Ultimate Man [JJK X SOL]: Loading Golden Entries at The Start

"Relying solely on Alice?"

Nakiri hadn't anticipated that his words would not only fail to reassure Erina but would also have the opposite effect.

After all, Erina was a proud and ambitious individual.

To her, Senzaemon's comment seemed to imply that Alice was sufficient for the family's needs, that she alone was capable, leaving no need to depend on Erina.

The thought caused Erina to fall into silence.

"..."

Her fists clenched tightly, her emotions churning restlessly.

"Erina?"

Although he wasn't sure what she was thinking, Senzaemon could clearly sense that something was off about her mood.

Concerned, he looked at her closely.

"It's… nothing."

Shaking her head, Erina avoided saying what was on her mind.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself slightly.

"I'll be going now."

With that, she didn't hesitate further and quickly left the room.

"...?"

Senzaemon was left standing there, bewildered.

What could she possibly be thinking about?

He had gone out of his way to reassure her, to ease her worries and reduce any psychological pressure she might feel. Yet somehow, it seemed to have had little effect.

"She'll probably be fine."

From Senzaemon's perspective, Erina was a smart girl—surely, she wouldn't dwell endlessly on something like this.

Relaxing slightly, he decided not to overthink it.

Picking up his phone, he made a couple of calls.

"Yeah, it's me. Let's meet for drinks!"

"No, no, it's nothing serious."

"It's just my granddaughter, she suddenly awakened as a Jujutsu Sorcerer. Crazy, right?"

"Fate? What fate? Didn't I say already? It's all about talent. Alice just happened to have the innate ability, and it finally awakened now!"

"Yes, yes! It's not a big deal at all!"

Who said old age dampens the desire to brag?

Senzaemon felt like he had so much to share.

Of course, the fact that Ryuji had helped awaken Alice's powers was something he would never reveal.

But there was no harm in sharing the general news: Alice had the talent all along, and it had simply awakened recently.

Even if people were suspicious, what could they possibly suspect?

Hearing the envious and admiring voices on the other end of the line, Senzaemon's mood soared to an all-time high.

After hanging up, he hummed to himself as he prepared to head out.

He was meeting old friends for drinks, after all, so he needed to bring some alcohol. How else was he supposed to keep the conversation lively?

However, he didn't notice that shortly after he left, Erina emerged from behind a nearby wall.

In reality, Erina had never actually left.

She hadn't intended to eavesdrop but had overheard part of the conversation nonetheless.

And it was precisely because of this that her emotions became even more turbulent.

"A Jujutsu Sorcerer…"

From a distance, it had felt somewhat abstract and removed.

But now, with people close to her becoming Jujutsu Sorcerers, the reality of it hit her like a truck.

Her thoughts spiraled into silence as she finally turned and walked away.

---

Meanwhile, Ryuji had no idea what had transpired after Alice's return home.

He was in an excellent mood.

Although Alice was still physically weaker compared to someone with a Sorcerer's physique—she was, after all, an ordinary girl, her cooperative and understanding nature made up for it.

Alice was attentive and obedient, never rejecting any of Ryuji's requests, which made her all the more endearing in his eyes.

After returning home, Ryuji leaned back leisurely on his couch, closing his eyes to rest.

"Come out! Show yourself if you dare!"

The shouts of Tomie, previously muffled, now reached him clearly once he deactivated the sensory block in his domain.

It seemed that during the time he had been ignoring her, Tomie had been relentlessly raging and breaking down in the isolated space of his domain.

"I think that's enough."

Calculating the time, Ryuji figured that Tomie had been confined long enough. There was no need to prolong her suffering indefinitely.

Closing his eyes again, he activated his domain and vanished from the couch.

---

"Ryuji! Ryuji!"

At this moment, Tomie Kawakami was completely disheveled, a far cry from her usual elegance. Exhausted, she collapsed onto the ground, muttering Ryuji's name over and over.

Despite being a legend in urban folklore and possessing unique abilities, Tomie was, at her core, just a high school girl in terms of physical constitution.

She could get tired. She could wear out.

"I thought you'd have run out of energy to scream by now," Ryuji said, chuckling as he observed the haggard figure before him.

"!"

Hearing his voice, Tomie, who had seemed completely spent, sat upright in an instant.

Her eyes, filled with hatred, locked onto the figure before her.

"It's you!"

Finally, he had appeared.

Although her unkempt hair obscured part of her vision, Tomie didn't need a clear view to recognize him.

She would never forget that voice not in this lifetime.

"It's him! It's really him!"

Hatred burned brighter in her eyes.

"I'll kill you! I swear I'll kill you!"

This was likely the first time Tomie Kawakami had felt such a deep, personal hatred for someone, hatred so intense it made her genuinely want to kill.

In the past, Tomie had always delighted in toying with others, breaking them down mentally and emotionally for her amusement.