5. Curse Manipulation User (II)

Over the next three hours, the Curse Master endured unprecedented psychological torment.

He stared in terror at Osamu Dazai before him, feeling as if his mind was being excavated by this special-grade cursed spirit. Every word, every glance seemed to unearth deeper truths.

He was even grateful to be tightly bound and unable to move; otherwise, he would have immediately dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.

The Curse Master looked into those hawk-colored eyes, gazing into the dark pupils. In their reflection, he no longer held any secrets.

He faintly wondered: Compared to the Six Eyes, the strongest of the jujutsu world, which was more terrifying? He would rather be killed by the Six Eyes!

Osamu Dazai looked coldly at the trembling Curse Master and, confirming that no more information could be extracted, decisively ended his life.

“What shall we do next?” Dazai muttered with a hint of annoyance. “I’m too lazy to dig up graves!” He looked up at the floating orb. “Chuuya, can you make a hole with your tentacles?”

The not-yet-hatched Chuuya Nakahara naturally gave no response.

This was normal; the current “Chuuya Nakahara” only possessed instinctive defensive reflexes, or he would have attacked long ago.

Yet Dazai’s expression darkened involuntarily.

So the corpse before him bore the brunt of Dazai’s ire, turning to ashes in the flames.

Dazai clapped his hands. This could count as fertilizer, a sort of payment to Hanami for this period.

He reasoned that the gains from this operation were considerable.

Previously, he had gathered intelligence on sorcerers indirectly. The two special-grade cursed spirits had limited knowledge of the jujutsu world’s internal affairs, only superficial information.

This time, facing the Curse Master himself, Dazai’s understanding deepened — the strongest sorcerer Satoru Gojo was at odds with the jujutsu leadership, the largest Curse Master group was the “Star Ring Sect,” led by Suguru Geto…

This encounter also gave him a practical grasp of a first-grade sorcerer’s strength. Without striking first, it would have been difficult to subdue the opponent relying solely on his physical prowess.

Dazai shifted to another spot, sat back on the ground, and looked at the black orb in the air with an expression as if admiring the moon. “Although this version of Chuuya is time-limited, after watching for so long, even I’m getting a bit bored!”

Cursed Spirit Handler…

Dazai’s mind quickly pieced together all the intelligence related to Suguru Geto.

A special-grade Curse Master — among sorcerers, only three held that rank, among the strongest trio?

Recalling the “dream” he extracted from the Curse Master’s words, Dazai curled his lips into a sardonic smile. Every world has such wildly imaginative people!

Though he seemed different from Dostoevsky in character. In terms of power…

Dazai tapped his knee thoughtfully.

Looking at cursed spirits, sometimes the gap between special-grade ones exceeded that between special-grade and first-grade. What level was Suguru Geto at?

In a distant layered mansion, Suguru Geto, clad in monk’s robes, sat on tatami mats watching an ordinary person besieged by cursed spirits. He wore a compassionate smile, like a Buddha delivering all beings.

He exorcised the cursed spirits adhering to the person, watching as they sobbed with overwhelming emotion, offering tributes, yet his heart remained unmoved.

Geto kindly saw the person off, but once the smile faded, his face was full of disdain. A bunch of powerless monkeys!

He sneered coldly and returned indoors.

Two identical girls, distinguishable only by their clothes and hair color, ran toward him. “Master Geto!”

His expression softened instantly, revealing a genuine smile. “Mimiko, Nanako.”

The two girls chimed in unison: “Master Geto, come shopping with us! We want crepes! And ice cream! And cake!”

Geto looked at the children tenderly and was about to reply when a knock interrupted him.

“I’m afraid not now, Mimiko, Nanako.” A woman stood at the door, knocking on the open door panel, smiling at Geto. “Geto, there’s something.”

The girls sighed and asked in perfect harmony, “What is it? Another cursed spirit purge? Master Geto doesn’t have to work so hard!”

“It’s unrelated to ordinary people,” the woman said, glancing at Geto. “One of our people has gone missing.”

“Missing?” Geto frowned. Apologetically, he said to Mimiko and Nanako, “Sorry, you two will have to go by yourselves this time.”

Mimiko sighed. “Alright, for our family.”

Nanako said considerately, “Master Geto, come shopping with us next time!”

The two little girls left the room hand in hand.

“Who’s missing, Manami?” Geto asked.

Manami Sugita reported a name. “He’s a first-grade sorcerer. If it were a common person, I wouldn’t have disturbed your family time.”

Geto disapproved. “You can always come. We are family. Any leads?”

Manami reported, “Before he disappeared, he had a mission involving a first-grade cursed spirit.”

Disappearing while purging a cursed spirit usually meant the worst.

Geto frowned deeply. “I remember he was quite strong.”

In fact, very strong.

In sorcerer rankings, special-grade sorcerers were outside the normal evaluation system; first-grade sorcerers represented the peak of ordinary sorcerers.

Not to say first-grade sorcerers could always exorcise first-grade cursed spirits; many special-grade cursed spirits were not opponents for first-grade sorcerers.

Now, this situation meant either the cursed spirit’s level was misjudged, it was a powerful special-grade, or the sorcerer had encountered other enemies after purging the cursed spirit — perhaps other sorcerers.

Geto couldn’t help but recall his former close friend, now the strongest sorcerer, Satoru Gojo.

The Star Ring Sect once declined under their hands but flourished anew under his leadership.

Manami Sugita said, “The jujutsu world’s wanted order for him hasn’t been lifted; it likely isn’t related to them.”

So the chances were high it was a cursed spirit issue.

Geto said, “I will investigate. I’m not seeing anyone else for now.”

How could a bunch of powerless monkeys compare to the life of a sorcerer? Besides, there might be a new special-grade cursed spirit.

Manami agreed. Geto had been collecting powerful cursed spirits, but special-grade ones were rare. This was a good opportunity.

“Good luck.” She spoke perfunctorily. With Geto’s strength, there was no need to worry. They just had to wait for his victorious return.

“Thank you for your wishes, Manami. I’ll be back soon,” Geto said, his eyes smiling. “Where is his mission location…?”