Chapter 25 : Young Five
The sentence "I'm a deity" caused young Gojo Satoru's originally cold kid face to crumble for an instant.
Jiang Lai rarely got to appreciate young Gojo Satoru's speechless expression, and for a moment really wanted to take out his phone to snap a photo.
Unfortunately, immediately after, the other party adjusted his posture, and those beautiful and powerful Six Eyes glared over.
Being stared at by the little kid in front of him, Jiang Lai felt no guilt whatsoever. His eyes curved with a smile as he said casually:
"Being able to descend upon this shrine peacefully without alerting anyone... what else could I be but a deity?"
"They say those who ask for money are frauds, because deities have no need for earthly money, and look, I'm not collecting donations here," he said in an utterly natural tone, eyebrows slightly raised, "such low-key behavior is that of a deity descending to inspect the mortal realm."
Listening to Jiang Lai's words, the white-haired child's eyebrows nearly shot up to the sky. His cat-like blue eyes blinked from time to time, saying nothing, his face clearly written with "let me see what else you can make up."
Jiang Lai: Today's kids are really hard to fool.jpg
But of course, most importantly, he could sense the silence of the world consciousness's power behind this, it seemed that deity descending and such indeed exceeded the limits... or perhaps the accumulated conditions weren't sufficient at this time?
Jiang Lai restrained his expression and spread his hands: "Just kidding. After all, when we initially agreed, we never said the answers had to be truthful, we simply agreed to ask and answer questions, right?"
"......" The white-haired child's pair of Six Eyes silently watched the person in front of him.
Facing the accusatory gaze from the child, Jiang Lai finally coughed: "Alright, I won't tease you anymore, I'll tell the truth."
No matter, if deity didn't work, he could continue trying others one by one until he found that hidden bottom line. he thought to himself.
So Jiang Lai smiled and said: "I'm an underworld reaper wandering between life and death."
Young Gojo Satoru: "..."
The air was quiet for one second.
Jiang Lai smiled and changed to another: "I'm a healing sprite that warms life."
Young Gojo Satoru: "..."
The air was quiet for two seconds.
Before Jiang Lai's next sentence, the white-haired child in front lifted his blue eyes, expressionless: "Why don't you say you're a monster?"
"Oh, congratulations on seeing through my identity," Jiang Lai symbolically clapped his hands and said, "thousand-year-old demon, haunting this area."
The air was quiet for several seconds. Young Gojo Satoru's form froze, speechlessness accumulated to a certain degree became annoyance, his Six Eyes swept over, making a gesture as if to turn and leave.
It was also at this moment that a voice flowed with the wind, steadily conveying:
"I am a kind of [existence]."
Young Gojo Satoru's footsteps suddenly stopped. He turned back around, looking remotely toward the standing figure not far away.
The black-haired, brown-eyed youth wore unmarked navy blue clothing, his neck necklace hidden within his clothes, the locust wood pendant tied with red rope at his waist swaying gently in the breeze.
His eyes sparkled, his face always carrying a faint smile.
In the Six Eyes' field of vision, a different luster from the hazy mist flowed at the other's heart.
Young Gojo Satoru's eyelashes fluttered as he tilted his head slightly: "[Existence]?"
Jiang Lai nodded without saying more. This was a statement that would never be wrong no matter what, humans were [existence], cursed spirits were [existence], that inexplicable clock was [existence], and various other identities were ultimately all kinds of [existence].
Jiang Lai didn't want to confine himself to being human, so he chose this broader description. This way, he could continue to add settings for himself with relative freedom.
Young Gojo Satoru's deep blue eyes swept lightly, not knowing what he was thinking internally, but he indeed didn't pursue more detailed questions. After a slight pause, he asked: "Are you an [existence] from here?"
"I wasn't born here, but I indeed appeared here." Jiang Lai's eyes flowed as he smiled, "More specifically, sorry, I cannot speak directly."
He used the art of language, successfully turning facts into Detective Conan riddle-person form, fitting the current atmosphere.
Young Gojo Satoru's glass-bead eyes stared at Jiang Lai. After looking for several seconds, he lowered his eyes: "I understand. I'm not playing this question-and-answer game anymore."
Jiang Lai: He lost interest in the Q&A session so quickly, fortunately he had basically gathered all the intelligence he wanted to collect.
However, after the white-haired child said that response, he didn't seem to have any intention of turning to leave. He still looked up with his delicate little face, eyelashes fluttering, expressionless.
Jiang Lai's expression remained unchanged on the surface, but internally he raised an eyebrow slightly, thoughts flowing through his mind.
It seemed that although young Six Eyes appeared to have lost interest in exploring his identity, he was still curious about his sudden appearance.
Perhaps it was because everyone else in the family treated him with the attitude of facing a deity. And outsiders were mostly greedy curse users who came for the bounty, impossible to communicate with normally, and basically all got instantly killed by him.
Either servants or small fry, everything made young Five feel very boring.
