Chapter 114 - Ch 113 - The Defenders

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The winter sun filtered through the tall windows of Liam's villa, casting a warm glow over the polished wood and velvet furniture.

Outside, Tokyo was wrapped in the breath of December, the crisp wind whispering through barren trees and rooftops capped with a dusting of snow. But inside, the air was calm, almost too calm, as if the world was holding its breath for the chaos to come.

December 24th—Christmas Eve.

Liam stood by the large glass window, arms folded loosely across his chest as he stared out at the pale skyline. His reflection merged with the snowy cityscape, a ghostlike figure watching over a city about to be thrown into darkness.

Behind him, the soft hum of domestic life offered a surreal sense of normalcy.

It was the day of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons… but you wouldn't have known it by the calm inside his home.

"I can't believe you're dragging us to Europe during a cursed spirit event," Megumi muttered from the sofa, his voice as deadpan as ever. He sat cross-legged, flipping through the pages of a manga, but Liam could tell he was paying more attention than he let on.

"You say that like a vacation with family is a punishment," Liam replied, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk. "Come on, Megumi, don't you want to see your old man? Or at least have a proper Christmas dinner where the turkey doesn't try to kill you?"

Megumi snorted. "I'd rather face a cursed turkey than spend two weeks with that man."

Tsumiki giggled from the other side of the living room. She was zipping up one of their suitcases, carefully tucking in a neatly folded scarf. "Don't be so dramatic, Gumi. You haven't seen Dad in years. And Mom said she's been dying to spoil us. Besides… It's Christmas!"

Liam turned fully now, leaning against the window frame as he watched the siblings bicker like old times.

"It's more than just a vacation," He said quietly, more to himself than to them. "It's also about keeping you two away from what's about to go down."

Megumi looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So it is happening."

Liam didn't answer immediately. His fingers tapped against the glass behind him, rhythmic and thoughtful.

"Mei Mei's been feeding me intel for weeks," He finally said, his voice softer now. "Tonight, Geto's making his move. A thousand cursed spirits… all released at once. Tokyo and Kyoto are the main targets."

Tsumiki's smile faded. Even she, despite her limited involvement in the Jujutsu world, knew what that meant.

Megumi leaned forward, his voice low. "And you're leaving?"

Liam's eyes flickered to him, sharp and unreadable for a moment.

"I'm not leaving," He corrected. "I'm making sure you three are safe. Geto wants a spectacle… a distraction. And if I'm in the middle of it, it'll pull eyes away from those he really wants to hit."

There was a heavy silence before Tsumiki rose and walked toward him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "You're worried about us."

Liam chuckled lightly. "Is that so hard to believe?"

Megumi muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "Yes."

Just then, Aiko entered, dressed in her usual form-fitting maid attire, though she had tied her long hair up in a soft bun as she wiped her hands with a cloth.

"Master Liam," She said with a bow, "all the luggage is ready, and I've informed the pilots. The jet will be prepared for takeoff by 8 p.m. sharp."

She paused, her eyes flickering between the three. "Should I begin preparing the children's travel coats?"

Liam gave her a teasing smile. "Of course. And don't forget your own—unless you plan to freeze those beautiful legs off the moment we land in Paris."

Aiko chuckled softly, unfazed. "I've endured worse winters in your service, Master. Though I'll admit, the Parisian cold might finally make me wish for a less fashionable uniform."

"Never," Liam said dramatically. "Aiko without that uniform would be like Christmas without snow—blasphemy."

Tsumiki giggled while Megumi pretended to gag.

Liam turned toward them all, his gaze momentarily serious. "Listen, I don't know what's going to happen tonight. But I made a promise to Toji that I'll protect you guys from all sorts of trouble."

"Then let us help," Megumi said immediately, standing. "I'm not a kid anymore."

"And I won't be a burden," Tsumiki added, her eyes fierce.

But Liam just shook his head, walking over and placing a hand on each of their heads, ruffling their hair.

"You already help just by living," He murmured. "That's enough."

He turned toward Aiko. "Make sure they're ready. I'll be back before takeoff."

"Master… you're going?" Aiko asked, her voice dropping slightly.

He didn't answer with words—just a confident, lazy grin as he walked past, coat slung over his shoulder.

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The sun dipped behind the horizon, bleeding the sky crimson as if it, too, could sense the bloodshed looming ahead. Shadows stretched long over the Tokyo skyline, and the wind carried with it a strange heaviness—dense, unsettling.

The city, though unaware of the curse that waited to descend, moved with a peculiar tension, as if all of creation held its breath.

Within the ancient walls of Tokyo Jujutsu High, the silence was deceiving. Beneath the calm exterior, a war council was in full swing.

Inside the main briefing hall, the air crackled with energy—nerves, anticipation, and something colder: fear.

"Everyone knows their assignments now," Principal Yaga said, his voice deep and steady, yet carrying the weight of expectation. "We're not dealing with an ordinary swarm. Geto's planning something massive. This isn't a parade—it's an invasion."

Murmurs rose from the crowd of gathered sorcerers, but none dared speak over him. Every major figure was present—Nanami with his tie already loosened and a tired scowl on his face, Panda standing stiffly like a statue, Inumaki silent but tense, arms folded across his chest.

"We'll protect Tokyo, no matter what," Panda muttered with confidence. "We're not letting Geto harm a single soul."

Yaga nodded. "Exactly. And the most important priority—Yuta Okkotsu."

The moment his name was mentioned, a sudden wave of weight blanketed the room. Yuta, the special grade sorcerer, was their trump card—but also the enemy's biggest target.

"He's being kept within the Tokyo campus," Yaga continued. "Barrier techniques are in place. And I've assigned the best among you to stay there and defend him."

Elsewhere, sorcerers of every grade were already moving.

From the rooftops to the alleys, the defense net was forming—first-grade sorcerers taking command of the sectors, second and third-grade spreading through the city like a hidden army.

"Kyoto's taking their side seriously too," Shoko Ieiri muttered as she walked beside Yaga after the meeting. "They've called in everyone, even the semi-retireds. Utahime's overseeing coordination there."

Yaga exhaled slowly. "Good. We'll need everyone. It's not just about Tokyo or Kyoto anymore—it's about our survival."

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