The existence of a Stage 5 Gastrea weighed on Rentaro Satomi's heart like a massive mountain, pressing down on him no matter how hard he tried to ignore it.
He knew very well that if a Stage 5 Gastrea truly approached Tokyo, the consequences would be unimaginable. The entire Tokyo Area would fall into a massive crisis, and countless people would lose their lives.
"Relax, relax. I already told you there's no need to worry so much about this."
Seeing the concern on Rentaro's face, Satoru Gojo patted his shoulder and comforted him in a relaxed tone.
"I'll handle it when the time comes. I won't let the Stage 5 Gastrea hurt anyone."
"It's only a Gastrea, after all. Do you really think I can't deal with it?"
His voice was filled with confidence, and his eyes shone with absolute certainty. In Gojo's eyes, the Stage 5 Gastrea that made the entire world tremble was nothing more than an insignificant insect.
Rentaro stared at Gojo's confident expression and opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.
After all, Stage 5 Gastrea were terrifying existences of which there were only a dozen or so in the entire world. Their strength was beyond imagination. No matter how powerful Gojo was, Rentaro still couldn't completely suppress his worries.
However, he also knew that Gojo had never spoken without confidence. Since he said he could handle it, then he must have a way.
"I understand."
Rentaro nodded gloomily before raising his head and watching as Gojo took out his communicator to contact the helicopter squadron and prepare for their return to Tokyo.
"By the way, what did Seitenshi say? Did she find any information about the Stage 5 Gastrea?"
While waiting for the helicopters, Rentaro suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked. His voice carried a hint of urgency and worry.
He desperately wanted to know whether the Stage 5 Gastrea was truly approaching Tokyo.
"I just called her and asked her to use the satellites to investigate. It'll probably take a while. She hasn't contacted me yet."
Leaning against the trunk of a large tree with his hands in his pockets, Gojo spoke casually. His expression remained as lazy as ever, as if the matter of the Stage 5 Gastrea had nothing to do with him.
"I hope things don't develop into the worst possible situation."
Rentaro muttered to himself, his eyes filled with worry. His hands clenched into fists as he silently prayed that the Stage 5 Gastrea had not approached Tokyo and that everything would remain safe.
They did not have to wait long before the familiar roar of helicopter blades reached their ears. The sound grew louder as the helicopters approached from the distance.
However, unlike the tension and urgency they had felt when they first arrived, hearing the helicopters again now only gave everyone a deep sense of security.
They knew they were going back. They were returning to the relatively safe Tokyo protected by the Monoliths, leaving behind this dangerous and deserted wilderness.
The difficulty of this mission had been almost impossible to imagine.
Everyone had practically spent the entire time wandering around the wilderness. They had not encountered any major danger, nor had they accomplished any of their objectives. There was nothing else left to do.
Before they knew it, they were already preparing to return. Looking back on it, the entire mission felt more like a relaxing outdoor stroll rather than a dangerous operation.
Without hesitation, everyone quickly moved toward the landing area and boarded the helicopters in an orderly manner.
With Gojo by their side, the entire process went smoothly. Nothing unexpected happened, and they returned safely without encountering even a single Gastrea, as if the creatures had been intimidated by Gojo's presence and did not dare approach.
Once everyone was inside, the helicopter doors slowly closed. The formation rose into the sky and roared toward Tokyo, disappearing into the distant horizon.
However, with the return of the helicopter squadron came the news that the mission had failed.
Like a message carried by the wind, it quickly spread to the ears of everyone involved.
Everyone who learned about it felt their mood grow heavy. The relaxed expressions they had once worn disappeared completely, and the entire helicopter formation was enveloped in a suffocating atmosphere.
No one spoke.
Everyone lowered their heads, exhaustion and disappointment visible on their faces. Their hearts were filled with worry, not only about the consequences of the failed mission but also about the possible threat posed by the Stage 5 Gastrea.
