Chapter 151 - He Just Wants to Fulfill His Duty as an Older Brother
If it were said that cursed spirits had such a deep bond, Emiya would most likely not believe it, nor would he care.
However, the essence of the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings was different.
These individuals, who should not have been born into this world, were entirely created by a Curse User using wicked means. Combining characteristics of both humans and cursed spirits, they were products that naturally shouldn't exist.
Humans always try to influence and change the world in their own ways, often disregarding the feelings of other beings, including their own kind.
Artificial humans (androids/homunculi) are similar products to them, only the former are closer to humans, but they may not necessarily be accepted by the humans who privately created them.
Due to this involuntary and tragic birth, Emiya could offer them limited sympathy, provided they hadn't actually harmed anyone yet.
As for whether they could eventually break free from the constraints of cursed spirits and successfully survive in the Jujutsu world as humans?
That's certainly something they must do on their own.
Because a true sense of identity isn't just verbal or superficial; it lies in whether they genuinely regard themselves as human.
After all, historically legendary figures completely shed their human identity upon becoming Heroic Spirits. Many of them were even half-bloods of humans and other species to begin with.
But none of this prevented them from identifying themselves as human.
Of course, Emiya absolutely couldn't help them with this. He wasn't their exact biological brother, and clearly, they didn't seem too keen on taking his words to heart directly.
"So, you'd rather die and not become a burden to your older brother than consider joining our side?
But that's very strange..."
Emiya stepped into the empty space between the two of them, then extended his hands to simultaneously pat both of their shoulders.
"Why do you think that if I kill you two, and your older brother comes to avenge you, the one who ends up dead will be me and not him?
You two can't even beat my students, right?"
Kechizu and Eso hadn't fought Emiya directly, but they should know that the two of them wouldn't be a match for the former Fushiguro Toji. Yet, Emiya, who personally dealt with Toji, didn't sustain any injuries.
And besides, they clearly aren't even a match for Itadori and the other first-years now, right?
"Even if you say that, Big Brother's strength is incomparable to ours. Those kids are no match for him."
"As for you, the Jujutsu Sorcerer..."
Kechizu was momentarily speechless, unsure how to compare them.
Or perhaps, subconsciously, he had already concluded that his older brother wouldn't be Emiya's opponent.
Emiya saw this but didn't say it. Instead, he tried to persuade them from a different angle: "I know that if you could, what you really want isn't for your older brother to avenge you, but for him to be able to live a calmer life, right?
Born into a life that was never meant to be normal, deep down, you yearn for a normal existence."
The more a person lacks something during their growth, the more they desire it. This principle applies to them too.
Furthermore, these brothers not only lack peace; their birth predetermined that they would have nothing to do with a normal life, likely plunging into endless conflict and eventually dying.
When it comes to experience, Emiya himself hasn't necessarily gained much more than others, but doesn't he have the memories from those 'Emiya Shirous'?
It's precisely because their worlds are very similar, often featuring identical people appearing in multiple memories.
Due to different upbringing and choices, these similar yet distinct individuals, just like every 'Emiya Shirou,' embarked on completely different lives. This is what makes Emiya himself feel so much about various matters.
It's not that the longer you live, the smarter you become, but continually witnessing different stories can truly change one's perspective on things.
"...."
"Are you saying if we agree, you'll let us go, Jujutsu Sorcerer?"
Hearing these words, Kechizu pondered for a long time, yet he couldn't gamble his brother's future on such a thing.
Although they are half-bloods of humans and cursed spirits, most Jujutsu Sorcerers would definitely regard them as monsters and proceed to exorcise them like cursed spirits.
"Yes, I can."
"Huh?!"
Seeing Emiya agree without hesitation, Kechizu's eyes immediately widened.
"As long as you can establish a Binding Vow not to harm ordinary people, there won't be much of an issue guaranteeing your freedom of movement within the boundaries of the school.
As for the possibility of entering and leaving the city... if you can conceal your unique nature, it might be feasible?"
If things could be resolved peacefully, Emiya would certainly prefer it.
It's just a pity that many people don't like this option, which forces him to resolve the issue forcefully through physical means.
