Midnight.
The sound of the door opening instantly drew Ronova's attention, along with Nanako's and Mimiko's.
Then "Suguru Geto" pushed the door open and walked in.
Seeing "Suguru Geto" come home, Nanako and Mimiko immediately stood to greet him.
But Ronova noticed the stitches across "Suguru Geto's" forehead.
Kenjaku!
At that moment, Ronova finally realized what she had overlooked.
Suguru Geto had gone ahead with the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons after all.
"That guy really was an idiot!"
Ronova was annoyed.
She had told Suguru Geto that his so-called plan was nothing but a pipe dream.
It could never succeed.
So why had he thrown his life away for it?
But when Ronova thought about Suguru Geto's personality, she understood.
An idealistic madman like him could do just about anything.
And there was no point dwelling on it now.
Kenjaku had already taken over his body.
Rather than puzzle over Suguru Geto's thinking, she needed to deal with Kenjaku.
Just as Nanako and Mimiko were about to run to Suguru Geto's side,
Ronova stopped them both, one with each hand.
Then she looked at Kenjaku and said, "You've got nerve, showing up right in front of me like this."
"What, you think I can't kill you?"
After killing a group of the Jujutsu Higher-Ups, Ronova had grown far stronger.
She could now hold her own even against Satoru Gojo.
Kenjaku was no match for her.
It would take Sukuna to deal with her.
So Kenjaku was taking a real risk.
One wrong move, and he would die here.
Ronova's attitude toward "Suguru Geto" stunned Nanako and Mimiko.
They looked between Ronova and "Suguru Geto," unable to understand why the atmosphere had suddenly turned so hostile.
"Ronova, what are you doing?"
"Why are you speaking to Father like that?"
Ronova rolled her eyes at Nanako. "Look closely. Is that really your father?"
"That's just a monster occupying Suguru Geto's body."
"Kenjaku. That's your name, if I remember right!"
Only after Ronova pointed it out did Nanako and Mimiko notice that Suguru Geto looked different.
They also spotted the obvious stitches across his forehead.
Even they realized something was wrong.
Kenjaku spoke up. "I didn't expect you to know me. I thought I'd kept a fairly low profile."
"Yes, I'm Kenjaku. But I'm also Suguru Geto."
"Shut up, you monster! What have you done to Father?"
"Give Father his body back!"
Nanako and Mimiko lost control, their Cursed Energy surging violently.
They stared at Kenjaku through reddened eyes, their gazes full of murderous intent.
They wanted nothing more than to charge at him and fight to the death.
But Ronova stopped them again.
At Jujutsu High, the sisters' abilities would have put them somewhere in the lower ranks.
If they went after Kenjaku, they would die for sure.
Of course Ronova had to hold them back.
Kenjaku explained, "I think you've misunderstood. I didn't do anything to Suguru Geto."
"I had nothing to do with his death, either. He went to Jujutsu High and confronted them at their gates, and the higher-ups killed him."
"I'm only borrowing his body!"
Kenjaku paused, then added, "Incidentally, La Signora, I assume you've killed all those higher-ups by now."
Ronova nodded at the looks directed her way.
She confirmed it.
Nanako and Mimiko were suddenly at a loss.
Father was dead, and so were the people who had killed him.
What were they supposed to do now?
Ignoring the two sisters as they struggled to come to terms with it,
Ronova turned to Kenjaku.
"What makes you so confident you can face me?"
"You don't think you can survive a fight with me, do you?"
Ronova's opinion of Kenjaku had never changed.
He was a thoroughgoing madman who took cruel pleasure in chaos.
He was also someone who desecrated the dead.
He had used his Brain-Swapping Technique to cling to life for over a thousand years.
If Ronova had never encountered someone like him, that would have been one thing. But now he stood before her.
She truly wanted to kill him.
Kenjaku sensed her murderous intent, and cold sweat broke out on his skin.
But he quickly said, "With the Death Curse Spirit's power, you could kill me easily."
"But I believe you won't."
"Because I'm the only one who can bring Suguru Geto back to life!"
Ronova immediately understood what he meant.
"You mean the Culling Game?!"
Kenjaku was surprised. How did Ronova know about his plan for the Culling Game too?
Still, he nodded.
"That's right. Not long ago, I made a contract with Suguru Geto's soul."
"Once I initiate the Culling Game, Suguru Geto will return."
"He'll return as a player, but that's better than disappearing forever."
That was why Kenjaku had dared to face Ronova.
Without that, he really would have stayed out of her way.
The Death Curse Spirit could absolutely slaughter him.
Hearing that Suguru Geto might return, Nanako and Mimiko moved directly in front of Kenjaku.
They were afraid Ronova might kill him on impulse.
Ronova couldn't help rolling her eyes at the sight.
Those two had no sense at all.
Kenjaku had completely taken them in.
But she could understand it.
To them, Suguru Geto mattered far more than their own lives.
In the end, Ronova gave up on killing Kenjaku for the moment.
She couldn't bring herself to destroy Suguru Geto's chance to return.
But once the Culling Game began,
Kenjaku would have to die.
By holding Suguru Geto's resurrection through the Culling Game over her head,
Kenjaku managed to put Ronova's hostility aside for the time being.
Then he tried to talk her into joining him.
He said plenty, but it all came down to one thing.
He wanted Ronova to join him in turning the whole world upside down.
Ronova refused without hesitation.
"I don't trust you. And if I stayed around you, I'm afraid I'd end up killing you myself."
Ronova's reasons were sound enough that Kenjaku gave up trying to recruit her.
Besides, to be honest, Kenjaku was afraid of having the Death Curse Spirit around him every day.
What if he rubbed Ronova the wrong way one day and she killed him on the spot?
He had no confidence he could survive a fight with her.
As long as Ronova didn't obstruct his plan or prevent him from starting the Culling Game, that was enough.
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