Tokyo, Japan, May 8, 2006. Three days remained until the Star Plasma Vessel Incident.
In a corridor at Kyoto Prefectural Jujutsu High School.
Masamichi Yaga walked ahead, talking about the assignment, while the three behind him fooled around and gave perfunctory responses.
"There are two requests this time. The 'Star Plasma Vessel' is someone compatible with Master Tengen. You are to guard that girl-and erase her!"
Satoru Gojo was a little confused. "Guard and erase some little girl?"
"Correct." Masamichi Yaga nodded.
"Have you finally gone senile?" Satoru Gojo asked.
"It is spring, after all," Suguru Geto said.
"Rough. Should we pick the next principal with rock-paper-scissors?" Igarashi Amaha said.
"He's letting the fact that he's going to be the next principal go to his head," Suguru Geto said.
The three laughed it off, then grew serious for once.
"Jokes aside, is that old guy's Cursed Technique due for a reformat?" Igarashi Amaha asked.
"What does that mean?" Satoru Gojo asked from beside him.
"I think that's about right," Suguru Geto said.
The two entered the classroom one after the other, took down chairs, and sat down.
"What does that even mean?" Satoru Gojo called through the rear window, but no one answered him.
Masamichi Yaga stood at the front of the classroom with his hands braced on the desk. "Although Master Tengen possesses a Cursed Technique that grants 'immortality,' it does not grant 'eternal youth.' Aging alone would not be a problem, but once that aging accumulates to a certain point, his Cursed Technique will attempt to reconstruct his body-to 'evolve'! He will cease to be human and become a higher life-form!"
"Isn't that a good thing? Sounds cool," Satoru Gojo said indifferently, propping up his chin.
"Yeah, really cool. Squirtle gets to evolve into Blastoise," Igarashi Amaha lazily agreed.
He had not wanted to take part in this assignment, but that old bastard Yaga had insisted on putting his name forward. Of course, he could refuse, but if he did not go, Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto would probably refuse as well. That would affect Satoru Gojo's awakening, and he was still counting on Satoru Gojo to help him awaken Reverse Cursed Technique. He absolutely could not let that be affected. Sure enough, the adult world was always full of things one had no choice about.
Suguru Geto did not fool around this time. With a serious expression, he said, "According to Master Tengen, once he reaches that stage, what we call his 'will' will cease to exist. At that point, Master Tengen will no longer be Master Tengen."
"He turns into Charizard?"
"It should be Explodramon."
Bang! Bang! Two wisps of white smoke rose.
Suguru Geto shook the white smoke off his fists and continued, "The barriers at each Jujutsu High, the strongholds of Jujutsu Society, and the Barrier Techniques used by the many assistant managers all have their strength enhanced by Master Tengen. If something happens to him, security will be compromised, and we won't be able to complete missions. Of course, there's also the worst-case scenario."
"He turns into Venusaur?"
"He becomes humanity's common enemy!"
"That's why, once every five hundred years, he assimilates a 'Star Plasma Vessel,' a compatible human, to rewrite his body's information. Once his physical body is renewed, his Cursed Technique's effects are fully restored as well."
Igarashi Amaha nodded perfunctorily, a smile curling at his lips as he asked, "I see, I see. Then what happens to the 'Star Plasma Vessel'?"
Masamichi Yaga fell somewhat silent at the question. After a long while, his rather faint voice sounded. "They are assimilated, of course, and continue to live in another form."
Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto also realized what was going on.
"So the 'Star Plasma Vessel' dies. Right, Mr. Yaga?"
"..."
Igarashi Amaha scoffed, rested a hand on the desk beside him, lit a cigarette, and crossed his legs. "You really do make it sound so righteous. Assimilation? Isn't it just making some nobody sacrifice themselves for someone important? Why dress it up with all those words? Tengen, Shmengen. Heh."
Rather than assimilation, it was devouring. To put it simply, it was like making Igarashi Amaha and a three-year-old child fight for control of a body. In an instant, Igarashi Amaha could obliterate the child into something smaller than cigarette ash. What assimilation? There was only complete consumption.
Out on the street, they were discussing the matter.
Igarashi Amaha watched the two walking in bizarre poses and was speechless. What even was this?
"Speaking of which, Amaha, why do I get the feeling you're not surprised by any of this?" Satoru Gojo asked, glancing at Igarashi Amaha beside him.
"What's so strange about it? Tengen's been alive all these years, and I'm no clueless rookie anymore. I'm bound to know a few things."
"Right, you are the King of Southern Europe, after all~" Satoru Gojo said in a high-pitched voice, his tone admiring.
"Knock it off. I really don't want to smash your glasses."
"Yeah, yeah." Remembering something, Satoru Gojo asked curiously, "But, you know, I can understand why that Curse User group, Q, wants to kill the 'Star Plasma Vessel.' What's the Time Vessel Association doing it for?"
"They probably worship Master Tengen in his pure form and don't want an 'impurity' like the 'Star Plasma Vessel' mixed in," Suguru Geto explained.
Igarashi Amaha gave a contemptuous laugh. "Barely any ability, but so many demands. A bunch of stupid pigs."
"But there are a lot of non-sorcerers in the Time Vessel Association. Be careful. It'll be trouble if you accidentally kill them," Suguru Geto reminded Igarashi Amaha and Satoru Gojo.
"I've got the Six Eyes. I won't make rookie mistakes. You should be warning Amaha, not me."
Igarashi Amaha waved dismissively. "It's fine. Someone will turn themselves in for me."
Suguru Geto said, "...You're feeling more and more like some villainous tycoon."
"No, I'm just an ordinary guy with a little money. Don't get the wrong idea about me."
As they talked, they soon arrived at the foot of the hotel where the "Star Plasma Vessel" was staying.
Suguru Geto looked at Igarashi Amaha and Satoru Gojo, neither of whom showed any intention of moving, and sighed deeply. "Who's going?"
"Not me." ×2
The two looked at Suguru Geto and spoke in unison.
"Honestly, you two. One Charizard, one Greymon. You're both just great." Suguru Geto patted Igarashi Amaha's shoulder, then Satoru Gojo's, speaking to them with solemn earnestness.
With that, Suguru Geto headed into the hotel, leaving the two to debate whether Greymon or Charizard was stronger.
Not long after Suguru Geto went upstairs, a booming sound came from the upper floors of the hotel.
Boom!!!
"Geto's probably dead, right?" Satoru Gojo said.
"Who knows?" Igarashi Amaha said. The next second, space solidified, and Igarashi Amaha vanished from where he stood, replaced by a thoroughly bewildered Suguru Geto.
Before Satoru Gojo could say anything, Suguru Geto cursed, "That bastard Amaha! He really doesn't give a damn about the 'Star Plasma Vessel.' All he wants to do is play."
Suguru Geto swept his hand forward. A flying Cursed Spirit instantly appeared beneath his feet and hurtled toward the figure falling from the building.
High up in the building, a man in a white uniform walked out of a room billowing thick smoke. Looking down at the figure below, he said, "If you're going to blame anyone, blame Tengen. Heh."
Smack!
Just as he was gloating, a hand landed on his shoulder without warning.
Along with it came a mild voice. "Is that so? Then who should you blame?"
Fireworks rose, lighting up the world. With boundless joy, raise a glass to this year!
Finally, I'd like to wish everyone peace, joy, happiness, and good health in the new year!!
Thank you for your support. Please send everything my way!
And lastly, thank you for enjoying my book!!!