Cursed Spirit Balls and Wagashi

Hearing footsteps outside the door, everyone in the room turned to look, their eyes filled with anticipation. But upon seeing that it was two teenagers, those waiting for rescue looked away in disappointment.

Gojo Satoru, with one hand in his pocket, waved: "Ketsu, Ryu, you're here."

Tsurumi Kawakami responded, glancing at the other people in the room before pausing on the muscular man who had collapsed in the corner. He noticed the knife in the man's hand.

Gojo Satoru noticed his gaze, belatedly realizing what had happened, and began to tell them what had just occurred. He then gestured for the two to look at the imagined vengeful spirit, his tone light and unrestrained.

"Look at this cursed spirit, it's really strange and interesting."

It was only then that Tsurumi Kawakami noticed the imaginary vengeful spirit cornered by Gojo Satoru. Seeing its figure and appearance so similar to an ordinary person, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Are there really cursed spirits like this, or are all imagined vengeful spirits like this?" he asked curiously, staring at the 'Hot Spring Granny'.

A hint of surprise flashed in Xia Youjie's eyes, but the second half of Tsurumi Kawa's words enlightened him. After a few seconds of contemplation, he said, "Imaginary vengeful spirits originate from the fears imagined by humans. These kinds of cursed spirits are probably similar to what we imagine."

Wu Tiao Wu teased the cursed spirit like a cat playing with a mouse. He beckoned to Xia Youjie: "Jie, quickly subdue and absorb it, and see if its spell works."

Xia Youjie's expression changed. Just then, the assistant supervisor came over. Before he could think, he reached out and absorbed it, turning it into a dark, cursed spirit ball.

Tsurumi Kawaru stared wide-eyed in surprise at Xia Youjie's hand as he put it into his pocket, trying to figure out where the cursed spirit had gone.

Xia Youjie pretended not to see his burning gaze. When the assistant supervisor brought Officer Ida in, he thought of the body found in the shower room, paused, and went up to Officer Ida to tell him about it.

Tsurumi Kawaru followed behind him. When he heard Xia Youjie mention the matter, he nodded and then recounted the incident of the burly man wielding a knife when he came in.

"That's the man we just rescued. He was holding a knife and trying to hurt someone, but Wu knocked him unconscious," the black-haired, golden-eyed boy said, pointing to the man being led away.

Officer Itada's expression immediately turned serious. He nodded his thanks to the two men, then walked over to the rescue workers and left with the man who had fainted.

With the cursed spirit dealt with, the mission was considered successfully completed. As they boarded the car for the return trip, before Tsurumi Kawaru could even ask Natsumi Yuuki about the cursed spirit, he heard the assistant supervisor driving in the front seat speaking.

"After the mission is completed, you will need to write a mission report, detailing the situation during the mission, including the level and type of the spirit, the spell used, etc. After submitting the mission report, I will apply for the mission payment for you."

Tsurumi Kawakami: "

He looked over in surprise, somewhat incredulous that he had to write a mission report after a mission. Tsurumi Kawaru, clinging to the back of the front seat, looked at the assistant supervisor who was driving: "Hey, why do we have to write a mission report? Won't we get paid if we don't?"

When it came to the last question, the black-haired, golden-eyed boy looked somewhat conflicted.

Gojo Satoru pulled down his sunglasses, his crystal-clear azure eyes staring unblinkingly at the other person, and chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, why do we still have to write mission reports? I work myself to death to complete the mission, and then I have to write a report when I get back."

The assistant supervisor, under the watchful eye of the six-eyed man, froze, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Gripping the steering wheel, he stared straight ahead, remained silent for a few seconds, then chuckled dryly and said, "Mission reports are something that must be written after each mission, and they need to be submitted for review. This is your first mission, so I can help with the report."

Seeing the assistant supervisor sweating profusely, Gojo Satoru felt a bit bored. He pushed up his sunglasses, leaned back in his chair, and said with some dissatisfaction, "Okay."

