Chapter 226 : Principles and Bottom Lines
"Regret?" Amanai Riko's expression didn't look like she was hearing good news. She pursed her lips straight, and after brief inner conflict, still stubbornly snorted coldly: "There's no medicine for regret in this world..."
"Regardless of whether that guy now wants to break the peace or truly regrets it, if he disappointed Sister Iris, I will never forgive him no matter what."
Amanai Riko's lowered hands clenched into fists, and she added: "No matter what your attitude is, I... I think I won't forgive the person who disappointed Sister Iris."
"Naturally." Jiang Lai's expression was clear as he nodded and said gently: "My analysis of these two possibilities just now wasn't focused on the question of forgiveness or not."
"What I actually wanted to point out is this: you see, regardless of which one, his starting point is himself."
Amanai Riko's expression froze slightly, her eyelids fluttering as she listened to Jiang Lai continue speaking.
"Furthermore, if he truly considered [Birth], he wouldn't have delayed until now to take action. Moreover, he hasn't personally taken initiative to do anything for [Birth], only inciting and pushing us to fight each other."
"Therefore, I'm inclined to think he's a refined egoist and entertainment-above-all pleasure seeker."
"The highly likely betrayal back then and the inexplicable help now, fundamentally aren't for others, but for himself."
Jiang Lai's expression gathered focus as he spoke reasoned words steadily.
"So there's no need to agonize over such questions, and no need for psychological pressure, because he fundamentally never had true remorse, so naturally there's no need to discuss forgiveness or not."
His voice was calm, his logic clear.
Jiang Lai had always maintained clear awareness of perverts. For this type of pervert who would have regrets, he had encountered them in the Detective Conan world as well.
For example, Komiyama Yu from the Detective Conan world back then.
At that time, Komiyama Yu had underhanded intentions to set traps for Jiang Lai. To infiltrate the organization, Jiang Lai pretended to jump into that trap.
But afterward, as events progressed, Komiyama Yu regretted it and even secretly rebelled against that gentleman, helping Jiang Lai.
However, Jiang Lai understood very clearly in his heart that Komiyama Yu hadn't truly recognized right from wrong, nor did he intend to truly distinguish right from wrong. All his actions had purposes.
What Komiyama Yu regretted wasn't having done those things that harmed Jiang Lai and others, but regretting not handling the situation better and not making circumstances perfectly favor himself.
Whether they were R-rank, SR-rank, SSR-rank, or UR-level perverts, Jiang Lai had always maintained a clear head about them.
He wouldn't be moved by those seemingly remorseful compensatory actions, because he had long seen through the truth of the egoists behind those seemingly compensatory operations.
Upon hearing this, Amanai Riko's expression gradually relaxed, as if she had figured something out. She nodded seriously: "Yes! I understand."
The group communicated and discussed some more intelligence, then temporarily said goodbye.
This was a mental world where Amanai Riko was in charge, so in the end, she was the one who sent Jiang Lai and Gojo Satoru out.
That turquoise kingfisher gently nuzzled Jiang Lai with its smooth feathers at the final moment, its gentle eyes giving him generous strength.
"..." Jiang Lai's expression softened, but his heart became even more determined: they had to win the final victory.
After disconnecting the dream connection, Jiang Lai opened his eyes and returned to the real world.
The surrounding spatial barrier still stood quietly without any traces of being triggered. It seemed everything was very safe.
Beside him, Gojo Satoru had already sat up from the bed.
He sat cross-legged at the edge, one hand resting on his chin, saying: "Ah... we're back. Looks like your cursed energy fusion method works."
"Yes." Jiang Lai confirmed this. "Next time if we need to contact Riko, we can use this dream connection method."
He smiled: "I'm sure the Supervisory Committee won't think we can meet in dreams."
"Very magical..." Gojo Satoru waved his finger, then casually said: "Speaking of which, what you said in the mental world earlier surprised me a bit."
"Hm?" Jiang Lai tilted his head slightly.
"Although you also always hit this invincible handsome guy's head with your book, I've always thought you were someone who doesn't hold grudges and easily forgives others."
Gojo Satoru said, "Back at the [Crossroads] Tower, I said many excessive things... but I knew you were just teasing verbally and didn't really take it to heart."
"And from even longer ago... during the first playthrough, when Suguru was controlled and stabbed your neck, you didn't say much either."
"You're definitely different from them." Jiang Lai raised his eyes, saying gently: "We're good friends. Besides, those actions weren't your true intentions, so naturally I wouldn't pursue them or hold grudges."
"You can directly say we're special~~" Gojo Satoru laughed happily, then continued: "Alright, besides us acquaintances, that Naoya guy challenged you back then, right? But you didn't truly harm him much either, just gave him a little lesson."
