As night fell, the kitchen at the Star Plasma Cult base was exceptionally lively. Geto Suguru, wearing an apron, was stir-frying braised pork at the stove, the sound of sizzling oil mixing with the aroma of the meat.
Miguel was nearby, processing fresh fish, skillfully scaling and gutting it, occasionally teasing Geto Suguru, "You put too much sugar in this braised pork."
The others weren't idle either: Larue helped set the table, Manami washed vegetables at the sink, and even Nanako and Mimiko, who usually loved to slack off, came over.
Although they were ostensibly "helping to pass the seasonings," they were actually sneaking pieces of freshly fried peanuts whenever no one was looking, chewing them with relish, with crumbs still sticking to the corners of their mouths.
The warm yellow light spilled into the kitchen, and the sounds of clinking dishes and laughter blended together, exuding the warmth of a typical family dinner, making people temporarily forget the heavy mission behind the Star Plasma Cult.
Rin didn't crowd into the kitchen; it was packed, he couldn't help, and besides, he didn't want to get involved in the "more harm than good" antics of Nanako and Mimiko.
While everyone was busy preparing dinner, he changed into light training clothes and went out for his daily, unwavering physical training.
Now, Rin's physical fitness far exceeded that of an ordinary Jujutsu Sorcerer; ordinary running and push-ups had almost no effect on him anymore.
Fortunately, he had successfully copied the [Mass Cursed Technique] from that weight Cursed Spirit a few days ago, and now he could adjust his own weight at will, adding one hundred kilograms when walking, fifty kilograms when eating, and even quietly adding eighty kilograms when sparring with Miguel, equivalent to wearing an invisible weighted armor at all times, constantly honing his physical strength.
At this moment, he was jogging along the path outside the base, every step carrying heavy force, even leaving slight indentations in the ground, yet it didn't affect his speed at all, and his breathing remained steady.
Unknowingly, more than two hours passed, and the meal in the kitchen was ready.
The long dining table was filled; the braised pork was shiny and tempting, the steamed fish was steaming, the stir-fried vegetables were fresh and green, and there was a large pot of thick pork rib soup, the aroma filling the entire living room. Everyone sat around the dining table, and Geto Suguru looked at the empty seat, realizing that Rin hadn't returned yet.
"Nanako, go call Rin back for dinner," Geto Suguru said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Nanako immediately slumped her face, puffed out her cheeks, and muttered, "Why me... That guy isn't even enthusiastic about eating; he must be messing around outside again. It's so annoying."
"Oh, don't say that." Manami smiled and ruffled Nanako's hair, "Rin is working hard at training; if he gets stronger, doesn't that mean the strength of our Star Plasma Cult is even greater?"
Miguel and Larue nodded in agreement, "That's true; none of us can compare to that kid's rate of progress, so it's normal for him to train a bit longer."
Only Negi frowned, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction, "Getting stronger is a good thing, but having combat power without working for the organization is unacceptable, right?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the table, his voice turning colder, "I also heard that for his sake, Lord Geto gave him several powerful Cursed Spirits to practice with. We are out there working hard to collect Cursed Spirits, yet in the end, the resources he alone consumes are more than all of ours combined."
Once these words were spoken, the previously relaxed atmosphere instantly chilled. Negi's words were like a thorn, piercing between everyone, and no one spoke again.
Just then, Geto Suguru walked out of the kitchen with the last dish of cold tofu and happened to hear Negi's words. He placed the plate on the table, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable firmness, "Alright, Negi, let's not say such things that are detrimental to unity. Rin's power is crucial to our plan, and allocating resources to him is my arrangement. I know better than anyone that these investments are worth it."
Negi looked up at Geto Suguru, and seeing his serious expression, he swallowed the words that had come to his lips, but his expression remained unpleasant, and he lowered his head in silence.
Geto Suguru stepped forward, patted Negi on the shoulder, and his tone softened, "It's rare for everyone to gather together, so let's not talk about work. Let's eat first. The food is getting cold."
The others hurriedly tried to smooth things over; Larue talked about an interesting experience he had during this outing mission, Manami chimed in, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up again.
Miguel was just about to stand up and say "I'll go call Rin" when footsteps were heard at the door, and Rin returned.
Beads of sweat hung on his forehead, the back of his training suit was soaked, and his hair was somewhat messy, clearly having just finished high-intensity training. He didn't notice the change in atmosphere, just smiled and greeted everyone, turned to wash his hands in the bathroom, and was then pulled by Miguel to sit beside him.
