Chapter 78 : [Existence] and Sukuna & Brothers
Snowflakes fell as Jiang Lai walked alone on forest ground never before explored, his footsteps leaving shallow prints in the snow that were quickly filled and smoothed over by falling snow. Everything was incomparably quiet.
Following the guidance of that peculiar power, he pushed aside several clusters of entangled withered vines, passed through a damp rock cave, and reached a half-frozen lake.
By the lake stood an ancient tree, and leaning against the tree was a figure wearing a beautiful lotus-pink kimono.
Long straight black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, with neat bangs on the forehead and hair on both sides cut evenly to chin length, the typical hime-cut hairstyle most popular among female nobles of Japan's Heian-kyo.
The figure held a fishing rod and was angling by the half-frozen lake.
Sensing someone approaching, the person looked toward Jiang Lai walking over and smiled: "Come here."
Jiang Lai observed the figure before him. The hairstyle and clothing were feminine, but the voice carried the gentle warmth of a refined young man. The overall gender presentation was very ambiguous, androgynous.
However, logically speaking, [Existence] beings had no gender to begin with. What they displayed was merely the gender for walking in the mortal world.
"If [Origin] hadn't mentioned it, I really wouldn't have known another [Existence] was passing through here." The figure's double-lidded peach blossom eyes curved up. "I'm [Birth]. Hello there."
Jiang Lai caught two terms in the other's words: [Origin] and [Birth]. But there was clearly only one figure in front of him?
Just as this question arose in his mind, the lotus-pink figure continued speaking.
"Just now it was [Origin] greeting you," they turned toward the ancient tree behind them, indicating: "This is [Origin]."
Jiang Lai's gaze moved to that ancient tree. The mottled brown bark was like an elder's wrinkled face, every small trace a meticulous brushstroke of nature.
It looked like thousands of other trees, nothing special, yet when gazing at it one felt a wordless, steady power.
An aged voice in an indescribable language that could nonetheless be understood entered his mind: 'Hello, [Time-Space].'
[Time-Space]? Jiang Lai paused slightly in his heart.
He had just been hesitating how to introduce himself, since this era seemed to lack standard clocks with minute and hour hands. Yet the ancient tree named [Origin] called him [Time-Space].
But on second thought, this address seemed indeed more accurate. Jiang Lai thought.
His technique was [Universal Control], able to manipulate both time and space simultaneously. These two concepts combined were [Time-Space].
The original [Clock] designation was more like a reference to that peculiar timepiece at his heart.
Or rather, it was a subordinate conceptual category of [Time-Space] after this infinite power of his from a thousand years ago was no longer restored.
Thoughts flowed through his mind as Jiang Lai's face bloomed with a gentle smile, politely replying: "Hello."
Though this was their first meeting, Jiang Lai felt a sense of kinship, a very natural emotion spreading from the depths of his heart.
"Come beside me and fish with me." [Birth] beckoned, the line under the fishing rod gleaming with pale golden light.
The partially unfrozen lake rippled with water patterns. Jiang Lai looked down to see many red fish swimming in the clean, clear lake water, circling around the empty hook.
Jiang Lai paused: "This is..."
"Part of my ability, I suppose? Making work more interesting." [Birth] held the fishing rod with delicate hands, saying: "I am [Birth]. I can make deceased old souls or newly born souls descend to the mortal world."
Deceased old souls descending again... This concept struck his ears and made Jiang Lai's thoughts diverge for a moment.
He inevitably recalled information about the Supervisory Committee in the present world, the immortal conditions of those with totem marks on their foreheads, and the "nurturing" and rebirth mentioned by the long-dressed woman with the brain.
But the figure before him didn't seem like a character from the future Supervisory Committee's style. At least not now, a thousand years ago.
"Since I didn't know how to choose, I simply erased the souls' memories and attached them to small fish. Whoever I catch, I'll let them be reborn." The tone was gentle yet casual.
"..." Jiang Lai's gaze fell on the fish in the half-frozen lake water. "In that case, wouldn't it take a very long time for one being to be reborn?"
"Yes, but this doesn't interfere with the natural operation of the world. Newborns are still born as usual." [Birth] said. "We [Existence] beings merely make certain minor adjustments and corrections with an objective attitude, beyond the natural laws of the world's operation. Come sit beside me."
Jiang Lai nodded, but he didn't sit over to watch the other fish. He still held Ohagi's guide cane in his hand. He would need to go find Ohagi later, to see about the missing persons case and Ryomen Sukuna. He planned in his mind.
