Thanks to Sukuna's Finger for the Warmth

Somewhere, Arthur Pendragon paused slightly in his pursuit of a certain being, his gaze drawn involuntarily in a particular direction.

The legends of the Knights of the Round Table had endured through the ages. As the King of Knights, his deeds were renowned even on the Throne of Heroes. Plenty of people wanted to summon him, but he rarely had the chance to answer.

After all, he was tracking a dangerous being that had to be eliminated. He really was busy.

The worlds whose summons he answered were generally those where he thought that threat might be lurking.

Perhaps because he was so famous, he received countless summons, and sifting through them was quite a headache.

This time, however, a voice caught his attention immediately.

"They actually know about the Sword of the Star's [Thirteen Restraints]... could it be an old friend?"

His Excalibur-the Sword of the Star-had been forged to defeat invaders seeking to destroy the planet. It was a golden blade capable of repelling almost any evil.

Because its power was too immense, he and his knights had placed the "Thirteen Restraints" upon the holy sword. Only by passing every judgment of the "Round Table Conference" and releasing those restraints could its truly mighty form be revealed.

Even with only five or six restraints released, however, it was undoubtedly a fierce light capable of annihilating powerful evil.

This was a power meant to save the world, not to serve personal desires.

But few people still knew that now.

With his blond hair and green eyes, the King of Knights looked like a prince from a fairy tale. He turned his gaze toward that direction, extending his senses.

He sensed no familiar presence, but...

"I can feel it. An immense, evil, chaotic being filled with negative emotions."

"Resisting evil, protecting the weak, defending companions..."

The handsome King of Knights smiled and nodded.

"Since this is a battle to save the world, rather than a battle for yourself, you are worthy of wielding this power."

"Is this his cursed technique? There's a subtle feeling I can't quite put into words. It's a little like Reverse Cursed Technique, but not exactly the same."

By now, Shoko Ieiri had treated the injured with practiced ease. With her excellent physical constitution, Maki had even begun to regain a hazy awareness.

Naturally, everyone she had treated was fine. Shoko Ieiri's attention was now entirely focused on that boy.

No wonder Satoru Gojo valued him so highly. He truly was extraordinary.

"That's why I wanted you to see him for yourself. You might discover something different."

In fact, the concept of positive energy already existed in Jujutsu Society: Reverse Cursed Technique.

By manipulating cursed energy and multiplying it against itself, one could turn its inherently negative energy into positive energy, producing a healing effect.

Both Satoru Gojo and Shoko Ieiri could use Reverse Cursed Technique. Both could heal.

The difference was that Satoru Gojo had learned it later in life, and his Reverse Cursed Technique could only heal himself. Shoko Ieiri, on the other hand, possessed it innately and could use it to heal others.

Satoru Gojo could actually sense what made Aikawa Kaze different.

Before Aikawa Kaze activated his cursed technique, his cursed energy was merely an expression of his individual nature, just as it was for everyone else. Once he activated it, however, his presence underwent a subtle change.

It felt somewhat like the positive energy of Reverse Cursed Technique, yet differed in certain ways...

Shoko Ieiri closed her eyes to sense it, an odd expression on her face.

"He isn't simply turning negative energy into positive energy. It's more like... after converting his own negative energy into positive energy, he summons and gathers even more positive energy?"

After all, their understanding until now had been that only negative energy existed naturally, while positive energy was produced by multiplying two negatives. Yet after activating his "Reverse Cursed Technique," he seemed to have obtained pure positive energy from somewhere else.

Did that make sense?

Could positive energy exist independently, rather than having to be created through conversion?

Shoko Ieiri sank into thought.

"So that's how it is?"

Satoru Gojo smiled and nodded, considering the implications.

He had already been quite willing to believe Aikawa Kaze's explanation. Although he could tell that the boy was certainly withholding some information, the parts he had revealed were remarkably candid.

After all, the Six Eyes might not see through everything, but they never lied.

Now, with Shoko's assessment, he felt even more certain.

On a broader level, Aikawa Kaze's existence meant change for Jujutsu Society—a new philosophy and a new world.

On a personal level, he was a student Gojo admired, and also... a possible chance to bring an old friend back.

Satoru Gojo glanced toward a distant spot. His view was filled with obstructions, leaving him unable to see what was happening there, but he knew Geto had to be there.

After all, Geto had shown some interest in Hefeng during their last meeting. This time, Gojo had deliberately hinted that his subordinates should "accidentally" leak the information. Surely Geto would come to observe?

Suguru Geto currently believed that ordinary people were worthless trash who did nothing but produce cursed spirits through their negative emotions and dump the resulting danger onto jujutsu sorcerers. They were beings that ought to be wiped out entirely.

But what if it could be proven that ordinary people did more than produce negative emotions-cursed spirits-and that their positive emotions-??-also played an irreplaceable role...

