There's always a pattern behind how things unfold. Just like with Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto—everything that happened during this time ultimately led them down two very different paths.
"Sensei, I'm strong, right?"
"Yeah... and pretty full of yourself too."
"But I've realized being strong alone isn't enough. I can only save those who actively accept help. If I want to save more people, I need more strong allies—more people who can stand on their own..."
Masamichi Yaga looked at Satoru Gojo with a somewhat relieved expression. This student, once a bit unruly, had started to mature.
Unfortunately, the one who used to be the most obedient had already strayed down a darker path...
...
Star Religious Group, Main Conference Room.
Suguru Geto stood at the podium in a vibrant monk's robe, exuding solemnity. Holding a microphone, he stepped up calmly and offered a sincere smile as he spoke.
"From now on, this church is mine. You'll all be following my lead."
"Oh, and we're tweaking the name a bit—let's call it the Church of the Stars."
The audience below stirred with unrest, a chorus of dissent and scorn rising up.
Suguru Geto smiled kindly and waited patiently as the noise died down. Then, he summoned a Cursed Spirit and pointed at someone in the crowd. The spirit descended from above and crushed the target into a pulp.
Ordinary people couldn't see the curse—but they saw the chicken it killed, its body mangled. The "monkeys" were terrified.
Silence fell over the crowd.
Geto's smile faded into a cold smirk. "If you want to live, obey me. Scum."
He didn't care what this new sect would be called. He had already investigated it—its essence was no different from the Star Religious Group. Just another filthy den in need of cleansing according to his beliefs.
He had no intention of showing mercy.
From the moment he set his goal, he began to move.
The luxurious building had been put up for sale, and Suguru Geto quickly made contact with the financial backer. Without spending a single yen, he took control of the former Star Religious Group.
In the world of ordinary people, the rich and powerful might lack sorcerer talent and be blind to curses, but they still knew a bit about what lurked beneath the surface.
Some would even approach sorcerers to hire them for protection—or shady work. One side offered money, the other power. It was enough to form a working relationship.
But sorcerers were rare, and since such behavior was officially banned by the jujutsu world, demand always outstripped supply. As long as a sorcerer was willing, it was easy to connect with these elite individuals.
Outside the conference room, Sōjun Minamoto was holding the hands of two little girls. One had black hair, wore a black dress, and had pale skin. The other wore white, had white hair, and dark skin.
They stood quietly at Sōjun Minamoto's side.
The two girls had often been locked in a basement because of the villagers' prejudice. Surrounded by malice and negativity, they awakened their cursed techniques at a young age.
"What are your names, little ones?" Sōjun Minamoto asked, using the warm tone adults often use to quickly build rapport.
"I'm Nanako," said the white-haired girl, a bit more spirited than the other.
"My name is Mimiko, Mimiko Hasaba." The one with black hair looked more mature.
After getting a basic understanding, Sōjun Minamoto started playing simple games with them, the kind sorcerers used among themselves—tossing and catching coins with Cursed Energy to train control.
There wasn't any deeper meaning. It was just boring waiting around, so they found something to kill time.
Gradually, the two little girls began to let their guard down and started talking to him on their own. It was no longer just because of Suguru Geto that they were willing to approach him.
Just as the three were getting more comfortable with each other, a man in a suit walked over.
If Toji Fushiguro were still alive, he would've recognized him immediately—his broker from the Dark Web, Shiu Kong.
"Well, look who it is." Shiu Kong clearly recognized Sōjun Minamoto too. After all, he had looked into the man who played a major role in Toji Fushiguro's death.
High-end Dark Web contracts usually involved sorcerers. The greater the risk, the higher the reward. And Shiu Kong only took high-tier jobs, so he had thoroughly studied his targets.
"You've got some nerve showing up in front of me." Sōjun Minamoto smiled easily, with no intention of doing anything.
"Why not? We don't have any conflict of interest. I'm not a good guy, but you're not exactly some noble crusader, are you?"
"We're more or less the same kind of people."
"The only difference is that you're a sorcerer, and I'm not."
He chuckled.
Sōjun Minamoto crouched down to say something to the girls, making them giggle uncontrollably. They quickly covered their mouths, worried they'd disturb others. But by now, they no longer feared him the way they had at first.
Seeing that Sōjun didn't respond, Shiu Kong didn't mind. He reached for a cigarette but, after glancing at the girls, didn't light it.
It wasn't out of respect for the young or the old. It was simply because Suguru Geto clearly valued these two girls.
They'd be working together soon, and it wasn't worth leaving a bad impression over something like that.
Creak—
The meeting room door opened. Suguru Geto was the first to walk out. Sōjun Minamoto stood up, and the two locked eyes across the girl standing between them.
The meeting attendees passed by as if Sōjun wasn't even there—and truthfully, they couldn't see him. Some walked right through his spot before slowly dispersing toward the exit...
"All done with the handover?" Sōjun Minamoto asked.
Suguru Geto lightly brushed off the hem of his robes, as if something dirty had clung to them.
"Yeah… The ones who showed up were department heads, executive directors, presidents, and other financial backers. The good ones? We'll help solve their problems—equal exchange. The bad ones? We squeeze out what value's left… That way, I don't have to carry any guilt."
Sōjun Minamoto looked at the completely transformed Suguru Geto—wearing a monk's robe, a trace of blood still on his face—completely unfazed.
"I'll stay out of sight for now. Contact me if you need anything… And be careful. Don't get caught."
Suguru Geto didn't object.
He had mentioned cooperation before, but he also understood that it had to be between equals—or at least between those with equivalent strength. Otherwise, it wasn't cooperation; it was subordination.
There weren't many in the Jujutsu world who posed a threat to him, so he wasn't too bothered by being wanted.
Even though the man in front of him was one of those few, he clearly wasn't planning to turn him in. Since he owed him a favor, it was only fair to repay it. Give and take—that made future cooperation easier.
Sōjun Minamoto understood. He'd wait for him to get through this dangerous period, and once the situation stabilized despite the high-level bounty, they could talk again.
He hadn't joined the cult just because of Suguru Geto—he had his own reasons. Whether it was to house cursed spirits or carry out belief-based experiments, he needed people.
The cult was now established. All that was left was to wait for it to grow. For the time being, he didn't have much to do. He patted the two girls on the head.
"I'll head out, then."
As he was about to leave—
Suguru Geto suddenly called out, "I'm about to be promoted to Special Grade. If you've got time, want to help with the assessment?"
Sōjun Minamoto glanced back and smiled. "Sure. Like I said, just reach out if you need me."
...
Back at Jujutsu High, news of Suguru Geto's defection had already spread.
No one in their tight-knit circle could believe it.
Unfortunately, even though Suguru Geto was still in the group chat, his profile picture had turned gray—and he hadn't responded to anyone since.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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