"Sizzle- This is a continuous radio report. Yet again, a companion Hollow Disaster has suddenly occurred in our Fourteenth Street. It has now broken through the Level 5 on-site control. Citizens, please take note!"
"The Hollow Investigative Association has dispatched an investigation team to the scene for emergency handling!"
"Next, let's hear the Public Security Bureau's report on the scene's evacuation situ- Uh, friend, what are you doing? Don't grab my microphone!"
The male reporter on TV was reporting the situation, but the microphone was snatched by a passerby. The person who grabbed it acted crazily, shouting excitedly.
"The scene has already broken through level five control! This is Level 5! Mysterious Hollow raider [(TheHonored One)], when are you coming out to save the day?!"
"Give me the microphone! Where is my husband? Husband, save me!"
"What the hell! [(TheHonored One)] is a legend from years ago. You guys actually believe it's true? He might just be a Hollow raider imagined by people like you; he doesn't even exi- BEEP!"
Snap!
Gojo looked at the chaotic scene on the television, pressed the remote to turn it off, pushed up the small black sunglasses on his face, and leisurely hummed a song.
[Ding! Current [The Honored One] acting progress: 55%]
Currently mastered techniques: [Limitless Cursed Technique], [Six Eyes], [Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue], [Cursed Technique Reversal: Red]
[Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void]: 1 use available (Trial Card)
System Prompt: Detected a new companion Hollow emerging in New Eridu. Defeat the high-level Ethereal in the Hollow to increase proficiency in [Imaginary Technique: Purple]!
[Imaginary Technique: Purple]: 30%
Note: Upon reaching 100%, you will completely master [Imaginary Technique: Purple]. Host, please do your best!]
[Ding: Host, please act as quickly as possible. Once acting reaches 100%, you can unlock the second acting template. You may choose any character from [Jujutsu Kaisen] to portray and learn their techniques! ]
[Host, please...]
"Meow! Hot, hot, hot, hot! Teacher! I made your favorite dessert, and I also made a huge mackerel. Hurry and try it!"
Just as Gojo turned off the TV, a pleasant young girl's voice rang out. Nekomata opened the door, carrying a giant daifuku as she walked in!
And it was a Edamame puree cream daifuku!
Hell yeah!
Gojo's eyes lit up. With a "whoosh," he took the utensils, picked up the daifuku, and prepared to stuff it into his mouth!
"Thanks for the hard work, Nekomata! Since you prepared this specifically for me, I'm digging in!"
Taking a bite of the daifuku, Gojo's cheeks puffed out!
"Not bad at all. Our Nekomata is getting better and better at making desserts!"
"Hehe, meow, of course! I'll make anything Teacher likes. Hey, Teacher, eat slowly! Don't choke!"
Seeing that Gojo couldn't swallow the daifuku with his puffed cheeks, Nekomata got worried and quickly handed him water while giving his back a sharp pat. With a "gulp," gojo swallowed the oversized daifuku and lay back on the sofa contentedly, humming a song.
Seeing him like this, Nekomata sighed helplessly.
Ever since her teacher stopped taking commissions in the Hollows, he was always so silly and dorky.
Of course.
Since she started working officially at the Jujutsu Dessert Shop opened by Gojo, her teacher was just as dorky in daily life. This was a point of headache for her; she was really afraid that one day, without her care, Gojo would choke to death on a daifuku!
Putting down the mackerel, Nekomata began to eat carefully. Observing the nearly perfect curve of Gojo profile, a sweet smile curled at the corners of her mouth.
Back when she left the Red Fang Gang and had no one to rely on, it was all thanks to the man before her that she found something to lean on and a stable life.
"Teacher, New Eridu hasn't seemed very peaceful lately. Companion Hollows are appearing frequently. Did you hear the news? They seem to break through high-level controls at the drop of a hat. It makes people feel so uneasy, meow..."
"Yeah, there really have been a lot of Hollow Disasters lately," Gojo replied casually while looking at the TV, but he soon fell into deep thought.
Companion Hollows were increasing frequently, and the high-level Ethereal bodies within them were becoming more ferocious. Life in New Eridu was becoming increasingly unstable. There were signs of unusual movement, much like a precursor to the start of Nicole and the others' main story missions.
He had transmigrated here from Earth over ten years ago, and it was after he had learned the entire plot of zenless zone zero that he arrived.
In these ten years, a situation like this had never happened. The news of frequently increasing Hollows was indeed enough to make people panic.
[Host, please act quickly. Defeat the companion Hollow boss as soon as possible and complete the acting!]