This meal was exceptionally harmonious.
Larue vividly recounted the experience of being chased by villagers who mistook him for a "monster" while subduing a Cursed Spirit in the countryside.
Manami complained about a difficult Cursed Spirit she encountered during a mission, saying, "That guy's blood was blacker than ink; it splashed on my clothes and I couldn't wash it out."
Miguel and Geto Suguru chimed in from time to time, talking about interesting things from Rin's training.
Rin didn't say much, just nodded gently when Miguel and Geto Suguru mentioned him, and occasionally responded to Nanako's question, "Did it hurt back then?", his expression remaining calm throughout.
The only one at the table as quiet as him was Negi, who occasionally said a few words but rarely smiled, his gaze falling on Rin from time to time with a touch of scrutiny.
The meal lasted for a full four or five hours, and as it went on, everyone relaxed more and more; Miguel and Larue even opened a few bottles of wine, drinking cup after cup.
Nanako, Mimiko, and Rin could only drink juice because they were minors, and Geto Suguru didn't urge them to drink; even as a Jujutsu Sorcerer, he cared about these "ordinary rules."
In the end, Miguel, Larue, and Manami were all tipsy; Miguel was even slumped on the table, muttering "one more cup"; Geto Suguru was also slightly tipsy, leaning back on his chair, his eyes a bit hazy.
Only Nanako, Mimiko, Rin, and Negi remained sober.
"I'll help Miguel!" Nanako stood up first, struggling to pull Miguel's arm, while Mimiko went to help Manami. Both of them stumbled a bit, and Negi walked up in silence, hoisted the almost-asleep Larue, and walked toward the guest rooms.
Rin didn't go to help; he knew Nanako and Mimiko could handle it, so he stayed in the living room instead, tidying up the dishes on the table.
He deftly stacked the plates and bowls, carried them to the kitchen to wash, and wiped the dining table clean with a rag. By the time he finished, the moon outside the window had risen to mid-sky, and only sporadic lights remained in the base.
Rin rubbed his slightly sore shoulders and turned to walk toward his room. Just as he reached the corner of the hallway, he saw Negi leaning against the wall, arms crossed in front of his chest, staring at him coldly, clearly having waited for a long time.
Rin was not surprised; he just stopped and greeted him calmly, "Mr. Negi, not resting yet?" After speaking, he turned slightly, preparing to bypass Negi and leave.
"Hey, kid, stop." Negi spoke suddenly, his voice breaking the silence of the hallway.
Rin stopped, turned around, looked at Negi, and didn't speak, just looked at him calmly.
Negi stepped forward, staring into Rin's eyes, his tone questioning, "Do you think I don't know anything? Nanako told me that you seem to have quite a few objections to the philosophy of our Star Plasma Cult."
Facing the questioning, Rin remained silent, his eyes just growing colder, looking at Negi expressionlessly, neither defending himself nor admitting it.
"I'm warning you," Negi's voice sank a few degrees further, "This place is not for you to freeload. Don't think that just because Lord Geto dotes on you, you can waste his resources for nothing. This place doesn't welcome trash who doesn't do anything, understand?"
After speaking, Negi deliberately raised his shoulder, wanting to bump into Rin, as a way to teach him a "lesson."
But as soon as he touched Rin's shoulder, he felt like he had hit an iron plate; Rin didn't move an inch, while he himself was pushed back two steps by a reaction force, almost falling over.
Negi was shocked and angry, looking up to glare at Rin, but he met a pair of deep, pitch-black eyes; the patterns of the Sharingan had quietly emerged, but it was fleeting, so fast that he thought it was an illusion.
Only then did Negi suddenly remember: in the training ground during the day, this seemingly gentle teenager was a tough character who had beaten a Special Grade Cursed Spirit to the ground with his bare hands.
Rin's gaze had no temperature, making Negi feel terrified inside; he didn't dare to move for a moment, and could only stand frozen on the spot, confronting "Rin."
And at the end of the corridor, the real Rin watched Negi, who was trapped in an illusion, shook his head lightly, turned around, and walked back to his room silently.
He had heard Negi's warning, he had felt that hostility, and even the words he said before dinner, Rin had heard every single word.
But he had no interest in arguing with Negi; he had long known that such a day would come, and he had long been prepared.