Reverence for power

Yue Liusi looked at Shoko Ieiri, feeling rather reflective.

"Masamichi Yaga was also sentenced to death for inciting criminal acts. The executioner... is me."

The Jujutsu Higher-Ups believed that Masamichi Yaga's ability to create cursed corpses like Panda would overturn the balance of power in Jujutsu Society.

After all, he was fully capable of creating an army of cursed corpses single-handedly, and that was precisely why he had been given a special grade rating.

The higher-ups wanted him to disclose the technique. Before, Satoru Gojo's presence had kept them from acting rashly, but now that Satoru Gojo had been sealed, they immediately became forceful.

But in truth, he would die whether he disclosed it or not.

Because he was a staunch ally of Satoru Gojo, one of the core figures in the Gojo faction, and one of the primary targets of the purge.

Originally, Gakuganji should have been the one to do it. Before dying, Masamichi Yaga had told him the technique and said, "This is my curse upon you."

Disclose it, and he would betray his friend. Keep it secret, and he would likewise face the purge.

"They're forcing you to declare where you stand."

Shoko Ieiri saw it very clearly.

"I know."

Yue Liusi nodded. Naturally, the higher-ups were uneasy about a special grade combatant who had suddenly appeared. They certainly wanted to know where he stood and see whether he would obey.

Just like when they had Shoko sound him out before.

If he obeyed, everyone got what they wanted. If he did not, he would either be sidelined or end up much like Satoru Gojo.

In fact, sending Yuta Okkotsu to execute Itadori followed the same logic.

"But that doesn't matter."

Yue Liusi shook his head and looked at Shoko Ieiri with interest.

"I'm curious..."

"What would you like me to do?"

Masamichi Yaga was the trio's teacher, a figure who was both teacher and father to the three of them. Their affection for him went without saying.

Shoko Ieiri glanced at Yue Liusi, then quietly turned away without a word, seemingly unwilling to speak.

Shoko Ieiri was mature, calm, and rational, but she was still only a doctor working behind the lines. Even the importance of her position rested on her value.

Everything she cherished had already been drifting farther and farther away.

Once her closest friends, now her teacher.

She believed Satoru Gojo would return, but that did not mean it would necessarily happen.

Rationally, everything was already a foregone conclusion.

In terms of their relationship, she had no standing to ask Yue Liusi for anything.

In her heart, she did not want to face the current situation.

Was it indifference? It was more pain and numbness, perhaps.

She was far too powerless.

Seeing Shoko Ieiri like this, Yue Liusi's gaze shifted slightly, and he put aside his inclination to joke.

Jujutsu Kaisen was Shoko's memoir.

That was indeed true. Looking across the story from beginning to end, she alone had witnessed it all throughout.

From one summer to another "summer."

She had been left behind, able only to watch everything unfold.

Yue Liusi smiled faintly and spoke softly.

"You know me very well, don't you?"

"You know my personality, and you know what I'll actually do. Compared to other people who have nothing to do with me, he and I at least have some friendship."

"I've always sided with my own people over what's right, and all the more so when we're in the right."

Then he sounded somewhat resigned.

"Not to mention, I haven't learned Reverse Cursed Technique yet. If your bad mood ends up slowing our progress, I'll really be losing out."

Honestly, if he actually attacked Masamichi Yaga, it would be a miracle if Shoko Ieiri was even willing to see him again.

Sigh, I just wanted to finish my missions properly and enjoy life after clearing everything. But some things simply aren't within my control.

Since I've been dragged into it, I'll have to solve the problem my own way.

Shoko Ieiri remained silent, a complicated light in the eyes beneath her hair.

Naturally, she knew Yue Liusi was saying these things to make the atmosphere less heavy.

"Shoko."

Shoko Ieiri looked up and saw those clear, bright eyes.

Yue Liusi spoke slowly.

"They've lost their reverence for power for far too long."

"And they really shouldn't have dragged us into this."

Institutions were built on authority, and authority was built on violence.

The same principle applied to armies.

In a force possessing supernatural power, the leader in charge was actually not the strongest. That in itself defied reason.

Let alone the fact that they could even do things like this.

Those who held authority had lost their reverence for power for far too long.

Just then, a voice came from the kitchen.

"Shoko, where did you put the cooking wine you just bought?"

Once they became familiar with each other, Nobara Kugisaki had naturally begun addressing her as an older sister. She also often complained about the other two boys calling her "teacher" and "senior."

"In the cupboard. I'll get it."

Shoko Ieiri stood and left, with a hint of fleeing in disarray. For some reason, she felt a little uncomfortable.

Yue Liusi paid it no mind, his gaze falling on the furnishings in her home.

In fact, Shoko Ieiri's home was very simply furnished. The most conspicuous feature was the large liquor cabinet filled entirely with alcohol.

She did not usually stay home, generally working overtime, handling emergencies, and the like. That was also why she had dark circles under her eyes.

Only with their arrival had the place gained a little warmth and life.

"Mr. Yue~ By the way, do you want your teriyaki sauce spicy?"

"Make it spicy, thank you."

"O~K~"

The full moon hung high, eerily bright and clear.

Yue Liusi leaned quietly against a railing, gazing idly at the night sky, as though he were merely an ordinary boy enjoying the cool night air.

[Mission two: Kill ten missing-nin. Reward: Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, White Zetsu ×10]

[Mission three: Become a Kage-level powerhouse. Reward: Yin Nine-Tails]

For some reason, neither mission had been completed even now.

He had tried both cursed spirits and curse users, but mission two showed no response. His special grade certification had been completed as early as the second day after the Shibuya Incident, yet mission three likewise showed no response.

This left Yue Liusi utterly baffled.

He already had cells from three special grades on hand, just waiting for the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.

The Yin Nine-Tails went without saying.

The system offered no hints, either. He could only feel his way forward and see what worked.

Though Yue Liusi was watching the night sky, he had already detected the presence of those observers. Clearly, they could not detect him.

Even though he was standing right here in plain sight.

Footsteps sounded.

In the end, Masamichi Yaga had still chosen to face death head-on.

Perhaps this gentle, attentive man had long since chosen his own ending.

"Principal Yaga, where might you be going?"

A jujutsu sorcerer watched Masamichi Yaga from above, his expression hostile.

"To see my son."

Masamichi Yaga calmly tossed his coat aside, already resolved to go to his death.

"If you disclose the method for creating fully autonomous cursed corpses right now, perhaps you can be spared death."

The jujutsu sorcerer looked at Masamichi Yaga as though he were already dead. If he did not talk, he would die. If he did, all the better; they would merely kill him a little later.

At the same time, a figure slowly emerged a short distance away. It was Gakuganji, holding an electric guitar.

This operation was also a test of him by the higher-ups.