9. Special Grade Cursed Spirit (Part III)

Amidst the lush forest, a massive, deep pit had appeared, and from its center, all life around had been completely eradicated.

When Hanami and Mahoraga returned, they immediately noticed the signs of battle. Ordinary investigators nearby were entirely ignored. Had they not arrived at night when the surrounding personnel had already left, they would have been reduced to ashes by the flames controlled by the cursed spirits, leaving no trace behind.

— Evidently, working overtime could very well be a matter of life and death.

Hanami and Mahoraga were delighted to find that the special-grade cursed womb they had left behind had already hatched, granting them a new companion.

They speculated whether Dazai Osamu and Nakahara Chūya were somehow connected, given their appearances were remarkably close to humans and their birthplaces were nearby.

Generally, only one cursed spirit would be born at the same location. However, neither Mahoraga nor Hanami was concerned about this detail.

Hanami faced Nakahara Chūya, his tone warm and welcoming. “We have another of our kind now. I am Hanami.”

Nakahara Chūya nodded at Hanami, his inscrutable expression giving nothing away. He introduced himself, “I am Nakahara Chūya.”

“Actually, that’s really your name…” Mahoraga muttered with a hint of sarcasm. “I’m Mahoraga.”

Upon hearing Mahoraga, Nakahara Chūya instinctively glanced at Dazai Osamu: What does that mean? What have you done now?!

Dazai Osamu looked back at him with innocent eyes. Nakahara Chūya gave him a skeptical glare without hesitation.

Mahoraga, after introducing himself, felt uneasy and muttered, “Feels just like a human!”

Now it was Nakahara Chūya’s turn to feel awkward. Although he knew he was no longer human, his mind had yet to adjust.

Dazai Osamu took over the conversation, “Mahoraga really dislikes humans!”

“They’re nothing but laughably hypocritical beings,” Mahoraga sneered. “We cursed spirits are the true humans!”

Dazai Osamu nodded solemnly, “Makes sense.”

He glanced at Nakahara Chūya and winked: Happy, Chūya? You’ve just become a real human—well, the realest human!

Nakahara Chūya shot him a fierce glare. How could he possibly be happy about that? Being no longer human was simply a fact; he wouldn’t deceive himself.

He asked in confusion, “If we’re cursed spirits, why do we have to act human? That’s not the worldview Dazai has told me about.”

Mahoraga answered, “We are humans concealed beneath layers of disguise—an aggregation of emotions. We are the truest humans there are!”

“That’s quite a perspective, Mahoraga,” Dazai Osamu said with interest. “The definition of ‘human’ has always been ambiguous.”

“Hmph!” Mahoraga snorted. “Of course it is.”

Meanwhile, Nakahara Chūya did not want to delve into philosophical matters. He was more eager to evaluate his current strength in this world.

Mahoraga was pleased with his cautious attitude and took the initiative to guide the newly hatched comrade into a practice fight. “Come on, Nakahara.”

Two flames sparked into existence in Mahoraga’s hands, illuminating the faces of the two cursed spirits.

Is it really okay to use fire attacks in a forest?

Dazai Osamu, standing beside Hanami, casually remarked, “An inexplicable forest fire would surely attract human attention again.”

“Who cares?” Mahoraga scoffed. “By the time those sorcerers notice, we’ll already be gone.”

Both Nakahara Chūya and Mahoraga glowed with a red light—one dark crimson, the other bright red.

Nakahara Chūya struck first, launching a punch at Mahoraga. Caught off guard, Mahoraga was knocked into the pit on the ground.

“Is your technique gravity manipulation?” Mahoraga murmured, pinned to the bottom of the pit as a curtain of flames enveloped Nakahara Chūya.

Standing amidst the fiery veil, Nakahara Chūya controlled the gravity on himself, swiftly propelling away from the spot.

Dazai Osamu observed the battle from the sidelines, assessing Mahoraga’s fighting style.

It appeared cursed spirits relied more on cursed techniques and cursed energy. Mahoraga’s techniques posed a threat to Chūya, but Chūya’s physical prowess could suppress Mahoraga.

Dazai Osamu casually asked, “I thought Hanami would take the initiative.”

Hanami replied, “Mahoraga is stronger and more experienced.”

“I assumed Hanami would care about all these plants and flowers?” Dazai teased Hanami with a friendly tone.

Hanami said, “Mahoraga controls his power carefully.”

“I see…” Dazai Osamu watched the chaotic flames fly about and elevated Mahoraga’s importance in his mind.

In the end, Nakahara Chūya won the match. Although neither cursed spirit had fully unleashed their strength, merely touching on it, it gave Nakahara Chūya a clear assessment of his capabilities.

Mahoraga showed no anger but pride. “Not bad—having this level at birth. You’ll only get stronger. You might even become the strongest among us.”

“Thanks?” Nakahara Chūya felt a bit uncomfortable with such enthusiasm. They’d just met, and the other cared so much about him…

Not only Mahoraga, but Hanami was also genuinely happy about Nakahara Chūya’s strength.

Dazai Osamu noticed clearly. Their joy was rooted in bolstering their kind, which in turn proved their own strength was insufficient, hence their eagerness for new power.

He glanced at Nakahara Chūya, squinting knowingly at his reaction as expected.

Suddenly, Dazai Osamu said, “We encountered Geto Suguru earlier.”

Hanami asked, “Who’s that?”

“A cursed spirit manipulator,” Dazai Osamu answered with apparent concern. “I saw him controlling many cursed spirits, using our companions to attack us.”

Mahoraga retorted, “Our companions wouldn’t be lackeys to sorcerers.”

“They are forced,” Dazai sighed anxiously.

Nakahara Chūya winced at Dazai’s theatrical concern for their so-called comrades.

Mahoraga and Hanami hadn’t noticed the problem. To them, Dazai had cared for their kind—Nakahara Chūya—from the moment of hatching.

“They lack self-awareness and cannot be our companions,” Mahoraga said rationally. “But once we wipe out humanity and establish a new world for cursed spirits, no one will harm our kind anymore!”

So that was the goal of these special-grade cursed spirits seeking companions.

Dazai Osamu snapped his fingers, thinking about Geto Suguru, the sorcerer who sought to kill ordinary humans to build a new world, and these special-grade cursed spirits who aimed to eradicate humanity for their own new world...

Why did this objective sound so familiar?

Nakahara Chūya truly felt a headache this time. Why were there always so many wanting to create a new world? Was the current world really that bad?

Dazai Osamu proposed, “The cursed spirit manipulator is also searching for special-grade cursed spirits. Perhaps we can find more companions through him.”