Chapter 48 (Patreon)

The second and third hearings that followed both ended with not guilty verdicts.

After everything was finally wrapped up, Hiromi Higuruma stepped over to the three of them.

“Congratulations. Both of you were found not guilty.”

Yuta Okkotsu and Rika Orimoto both thanked him at once.

Ragnar Kagenou gave Higuruma a faint smile as well. “We got through it thanks to you, counselor.”

After exchanging a few more words, Higuruma gave them a brief nod and took his leave.

At last, it was over.

The past few days had gone more smoothly than expected, but in a case like this, saying there had been no pressure at all would have been a lie.

Yuta lowered his eyes slightly. “Even if the court found us not guilty… there are definitely still going to be people at school…”

He did not finish the sentence, but he did not need to.

Even with the acquittal, the damage inside the school would not just disappear overnight.

Transferring schools seemed like the only real option. But with Yuta’s personality, being thrown into a completely new environment would not be easy either.

Rika, on the other hand, seemed far less bothered. With how bright and outgoing she was, not to mention how naturally charming she came across, she would probably have no trouble fitting in anywhere.

After thinking for a moment, Ragnar spoke.

“Then why not come to Jujutsu High?”

“Jujutsu High?” Yuta and Rika repeated at the same time.

Ragnar snapped his fingers lightly.

“Yeah. Even if the law cleared you, the jujutsu world has definitely noticed you by now.”

His gaze shifted toward Rika.

“Especially you.”

Rika blinked and pointed at herself. “Eh? Me?”

Yuta hesitated. “Is it because of Rika’s…?”

Ragnar picked up the rest of the thought without missing a beat.

“Exactly. The cursed energy Rika carries is abnormal. At this point, it’s already beyond the level of an ordinary special-grade cursed spirit.”

His tone turned calmer, but heavier.

“And once word spreads, people in the jujutsu world are going to start targeting her.”

Tokyo Jujutsu High

From a distance, Ragnar spotted the familiar white-haired figure first.

Satoru Gojo lifted a hand. “Yo, Ragnar. You finally decided to come back?”

Ragnar shrugged. “Don’t make it sound dramatic. I just dropped by.”

After the two traded a few casual remarks, Masamichi Yaga—now serving as principal—looked at the two newcomers standing beside Ragnar.

“And who are they?”

Ragnar answered simply, “They’re here to enroll at Jujutsu High.”

Yaga studied Yuta and Rika for a moment before replying, “Enrollment season is already over. If they want in, they’ll need to prove they have the ability.”

Ragnar did not even blink.

“That won’t be a problem. Both of them will become special grade in the future.”

Yaga gave him a flat look.

“Special grade? Don’t say ridiculous things so casually. Do you think special-grade sorcerers show up every other day?”

His voice stayed stern, but the disbelief was obvious.

In the past several years, only Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, and Ragnar himself had reached that level.

As for Yuki Tsukumo, she had already been a special-grade sorcerer long before that and spent most of her time overseas.

Since Yaga clearly was not buying it, Ragnar could not be bothered to argue.

Time would settle it.

At length, Yaga exhaled and said, “Fine. If they pass the entrance test, they can enroll.”

Ragnar nodded, then added without hesitation, “And I’ll be teaching them personally. No need to assign anyone else.”

A vein practically twitched on Yaga’s forehead.

Was he the principal here, or was Ragnar?

The way Ragnar said it made it sound like the whole arrangement had already been decided for him.

“…Fine,” Yaga said at last. “If they pass, you can take responsibility for them. That saves me the trouble of finding another instructor.”

That much, at least, was acceptable. Since a special-grade sorcerer had brought them in personally, they were unlikely to be lacking in talent.

“Good.”

Then, as if something had suddenly crossed his mind, Ragnar asked,

“Oh, right. Where are those five old fossils?”

Yaga froze.

“…Those five what?”

Gojo, standing off to the side, helpfully supplied the answer.

“He means the five higher-ups.”

Yaga’s shoulders sagged on the spot.

This idiot really had no filter at all.

He cleared his throat. “Ragnar… do you need something from the higher-ups?”

Ragnar let out a low laugh.

“It’s the other way around. They came poking at me first.”

His eyes sharpened.

“Talking about whether I’d defected or not. Since I’m back, maybe I should go meet them in person and remind them exactly who they’re talking to.”

The air in the room seemed to tighten.

“They’ve been sitting up there too long and started thinking that gives them the right to order me around. If they want to play those power games with me, I’ll overturn the whole board.”

Yaga nearly choked.

These old men had to have a death wish.

If they pushed someone like Ragnar too far, this would not end with a shouting match. It would end in blood.

“Calm down,” Yaga said quickly. “Ragnar, calm down. They’re old, stubborn, and half their brains probably rotted away years ago. Don’t sink to their level.”

As he spoke, he shot Gojo a desperate look with his eyes.

Stop standing there like this is funny. Help.

Gojo looked away for a second, suddenly finding the ceiling interesting.

If he had known this would happen, he would never have brought it up in the first place.

After both Yaga and Gojo spent a while talking him down, Ragnar finally clicked his tongue in annoyance and let it go.

“Fine. But if I hear any more of their so-called orders, I’m not going to be as patient next time.”

Yaga nodded immediately.

“Understood. Absolutely understood.”

Good lord.

You really are a walking disaster.

Thankfully, that was enough to smooth things over for now.

Yaga, meanwhile, was already blaming Gojo in his head. He had managed to keep the matter buried, and then Gojo had gone and opened his mouth.

Gojo tilted his head. “I mean, if the people up top got replaced, wouldn’t that just mean you could move up?”

Yaga stared at him.

“If anyone wants that position, they can have it. I’m not touching it.”

Gojo looked amused. “Then why’d you agree to become principal?”

Yaga let out a long sigh.

“That’s different. Forget it. Even if I explained it, you wouldn’t get it.”

In the end, the jujutsu world had nearly been thrown into chaos again over nothing.

A little later, Ragnar tilted his head and looked more closely at Gojo.

His gaze settled on the bandages wrapped over Gojo’s eyes.

“…What’s with that?”

Gojo grinned. “What?”

Ragnar looked him over once more, then raised a brow.

“You suddenly started covering your eyes with bandages. What is this, some late-onset chuunibyou?”

Gojo immediately laughed. “Come on, it looks good, doesn’t it?”

Ragnar stared at him for a few long seconds with total seriousness.

Then he said, “Honestly? Yeah, it does look weird.”

Gojo’s smile froze.

Ragnar continued without mercy.

“But somehow it also fits you. Annoyingly well, actually.”

The grin returned to Gojo’s face at once.

“Hah! See? I knew it. You really do get me.”

He folded his arms with complete satisfaction.

“I had a feeling this look was a winner.”

Ragnar gave him a sidelong glance, then said, “If you really want to commit to it, swap the bandages for a black blindfold. That would suit you more.”

Gojo paused.

Then his expression lit up even more.

“Oh?”

He touched the bandages over his eyes as if imagining it already.

“…Yeah. That might actually be even better.”

Ragnar smirked. “Told you.”

Gojo laughed. “Alright, then. Next time, I’m trying it.”