Principles

"Don't worry. Leave it to me." Sakurada Niji said that into his phone, then hung up.

"No... don't... don't kill me... please...! Give me a chance...? Yes... I'll turn over a new leaf... I'll take good care of Hasaba's two daughters...! I'll atone for what I've done... please!!! Don't kill me..." Upon hearing that he was about to die, the curse user kept begging Sakurada Niji for mercy. He felt he had never thought more clearly in his life than he did at that moment.

Sakurada Niji stared expressionlessly at the curse user, whose face was covered in snot and tears from sheer terror.

Killing him in earnest is the final respect I can show a life, Sakurada Niji concluded.

Sakurada Niji said nothing. Before the jujutsu sorcerer could react, he unleashed all the cursed energy at the joints of the man's limbs, immobilizing his entire body. Without hesitation, Sakurada Niji immediately activated Reverse Cursed Technique and destroyed the jujutsu sorcerer's brain. Once he released the cursed technique, the jujutsu sorcerer collapsed to the ground.

I don't feel anything special. Is it because it wasn't bloody enough? Because he was an evil man? Or... because I believe I've already shown this "life" enough respect...

For an evil man, enumerate his sins and grant him the death he deserves.

Sakurada Niji shook his head and stopped dwelling on it. He used his cursed technique to preserve the curse user's corpse, planning to take it back for Shoko to dissect. Perhaps she could discover how cursed tools formed...

Over at Suguru Geto's location-

Suguru Geto stared blankly at his phone, even though the call had already ended.

"Mm... big brother..." Nanako rubbed her eyes, red from crying. The phone call seemed to have woken her.

After careful consideration, Suguru Geto decided to tell Nanako the truth about the killer.

"You're awake... Nanako... about the killer... your other big brother has already killed him..." Suguru Geto faithfully relayed what the curse user had told him.

"...Yes... thank you both so much... please accept my gratitude..." Nanako climbed down from the Ox Cursed Spirit and approached Suguru Geto, about to kneel and bow.

Suguru Geto picked Nanako up, held her gently, and comforted her in a quiet voice.

"You're so strong, Nanako... you don't need to do this... I was too late..." Suguru Geto was consumed by guilt. He believed Kenjaku had orchestrated all these tragedies specifically to break his spirit.

"No... none of this is your fault..." Nanako rested against Suguru Geto's chest, her expression relaxed.

"Geto... I'm back... Nanako's awake too?" Sakurada Niji tossed the curse user's corpse aside. It was intact, like a lifelike wax figure, with no visible injuries except for a trace of blood at the ears.

"Is he dead?" Suguru Geto couldn't sense any cursed energy in the corpse, but the vivid expression on its face hardly looked like that of a dead man.

"He's dead. I'm keeping the body for Shoko to dissect," Sakurada Niji replied.

"Big brother... I've seen him before..." Nanako suddenly spoke from Suguru Geto's arms.

"He came to see Dad a few days ago..." Hatred filled Nanako's face as she stared at the "wax figure," but she kept herself under control and didn't cry again.

"Nanako..." Sakurada Niji regretted bringing the corpse over.

"Big brother... I'm glad I got to see the killer's body with my own eyes..." With determination in her eyes and a few tears glistening in them, Nanako spoke earnestly to Sakurada Niji.

"You're so strong, Nanako..." Sakurada Niji walked over to Suguru Geto and gently comforted her.

Suguru Geto summoned the Rainbow Dragon and had him swallow the curse user's corpse.

"Nanako, would you like to come with us?" Suguru Geto softly asked the girl in his arms.

Nanako froze for a moment. She had thought her two big brothers needed her to remain in the village as the Divine Child.

"Can Mimiko come too...?" Nanako asked cautiously.

"Of course. Both of you." Suguru Geto smiled and gave Nanako his earnest assurance.

"Yes! Mimiko and I want to come with you..."

"Then let's all go home~" Sakurada Niji lifted down Mimiko, who had yet to wake, and entered the Rainbow Dragon's mouth.

"Don't be scared, Nanako. He's my pet. He won't hurt us." Sensing Nanako's fear as he held her, Suguru Geto patiently explained.

"Okay..." The fear on Nanako's face turned to curiosity as Suguru Geto carried her into the Rainbow Dragon's mouth.

At Jujutsu High, Suguru Geto took Nanako and Mimiko to the administrative staff to register them and arrange their accommodations, while Sakurada Niji went to Masamichi Yaga to report what had happened on the mission.

Knock, knock. Sakurada Niji arrived outside Masamichi Yaga's office and knocked on the door.

"Mr. Yaga, I'm coming in~" Without waiting for an answer, Sakurada Niji entered the room.

Masamichi Yaga looked at Sakurada Niji, seeming somewhat shocked.

Seeing Masamichi Yaga sitting there knitting dolls, Sakurada Niji launched straight into his report.

"Geto's 'mission' is complete. He didn't kill anyone, and he rescued two girls who have awakened cursed techniques. He's already gone to arrange somewhere for them to stay."

"Very good. Just what I'd expect from my student. But you need to keep yourself grounded." Masamichi Yaga seemed to mean more than he was saying.

"I understand. Their names are Nanako and Mimiko, right? Don't worry. With my guidance, they'll walk the right path." Masamichi Yaga stood up and addressed Sakurada Niji.

"Take these two cursed corpses. The girls need them right now." Masamichi Yaga found two rabbit-shaped cursed corpses in the pile behind him, one black and one white. Both were extremely cute.

Mr. Yaga really knows how to look after children~ Sakurada Niji took the two cursed corpses.

"I'll be going, then~ Mr. Yaga~ Sorry for the trouble with the mission report~" Sakurada Niji said goodbye to Masamichi Yaga, leaving his teacher with the responsibility of writing the mission report.

Something's... off about Niji... He never used to push his responsibilities onto others... So it did affect him after all? Masamichi Yaga frowned slightly as he watched Sakurada Niji slowly walk away.