Would Geto be willing to change that extreme "cause" of his?

Satoru Gojo didn't know. When it came to arguing his case, he had never beaten Suguru Geto.

Whether it was the "righteous principles" Suguru Geto had once upheld or the "cause" he now pursued, Satoru Gojo had never been able to outargue his stubborn friend and his endless lofty reasoning.

All he could do was use his invincible strength to stop Geto from doing something foolish-or, when things became truly irreparable, put an end to it all.

Would Aikawa Kaze be the wind of change that offered a glimmer of hope?

Suguru Geto was neither Satoru Gojo with his Six Eyes nor Shoko Ieiri with her mastery of Reverse Cursed Technique. Although he could sense that Aikawa Kaze's presence had changed, he had no way of determining why.

At that moment, Aikawa Kaze wasn't spending extra power to enhance his perception or his senses. He hadn't erected this Curtain either, so he had no idea that someone was "watching his screen" again.

Of course, even if he had known, he probably would have done everything he needed to do anyway, aside from being overwhelmed with embarrassment.

Just as he did now, when he heard the King of Knights' approval.

This time, his black hair took on a golden hue as brilliant as the sun. His dark, fathomless eyes turned as clear and green as lake water, while his dark coat became azure, with silver armor resembling a knight's light plate covering his body.

The Jewel Sword in his hand also changed from its purely radiant, crystalline form, gradually acquiring intricate patterns of gold and blue.

"Miss Rika, please leave the rest to me!"

Aikawa Kaze looked at the Queen of Curses, who had fought hard and suffered some injuries herself, his smile warm and infectious.

"Okkotsu needs you more over there!"

Rika, who had remained unmoved and had no intention of paying attention to anyone else, hesitated.

She didn't know why, but when this person had spoken to her just now... despite his gentle attitude, she had inexplicably felt as though she were facing a massive dragon.

Although this dragon seemed quite friendly, Rika instinctively felt a little wary. Then there was the second half of what he had said-Yuta needed her!

With her thoughts so simple at the moment, Rika never considered the possibility that he might be lying. Nor did she consider that if Yuta Okkotsu really were in danger, he would probably call for her himself.

Rika turned and left without hesitation.

"Yuta-Yuta!!!!"

"Now, then. It's our turn."

Aikawa Kaze met the enormous cursed spirit's gaze and smiled faintly, focusing his attention on a particular spot.

"Release the Thirteen Restraints. Begin the Round Table's judgment!"

From somewhere unseen, countless voices seemed to murmur, unfamiliar male and female voices interweaving.

"This is a battle for survival." "Approved."-Judgment passed.

"This is a battle against one stronger than oneself." "Approved."-Judgment passed.

"This is not a battle against humanity." "Approved."-Judgment passed.

"This is not a battle against elementals." "Approved."-Judgment passed.

"This is not a battle for personal desires." "Approved."-Judgment passed.

"This is a battle against evil." "Approved."-Judgment passed.

"This is a battle to save the world." "Approved."-Judgment passed.

"Grave for you..."

Brilliant starlight gathered along the blade, pooling into a dazzling radiance.

Seven restraints released? Still, that should be enough.

This time, his goal wasn't merely to eliminate a curse that had swallowed a Special Grade Cursed Object!

Sukuna's Finger-one-twentieth of the King of Curses, a calamity in human form. According to legend, even Satoru Gojo, the strongest, couldn't destroy it.

But was that really true?

The Sword of the Star had been forged to defeat invaders seeking to destroy the planet. A golden blade capable of repelling almost any evil, it was a radiant holy sword that saved the planet.

Even if all thirteen restraints hadn't been released, this was only one-twentieth of Sukuna.

The jujutsu sorcerers of this world used the "negative energy" of cursed energy. Even Reverse Cursed Technique only produced "pseudo-positive energy" converted from negative energy.

But the sword in his hand was a holy sword forged from humanity's hopes!

Aikawa Kaze's mouth stretched into a grin, his eyes brimming with madness and determination.

Humanity's hopes would surely... absolutely triumph over these so-called curses!

Aikawa Kaze raised his sword and aimed it at the enemy before him.

"Beginning the release of the third-stage restriction."

"Sword of promised victory-Excalibur!!!"

For an instant, heaven and earth seemed to freeze.

Like the breath of all the stars gathered together, a torrent of radiant life pierced everything ahead in a beam like the Milky Way.

Beneath the dazzling golden light, everything was shattered, destroyed, annihilated, erased...

A vast, deep trench stretched from right in front of Aikawa Kaze to the limits of his sight.

It was "nothingness," without even ruins left behind.

Naturally, everything that had vanished included the supposedly indestructible Sukuna's Finger.

"Ha... haha, hahahahahaha!"