[Ding! Host, please act quickly. Defeat the high-level Ethereal in the companion Hollow as soon as possible and return to the fray!]
[Ding! Host, please...]
"Stop it. Taking care of the weak and all that is really exhausting."
"Say no more. I'm going to have a good rest today!"
"Besides, didn't we agree before? You can let me slack off for a while and only do daily tasks. I ate a daifuku today and even gained 0.1% acting progress!"
[System:...]
[The Host has been slacking for two and a half years. To better return to a normal life, please quickly accept a commission to adapt to the Hollows and prepare for the bright path ahead.]
"No, I want to go with the flow~" Gojo directly chose to mute the system!
When he first arrived in zenless zone zero a few years ago, he worked diligently on missions and finally managed to reach 55% acting progress for Gojo Satoru, possessing half of [(The Honored One)] immense power.
Even though it was only half, it was already enough to crush most Hollow Disasters. Now, he just wanted to slack off properly and start a beautiful bum life!
"Ding!" Another notification sound, just like the system's, rang out.
"I said I'm taking a good re-"
"Someone's here! Teacher! It looks like there's no rest today!" Nekomata shouted.
"Aha, someone's here! Then please, come in! We still have to entertain guests!" Though very reluctant, Gojo sat up from the sofa.
Life isn't easy, Gojo sighed. His Jujutsu Dessert Shop needed to stay open long-term to maintain his daily needs.
Of course, in Gojo Satoru acting mission, Gojo's family was very wealthy. This was also one of the paths for the system's acting; he needed a lot of Denny and a powerful background!
"Teacher, I'll get the door!" Nekomata had already walked up excitedly, preparing to open the door.
But before the person outside arrived, their voice did!
"Like a dark valley deep and wide, strength concealed where legends hide!"
"May I ask if your excellency is the famous Hollow Raider [(TheHonored One)]? Qingyi requests an audience!"
Nekomata opened the door, and a small girl about 1.6 meters tall, wearing a Clarity, Peace, and Joy Agent Outfit with her hair in a ponytail, appeared before Gojo. Behind her followed a bashful-looking Zhu Yuan.
Seeing that they were from the New Eridu Public Security, Gojo smile stiffened. He then put on a dorky expression, chuckled twice, and said one thing.
"Close the door-!"
Slam!
"I have serious business to discuss! I'm not here to investigate you this time-bah, I mean, I've already investigated you, and now I'm here to offer a commission!"
Qingyi grew anxious and pulled the door open with force!
Seeing this, Gojo tried to force the door shut, and the two began a tug-of-war.
Nekomata was on the side, helping Gojo in the war!
"Stop investigating! My teacher is really just an ordinary boss who runs a small Dessert Shop. He's not some Hollow raider. He just looks like that Hollow raider [(TheHonored One)] no, he only mimicked [(TheHonored One)] appearance out of necessity to make a living and make the shop's business flourish!"
"Yeah, what Nekomata said! I am [(TheHonored One)] bah, I just look a bit like [(TheHonored One)] No, I'm just Cosplaying [(TheHonored One)]" Gojo said excitedly as the two sides pulled back and forth, quite a lively scene.
"Two thousand Denny! I want a Sukuna-style dessert!" Qingyi used her finishing move!
"Alright, please come in."
Gojo and Nekomata immediately assumed respectful postures and bowed.
Bending the knee for Denny was nothing.
...
...
A moment later.
Nekomata had already prepared the Sukuna-style dessert, using fresh cream to squeeze out the arrogant face of Lord Sukuna, and brought the cake over.
She had been running this shop with Gojo for a long time, so her dessert-making skills could make anything look like the real thing!
"Speak, what do you want this time? I'm telling you, I'm just cosplaying [(TheHonored One)] Stop digging into me."
Gojo swapped his small black glasses for a black bandage. He turned around, leaned toward the dessert table, and asked Qingyi and the other about their purpose.
These two had always been his biggest headaches, and they would come to investigate him every few days.
The reason for the investigation was simple. On one hand, it was a bit of an 'interest'-one had to ponder the meaning of that word for themselves.
On the other hand, the identity of the Mysterious Hollow Raider [(TheHonored One)] remained unknown to this day. Because of his strength, he was defined by The Authorities as the most dangerous Hollow raider, and one whose existence could affect New Eridu.
Therefore, if [(TheHonored One)] true identity could be uncovered, or if he could be arrested and turned over to The Authorities, a massive bounty could be obtained!
And Gojo, as the actor of [(TheHonored One)], naturally looked identical to him. Although he had tried to move in and out of Hollow missions as quickly as possible to hide himself, some afterimages were still caught always with the same silver hair and blindfold.
