"Woo-hoo! The ocean!"
"It's the sea!"
"Excuse me, but was Satoru Gojo the same age as the Young Mistress?"
"No, Satoru Gojo should be three years older... Strange, though, he looks the same age to me too. Maybe Riko Amanai is just mature for her age?"
"No matter how you look at it, Satoru Gojo is just a brat."
"Yu Haibara, is this a good spot for the leisure sheet?"
"Okay! The parasol makes some nice shade!"
"That is good to hear. Still, what a view. The ocean is so blue. The sea at Tateyama was nice, but this is on another level."
"The guy at the shop said tropical waters have less plankton, so they stay clear! That is what he told me!"
"I see."
Such cheerful voices echoed toward the azure sky from the Star Plasma Vessel's entourage.
With Kento Nanami and Yu Haibara successfully joining them, the group had grown to a large party of seven. They had rented a Hiace from the rental shop and were perfectly prepared to enjoy their trip to Okinawa.
Leading the charge in the summer waters of Okinawa were Satoru Gojo and Riko Amanai. Misato Kuroi, meanwhile, hovered nearby to look after the exuberant Riko Amanai.
On the other hand, Suguru Geto, Kento Nanami, Yu Haibara, and Shoko Ieiri were properly performing their duties as guards while still enjoying themselves.
Of course, Satoru Gojo was also protecting Riko Amanai perfectly using his Six Eyes and Limitless technique, so he was by no means off-guard. He was simply a genius who could play with all his might while handling protection as a side job.
So, what about the four who were hard workers rather than geniuses?
First, there was Kento Nanami. To be blunt, he lacked talent in sensory-type abilities. An invincible, critical-hitting, quarter-blood gorilla of a man, he maintained a constant flow of cursed energy reinforcement, staying perpetually ready to react the moment anything happened.
Next was Yu Haibara. By single-mindedly pursuing the path of 'doing his best with barrier techniques,' he had become a highly skilled barrier user despite lacking an innate technique. Even now, he had deployed a [VEIL] with the function to smoke out cursed spirits and its visual effects completely disabled. By doing so, he maintained the appearance of a sunny beach while conducting a deceptive operation against the non-sorcerer group, the Time Vessel Association.
From the perspective of a non-sorcerer, the corner of Araha Beach where Riko Amanai and the others were located could not be perceived. Even for sorcerers, the lack of visual effects meant the barrier's intrusion-prevention effect functioned like a trap. It was a remarkably robust defense.
As for the cursed spirits that Yu Haibara had excluded from his barrier's focus, worrying about them was a waste of time as long as Suguru Geto, a specialist in exorcising them, was present.
If necessary, Suguru Geto could deploy his own barrier within the shell of Yu Haibara's, instantly plunging any hostile entities inside into a state of cursed energy deficiency. The countermeasures against cursed spirits were arguably even more perfect than those against curse users.
And finally, Shoko Ieiri. While she was a master of the Reverse Cursed Technique, she had also become a skilled user of firearms under the tutelage of Toji Fushiguro. Dressed in a fisherman's style with a life jacket and a straw hat, the contents of the Gamakatsu rod case she carried were not fishing rods, but her cursed tools: the cursed rifle "Express" and her sidearm, an AK-47 assault rifle.
The orange jacket that looked like a life jacket was actually a bulletproof and stab-resistant vest. Having prepared thoroughly for human opponents, her targets were non-sorcerers.
According to Article 9 of the Memorandum on the Duties of Jujutsu Sorcerers:
[JUJUTSU SORCERERS SHALL NOT HARM NON-SORCERERS USING JUJUTSU, CURSED SPIRITS, OR CURSED OBJECTS. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT APPLY IF IT IS UNAVOIDABLE TO PROTECT THE LIFE OF ONESELF OR OTHERS.]
Of course, Toji Fushiguro had consulted Masamichi Yaga in advance and obtained a document signed by the principals of both the Tokyo and Kyoto schools, complete with blood thumbprints, stating that 'it is unavoidable for the sake of this Star Plasma Vessel escort mission.' Therefore, there would be no issue even if they blasted the terrorists of the Time Vessel Association with jujutsu. However, the higher-ups of the college were a parade of rotten oranges. On the request of Satoru Gojo, who asserted that they would surely find some way to complain, Shoko Ieiri had been equipped with a regular AK-47 assault rifle.
