Curse Returns: What did the human-shaped wishing machine do wrong this time?

"...What exactly did you do?"

Upon seeing the scene before him, Rime was stunned as if struck by lightning, his feelings beyond words.

Various kinds of meat were piled up like mountains. The smell of raw meat and the aroma of roasted meat were mixed together and swept in by the strong wind. Blood congealed on the ground, forming dark red spots.

Apart from the narrow, overgrown path leading to the back of the mountain, the entire mansion doesn't even have a mountain-shaped wall.

The entire space was overflowing with food, and the spilled portion attracted many uninvited guests. Vultures and crows hovered low in the air, emitting loud cries of satiated hunger, while several wild dogs, seemingly out of nowhere, were happily munching on chicken legs.

"Ice Condensation Spell - Frostnagi"

In a fit of rage, Rimei placed her hand to her lips, and a storm of frost blew from her palm. Large swathes of ice followed the frosty wind, and everything in sight was covered in a snowy white silver.

Before the wild dogs and crows could even scream, they were frozen into ice sculptures by Rime.

Seeing that Lord Sukuna's residence had become like this, Rime really wanted to push open the door to see what Lord Sukuna's room looked like, but she couldn't find the outline of the house anywhere.

Lord Sukuna only went to fight some yokai, and such a huge blunder has already happened in just one day...

Rime's mind went blank for a moment, and she felt dizzy.

"Xiaomei, Nanika brought all the meat from Heian-kyo here!"

Alluka clapped his hands together and said in a very cheerful tone, because his action made the golden bells hanging below his headband jingle crisply.

Nanika prefers to feed on emotions and souls imbued with desire, and her diet differs from that of Sukuna.

When Rime said she wanted the best meat, she didn't quite understand what the definition of "best" was.

She remembered what the adults at the shrine had said about only the food of nobles being the best, so she brought all the foods that broadly met that criterion, hoping that Rimei could choose the food that best suited her brother's taste.

"...Lord Sukuna is only gone for two days, what should we do when he returns?"

Rime murmured a few words, then reached out and pounded his aching chest, unsure how to explain to Lord Sukuna why the house had become like this.

There's not even a place to stand in this space, let alone choose ingredients that suit Lord Sukuna's taste.

"Yes."

Alluka blinked and replied somewhat innocently.

"Let's go to the town below."

Rime wanted to restore the house to its original state, but he knew it was impossible.

The temperature wasn't very low in early winter, so he could use magic to freeze some food. However, freezing such a large quantity of food with magic wouldn't use enough spell power. He didn't even dare to imagine how nauseating the rotten smell would be when Lord Su Nuo returned in two or three days.

Fortunately, Lord Sukuna doesn't have too many requirements for accommodation. What he needs to do now is to find a better house for Lord Sukuna before he returns, so that the lord can live comfortably.

"OK."

Alluka smiled ingratiatingly and followed Rime to the town at the foot of the mountain.

The town's streets were bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of vendors calling out their wares. Every now and then, peddlers would approach passersby with their wares and ask if they needed to buy anything.

These people know that the two-faced spirit Sukuna lives on the surrounding mountains, but since they haven't seen the real Sukuna, they deceive themselves into thinking that the spirit doesn't exist.

Compared to Sukuna's easily recognizable two-faced, four-armed features, Rime and Alluka walked down the street without being recognized by ordinary people. Some vendors even recommended sakura mochi to Rime.

Rime wasn't in the mood for food, but he still casually bought two and gave them to Alluka. He then led Alluka straight to the city lord's mansion. Before he could explain his purpose, the city lord smiled and said that Lord Su Nuo must not have been satisfied with the previous residence, and he would prepare a better place for him.

Rime was very satisfied and took Alluka for a stroll around the town.

This town is very wealthy; it's obvious that the common people are dressed neatly and cleanly, and it's clear that this year's harvest is quite good.

Besides shops selling jewelry and food, there are also some tailor shops on the street.

Thinking of Lord Sukuna's kimono, which was covered in food, Rime decided to go to the shop to order another batch for him.

Just then, Alluka's attention was drawn to a stall selling enamel figurines.

The childlike Alluka and Nanika were very fond of these cute little gadgets.

Rime noticed this and wanted to pay to take everything on the stall with him, but he and Alluka had other things to carry and there wasn't enough room.

He glanced at the stall, which was right across from the clothing store, and said, "Wait a moment, I'll come out after I've agreed on the size with the shopkeeper."

Rime didn't think anyone would be foolish enough to make a move here, and he could get out of there quickly from this distance.

"Xiaomei, you don't need to worry about me."

Alluka raised her eyes and smiled sweetly.

Reassured, Rime turned and went into the clothing shop. Little did he know that no sooner had he left than another person appeared in the spot where he had been.

The scene before me was shrouded in shadow.

Alluka tilted her head slightly and saw a silver-white figure standing in front of her against the light.

"...?"

Under Alluka's puzzled gaze, the newcomer remained silent for a long while before speaking: "I am Tengen. Perhaps you have heard of my name."

Tengen was a woman who looked very young, with long, silvery-white hair cascading messily down the back of her kimono. For some reason, her voice sounded old and strange.

"Daolong told me your name."

Alluka responded softly, her gray-blue eyes sparkling.

"I came here specifically to find you."

Tengen turned his face to the side, his gaze fixed on Alluka's innocent and childlike face.

"The curses of this era are becoming increasingly rampant. Fortunately, I am quite skilled in barrier magic. If my barriers can cover the entire country, many fewer ordinary people will die."

"So... is it okay to force me to do something?"

Tengen looked calmly at Alluka and stated his reasons.

The black-haired boy didn't understand human nature, nor did he understand what so-called barrier magic was.

But he understood that the woman in front of him wanted to make a wish.

So he tilted his head back slightly and slowly opened his arms.

"Tengen, could I have your right pinky finger?"

An invisible contract was established between the two. When Alluka thought that Tengen would agree or refuse him, the woman in front of him simply smiled slightly, and then turned and left without saying anything.

Alluka watched her retreating figure in confusion, wondering what she was up to.