To this, Gojo's explanation was that he was cosplaying [(TheHonored One)] to boost the shop business!
Until he reached 100% acting progress or could crush all of New Eridu, he would absolutely not reveal his identity of his own accord.
Hollow Raider were already targets of exclusion by The Authorities, who knew what horrors he would face if he were arrested!
Qingyi and Zhu Yuan before him were two of the people keeping a close eye on him. Although they had gone back and forth for a long time and the other side vaguely guessed his identity, as long as they didn't produce evidence, he would never admit it!
"Ahem." Qingyi first took a small taste of the cake, cleared her throat, and glanced at Zhu Yuan.
Zhu Yuan immediately understood and placed a recording in front of Gojo.
"What is this?"
Gojo was puzzled and opened the video to watch.
The video showed very ordinary content: in some hidden corner, Gojo suddenly appeared and then walked all the way toward Jujutsu dessert shop!
At this point in the video, Gojo originally wanted to try and talk his way out of it, but he quickly realized he couldn't escape this time.
Because after returning to the shop, he even discussed the Hollow situation with Nekomata, and even said things like 'they won't recognize that I'm [(TheHonored One)]'!
He was caught red-handed!
"Outrageous!" Gojo strongly condemned!
How could such a remote corner even have a camera!
The most crucial thing was that this video content was from two years ago, when he had just learned to use the teleportation technique and made a mistake due to lack of proficiency!
A two-year-old video!
"So, Mr. Gojo probably doesn't want The Authorities to know your true identity either!"
"This sudden Hollow crisis is too abrupt and dangerous. We need you to save our bureau chief's child. You see..."
Qingyi thought her negotiation would be effective.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing her speak like this, Gojo immediately shook his head and said nothing, pretending to stretch and get ready for a rest.
He knew Qingyi's words weren't a threat but rather she was joking and playing along with him. After all, they had become acquaintances through their previous back-and-forth, and the two often came to his shop for desserts. If they wanted to expose him, they would have done so long ago. But as for entering a Hollow, he didn't want to participate.
He hadn't participated for so many years and had finally started living a normal life. If he got involved just like that, the Inter-knot would be in chaos again, and The Authorities would come looking for him again.
"You guys should go. I'm not going to..."
Thump!
Before Gojo could finish his sentence, Qingyi and Zhu Yuan suddenly left their seats, stood up, and bowed!
Seeing this scene, Gojo, who had turned around, was slightly startled, not knowing what these two were up to.
"Gojo, we're really out of options! This situation is too sudden! We really need your help! Everyone needs your help!"
"The Hollow anomalies in New Eridu lately are unlike anything we've ever seen. Only you can help us. Please, take action!"
"Yes, please, Senior Gojo. Those residents who fell into the Hollow, and our team leader's daughter might be suffering right now. Someone as handsome and righteous as you surely wouldn't want to see this happen. Please..."
"If you're unwilling to step forward, we'll stay here bowing until you are!"
"If Senior is unwilling... I'll...!"
Qingyi and Zhu Yuan went back and forth, and even Nekomata expression on the side was a bit moved. Especially Zhu Yuan; as she said the last sentence, her body trembled slightly, as if she were holding back some big move.
"Teacher... they..." Nekomata eyes flickered.
With several people taking turns talking to Gojo like this, he didn't know what to say for a moment. Especially seeing this dorky Zhu Yuan's knees start to bend, Gojo suddenly got anxious!
You can't do that move!
"Wait, don't do that. Why are you still..."
"Senior Gojo, this commission is 60,000 Denny! Please take action!" Zhu Yuan's eyes were filled with tears.
Seeing her like this, Gojo finally sighed helplessly.
Since things had come to this, if he didn't do anything, it would be quite heartless.
These two girls really were a headache for him, practically his life's nemesis!
But it was just going into a Hollow to handle things, just once didn't seem like much...
"You two are so annoying."
"I want 100,000 Denny!"
"Deal!" Seeing her scheme succeed, Qingyi's eyes lit up as she agreed.
Zhu Yuan also winked at Qingyi at this time, her expression seeming to say, 'Senior, wasn't my acting great?'
Noticing the looks they were exchanging, Gojo finally realized he had been tricked!
But just as he was about to go back on his word and maneuver a bit, his system window popped up, even featuring an excited, red-eyed ancestor emoji!
[Ding, the Host has accepted this commission. Congratulations, Host, on returning to the bright path!!]
[Host, please complete the commission as soon as possible!]
[Note: Once a commission is accepted, it cannot be canceled, or acting progress will be deducted!]
Gojo: System, you mother****er!