Jiang Lai said: "Sorry, but I still have things to do."
"Are you going to manage [Death]?" The figure with the hime-cut looked ahead and spoke.
"?" Jiang Lai didn't immediately understand. "What?"
"Hmm? It's not?" [Birth] half-turned with some surprise. "I thought you recognized [Death] and were going to manage him."
Hearing such words, Jiang Lai was silent for a moment, flashes of previous scenes in his mind. He hesitantly said: "...[Death] refers to Ryomen Sukuna?"
[Birth] nodded: "According to the human world's address for him, that's correct."
Ryomen Sukuna was actually truly an [Existence]?!
But unlike the figure and ancient tree before him, when facing Sukuna, he couldn't sense anything at all! And the other party apparently didn't know either.
Jiang Lai pondered for half a second, then continued: "Manage?"
This word sounded somewhat interesting, not quite like usage between peers.
"Mm... After all, conceptually speaking, using human world relationships to explain, you could be considered his elder brother." [Birth] smiled at the corners of their lips, their crimson eye corners slightly raised, dropping heavyweight news.
Jiang Lai: ???
Jiang Lai's spirit felt struck by lightning for an instant! His heart visualized the famous painting "The Scream," shocked by this brother relationship that had fallen from the sky.
Then he realized the phrase in the other's words: "conceptually speaking." That is, not traditional blood-related brothers.
The lotus-pink kimono figure sat straight-backed, explaining in a gentle tone.
"Currently there are only a few [Existence] beings in the world. [Origin] was born earliest, the source of everything. Then came [Birth]. After life is born, it experiences [Time-Space] of varying lengths, finally welcoming [Death]."
"So speaking conceptually in this order, [Origin] is our parent, I'm your elder brother, or you can call me elder sister too. Then comes you, and [Death] is our youngest brother."
Jiang Lai's first wild thought was actually: Ryomen Sukuna, that hellish bastard, really is a little brother (not)!
Then more serious thinking overtook that teasing thought, and Jiang Lai spoke:
"But Sukuna doesn't seem to know about his [Existence] identity, and he doesn't seem like... a normal, objective [Existence]."
He used a relatively tactful way to describe Ryomen Sukuna's indiscriminate killing.
"Mm." [Birth] nodded in reply. "Therefore my suggestion is, don't bother with him anymore."
"Don't interfere with [Death]. [Death] itself has already gone haywire. If you try to restrain or correct him, you'll only drag yourself in too."
The lotus-pink figure switched hands on the fishing rod, earnestly saying:
"Although he's no longer truly [Existence], he still wears the identity of [Death]."
"If you go to change [Death]'s determinations, you'll inevitably bear the sins of violating rules, and it's deeper, more profound sin from [Existence] than subjectively changing ordinary people's life and death."
They spoke slowly, advising: "Therefore, don't bother with him anymore. Even if you start managing now, it would only delay the reduction of his divine nature. He has already killed too many beings non-objectively."
The winter wind by the lake lifted sleeve corners. Jiang Lai said: "...Actually, I'm not acting because of him. I act for those who die unjustly."
[Birth] was even more surprised upon hearing this, no longer watching whether any fish had taken their hook: "For humans?"
They looked puzzled: "Humans are so weak and will die eventually anyway. Why bother helping them? Besides, there are too many of them, you can't save them all."
"I know." Jiang Lai raised a gentle smile. "I've never positioned myself as someone who could save everything."
"Then why still act to help?" [Birth] watched him. "It's meaningless and no one cares."
"It's meaningful and people do care. Those who shouldn't have died can continue living. The people around them won't lose beloved family, cherished friends, or true bonds."
Jiang Lai's brown eyes were calm, his gaze falling on the rippling lake surface. "That person cares, the people around them care, and countless people who might know and befriend them in the future all care."
This conversation somewhat resembled a story he had read long ago. Jiang Lai couldn't help recalling the past, an article called "This Little Fish Cares."
Jiang Lai never had thoughts of superiority or being a plot observer.
Even though his identity in this world was set as an [Existence] similar to a deity, from beginning to end he felt he was one member among all living beings.
When he saved people, he usually didn't think too much, simply feeling that since he held so many umbrellas, when passing those unfortunate people soaked by heavy rain, he might as well share one with them.
Keeping so many umbrellas in his hands wasn't very useful. Ultimately, giving them out to shield others from wind and rain could better realize their value, Jiang Lai thought. He only needed to keep one for himself.
