Chapter 60: “The Girls Who Refused to Leave”

The order came like a hammer.

It did not echo through the air. It rang directly inside their heads, cold and absolute.

“Retreat immediately.”

The voice carried authority older than kingdoms, layered with command seals that pressed against every fairy’s core.

“This conflict exceeds permitted limits.”

“The vessel is no longer defensible.”

“Withdraw.”

The ground beneath them trembled as glowing sigils bloomed in the air, forming recall circles behind each fairy. The magic tugged hard, trying to pull them back across realms whether they agreed or not.

Gojo felt it instantly.

“H-Hey,” he said, turning in panic. “They’re forcing you out.”

Hiyori staggered as snow scattered around her feet. She grabbed her sleeves, body shaking as the recall magic dragged at her.

“I—I can’t—” Her voice broke.

Suma caught her arm, teeth clenched. “No. You’re not taking her.”

The circle flared brighter.

Hikami laughed.

It was sharp, angry, and loud enough to burn through the pressure.

“Cute trick,” she said, flames roaring up her arms. “But I don’t take orders from people who weren’t brave enough to come here themselves.”

Her fire lashed out, searing the runes in the air. The recall circle cracked.

Raika stepped forward next, electricity snapping violently from her twin tails. “This is ridiculous. Retreating now would be illogical.”

The magic surged harder.

Her lightning spiked out of control, shocking her own arm.

“Ah—!” She hissed, gripping it.

Gojo moved instinctively. “Raika!”

She shook her head, face red but determined. “Don’t touch me. I_toggle control myself.”

The recall sigils flickered… then shattered.

Arashi whistled. “Wow. Even your embarrassment hits like thunder.”

“Say that again and I’ll shock your teeth out,” Raika snapped.

“Worth it.”

Mizuki remained still as water gathered calmly around her feet, forming a quiet barrier. The recall magic pressed against her, then slid away like waves against stone.

“This order assumes we are assets,” she said evenly. “I reject that premise.”

Anzu stood slightly apart from the others.

The recall magic tugged at her gently, insistently, as if trying not to scare her away.

She lowered herself to her knees instead.

“I won’t fight,” she said softly. “But I won’t leave.”

Her hands touched the ground.

Tiny flowers pushed through the cracked pavement, roots anchoring deep. The recall magic hesitated… then dissolved entirely.

Silence followed.

Gojo stared at them, heart pounding.

“Why?” he asked quietly. “You can still leave. You don’t have to—”

Hikami turned to him, eyes burning. “Stop deciding things for us.”

Raika crossed her arms, looking away. “Don’t misunderstand. This isn’t about romance or destiny.”

Arashi grinned. “It kinda is for me.”

She punched him.

Hiyori finally found her voice.

“I’m scared,” she admitted, stepping closer to Gojo. “But I’m more scared of leaving you here alone.”

Suma nodded sharply. “You always try to carry everything. It’s annoying.”

Gojo swallowed.

Rakhara’s voice drifted down from the裂, amused and cold. “How inefficient. You weaken him by staying. Attachments make vessels unstable.”

Gojo flinched.

Before he could respond, Mizuki spoke.

“No,” she said. “Expectations weaken him. Trust does not.”

She met Gojo’s eyes. “We are not here to give you power.”

Anzu smiled gently. “Just honesty.”

Hikami rested a hand on his back. “And warmth.”

Raika muttered, “And backup. Obviously.”

Arashi cracked his knuckles. “And someone to punch things if needed.”

Gojo felt something settle inside his chest.

The Spirit God stirred faintly, not surging, not demanding. Listening.

Rakhara frowned. “You are refusing advantage.”

Gojo took a breath.

“I don’t need a boost,” he said. “I need to stay myself.”

He didn’t draw on divine power. Didn’t let light explode from his body.

He simply stood.

The裂 slowed.

The pressure eased, just a little.

Rakhara’s eyes widened. “…You stabilized it without amplification.”

Gojo nodded. “Because I’m not holding it alone anymore.”

He looked around at them.

No grand formation. No ritual. Just people who chose to stay.

For the first time since the door opened, the fear loosened its grip.

Gojo smiled, small but real.

“I get it now,” he said. “I’m not alone.”

Above them, the Evil God Fairy stirred impatiently.

And Rakhara’s smile vanished completely.

The war was far from over.

But Gojo was no longer standing by himself.