Human desires perpetually expand, and perhaps the initial intentions were good, but as time passes, these intentions naturally begin to sour.

Even if some people manage to remain true to their original hearts, never forgetting, the world never lacks for villains.

At first, people's prayers were rather simple; they merely sought the safe delivery of children or the repair of wells, among other modest wishes. But... from a certain day... or maybe starting from a certain person... prayers began to mix with impure thoughts.

They hoped that their romantic rivals would die in some cruel manner.

They hoped that the elder relatives who burdened them and made them suffer would pass away soon.

They hoped that those they had land disputes with would die quickly...

"This sounds like artifacts that have been corrupted by evil thoughts."

The voice of Magong Yongshi came from the Shinra Bell.

She had been inside the Shinra Bell all the while, listening to the narrative of Shen Gu Mirai, and only when Mirai had almost finished did she speak up.

Beichuan Si was quick to react,

"Artifacts... Yongshi, are you saying that the box of calamity and the Mouchi Witch's Certificate around Mirai's neck are similar kinds of artifacts?"

"No, fundamentally speaking, the Mouchi Witch's Certificate in Miss Mirai's hands is actually a more perfected 'artifact,' just as I had described artifacts before—"

"Witches or priests, monks and the like, they seal their experiences and memories as well as their goodwill into their cherished personal belongings when they are close to death, in order to pass on their legacy, this is what we call an artifact."

As she said this, Magong Yongshi's voice paused, then continued: "This type of artifact leans more towards being 'objects'; it does not respond to anyone's prayers. Once the goodwill and memories are extracted, it loses its original function."

"So you mean to say that the box of calamity and Mouchi Witch's Certificate are different, belonging to another type of artifact?" Shen Gu Mirai thought for a moment and then responded with a question.

"Just as you are picturing."

Magong Yongshi did not beat around the bush on this matter; she straightforwardly replied: "Apart from the type of artifacts like the Mouchi Witch's Certificate which tend more towards 'objects,' there is another kind of artifact... Before dying, a person abandons their memories, experiences, and common sense, leaving only their own desires."

"To wish for the family's resurgence, wanting one's daughter or son to live better after one's death... There's nothing wrong with these thoughts, but because this kind of artifact is mechanical in nature, it is also easily exploited by those with ulterior motives. That's why I say it is flawed."

Hearing Magong Yongshi describe it so vividly, both Beichuan Si and Shen Gu Mirai understood the essence of the box of calamity.

The so-called box of calamity is essentially an artifact tainted by malevolent thoughts.

What's inside has no consciousness; it contains only pure malice.

"But even so, after accumulating over such a long time, the negative energy in the box of calamity must be quite tremendous; otherwise, it wouldn't be able to kill people so easily."

Magong Yongshi sighed.

If that young woman knew that the token she left on this land was being used in such a way, she would probably be filled with immense regret, wouldn't she?

This is indeed doing a bad deed with a good intention.

"But regardless of whether the box of calamity was originally for blessings or something else, now it has become simply a tool for cursing others to death... then the answer becomes relatively simple."

Beichuan Si did not allow himself to get caught up in girlish sentiments like Magong Yongshi.

For him, right was right, and wrong required resolution.

"That's right." Magong Yongshi cast her thoughts aside.

For them, what needed to be done next was already quite clear.

That was to find the box of calamity, and cleanse it of all the malevolent energy...

Beichuan Si and Shen Gu Mirai exchanged glances, having a vague idea of who the person who had taken the box of calamity might be.

...

Nighttime.

Inuzuka Youka leaned against the balcony, feeling the evening breeze.

It was nearing summer, but Yamanashi Prefecture was not as agitated and hot as Tokyo.

In the cool wind of the night, fresh from a bath, Inuzuka Youka felt somewhat refreshed.

She turned her head to look.

Behind her was a room with neatly arranged furniture.

The floor of the room shone from cleaning.

No one had moved the books on the bookshelf.

It felt as though someone was still living here.

This was the room of Inuzuka Youka's older brother, Inuzuka Shintaro.

Since her brother's death, after she bathed, she often went into his room to stand on the balcony and catch the cool breeze.

"Shintaro..." Inuzuka Youka stiffly murmured her brother's name.

Looking at the clean and tidy room.

Inuzuka Youka took a deep breath and lay flat on the floor of the room.

The white ceiling came into view.

Was this the last scene her brother saw when he died?

Inuzuka Youka pressed herself tightly against the floor, seemingly trying to draw the warmth of her deceased brother from the wooden floor.

But that too was in vain.

Her brother was dead.

Dead right in front of her.

Her father... and her mother... both cried so hard... until now.

It was really—

At this thought, the body of Inuzuka Youka lying on the floor couldn't help but curl up in pain.

She reached out a hand, covering her mouth, her facial expression twisted in discomfort.

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