Killing with a Borrowed Blade

"Go on, child. The basement is the safest place."

Sato's gentle voice urged you on from behind, sounding just like an elder's reminder.

He had even arrogantly decided that you were the kind of monkey who couldn't see cursed spirits.

With your head lowered, every step you took intensified the pain from Cursed Energy Allergy.

He could feel that the monster on the ceiling had already begun to grow restless with hunger.

"Since it's something important to my parents... I'll take it with me."

Li Shunchen murmured softly. The instant he stepped into the edge of the basement's shadows, he suddenly stopped and tore the cloth wrapping off the black box right in front of Sato.

The plain, antique scabbard slipped off, revealing the true form of the blade named Asagirimaru.

At that moment, the air throughout the room seemed to be cleaved apart by a sharp edge, and cool fluctuations of cursed energy spread like ripples.

Sato's pupils contracted to pinpoints in that instant. Beautiful. So beautiful.

This was more than a cursed tool. It was his ticket out of the mire, his chance to turn his fortunes around and become his own master.

Seeing you open the box at this very moment, he instinctively shouted.

"Careful! Don't damage it!"

"Here, hold this for me!"

You feigned panic, as though the cursed energy coming from the hilt had "burned" you, letting go and tossing the long blade straight into Sato's arms outside the doorway.

"Mine! That's mine!"

By then, greed had completely consumed Sato's mind, and all his former vigilance and precautions vanished in that moment.

He even threw away his defensive talisman and lunged forward without any regard for appearances, his hands tracing trembling arcs through the air, terrified that this priceless treasure might fall to the ground and suffer even the slightest chip.

The instant he caught the blade, the blood-blackened wall shattered as though struck by heavy artillery!

The Grade 2 Cursed Spirit Blade-Eater could no longer suppress its craving for highly concentrated cursed energy. In its eyes, Sato, now holding Asagirimaru, was like the most tempting hunk of meat in the dark.

Its barbed muscle tissue smashed straight through the bricks and stone, bringing a blast of foul-smelling wind as it instantly pinned Sato, who had caught the blade, firmly beneath the rubble.

"Aah!! Get off! You disgusting-"

Before Sato could get halfway through his shrill scream, it was swallowed by the sound of sharp teeth tearing through flesh.

You saw the talisman in Sato's hand seem to come alive, becoming a little figure that could move freely, only to be torn apart by the monster in an instant.

You didn't look back at that feast of flesh and blood. The instant you threw the blade, you used the shock wave from the collapsing wall to vault through the window beside the kitchen, moving as lightly as a prowling black cat.

Rain struck your face. Gasping for breath, you reached into your clothes and pulled out the other thing your father had clutched tightly before his death-a flip phone stained with dried blood.

"Bzz, bzz, bzz."

At that moment, the phone vibrated violently.

You wiped the bloody water from your face and pressed the answer button.

An extremely arrogant voice, tinged even with impatience, came through the receiver, as though speaking to some sort of disposable tool.

"Did you get the blade? Bring it over. The clan will give you the 'payment' you deserve. Don't be late. You have no right to keep us waiting."

The call ended without warning.

You stood in the wilderness beneath the torrential rain, listening to the screams gradually weakening inside the house behind you, your gaze terrifyingly deep.

"The Zenin Clan... payment..."

You tugged the corner of your mouth in self-mockery. What was that monster? And what was Sato, who had called himself an Assistant Supervisor? Who was the one telling him to make the trade?

Every question pointed toward the colossus named Zenin. Since reality had already left him with nothing, the only answer lay within that clan.

Even if it was only to demand an explanation, you decided to make the trip.