The helicopters flew steadily toward Tokyo. Outside the windows, the scenery rapidly changed, transforming from the desolate wilderness into the bustling appearance of the city.
After an unknown amount of time, the helicopter formation finally arrived in Tokyo and slowly descended at the designated location.
This place was still within the protection range of the Monoliths, giving everyone a strong sense of safety.
One by one, they stepped out of the helicopters and placed their feet on solid ground. Only then did the uneasiness in their hearts ease slightly.
The moment they landed, Gojo's phone rang.
The sharp ringtone broke the surrounding silence.
He took out his phone and glanced at the screen. The caller was none other than Seitenshi.
Gojo raised an eyebrow, pressed the answer button, and immediately asked, "How is it, Seitenshi? Do you have any news? Did you find the Stage 5 Gastrea's location?"
"Gojo-sensei..."
Seitenshi's voice came through the phone. It was low and hoarse, carrying an exhaustion that was impossible to hide. Each word sounded as if it carried the weight of a thousand burdens.
The moment Gojo heard her voice, he knew things were probably not going well.
Sure enough, Seitenshi's next words confirmed his suspicion.
"According to satellite observations, Scorpio, one of the Zodiac, is currently heading toward Tokyo. Based on its speed, it is expected to arrive in three days."
After saying that, Seitenshi's expression turned bitter. A forced smile appeared on her lips, but there was no happiness behind it.
The light in her eyes slowly faded as she lowered her gaze toward the satellite map on her desk, where Scorpio's trajectory had been marked. The route drawn in red looked like a vicious serpent wrapping itself around Tokyo, making her heart tighten.
"Tch. Looks like we're going to let someone's plan succeed."
Gojo clicked his tongue in amusement, running a hand through his silver-white hair. His voice carried a hint of mockery and a faint trace of sarcasm.
"But it doesn't matter. Things haven't reached the worst possible point yet. I'm here, so there's no need to worry."
His tone returned to its usual carefree state, carrying the natural confidence that always followed him. No matter how serious the crisis was, it seemed insignificant in his eyes, and his words alone had the power to calm others.
"We'll return immediately. We'll discuss the details when we get back."
After ending the call, Gojo shook his head, pushed his sunglasses back into place, and turned to look at Betty.
"Looks like this is going to involve quite a few people."
"Isn't that normal? I don't see anything surprising about it."
Betty sat inside the helicopter, swinging her legs casually because they could not reach the floor. She played with a strand of light blue hair between her fingers and spoke without much concern.
As a Spirit who had lived for four hundred years, she had witnessed countless major events. A situation like this was nothing special in her eyes.
"Find them and deal with all of them."
"It's not some impossible matter, especially with such a huge population in this city."
She curled her lips slightly, her tone carrying a hint of disdain. The safety of ordinary people was clearly not something she cared about. The only things that mattered to her were the people and things she personally valued.
"Those higher-ups are ordinary humans too. They aren't people with special abilities. Choosing new ones from such a massive population of ordinary people should be easy enough, right?"
To Betty, replacing a group of higher-ups was nothing worth worrying about.
"That's true, but it isn't that simple. It could easily cause instability, just like when the king of Lugunica died."
Gojo shook his head lightly.
"The world of ordinary humans is far more complicated, and far more fragile, than the world of the Jujutsu Society."
"Then it depends on whether your student can train fast enough. If she improves quickly, none of this will be a problem."
Betty raised an eyebrow and lightly waved her index finger.
"Although, if you ask me, that seems pretty unlikely. She isn't some so-called genius."
"That's exactly why she needs help."
Gojo chuckled softly. He had long since grown accustomed to Betty's tsundere personality and sharp tongue.
"At the very least, I don't want to see these people die because of Gastrea."
Gojo pointed toward the streets below and spoke to Betty.
His tone was calm, without any passionate speech or grand declaration, but there was an undeniable firmness behind his words.
