Chapter 134 : Bringing Up Old Matters
Zenin Naoya's narrow, upturned eyes blazed with fury. The next second, his bitten finger felt gentle licking and soft, fluffy touches.
The Leafy Beast licked Zenin Naoya's finger wound, then rubbed its head against him.
This effectively dissipated Zenin Naoya's surging anger. People always had more tolerance for beloved characters from games.
However, although his anger had somewhat subsided, Zenin Naoya's tone remained cold and hard, drawling: "Don't think that showing weakness like this will earn my forgiveness."
"Oh, I'm naturally familiar with your personality." Little Sheep Jiang Lai nodded frankly, "Showing weakness won't earn your forgiveness, only your further mockery."
Zenin Naoya raised his eyebrows slightly, not ashamed of this. His personality was exactly like that.
He didn't necessarily worship all the strong, but definitely despised all the weak.
He said: "Since that's the case, why are you still using this stupid carrot-and-stick routine?"
"How could there be any carrot?" The brown-haired boy showed some confusion on his face, then said as if suddenly understanding, "Are you referring to the Leafy Beast licking your wound?"
Zenin Naoya nodded slightly, his expression arrogant. He didn't particularly understand what Little Sheep Jiang Lai meant by bringing up this part.
Then he saw the brown-haired boy show an incredibly sincere, brilliant smile.
"Oh, I just wanted to test whether the Leafy Beast's saliva corrosion effect from the game is preserved in reality."
Zenin Naoya: "..."
Before Zenin Naoya could truly become furious, Little Sheep Jiang Lai said in a light tone: "Just kidding~ Lightening the mood."
Under Zenin Naoya's cold, murderous glare, the brown-haired boy blinked innocently: "I was just joking. You wouldn't take it seriously, would you? Are you angry? No way, no way?"
The three-person group of Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki silently watched their interaction throughout. Actually, the three had instinctively mobilized their cursed energy, ready to defend against the blonde young man's potential outburst at any moment.
...Although it sounds really satisfying, please don't continue, Watanabe-kun. Naoya looks like he's about to faint from anger!!
The three's mental shouting naturally couldn't reach Little Sheep Jiang Lai, but he had his limits and knew exactly where Zenin Naoya's breaking point was.
Therefore, before Zenin Naoya actually struck, he changed his previous expression and switched to a different demeanor: "It seems you don't like me joking with you, so I won't anymore. After all, you're the financier, I'll listen to you."
Little Sheep Jiang Lai used his shell's advantage to present a convincing obedient appearance, holding his phone with both hands:
"Which elf do you want to see next? I'll have the elf shikigami cooperate with you throughout, then my assistant helpers can take photos."
This sudden attitude reversal made Zenin Naoya swallow back his anger.
He gave the brown-haired boy a sharp look but ultimately maintained his dignity as the Zenin family heir, not doing anything physical.
He lifted his chin slightly, his earring gleaming: "Go outside."
"Where to?" Little Sheep Jiang Lai looked up.
He knew Zenin Naoya definitely wasn't telling them to leave, after all, this guy hadn't fully enjoyed the complete elf collection yet.
This seemingly dismissive statement was just verbal oppression.
"Training ground." Zenin Naoya stepped forward, passing by everyone in the room without pause, "Since you decided to listen to me completely, then shut up and follow."
Watching that blonde young man's figure stride out, Kugisaki Nobara whispered to her companions behind: "Training ground? Don't tell me he wants to fight us?"
Itadori Yuji stretched his wrists in advance. He never feared the Big Three Families' authority.
Fushiguro Megumi didn't think Zenin Naoya wanted to fight them. Actually, he felt maybe Naoya had just chosen the training ground location.
"Probably because this was his reason for calling us here. Don't forget our mission is internal-external exchange sparring. Plus there are fewer people there." He said, "Naoya probably doesn't want too many people to see his gaming obsession."
Fushiguro Megumi's deduction hit the truth. Little Sheep Jiang Lai, who had stepped forward first to keep up, also guessed the reason.
Because he wanted fewer people around, Zenin Naoya didn't bring servants. Wearing that gorgeous kimono, he led them from a relatively secluded path toward the training ground.
This pathway's corridor was built along the garden. Though sparsely populated, the surrounding scenery was still very beautiful.
After turning a corner, beside this corridor hung a string of small bronze bells tied with red rope, tinkling against each other in the gentle breeze.
Jiang Lai remembered this place.
When he had accompanied high school-era Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru here, Zenin Naoya had been quite suspicious of his great demon identity and had rushed forward to test him in this corridor with red rope bells. Naturally, he had been easily handled by Jiang Lai at the time.
Jiang Lai still remembered the scene of that year's Zenin Naoya being pressed against the forehead by a book and falling into a pile of bronze bells.
Time passed, circumstances changed. Some bells had been rusted with verdigris by wind and rain, and parts of the red rope had frayed, showing the passage of years.
