Curse Return: Demon Void Girl Doesn't Want to Be a Weakling

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the park in gold, and it also fell upon the figure passing by.

Seven Seas built people.

His name flashed through Mashiro's mind; she had finally seen him alive.

Nanami Kento stopped at the park entrance, looked around, and then his gaze settled on the girl who was picking up trash.

Mashiro stopped what she was doing and calmly met the other's gaze. Akame's emotions were not readily apparent in the shadow of her hat.

Nanami Kento moved again, walking towards Mashiro.

He pushed up his round-framed glasses on the bridge of his nose, his gaze behind the lenses calmly scrutinizing Mashiro.

A strange roulette wheel overhead.

An arm wrapped in brand-new bandages, dark bloodstains and tears on a tracksuit, a sports backpack casually placed on a bench, covered in dust and suspicious dark stains, and a weapon at the waist that was still easily recognizable even though it was covered by a coat.

His gaze lingered on the weapon for half a second before returning to Shiro's face, which was covered in blood and dust. Her silver hair, slightly disheveled, peeked out from under her hat brim, and her bright red eyes were staring at him intently.

An unusual underage girl, covered in wounds, carrying weapons, and alone in the park.

Any adult with common sense would find this strange, but Nanami Kento clearly has a lot of common sense, and his common sense includes curse power, curse spirits, and sorcerers.

He didn't approach any closer, but stood a little distance away and greeted her calmly, "Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon," Mashiro replied, her voice a little dry from eating. She casually unscrewed the water bottle next to her and took a sip.

"You're injured," Nanami stated, her gaze lingering on the bandage on her arm. Her tone was slightly gentler than before. "Do you need help? There are medical facilities nearby that I can contact, or if you need, I can take you to the medical clinic at the vocational high school; the treatment there is more professional."

"No need." Mashiro put down the water bottle, shook her head, and the movement aggravated the injury on her back, causing her to purse her lips almost imperceptibly.

"It's a superficial wound, it's been treated. The vocational high school is too far, and..." She glanced at Nanami meaningfully, "Going there like this might cause unnecessary misunderstandings and trouble, right, Mr. Nanami Kento?"

He called out the name directly.

"You know me?" Nanami's eyes narrowed, and the temperature in his voice dropped two degrees.

He quickly sifted through various possibilities in his mind: Was she a child of a sorcerer family? A high-ranking member? Or something more complicated?

"A highly skilled sorcerer, level one, known for his meticulousness and reliability." Mashiro stated the information about him in a calm tone. "I've heard of him. Your features are very distinctive: blond hair, glasses, a suit, impeccable, and easy to recognize."

Nanami Kento remained silent for a moment. Although he felt he wasn't famous enough for even children to recognize him, he still chose to skip the topic.

"The wounds on your body," his gaze swept over Mashiro's arms and weapons, "were they from fighting the cursed spirits?"

"Yes," Mashiro answered readily. "The three level-two monsters have already been exorcised in that apartment building to be demolished to the north."

Nanami frowned slightly. Three level two beings—judging from the child's reaction to the cursed power, that seemed unlikely.

"You solved it all by yourself?"

"Otherwise what?" Mashiro tilted her head, the cute gesture looking somewhat eerie on her injured face. "There, it's just me and them."

Nanami was silent for a few seconds, looking into Mashiro's eyes.

There was no sign of lying, at least not regarding the combat. But three level two monsters—for her level, that was hard to believe.

This child either possesses an extremely special technique or has combat talent far exceeding that of ordinary people.

Or perhaps, both.

"What's your name?" Nanami asked.

"Kujo Mashiro."

"age?"

"Twelve," Mashiro said without changing his expression, stating the body's age.

"Where are your family members?"

"That's all." Mashiro's tone was flat, as if she were talking about someone else. "I am the last member of the Kujo family. The family is long gone, and I live alone now."

The Kujo family.

Nanami searched her memory for the surname, a fallen family of sorcerers. There seemed to be a record of it, but it had fallen into decline at least several decades ago.

If what she said is true, then the child's situation is even more complicated.

They are of ancient sorcerer blood, with appearances different from ordinary people. They live alone and have to hunt cursed spirits to make a living.

The overly blunt description of her predicament silenced Nanami. Such an undisguised, even self-righteous, attitude was rare among the people he had met. Especially since she was just a child.

"You just said you live alone," Nanami adjusted her glasses, her gaze behind the lenses becoming serious, "Are you short of money right now?"

"Yes, I'm short." Mashiro nodded without hesitation, patting his empty tracksuit pocket. "I still don't have money for tonight's accommodation, and I'm far from having enough for the fare to Sendai. So if you have a suitable job at a reasonable price, I can take it. Those three level-twos just now proved my capabilities."

"Sendai?" He repeated the name, but didn't pay much attention to it.

"Well, it's a personal matter." Mashiro didn't elaborate. She looked at Nanami, a glint of light flashing in her crimson eyes. "But, since we've run into Mr. Nanami by such a coincidence... are you on a mission around here? Did you spot a cursed spirit at the window? Level one, or special level?"

Her questions were so natural and insightful that she even accurately guessed the mission's level might be quite high, which made Nanami think even more highly of her.

"The report from the window indicates that there is a Level 1 cursed spirit reacting nearby, with obvious characteristics and strong aggression. I'm heading there to confirm." Nanami Kento didn't hide anything; he was very curious about what Mashiro would say once she found out.

"Level 1... Offensive type?" Mashiro's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of eager anticipation flashing deep within her crimson pupils. "That's perfect. Can I come along?"

"Bring you along? That's too dangerous." Nanami's tone was serious. "A level one cursed spirit is no joke; people can die from it, and your injuries haven't healed yet."

"But that's the mindset of the weak." Mashiro took a step closer, her crimson eyes filled with a hint of madness, staring straight into Nanami Kento's eyes.

"If I die now, it means that Kujo Mashiro's fate is sealed."

Her decisiveness reaffirmed to Nanami that this child was definitely extraordinary.

"Keep up." He said no more, turned and walked steadily out of the park.

"The target location is the abandoned shrine to the north. The cursed spirit is suspected to be a 'Fire Monk,' characterized by a combination of intense heat and physical attacks. Your task is to restrain me as much as possible while I launch my main attack, protect yourself, and look for opportunities. If you are too badly injured or unable to hold on, retreat immediately, understand?"

He spoke as he walked, his pace steady and his thoughts clear, as he began to outline his tactics.

"Understood. Restrain, take the hits, find an opportunity, and run if necessary." Mashiro quickly summarized, catching up with him in a relaxed tone as if they were discussing what to have for dinner. "And the reward?"

"...If it does indeed provide effective assistance, 800,000 yen." Qi Hai announced a figure. Although this was already higher than the usual assistance reward for a level one mission, he felt that the girl was worth the price, or rather, she might need the price.

"Deal!" Mashiro's eyes lit up as she gripped the Rainbow Sword at her waist.