Grand Assassin, the Old Man of the Mountain.
That was the other Shadow Servant she had summoned.
The sword that had taken Mahito’s head was his Noble Phantasm, Azrael.
The key was not the act of beheading itself, but the concept of death that the strike imparted.
Under that sword, enemies who inherently possessed the concept of death would perish on the spot.
Even foes who lacked the concept entirely—immortal, indestructible beings—would, after receiving that blow, become capable of being killed.
It was, without question, the blade that proclaimed death.
As for why the head had to be taken?
Nothing more than the Old Man of the Mountain’s personal habit from when he was alive.
In other words, he cut it off simply because it was convenient.
While Mahito’s technique made him harder to kill than most cursed spirits, so long as the possibility of his death existed, this sword would transform that possibility of death into reality.
Still, out of an abundance of caution, even after watching the old man take Mahito’s head, Ritsuka did not immediately have EMIYA dispel Unlimited Blade Works.
She kept her eyes fixed on his corpse until she saw it, with her own eyes, crumble into ash and scatter—just like every other dead cursed spirit.
Only then did Ritsuka finally allow herself a sigh of relief.
She had EMIYA release the Reality Marble, and the ordinary nighttime street returned.
“Hm?
What’s this?”
Ritsuka suddenly noticed something lying where Mahito’s remains had dissipated.
She looked closer.
It was a desiccated, dark crimson finger.
This is…
one of Ryomen Sukuna’s fingers?
She picked the finger up off the ground and examined it in her palm.
Even without possessing cursed energy, just looking at the thing gave her a distinctly unpleasant feeling.
Though, that might also have been because the finger itself was somewhat disgusting to look at.
In any case, she’d stow it away for now and hand it over to Gojo when she got the chance.
With that thought, she placed the finger into the Treasury of the Retainer.
On the other side, Jalter did not return to spirit form.
Instead, she dismissed her armor, switched to casual everyday attire, and made her way back to Ritsuka’s side, grumbling as she did.
“It was only some kind of small fry.
I could have handled him perfectly well on my own.
Was there really any need to put on such a huge show?”
What Jalter actually meant, though she didn’t say it outright, was: why not rely on me more?
Sensing the little ruffled emotion behind Jalter’s words, Ritsuka immediately latched onto her, hugging her arm with affectionate familiarity.
With a playful, coaxing grin, she said, “I just wanted to be extra careful.
And besides, it was all thanks to you, Jalter, for holding him off.
Otherwise, he would’ve gotten away!”
This move was practically a surefire critical hit against Jalter.
Feeling the soft touch and warm body heat pressed against her arm, Jalter’s face flushed.
Her tone instantly softened, though she still put on a show of impatience.
“Alright, alright.
I get it.
Now let go of me. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Always clinging and hugging like that—what are you, a child?!”
“Teehee.”
Though her words chided Ritsuka to let go, the resistance Jalter actually put up was remarkably feeble, as if she were merely going through the motions.
“Um…”
Just then, Yoshino Nagi’s voice broke in, interrupting their playful tussle.
She asked the two girls cautiously, “Is it…
over now?
Is everything alright?”
Ritsuka promptly released Jalter, missing the fleeting flicker of disappointment that crossed the other’s face.
She composed herself and smiled at Nagi.
“Yes, it’s alright now.
Everything is safe.”
Hearing Ritsuka’s confirmation, Nagi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Gazing at the quiet street before her—looking just as it always did—she slowly began to feel grounded in reality again.
Everything that had just happened, everything she had witnessed…
it had all far surpassed the boundaries of her understanding.
In fact, it had felt so surreal that she’d half-wondered if she were in a dream.
But her reason told her it had all been real.
“May I ask…
who are you?
And why did you save me?”
Having gradually calmed down, Nagi looked at the two young women before her.
Even now, she was still completely in the dark, with no idea what had truly transpired.
“My name is Fujimaru Ritsuka.
I’m a jujutsu sorcerer,” Ritsuka introduced herself, then explained.
“Because you’re Yoshino Junpei’s mother, I thought you might be in danger.
I came to check on you, and it turned out I arrived just as an enemy was about to attack.”
“I was in danger…
because I’m Junpei’s mother?”
At those words, it finally clicked for Nagi.
“Then…
you’re the ones who took Junpei?!”
Seeing Ritsuka nod in acknowledgment, Nagi’s face slowly drained of color.
If this were a normal day, she probably would have flown into a rage—grabbed the girl by the collar and demanded to know what had happened to Junpei.
But after what she had just experienced, she now understood that her son’s arrest was far more complicated than she had ever imagined.
It involved a realm that was unimaginable, exceedingly dangerous, and beyond the reach of ordinary people.
And so, she could only bow her head deeply and plead with Ritsuka, her voice humble.
“Junpei is a good boy.
I believe he would never do anything bad.
Please, just let me see him once.
I’ll make him explain everything clearly.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“I’m begging you…”
Looking at Nagi, bowed so low before her, Ritsuka scratched her head, a little troubled.
Speaking for herself, she was more than willing to help.
But she wasn’t entirely clear on the rules and regulations of the jujutsu world, nor did she know whether such a request would even be permitted.
Still, she could ask someone about it.
“Ma’am, please, stand up.
I don’t know whether it’s possible or not.
Let me ask someone first.”
Ritsuka helped Nagi upright, then pulled out her phone and called Gojo.
She needed to report tonight’s actions to him anyway.
Might as well handle both at once.
“Hello, Gojo-sensei.”
“It’s me.
Something just happened…
Mm.
Oh, right.
Okay, I understand.”
Once the call connected, she gave a brief report on the battle with Mahito, the Sukuna finger she had found, and Nagi’s situation and request.
After talking for a while, she looked over at Nagi, who was watching her with anxious intensity, and made an OK gesture with her hand.
Smiling, she said, “He says it’s fine.
And he said he’ll come over in person.
You can ask him for more details then.”
“Don’t worry.
That guy might be really frivolous, but he’s a good person.”
“That’s wonderful!
Thank you so much!”
Receiving an affirmative answer, Nagi’s face filled with gratitude.
She bowed deeply to Ritsuka once more, leaving the girl a little embarrassed.
Then, Ritsuka got Nagi’s home address from her and relayed it to Gojo before hanging up.
“Gojo-sensei said he’ll be here soon.
But…”
As they walked together with Nagi toward her home, Ritsuka suddenly remembered something.
He hadn’t actually specified exactly when he’d arrive.
Er…
Gojo Satoru wasn’t the type to say “I’ll be right there” when he’d only just stepped out the door, was he?
She really didn’t want to be up too late.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, a familiar, lilting laugh sounded right by her ear.
“My, my.
It seems your nightlife has been quite eventful, Ritsuka.”
“Gojo-sensei!”