The coastal area of Shimane Prefecture.
A car was speeding down the road.
The three people in the car were Jujutsu Sorcerers and an Assistant Supervisor dispatched from the Jujutsu Management Council to handle this Curse incident.
"Haaah~"
One Jujutsu Sorcerer yawned.
"How long has it been? We're not there yet."
The speaker was Yamamoto Kuma.
He was a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer in charge of this incident.
Name: Yamamoto Kuma
Cursed Technique: Flame Cursing Method
Moves: Incineration, Pillar of Flame, Flame Blade
Likes: Smoking, exercise
Dislikes: Water, cold.
"It has been a long time, but we shouldn't be far now. This Cursed Spirit can't possibly leave the Island Nation, right?"
After speaking, the Jujutsu Sorcerer in the back seat, dressed as a priest, picked up a telescope and looked into the distance.
The speaker was Kanzaki Shingo, sitting in the back of the car. He was a Jujutsu Sorcerer sent to cooperate with Yamamoto Kuma on this mission.
Name: Kanzaki Shingo
Cursed Technique: Song of Baptism
Moves: Baptism, Blessing, Judgment
Likes: Watching movies
Dislikes: Monks
Because his Cursed Technique's ability leaned more towards support, Kanzaki Shingo was only a Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer.
The reason Kanzaki Shingo was dispatched with Yamamoto Kuma this time was due to the Cursed Spirit's ability to spread Curses.
Kanzaki Shingo was sent along to prevent any accidents if Yamamoto Kuma were to be Cursed by the Cursed Spirit.
The Cursed Spirit captured by the Jujutsu Management Council had accumulated enough Cursed Energy by midnight yesterday.
Afterward, the Cursed Spirit continuously tried to break free and escape.
The Jujutsu Management Council released the Cursed Spirit after making monitoring preparations, and the three of them followed the Cursed Spirit, wanting to see what was behind it.
"Oh, something's happening."
Kanzaki Shingo, holding the telescope, suddenly said.
"Where? Let me see."
After speaking, Yamamoto Kuma snatched the telescope from Kanzaki Shingo.
Kanzaki Shingo rolled his eyes and pointed towards where he had seen the strange figure.
A black silhouette appeared on the sea surface, heading in the direction of their monitored target.
"That direction is... an island?"
Yamamoto Kuma looked through the telescope in the direction behind the Cursed Spirit. That was likely where the Cursed Spirit originated from and where the person behind this was hiding.
"Just in case, go prepare a boat."
Yamamoto Kuma instructed the Assistant Supervisor, then got out of the car with Kanzaki Shingo and rushed towards the shore.
"After following for several hours, it's finally over."
"Alright, alright. The Jujutsu Management Council was quite generous this time, so don't complain anymore."
Kanzaki Shingo comforted the short-tempered Yamamoto Kuma.
Soon, the two arrived at the shore.
To their surprise, the Cursed Spirit did not follow the black silhouette on the sea but stood there motionlessly.
The next moment, the black silhouette from the sea came ashore and bit down on the Cursed Spirit's shadow.
Squelch.
The sound of flesh being torn apart echoed.
Even though only its shadow was attacked, the effect was the same as if its body had been attacked.
In their astonished gazes, the Cursed Spirit was left with only a severed leg, slowly dissipating.
"Kanzaki, what is that?"
"I don't know. At first, I thought it was a fish-shaped Cursed Spirit, but now it looks more like... a shadow."
Kanzaki Shingo said with some uncertainty.
"Yeah, it really is like a shadow turning into a monster."
"A shadow-like monster fish Cursed Spirit? Speaking of which, that reminds me of a legend."
"What legend?"
Yamamoto Kuma looked at Kanzaki Shingo, knowing he was well-informed from his frequent missionary work.
"Legend has it that long ago, there was a man-eating monster in the sea called Kageoni. This monster looked like a pitch-black monstrous fish. It would eat the shadows of fishermen underwater, and then the fishermen's bodies would vanish into thin air."
Kanzaki Shingo shared an interesting rumor he had heard before.
These were all things he'd heard from his followers.
"I see. No wonder they sent me for this."
