"You... You mean to say that Cursed Spirits are trash?"
Kokichi forced himself to speak.
He was truly shaken.
The Mahito's smile was composed: "What's wrong? Isn't it a fact?"
"Or can you name a single benefit Cursed Spirits bring to this world?"
"Of course, if you must stretch it—does reducing the human population count?"
Kokichi was speechless, feeling that the King of Curses before him was incredibly unpredictable.
The Mahito pulled back his smile, his face solemn.
"If one is to achieve growth, the primary task is to recognize oneself."
"If one cannot even acknowledge their own inherent vices, then even growth will surely result in distortion."
"Recognizing errors, correcting errors, and overcoming errors to finally achieve growth—that is what counts as integrity."
"Precisely because I am the King of Curses, I must discard prejudice and look directly at myself."
"Only in this way can I achieve Ascension."
"Ascension...?" Kokichi murmured in a voice as light as a willow leaf.
"Is that your question?" the Mahito asked.
Kokichi snapped back to his senses, and the metal disc gave a sudden jolt.
In fact, he had been ready to end the questioning.
In the Q&A just now, he believed he had obtained all the information he wanted and was prepared to cooperate with the Cursed Spirits.
Although cooperating with Cursed Spirits sounded insane, through the understanding gained in this session, Kokichi had recognized the extraordinary nature of this King of Curses.
Whether it was his rationality, emotions, social nature, or control over his subordinates, it was enough to put Kokichi at ease.
Only the unknown brings prejudice and fear, and the current Lord of Curses could already be viewed by Kokichi as an alternative type of Sorcerer—even more kind and rational than those frenzied Sorcerers.
Thus, it was not surprising that Kokichi was prepared to cooperate with him.
—Until this moment.
He began to not understand, or rather, he became truly interested in the Lord of Curses' thoughts.
He wanted to understand this King of Spirits who harbored the ambition of Ascending to Godhood more deeply.
Kokichi took a deep breath and asked solemnly, "Lord King of Curses, how do you think humans should view Cursed Spirits?"
It wasn't how you view humans; nor was it how Cursed Spirits should treat humans; and it wasn't how humans ought to view Cursed Spirits, but rather—how do you think humans should view Cursed Spirits.
Kenjaku, who had been watching from the side, couldn't help but laugh.
"What a great question."
"Mahito, you'd better answer this well."
"I believe this question will run through your entire life."
"Even after you truly ascend to godhood, this question will still accompany you, forever."
The Mahito nodded slightly.
It was indeed a good question; this question alone was enough to see Kokichi's intelligence.
Now he truly understood why Kenjaku chose to cooperate with Kokichi.
It wasn't just because Kokichi was enticed by the desire for a healthy body, but also because Kokichi indeed possessed the potential to become a core figure in Kenjaku's group.
"Extinction," the Mahito spoke.
"Extinction?" Kokichi was dazed. "You mean... to exterminate Cursed Spirits?"
"Whether you realize it or not, humans are actually a very cruel species," the Mahito said slowly.
"Humans feel pity for stray dogs and cats they encounter because neither can threaten them."
"Thus, humans develop compassion, feeding them, petting them, and even taking them home to raise."
"But Cursed Spirits are different."
"I know many Jujutsu Sorcerer Clans choose to tame certain Cursed Spirits."
"These Cursed Spirits usually possess very special abilities, the most popular undoubtedly being those with spatial storage-like abilities."
"Taming one can greatly increase a Clan's potential."
"For this reason, on any website related to Jujutsu Sorcerers, requests for such Cursed Spirits are posted year-round."
"This might give you an illusion—that it is indeed possible for Cursed Spirits to coexist with humans."
"But the truth is, any human with foresight must reach a realization—the realization that Cursed Spirits must vanish from this world, and the sooner the better."
"Before Cursed Spirits collectively achieve Awakening, completely annihilating them is the most righteous thing to do as a human."
