The air was still settling from the last explosion.
Ash drifted down like slow snow.
Somewhere in the distance, younger versions of sorcerers were still staring at the aftermath in silence.
Then—
Geto appeared in front of Takeru.
No warning.
No transition.
Just instant placement in the middle of chaos.
Geto blinked.
"…You really need to stop doing that."
Takeru didn't even react to the complaint.
He just looked at him.
Calm.
Focused.
Like he had already moved on mentally.
"…Remember how we did the flavor testing while getting a bunch of strong curses and made Spirit Island?"
Geto narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Yes."
Takeru nodded once.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"Heian Era curses probably has a lot of Special Grades."
Silence.
Geto immediately understood where this was going.
"…No."
Takeru continued anyway.
"So…"
He turned slightly, looking across the landscape.
At the ancient land.
At the cursed energy everywhere.
At the chaos waiting to happen.
"…We expand."
Geto sighed.
Long.
Tired.
Resigned.
"…You're going to turn an entire era into a farm."
Takeru shrugged.
"Technically…"
A pause.
"…yes."
Yuji, from behind, immediately shouted:
"…WHY IS THAT EVEN AN OPTION?!"
Megumi looked exhausted on sight.
"…We should have stayed home."
Hakari tilted his head.
"…Is this capitalism?"
Ryu muttered:
"…This is worse than capitalism."
Kashimo cracked his neck.
"…At least it sounds like a fight."
Yorozu smiled faintly.
"…I'm listening."
Uro crossed her arms.
"…This is getting out of hand."
Geto pinched the bridge of his nose.
"…You're not harvesting curses."
Takeru looked at him.
Very calmly.
"…We already did."
Silence.
That landed.
Geto slowly lowered his hand.
"…You made an island."
Takeru nodded.
"And now we scale."
A long pause.
Then Geto exhaled again.
"…Of course we do."
Fred slowly raised a sign behind them:
"Industrial revolution: cursed energy edition."
Takeru clapped once.
"…Alright."
He looked toward the horizon again.
"…Let's go find more Special Grades."