The helicopter was currently flying above Tokyo. The streets below stretched in every direction, with pedestrians coming and going as they hurried through their daily lives.
None of them knew that a disaster capable of destroying everything was quietly approaching.
"Is it because of some so-called righteousness?"
Betty was slightly stunned. She turned to look at Gojo with a hint of confusion in her eyes.
In her opinion, Gojo had never been someone bound by concepts like "righteousness." He had always acted according to his own desires.
"No, no. You know I hate that kind of righteousness. I also don't like those sayings about how the strong should protect the weak."
Gojo waved his hand dismissively, his tone straightforward. The words "righteousness" seemed to be something he disliked hearing the most.
He had always done whatever he wanted and had never allowed rules or ideals to restrict him.
"I only want to do this because I want to. That's all there is to it."
His voice remained calm, carrying a natural sense of freedom.
It sounded as if this decision was nothing more than a passing thought, yet nobody could question his determination.
The helicopter formation landed at the camp where they had departed.
The sound of the spinning blades gradually weakened before finally stopping completely. As the doors opened, a faint smell of dust drifted inside.
The camp lights were sparse. Several soldiers in uniform patrolled the surroundings, their footsteps especially clear in the quiet night.
A tense atmosphere filled the air. Clearly, the people stationed at the camp had already sensed that something was wrong.
"Mr. Gojo, about this child..."
As soon as they stepped off the helicopter, Shouma Nagisawa hurried over. He was worried about Midori Fuse, and his clothes still had traces of dust while his face was filled with anxiety.
"I'll have Rentaro contact you tomorrow. When that happens, just come over."
Gojo smiled casually and patted Shouma's shoulder reassuringly.
After saying that, he waved goodbye and prepared to leave for the Holy Residence to meet Seitenshi. His footsteps remained light, completely unaffected by the crisis before him.
"Rentaro, what about you? Are you coming with me to the Holy Residence, or are you going somewhere else?"
Gojo stopped and turned toward Rentaro, who was standing nearby.
"Of course I'm coming."
Rentaro answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Alright, then let's go together."
Gojo nodded with a smile.
With Rentaro and Enju Aihara accompanying him, Gojo could not simply fly there directly. He made a phone call and quickly arranged for a car.
A black sedan stopped in front of them smoothly, and the driver respectfully opened the door. The warmth inside the vehicle dispelled the chill of the night, bringing a comfortable feeling.
The group got into the car one after another. The sedan slowly started moving toward the Holy Residence, the sound of its tires rolling over the road unusually clear in the quiet night.
By the time they returned to the Holy Residence, it was already close to midnight.
The Holy Residence remained brightly lit, as if this place never fell into darkness no matter how late it became. The corridor lights were soft, and footsteps echoed quietly as everyone moved carefully, afraid of disturbing the peaceful atmosphere.
A faint fragrance lingered in the air, gradually calming their minds.
"Gojo-sensei, is the Legacy of Nanase Village really impossible to find?"
The moment she saw Gojo, Seitenshi immediately looked at him with urgency.
She leaned forward slightly with both hands resting on her knees, her eyes fixed on him with the last bit of hope she had left. Her voice trembled faintly, as if she was afraid of hearing the answer she already expected.
The Legacy of Nanase Village was the key to attracting the Stage 5 Gastrea.
If it could not be found, then the situation would truly become troublesome.
"Probably."
Gojo shrugged, speaking casually without hiding anything.
He leaned back against the sofa, his posture relaxed as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
"Unless this thing has some kind of tracking device, otherwise..."
He did not finish the sentence, but the meaning was obvious.
Without a tracker, finding a lost artifact in such a vast world was no different from searching for a needle in a haystack. It was practically impossible.
Hearing this, the last bit of hope in Seitenshi's heart completely disappeared.
She lowered her gaze slightly. The light in her eyes faded away, her face grew even paler, and the bitterness in her expression deepened as even her breathing became heavier.