And the appearance of this unknown existence, whose strength was uncertain (Six Eyes couldn't see through), and whose attitude was peaceful (at least communicable), was indeed someone different from those around him.
Gojo Satoru himself was very capricious. If he suddenly became interested in something or someone, he would follow his own thoughts until he no longer wanted to play.
At this moment, obviously, he still held great interest in the existence before him, it's just that as a cool kid in his childhood, his emotions never showed on the surface.
The white-haired child just stood calmly in place, eyelashes lightly fluttering.
Jiang Lai looked at young Gojo Satoru in front of him, paused, and carefully spoke up: "Perhaps... besides question-and-answer games, is there something else you'd like to play?"
Young Gojo Satoru lifted his eyes, seemingly indifferent: "Whatever."
"Whatever" was the most difficult response in the world to deal with. Jiang Lai silently complained internally while thinking. What game would be good to play? With just two people in this kind of environment, there didn't seem to be much fun to be had.
He couldn't very well play singing, dancing, or hide-and-seek in the Gojo family shrine, right? That seemed rather impolite.
His gaze passed over the phone in his palm, and Jiang Lai suddenly had a flash of inspiration. His lips curved with a slight smile as he suggested:
"The setting is limiting, there's not much that's fun, but perhaps I could tell you many stories?"
For a great family like the Gojo family, one of the Big Three, what young Six Eyes received in childhood was day after day of serious, boring orthodox teachings.
Perhaps when young Gojo Satoru shook off the servants behind him to wander outside, he might pick up a few books from shops he passed to flip through when idle, but the quantity was limited.
Words contained thousands of mountains and waters and countless wonders, crossing time and space to move people's souls. Although Jiang Lai didn't completely remember many stories, he was someone with a phone.
His phone could currently access the 3D and Detective Conan worlds' internet, so naturally he could search for various stories to read to young Gojo Satoru, any type available, no shortage at all!
Hearing Jiang Lai's suggestion, Gojo Satoru's eyebrows raised slightly: "Tell stories?" His cat-like eyes blinked lazily.
"That's right, what would you like to hear? I have everything." Jiang Lai waved his phone, he knew that in the other's eyes this was a book, "customized just for you."
Young Gojo Satoru looked up at the object in the black-haired youth's hand, it was a simple, ancient book without any title. His cold voice carried a few notes of doubt: "Such a small book, how many stories could it have?"
"Different from what you imagine." Jiang Lai's lips curved upward in a light smile, he didn't describe further.
Properly revealing and concealing information could more skillfully create a mysterious image.
Jiang Lai walked forward with steady steps. When passing by young Gojo Satoru, he extended his hand to the side: "Come on, let's go outside and sit on the steps over there, listening to stories in the breeze."
Young Gojo Satoru's gaze followed Jiang Lai's movement. His eyes flickered, sleeves hanging down, ultimately not taking the hand Jiang Lai extended.
The black-haired youth seemed not to mind this either. He naturally withdrew his hand and continued walking forward: "The weather's quite nice today."
Young Gojo Satoru looked toward the outside of the shrine, the strong wind had died down, the air retained the fresh fragrance of grass and trees, the clouds that had obscured the sun earlier had already drifted away, and bright sunlight fell equally on every corner of the earth.
The black-haired, brown-eyed person stood near the entrance, rippling light flowing over his navy blue clothing. He turned his face, waited a moment, then smiled: "What's wrong? Or would you prefer to stay inside the shrine?"
"......" Young Gojo Satoru shook his head, his blue eyes lifting: "I prefer outside." He stepped forward to follow.
The steps outside the shrine's main hall were very clean, with only a few scattered leaves blown down by the recent strong wind. Jiang Lai swept away the fallen leaves with remote manipulation, arranged his clothing and sat down steadily, calling for the white-haired child to come as well.
Young Gojo Satoru witnessed Jiang Lai's remote manipulation just now, his eyebrows raising lightly as he sat properly beside Jiang Lai with his hands folded.
Since young Five hadn't said what type of stories he liked, Jiang Lai picked a relatively famous short-to-medium story from the Detective Conan world and began narrating in a gentle voice.
Phone-kun's main body's rationalized disguise during the past time period was very thorough, the phantom book could even have the visual and tactile sensation of turning pages.
The forest breeze brushed past their faces, lifting the hair by their ears. Gojo Satoru rested his chin on one hand, listening to the clear, bright voice of the person beside him, his gaze sweeping over the ancient book in Jiang Lai's hands.
Under the wind's touch, pages turned, revealing blank sheets of paper one after another, clearly nothing written on them, yet the black-haired youth was concentrating intently on reading aloud.
Young Gojo Satoru's Six Eyes stared for a long time, unable to discern anything special about this object, so he simply stopped staring at that unknown ancient book and instead looked at this black-haired youth who called himself [a certain kind of existence].
That cloud of mist still occupied that space, only the luster at his heart slowly flowed, forming a ring, circle after circle.