Looking at the sight before him, Aikawa Kaze couldn't help covering his face and bursting into wild laughter.

See? Even the King of Curses, hailed in legend as the "strongest," amounted to no more than this.

There had never been any truly unbeatable being in this world.

Unlike his lucky success last time, everything today had come from careful planning, calculated moves, and hard work.

Even though he was only an ordinary person, his steady, methodical efforts had successfully destroyed one of Sukuna's twenty fingers.

Defeating the strong as the weak, advancing one careful step at a time, with a little luck and a willingness to fight-he had succeeded!

The exhilaration was almost impossible to describe. It was enough to make anyone lose themselves in it.

Never before had Aikawa Kaze felt so keenly that he was so weak, yet so powerful.

Before this, he had worked to grow stronger, wanted to build a Throne of Heroes from nothing, wanted to overturn Jujutsu Society, wanted to engrave his name upon human history...

Once, he would have called all of that a pure "dream" he would pursue without rest.

But now, he had the confidence to proclaim that it was no longer merely a "dream." It was an "ideal," a "goal" he would definitely achieve.

At that moment, Aikawa Kaze's eyes shone astonishingly bright, and his entire being brimmed with confidence.

He had accomplished something that all of Jujutsu Society had never managed. Although that didn't prove he was stronger than its members, it did prove that he had more creativity and potential.

Being the first to try something always demanded more courage, and right now, he felt full of energy and drive.

As an ordinary person, even after deciding on a goal he absolutely intended to pursue, he had still harbored some uncertainty and feelings of inferiority deep down. Compared with all the prodigies here, Aikawa Kaze felt far too ordinary.

Thanks to Lord Sukuna's finger for its sacrifice, he was more confident now!

-Let me say this: thank you. Because of you, my heart is warm!

Honestly, standing on the empty ground before that deep trench, where not even ruins remained, and laughing wildly at the sky, Aikawa Kaze looked more like a villain than that cursed spirit had, in a sense.

Rika made that abundantly clear. After returning to Yuta Okkotsu, she stubbornly refused to disappear, insisting on shielding Yuta protectively while watching Aikawa Kaze's direction with wary eyes.

Apparently, she had sensed a terrifying danger and been frightened by his display.

The holy sword's particular effectiveness against cursed spirits was beyond question. Even Rika had felt an enormous threat from it. If she hadn't thought she might not be able to beat him, she would actually have been eager to eliminate this dangerous individual.

Never mind Rika-even Yuta Okkotsu was badly startled by the sight of his classmate, and looked hesitantly toward Satoru Gojo.

"Gojo-sensei... Aikawa Kaze... is he okay, acting like that?"

"Hm? Like that? Like what?"

Satoru Gojo leisurely lowered the bandages over his eyes. Having enjoyed a fine show, he figured his eyes could use a rest.

"Hahahahaha! I told you, how could there possibly be some ordinary, polite, well-behaved, sensible, obedient good kid among jujutsu sorcerers?"

"Huh?"

"Isn't he pretty unhinged? I like it."

"..."

Yuta Okkotsu fell silent.

He considered himself a very polite, mature, sensible, well-behaved student who stayed out of trouble, listened to his teachers and elders, and was entirely ordinary.

Why did Gojo-sensei's words always sound so strange, as though he were taking a veiled jab at someone?

Come to think of it, before today, he and Aikawa Kaze had felt a certain affinity. After all... he thought those descriptions had applied to Aikawa Kaze too. They were the same kind of person.

But after today...

Looking at Aikawa Kaze, who had been declared "pretty unhinged," Yuta Okkotsu quietly wrapped his arms around himself.

Was he the only normal person left?

"Don't make that face, Yuta. That was high praise!" Satoru Gojo grinned and patted Yuta Okkotsu on the shoulder. "After all, jujutsu sorcerers are all like that. Every last one is a lunatic. The crazier you are, the stronger you get!"

"..."

Yuta Okkotsu said nothing. Yuta Okkotsu hugged himself and trembled.

Was there any hope left for Jujutsu Society? Was he the only normal person here?

Satoru Gojo smiled without saying anything. One day, Yuta would understand too.

With Yuta's potential, if he went crazy... he might be just as bad as Hefeng. Neither would have any grounds to judge the other.

Polite, well-behaved, sensible, and obedient on the surface, but inwardly fond of stirring up trouble and secretly making waves...

That contrast between appearance and inner nature, along with the halfhearted "disguise," reminded Satoru Gojo of his old classmate. Back then, Geto had been the best at pretending to be a good student too!

As for what he was really like inside... anyone who could become best friends with a troublemaker like Satoru Gojo had to share his interests-or his bad habits-at heart.

Besides, both of them had black hair and black eyes. Satoru Gojo was projecting his feelings onto the boy to some extent.

If it were Geto... he would probably be quite fond of a student like this too, wouldn't he?