While Ronova continued living her peaceful life…
The gears of fate had already begun turning.
It all started with the Feather of Death.
Although Gojo Satoru confidently reported that he had exorcised the newly born Special Grade Cursed Spirit…
The higher-ups of the jujutsu world didn’t believe a single word.
After all…
Gojo had a long history of ignoring their orders.
The best example was Yuta Okkotsu.
Within Yuta resided Rika, the Queen of Curses—a Special Grade Cursed Spirit powerful enough to overturn the balance of the modern jujutsu world.
From the higher-ups’ perspective, Rika should have been exorcised immediately.
Instead…
Gojo chose to protect Yuta.
To them, Yuta represented an uncontrollable variable.
And nothing frightened those in power more than something they couldn’t control.
So when Gojo returned carrying a single black feather and casually claimed he had already exorcised another Special Grade…
Naturally, no one believed him.
Especially after they examined the feather.
Although separated from Ronova, the Feather of Death had weakened considerably.
Even so…
The lingering aura contained within it still carried a horrifying concept.
Death.
Pure and unmistakable.
The moment the higher-ups sensed it, chills ran down their spines.
If a single discarded feather possessed such terrifying properties…
How frightening must its owner be?
Gojo’s explanation alone was nowhere near enough.
The matter had to be investigated.
When the higher-ups decided to investigate…
Very few secrets remained hidden.
It didn’t take long before they discovered that Gojo had recently rented an isolated house on the outskirts of Tokyo.
A young woman with no official background was living there.
No one believed Gojo had suddenly developed an interest in romance.
The more likely explanation…
Was that she was the Special Grade Cursed Spirit he had secretly hidden away.
Soon…
Surveillance began.
Then came investigations.
Then came rumors.
And as always…
The jujutsu world was terrible at keeping secrets.
Before long…
The information spread beyond Jujutsu Headquarters.
Someone else also learned about Ronova.
Suguru Geto.
At this moment, Ronova herself remained completely unaware that she had already attracted so much attention.
Strictly speaking…
None of this was her fault.
The real culprit…
Was Gojo Satoru’s terrible reputation.
Absolutely no one trusted his reports anymore.
“Hm?” “Why is it so quiet today?” As usual, Ronova left home intending to visit a nearby hospital.
However…
The streets felt strangely empty.
Normally, pedestrians filled every corner.
Today…
Only a handful of people remained.
Worse…
They kept glancing at her.
At first, Ronova assumed it was simply because she was attractive.
She had long accepted that beautiful people naturally attracted attention.
But after noticing several of them comparing her appearance with photos displayed on their phones…
Her expression gradually became serious.
Then— They surrounded her.
There was no longer any doubt.
They had come for her.
Ronova silently cursed Gojo Satoru.
That unreliable idiot…
She slowly prepared herself.
She couldn’t defeat Gojo.
That much was obvious.
But that didn’t mean every random sorcerer could exorcise her.
She wasn’t weak.
Suddenly— ROAR!!
An enormous cursed spirit burst through a nearby building, showering the street with debris before crashing directly into the group of sorcerers.
The unexpected attack stunned everyone.
Before the sorcerers could recover…
The cursed spirit charged.
Battle erupted instantly.
While both sides became occupied— A calm voice sounded from behind Ronova.
“So…” “My guess was correct.” She slowly turned around.
Standing there was a man wearing monk-like robes with long black hair tied into a half bun.
Suguru Geto smiled gently.
“Gojo Satoru really is fearless.” “He actually decided to protect someone as dangerous as you.” “Isn’t he worried you’ll eventually kill him?” If there was anyone in the world who understood cursed spirits better than anyone else…
It was Suguru Geto.
His inherited technique— Cursed Spirit Manipulation— gave him unmatched knowledge regarding cursed spirits.
Although he couldn’t determine Ronova’s exact origin…
He could instinctively sense just how dangerous she truly was.
A danger capable of bringing absolute death.
Yet instead of exorcising such a cursed spirit…
Gojo had chosen to protect her.
Even nurture her.
From Geto’s perspective…
Only a complete madman would make such a decision.
Then again…
That was exactly the sort of person Gojo Satoru had always been.
Trying to understand his logic was pointless.
Unlike the relaxed Geto…
Ronova was already drenched in cold sweat.
Among everyone alive…
The person she least wanted to meet right now…
Was Suguru Geto.
Because unlike ordinary sorcerers…
Geto could literally absorb cursed spirits.
“You seem nervous.” Geto smiled.
“So…” “Gojo told you about me.” “Don’t worry.” “I’m not planning to harm you.” Ronova remained completely unconvinced.
She trusted neither Geto’s smile…
Nor his words.
Seeing her obvious distrust, Geto sighed.
“I have no intention of absorbing you.” “My technique freezes a cursed spirit’s growth after it’s absorbed.” “If I consumed you now…” “It would be an enormous waste.” His Cursed Spirit Manipulation could permanently tame a cursed spirit.
However…
Once absorbed…
That spirit would never grow stronger again.
Ronova possessed limitless potential.
Absorbing her immediately would destroy that potential forever.
Far better…
To allow her to mature first.
Then, when the time was right…
She could become the greatest asset in realizing his ideal world.
Thinking that far ahead…
Geto’s smile grew noticeably warmer.
“I’d much rather have you stand beside me.” Unfortunately…
Ronova wasn’t fooled.
“Is that so?” She smiled politely.
“Then…” “I look forward to your guidance.” Outwardly, she appeared calm.
Internally…
She was desperately searching for an escape route.
Naturally…
Geto noticed.
He simply didn’t care.
Ronova might already qualify as a Special Grade Cursed Spirit.
But she had only recently been born.
She lacked experience.
Against someone like him…
She shouldn’t be able to escape.
At that very moment…
The sorcerers sent after Ronova had already been overwhelmed by Geto’s released cursed spirits.
Then— Ronova suddenly moved.
She shot straight toward Geto.
At the same instant— Her innate technique activated.
All Things Die.
An overwhelming sense of danger instantly exploded within Geto’s instincts.
His entire body screamed at him.
Don’t let that technique touch you.
If it landed…
He would die.
Just as Geto prepared to evade— Ronova disappeared.
She hadn’t targeted him at all.
After all…
Actually killing Geto was almost impossible.
A sorcerer of his level would never foolishly stand still and accept her technique head-on.
And given her current cursed energy reserves…
She only had one meaningful opportunity to activate All Things Die.
Failure meant capture.
Therefore…
Her true target had never been Suguru Geto.
Instead— She whispered one word.
“Distance.” All Things Die.
The target this time…
Was the distance between herself and a faraway location.
The intervening space instantly “died.” In the next moment— Ronova appeared hundreds of meters away.
Without looking back…
She immediately fled.
Only after several seconds did Geto slowly lower the hand he had instinctively raised.
He stared toward the empty street where Ronova had vanished.
“…Interesting.” A smile spread across his face.
“She didn’t kill space…” “She killed the distance itself.” “What an extraordinary technique.” For the first time in many years…
Suguru Geto found himself genuinely intrigued by a cursed spirit.