On a balmy spring day, I woke up with a long, lazy yawn.
"Mm…."
I blinked against the light, rubbing my forehead.
The sun was so brilliant it made me scowl as I squinted. I sat there for a good while, letting my mind catch up, before finally turning my head.
Koyanskaya of Light, my Assassin, was standing with her back to the window.
"Oh? Are you awake, Master?"
"Yeah. Morning. Sleep well?"
"I'm always in top form. It's a relief to see that you appear well, too."
Assassin let out a soft, mischievous giggle. Today, she was wearing a china dress with a daring underboob cut that caught the eye far more than it should have.
"Urgh…."
I stretched my limbs and checked the clock on the wall. It was nine o'clock—long past the time the rest of the world had started their day. School, work... anywhere else, I would have been severely late.
But to me, it didn't matter in the slightest.
Because I didn't go to school!
No school, no job. It sounded like a bleak existence on paper, but my future was blindingly bright. Between the wealth I'd amassed hunting Cursed Spirits and Curse Users, and the sheer overwhelming power of my Servants, I'd already achieved total economic freedom.
"Want to go grab some breakfast?"
"Yes, Master."
We left the bedroom together and headed for the living room. Thanks to her Magecraft, the luxury apartment was always kept at the perfect, most comfortable temperature.
—Coming up next in the news...
Koyanskaya of Darkness, my Foreigner, was perched on the sofa watching the television. Ibuki-douji was sitting right beside her.
The date was April 12, 2006. The news anchor was babbling about the official arrival of spring.
2006. The historic year the first Fate anime aired. It was also the year legends like The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, The Familiar of Zero, and Code Geass stormed onto the scene.
Actually experiencing that year again... it stirred some strange, nostalgic feelings. I figured the next few years would stay thrilling, considering how many masterpiece animations were released back-to-back.
However, there was one major point of frustration. It wasn't about the anime, but rather my lack of progress with my Party Cost limit. For years, I hadn't made a single stride.
Every Cursed Spirit I encountered was a mere low-tier grunt. Even during the summer—peak season for Curses—I hadn't run into a single Special Grade. Grade 1s popped up occasionally, but that was it. The harvest was too meager.
Even the info I'd scoured from the Tokyo Jujutsu High records regarding Special Grades yielded nothing; either their locations were unknown, or the ones registered had already been exorcised. I'd accumulated experience, but my Cost remained stuck. It was a lingering disappointment.
"Oh, Master!"
"Master~ Morning! Did you just wake up?"
Foreigner and Ibuki turned toward me with bright smiles. Both were dressed in casual loungewear.
"Yeah. Morning, you two. What's for breakfast?"
"I was waiting for you to wake up before serving. It's all ready, so please give me just a moment."
Foreigner rose and disappeared into the kitchen. Household chores like cleaning were handled via Magecraft, while cooking or shared sleeping arrangements were determined by a strict rotation. Except for me, of course.
"Mm."
I sat on the sofa with a yawn. While it was comfortable, I felt a twinge of guilt for letting them handle everything. But whenever I tried to pitch in, they were unanimous in their rejection.
—A Servant putting their Master to work? Do you think that's acceptable behavior?
—As a professional secretary, I cannot allow that on my honor.
—Uh... I'm not exactly a secretary, but I agree. Master, just rest up, okay?
Because of them, I was being pampered into absolute uselessness. My daily routine consisted of maintaining my physical health and then eating and playing.
"Master, breakfast is served. Ibuki-douji-sama, please come eat."
As the news segment ended, I headed into the dining room. The spread consisted of sandwiches, fried eggs, and freshwater snail soup. It was a bizarre, disjointed combination of Eastern and Western cuisine, but it was surprisingly delicious.
"That hit the spot. Thanks."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'll prepare some tea, so could you wait in the living room?"
"Thanks."
I stood in the living room for a bit to aid digestion, keeping my blood sugar in check. Just as I leaned back against the sofa, my phone started chirping.
Who could it be this early? I went back to the room and grabbed the flip phone that was charging. It was 2006, after all—almost everyone was still rocking a clamshell phone.
"Yes? Hello?"
"Ah, Boss. It's me. Are you free to talk? I didn't just wake you up, did I?"
It was Toji's voice on the other end, sounding as healthy and smugly casual as ever.
"Oh, hello. Have you eaten yet?"
"Finished a while ago. You?"
"Just finished, so feel free to talk."
I walked back out while talking on the phone. The TV was off, and my three Servants were now sitting in the living room together. I sat down among them just as Toji's voice came through again.
"It's about a pretty big job that just landed. I'm not looking to take it myself, but the bounty is so high I figured I should ask for your thoughts."
"Go ahead. I'm listening."
"You know Tengen? Well, it looks like Tengen found a new Vessel. Now there's a massive bounty on that kid's head."
