"Oh, right, I haven't introduced myself yet."
The golden-haired girl, smiling brightly, pushed her sunglasses onto her forehead, striking a rather charming, leaning pose.
"Special Grade Sorcerer, Yuki Tsukumo."
"So, big sis, me, I really—"
She winked, grinning as she spoke to the younger siblings opposite her.
"I'm not a bad person, you know."
Yuki Tsukumo was personally brought back from abroad by the president of the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association, who feared that these kids would grow fond of Riko Amanai and then run away with her, refusing assimilation.
If Tengen's assimilation failed and he evolved into a higher-level life form, all of human society would be doomed.
This was a lie.
Because Yuki Tsukumo and Tengen had some unknown relationship, the true reason was not revealed.
If Riko Amanai wasn't sent to Tengen, how could the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association kill Tengen midway, while he was weakest, after only half-assimilating him?
This was the real objective.
The only one capable of stopping the strongest young generation of the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association was Yuki Tsukumo, who was even stronger than them, capable of making all ambitious individuals willingly shut up, speechless.
The sole, strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer of modern times!
However, this was also confusing behavior from the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association; they knew that Yuki Tsukumo had an unusual relationship with Tengen.
It was still unknown whose side Yuki Tsukumo would take when the Star Plasma Vessel assassination mission was launched.
But knowing this, it was truly strange that the president of the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association took a private jet to Iceland to personally bring Yuki Tsukumo to the forefront.
"Special Grade Sorcerer!"
Suguru Geto and Gojo Satoru both frowned. This seemingly unreliable woman in front of them was actually the pinnacle of all Jujutsu Sorcerer in Japan?
What a joke!
She didn't look much older than them, so how did she become a Special Grade Sorcerer?
Suguru Geto, Kenmyo, and Gojo Satoru had already secretly discussed it among themselves and formed their own opinions.
How could they just let some unknown person take Riko Amanai away for no reason?
Moreover, they actually never intended for Riko Amanai to fulfill her duties as a Star Plasma Vessel from the beginning; just because it had been done for thousands of years didn't mean it was right.
As for accountability from the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association? What was that even?
Kenmyo, Gojo Satoru, and Suguru Geto, united together, to exaggerate a little...
"...can even slay gods."
"What's wrong? Hurry up and hand over the little girl, then you can all go home."
Yuki Tsukumo found it very strange; they showed no intention of handing her over.
"No, our orders are to deliver Riko completely to Lord Tengen and to observe Lord Tengen's assimilation ritual up close."
Ignoring Yuki Tsukumo's urging, Kenmyo stepped forward directly, confronting her.
"Your so-called orders are ultimately just one side of the story; we still trust our own judgment."
"Besides, Riko has been under our protection all this time, and our mission will only be truly over when we bring her before Lord Tengen."
"Now that you're telling us to leave, there's no way we're going."
Although Suguru Geto and Gojo Satoru didn't speak, they also stepped forward, using their bodies as shields, blocking the line of sight between Yuki Tsukumo and Riko Amanai, clearly showing their stance.
"Oh~ interesting."
Yuki Tsukumo didn't expect that even after explaining so clearly, these young men still wouldn't let her go.
Not bad, they have character.
"Isayama-kun, and everyone."
Riko Amanai looked at the three tall boys shielding her, and tears welled up in her eyes; she unconsciously covered her mouth with her hand.
"But."
"It's enough."
"You've done enough for me."
Riko Amanai recalled the bits and pieces of these past few days, and her heart was filled with complex emotions.
Although these boys sometimes played pranks and intentionally made Riko Amanai angry...
...they would quickly cheer her up again with new and interesting things.
Then, during their journey, whether at the beach, the aquarium, or other places, the three of them were exceptionally tolerant of her, treating her like a younger sister.
They took her to eat all sorts of delicious food and experience various local customs.
This made Riko Amanai realize that there were so many beautiful things in the world worth cherishing.
As time ticked away, the closer they got to the appointed time, the more she cherished it.
Honestly, Riko Amanai was truly reluctant to leave them.
Even Riko Amanai, who had mentally prepared herself since childhood, felt a strong wavering at this moment.
