2 The Supreme Cursed Fetus (Part Two)

Osamu Dazai stood on the ground, calmly observing the two peculiar humanoid figures before him... creatures? Whether they were truly living beings remained uncertain.

“...Human?” The oddly shaped figure with a volcanic-like head also scrutinized Dazai. “No, we are Cursed Spirits.”

Among Cursed Spirits, there was an unspoken rule: they were manifestations of humanity’s negative emotions, and generally, the more human-like their form, the stronger they were. Yet, even Jogo had never seen a fellow spirit resemble humans so closely.

The horned humanoid figure gently asked Dazai, “What is your name?”

Dazai responded calmly, “Shouldn’t you introduce yourself before asking others?”

“I am Hanami, and this is Jogo.” The horned figure’s sincerity and friendliness were unexpected, deepening the smile on Dazai’s face.

He looked at the antler-like branches on Hanami’s head—branches, plants, flowers... Then his gaze shifted to Jogo—was it because his head resembled a kettle?

His thoughts raced, and he spoke softly, “Dazai. I am Dazai.”

“Dazai sounds like a human name,” Jogo remarked casually, not giving it much thought since many Cursed Spirits bore human-given names. “Consider yourself lucky you haven’t been discovered by those sorcerers yet.”

Sorcerers?

Dazai looked at Jogo, wondering if it was a friendly warning or a deliberate provocation. He wasn’t sure if human standards still applied to these Cursed Spirits.

Feigning ignorance, Dazai asked, “Sorcerers?”

“Tch!” Jogo said impatiently, “Sorcerers actively exorcise Cursed Spirits. You may be special grade, but you’re newly born. If you want to seek your own death, that’s your choice.”

Dazai’s mind shifted, curiosity piqued. “We are comrades, then? Are all Cursed Spirits our comrades?”

He already sensed it—Chuuya’s existence felt like a delicate thread tugging at his heart. Chuuya’s current state must also be what spirits refer to as a “Cursed Womb.” If protection was necessary...

Hanami said with a hint of melancholy, “Most Cursed Spirits cannot comprehend our words; they act purely on instinct.”

Dazai understood now—there was a hierarchy among Cursed Spirits. According to Jogo, they were all special grade, possessed their own consciousness, hence considered “comrades.”

“Hmph!” Jogo grumbled, “If it weren’t for those sorcerers, we’d have far more comrades than just these few!”

Dazai casually remarked, “Those sorcerers are really annoying. Can’t we just get rid of them?”

Jogo and Hanami both fell silent for a moment.

Jogo said bitterly, “Without Satoru Gojo, how could sorcerers possibly hold the upper hand?!”

Satoru Gojo.

Dazai blinked, noting the name of this important figure. Then, with a subtle shift in tone, he asked, “Is the other one, the one not yet born, also one of our comrades?”

“What?” Jogo asked, puzzled.

Dazai tilted his head innocently and pointed toward the depths of the forest, casually saying, “The Cursed Spirit still unborn inside there.”

“Really?!” Hanami exclaimed with delight.

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll take you to see!” Dazai perfectly mimicked the youthful arrogance of someone who refuses to be doubted, and without waiting for a reply, he turned and led them inward.

Jogo and Hanami exchanged a glance. Hanami followed Dazai’s pace willingly, while Jogo seemed reluctant but did not fall behind.

The three Cursed Spirits ventured deeper into the forest. Before they could see the comrade Dazai mentioned, Jogo and Hanami already sensed the cursed energy radiating from another special grade Cursed Womb.

“Another special grade Cursed Womb?!” Jogo exclaimed in surprise. The gestation of special grade Cursed Wombs was no small feat—encountering two in one day was extraordinary!

“Another one of our comrades!” Hanami’s voice brimmed with joy.

Dazai glanced at them and asked, “Can sorcerers detect us from such a distance?”

“If the cursed energy fluctuations are obvious, yes. But usually, they only send someone to investigate after someone has been harmed,” Jogo said arrogantly. “Most of them are just trash.”

Dazai nodded thoughtfully, elevating the importance of Satoru Gojo in his mind. Most sorcerers were trash, yet they could still restrain Cursed Spirits—there had to be someone like an ‘anchor’ figure capable of intimidating all spirits.

The three spirits continued deeper into the forest. Hidden beneath the dense canopy, a black sphere formed purely of cursed energy floated midair before them.

Dazai lifted his gaze, etching the scene into his memory. This was... what Chuuya had looked like at the very beginning.

The black sphere hovered, faintly emanating a dark red glow.

Hanami and Jogo also looked up at this unborn comrade. It was powerful; merely standing there, they could feel the oppressive aura radiating from it.

This pressure wasn’t intentional; it was simply the overwhelming strength that, even unconsciously, exerted palpable force on them.

Dazai asked, “When will it hatch?”

Jogo replied, “I don’t know. Each Cursed Womb’s incubation period is different.”

Hanami added with relief, “The cursed energy fluctuation is strongest just before hatching, making it the easiest time to be detected. But this place is secluded, so sorcerers won’t find it easily.”

Hanami gazed up at the special grade Cursed Womb in the sky, her expression hopeful as if awaiting the arrival of a dear friend. Jogo appeared casual but was actually quite concerned.

Dazai observed their reactions quietly, silently awaiting Chuuya Nakahara’s ‘birth.’

Jogo and Hanami did not linger but curiously explored the forest, wanting to understand why two special grade Cursed Wombs could gestate here simultaneously.

When the two spirits returned, they found Dazai still standing in place.

“You two wait here, I’m leaving!” Jogo withdrew his gaze from the Cursed Womb, wearing an unmistakably impatient expression.

But Hanami was different; he spoke softly, “I’ll stay here. The environment is very good.”

Dazai asked with concern, “Jogo, are you leaving alone? What if you encounter those sorcerers?”

“Don’t underestimate me!” White smoke angrily billowed from the crater atop Jogo’s head. “If I meet them, I’ll just kill them all!”

Dazai looked at the curling white smoke above Jogo’s head—so it really was a volcano! Watching Jogo’s retreating figure, he mused, “Jogo is quite confident!”

Hanami said, “Jogo is very strong.”

“Stronger than you, Hanami?” Dazai’s expression showed concern. “Jogo seems to have a bad temper. Does he ever burn you when he’s angry?”

“Jogo wouldn’t harm his comrades,” Hanami reassured him.

Dazai smiled faintly. “Jogo and Hanami seem like natural enemies by nature, but their relationship is actually very close!”

Hanami patiently explained, “Jogo is a Cursed Spirit born from humanity’s fear of volcanoes. I am a Cursed Spirit born from humanity’s fear of forests. We are of the same kind.”

Dazai nodded in enlightened agreement.

So this was what Cursed Spirits truly were.

He pondered with interest: According to this logic, what kind of Cursed Spirit was he? The embodiment of humanity’s fear of the human heart? And Chuuya? A manifestation of humanity’s fear of the divine?