It seems like it has always been this way until now?
"Although you say that... can you alone represent all Jujutsu Sorcerers?"
The conditions sound very generous, but Kechizu isn't a fool, after all.
In fact, most people look down on those who are trustworthy yet still want to encounter more such good people in their lives... most importantly, they don't believe they will actually meet such people.
Wrong ideology creates a wrong society; once the first person profits from saying one thing and doing another, this trend is difficult to reverse.
"That's why I only said within the school's boundaries. Perhaps when the entire Jujutsu world undergoes reform, this scope will continue to expand?
Humans do possess various inherent flaws, but they also have many fundamentally good-natured people. As for the cursed spirits? Only a few truly possess intelligence, and that doesn't change the essence that cursed spirits are born from negative emotions.
No matter how much you support the cursed spirit side, the ultimate outcome will only be the entire world plunging into chaos. Even if the cursed spirits win, you will most likely be mired in meaningless conflicts."
Emiya saw very clearly that the core demands of Kechizu and his brothers were fundamentally different from those of the cursed spirits.
The former wanted to secure a normal living environment for themselves, while the latter aimed to truly destroy the entire human collective, seemingly indifferent even if they had to sacrifice themselves for it.
Seeking peace in this kind of ethnic conflict where there is no right or wrong? Is that truly possible?
Rather, seeking peace through conflict is fundamentally wrong.
"And the most crucial point is, if those cursed spirits and Curse Users truly had the power to overthrow the Jujutsu world, why would they keep hiding?
The reason they are doing this is simply that their strength is completely insufficient.
Even they have to admit that they utterly lack the power to oppose the Strongest and only dare to act when Gojo-sensei is away.
In fact, let alone Gojo-sensei, it's not even certain if they can get past me."
Emiya certainly wasn't exaggerating about this. Among the enemies that have appeared so far, there really hasn't been a powerful foe who could consistently suppress him.
Of course, the most important reason is that Emiya's own strength is also growing at an extremely fast pace, almost faster than the new generation of Jujutsu Sorcerers like Itadori and Fushiguro.
Speaking of which, having been a teacher for so long, Emiya almost forgot... he is also in the same age group as them, right?
"...."
"A peaceful life...."
Hearing this description, the image of his nine brothers living together in harmony involuntarily appeared in Kechizu's mind...
Indeed, he couldn't refuse.
"As half-bloods born from that guy's persecution of our mother, we can actually choose between human and cursed spirit forms, and leaning towards the cursed spirit side was the choice Big Brother made.
Because he felt that compared to humans, cursed spirits would be more accepting of us brothers' forms; it was the easier and simpler choice..."
How much effort would a monster have to put in to make humans accept them? It should be easy to imagine how difficult that would be.
In ancient times, humans could send their close friends and relatives, with whom they lived, to the stake based on slight suspicion.
Who would have thought that there would be someone like Emiya?
If it were Gojo Satoru handling it, the result would probably be the three brothers completely annihilated, and then that guy would be complaining discontentedly about how the enemy this time was both talkative and weak.
"But Onii-chan, I think what he said sounds pretty good. Why don't we just try to bring Big Brother over instead!
That way, maybe I can also go out and play with them!"
The final straw that broke the camel's back was not Kechizu's own hesitation, but his younger brother's quite innocent remark.
He is not as mature as his two older brothers, and as a Cursed Object, he didn't have much capacity for thought, so he is still like a newborn child, with quite innocent thoughts.
Whether innate goodness is true, or innate evil is true, what ultimately influences a person's future direction is the education they receive during their growth.
A child who is compliant in childhood may become internally corrupt due to a bad environment, while a child who is difficult to discipline can still thrive under correct guidance.
As an older brother, providing a good living environment for his younger brother is what he should do, not letting his brother do dangerous things.
"I can agree to your terms, and I can also try to persuade Big Brother.
But the condition is that my younger brother must be allowed to live in a relatively safe environment. In exchange, I can fight on the front lines as much as you require.
As long as you can guarantee his safety, I can establish any Binding Vows you request."
He just wants to fulfill his duty as an older brother.