Future Yuji Itadori Joins the Chat Group

[Coin Decides Your Life or Death: Yes, the other person asked me earlier.]

Purge King's reply surfaced in the Chat Group. For some reason, although they were both Natsuki Subaru, Purge King's answers always carried a faint sense of detachment.

Natsuki Subaru himself could feel it clearly.

The other party said that because of Rem's death, Ram wanted to kill him.

Was it because of this event that the other me became so cold?

Natsuki Subaru became convinced of this possibility in his heart.

[Useless Goddess, You Really Deserve to Die: Speaking of which, if there are two Subarus in the group, we should differentiate their names a bit, right?]

[Only Love White-Haired Elves: True, otherwise it'll be hard to address them. If all the group members meet one day, it'll be even more of a mess.]

[Useless Goddess, You Really Deserve to Die: Like how we call the Group Leader and Little Tiger? Should we call them Big Subaru and Little Subaru? You're definitely Little Subaru! Jealous Witch's Object of Escape, what do you think?]

[Jealous Witch's Object of Escape: That sounds terrible... Jujutsu Physical Education Student, don't you have anything to say to this nickname?]

[Jujutsu Physical Education Student: I don't think it's a big deal.]

[Jealous Witch's Object of Escape: ...I refuse that name... Is there anything else we can use?]

At that moment, another message from Purge King popped up.

[Coin Decides Your Life or Death: Come to think of it, people around me usually don't call me by my name now. They use another title.]

[Jealous Witch's Object of Escape: Eh? Another title?]

[Coin Decides Your Life or Death: Purge King. That is how the people around me address me.]

[Jujutsu Physical Education Student: Purge King? Did you become a lord of some place in the future?]

[Coin Decides Your Life or Death: You could say that.]

[Useless Goddess, You Really Deserve to Die: So you really made it big? At first, I thought you'd been possessed by Megumin. That brat occasionally gives herself weird nicknames too.]

[Coin Decides Your Life or Death: Megumin?]

[Useless Goddess, You Really Deserve to Die: You just joined the group, so you don't know. She's my teammate! And a total troublemaker!]

While Sato Kazuma was pouring out his woes in the group, Natsuki Subaru fell into thought as he looked at the words of his other self.

Purge King?

I became a king in the future?

Originally, this would have been a very happy thing, because in his heart, Natsuki Subaru certainly hoped to become a person of status one day.

But Natsuki Subaru was very concerned about the prefix before 'King'.

'Purge.'

Why purge?

Natsuki Subaru's brow furrowed slightly.

He felt curious about what the other him had gone through.

If he got the chance, he had to go over there and see for himself.

[Jealous Witch's Object of Escape: How did the nickname Purge King come about?]

However, Purge King didn't speak in the group again.

[Jujutsu Physical Education Student: He's a king now, after all. Maybe he's busy dealing with other affairs?]

[Useless Goddess, You Really Deserve to Die: I'm so jealous. I want to become a local lord too! Oh wait, being a lord seems like it involves too much work. How troublesome. I'd still rather be a wealthy merchant! Raking in money and then spending every night enjoying the high life.]

[Only Love White-Haired Elves: Come to think of it, didn't Subaru say that Roswaal is also a Margrave? That counts as a lord, right?]

[Jealous Witch's Object of Escape: He definitely counts. The area he governs is quite large! It's just a pity it's in the Borderlands, too far from the Royal Capital! But a few days ago, because of the Royal Selection, we had to return to the Royal Capital.]

[Only Love White-Haired Elves: Royal Selection?]

[Jealous Witch's Object of Escape: Right! Didn't I mention before that Emilia has a noble status and is one of the candidates for the throne? This trip to the Royal Capital is to meet the other candidates, give campaign speeches, and officially announce the start. Though I'm not sure how the final decision is made.]

Natsuki Subaru's trip to the Royal Capital during this time had been relatively uneventful.

If there was anything to note, it was that he had heard there were supposed to be five candidates.