After hearing Kanzaki Shingo's story and thinking about what he had just seen, Yamamoto Kuma was filled with confidence.
No wonder the Jujutsu Management Council said this monster was afraid of light.
It made sense that shadows would be affected by light.
This shadow Cursed Spirit is countered by my Flame Cursing Method. The advantage is mine.
Soon, a small boat appeared before the two men. The Assistant Supervisor waved at them.
The group boarded the boat and headed to the small island not far away.
"This must be it."
Yamamoto Kuma stomped out his cigarette, unslung his Katana from his back, and led the way into the cave.
"Are these... Cursed Talismans?"
Kanzaki Shingo's gaze swept over the scattered yellow papers and the broken Shimenawa ropes around them.
"So it was man-made after all. Let's finish this quickly and get paid."
"You're quite confident."
"Of course! I'm a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer. There's no way I'd be unlucky enough to encounter a Special Grade on a mission, right? If you're that unlucky, just stay out of my way and don't drag me down."
"How could that be? I'm blessed by the Lord. If anyone's unlucky, it's you."
As he spoke, Kanzaki Shingo pulled a Bible from his priest's coat, striking a pose as if ready to preach at any moment.
"It's here."
Yamamoto Kuma's eyes sharpened as he looked at the conspicuous well opening in the cave.
The Cursed Spirit Kageoni swam out from within.
Cursed Energy surged, and flames ignited on Yamamoto Kuma's Katana.
Seemingly sensing a threat, the Cursed Spirit Kageoni began to circle the two men, hesitating to approach.
"Stop dawdling. If you won't come, I will."
The hot-tempered Yamamoto Kuma attacked first.
He stomped his foot and charged towards the Cursed Spirit Kageoni.
The Cursed Spirit Kageoni had several fins, and its tail, which resembled a blooming flower, began to wag faster, engaging in a constant back-and-forth with Yamamoto Kuma.
Clang.
The flame-engulfed Katana slashed into the ground, and also struck the constantly moving Cursed Spirit Kageoni.
Hiss hiss.
The Cursed Spirit Kageoni let out a pained cry, like a snake's hiss.
Seeing that a significant chunk of its body was missing, Yamamoto Kuma burst into laughter.
"Haha! It looks strange, but in the end, it's still a Cursed Spirit. It can be harmed with Cursed Energy. Die!"
With that, Yamamoto Kuma pushed off with his legs, following the fleeing Cursed Spirit Kageoni, the flames on his blade burning even brighter.
Boom.
Yamamoto Kuma swung his Katana, and flames formed a circle around the Cursed Spirit Kageoni, followed by a Pillar of Flame erupting from the ground.
The Cursed Spirit Kageoni dissolved in the flames.
"All done. Time to go."
"Yamamoto, be careful!"
"Huh?"
Yamamoto Kuma, who had relaxed after seeing the Cursed Spirit disappear, suddenly heard his companion's cry.
Slish.
"Aaaahhhhh!"
Another Cursed Spirit Kageoni emerged from the shadows.
The gaping maw on either side bit down, severing Yamamoto Kuma's right arm, which held his katana.
"Die, Incineration."
Flames gathered in Yamamoto Kuma's left hand and were quickly unleashed, engulfing and exorcising the Kageoni that had just ambushed him in a torrent of fire.
"Aargh."
Yamamoto Kuma looked painfully at his severed right arm, a grayish-black Curse spreading across it.
Kanzaki Shingo immediately rushed to Yamamoto Kuma's side.
"Abyss."
...
"Heavenly Light."
...
"Divine Protection."
Kanzaki Shingo began chanting incantations, and under their enhancement, the effects of the Baptism became even more pronounced.
The Curse at Yamamoto Kuma's wound began to dissipate.
"Damn it, what was that just now!"
Yamamoto Kuma gritted his teeth and said.
"It should be the second one."
"Huh?"
"The Curse that just attacked appeared from the shadow of the rocks. There should be more than one Kageoni."
The next moment, a massive surge of Cursed Energy erupted from the well.
The two looked at the well opening in horror.
There, Kageoni emerged one after another.
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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