A few days later, late at night.
At the Time Vessel Association.
A figure appeared silently deep within the Time Vessel Association.
He walked over to the coffin and gently pushed its lid aside.
Candlelight illuminated the inside of the coffin.
Suguru Geto lay quietly inside, his expression peaceful, with even the faintest hint of a smile lingering at the corners of his mouth.
His body was well preserved, his skin still supple, showing no sign that he had been dead for some time.
Kenjaku gazed at him in silence for a few seconds.
Then he slowly reached out, resting his fingertips on Suguru Geto's forehead.
His touch was as gentle as if he were handling a fragile piece of porcelain.
"Suguru Geto."
"Your Cursed Technique... is truly beautiful."
He tilted his head slightly, studying Suguru Geto's face as though admiring a famous painting.
"Cursed Spirit Manipulation. It allows you to take complete possession of the Cursed Spirits you subdue, perfectly accommodating their traits and power. This Cursed Technique is a miracle in itself."
He withdrew his hand and straightened, his gaze resting on Suguru Geto's serene face as a deeper warmth entered his voice.
"I've been waiting all this time."
"Waiting for a vessel good enough."
"Waiting for a body that can support all my plans."
Kenjaku chuckled softly, his laughter echoing gently through the empty room.
"A thousand years... I've changed bodies countless times. Every one was just temporary, something to make do with."
"Only this one..."
He reached out and gently brushed Suguru Geto's hair.
"Only this one is worth truly making my home."
He bent down, reached both hands into the coffin, and lifted Suguru Geto's corpse securely into his arms.
Then he turned and silently left the room.
The door slowly closed behind him.
A