I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

"Humans really are creatures that will never stop amusing me—arrogant, self-centered, naive, full of themselves, foolish, short-sighted, blind. They're unable to see the skies above the mountain or the abyss at their feet. Give them the smallest taste of sweetness, and they'll accept it as truth, betraying past beliefs, friends, and emotions for it. Like mules with ropes around their necks, they'll labor themselves to death, convinced they're realizing their own value, completely unaware that everything they work for has already fallen into someone else's pocket."

With one leg crossed over the other, Baobhan's narrowed eyes gleamed with a strange light.

Jasmine, having tied everyone up, stood silently behind her with her head lowered, saying nothing.

Baobhan's scorn was directed squarely at the people in front of her—ordinary humans, or more precisely, members of the Star Religious Group, the very organization that had posted the thirty-million-yen bounty for the Star Plasma Vessel.

Baobhan had accepted their job, making these people her clients.

But that didn't stop her from beating them senseless. If they dared withhold her payment, she'd raze their headquarters to the ground without a shred of mercy. After all, it was only a matter of time; she'd simply be moving up her schedule.

Those seeking to take the Star Plasma Vessel's life fell into two main factions. One group was the cursed sorcerer organization known as "Q," aiming to unleash chaos by pushing Master Tengen to the brink, hoping to destabilize the jujutsu world and elevate themselves. Foolish—but at least their recklessness and audacity were worth noting.

But the Star Religious Group was sheer idiocy.

The Star Religious Group was a cult of ordinary people who revered Master Tengen as Japan's guardian deity, the foundation of the nation's barrier system.

To them, Master Tengen was pure and sacred, and merging him with another was a blasphemous contamination.

—And for this absurd belief, they were willing to take a young girl's life.

Truly…

"Too stupid for me to even find it funny…"

Covering her face with one hand, Baobhan sighed in dismay, her high heel tapping rhythmically on the floor.

"Ah… filth, filth, filth, filth… how I'd love to shred something to pieces…"

Her muttering, like a child venting, came to an abrupt stop as she dropped her hand from her face.

"Jasmine, don't leave this room until I return."

Though she didn't know what had caused Baobhan's sudden change of expression, Jasmine didn't ask. Baobhan had instructed her at the start of the mission to follow her commands exactly.

Jasmine gave a quick, "Yes," and before she knew it, Baobhan was already out the door.

The hallway outside was long, narrow, and carpeted, only wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

As she rounded a corner, Baobhan's shoulder bumped into someone else's.

"Oh! Excuse me, miss," said a man with a charming smile and a polite tone, his voice filled with genuine-sounding remorse. "I really must apologize. I hope my clumsiness hasn't inconvenienced you."

"I accept your apology, sir."

Baobhan returned his smile, but the next words out of her mouth were as cold as a winter gust.

"As long as you die here."

The moment she spoke, the man's right hand burst into a spray of blood, extending three whip-like tendrils ending in scythe blades that lashed out toward Baobhan—only to be diced into bits before they could reach her.

With a shout of pain, the man looked down to see Baobhan's open palm inches from his face.

"Consider this a rare act of mercy. Take it well."

A series of gleaming blades slashed through the air, and the man's body exploded, his blood splattering the walls, floor, and ceiling in a macabre display.

With her gray eyes surveying the blood-streaked hallway, Baobhan spoke as if to herself, though she was addressing someone lurking nearby. "So you're here too, I see. Is Geto Suguru's Cursed Spirit Manipulation really that valuable to you? Just a sewer-dwelling parasite."

"But…"

With a flick of her fingers, a mass of black energy emerged from where the man had been standing, and Baobhan held it suspended in midair.

"You won't be squirming for much longer."

After circling the area for a while, she returned to the room.

Jasmine was still waiting inside, obediently, just as she'd been told.

"Sister Baobhan, you're back."

Just the sight of Baobhan was enough to bring a smile to Jasmine's face.

Just standing quietly by her sister's side brought Jasmine a profound sense of happiness.

"You were very good for following my instructions and staying put. What a good girl."

Baobhan gave Jasmine a gentle head pat, and the effect was instant.

"A good girl deserves a reward, so how about some ice cream later? I've always been quite good at sneaking in a bit of fun when I'm supposed to be working."

Gojo Satoru and his group would likely continue their little vacation until morning.

The most dangerous threat didn't seem interested in appearing until the crucial moment, and the others were mere rabble, unlikely to be more than Gojo and Geto could handle.

Tomorrow would be the last day of the bounty.

It was a pivotal moment. Having come to this world, she had to try something while she could.

And for that…

"As the key to this mission's success, you've got to give it your best too, Jasmine."

Baobhan ruffled Jasmine's gray hair thoroughly, pleased with the soft feel of it.

"Mmph… I—I'll do my best!"

With fists clenched, Jasmine looked determined.

As Baobhan expected, throughout the night and into the next day, the attackers failed to lay a finger on Gojo and Riko Amanai. None of them were any match for Gojo or Geto.

Their destination was Master Tengen's domain, the Tokyo Jujutsu High.

By three o'clock in the afternoon, they'd arrived.

The assimilation of Riko Amanai, the Star Plasma Vessel, with Master Tengen was scheduled for that night's full moon. Inside the barrier surrounding Tokyo Jujutsu High, one of the most secure places in Japan, their mission was nearly complete.

"Everyone, good work."

Having been the first to reach the top of the steps, Geto Suguru turned, hand on his hip, and greeted the others.

But not everyone had his stamina. Riko Amanai was practically panting as she took the last step, leaning over with her hands on her knees.

"This… should finally be safe, right?"

Through the corner of her eye, Riko saw her maid hand her a handkerchief, and she accepted it with a grateful smile, wiping her forehead.

Watching Riko interact so warmly with her maid, Geto turned to glance at Gojo.

"Thanks for everything, Satoru."

At Geto's words, Gojo cast him a sideways look, his silver gaze flashing briefly as he blinked.

"Next time, I am never babysitting a brat again."

"Ha?"

As Gojo and Riko made faces at each other like eternal children, Geto sighed, his eyes filled with fondness.

Their protection mission had finally reached its end. Though they were reluctant to part, here, within Jujutsu High's barrier, was one of the safest places in all of Japan. They wouldn't need to stay any longer…

Crash!

The sound of shattering glass rang out.

To their horror, they looked up to see fragments of the outer barrier falling from the sky.

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T/N: NOOO HE WASNT PENETRATED FROM BEHIND