In Japan, the most renowned onmyoji gathered in Kansai's Oni.
Among them, the top figure was Miyamoto, the leader who commanded the Oni.
He hadn't always stood out from the beginning.
Born into a prestigious onmyoji family, Miyamoto's abilities fell short of expectations.
But why, then?
When the Awakening Era arrived, the system bestowed upon Miyamoto a curse power stronger than anyone else's.
From a skill level that wasn't even entry-level, he suddenly gained the strength to claim the position of Oni's leader.
"Young one from Joseon. No one can survive my curse. Because no one has. Can you overcome this resentment, pain, and regret?"
The curse had already enveloped Cheon Se-yeon, but Kansai's Oni didn't let their guard down.
With blood-soaked hands clasped together, the Oni chanted sutras.
The resounding chants echoed through the shrine and even into the nearby mountains.
As the chants grew louder, the curse intensified, writhing fiercely.
"Do you know the pain of an ordinary talent mixed among geniuses? The feeling of never reaching them, no matter how hard you try? I resented and cursed my lack of talent. It was truly a time of bitter regret. Anyone else would have given up long ago. But I didn't."
Miyamoto smiled leisurely.
"I cursed and resented the geniuses before my eyes. Every night, I hammered nails into dolls and burned talismans written in blood. On important days, I harmed their loved ones, and when they needed to run, I hid blades in their shoes to cripple them. That's how I overtook them one by one to reach this point. This curse is the culmination of that horrific obsession and resentment. How could a child like you possibly endure it?"
The curse grew denser, eventually erasing Cheon Se-yeon's form completely.
It wasn't just the curse assaulting Cheon Se-yeon that strengthened with the chants.
The items placed on the altar were also curse-made.
The other hunters would never reach the shrine.
"I'll crush your soul thoroughly."
Miyamoto closed his eyes.
And just as he was about to chant the sutra...
"Is your pathetic story over?"
A voice leaked out from amid the raging curse.
Miyamoto's eyes snapped open, his face twisting in a frown.
This was impossible.
No human could endure that level of pain.
While Miyamoto's mind froze, Se-yeon lightly swung her shield.
The Oni's curse was swept away in an instant.
The eyes of all the onmyoji chanting, including Miyamoto, widened in shock.
They couldn't believe it, even though they'd seen it with their own eyes.
This curse had been prepared with countless sacrifices over more than a full day.
And it shattered and scattered with just one swing?
More than anything, Cheon Se-yeon's condition was too normal.
Far from being consumed by the curse, it seemed like it hadn't even touched her skin.
Brushing off her clothes, Se-yeon continued.
"You should be grateful, old man. Our country values the Three Bonds and Five Relationships so much. That's why I listened. Doesn't your country have that? If I weren't Korean, your ugly neck would already be—"
Se-yeon clicked her tongue.
Of course, it wasn't really because of the Three Bonds and Five Relationships that she'd waited.
She was just curious.
How much more ugly and pathetic the ramblings of this old monster, who'd committed all sorts of atrocities, could get.
"How dare you!!"
Miyamoto jumped up and unleashed another curse, but the result was the same.
It bounced off and vanished before even getting close.
The other onmyoji poured out curses too, but nothing changed.
"Itchy. So itchy."
Se-yeon smirked and took a step forward.
Then she glanced down slightly.
The talisman, now slightly faded compared to before.
She didn't know much about shamanism. No interest either.
But she wasn't an idiot, so she could tell.
The thing repelling all their curses right now was the talisman Jin-hyuk had given her.
'Is Jin-hyuk actually a shaman? But do shamans handle swords and chains that well?'
Maybe because she had too much leeway.
Se-yeon shook her head, lost in random thoughts.
For now, the old monster came first.
"You... you monster!!"
Perhaps because the curses unrealistically weren't working.
The onmyoji who'd been firing them lost their will to fight and backed away.
She might have let it slide.
If it were the usual Se-yeon, in a usual situation.
Se-yeon swung her arm toward the onmyoji.
It was clearly a light gesture.
But...
Kwaaaaaaaa!!!
What burst out was anything but light.
Divine power exploded forth, cleanly sweeping away one direction.
It was an overwhelming output that could easily crush people and more.
"How many have you killed so far?"
Zzzing!
Another burst fired out.
Several onmyoji scattered without even realizing they were dying.
"You probably didn't count. Since you treat human lives like flies."
"Uh... uh, wai..."
Zzzing!
"You don't have much time left. So apologize now. To the thirty innocents sacrificed without knowing, and all those you killed before."
"I'm sorry! I apologize! Miyamoto forced us! I'll live in repentance forever!"
"Me too! Please spare me!"
Se-yeon paused for a moment and let out a small sigh.
"You have no guilt at all. Begging for your lives like that."
"Ah..."
Kwaaaaa!!
In an instant, a dozen onmyoji vanished.
