After listening to Suguru Geto explain each prisoner’s crimes…
Ronova no longer hesitated.
One after another…
She pronounced their deaths.
None survived.
Through that incident…
She finally understood Geto’s true objective.
He wasn’t simply asking her to execute criminals.
He was trying to reshape her worldview.
He wanted Ronova to witness humanity at its absolute worst.
Its greed.
Its cruelty.
Its depravity.
Little by little…
He intended to convince her that humanity deserved to perish.
Only then would she willingly help him realize his dream— A world inhabited solely by jujutsu sorcerers.
A world where cursed spirits would never again be born from the negative emotions of ordinary humans.
Objectively speaking…
It wasn’t a foolish strategy.
In fact…
It had an alarming chance of succeeding.
Ronova’s power was terrifying.
As the Curse Spirit born from humanity’s fear of death…
Her growth depended on witnessing death.
The cause of death didn’t matter.
Natural disasters.
Executions.
Accidents.
Battles.
Or…
Murders she committed herself.
All of them strengthened her.
If Ronova ever abandoned her morals…
She could simply begin killing indiscriminately.
Every death would make her stronger.
Every increase in strength would make killing easier.
The cycle would continue endlessly.
Unless Gojo Satoru eliminated her before that spiral truly began…
There might eventually come a day when even he could no longer stop her.
In that sense…
Geto’s plan wasn’t impossible.
If Ronova genuinely accepted his ideology…
Humanity might truly face extinction.
Fortunately…
Geto had overlooked one crucial fact.
Before becoming a cursed spirit…
Ronova had been human.
She understood both the beauty…
And the ugliness…
Of humanity.
Because of that…
She would never blindly accept his philosophy.
Had she truly been nothing more than a newborn cursed spirit…
Things might have turned out very differently.
In a strange way…
Simply by retaining her humanity…
Ronova had unknowingly protected the human race.
After completing her role as the organization’s symbolic Holy Maiden…
Ronova returned to Shoko Ieiri’s apartment.
Shoko was still at work.
The apartment was quiet.
She had barely picked up her game controller when— Gojo Satoru suddenly appeared.
“You killed people.” It wasn’t a question.
It was a statement.
Ronova looked up.
“…You noticed?” Gojo nodded.
As someone who knew exactly what she represented…
This was the moment he had feared from the beginning.
Since her birth…
Ronova had never personally taken a human life.
Today…
That had changed.
Ronova considered denying it.
Instead…
She answered honestly.
“Yes.” “I killed several criminals.” Gojo’s eyes narrowed.
“…Several?” His expression became noticeably colder.
For the first time in quite a while…
His killing intent surfaced.
Not because he hated Ronova.
But because he feared what she might become.
A Death Curse Spirit that developed a taste for killing…
Was perhaps the most dangerous existence imaginable.
Ronova immediately sensed the pressure.
Even so…
She forced herself to remain calm.
“Geto took me to the Time Vessel Association.” “He captured a group of murderers and other violent criminals.” “I confirmed they really had committed those crimes.” “Then…” “I executed them.” The room fell silent.
After several moments…
The pressure gradually faded.
Gojo’s murderous intent disappeared.
He believed her.
Mostly.
Gojo himself had never been someone who refused to kill.
When necessary…
He could eliminate enemies without hesitation.
The difference was…
Ronova’s very existence revolved around death.
That made every decision she made far more dangerous.
Gojo looked directly into her eyes.
“How did it feel?” Ronova blinked.
“…How did it feel?” She genuinely thought about the question.
Finally…
She answered.
“It felt good.” Gojo’s heart sank.
For an instant…
He imagined the worst possible outcome.
Then Ronova continued.
“Knowing those people will never hurt anyone again…” “Knowing their victims can finally rest in peace…” “It honestly made me happy.” Gojo quietly exhaled.
So…
That was what she meant.
She wasn’t enjoying the act of killing itself.
She was satisfied because justice had been carried out.
That distinction mattered.
A great deal.
Even so…
The concern in his heart didn’t disappear.
Ronova remained a cursed spirit.
No matter how human she seemed…
He couldn’t completely ignore that fact.
For the first time…
Gojo seriously began considering whether he should place limits on her growth.
If she continued becoming stronger at this pace…
One mistake could become irreversible.
Ironically…
Ronova had reached a similar conclusion.
She also believed she should eventually leave.
Living with Shoko was comfortable.
Too comfortable.
For the first time since arriving in this world…
She almost felt like she had a home.
But…
She also understood reality.
As she became stronger…
Her cursed energy would naturally leak into her surroundings.
Powerful beings inevitably changed the environment around them.
Gojo was one example.
Sukuna was another.
Ronova would eventually become the same.
The denser her cursed energy became…
The more attractive the area around her would become to cursed spirits.
Ordinary people would unknowingly be placed in danger.
Even sorcerers would find prolonged exposure uncomfortable.
Remaining beside Shoko forever…
Simply wasn’t possible.
One day…
She would have to leave.
Some birds…
Could never remain inside a cage.
Life gradually settled into a routine.
When she stayed home…
She spent her days lazing around with Shoko.
When Geto called…
She accompanied him as the symbolic Holy Maiden of the Time Vessel Association.
Surprisingly…
She became quite skilled at acting.
The believers adored her.
Geto seemed satisfied.
And Ronova quietly gathered information for Gojo all the while.
A perfect double agent.
During those missions…
She witnessed countless examples of humanity’s darkest side.
Greed.
Cruelty.
Abuse.
Betrayal.
Even though she had expected as much…
Some cases still left her speechless.
Geto had been right about one thing.
There truly were people whose actions were unforgivable.
But…
He was also wrong.
The existence of evil people didn’t justify condemning humanity as a whole.
Some people deserved death.
Not everyone.
That was where Ronova and Geto would always disagree.
Meanwhile…
Gojo continued bringing Ronova along on exorcism missions.
Megumi Fushiguro accompanied them every single time.
Gojo never gave up on his original idea.
He still hoped the two of them would become friends.
Unfortunately…
His efforts achieved almost nothing.
Megumi was naturally quiet.
Ronova wasn’t particularly talkative either.
Whenever they traveled together…
Long stretches of awkward silence filled the air.
Gojo could only sigh in resignation.
If Yuji Itadori had been there instead…
Things would probably have turned out completely differently.
With Yuji’s outgoing personality…
He would have become friends with Ronova before the mission had even begun.
Some people simply had a natural gift for breaking the ice.
Megumi…
Unfortunately…
Was not one of them.