"Mission complete."
Sensing the fading traces of cursed energy, Toji slid his katana back into the Inventory Curse's mouth, letting the creature shrink down before tucking it into his pocket.
Following routine, he pulled out his phone to take a photo of the dead target as proof for their employer. But when the light cleared, and he saw the two figures embracing with peaceful smiles, the usual satisfaction of a finished job never came.
A single word could drive people to madness, binding souls tighter than death itself.
In this world, there was no curse more twisted than love.
"Well, I guess we did a good deed this time," Toji said lightly, putting the phone back. "Twenty million yen and a special-grade cursed tool for letting them rest in peace."
Mukuro, meanwhile, had wandered over to the kitchen counter. Despite how worn and broken the house was, with furniture and appliances from more than a decade ago, he was surprised to see the old stove still working when he turned the knob.
"That guy probably used to cook here often," he commented. "This place... feels warmer than that dump we used to live in."
"Let's go." Toji just spun the Inverted Spear of Heaven in his hand and headed for the door.
Wherever it was, even a filthy, bloodstained place like this must have felt like home to the man who lived here.
Mukuro ripped off a piece of a dusty curtain and threw it on the stove. The fabric caught fire immediately, flames crawling up the wall as he turned to follow his brother.
When the two stepped outside the house, a growing blaze roared behind them.
"You know," Toji said as they walked toward the car, playing with the weapon in his hand, "this thing suits me perfectly, don't you think?"
Speed, strength, and resistance to cursed energy; he already surpassed most sorcerers in every way, except when facing certain special techniques. But now, with the Inverted Spear of Heaven in his possession, that flaw was gone.
He was complete.
"It does," Mukuro casually responded with his hands clasped behind his head.
Toji grinned, unlocking the car. "Oh, right. Onshin said I should message her before heading back…"
He got into the driver's seat and took out his phone. A new unread message flashed on the screen. As he opened it, his expression darkened.
"What happened?" Mukuro asked.
"Onshin was invited to the Zenin estate… by the woman who gave birth to you."
The relaxed air between them instantly turned heavy. Neither of them had any fondness for Mukuro's "mother."
"Then let's go get her. Don't let her stay around those trash for too long."
The reason they had moved away from the Zenin clan wasn't just because the place itself was a rotten pit, but more importantly, they didn't want Onshin exposed to those people.
Toji didn't respond. He simply pressed harder on the accelerator. The car roared down the road.
* * *
"Filthy bastards…"
A few kilometers away from the estate, Mukuro suddenly snapped awake from his light nap in the back seat. His face lost its calmness, replaced by tension and rage.
"What's wrong?" Toji questioned, already feeling a sense of dread.
"The charm I gave Onshin broke."
In Mukuro's right eye, the number "6" pulsed wildly.
* * *
An hour earlier.
Toji's home.
"Look, it's Grandpa!"
In the spacious villa, Ryu was making funny faces at the baby in the crib.
"Hehehe!"
The baby's soft laughter filled the room like a chime, bringing a wide grin to the middle-aged man's face.
Ever since his grandson was born, he'd found any excuse to visit. If he weren't worried about bothering his daughter's family, he might've moved his shop closer just to see them every day.
"Dad, I'll leave Megumi with you, okay? Toji and Mukuro must be exhausted from this morning's job. I'm going to buy something nice to cook for them tonight!" Onshin slung a small bag over her shoulder and entrusted the baby's duty.
"No problem! Leave him to me. Buy plenty of meat and organs. Those two they love that stuff. Grandpa's cooking tonight!"
Even as he confidently accepted the task, his eyes never left the crib. He couldn't get enough of the baby's angelic smile.
Watching her father act like such a goof, Onshin could only shake her head helplessly before getting into her small car and driving off.
* * *
"The weather's really nice today. I hope the two of them are having a smooth day too."
Her car stopped in front of a large market. Narrowing her eyes against the bright sunlight, she looked up at the sky. She knew what kind of dangerous work her two family members did. It would be a lie to say she wasn't worried, but she trusted them completely.
"Onshin Zenin, right?"
Just as she was about to walk inside, a woman in her thirties called her name.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but I don't think we know each other?" Onshin tried to recall if she had ever seen this person before but came up blank. Her tone was cautious.
"My name is Sai Zenin. I'm Mukuro's mother. Would you come to the Zenin estate for a chat? Their father would like to meet you," the woman answered calmly and even handed over a business card.
"Mukuro's mother? Then that means…"
Onshin froze. She had known Mukuro and his brother for years, yet neither had ever mentioned their parents. She had assumed, especially after hearing what Naobito said, that their parents were either dead or had long left the clan.
Now that the chance to learn the truth stood right before her, she couldn't ignore it. Maybe, just maybe, she could help mend the rift between them. After all, parents and children shouldn't hate each other so deeply.
After sending a message to Toji, she followed the woman's car in her own, heading toward the Zenin estate.
When they arrived, she was led into a dusty old room, the one that once belonged to the brothers.
"So this is where they lived…" she murmured.
Dust covered every surface, the air thick with neglect. It was clear no one had cleaned the place since the brothers left. Looking at the empty room, she remembered how they had left with almost nothing. A heavy feeling sank into her chest.
She understood why the brothers disliked this place so much.
It didn't feel like a home at all.
From the time she arrived, she had greeted everyone she met with politeness. Yet no one acknowledged her. All she saw in their eyes was disdain and disgust.
Even the woman who had called herself Mukuro's mother had only led her here and left without another word. Every look from her had carried a cold, unpleasant edge.
"So, you're that useless man's wife?"
After waiting nearly ten minutes, the woman finally returned, walking a few steps behind a tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man.
The moment the man entered the room, he spoke words that made Onshin's heart tighten in discomfort.
**
**
**
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:
P@treon/SilverShark769
Vote with Power Stones for Bonus Chapters!
Your support means a lot, thank you!