Future Yuji Itadori Joins the Chat Group

"I once watched helplessly as the important companions by my side left one after another. To avoid seeing such a scene again, I chose to distance myself from them, leaving me all alone. More than loneliness, I suppose what I felt was numbness."

Yuji Itadori spoke of what he had once thought.

Beatrice frowned as she looked at Yuji Itadori.

No matter how she looked at him, he was merely an ordinary human boy of fifteen or sixteen.

Only now, after looking directly into his eyes, did Beatrice notice something different.

Those eyes were unfathomably deep, as though every other emotion had been drowned, leaving only indifference.

And yet, there seemed to be a faint glimmer of light within them.

"Later, I saw my juniors working hard. I also met several energetic young people, and I even learned things from them that I had never considered before."

Yuji Itadori raised his head and cast his gaze across the rows of bookshelves.

But soon, his eyes ultimately settled on Beatrice's adorable, round face.

Confusion, bewilderment, and surprise were displayed without reservation in Beatrice's eyes.

Four hundred years of loneliness and an elusive future were the shackles imprisoning Beatrice's soul.

What she had endured was far more than he had.

"It made me understand very clearly that if you want to keep moving forward, you absolutely can't do it alone. You need companions, close friends, brothers and sisters, and people to whom you can open your heart."

As Yuji Itadori spoke to Beatrice, memories of the past gradually surged into his mind.

How had he unknowingly forgotten all of this?

Fortunately—

He had now regained a little of what he once felt.

"Betty, should you ever want to see places farther away, I'd be more than happy to accompany you."

Yuji Itadori said this to Beatrice.

Beatrice's eyes shimmered as though tears were swirling within them, but she did not cry. She merely sniffled.

"We've barely met a few times, yet you're saying something like that to Betty…"

"The degree to which people understand each other has nothing to do with how many times they've met. I've met many people who understood each other's feelings from the moment they first met and could entrust their backs to one another."

Yuji Itadori lowered his head and looked at his hand, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"You're an idiot too… Every time you come here, you stay for less than a day before leaving, don't you? It'll be the same later, won't it?! Who knows whether you're only making a promise you could never keep!"

Beatrice's voice trembled, while her gaze unconsciously shifted toward the tabletop. Beneath one book after another lay a thick volume with a black cover.

The Book of Wisdom.

Just like Roswaal's copy, Beatrice's Book of Wisdom had also been left behind by Echidna.

The difference was that Beatrice's Book of Wisdom had long since stopped producing new content.

Beatrice had entered into a Contract with Echidna. She was to continue guarding the Forbidden Library until 'that person' arrived.

She had believed that new content would appear in the Book of Wisdom.

But all that awaited Beatrice was disappointment after disappointment.

Loneliness and despair toward the future had gradually consumed Beatrice, even causing thoughts of self-destruction to arise within her heart.

During this time, reuniting with people she had once known brought Beatrice a joy she had not felt for a long time.

But after that joy would come another long period of loneliness.

Even if she met people from her past, what could she possibly do?

Her fate had not changed in the end. She still needed to remain here and wait.

"You're right. Every time I come, I stay for only a very short while before leaving."

After hearing Yuji Itadori's words, the faint light in Beatrice's eyes gradually dimmed.

"So that's how it is…"

Beatrice's voice dropped, sounding incomparably dejected.

"—But if you want to see the scenery farther away or want to do something, even if it's something as simple as eating a meal, I'll take you with me."

Yuji Itadori extended his hand toward Beatrice.

"Please believe me, Betty."

Even if Puck had not said anything, Yuji Itadori had already sensed Beatrice's heart, which had nearly shattered into pieces.

He had not come to find Beatrice because of Puck's plea. Yuji Itadori would have done this from the very beginning.

He would save those who needed saving.

Upon hearing those words, Beatrice raised her head without even noticing it herself.

At some point, tears had already begun streaming down her cheeks.

Over the course of four hundred years, countless people had visited the Forbidden Library.

Every one of them had come merely to examine the forbidden books inside and learn the Magic contained within them.

Not a single person had ever come there for Beatrice herself.

Much less had anyone ever told her they would take her away.

"You're nothing more than a mere human… Your lifespan, to Betty… is only an insignificant instant in her life."

Beatrice's voice was choked with sobs.

Because he was human, there would eventually come a day when he grew old.

"Well, I can actually live for a very long time! At least three hundred years shouldn't be a problem. Maybe even longer."

Yuji Itadori answered.

"Besides, not long ago, a friend said something to me—"

In Yuji Itadori's ears, Himmel's words seemed to ring out once again.

"What matters most is the present. Being able to spend time with the people important to you and engrave those moments deeply into your mind—that is true happiness. The most important thing is to live in the present."

Beatrice raised her head, her eyes reflecting Yuji Itadori's earnest expression.

She bit her lip as all kinds of possibilities involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

She feared that the hope that had finally been rekindled would be extinguished once more.

That was more terrifying and cruel than anything else.

Deep inside, Beatrice truly hoped someone would appear and take her away.

It did not matter who he was.

Even if he deceived her.

Even if…

But even if it was only a tiny, insignificant ray of light, Beatrice still wanted to grasp it.

At last, those words finally left Beatrice's mouth.

Her voice was young and tender, yet it carried an unimaginable weight.

"If what you're saying is true… then can you put Betty first?"

"Consider Betty first, choose Betty first, rewrite the Contract, override the Contract, erase the Contract, take Betty away, pull Betty close, hold Betty tightly…"

"Or are you willing to become that person for Betty?"

'Don't reject me.'

'Please, don't reject me…'

But Beatrice knew that this was almost impossible.

No one would unconditionally give everything for another person…

"You can't do it…"

Beatrice lowered her head as her tears continuously fell to the floor.

