[Name of Cursed Tool: Deceptive Phantom Mask]
[Type: Active]
[Function: 1. A horned oni-shaped mask, with two pitch-black horns protruding from its forehead. Its surface is cold and heavy, as if Cursed Energy is sealed within it. When Cursed Energy is channeled into the mask, the perception of anyone nearby who looks at the wearer will be actively distorted.]
[2. Observers will be unable to accurately determine the wearer's height, body shape, voice, gender, or true silhouette. The wearer's visual and auditory identity will feel constantly shifting, creating an inconsistent, vague impression that is difficult to recall even after the encounter has ended.]
[3. Beyond its camouflage function, the mask can also be reinforced with Cursed Energy. When activated, it is capable of withstanding direct physical attacks as well as energy-based assaults to a certain extent, protecting the wearer's head and face.]
[Rules: 1. Once activated, the Deceptive Phantom Mask will function continuously for a full hour. Throughout this duration, the perceptual distortion will remain active without interruption.]
[2. After the duration ends, the mask cannot be used again for a full ten minutes. During this cooldown period, the mask will not respond to any Cursed Energy and will function as nothing more than an ordinary mask.]
With the completion of this mask, all of my preparations were finally finished. Eight Cursed Tools were now under my control, each with its own role and purpose.
This was the day I had been waiting for. When night falls later, I will quietly leave the orphanage, without drawing anyone's attention.
With the eight Cursed Tools I have prepared, I will begin hunting Cursed Spirits in Akiruno City, and face whatever awaits me within the darkness of that city.
...
...
...
Phew… Even though I didn't train my Innate Technique today, at the very least my body had been thoroughly tempered since morning. The exhausting, Saitama-style training forced me to push my physical limits to a reasonable edge, making every muscle scream in protest.
Sweat had been pouring since dawn, soaking my training clothes until they clung heavily to my skin. After that, the Cursed Energy control training in the afternoon drained my concentration even further, demanding constant mental calm with no room for even the slightest lapse.
A lingering heat remained beneath my skin, like embers that had yet to fully fade even after the main fire was extinguished. There was a faint stinging sensation in my joints, a dull pulse in my arms and legs—clear signs that my body had truly worked hard today.
Still, my breathing had returned to a steady rhythm, each inhale and exhale stable and controlled. My heartbeat was calm as well, no longer pounding wildly. My mind was clear enough to think rationally, and that was more than sufficient for a single day of training.
Now, I needed to head back to the orphanage as soon as possible.
I had deliberately chosen not to train my Innate Technique today. Not out of laziness, and certainly not due to carelessness, but because I didn't want to drain my stamina too far.
Every form of training has its price, and I knew exactly when to stop before my body refused to obey. The reason was simple, clear, and non-negotiable.
Tonight, I would be fighting Cursed Spirits.
If I pushed myself too hard during the day, my body might collapse when the real battle began. In this world, even the slightest fatigue could become a fatal opening.
A fraction of a second slower to react, a moment too late in making a decision, and a life could be lost instantly. I had no intention of dying over something as trivial as poor stamina management.
My steps suddenly slowed as my brows knit together.
Up ahead, not too far away, I spotted two small figures that felt strangely familiar. Two little girls were walking side by side along the roadside, their steps slow and unhurried, as if they were following something only they could see.
Their heads were slightly lowered, their hands gripping the hems of their clothes. Their movements were stiff and unnatural.
Their direction veered toward a narrow alley at the side of the road. An alley rarely used by people—tight, dim, and choked with the overlapping shadows of old buildings that loomed close together. Sunlight could barely reach its depths, as if the alley greedily swallowed all traces of brightness.
I recognized them.
Two orphans who lived in the same orphanage as I did. I didn't know their names. I had only been there for a few weeks, so it was only natural that I hadn't memorized every face and name yet. The orphanage housed many children, and not all of them had the chance to truly get to know one another.
But one thing was certain—I had seen them in the orphanage dining hall.
They had been sitting side by side, sharing the same side dish from a small plate placed between them.
I still remembered how one of them pushed the last piece of food toward the other, then gently refused when it was offered back, answering with a small smile. They were children from the orphanage. Children who should have already gone home before the sun set.
So why were they entering that alley?
In the late afternoon like this, when the sun had begun to sink and orange light slipped between the tall buildings, the shadows stretched long and swallowed parts of the street.
The atmosphere was shifting. The once-busy surroundings slowly turned quiet. My wristwatch showed it was nearly five o'clock. There was no reason for two young girls to enter such a narrow, deserted alley—especially without any adult supervision.
A sense of unease immediately spread through my chest, cold and sharp, like invisible fingers slowly tightening around my heart. My instincts screamed in warning, telling me that something was wrong—far too wrong to ignore.
Without hesitation, I quickened my pace and followed them into the alley.
The moment my foot crossed its threshold, the atmosphere changed drastically. The air felt damp and heavy, as if it settled deep inside my lungs.
The stench of rotting trash, stagnant dirty water, and rusted metal mixed together, stabbing at my nose and turning my stomach. The noise from the main street faded away, replaced by a suffocating silence that made my ears ring.
And that was when I saw the sight that made my skin crawl.
The two girls stood perfectly still, stiff like statues. Their eyes were vacant, staring straight ahead without blinking even once. There was no fear, no emotion—only a terrifying emptiness. Their small bodies did not move at all, as if their wills had been forcibly stripped away by something unseen.
Standing in front of them was an old man.
His back was slightly hunched, his posture lacking the firmness of a healthy person. His hair was completely white and thinning, revealing clear signs of balding.
His face was covered in deep wrinkles that looked like cracks in parched earth—harsh lines that seemed to carve not only his age, but something darker as well.
But the most horrifying thing was the smile on his lips.
It was too wide, too satisfied, and utterly inappropriate to be directed at children. The corners of his mouth were lifted stiffly, as though his face had forgotten how to form a natural smile.
There was no warmth, no goodwill—only a disgusting sense of gratification that made my stomach churn. Something rotten lurked behind that smile, something that couldn't be explained with words alone.
On top of that, I could feel it.
Cursed Energy.
Its source was unmistakable—it was coming from the old man. His Cursed Energy pulsed faintly yet revoltingly, like thick slime crawling through the air.
I could sense it clearly, making my pores feel sticky and uncomfortable, as if my senses were being forced into direct contact with something filthy.
------------------------------
[Note: This novel is updated on every even-numbered date]
(Note: Every PS support means a great deal to the continuation and development of the story, and it also serves as a way to unlock Bonus Chapters as a form of appreciation.
For every 100 PS collected, 1 Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 300 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 500 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 1000 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 2000 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked.
In other words, if 100 PS are collected within this week, 1 Bonus Chapter will be released. If the total reaches 300 PS, then 2 Bonus Chapters will be released. If it reaches 500 PS, then 3 Bonus Chapters will be released. If it reaches 1000 PS, then 4 Bonus Chapters will be released. And if it successfully reaches 2000 PS, a total of 5 Bonus Chapters will be released.
Thank you for your support. Every single PS truly helps push this story forward.)
[Note: 30+ latest chapters have been added! For Just $3.50 You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel, Scribblehub and Wattpad by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Pa*treon.com/Andi_Dri]