I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

The promising talent Baobhan Sith had mentioned was none other than Yuta Okkotsu—the "Champion of Pure Love," as fans affectionately called him online, after his immediate classification as a Special Grade sorcerer.

Apparently, the original intent was for Yuta Okkotsu to be the main protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen, though for reasons unknown, the focus later shifted to Yuji Itadori.

Thinking of Okkotsu, Baobhan Sith couldn't help but recall some of the absurd moves the jujutsu high-ups had pulled over the years.

Those higher-ups had always feared Gojo Satoru's strength. If Gojo weren't so overwhelmingly powerful, many suspected they would've tried to eliminate him ages ago. But even now, they continued to undermine him in small, underhanded ways.

In the original story, Yuta Okkotsu transformed Rika into a Special Grade curse, and the higher-ups, terrified of his power, immediately ordered his execution. It was only Gojo's intervention that saved him, bringing him into Jujutsu High and teaching him how to wield his abilities.

Then, after Gojo was sealed, the higher-ups' first order of business wasn't to release him or take up arms against the curses. Instead, they sent Okkotsu to kill Sukuna's vessel, Yuji Itadori.

Some people say that the higher-ups' judgment about Itadori was spot-on. After all, even after Gojo's release, he ended up dying at Sukuna's hand, and many of those tragedies would've been averted if Itadori had died earlier. Baobhan Sith agreed that there was some logic to that.

But what about the other things the higher-ups did? Undermining Gojo and ordering Okkotsu's execution—they really thought the same Okkotsu they once tried to kill would follow their orders to eliminate his own fellow student?

But what Baobhan Sith found most revolting was that, after Gojo was sealed, the higher-ups had sentenced Gojo's teacher and Jujutsu High's principal, Masamichi Yaga, to death simply because they feared his technique.

They claimed Yaga's technique could create an army loyal only to him, a force capable of overthrowing the entire jujutsu establishment. But their real aim was to seize the power for themselves. They'd even gone so far as to tell Yaga that he'd be spared if he revealed his technique's secrets—an offer tainted by ugly greed disguised as justice.

In the end, it was no surprise that the first thing Gojo did upon his release was wipe out the entire higher-up council. The enemies were strong enough to drive anyone to despair; who needed traitors like them around, anyway?

She suddenly thought of the Central 46 from Bleach—a council that, despite their authority, were cowardly, hypocritical, and useless in the face of outside threats but absolute experts at infighting.

Of course, all this wasn't something she could just say to Jujutsu High's students.

All she needed to say was that she didn't see eye to eye with their higher-ups.

As Baobhan Sith looked at Haibara, a thought suddenly came to mind.

"By the way… what happened with that shrine?"

When both students turned their attention to her, she added, "The abandoned shrine that produced that Special Grade curse. Weren't they supposed to tear it down and rebuild? What's the situation now?"

Baobhan Sith didn't know why she cared so much about that place.

It was just… a question that popped into her mind.

"Oh, that shrine…"

Nanami and Haibara exchanged glances before Nanami finally explained.

"Someone died there, so no matter how much they tried, there was no covering it up. All construction plans for the area were scrapped."

"I heard the shrine has been around for over four hundred years, and the locals worship a land deity there. Some of the elders believe it was the deity who manifested to protect them, so there's talk of renovating the shrine and resuming the old traditions."

"I see…"

Stirring her parfait absentmindedly, Baobhan Sith wasn't entirely sure what feeling drove her to ask about it.

Was it because of that conscious curse spirit?

She didn't know.

Lost in thought, she stirred the parfait slowly, then glanced over at Jasmine sitting beside her.

"Jasmine."

"Mm?"

In the middle of eating her parfait, Jasmine looked over, a few large question marks practically hovering above her head.

Then she watched as Baobhan Sith took out a napkin, gently wiping the cream from her mouth with a soft but focused touch.

"Messy little kitten. You didn't even notice the cream on your face."

"Mmm-mmm-mmm…"

"Don't squirm, or I'll miss a spot."

Though Baobhan Sith's expression was one of mild irritation, her words overflowed with tenderness.

Nanami and Haibara shared a look, Haibara's face breaking into a proud grin, while Nanami shut his eyes to avoid acknowledging him.

Frustrated by Nanami's lack of reaction, Haibara pursed his lips, then turned to Baobhan Sith.

"Hey! Savi—"

"Don't call me 'savior.' Every time you say it, I feel like ants are crawling all over me."

"Ah! Got it!"

Seeing Haibara nodding in complete devotion, Baobhan Sith fought the urge to grab him by the collar and demand to know: What exactly do you think you understand?

"So… what should I call you from now on?"

After finishing cleaning Jasmine's face, Baobhan Sith thought for a moment before answering.

"Tristan."

"Tristan?"

Haibara tilted his head, repeating the name, and Nanami filled in the blanks for him.

"Tristan. Also rendered as Tristram or Tristain, is one of the Knights of the Round Table who served King Arthur. Known for his archery skills and love for music, he was sometimes called the 'Knight of Sorrow' or 'Child of Sadness.'"

"Oh! I know about King Arthur and the Round Table! No wonder you're so honorable and kind—you aspire to be a knight?"

Haibara's eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked at her, only for Baobhan Sith to shoot him down with a disdainful reply.

"Hah? I don't know any King Arthur or Knights of the Round Table."

Wasn't Arthur just Artoria? If it weren't for that shabby Fairyland fairy, there's no way Her Majesty's reign would have been overthrown. The Fairy Kingdom would never have fallen.

"You listen up. The reason I go by Tristan isn't for any ridiculous knighthood nonsense; it's because that name is an honor bestowed upon me by my mother. It's a name that marks my mother's recognition of me."

"Get that wrong, and I'll cut you to pieces."

I am Fairy Knight Tristan, not the Tristan of the Human Order.

And the only king I serve is Her Majesty Morgan, not that lackluster Artoria.