Tsurumi Kawakuri, sitting in the back row, looked at them blankly before returning to his seat.

They arrived back at the college at 2 PM and stopped for lunch on the way. As soon as they got out of the car, the supervisor immediately drove off, as if they were being chased by some kind of cursed spirit.

As they entered the ancient and solemn school, Tsurumi Kawaru was still thinking about the cursed spirit ball in Xia Youjie's pocket, following him expectantly, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Xia Youjie's right hand, which was in his pocket.

Tsurumi Kawaru: "Jay, after you subdued the cursed spirit, how did you absorb that small, dark ball? Did you integrate it into your body?"

The black-haired, golden-eyed boy followed closely beside Xia Youjie, his innocent and pure demeanor shining through his downcast puppy-dog eyes as he looked up at people.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Gojo Satoru, who was walking in front, stopped and turned around curiously. He took a few steps forward and stood in front of the two of them, taking advantage of his height to observe them.

"Ah, right. Jie's technique is the Cursed Spirit Manipulation Technique, right? I'm also a little curious." The white-haired boy said this, his eyes already eager to try, and that straightforward gaze made Xia Youjie's scalp tingle.

Surrounded by the two, the black-haired boy with his hair in a bun tensed up. He cleared his throat, took out the unabsorbed cursed spirit orb from his pocket, and looked at it with a hint of hesitation and retreat.

Seeing his expression, Tsurumi Kawakami and Gojo Satoru became even more curious about the Cursed Spirit Manipulation Technique.

The next second, Xia Youjie, with a look of resignation, raised his right hand and put the dark, ominous-looking cursed spirit ball into his mouth.

Tsurumi Kawakami's golden eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Xia Youjie: "Wait—"

Gojo Satoru, standing next to him, raised an eyebrow in surprise, pulled down his sunglasses, and looked at Xia Youjie with his six eyes.

Xia Youjie, who had swallowed the cursed spirit orb, was in a grotesque and painful state. He was clutching his neck and looked like he was about to vomit. The veins on his neck were bulging, showing the pain he was enduring.

Seeing him like this, Tsurumi Kawaru immediately realized what was happening and hurriedly helped him up, placing his right hand on Xia Youjie's back and stroking it gently.

"Jay, how are you?" Tsurumi Kawaru looked at him with concern. "Your technique involves swallowing the cursed spirit like this?"

Knowing that cursed spirits are born from human negative emotions, Tsurumi Nagare could almost imagine that the cursed spirit orbs must taste terrible.

Half a minute later, Xia Youjie finally recovered. His face was pale, his lips were bloodless, and he was frowning deeply, clearly still not used to the taste of the cursed spirit orb.

No, or rather, no matter how many times he tries, he will never get used to the smell of a rag that smells like it has been used to wipe vomit.

Xia Youjie waved to Tsurumi Kawaru and said weakly, "I'm fine. There's nothing I can do about it. It's the only way to absorb nutrients."

Tsurumi Kawaru looked at him with even more sympathy, and there was even a hint of lingering fear in his eyes.

Gojo Satoru adjusted his sunglasses, glanced at Xia Youjie with an inscrutable expression, then suddenly became serious: "Perhaps this limitation can be changed after the spell is developed. However, what does a cursed spirit taste like?"

Xia Youjie's face stiffened, realizing that it would have been better not to offer that word of comfort. He forced a smile and said, "Hehe, would you like to try some?"

Gojo Satoru gave him a very wary look, jumped back, and whispered under Xia Youjie's gaze: "Tsk, I was just saying."

Tsurumi Kawakami blinked, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, and asked Natsumi Yuuki, "What is the 'Hot Spring Granny's' ability?"

Upon hearing his words, Xia Youjie withdrew his gaze from Gojo Satoru, carefully sensed the situation, and then released the imaginary vengeful spirit 'Hot Spring Granny' that had been subdued and absorbed.