She no longer wanted to become Tengen's next physical body, to let that unknown entity occupy her body.
The reason was very simple, and exceptionally cruel.
I could have endured the darkness, but only if I had never seen the light.
Having lost her parents at a young age, Riko Amanai grew up under the surveillance of the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association, from elementary to high school, being trained as a host for Lord Tengen.
This meant that all the classmates and teachers she had encountered until now were strictly screened by the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association, although they themselves were unaware of it.
Moreover, to maintain her purity, the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association always arranged for Riko Amanai to attend an all-girls school, never giving her the opportunity to interact with the opposite sex.
Now it seemed that boys, perhaps as friends, might be more pleasant to get along with than girl friends.
After all, if they were girls, Riko Amanai might not have been able to fully unleash her true nature and authentic self after only knowing them for a few days.
Going crazy with them, playing with them, singing with them, gaming with them.
Those brief few days were the most wonderful and brilliant period of her life.
It was these things that dispelled the darkest memories of her life.
Riko Amanai, who had never experienced being a target of a bounty, had always lived in terror and shadow, fearing that a gun or a Curse User would appear out of nowhere and kill her.
If it were just Riko Amanai herself being killed, it might be alright, but there was a high possibility that Miss Kuroi would be affected.
After all, Miss Kuroi was Riko Amanai's only family, and if possible, she didn't want her to be implicated.
Kenmyo stayed behind to cover their retreat, Gojo Satoru took Riko Amanai and fled, and Suguru Geto was severely injured by the enemy's Cursed Spirit.
The sacrifices made and the blood shed were all to protect her.
Riko Amanai also saw all of this and clearly understood what these three big boys had sacrificed over these past few days.
The three of them were truly protecting her with their lives; if not for their own strength, they might have lost their lives in the first few waves of enemy attacks.
After all, the enemies were truly blinded by money, One Heart wanting to kill them.
A bounty exceeding one hundred million — who wouldn't be tempted?
So now Riko Amanai believed that they had done enough for her.
And now, they were even going up against the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association's only Special Grade Sorcerer for her sake.
They really... Riko Amanai was moved to tears.
So she told them not to go to such lengths for her.
"Isayama-kun, all of you, retreat."
"This concubine has decided to go with her."
He who hesitates is lost.
Riko Amanai had already received a great deal of kindness from them; there was no need for them to take another risk and confront a Special Grade Sorcerer.
"The Jujutsu Sorcerer Association's only Special Grade Sorcerer, this is truly a bodyguard befitting my status as a concubine."
So Riko Amanai continued to say hurtful things, hoping that these words would make them feel disappointed in her and realize that she wasn't someone worth protecting.
And from then on, they would go their separate ways.
"Playing friend games with you? This concubine is tired of it; it's the most boring thing ever."
Yes, that's right.
Hate me.
Anyway, no one would ever like Riko Amanai, the jinx; she came into this world alone, and she would die alone, with no one to rely on.
"At this point, you're saying this?"
Kenmyo lightly tapped Riko Amanai on the head.
"Ouch."
"Good, it hurts."
"Riko, it's fine that you're intentionally saying these infuriating things."
Kenmyo said exasperatedly.
"At least wipe your tears and say it with the righteous tone you used when we first met."
"Exactly, exactly."
Gojo Satoru echoed.
"You look like you've been bullied. And you have the nerve to lecture us."
"Satoru and Kenmyo are right."
Suguru Geto nodded, looking helplessly at Riko Amanai, whose eyes were red and tear-streaked from crying so much.
"If you're not more honest, we'll get angry."
"So, as you can see, Mr. Special Grade Sorcerer over there."
Kenmyo, Suguru Geto, and Gojo Satoru formed a triangular formation, shielding Riko Amanai in the center.
"Our Star Plasma Vessel Miss doesn't seem to want to go with you."
"Hahaha."
Yuki Tsukumo shook her head, looking as if she had been defeated by them.
"Alright, alright, have it your way."
To their shock, Yuki Tsukumo, who had just been glaring at Riko Amanai, unexpectedly...
...suddenly lost interest in her.
"Anyway, whether I carry out the orders of those old men is my own business. My salary was already deducted by them a long time ago."