......What was that? His pair of pale blue eyes blinked slowly.
In the swaying tree shadows, Jiang Lai finished reading the entire piece in one breath, giving himself full marks for his audio reading.
He gathered his expression and turned to the person beside him, smiling: "Do you like this type of story? Or should I change to another kind?"
Young Gojo Satoru didn't show any particular expression. He still maintained his initial posture, nodding reservedly: "Mm." He said, "Next time bring both this type and the other kind you mentioned."
Jiang Lai: What happened to kids only making one choice? Young Five has already grown to wanting both!
Of course, these were just internal complaints. Jiang Lai was determined to have more composed surface presence than young Gojo Satoru. So he similarly nodded slightly with a gentle smile, expressing a kind of agreement.
Young Gojo Satoru gazed into the distance, then turned his gaze back, saying in a calm voice: "......You appeared here because of the offerings here?"
Huh?? Jiang Lai's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, but immediately after, he inevitably thought about normal human needs, needing to find places to eat and sleep, etc...
The feather necklace currently couldn't adjust transparency anymore, so he couldn't solve this by transforming into a cursed spirit.
Was this another opportunity for possible settings? Jiang Lai's eyes focused, thoughts surging in his mind.
If possible... he must grasp it well and solve this problem.
If it really didn't work, then he'd figure something else out. Jiang Lai thought. Anyway, barriers couldn't stop him, so he'd perform first.
Facing Gojo Satoru's inquiry, the black-haired youth lifted his eyes slightly, holding his phantom book phone with one hand, covering his lips to reveal a faint smile:
"......As mentioned before, I am a certain kind of [existence]. These are matters of taste for me, but not necessary requirements."
His warm brown eyes flowed with ripples. When he tilted his head slightly, light particles slid down one side along his hair, spilling onto the gray brick steps.
Young Gojo Satoru's sky-blue pupils watched indifferently, Jiang Lai maintained his smiling expression unchanged.
Heaven and earth, light and shadow intersected and flowed. It was also at this moment that Jiang Lai keenly noticed some change in his body.
After the setting of [existence] was spoken, although there were no obvious external changes, his light body seemed to no longer have physiological needs like eating and sleeping that normal people had.
Jiang Lai: I think I'm really not human anymore.jpg
Although he wasn't clear what kind of [existence] he actually was, of course, in this situation, no longer having human needs was most convenient.
This was probably some kind of consideration from world consciousness after the sudden placement. Jiang Lai jokingly thought in his heart. Still had some conscience, knowing to solve detailed troubles.
Wind blew through the treetops, clear sounds rang in the sky. Accompanying it seemed to be some distant approaching human voices.
Young Gojo Satoru immediately turned his head to look, his brow furrowing slightly as he said coldly: "......They found me."
Gojo family people? Jiang Lai guessed the answer. Probably searched everywhere without finding him, then guessed he ran to the shrine to enjoy some peace.
Jiang Lai originally thought young Gojo Satoru would sit here so indifferently until those servants found him, he was still wondering whether he should slip away early to avoid unnecessary trouble.
However, what he didn't expect was that the white-haired child actually took the initiative to stand up, looking like he was going down the mountain.
In Jiang Lai's moment of slight surprise, young Gojo Satoru tilted his head slightly, his crystal-clear blue eyes sweeping over as he said: "See you next time, Uncle."
Un, Uncle?? Jiang Lai felt like he'd been struck by lightning, stunned for a moment.
He was clearly young and handsome in his prime now!! A guy in his twenties, how did he get called Uncle!!
Young Gojo Satoru said lazily: "Didn't you say you were a deity, then a thousand-year-old demon?"
Obviously, this was young Five's "little retaliation" for Jiang Lai's teasing words.
The white-haired child's eyes curved slightly, his lips forming an inconspicuous arc, like high mountain snow briefly melting for an instant, bright light and spring breeze brushing past steep rocky peaks.
This shallow smile immediately disappeared like a flash in the pan. Young Gojo Satoru quickly gathered his expression and returned to being that cold, cool kid from before.
But this momentary smile also let Jiang Lai feel the other's genuine emotion revealed, stripping away that divine child shell, the emotions that a child of this age should have still existed within.
The distant voices grew closer. The white-haired child resumed his calm, indifferent face and stood up to leave.
"Tomorrow," young Gojo Satoru asked, "will you still be here?"
Jiang Lai blinked. He actually wasn't sure how long he could stay here. After all, this past chapter couldn't possibly narrate from young Five all the way to adult work life, there would most likely be time jumps.
If contact with young Five was only for today, and he'd be gone tomorrow? Making promises lightly but unable to fulfill them...
For a moment, outside the shrine there were only faint sounds of wind and human voices.
Steadying his thoughts, Jiang Lai finally said: "If I'm not here... then we'll wait to meet at the next turning point."
As it turned out, Jiang Lai's guess was correct.