gojo saw Hachiman's thoughts and explained for the first time: "The old men arranged this. They wouldn't dare 'arrange' you."
Hachiman had nearly decapitated the head of the Association's headquarters. No elder was suicidal enough to demand his help. They'd likely only notify him once everything was set.
"I see," Hachiman said coldly. They were still treating him like an outsider. But on major issues, he would stay aligned with the Association. "The Grade 1s are already on their way to recover the body."
He knew the Association's plan and didn't stop them. Leaving a curse user like Geto out there was a Damocles' sword. Better to deal with it. Having his answers, Hachiman prepared to take Yukino and Mutsumi home.
"I'm heading out. The interior is clean; you just need to mop up the blood."
"What a headache," Gojo sighed. A curse user he killed years ago coming back to life meant a mountain of reports and a lecture from his old teacher, Masamichi Yaga.
Hachiman led Yukino and Mutsumi back to the car. Yukino looked out the window, but internally, she stood before the Fox.
"What's wrong?" the Fox asked.
Yukino's next words made the Fox freeze in shock.
"Hikigaya-kun is the man in the golden mask, isn't he? You wanted to wait until we got home to answer because you were afraid I wouldn't be able to stay calm in front of him if you told me the truth now."
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