Snow continued falling from the sky in flurries. The ancient tree [Origin], which had remained silent since greeting him, now sent its voice again. The ancient, warm voice gently resonated in his mind:
'I can feel your intentions. You're a very promising good child.'
Promising? What promise? Jiang Lai blinked, not understanding what the ordinary yet magical ancient tree meant.
It seemed the ancient tree [Origin] could selectively transmit indescribable yet comprehensible words to individuals, somewhat like how the special grade cursed spirit Hanami spoke.
This message seemed directed only at him, since the lotus-pink [Birth] didn't appear to have heard the ancient tree [Origin] speak.
Therefore, Jiang Lai didn't ask further about what "promise" meant in the ancient tree's words. Actually, he wasn't too concerned about such aspects anyway.
Being an ordinary person was quite good enough. Jiang Lai mentally used a dancing dog emoji.
With this exchange concluded, some previous mysteries were resolved. Jiang Lai knew he had lingered here too long and it was time to leave.
He said: "My friends are waiting for me. I'll go find them first."
[Birth] still didn't seem to quite understand him, but hearing Jiang Lai's words, they nodded.
"Then go ahead." Their peach blossom eyes curved slightly, warmly instructing: "If anything happens, you can come back to find us. You'll be able to sense the path."
"Alright." Jiang Lai agreed, raising a smile as he bid farewell to his conceptual parent and elder sibling: "Goodbye."
On the other side.
The bright moon hung high in the starless night sky, below it the empty ground.
Ryomen Sukuna's domain, Malevolent Kitchen, when expanded could instantly slice all targets within the domain.
The current small town village had completely vanished into thin air. Within the domain's circular radius, there wasn't a trace of living aura. This area had abruptly gained a large patch of empty land.
Ryomen Sukuna smiled with satisfaction, revealing his teeth. The next moment, he raised his hand to block a cursed energy attack that suddenly came from the other side!
Surging cursed energy crashed down thunderously. Even Ryomen Sukuna with his strong body couldn't help being pushed back a great distance by this force.
He clicked his tongue and looked up at the white-haired figure descending: "You solved that demon so quickly? Well, that guy was just trash anyway."
Ohagi, having torn off his black-gold cloth strips, revealed brilliant azure Six Eyes, staring directly at the four-armed cherry-pink haired youth, gritting his teeth: "What exactly are you doing! Why would you do this?!"
Faced with Ohagi's questioning, Ryomen Sukuna raised his eyebrows slightly: "Hah? Why? I wanted to kill, so I killed. What's wrong with that?"
"What's. Wrong?" Ohagi repeated, mixed with cold fury.
"Isn't this helping you?" Ryomen Sukuna let his two arms hang naturally while spreading his other two hands, his tone leisurely: "Eliminate everyone and you don't need to worry about your whereabouts being leaked. Otherwise someone would definitely report you."
"Helping me? Stop using such hypocritical pretenses." Ohagi snorted, his delicate features furrowing like ice. "Disgusting."
"Really ungrateful." Ryomen Sukuna stretched his neck, his crimson eyes sweeping over. He rested one hand on his chin: "Clearly you both have great strength, yet you insist on restraining yourselves. If you two could really let loose and play, I wouldn't mind traveling with you."
The white-haired youth's expression remained unmoved, still cold and arrogant. The aura belonging to Six Eyes rose around him.
Before him, Ryomen Sukuna met his gaze for two seconds, then suddenly laughed:
"Honestly, are you angry because you truly care about these people's lives and deaths, or simply because something unexpected broke your law of omnipotence, making you feel upset?"
That casual remark fell to the ground with the weight of a thousand pounds. The white-haired youth was stopped by this piercing question, his body imperceptibly pausing.
Winter night wind howled past, carrying ground dust and snow.
Ryomen Sukuna's crimson eyes narrowed slightly as he drawled: "If you really care about these people's lives, why don't you beg that guy to help you resurrect them?"
That guy? Was he referring to White Mist? Ohagi frowned slightly. What resurrection? What did this mean?
"However, what that guy will do is uncertain." Ryomen Sukuna continued, casually adding the second half, his tone carrying the interest of watching a good show: "I'm looking forward to it too."
He held a talisman with strange patterns between his fingers, grinning as his laughter gradually grew louder, echoing across this empty area.
Ohagi's azure Six Eyes flowed with light as his next massive attack struck. But before that, Ryomen Sukuna had already activated the talisman and disappeared from the spot.