Yuki Tsukumo had no weaknesses held by the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association, so she could do whatever she pleased.
Yuki Tsukumo elegantly flicked her golden long hair with the back of her hand, her hair flowing in the wind.
Her blue eyes looked at the four people in front of her.
"Although if we fought, my chances of winning would definitely be higher, I don't want to bully you."
Yuki Tsukumo gave a big smile.
"I quite like you three; make sure to live well, okay?"
Besides, she didn't want to get involved in this matter in the first place.
Because she had a secret.
One of Yuki Tsukumo's hidden identities was that, like Riko Amanai, she was a Star Plasma Vessel meant to provide a new body for Lord Tengen.
Therefore, if Yuki Tsukumo were to take Riko Amanai down, she would feel utterly disgusted, hating herself from the bottom of her heart.
It was akin to watching someone die in her stead.
So, the mission target and her former bodyguards being unwelcoming suited her perfectly.
Ninety percent of Yuki Tsukumo's stress came from the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association's missions; it was no joke.
Being dragged from Iceland for this matter had completely sickened her, making her want to vomit.
It was only because there were three adorable juniors in front of her that Yuki Tsukumo's inner disgust could be delayed, and she could find some amusement.
Therefore, the straightforward golden-haired girl, despite being a Special Grade Sorcerer, would never really clash with Kenmyo and the others.
She was simply forced into it, unable to shirk the mission.
This time, Yuki Tsukumo planned to flee to Africa; although the UV radiation was strong, it was a good place to hide people.
Iceland, she wondered how those old men had found it.
"Goodbye, boys."
"Holy crap, she actually left."
To the four people's astonishment, Yuki Tsukumo actually left without looking back.
Wow, is this the confidence of a Special Grade Sorcerer? She had just said that the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association required her to do this.
So, this was open defiance?
Are Special Grade Sorcerers all so willful once they reach that level?
"But this certainly makes things easier, doesn't it, Kenmyo?"
Gojo Satoru clasped his hands behind his head, leaning back, and said with a grin.
"And while we're at it, let's tell Riko what we discussed earlier."
"What did you discuss?"
Riko Amanai, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, now felt her heart race again.
"Don't worry, Riko, it's good news."
Kenmyo said.
"It's like this, the three of us have discussed it."
That night, on the day Riko Amanai's protection mission was supposed to end, the three of them secretly held a brief meeting.
"What if Riko doesn't want to assimilate?"
Gojo Satoru and Kenmyo simultaneously spoke the answer to this question.
"Then she won't assimilate."
The two exchanged smiles; this was their true answer.
It was a simple truth: why force someone to do something they didn't want to do? Wasn't that pure torment?
"Is that alright? We might have to go against Lord Tengen, you know."
Suguru Geto also thought so, but he only asked symbolically.
"Don't forget, annihilating Tengen was originally one of our team's missions."
Kenmyo calmly replied.
"Besides, if he loses control and starts to evolve, wouldn't it be even simpler to control Tengen with your Cursed Spirit Manipulation?"
That's how Kenmyo and Suguru Geto had discussed it at the time.
"So it all depends on your thoughts. We will absolutely not go against your wishes."
"Riko, you just need to understand that we are the strongest."
Kenmyo said firmly.
"No matter what your choice is, we have the ability to carry your future."
Riko Amanai, who had just suppressed her emotions and held back tears, now felt a warmth spread through her heart upon hearing their words.
Do people like me also have a future?
Her tear ducts immediately burst open like a broken string of beads, tears flowing continuously.
"Mm."
Riko Amanai nodded vigorously, her expression excited as she said.
"I want to go to all sorts of places with everyone, and see more diverse things."
By the end, Riko Amanai's voice was choked with emotion. She was clearly very excited.
"More."
"Your wish, we have indeed received it."
Kenmyo, Suguru Geto, and Gojo Satoru smiled at her.
Riko Amanai's vision suddenly spun, the three people in front of her seemed to multiply into six, then nine. Until there were more and more.
"Huh, how strange."
Riko Amanai's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and she plunged directly into utter darkness.
"The rest, leave it to us."