"Because Cursed Spirits will undoubtedly become a Superior Species, more excellent than humans."
"There is no doubt about it."
Kokichi couldn't help himself: "What kind of joke are you telling! On what grounds would Cursed Spirits become a Superior Species to humans!?"
"Because of my appearance, Kokichi-san," the Mahito said unhurriedly.
"You must admit that the mode of existence of a Cursed Spirit is indeed superior to that of a human."
"Humans need metabolism; Cursed Spirits do not."
"Humans become disabled after amputation; Cursed Spirits do not."
"Humans worry about their lifespan; Cursed Spirits are immortal."
"Cursed Spirits are beings of Cursed Energy; they only need this one type of energy, and everything else is unnecessary."
"Humans are a machine both precise and crude, requiring various substances and energy supplements."
"Humans possess sociality, cooperation, and the Legacy of knowledge."
"Before I appeared, Cursed Spirits lacked this ability—but now, I have appeared."
The Mahito said meaningfully, "Anything humans can do, Cursed Spirits can also do; things humans cannot do, Cursed Spirits can also do; and even things humans crave are merely basic abilities for Cursed Spirits."
"I ask you, on what grounds can Cursed Spirits not become the Superior Species to humans?"
Kokichi was speechless.
He felt a wave of terror as possibilities he had never considered flashed through his mind.
Compared to Cursed Spirits, what were the advantages of humans?
If it were before, he would have said humans have a mature social nature, a clear Legacy, and never-ceasing civilizational development... but now, he couldn't say it.
Because the Intelligent Cursed Spirit before him was right there, talking eloquently with him, and he couldn't even manage a rebuttal.
The corners of the Mahito's mouth curled up as he reached out and gently touched the metal disc, as if a master were stroking a cat or dog.
"It seems you've realized it."
"Current Cursed Spirits are not yet there, because most are like unevolved humans—monkeys, beasts, low-intelligence creatures."
"Even categorizing them as parasites, incombustible waste, or even more insulting terms is fine."
"But my appearance has allowed you to see new possibilities for Cursed Spirits."
"Not appearing as a 'curse', but as a race."
"I ask you, Kokichi-san—facing such an existence, as a human, would you have any thought other than total extermination?"
"If you do, then it is either ignorance or arrogance."
"It is the same ignorance and arrogance of a merchant who would sell the very rope used to hang him."
"Unfortunately, I cannot deny that such people exist."
The Mahito couldn't help but chuckle as he reached this point.
Kokichi began to gasp for breath as a sense of suffocation unwittingly enveloped him.
Not as an individual, but as a member of the human race, he felt terror at the future the Mahito described.
A murderous intent surfaced in his heart—
—Kill him.
No matter what, he had to kill him.
It had nothing to do with morality, nothing to do with profit, and not even anything to do with fear.
It was a mission, a sacred mission urging him to kill the Mahito, even at the cost of his own life.
He imagined a future where the Mahito did not exist, hoping to find some solace, but there was none.
The boundless fear did not leave him; instead, it grew deeper.
Precisely because Kokichi possessed an excellent brain, he could calculate that lightless future at the fastest speed.
Even if he really killed the Mahito, only despair would remain in the future.
Why?
Because the Mahito was not unique.
Besides the Mahito, Jogo, Hanami, and Dagon were also Intelligent Cursed Spirits.
They could play the same role as the Mahito.
In fact, if it was true that the Mahito had only been born for less than two months, it proved that Jogo, Hanami, and Dagon were born earlier than him.
Before the Mahito, Intelligent Cursed Spirits had already been born, and after them, there would only be more and more.
As long as Cursed Spirits do not fundamentally disappear, they will sooner or later form a race sufficient to impact human society.
Finally, just as modern humans replaced Homo sapiens, Cursed Spirits will replace humans as the new masters of this planet.
—Unsolvable.
"What exactly do you want to do, King of Curses!"