Chapter 44: Last Gift, How To Use A Cursed Item 101
Taking this Cursed Item was a gamble.
However, I didn’t have a choice to refuse it.
"Give it to me."
"Then, please, take this."
I grabbed the katana.
It was freezing to touch.
The black scabbard and black handle looked simple but majestic, with a red thread tied near the hilt.
The moment I held it, whispers filled my head.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
I winced.
’Yeah, that’s cursed all right.’
I quickly stored it inside my Spatial Inventory, then turned to the clerk.
He handed me the real item I had purchased. A small button.
[Kill Switch]
Like everything else in this store, it had no description.
But I knew what it did.
It killed the user instantly. Using it would count as being killed by the Cursed Spirit, not suicide. It was my exit.
I raised my thumb, ready to press it—
"We Elicoras will look forward to our next meeting, O Worthy One," X’Lhaur said.
I froze.
’Next meeting?’
’Why the hell would you say something so ominous?’
’Just die already.’
Then I pressed the button.
My vision went black.
A moment later, blue screens appeared in front of me.
[You have exorcised the Rank 3 Cursed Spirit, Elicoras Arena.]
[Your World has granted you rewards.]
[Reward: +500,000 Soul Shards; Mind Protection Amulet.]
[You exorcised an Immortal-Class Cursed Spirit on your first engagement.]
[Your World has recognized your potential.]
[You have received the Inherited Class: Exorcist.]
[Class Bonus: +4 Spirit]
[You have resisted a powerful mind corruption. +Spirit 10]
I opened my eyes and found myself lying in my bed. It was way past midnight.
My head throbbed.
A dull pain spread behind my eyes as if someone had struck me with a hammer.
"Lord of Shadows, let me heal you," Yuna said quickly.
She flew down beside me, and a soft white light shone from her palm.
It spread through my body, soothing the pain little by little until it faded completely.
Only then did I look around.
The first thing I checked were my hands.
’Both of them are there.’
A wave of relief passed through me.
"Lord of Shadows..." Yuna’s tone was careful. "Are you planning to go where your father is?"
"...No," I said after a pause. "I don’t even know where he is.
"Besides, since I exorcised the Cursed Spirit, his mental corruption should be gone. Nisha can bring him back safely now, and—"
I stopped, groaning as sharp pain filled my head.
Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
Those words screamed inside my mind.
"Lord of Shadows!" Yuna called out in panic. "It’s the curse from the Cursed Item! The one we brought from the Cursed Spirit’s domain! You need to destroy—"
"I’m fine," I said through heavy breaths, forcing my eyes open.
A faint sound popped in the air.
Something metallic dropped onto the blanket beside me.
It was a silver pendant.
’That must be my reward: the Mind Protection Amulet.’
I reached for it and grabbed it tightly.
Instantly, the voices vanished.
The pain disappeared as if it had never been there.
"Phew." I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
"I was lucky to get this as a reward," I said.
"Your world probably gave it to you on purpose. It must have recognized how hard you worked to exorcise that Cursed Spirit," Yuna said softly.
I let out a small chuckle.
She made it sound like Earth was some kind of kind and caring deity.
But I knew that was far from truth.
’I shouldn’t depend on the world to grant me life-saving relics in dangerous moments.’
’It’s better if I get a Runesmith Class so I can create my relics myself.’
I pushed myself up and sat on the bed.
Two things were clear to me now. Someone was after my father, and I needed to grow stronger fast.
’I have to find who’s targeting him.’
’And I have to be strong enough to stop them, and anyone else who will stand in my way in the future.’
The memory of being knocked out earlier mid-fight because of mana overload was burned in my mind.
I needed more strength, and control.
"Yuna, you said you can get stronger using Soul Shards, right? How does that work?"
"Let me show you."
She raised her hand, and a screen appeared before me.
[Fallen Angel ’Yunael Seraphine Veyra’ has requested to share her Status (Limited).]
[System has granted permission.]
...
Yunael Seraphine Veyra (Fallen Angel of the Goddess of Death)
.
Abilities:
1. Inspect (Rank ???)
2. Enchant (Rank 3, Level 1)
3. Heal (Rank 3, Level 1)
4. Lucky-O-Lucky (Rank 3, Level 1)
.
New Abilities Gacha:
One Spin Cost: 100,000 Soul Shards (Price increases 2x after each spin)
...
I went through her status screen.
’So her real name is Yunael.’
My eyes stopped at one particular ability.
"Yuna, you can use Inspect?"
"Yes, Lord of Shadows," she replied.
I took out the sword X’Lhaur had given me.
The black katana seemed to absorb all light. The red thread tied around its hilt swayed.
It was cursed, and yet, I hadn’t thrown it away.
There were two reasons.
One, cursed items always returned to their owner to haunt them. Throwing it away wouldn’t help.
Two, it was a useful weapon.
"Can you use Inspect on this? I want to know what it can do."
"As you wish," she said and looked at the sword.
A new screen appeared before me.
[Fallen Angel ’Yunael Seraphine Veyra’ has requested to share the result of her Inspect.]
"Yes," I said to the request.
The screen changed.
...
Cursed Item: Keth’Ruun
Rank 1
Narrative: Forged from the core of a dying star. It holds the will and tears of the blacksmith ■ who his lost lover within the ■ labyrinth.
Ability: ???
...
I raised an eyebrow.
"It’s a powerful narrative. Since it says it was forged from a dying star, it can grow very strong if you keep feeding it Soul Shards," Yuna said.
I nodded slowly.
Cursed Items were dangerous, but they could also become powerful tools.
Those with the [Exorcist Class] could form a [Binding Vow] with a Cursed Item, unlocking a special ability.
Feeding it Soul Shards strengthened both the ability and the item’s rank.
Normally, only those who had engaged with one hundred Cursed Spirits, exorcised ten Cursed Spirits, or reached exorcised the first Cursed Spirit they engaged with, could get the Exorcist Class.
The third condition was nearly impossible.
People got the Class by completing one of the first two conditions.
By that time, they would be Rank 3.
I completed third condition, and got the Class when I was only Rank 1.
It was a rare achievement.
"Be careful, Lord of Shadows. Strengthening a Cursed Item also strengthens its curse. The stronger this sword becomes, the harder it’ll try to corrupt your mind."
"I’ll be fine. The Mind Protection Amulet should keep me safe for now."
I glanced at her.
"Use Inspect on the Amulet too."
She nodded. "As you wish, Lord of Shadows."
Her eyes glowed softly as another screen began to form before me.
...
Mind Protection Amulet
Rank 3
Ability: Protects your mind from harmful interferences
...
"Simple but powerful. It’s Rank 3, so it should protect me from the Rank 1 Cursed Item easily."
Yuna stayed beside me, her wings folded.
I looked back at her status screen.
"So, how does your status actually work? You said you could grow stronger faster with Soul Shards, but I want to know the finer details," I said.
...
A/N:
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