Bright sunlight spilled over the warm beach. A hazy figure lay beneath a beach umbrella, drinking chilled juice as though enjoying a leisurely vacation.
Beside him stood a strange creature that looked like a grilled octopus, chittering away about something.
After a while, the reclining figure reluctantly set down his empty glass and sat up.
"Dagon, don't be like that. I believe you have the strength and ability to handle this on your own."
"You can also consider this a test. If you pass, I'll allow you to stay by my side from then on."
"Hmm? You're starting tomorrow? Haven't I told you? Before making any decision, you must weigh the pros and cons. Consider whether you can accept both what you stand to gain and what you stand to lose. Only act once you feel you can accept them."
"Why are you being so irrational again, child? All right, all right... I'll stop lecturing you. Do whatever you want."
Stepping out of the shade beneath the umbrella, a fellow who looked almost indistinguishable from a human patted the other's head.
"Next, I'll leave this place and head to another continent. I'll seek out our companions there and bring them into our ranks so we can fight back against humanity together."
"When I return, I hope to see a country entirely under the rule of cursed spirits."
Under his encouraging smile, Dagon timidly and uncertainly nodded his large head, his eyes filled with both dependence on the other and reluctance at their impending separation.
But however reluctant they were, they still had to part.
In an instant, the sea, the beach... everything vanished.
Everything just now had actually been a domain Dagon had manifested. It was simply unbelievable!
While other special grade cursed spirits were still struggling to find a