Chapter 106: Hurry and Die, Become a Sage!
The tree roots that had originally obscured the sky were blown open, leaving a crater dozens of meters in diameter. Sunlight once again poured into the space, perfectly illuminating the area containing the Curse and the three students, including Fushiguro.
In the midst of the substantial sunlight, Emiya's figure instantly leaped down from above, his hand accurately grasping the blade that was embedded in the ground.
Fortunately, he arrived decisively, choosing not to explain too much to the people in the monitoring room, allowing him to arrive just a second before his students might have been harmed.
At least Gojo Satoru was there, and the rest were also the best in the Jujutsu world. They should have already figured out the sequence of events by now and be rushing here.
In any group, youth and children are the priority targets for protection—because only if they survive can the group continue, offering hope for existence.
And now, these Curses have actually targeted these children who have yet to grow... Unforgivable!
"Emiya-sensei!"
Fushiguro Megumi, seeing him arrive just in time, was instantly overjoyed. He was ready to sacrifice himself for his companions and cover their retreat, but it was naturally best if the problem could be resolved more perfectly.
After the Detention Center incident, Fushiguro had already deemed Emiya an expert on par with a Special Grade Sorcerer.
"Take the injured Inumaki-senpai and get far away. I alone am enough here.
Also, it's best if you can contact the other students and teachers. There might be more invaders here than just this one."
As he spoke, Emiya's gaze never left the body of the Special Grade Curse before him.
Its ability is plant manipulation for combat, and its eye sockets are replaced by two branches. It's clear that this Curse is the same one that rescued Jogo previously.
Most importantly, its right limb is identical to the piece that was sliced off last time.
"Yes, Emiya-sensei!"
With the arrival of a pillar of strength, Fushiguro Megumi immediately picked up Inumaki Toge from the ground and retreated toward the main entrance.
"Is that the sennsei from Tokyo High... Is it okay to leave him there alone?" Noritoshi Kamo, who was leaving with him, asked.
He was clearly aware of the gap between himself and that Curse, but as a Jujutsu Sorcerer, he would never fear fighting any Curse, even if it meant death.
"Don't worry, Emiya-sensei...
Is very strong."
As an enemy, Hanami merely watched the three leave and chose not to intervene.
On one hand, it had little interest in ordinary students. On the other hand, even if it attempted to stop them, it would surely be prevented by the person in front of it.
"The lesson from last time wasn't enough, and you dare to come directly to Jujutsu High, Curse.
This time, I won't let you slip away again."
Emiya straightened his blade again, holding it horizontally as he looked at the Special Grade Curse not far away.
Allowing this kind of Curse to exist in the world for even one more day could lead to many people dying because of it. This is something Emiya was unwilling to see.
And, since the opponent had already attacked the school to harm his students, how could Emiya not be angry at all?
"You will not be able to."
Despite having an organ like a mouth, the Curse's language did not seem to be emitted from there.
The feeling was as if a voice of a specific wavelength was directly infused into his mind. Emiya could not understand the tones, yet his brain was inexplicably able to comprehend its meaning.
His initial perception from last time was not an illusion after all, and also—
"What a disgusting way to speak... Also, why do you think I can't do it?"
Cursed Spirits are not special entities; they can be killed if one desires to kill them.
Emiya has the determination to kill these monsters, and he has the ability to do so.
"We already know that you absolutely cannot deploy that kind of barrier multiple times; the price of the [World] is not something a human can bear.
You were actually at your limit last time. Repeated use of the [World] ability will result in a Cursed Technique rebound on your body, leading to your demise."
Hanami seemed very confident in this conclusion, which it had somehow acquired.
"Without that ability, I can hold you off."
"..."
Regardless, they had guessed correctly.
Shoko Ieiri had warned Emiya more than once that he should absolutely not deploy the [Innate Domain] again before fully mastering [Reverse Cursed Technique]. Doing so could cause irreversible damage to his body, and even instant death was possible.
"Even if you can hold me off alone, Gojo-sensei is still around."
Emiya's Noble Phantasm is highly effective against Satoru Gojo, but this only applies specifically to him.
Even with a Curse of this magnitude, there is still a chasm-like difference between it and the 'Strongest' of the Jujutsu world, Gojo Satoru.
"He cannot enter this barrier."
The Curse merely stated this conclusion without explaining the reason.
But Emiya understood that since the opponent dared to make such a claim and act upon it, it meant they were truly prepared.
After learning that Gojo Satoru couldn't quickly rush to the battlefield, Emiya, conversely, wasn't in a hurry.
"Then, why did you go through all this trouble?"
No matter what, attempting to gather more information is absolutely the right move.
Upon hearing this question, Hanami, born from the concept of 'the forest', gently raised its right hand and stroked the cloth pouch that replaced its left arm, which resembled a swaddling cloth wrapped around a baby.
Can Curses possess emotions and concepts like gentleness and benevolence? Emiya didn't know.
But the tone conveyed by this Curse was, inexplicably, filled with such emotion—
"I simply want to protect this planet.
The forests, the oceans, and the sky are all weeping. They have reached their limit and can no longer coexist with humans."
It opened its arms and looked up at the hole where the light shone through. In the sky, the descending [Curtain] was staining the blue sky and clouds a dirty yellow.
"They also know that there are good people on the planet.
But how much malice can the benevolence of these good people offset?"
Slap—!
Hanami's right hand suddenly clapped down on the 'swaddling' on its left arm. Its fingers gripped tighter, and its peaceful tone began to grow increasingly sinister.
"All they need is time.
Given time, the planet can once again become dazzlingly blue..."
Boom!
The stone pavement was pushed apart, and twisted tree trunks surged from beneath the earth, clustering around its body.
"What we need is time without humans—
So Hurry up and die, then become a sage on your next life!!!"
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