Curse Reply: After choosing Nawa, the cursed spirit cursed me for being cruel.

Equally jarring, equally...tiring.

I am a sorcerer, a student at a vocational college, and a top-level Xia Youjie.

Exorcising cursed spirits and protecting non-magicians is my innate responsibility, the path I have chosen, and the righteous cause I believe in.

This is how it should be...

But I feel like I've become numb.

When did it start?

It was last summer, the Stellar Essence Guard mission.

At the headquarters of the Panxing Cult, I witnessed firsthand the madness of those non-magician believers...

Then, Duanmu made his move.

As I watched this scene, an indescribable sense of exhilaration welled up inside me.

Seeing those "people" who displayed their ugly side and put their malice into action finally meet their deserved end, I felt a shiver of relief from the depths of my soul.

An idea popped into my head uncontrollably: I also want to... stand over there and clean up this trash with Duanmu.

The moment this thought flashed through my mind, I was startled and broke out in a cold sweat, but that instantaneous resonance felt like a poisonous thorn, deeply embedded in my heart.

Last month's prison mission was just another confirmation of that.

Watching the cursed spirit wreak havoc in the hardened criminal area, listening to the ugly howls and mutual curses of those scum before their deaths, I felt no pity, only a cold observation, and even... a sense of anticipation.

I almost let that cursed spirit clean up the entire area.

In the end, the sorcerer's duty and sense of justice prevailed. I took action, swallowing the now-powerful cursed spirit, and once again swallowing that nauseating taste, as well as the disgusting faces of the survivors afterwards.

Protecting the vulnerable?

But when the weak bare their fangs at the even weaker, who should I protect?

What exactly am I protecting?

Is it a whole that I find increasingly difficult to understand? Or is it an ivory tower I've built for myself, a castle in the air called righteousness?

These questions have no answers, only a growing sense of exhaustion and increasingly jarring noise swirling in my mind.

I... am really tired.

……

"Senior Xia You?"

A vibrant voice pierced the heavy gloom that had enveloped his heart without warning.

Xia Youjie abruptly snapped out of his chaotic and painful thoughts and raised his head in a daze.

Before he knew it, Haibara Yu was already standing in front of him, with a bright, almost silly smile on his face.

"Haibara?" Xia Youjie subconsciously adjusted his expression, trying to make his face look gentle and natural.

“Natsuyu-senpai!” Haibara Yu seemed completely unaware of Natsuyu Jie’s unusual behavior.

He straightened his back and pleaded, "After I return from this mission, could you... test me? See if I've reached the level of a level two mage!"

Chapter 122 Preventing the Darkening, Beginning

"I would like to request that you test whether I possess the strength of a level two mage?"

Xia Youjie was stunned for a moment.

Test? Duanmu just...

"Hasn't Duanmu already tested you? He had a very high opinion of you."

“Senior Duanmu’s test was excellent!” Haibara Yu nodded vigorously, but stared at him with burning eyes.

"However, I also want your approval, Natsuyu-senpai! You, like Gojo-senpai and Duanmu-senpai, are the role models I respect the most and aspire to emulate! So... I'm begging you!"

The boy's eyes were crystal clear, without a trace of impurity, filled only with undisguised admiration.

In that instant, Xia Youjie felt as if his heart had been gently bumped by something.

A warm pebble was thrown into the numb and cold lake of my heart, creating a circle of subtle yet clear ripples.

This is what it means...

...This is what I want to protect.

The weariness and emptiness that almost consumed him were strangely dispelled at this moment by Haibara Yu's simple and direct request.

Xia Youjie nodded and said gently, "Okay, I'll test it myself when you get back from your mission."

"That's great! Thank you, Natsuyu-senpai!" Haibara Yu was so happy he almost jumped for joy, his smile becoming even brighter.

Seeing his juniors so happy, Xia Youjie felt a little more at ease.

He asked casually, "What's the mission this time? Are you working with Nanami?"

"Yes!" Haibara Yu nodded vigorously, answering with great enthusiasm, "This mission is to eliminate a level two cursed spirit called 'Land God'! The location is in a remote village! Nanami and I are going together! We'll definitely complete the mission perfectly!"

A local deity? A level-two cursed spirit? A remote rural village?

A very routine task.

Xia Youjie was relieved. With Haibara and Nanami's current strength and teamwork, a level two cursed spirit shouldn't pose too much of a problem if they handled it carefully.

He smiled and encouraged them, "Okay, keep it up, be careful, and stay in touch. I and everyone else are waiting for you to come back at the college."

"Yes! We're off!"

Haibara Yu gave a spirited salute, then turned and ran towards Nanami Kento, who was checking his equipment and looking displeased not far away, shouting as he ran, "Nanami! Natsume-senpai agreed to let me test it! Let's hurry up and set off, and come back as soon as possible after completing the mission!"

Xia Youjie stood there, watching the two younger men leave with great enthusiasm, until they disappeared at the end of the tree-lined path.

He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

The sweltering summer is still long, and the road ahead is still long. Perhaps... he should learn from Jiujiu and give himself some time to rest.

……

At the fork in the tree-lined path, Haibara Yu and Nanami Kento had just said goodbye to Natsumi Yuuki and were about to head to the school gate to meet the assistant supervisor when they saw a familiar figure walking towards them.

It's Duanmu Yan.

"Senior Duanmu!" Haibara Yu's eyes lit up, and he immediately waved to greet him. Nanami Kento also stopped and nodded to Duanmu Yan.

"I was just looking for you." Duanmu Yan walked up to the two men, his gaze lingering on Qi Haijian for a moment, before he pulled out a finely crafted hard card from his pocket and handed it over.