But in the end, including Emilia, only four people showed up.

Moreover, during the ceremony, many officials leveled a series of demeaning remarks at Emilia's race and identity, which made Natsuki Subaru extremely upset.

Given Natsuki Subaru's personality, he would have normally stepped forward to retaliate.

But the current Natsuki Subaru was much more composed and mature than before—

Because he realized that his current self was truly a bit too 'incompetent'.

Every time he encountered a crisis, it was Yuji Itadori who stepped in to help, while he could do nothing.

Natsuki Subaru knew very well that he needed to become stronger.

Furthermore, before the Royal Selection began, Roswaal had already guessed that such things might happen, so he had warned Natsuki Subaru in advance not to act rashly.

If his words or actions were out of line, it would only bring more trouble to Emilia's campaign.

Currently, Roswaal was indeed sincerely helping Emilia—he had no other choice now.

If his true intentions hadn't been exposed, Roswaal would have actually preferred the scenario where Emilia was targeted.

The more isolated Emilia was, the more she would rely on Natsuki Subaru.

This would make it easier for Roswaal to use Natsuki Subaru to help Emilia rise to power.

However, since Yuji Itadori had exposed all of his plots, he could now only do his best to assist Emilia.

[Jealous Witch's Object of Escape: We've formed a temporary alliance with another candidate. There's a very impressive old gentleman here, and I've asked him to teach me some combat techniques! I feel myself getting stronger every day! Once I save up some Points and learn some of your skills, I should be able to do more!]

[Unsurrounded One: You've worked hard. Also, I recall Roswaal saying that another crisis would be coming soon?]

[Jealous Witch's Object of Escape: Yes, but even Roswaal doesn't know exactly what it will be. He only knows it's likely to happen at the territory. We're getting ready to return to the Mansion to take some measures in advance. Better safe than sorry—though it might not even happen. After all, the future has changed; the first crisis predicted in the Book of Wisdom was resolved by Senior Itadori. Maybe it'll cause some kind of chain reaction.]

[Useless Goddess, You Really Deserve to Die: I still think you shouldn't have sealed the Book of Wisdom back then. Even if it's not perfectly accurate, at least it can predict crises to some extent.]

[Only Love White-Haired Elves: I actually think Subaru and the others made the right choice. Knowing the future in advance is meaningless, because every future needs to be carved out by one's own hands.]

Looking at the content of the chat, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but feel a swirl of emotions.

If there were no Chat Group, would Purge King be his future?

What exactly did he go through—

[Unsurrounded One: No matter the situation, if you need anything, just call for us in the group.]

[Only Love White-Haired Elves: Yeah! If you need help, we're just a call away!]

[Jealous Witch's Object of Escape: Thank you so much!]

After chatting for a bit, Yuji Itadori closed the chat interface.

However, one gaze remained fixed on him.

"Sensei! Everything here is finished, right!"

Megumin looked up, her red eyes focusing an expectant gaze,

"Let's go cast Explosion Magic now!"

Yuji Itadori nodded.

Elsewhere, inside the building known as Pandemonium.

"Boss, you forgot your coat."

Halibel said with a smile, walking up behind him and draping a coat over Purge King's shoulders.

"Thank you."

Purge King thanked him softly—

In that instant, Halibel felt a surge of intense killing intent.

The reason was simple.

He had stood behind him.

"Halibel, I really don't want to kill you."

"Hahaha, then just don't. Keep using me instead."

"But, if one has too many tools, won't one bring about their own doom... Dying due to underestimating an enemy is the most pathetic way to go."

Purge King's tone was icy cold, without any ripple of emotion.

In a fair fight, Purge King naturally wouldn't be a match for the Celebrated One.

But if that battle were repeated a hundred times, a thousand times, or even ten thousand times, the result would be different.

As long as the frequency was high enough, quantitative change could lead to qualitative change.

However, killing Halibel would be a waste of time, and the clean-up would be troublesome.