My eyes widened involuntarily. Tengen. He might not appear often, but he was a pivotal figure in this world. His primary role was the maintenance and management of the barriers protecting Japan, and his Cursed Technique was Immortality. However, even if he couldn't die, he required a human sacrifice at regular intervals to stabilize his soul.
That was the Star Plasma Vessel. Without the sacrifice, his immortality would evolve into an unknown, potentially catastrophic state. To prevent that and keep him stable, the ritual was performed.
'So it's already that time.'
The *Hidden Inventory* arc. This was the news that signaled its beginning. I remembered it being referred to as the era of Gojo Satoru's "Blue Spring."
"Did they reach out to you too, Toji-san?"
"Yeah. The Time Vessel Association put out a thirty-million-yen bounty. It's a private contract."
The details of the manga flashed through my mind. In the original timeline, a destitute Toji—who had lost his wife—accepted this job. He successfully assassinated the Star Plasma Vessel, Amanai Riko, and was later killed by the awakened Gojo Satoru, leaving behind his final words.
"Thirty million. That is quite a bit."
"Wait, you want me to take it? I mean, I'll do it if the Boss orders me to, but..."
"Hold on a second."
I cut Toji off and sank into thought. I had no intention of killing the Vessel for money; I wasn't that much of a scumbag. However, I couldn't just let the opportunity pass. I was also concerned about the side effects of Toji not being involved. If Toji didn't interfere, Gojo Satoru might never have the breakthrough required to awaken.
'This is tricky.'
I needed Gojo Satoru to awaken. He was formidable even without Reverse Cursed Technique, but he was legendary with it. Sure, his existence made the actual protagonist irrelevant at times, but strictly from a tactical perspective, having the strongest sorcerer at full power was a net positive.
According to the original story, he only grasped the core of Cursed Energy at the very brink of death. If he didn't experience that level of trauma, he might never awaken.
"Toji. Can you come over to the apartment?"
"Got it. Be there soon."
Toji hung up. I needed to think calmly and reach a conclusion before he arrived.
When Zenin Toji eventually walked into the living room, I delivered my decision.
"First of all, I want you to accept the request."
"What? Are you serious?"
Toji's eyes went wide. He never imagined his young Boss would order the assassination of a civilian for money.
"Yes. However..."
As I detailed the plan, his expression smoothed out. Soon, a look of understanding dawned on him.
'Now that... that's not bad.'
The plan was to fake Amanai Riko's death using a state of suspended animation, allowing us to squeeze the money out of the Association. It was a brilliant grift. He didn't quite understand why Gojo Satoru's awakening was necessary, but if the Boss said it was needed, he would follow. There was always a reason.
"Understood. So I knock out the Vessel with rubber bullets and set the scene with some realistic blood splatter, right?"
"Yes. I'll leave the fine details to you."
"Alright. But there's a chance that Gojo kid might actually die for real."
I nodded. It was a valid concern. If he failed to grasp Reverse Cursed Technique, he'd just stay dead.
"In that case, I'll step in and save him, even if I have to use an Elixir."
The plan was for Koyanskaya of Light to use Magecraft for a disguise and shadow Toji. If Gojo Satoru's death was confirmed and he didn't get back up, she would intervene.
"Ah. The same Elixir you used to save Sae? Now that I think about it, we do have that."
Toji slapped his palm against his hand. It had been so long since that incident he had almost forgotten the miraculous medicine.
"Yes. We can use that, so don't worry too much."
"Well then, I can stab him without holding back."
A thin, predatory smile tugged at Toji's lips. It seemed he was looking forward to venting some of his long-held complexes on the pride of the Gojo clan.
"If things go according to plan, Jujutsu High will come to recover Amanai Riko. Sorcerers of their level will surely notice if she's still alive."
"Assuming the Six Eyes is still functional, yeah."
The Six Eyes saw Cursed Energy with absolute precision. Whether it could see Magical Energy was a mystery—likely not—but it would certainly be able to see the Cursed Energy still flowing through Riko's body.
"I'll be watching from the background. Contact me when things settle down, and keep me updated on the situation."
"You got it. I'm going to take these guys for everything they've got."
"Fine. Just... don't stab him in the head."
"The head? Ah... I get it. A headshot is usually game over."
Toji agreed readily and headed out the door. He was rarely this motivated. As I saw my guest out, I braced myself. For this event, I intended to recreate the original flow of fate as closely as possible. It might lead to entanglement with the Jujutsu world's higher-ups, but I was willing to take that risk.
Besides, given the poor relationship between our group and the Jujutsu authorities, it was unlikely news of us would spread easily.
'This has to be done.'
Using the man with the Heavenly Restriction, who exists outside fate, to trigger Gojo's awakening. I decided that this process was essential. For the future, and for the present.