Mountain Imp Curse Spirit? A Terrifying Legend

"Let's try another place."

Kento Nanami, still uneasy, found another family and inquired about the situation in the area.

Before long, Nanami returned with information.

"According to the villagers, they suspect wild beasts from the mountains come out to forage at night.

They can't distinguish what kind of beasts they are by the sounds alone.

However, someone claims to have seen it—a monster that looks like a human. That person isn't mentally stable right now. That's all we know for now."

"So, it really could be a Cursed Spirit causing trouble.

But it only comes out at night and treats villagers as food... doesn't that sound a bit like..."

Riko Amanai's expression turned fearful, as if she'd thought of something unpleasant.

"Preliminary assessment: it's a curse. Its strength probably isn't very high, but don't let your guard down."

Nanami offered a reminder.

He didn't want to lose another comrade due to a misjudgment.

"Hey, old man, do you have anything to say?" Amanai looked at Shinsuke Zenin.

"Who are you calling old man? Call me 'teacher'."

Shinsuke Zenin glanced at her and then looked towards the large mountain behind the village.

The entire village was nestled at the foot of this mountain, like a small basin.

The thing in the mountains doesn't seem to be a minor player...

"Teacher Shinsuke! Is that better? You're our lead teacher, aren't you going to offer your opinion?"

Riko Amanai put her hands on her hips, pouting, her expression a little displeased.

This lead teacher felt a bit unreliable.

"What opinion could I possibly have? I don't have any Cursed Energy. Even if we encounter a powerful Cursed Spirit, I can't help you. So, no matter the situation, you'll have to rely on yourselves."

"No Cursed Energy? How is that possible?"

Riko Amanai was full of disbelief. Without Cursed Energy, he could catch bullets barehanded? Was he taking her for a fool?

"Teacher, do you really not have Cursed Energy?"

Nanami, standing nearby, seemed to realize something. He had wondered why he couldn't sense any Cursed Energy from this teacher, thinking perhaps the teacher's strength had reached a level where he could completely conceal it.

So, he truly had no Cursed Energy at all.

"Therefore, young lady in her prime, and young man with that 'office worker' vibe, good luck. I'll only be responsible for your safety, not for helping you complete the mission."

"Forget it, forget it. It's enough that you can guarantee our safety."

Riko Amanai waved her hand, no longer caring.

At worst, she'd just fight the Cursed Spirit head-on. Since someone would cover her if she was in mortal danger, as long as she didn't die, it was fine.

Losing an arm or a leg didn't matter; Sister Shoko could heal it anyway.

The three waited until dark.

The countryside at night was very quiet. Every household stayed indoors, going to sleep early.

The bright moonlight shone down, making it somewhat luminous. They could even clearly see the country road.

However, in contrast, the large mountain behind the village appeared somewhat sinister, as if shrouded by something, a pitch-black expanse where even moonlight couldn't penetrate.

The three arrived at the back of the village and stood at the entrance to the mountain.

"It's already past midnight, why isn't there any activity?"

After searching the village for several hours and finding no man-eating monsters, Amanai began to doubt if Jujutsu High had sent them on the wrong mission.

Perhaps what the villagers said was a lie.

She knew there were always stories in every place used to scare children, and maybe this was the same, a false alarm.

"Rustle rustle..."

The quiet night was suddenly broken by sounds, like something stepping on fallen leaves and branches.

Amanai and Nanami immediately became alert, entering a combat stance.

A hunched figure appeared at the entrance to the mountain.

It was an old man, leaning on a cane, emerging from the darkness.

His wrinkled face bore a strange expression, and his eyes shone brightly, unlike what one would expect from an old man.

"Elderly person? Why are you here so late?"

Amanai was startled. She had thought it was a Cursed Spirit, but it turned out to be just an old man. She subconsciously relaxed her guard.

The old man didn't respond to Amanai. Instead, he gave her a strange smile. In the moonlight, the three, with their enhanced vision, immediately noticed fragments of meat stuck to the old man's mottled teeth.

"Amanai! Careful! He's a Cursed Spirit!"

Nanami instantly sensed the cursed energy fluctuations within the old man and quickly warned him while moving forward, a short sword wrapped in bandages in his hand.

"Roar--!"

However, the old man lunged at Amanai a step faster than him. His face seemed to be torn open, covered in fur, and he opened his mouth, revealing sharp fangs, and bit towards Amanai.

Amanai's expression changed drastically, her pupils contracting. Watching the monster pounce, she quickly covered her entire body with cursed energy.

"Swish!"

Failing to bite, a claw struck Amanai back, leaving bloody scratches on her smooth arm.

Just as the Cursed Spirit disguised as an old man was about to attack Amanai again, Nanami had already reached its side.

Cursed energy wrapped around his short sword, splitting the opponent into seven or three parts. He swung his blade and sent it flying.

"Riiip--!"

"Roar!!"

Blood gushed from the wound. A large gash was cut across the Cursed Spirit's chest, and it fell to the ground, howling loudly.

Only then did everyone clearly see its appearance – it was a monkey!

To be precise, it should be a Mountain Imp!

Shinsuke Zenin was somewhat surprised. A red nose and a long white face, wasn't that a Mountain Imp?

There were such things in this place.

"Is this the man-eating Cursed Spirit?"

Amanai ignored the wound on her hand and carefully examined the Cursed Spirit that had returned to its original form.

"Its strength isn't that strong? A Grade 3 Cursed Spirit?"

If she hadn't been careless, she could have easily dealt with a guy of this level.

"Awooo--"

Just then, the dying Mountain Imp on the ground let out a long howl, its body gradually turning into cursed energy and disappearing.

"Awooo!"

"Awooo!!"

At the same time, long howls echoed throughout the entire mountain, making Amanai and Nanami's scalps tingle.

They had stumbled into a Cursed Spirit nest!

"We can't let them out, or these villagers will be in danger!"

Nanami gripped his sword hilt, his brow furrowed slightly. So many curses gathered, and they hadn't discovered them before.

It was truly a miracle that these villagers had survived until now.

He didn't know that the reason for so many curses was entirely due to the stories passed down from generation to generation in this village to trick children.

They were formed from the accumulation of negative energy over generations.

"Seriously, could there be a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit?"

Amanai felt the cursed energy fluctuations from within the mountain, her expression becoming serious.

"It looks like it's time for me, the genius Jujutsu Sorcerer, to step in!"

Amanai's body erupted with no small amount of cursed energy as she charged into the mountain.

She understood that if so many curses were not eliminated and were allowed to escape, it would cause a great disaster.

Seeing this, Kento Nanami followed closely behind.

There was no other way. Since they had been alerted, they could only brace themselves and go in.

"Teacher Shinsuke, please be careful!"

After a reminder, the figures of the two disappeared into the mountain forest.

"Cursed Spirits, come to think of it, I haven't killed any Cursed Spirits since coming to this world."

Shinsuke Zenin slowly followed them in.

Recalling his experiences so far, apart from being locked in the Zenin Family's room for housing Cursed Spirits by a man who had long since died when he was a child, he hadn't encountered many powerful Cursed Spirits.