A normal person would still be a bit disoriented after just waking up, but Amanai Riko's forced awakening was too overbearing, and her mind instantly cleared.
She lay on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling, blinking her eyes. Under the alluring aroma, she quickly recovered and got up from the floor, turning her head towards the source of the scent.
In the living room, at the dining table, Chinatsu, Geto Suguru, Gojo Satoru, and even her maid Kuroi Misato were all seated, eating diligently.
Although Amanai Riko's awakening caught their attention, it was merely 'caught.' After a glance at Amanai Riko, they continued to bury their heads in their food.
Amanai Riko was bewildered, with three large question marks over her head. She wondered why those three unfamiliar people were eating, but why was even her own maid over there!
Seeing everyone eating with such gusto, Amanai Riko couldn't help but swallow, craving the food immensely, almost losing control and joining the eating party herself.
She forced herself to remain calm, raised a hand to her chest, tilted her head slightly upwards, and opened her mouth.
"Who are you?! I'm telling you, I'm the Star Plasma Vessel who will soon assimilate with Master Tengen. If you dare lay a hand on me, the entire Jujutsu World will do everything in its power to exterminate you!!!"
Amanai Riko said this, but the three unfamiliar people at the dining table showed no reaction whatsoever. Only Kuroi Misato swallowed the delicious food in her mouth with a gulp, then turned to Amanai Riko with a smile.
"Miss, they are not enemies. They were sent by Jujutsu High specifically to protect us. Those who tried to harm us have already been dealt with by them."
"Ah? Are you sure? Don't be fooled by them. Although they look like normal people, I sense an unreliable aura from them!"
Amanai Riko said, crossing her arms and pouting, but despite her attitude, her guard had actually dropped significantly.
After all, if these three were truly enemies, not only would she not be standing there talking, but her mouth would likely be taped shut, and she'd be completely bound by ropes, unable to move.
At the same time, Gojo Satoru leisurely looked at Amanai Riko, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"You're quite energetic. I thought you'd be mentally exhausted from assimilating with Tengen. It seems the words of comfort I prepared won't be needed."
Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, a look of disappointment flickered in Amanai Riko's eyes, but she quickly suppressed this emotion and brightened up.
"Hmph! Hmph! There are so many people with your way of thinking. Listen carefully, I am Master Tengen, and Master Tengen is me!
This 'assimilation' is different from 'death.' My consciousness, mind, and soul will continue to exist eternally after assimilation!"
Amanai Riko tilted her head back, a proud expression on her face. Gojo Satoru's mouth twitched slightly, finding it hard to maintain his composure.
Chinatsu, who had become invisible, simply savored the dishes she had prepared. She had no intention of interfering with this part of the story.
Amanai Riko was identified as a "Star Plasma Vessel" at a very young age. Having been instilled with a spirit of self-sacrifice since childhood, she vaguely believed that assimilating with Tengen was her glorious mission.
Assimilation is indeed not death, but the assimilated individual is definitely not Amanai Riko.
As a young girl, Amanai Riko's spirit is too weak compared to Tengen, who has lived for a thousand years.
Once the two assimilate, Tengen would definitely be the dominant entity. Perhaps for Tengen, Amanai Riko's existence would merely be a vessel containing a decade or so of memories.
Amanai Riko would never see her friends, family, or anyone she cherished in the past, present, or future again.
Beneath her outward strength, her subconscious was afraid, hoping someone would reach out and grab her as she was about to fall into the abyss, telling her that she didn't have to accept this fate.
Chinatsu briefly thought about it, then turned to look at Amanai Riko, who was trying to suppress her fear. Their gazes met, and Amanai Riko's cheeks involuntarily flushed. She turned her head away from Chinatsu's gaze.
That gaze, which pierced through flesh and struck the soul, made her uncomfortable. Amanai Riko pursed her lips and said, "School... yes, school! I'm still a student... I'm late!!!"
Hearing this, her maid Kuroi Misato said that given the current situation, it would be best not to go to school, and there was no need to.
However, they couldn't argue with Amanai Riko's firm stance. Finally, with everyone escorting her, Chinatsu and the others brought her into the academy.
What surprised Chinatsu was that Amanai Riko's school was the very same one she had visited during her first Jujutsu mission.
Chinatsu remembered this clearly.
The grotesque Cursed Spirit that had manifested due to the terrible cafeteria food instantly appeared in her mind, causing her face to tremble slightly.
Chinatsu: Is the cafeteria food good?
Riko: It's good, why do you ask?
Chinatsu: Nothing, as long as it's good... Meanwhile, on the other side, members of the Star Plasma Cult, who were targeting Amanai Riko in addition to [Q], were eager to act.
Unlike [Q], this religious group was composed of many non-Jujutsu Sorcerers, with almost no Jujutsu Sorcerers capable of combat.
However, they had one advantage: their religion was wealthy, extremely wealthy.
If they didn't have Jujutsu Sorcerers, couldn't they hire Jujutsu Sorcerers?
But this time, they didn't hire a Jujutsu Sorcerer. Instead, they hired a "normal person" who didn't have a single trace of Cursed Energy within him.
"Our Star Plasma Cult doesn't have the power to fight Jujutsu Sorcerers, but we have money. So, Zen'in, how about considering assassinating the Star Plasma Vessel?"
Facing the words of the Star Plasma Cult member, the person next to him quietly looked at the photos of "Chinatsu" and "Gojo Satoru" in his hand. After a moment of silence, he smiled faintly and turned to the speaker.
"Not Zen'in, it's Fushiguro. I married into the family. My name is Fushiguro Toji now."
After only a brief silence, the hand holding the photos loosened, and the photos slowly fell to the ground from his mouth.
The Star Plasma Cult member was overjoyed. Before he could even speak, Fushiguro Toji opened his mouth again.
"These are two Six Eyes Users, and one with the rare Cursed Spirit Manipulation Cursed Technique. The price you're offering is a bit too low. You'll have to pay more."
"..."