"I promise you."

Yuji Itadori's words rang beside Beatrice's ears. She raised her head in disbelief and stared at him.

Those eyes, which should originally have been cold and indifferent, now held a gaze more serious than ever before.

Yuji Itadori's words were neither lies nor consolation. They came from the bottom of his heart.

When he had been trapped by his own shackles, others had also become his light and saved him from the darkness.

There was Satoru Gojo's protection.

There was Todo Aoi's slap.

There was Choso's devotion.

There was Nanami Kento's guidance.

There were… all those people by his side who had pulled him out of the darkness time and time again.

Thinking about it that way, he was much luckier than Beatrice.

Throughout his journey, hadn't he been accompanied by so many people?

And now, it was time for him to stand in front of them.

"I'm willing, Betty. This is my promise. This is our Contract—"

From beginning to end, Yuji Itadori had never withdrawn his hand.

Beatrice's voice was already choked with sobs.

Tears were still flowing, but a smile had appeared on her face.

Even if it was a lie, she would accept it.

Yet the voice of the person before her, the man named Yuji Itadori, was incomparably sincere.

"Besides, I can take you to see worlds even farther away. They'll definitely contain sights you've never seen before."

Yuji Itadori said.

When he had first entered the Chat Group, the first thing he saw was the enormous number of group rules.

At the time, Yuji Itadori had merely skimmed through them, but one rule had left a particularly deep impression on him.

[When a group member travels to another world, any Shikigami, Spirit, demon, or other being bound to them by Contract may travel alongside them.]

Yuji Itadori had paid no attention to it at the time because he had never contracted a Shikigami and believed that the rule had nothing to do with him.

But now, that rule could finally prove useful.

Beatrice extended her small hand and placed it in Yuji Itadori's palm.

She felt the warmth of Yuji Itadori's hand—

The Contract was formed.

Light burst forth, and Yuji Itadori felt a warm presence flow into his body.

It was a soul.

With the Contract established, Yuji Itadori's soul became linked with Beatrice's.

In the corridor—

Roswaal was speaking with Emilia, Geuse, Natsuki Subaru, and the others.

Everything that was happening had completely exceeded Geuse's imagination. Emilia, whom he regarded as his precious daughter, had actually become a candidate for the throne of Lugnica.

Moreover…

There was another person competing with him for the position of father— a Spirit.

Puck.

Geuse could vaguely guess Puck's true identity, but he did not reveal it.

Earlier that day, Puck had informed Emilia that their Contract had been severed. This made her extremely worried, as Puck would soon fall into slumber without the Contract.

However, Puck told Emilia not to worry, because…

"This is what Itadori-dono gave me! As long as I have this, I can still move around freely for the time being! According to Itadori, it's something like a portable charger? I've never heard that term before."

Puck smiled as he looked at the object Emilia was holding.

"Although… this thing looks a little strange… since Itadori-dono gave it to us, there definitely won't be a problem! I have to thank Itadori-dono personally!"

Emilia said with complete seriousness.

What she held in her hand was one of Sukuna's Fingers.

At this moment, Sukuna's originally incomparably evil soul within the Finger had been completely purified. However, through Aqua's intervention using her divine power, the Finger still retained its immense Cursed Energy.

Cursed Energy was similar to Mana, so Puck could continue moving freely for a long time.

Even Sukuna would never have imagined that one day, his Finger would be turned into such a tool.

"I must also express my gratitude to Itadori-dono once again. Had it not been for him… I'm afraid…"

As Geuse spoke, he saw two figures before him, one tall and one short.

Yuji Itadori.

And Beatrice, who was holding his hand.

"Betty…"

Roswaal narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the two of them.

He knew of the Binding Vow Beatrice carried, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Now, seeing Beatrice walk out of the Forbidden Library, Roswaal understood what had happened.

Yuji Itadori had become that person.

Roswaal's gaze shifted to Yuji Itadori's face.

He had to admit that after Yuji Itadori appeared, the course of this world had changed.

Without Yuji Itadori, Beatrice might have been crushed by despair, while Geuse would have committed irreparable deeds under the identity of Sloth.

No, even earlier than that, Meili alone would have been enough to cause a horrific tragedy.

But now, everything had changed.

Just who was the person possessing the power to correct everything?

Forget it. It did not matter.

"Betty, judging by your appearance, are you preparing to travel somewhere far away?"

Roswaal asked with a smile.

"Mm! Betty is going with Yuji to see places even farther away! Betty has stayed here for long enough!"

Beatrice raised her head, her voice rising as she made no attempt to conceal the joy in her tone.

Even the way she addressed Yuji Itadori had already changed.

"I see—then have a pleasant journey."

Yuji Itadori gave Beatrice and the others a few brief instructions, then went to say goodbye to Meili and Rui, telling them he would return soon.

Rui and Meili quickly became familiar with one another after meeting.

Interactions between children of the same age were much simpler and purer.

That was how children ought to be.

Moreover, Yuji Itadori had not forgotten his promise.

He would find a way to create a new body for Rui.

A body that belonged to her.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Yuji Itadori held Betty's hand and entered the forest.

"Yuji! Where are we going next?"

Beatrice asked curiously.

"We're… temporarily going to another world."

Yuji Itadori gently rubbed his chin with his other hand, wondering how he should explain the Chat Group.

After all, apart from Natsuki Subaru, no one in this world knew of the Chat Group's existence.

After giving Beatrice a general explanation of the Chat Group, he thought she would certainly find it difficult to believe at first.

But a smile appeared on Beatrice's face. Under the sunlight, her eyes sparkled like diamonds.

"Betty believes everything you say, and no matter where it is, Betty is willing to follow you!"

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T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me.

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