The imaginary vengeful spirit, over two meters tall, stood beside Xia Youjie. Her silver hair was neatly coiled behind her head, and she wore a gray kimono. Apart from having four eyes on her face, Granny Wenquan actually had a kind and amiable appearance.

When Tsurumi Kawaru saw the wagashi (Japanese sweets) it was holding, a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes. He glanced at the cursed spirit, then stood on tiptoe to look at the plate it was holding.

"Can I eat this wagashi?" He leaned closer and seemed to smell the unique aroma of the wagashi. He swallowed and turned to Xia Youjie to ask.

Xia Youjie was taken aback by the question, hesitated for a few seconds, and then nodded hesitantly: "I think it's okay."

As he spoke, he reached out and took a piece of wagashi from the plate held by the spirit. The snow-white, soft, and glutinous sweet was small, probably enough to eat in one bite.

Xia Youjie held the snow-white wagashi in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then put it in his mouth. The soft, sweet outer skin and the sandy red bean filling inside were surprisingly delicious, instantly overpowering the disgusting taste in his mouth when he swallowed the cursed spirit ball.

Tsurumi Kawa stared at him for a few seconds, then glanced at the kind-faced onsen granny and reached out to take a wagashi from the plate.

Gojo Satoru hesitated before stepping forward, glancing at the two of them. His six eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, stared coldly at the imagined vengeful spirit before him.

A few seconds later, Gojo Satoru casually looked away, but when he saw Tsurumi Kawa reach out for the second time, he immediately bristled.

He grabbed the last two pieces of wagashi (Japanese sweets) from the plate before stuffing them into his mouth, saying in a slightly muffled voice, "You didn't even leave me a single piece."

Tsurumi Kawakami froze upon hearing this, awkwardly withdrawing his hand. He glanced somewhat guiltily at Gojo Satoru, then turned to Natsuyuu, changing the subject as if to ask, "Is the Onsen Granny's ability to make wagashi (Japanese sweets)?"

As the one who could control it, Xia Youjie knew the hot spring barmaid's abilities best. He swallowed the wagashi in his mouth and suppressed the disgusting taste of the original cursed spirit ball.

Then, he glanced at the old woman at the hot spring with a somewhat strange expression and nodded.

Tsurumi Kawakami's eyes lit up, and his gaze towards the onsen grandmother became fervent: "This ability is great! Doesn't that mean I get to eat wagashi (Japanese sweets) every day?"

Xia Youjie was somewhat amused and exasperated. The Cursed Spirit Granny Hot Spring was a Level 1 Cursed Spirit, but as a Level 1 Cursed Spirit, she didn't seem to have the strength to match her level. Moreover, compared to the hypothetical vengeful spirits born from other ghost stories, the 'Granny Hot Spring' ghost story has only been circulating for seven or eight years.

It's not even a well-known ghost story; it only circulates in Ota Ward and some hot spring hotels.

Xia Youjie gradually frowned, a strong curiosity growing about this imagined vengeful spirit.

Gojo Satoru swallowed the wagashi and immediately noticed Xia Youjie's worry. He reached out and grabbed the other's shoulder, patted him hard, and said arrogantly, "It's okay, Jie. Even if there's a problem, I'm here for you. After all, I'm the strongest in the future!"

Xia Youjie's brow twitched, and he gave Gojo Satoru an elbow strike. He handed the last piece of wagashi on the plate to Tsurumi Kawaru, and then took back the Onsen Granny.

"Don't boast, you still lost to me."

Tsurumi Kawaru, who was standing to the side, happily took the wagashi, put it in his mouth, squinted his eyes happily, and nodded in full agreement.

Gojo Satoru was somewhat displeased upon hearing this. He pursed his lips and quickly caught up with the two.

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The imagined vengeful spirit, the hot spring granny, is a foreshadowing, and her abilities are a personal creation.