"It wasn't really a small lesson, swindling both money and person." Jiang Lai blinked his lively brown eyes. "Because Naoya cares more about things like image, I responded to him from those aspects."
"But you don't really hold grudges either, right? After equal retaliation, you forgave him, just treating him as a somewhat mentally ill junior, and even turned him into a cursed corpse for Tokyo Jujutsu High to care for."
Gojo Satoru's final description made Jiang Lai can't help but laugh.
Jiang Lai coughed once, continuing: "That Naoya guy really had his brain ruined by feudal thinking. As for placing him at Tokyo Jujutsu High, it was because of the deal made with Lady Zenin. To avoid attracting attention, I placed him among Principal Yaga's pile of cursed corpses."
Gojo Satoru raised his finger, summarizing: "In conclusion, I've always thought you were a good-tempered person who would consider forgiveness as long as given the chance."
"But just now, from your conversation with Amanai, I could see you don't seem to have any intention of forgiving that Kyufuin on behalf of your sister."
"Of course, I'm not saying this to make you forgive him." Gojo Satoru quickly added, waving his hand. "I'd rather you stay away from such people. Who knows if he'll suddenly stab you, so avoiding him is good."
"Of course I have no right to forgive on behalf of [Birth], nor would I impose my thoughts on this matter. I was simply stating my attitude."
"About the question of whether forgiveness is possible, the criteria for division isn't actually complex." Jiang Lai's expression was incredibly calm as he said gently: "There's a difference between normal people's unconscious harm and perverts' intentional harm."
"I can forgive non-severely evil harm done by normal people, but deliberately crossing bottom lines by perverts is unforgivable."
Jiang Lai walked to the window, his gaze passing through the curtain gaps to fall on the distant scenery outside: "The latter never truly repented, so how can we speak of obtaining understanding?"
"People who do wrong have the choice to regret, but the harm victims received is irreversible. If expressing regret means having to forgive, that would be too unfair."
Jiang Lai chuckled lightly, his expression carrying a certain persistence: "I also have my own principles."
"Oh! That's really great." Gojo Satoru's lips curved upward, immediately showing a cheerful smile.
He bounced up from the bed and walked briskly to Jiang Lai's side, patting his shoulder and saying: "I was worried before that if you evolved into a deity or something in the future, with this gentle personality, what would happen if you got tricked by cunning humans..."
"You're thinking way too far ahead." Jiang Lai coughed once. "I'm currently in a mixed state of human and cursed spirit. Besides, I think being an ordinary person is quite good."
"I have to think ahead about various possibilities. Who knows what the future will be like?" Gojo Satoru shrugged, jokingly putting his hands together and saying to Jiang Lai: "So if Lai becomes a deity-san, remember to give benefits to me, your earliest believer."
"...Stop fooling around." Jiang Lai gave him a half-moon stare. "With your personality, you're not the type to believe in deities at all. You believe more in yourself, you're already comparable to a deity yourself."
"After all, I am the strongest~~" Gojo Satoru accepted this statement without modesty, his expression like a white big cat with its fluffy tail swaying freely behind it.
Jiang Lai shook his head somewhat helplessly, but his inner emotions relaxed considerably through this daily joking conversation with Gojo Satoru.
After somewhat calming the atmosphere, the two exchanged views again about the intelligence obtained tonight, organizing the clues they had gained into clear threads in their minds.
Gojo Satoru leaned against the wall. When organizing thoughts about the turquoise kingfisher, he suddenly tapped his left palm with his right hand and asked with interest: "By the way, you said that turquoise kingfisher's personality is very similar to your sister's?"
Although unclear why Gojo Satoru suddenly brought this up, Jiang Lai still nodded in confirmation: "Yes."
"I see, so derivatives have similarities with their masters..." Gojo Satoru showed a thoughtful expression, then raised his eyebrow with ill intent and said with a grin: "Then why is Lai's derivative a stupid, greedy, sleepy little fox? Could it be that's your true nature?"
Jiang Lai's first reaction was: "Aren't good food and sleep normal human pursuits?"
Jiang Lai's second reaction was: "Wait, who says the little fox is stupid! That child is very smart, it's wise in its foolishness, clever at heart."
Gojo Satoru laughed heartily, showing his usual unserious appearance when joking around: "Admit it, Lai! The little fox reflects your inner true side!"
Jiang Lai: "..."
"If it truly reflects the master's personality," Jiang Lai raised his eyebrows and calmly tossed the ball back, "the nightmare fox's birth also involved your cursed energy, so perhaps being sleepy, food-loving, and too lazy to think is your characteristic."
At this point, Jiang Lai paused for half a second, then nodded quite seriously with emphasis: "That's right, this is exactly you!"
Gojo Satoru: "?"
Gojo Satoru: "Hey wait, what's my image in your heart?!"