The point was that shooting someone to death with a normal gun presented no religious or technical issues in terms of jujutsu law. As for the legal side, since the memorandum stated that [THE RULES ESTABLISHED IN THIS MEMORANDUM SHALL BE APPLIED WITH PRIORITY OVER ALL LAWS AND ORDINANCES], jujutsu sorcerers were essentially extra-legal entities. Shoko Ieiri didn't need to worry about being charged with murder.
It was only because of these multiple layers of security that Riko Amanai could enjoy an 'Okinawa vacation' like a girl her age.
The gazes of the sorcerers watching over her were filled with kindness and a hint of sorrow, reflecting the image of a young girl frolicking amidst the clear blue sea and sky of Okinawa.
---
Well, hello there. It's Naoya Zen'in, currently working hard to protect Riko Amanai after being talked into it by Toji Fushiguro.
I wonder if everyone is enjoying their Okinawa trip right now? With my bank account, I could come to Okinawa eight days a week, but it really ticks me off to be working while others are playing.
On the flip side, playing while others are working is the best feeling. I wonder why that is. Back when I used to take the trash from the Kukuru Unit out to hunt cursed spirits, I'd just kill the strong ones instantly, and those idiots would be happy to mess around with the weak ones. Watching them while I played my DS was the best.
Maybe it's that sense of superiority that matters?
"Hey, Naoya Zen'in. What are you spacing out for?"
"I was just thinking that staying behind is for people with too much free time."
"Can't be helped. Besides, we don't exactly look free."
As I chat with Toji Fushiguro, I'm sitting on a mountain of [CURSE USERS] and [TERRORISTS] piled up in the airport lobby.
None of them are dead, but I beat them badly enough that they won't be waking up for a while.
Even if we can't use jujutsu against the Time Vessel Association members, Toji Fushiguro was a non-sorcerer to begin with. It's over the moment he cracks them over the head with a crowbar. Currently, we're splitting the work: I handle the curse users and Toji Fushiguro handles the non-sorcerers, beating down every terrorist who shows up at the airport.
"Look, here comes another one. He saw that pile and turned tail, but that's definitely a curse user. Go get him."
"You're so serious. We could've just let him go."
I catch myself grumbling, but my body is governed by the 'Punishing Evil' binding vow, which won't let me rest until I've pulverized any curse user I recognize.
Since I end up running at full speed to deliver a dropkick like a dog chasing a frisbee, it's honestly a pain.
"Alright, that's enough. Tell me your name and affiliation. If you talk, I'll spare your life."
I have to mix in some 'play,' like slapping the idiot with his own severed arm, or I really wouldn't be able to stand this.
When you think of Okinawa, it's blue skies and blue seas.
And more than anything, the beaches should be packed with female tourists! I could have at least been looking at some girls, but instead, I have to look at these sweaty old curse users. Honestly.
"I'm sure there are women among the curse users too. I wonder why there aren't any here."
"Well, women are sensitive to the scent of danger. They probably won't show up in a do-or-die situation like this. You can make a fortune just by cursing non-sorcerers to death in the curse-user business. Only men dreaming of striking it rich would go out of their way to clash with the jujutsu college."
"This is annoying. Once this job is over, I'm going to go around beating up all the curse users I can find."
"Venting stress by hunting bad guys... you really are being forced to play the hero of justice."
"I can't act like those idiots in the Zen'in family, so it can't be helped."
"Why don't you try gambling? It's not bad for stress relief."
"Don't be stupid, that's a crime. I can't do that... Well, maybe I'll think about it once I'm an adult."
I wonder when I'll finally get to see something easy on the eyes?
Even the cute flight attendants evacuated because we leaked fake info about a terrorist attack...
And the girl in the bikini on the JAL 'Okinawa Charge' poster doesn't even have much of a chest...
Man. I wanted to play in Okinawa surrounded by beautiful girls with big chests too!
---
"Hmph! I sense the scent of infidelity...!"
"Huh? What are you talking about, Mai Zen'in?"
---
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]