After leaving the bridge...
Ren strolled alone down the near-empty street, sipping a cup of milk tea.
He loved this kind of sugary drink.
"The power system in this world is surprisingly simple."
As he drank, Ren watched his left hand gradually vanish into thin air, within seconds, it was completely gone.
Ability: Mimicry.
As everyone knew, the King of Curses had absurd learning capabilities. A single glance was enough to replicate an ability, and now, with the awakening of the Slashing Technique, Ren had inherited that same gift.
After witnessing Nao Tomori and Takajō Jōjirō's powers the night before, his brain had already analyzed and replicated them, applying the technique to his own body.
"Just a few party tricks. Not worth relying on."
He dismissed the effect with a flick of his wrist and continued his walk home.
Learning by mimicry was just a passive trait. What he truly sought were the Sukuna's Fingers.
If all went as planned, once he obtained his first Finger, he could finally perfect his Domain Expansion: Malevolent Kitchen.
And when that happened, he would finally reach true invincibility.
==========
The Next Morning
Ren got up early and sat calmly in the living room, enjoying a cup of milk tea he had brewed himself.
This was his favorite part of the day: quiet, relaxing, satisfying.
"Good... good morning, Onii-chan..."
A soft, sleepy voice came from the bedroom.
Ren looked over.
Wearing her pajamas, Chizuru Akiyama gently held onto the doorframe as she walked forward cautiously, trying to hide her small figure. Her lifeless heterochromatic eyes were hauntingly beautiful, her entire presence oddly fragile, like her motor nerves had been short-circuited.
"Morning."
Ren tilted his head and replied offhandedly. Then he went back to drinking his tea.
The fact that a blind Chizuru could still sense him in the living room? Mildly impressive.
"Did Onii-chan wake up early because you have school?"
"Something like that."
Even though he was overpowered beyond reason... technically, he hadn't graduated high school yet.
"Something like that...?"
"Yeah."
"I don't really get it..."
Chizuru looked a bit confused. She felt kind of dumb.
"We're moving today. Heading to Hoshinoumi Academy. We'll probably be living there until graduation."
"Huh?! W-we've been found by those scientists?!"
She stiffened with fear.
She still remembered how her parents had tricked her into entering that hellish experimental school run by "scientists," where she'd undergone inhumane testing until she lost her sight.
"Those worthless maggots aren't worth worrying about. You don't need to know too much. Just follow my lead and we'll smash through anything."
Ren's voice dripped with disdain.
Just a bunch of pathetic humans. He could turn them into dust without breaking a sweat.
"O-okay..."
Chizuru nodded obediently.
She had full confidence in his strength. At the very least, those armed men from before couldn't lay a finger on them.
"Want some milk tea?"
"N-no thanks... My legs are kinda numb... I just wanna rest a bit..."
Somehow, she'd gotten absolutely bodied by her own bed last night.
"Too bad~"
Ren said casually, turning his chair and leaning back like his bones had melted.
"Hello~ Sorry for barging in. Though I guess I already did."
A pleasant voice chimed in.
Before either of them could react, Ren spotted a white-haired girl holding a DV cam, Nao Tomori, naturally, pointing the lens directly at him, like she was trying to capture his untold secrets.
"Trespassing, huh? Want me to call the cops on you?"
Ren gave her a lazy glance, utterly unsurprised.
Chizuru couldn't see, so Nao's ability only affected him.
"That won't be necessary. I've got way too much to do. No time for a behind-bars character arc."
Nao brushed off his threat like lint.
"If the chance ever comes, I'd love to send you in. Just for the experience."
Ren mused.
"If that happens, you'll lose your personal secretary."
"Doesn't matter. A secretary's a secretary. I'll replace you."
"Tch. Typical guy. Cold and emotionless~"
Nao fake-pouted.
"As long as you understand."
"Rikumizu-kun, we're moving out soon. Got anything you want to bring? You should pack now."
Nao adjusted her DV cam as she spoke.
"Nope. Just taking the kid. Everything else is trash."
"Honestly, this place is worse than the garbage heap behind Hoshinoumi Academy."
Nao agreed shamelessly.
"Your EQ must be a dumpster fire. Got any friends at school?"
"Bingo~ Correct again~"
"Only 'friend' I have is the guy you hospitalized last night."
"You sound almost proud. Should I get you an award?"
"If you could, that'd be awesome."
Nao grinned.
"Your brain is definitely broken."
Ren stood, grabbed Chizuru by the hand, and walked right past Nao.
"Let's go. Don't waste time."
As Ren left, Nao's curiosity flared. She stepped up beside him and looked at the little girl.
"This your little sister? She doesn't really look like it."
"I picked her up. Would be weirder if she did."
"Ohhh~ So you're one of those loli kidnappers they talk about on TV?"
Nao said it like she'd made a groundbreaking discovery.
"Yeah. I love little lolis."
Ren didn't even try to deny it. He smirked.
These days, was there anyone who didn't like lolis?
"Ew~ Gross~"
"What's wrong with gross? Gonna report me?"
"If I could, I'd immortalize you in my DV cam footage."
Nao muttered darkly.
Ren gave her a cold sideways glance.
"Go ahead and try."
With that, he hoisted Chizuru by the collar and carried her down the stairs like luggage.
The three of them made their way to the black sedan parked along the curb.
Add to Collection!
200 P.S / 1 Extra Chapter