Seemingly noticing the brown-haired boy's gaze toward the side, Zenin Naoya's eyes also fell there for a second. He clicked his tongue and said casually:
"Nothing worth seeing. The Zenin family is very large, and not everywhere can remain brand new. This corridor rarely has people, so maintenance has been postponed."
Little Sheep Jiang Lai made an "oh" sound without saying more.
However, Zenin Naoya's gaze lingered on that string of bronze bells for a moment longer, seemingly casually saying:
"...I once wanted to tear down all these red rope bells here. Probably forgot about it. Leaving them like this doesn't matter anyway."
"Tear them down?" Itadori Yuji instinctively responded, his golden-orange eyes falling on those tinkling bells, "I think this decoration looks pretty good."
Zenin Naoya snorted, his expression showing some emotion like looking down on country bumpkins. He arrogantly raised his slender eyebrows:
"Considering you haven't seen much of this architectural scenery, it's understandable."
Kugisaki Nobara had always disliked Zenin Naoya, especially his upper-class attitude. Just as she was about to retort something, she heard Zenin Naoya continue.
"I thought about tearing this down back then, but it had nothing to do with decoration. I'm not someone who would focus attention on such boring things."
Zenin Naoya first mocked them this way, then withdrew his gaze.
His eyes fell ahead, words sliding from his tongue: "...But thinking about it, tearing it down would seem too cowardly. Keeping this here serves as a constant reminder. So I'll keep it."
The blonde young man seemed to have more unsaid words, but he didn't continue.
The three of Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki were all somewhat confused, though their confusion didn't show on their faces. They couldn't understand the meaning behind Zenin Naoya's later words, only vaguely guessing there might be some story behind it.
Jiang Lai could deduce a thing or two, after all, he was a participant in the story behind these red rope bells.
The second playthrough restart point was after the Star Plasma Vessel incident ended, and the Zenin family visit before that hadn't been overwritten.
It seemed Zenin Naoya still clearly remembered that year's events. Jiang Lai raised his eyebrows internally. What a grudge-holding stinky blonde fox.
But it wasn't too surprising. Zenin Naoya was naturally someone who worshipped strength and held petty grudges.
In childhood, just a passing glance in the corridor had made Zenin Naoya idolize Fushiguro Toji throughout his life.
His own casual display of overwhelming strength back then, effortlessly pushing the other party into the bell cluster, had probably left quite an impression too.
But unlike his attitude toward Fushiguro Toji, Zenin Naoya's feelings toward himself probably weren't pure idol worship. Jiang Lai thought. Perhaps mixed with some psychology of wanting revenge and proving his strength.
After all, he had come with Gojo Satoru and the others back then, leaving a first impression in Zenin Naoya's mind as a friend of disliked people, essentially an enemy.
Moreover, his mysterious great demon's leisurely attitude toward a child might have also made the smooth-sailing, praise-accustomed Naoya feel humiliated.
Jiang Lai idly speculated about the possible psychological journey of the Zenin family Young Master.
However, he didn't continue further. After all, he wasn't interested in what Zenin Naoya thought.
Whether hatred and revenge or strength worship, none of it mattered. Right now, he wasn't even meeting with his real body, and didn't know if there would be opportunities to meet Naoya with his real body.
Even if there was a chance to meet again, if Naoya came forward to trouble him, he would still handle it the same as before, restraining then pushing the other party away without mercy.
Oh, wait. Jiang Lai had another thought. Since Naoya pig had grown up now, perhaps the handling method could be more direct and decisive, just beating him up... this wouldn't count as bullying a child anymore.
The corridor breeze brushed across his cheek, lifting the red rope tails and swaying the hanging bronze bells.
Zenin Naoya didn't seem particularly fond of these jingling sounds, or perhaps he simply wanted to reach their destination faster to continue experiencing game elf services.
In any case, the blonde young man's pace quickened slightly. Walking ahead, his delicate yet sharp face half-turned:
"Why aren't you keeping up? Such dawdling, is this a Tokyo Jujutsu High specialty? Your speed is truly eye-opening."
"Huh?" Kugisaki Nobara found it inexplicable, "We've been walking forward at this speed the whole time, okay? This is normal human walking pace."
Little Sheep Jiang Lai smiled: "Maybe Brother Naoya wants to find an excuse to spar with us here?"
"I'm not interested in sparring with you here," Zenin Naoya replied quickly, then used a sarcastic tone, "I don't have time to tutor your studies. Or do you think getting beaten down in the corridor would be interesting?"
"In a one-versus-many, who wins and who loses isn't certain, right? However, while getting beaten down in the corridor isn't very aesthetic, falling out from here would definitely be interesting." Little Sheep Jiang Lai blinked and pointed toward the red rope bells beside them, saying cheerfully in a youthful tone, "There would even be tinkling music!"
"..." Zenin Naoya seemed to have his sore spot unintentionally stepped on. His expression darkened another degree as he strode away from the scene.
Kugisaki Nobara complained: "What's with this guy? Why is he inexplicably angry again?"
"Don't know," Little Sheep Jiang Lai blinked and smiled, "Maybe he once accidentally slipped and fell out."