Just as the blonde girl was about to leave, she noticed a small pendant shaped like a fallen angel's wing lying by her feet.
Realizing it must have dropped from Yotsuya Miko's bag, she quickly bent down to pick it up.
The moment her pale fingers brushed against the charm, a faint pulse of divine energy surged through it. A flash of white light blinded her for an instant—then everything returned to normal.
Thinking it was just the sunlight playing tricks on her, Eriri blinked and called out, "Hey, you dropped this!"
Hearing her voice, Miko turned back and froze the moment she saw the pendant. Gratitude flooded her expression.
That charm was her lifeline—her only protection against the horrors lurking around her. Losing it wasn't an option.
Seeing how sincerely Miko thanked her, Eriri scratched her cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"T-Thank you so much! This thing's really important to me… How about I buy you a drink as thanks?"
Her tone was so earnest that Eriri couldn't find a reason to refuse.
She glanced toward the Spring Flower shop she'd planned to visit—only to find a crowd at the entrance.
Truth was, Eriri had snuck out just to buy a few… reference books for artistic study.
She definitely didn't want anyone recognizing her, so she'd disguised herself in an old middle school tracksuit.
Realizing Miko clearly didn't know who she was, Eriri nodded. "Sure, why not."
Without another word, the two walked quietly toward a nearby café. Even though it was early evening, a long line had already formed out front.
Standing one behind the other in the queue, the silence grew heavy until Eriri decided to break it.
"So… that pendant of yours—it's really pretty. Where'd you buy it?"
"Uh… I didn't. It was a gift."
"Oh? From where?"
"Uh—uhm, a… church, I guess."
Their conversation stumbled awkwardly to a halt.
Eriri stared at the black-winged pendant, dumbfounded. What kind of church gives out gifts like that?
Miko's face reddened; she didn't know what to say either. It wasn't like she could explain it was a fallen angel who gave it to her. Honestly, she still hadn't processed half of what had happened today.
As the silence between them thickened, whispers drifted from nearby in line.
"What are those two girls doing?"
"No idea. Just standing there like idiots—looks like they don't even know which line they're in."
Their voices weren't quiet. Both Miko and Eriri heard them loud and clear.
Blinking in confusion, Eriri glanced at the crowd in front of them, then at the line beside them. Her gaze followed the other queue to its end—where she saw people entering a narrow alleyway.
And at the alley's far end… something monstrous awaited.
A grotesque, bloated creature—like a giant maggot with six human arms—was devouring the spirits that shuffled obediently toward it.
Eriri's pupils contracted in horror; every muscle in her body froze. What the hell?! What IS that thing?!
Miko followed her gaze—and her stomach dropped. Another Cursed Spirit.
She'd just learned about them from Takumi earlier that day—these abominations born from negative emotions.
"Wait—"
"MONSTER!!"
Before Miko could stop her, Eriri let out a piercing scream.
Instantly, every head on the street turned toward them. The pedestrians merely looked confused but the spirits…
Every single one twisted its head ninety degrees in perfect unison, fixing lifeless eyes on the two girls.
Even the maggot-like spirit paused its feast, its swollen, corpse-pale eyes rolling toward them.
"You can see me~~~"
The overlapping voices of countless spirits merged into one, forming a wave of psychic pressure that nearly made the girls faint.
"W-What is this!? Why are there monsters like this!?" Eriri cried, trembling violently. "I'm dreaming, right!? This has to be a dream!"
She spun around to run—but found the street behind them blocked by a swarm of low-level Cursed Spirits.
Trapped between the undead and the grotesque maggot spirit, Eriri's mind went blank.
All I wanted… was to buy a few artbooks!
"Don't move—just hold on to me!" Miko shouted, clutching the pendant.
As the spirits closed in, the charm flared with divine light, forming a shimmering barrier around them.
"It's working!" Miko gasped in relief.
But beside her, Eriri pointed a shaking finger at the maggot spirit crawling closer.
"I-It's coming!"
The hideous creature opened its maw, spewing a cloud of dark green venom.
Sizzle—!
The moment the gas hit the barrier, it reacted violently, crackling like water poured into boiling oil.
Both girls froze, too terrified to even breathe.
The maggot spirit wasn't dumb—it quickly realized brute force wouldn't work.
Stretching out a slimy tongue, it grabbed the smaller spirits around it and began hurling them at the barrier like living bombs.
Boom! Boom!
Each impact burst the weak spirits into ash, but the divine shield dimmed with every hit.
Miko realized in horror that the pendant's energy was running out.
Once it failed, they were dead.
Just as despair crept in, a familiar voice echoed from behind them.
"Either throw the damn charm at it, or run. Standing there won't save you, you two idiots."
That voice was like a beam of light piercing through Miko's terror.
"M-Mr. Takumi!"
Her face lit up as she turned to see him. Even Eriri looked over—and the instant her eyes met his, one thought hit her like lightning. He's… hot.
The next, equally powerful thought followed right after. Wait—he looks familiar.
Before she could place where she'd seen him, Takumi was already walking toward the monster.
"W-Wait! Don't go near that thing!" Eriri shouted instinctively—then froze.
"Gravity Magic: Heavy Strike."
Takumi simply pointed at the maggot spirit and flicked his wrist downward.
BOOM!
The air itself seemed to collapse. A colossal, invisible hammer of gravity smashed down, crushing the creature's bloated body into dust.
Before its shattered remains could disperse, Takumi raised his palm—
A vortex of black energy spiraled open, devouring every lingering fragment of cursed power along with the lesser spirits nearby.
One after another, they vanished into his grasp—consumed as nourishment for his growing strength.
When the last echo faded, the street fell silent.
Takumi exhaled softly, a satisfied smile curving his lips.
Another successful hunt.
...
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