At this point, Miko felt the world spinning around her.
She blinked hard and said weakly, "Hana, I'm going to release Lord Akuto. You..."
Miko shot Yuria a covert glance, silently asking Hana to keep Yuria safe.
Hana gave no sign whether she understood and offered no reply.
Miko had no time to stall; when she opened her eyes again, her body was already covered in cursed runes.
"I'm not your personal doctor, Miko—this is your only warning."
Akuto activated the Reverse Cursed Technique; his arm writhed, visibly regenerating before their eyes.
Both Hana and Marin had met Akuto before. Though Marin didn't know him well, she could tell that Miko in this state was formidable.
Yuria, however, was paralyzed with terror.
Akuto's gaze swept across the three girls and settled on Yuria.
"Hey, idiot."
"Didn't you say you wanted to see Cursed Spirits? Then look at your fill."
"Miko, you fool—I told you to stay away from her, and you forgot."
Miko froze.
Then she suddenly remembered: Akuto had indeed said that.
"Keep away from that nut in your school who claims she can see spirits—that moron will get you killed."
It had been right after Miko and Akuto struck their deal.
Before Miko could react, she saw Akuto stride forward, grab Yuria by the collar, and drag her toward the barrier.
"Hana, what are you doing? Stop him!"
Miko had already tipped Hana off.
She knew Akuto too well—once freed, he wouldn't spare Yuria.
Though Miko disliked Yuria, she didn't think the girl deserved to die.
"Let go of me! What do you think you're doing?"
Seeing Akuto approach the barrier, Yuria panicked.
Beyond it lay blood, severed limbs, and shredded flesh.
"You love spirits, right? Dream of becoming a great Exorcist."
"With your ridiculous experience, spotting a few 4th-grade cursed spirits convinced you you're gifted."
"I'm simply granting your wish—letting you meet real ones."
With that, Akuto hurled Yuria into the barrier.
Clank...
Chains rattled as Yuria's eyes widened in horror.
"Ahh!!"
The shrill scream made Akuto plug an ear.
Nearby, Hana watched Yuria with a conflicted face.
She had caught Miko's signal, yet hesitated when it mattered.
Was Yuria worth saving?
Time and again she had lured Miko into danger, clinging to her endlessly.
Hana admitted her own selfish desire: for an instant, she wanted Yuria dead.
But regret flooded her now.
It was too late—Yuria had already been thrown in.
"Oi, kid, how are the cursed spirits—pretty, huh?"
Hands in pockets, Akuto smirked at the girl, soiling herself in terror.
"Hmm?" He frowned at the cursed spirit. "Not eating? Staring at me?"
Finding it amusing, he strolled through the barrier.
"Hey, looks like you can communicate."
The cursed spirit recoiled two steps and roared at him.
"Roar!"
Akuto stretched lazily.
"Then let's play—after I clear the field."
With a whip-kick he sent Yuria flying out of the barrier; she crashed against the mountain wall and lay unconscious.
Just then, the six-headed monster emerged from the tunnel.
Right before Akuto, it disgorged a swarm of spirits.
The spider spirit wolfed them down without hesitation, its body growing ever more solid.
Suddenly Akuto's eyes lit up.
A cascade of doubts resolved in his mind.
"So that's it, that's it."
"A brilliant scheme—downright genius!"
He watched the grisly scene with open admiration.
"Lord Akuto, did you discover something?"
Miko fought down her nausea and asked.
"The truth of the barrier."
Akuto glanced at the mountain. "This so-called barrier is a method our predecessors devised to manage cursed spirits."
"They raise weak, non-aggressive spirits, seal them here, and keep cultivating them."
"Once a spirit grows strong, it craves even more power and devours others."
"A cycle forms: the mightiest sealed spirit must feed on the rest, yet cannot leave the seal.
"So it subjugates lesser spirits, sending them to capture worldly ones."
"Its underlings can't surpass its own strength—within what the Exorcism Society can handle—preventing bigger disasters."
He smiled as he spoke.
"In the end, this place becomes a true 'Other Side.'"
"By this method humanity curbs both the numbers and power of roaming spirits, using spirits to check spirits."
"A spirit's strength can't rise indefinitely; there's always a ceiling. Once reached, devouring others merely maintains it."
"Even knowing it's a trap, the spirits can't resist—and even enjoy it."
"Sanko Valley Shrine, This tunnel—there must be dozens, maybe hundreds of such sites across Japan."
"They're ticking time bombs that could blow the country apart, but if controlled, they're harmless."
"Sacrifice a few offerings to keep decades of peace—a design worthy of genius." Miko was startled by his deduction.
Amazed at his bold theory, she still had a question. "Lord Akuto, why do you think the cursed spirits enjoy it?"
He pointed at the spirit feasting in front of them. "Unlike Sanko Valley Shrine, the seal here is weak."
"If that thing wanted out, it wouldn't be hard."
"Heh-heh-heh..."
Having swallowed the last spirit, the spider creature laughed, "Smart human."
"But that only makes me crave your flavor—sweet, I bet..."
"Eating you will make me stronger! Come, let us merge—hahaha..."
"Looks like talking is off the table."
Akuto grinned; in a flash he was beside the spider, kicking it away. As it flew he closed in, raising index and middle fingers.
"Dismantle!"
"Screech—"
"Arghh!!"
A thunderous roar shook the mountain.
The battle raged for ten-odd minutes, followed by ten minutes of silence. Just as Hana and Marin gathered the courage to peek inside, Akuto emerged.
His clothes are slightly dusty.
"Lord Akuto!"
Hana hurried up—her first time speaking to him, a bit shy.
"Is the spirit dealt with?"
"No. Stay away from this place from now on."
He took out his phone and dialed.
"This tunnel has two dead bodies—come clean up."
Then came a long wait.
Marin glanced at Akuto several times, wanting to speak but never daring, finally snapping a side-profile photo of him with her phone.
Only then did the Exorcism Society arrive.
Seeing the wreckage, a squad leader rushed over and bowed ninety degrees.
"Lord Akuto, could you brief us on what happened?"
"Ask them."
Akuto turned away impatiently.
Hana and Marin chatted about the whole story.
When the agents heard that Yuria had lured spirits to school and tricked classmates into coming here, their faces darkened.
—
T/N: I have to admit while translating this, I hated the way the author wrote about Yuria, she may be immature and naive, but she doesn't really deserve this treatment. It's simply undeserved. The author must have a beef with this character.