The card clearly states at the top: Level 2 Sorcerer.

Below is the name: Nanami Kento.

The document was issued recently and is signed by the Tokyo Jujutsu Higher Specialized School and its supervising department.

The moment Nanami Kento saw the contents of the card, the displeased expression on his face quickly disappeared.

He accepted the card with both hands, his movements meticulous, then bowed slightly to Duanmu Yan, his tone filled with obvious respect: "Thank you very much, Senior Duanmu."

This is not just a certificate, but a formal recognition of his hard work and abilities over this period of time. Moreover, it was personally delivered by the most reliable senior in his heart, which makes it all the more meaningful.

Duanmu Yan waved his hand, "No need to thank me. You've worked hard enough and your skills have reached the standard. I just happened to be passing by when I picked it up."

He paused, looked at Haibara Yu who was standing next to him with envy and happiness for his companion, and explained, "Haibara, I know you've been holding back, wanting Jet to apply for it for you, so I didn't help you with it this time. You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not!" Haibara Yu immediately shook his head, his face beaming with a bright smile, showing no resentment whatsoever. Instead, he clenched his fist, his eyes burning with determination. "I've already passed Senior Duanmu's test! Next, I will definitely pass Senior Xiayou's test and then rightfully obtain the Level 2 certification! I'm confident!"

“It’s good to have confidence.” Duanmu Yan nodded to him, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes, and reminded him, “However, Jie’s test… may not be as simple as it was for me, just to make you sweat a little and collapse from exhaustion. Be prepared.”

"Yes! I understand!" Haibara Yu straightened his chest and answered loudly, not intimidated at all, but instead his fighting spirit was even higher.

Looking at the energetic junior in front of him, Duanmu Yan sighed inwardly: What a good kid! With him around, the college seems a bit brighter.

Then, he chuckled self-deprecatingly and muttered to himself, "Why am I saying this... as if I'm some kind of mature old man. I'm only a little bit older than you guys."

"Speaking of which, just a few months ago, it was Teacher Moth who gave me the certificate. I never imagined that in the blink of an eye, it would be my turn to give certificates to others. Time really flies."

He shook his head, dismissing the minor sentiment, and turned his gaze back to the two men who were fully equipped and ready to go. He asked, "Judging from your full gear, are you going on a mission?"

“Yes, Senior Duanmu!” Haibara Yu replied immediately, his tone excited. “This time, Nanami and I were directly handpicked by the higher-ups to be in charge of eliminating a level-two cursed spirit! The target is a cursed spirit called the Earth God, located in a relatively remote rural area! We’ll be able to handle it quickly!”

"Earth God"?

The moment those three words reached his ears, the smile on Duanmu Yan's face vanished instantly.

That's it! This is the mission! In the original work, due to a serious misjudgment of the information from the window, a cursed spirit whose actual level could reach level one was incorrectly assessed as level two!

This led to the two encountering a far stronger enemy than expected during the mission. It was during that mission that Yu Haibara was seriously injured and died due to incorrect intelligence and the difference in strength.

His death became the final straw that broke Xia Youjie's mental defenses, greatly accelerating the complete collapse of Xia Youjie's ideals and his subsequent descent into darkness!

He has spent a lot of time personally guiding Haibara and Nanami over the past few months, and even gave them the Cursed Spirit Detector. Isn't it all to improve their strength, increase their chances of survival, and try to avoid such a tragedy from happening?

No! We absolutely cannot let them go alone!

Chapter 123 The Earth God? That's a bit tricky.

Duanmu Yan calmed down, but a hint of seriousness appeared in the depths of his eyes. He looked at Huiyuan Xiong, "Land God? If this kind of cursed spirit with specific regional beliefs and legends is only assessed as level two... I'm afraid it's not that simple."

“I’ve encountered similar cursed spirits before. Some cursed spirits are very cunning and will deliberately conceal their aura, causing the window’s initial detection to be inaccurate. On the surface, they may only appear to be level two or even level three, but once you get close to them, their true strength will be unleashed, possibly instantly jumping to level one or even higher.”

Seeing Haibara Yu and Nanami Kento's serious expressions, he continued, "Moreover, these cursed spirits, which are bound to local beliefs and legends, often have unique abilities and attack patterns that are difficult to deal with. The environment in remote rural areas is also complex, and if something unexpected happens, it will be difficult for support to arrive in time."

He finally revealed his decision, as if it were a spur-of-the-moment thing: "Perfect timing, I don't have any urgent plans this afternoon. How about I go with you all?"

"Firstly, we want to see firsthand how much your teamwork and adaptability have improved during this period. Secondly, it's also good practice. If that local deity really does something strange, having me here will allow us to handle it promptly, what do you think?"

After listening to Duanmu Yan's words, Haibara Yu and Nanami Kento exchanged a glance.

Duanmu's words immediately made them realize the potential risks of the mission, and their expressions became much more serious. However, there was no fear in their eyes. On the contrary, they became more at ease and... subtly excited because Duanmu Yan offered to accompany them.

With a top-level senior personally overseeing things, what mission can't be accomplished?

Haibara Yu: "Really? Senior Duanmu is coming with us? That's great! With him around, this mission is guaranteed to be a success! We'll definitely perform even better!"

Nanami Kento adjusted his glasses, a hint of relaxation and anticipation showing on his usually calm face. He bowed deeply to Duanmu Yan and said, "Thank you very much, Senior Duanmu. It is our honor to have the opportunity to carry out a mission under your guidance. We will do our best and will not let you down."

Looking at the two of them, Duanmu Yan felt a little less heavy-hearted, but his vigilance remained undiminished.