So Purge King didn't intend to do so for the time being.

Purge King knew that Halibel was very loyal to him—

But even so, there was still no color on him.

"Boss, your dark circles are getting more obvious. Why don't you go to the Princess's place to rest a bit?"

Purge King nodded.

He headed deeper into Pandemonium, passing through layer after layer of guards, and stopped before a door secured by dozens of locks.

In this world, there was no key that could open it.

Purge King stood before the door, pausing for a moment. He opened the Chat Group and looked at their chat records without saying a word.

Specifically, the words of his other self.

Rem hadn't died, and Ram didn't hate him.

He hadn't been betrayed.

Theoretically, he should be very jealous of the other person.

At least the other self would take a different path—in his eyes, he would be able to see color.

Yet, for some reason, there was no ripple of emotion in Purge King's heart.

"It's just a Chat Group, so we can't see each other—thus, I don't know if there is color on them either."

Purge King murmured to himself.

Only a true thing that remains consistent will have color.

At least the other self would definitely not have color.

Natsuki Subaru becoming the Purge King; his own existence was proof of that.

Then, would the members in the group have color?

Would the people from different worlds have color?

Purge King was curious.

Especially that person named Yuji Itadori.

He seemed to be trusted by others. Would he be betrayed by them?

Because he was afraid of being betrayed, Purge King almost never slept.

Only behind the heavy door in front of him could he find time to rest for a bit.

Purge King shook his head.

"At least, now there are more options available."

"Boss, what are you saying?"

Halibel asked curiously.

"Nothing."

Purge King replied softly, approaching the door—

"Puck."

"At your service, meow-meow!"

Puck took on a spiritual form and appeared out of thin air before him,

"Looking for Lia?"

"Open the door for me."

"Ugh, what's with that tone? If you make Papa unhappy, I won't let you see my precious daughter. Have some consideration for a father whose daughter is in the prime of her youth..."

"Puck."

"Understood!"

Puck pressed his hand against the door. Countless beams of light, as if possessing a will of their own, automatically locked onto the door's locks.

Click, clack.

The door slowly opened.

Purge King continued inside.

One of the few existences in this world who still had color was within.

A few hours later.

"That felt good! Sensei! That felt so good! Explosion Magic really is the best magic in this world!"

Megumin lay on the ground with a look of total satisfaction. Due to overextending her mana, she was once again in a state where she couldn't move.

Just now, Yuji Itadori had been guiding Megumin in using Explosion Magic.

Although the Cursed Technique Yuji Itadori used and Magic were essentially two completely different things, the principles were nearly identical.

In his sixty-eight years, Yuji Itadori had already brought his control over Cursed Energy to the pinnacle. He shared some of his insights with Megumin.

It had indeed proven useful.

"As expected of Sensei! Just a few words of guidance, and I feel like the power of my Explosion Magic has moved up a level!"

Megumin moved her gaze to Yuji Itadori beside her. Though she looked incredibly exhausted, there was still a smile on her face.

"That's because you possess quite a good talent yourself."

Yuji Itadori replied.

He remembered how Satoru Gojo, Nanami Kento, and Choso had taught him in the past.

It was because of them that he could keep moving forward.

When they looked at him back then, it must have been the same as how he was looking at Megumin now.

The feeling of a senior watching a junior grow bit by bit.

"But Megumin, I have a question."

Yuji Itadori looked at Megumin beside him and asked.

"What is it, Sensei?"

"Did I remember wrong? Or was your incantation this time a bit different from last time?"

Yuji Itadori felt that Megumin's incantations the two times were completely different.

"Being different is normal, right? It would be too boring if it were the same every time!"

Yuji Itadori suddenly realized something.

Maybe Megumin didn't actually need an incantation at all to use Explosion Magic.

"If you don't recite the incantation, does it affect the power of the technique?"

"I don't know, but I'd rather die than not look cool reciting it!"

Megumin answered in a tone of absolute conviction.