'Th-this is insane...'
The once arrogant leader of the Oni was gone.
Miyamoto backed away hesitantly from the approaching calamity.
He'd always looked down on those called rankers.
Thinking he could kill them anytime if he wanted.
But it was a massive misconception and arrogance.
He never imagined such overwhelming power. Such transcendence.
Thud.
He turned to the wall that stopped his retreat.
No more curses to fire, no escape possible.
Cornered in a dead end.
Grit.
Lost inferiority and rage surged up.
Not yet.
He couldn't end it yet.
"Don't move, child. Even if we die, the curses already unleashed won't disappear. You might be fine, but your subordinates won't."
Se-yeon stepped forward, unconcerned.
"How selfish! Do you want to turn a foreign shrine into a grave?! Your underlings are already cursed, on the brink of death! Only I can save them!"
"Brink of death?"
Se-yeon tilted her head.
"Is the meaning of 'brink of death' different in Japan and Korea?"
"What?"
Se-yeon's lips stretched into a long smile.
"Who's on the brink of death?"
Miyamoto's eyes shifted over Se-yeon's shoulder.
"How..."
His mouth gaped.
Hunters emerging one by one from the stairs.
They weren't rolling on the ground.
In fact, they were perfectly fine.
So much so that it was doubtful any battle had occurred.
'Ah...'
Miyamoto, realizing too late, glared at Se-yeon.
"What did you bring?"
Something had interfered.
Something unforeseen.
Otherwise, this irrational outcome couldn't happen.
"You mean this?"
The moment Se-yeon pulled out the talisman attached to her body.
Thump!
Miyamoto dropped to his knees.
Not by choice.
Instinct commanded it.
Bow before that thing immediately.
Se-yeon, who had also pulled out the talisman, was surprised too.
Miyamoto's face, twisted in terror to the point of complete distortion.
Even when death was at his throat moments ago, he hadn't been this scared.
What on earth was this talisman?
She reached out and grabbed Miyamoto's head.
They could figure out the talisman later.
"Who's behind you? Who ordered you to kill me?"
"That... that's..."
Even in terror, Miyamoto didn't speak easily.
She pulled a photo from her pocket and showed it.
"A Japanese onmyoji who died in Korea. Name was Kurone, I think?"
"!!!"
He recognized it instantly from the photo.
That he'd met the most painful end imaginable, worse than any death.
"Choose. Talk, or die the same way."
No need to think.
He absolutely refused such a death.
"The one funding our Kansai Oni and ordering us to sever Joseon's vein is S—"
Kwajik!
Blood splattered before her eyes.
A bullet from somewhere had smashed Miyamoto's head.
She glared at the bullet embedded in the floor.
It wasn't ordinary.
Thick ability surrounded it.
How much time passed?
"Good thing we weren't too late."
From the forest across the shrine.
People in suits emerged.
Cheon Se-yeon furrowed her brows.
'Osaka Player Hunter Agency.'
A woman with a long sniper rifle bowed her head.
"Are you unharmed? Hunter Cheon Se-yeon. And members of the Korean Player Hunter Agency."
She checked the woman's name tag.
# Nakamura Mio.
Se-yeon clicked her tongue.
She'd heard of her.
The star of Osaka Player Hunter Agency, a sniper class who could make perfect shots from 10 km away.
A celebrity on this side had shown up.
"We received intel about a treacherous onmyoji group and rushed here... I was surprised. Unexpected guests. What brings you to Kyoto?"
"It's been a while since my last vacation, so I came to sightsee temples and shrines."
"With over thirty hunters?"
"Yes. We have great team spirit."
Mio smiled.
"I see. That's nice. Anyway, thank you. You did what we should have. When dawn breaks, the Osaka Player Hunter Agency will officially apologize and express gratitude. Our negligence almost harmed Korea's valuable asset."
Se-yeon narrowed her eyes and stared at Mio.
This woman was already certain.
That she hadn't heard anything from Miyamoto.
'She was here already.'
She'd been too focused on the curses filling the shrine and mountain to notice.
The possibility of a third party.
'I should have heard the name.'
She stared at Miyamoto's carelessly sprawled body.
They must have been watching and killed him the moment the name was about to come out.
"What are you doing? Clean up."
At her nod, the following Japanese hunters moved toward the shrine.
"Korean hunters, you should head back to your lodging. Staying longer might put you in an awkward position."
A leisurely smile curved Mio's lips.
Meaning, we'll overlook this much, so just leave.
Se-yeon gritted her teeth.
If only she'd heard that name they were so sensitive about, she could do something.
"Unnie."
Lee Yun-jeong pulled Se-yeon's arm and shook her head.
It was frustrating not to touch the real culprit, but they had no choice but to retreat here.
As she pondered whether to really withdraw like this.
Ding!
A message arrived.
From.
Yu Jin-hyuk.
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T/N:
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