[Spell Return] Beast of Despair

Record · Part Three

—186 ■year■month, ■■, ■■■—

"What do cats and dogs produce?"

It was Zhi's youngest sister who asked her such a ridiculous question.

This child is only eight years old this year, and she is the only daughter of my uncle, so she loves her very much and bought all kinds of Western books for her to read.Probably because he has read too many strange books like this, the child's thoughts are always a little different from those of his peers.

It is probably for this reason that my younger sister asks questions like "children of cats and dogs".

Ye Zhi couldn't answer.To be honest, she never thought about this kind of problem at all.A dog is a dog and a cat is a cat, so why bother thinking about what kind of monsters the combination of the two will create?

But of course she couldn't say that - she wouldn't want to break a child's imagination.

Moreover, the child's emotions of doubt and curiosity were too strong, so strong that they could even be said to be a little dazzling, hitting Shi Zhi's heart, she actually felt a little sour.

She put her hands in her sleeves and quietly folded her palms.Curiosity and doubt disappear without a trace.

"Yes—" She lowered her eyes, not knowing what she was looking at, "What kind of animals will be born?"

"What is the child of the mouse and the crow? What is the child of the fish and the duck?"

Curiosity swelled up little by little.My sister kept asking.

"What kind of things will people and curse spirits produce?"

Shizhi's hand trembled, and the fingertips spread apart, and his sister's curiosity could not be suppressed at all.

"It's Sister Zhi, so there are children of humans and curse spirits in this world?"

"Yes, it exists. Do you still remember Kamo in the Gosan family?"

She lowered her voice, trying to sound more like she was telling a funny story, even though she knew what she was about to say would be a horrific reality.Since the object of the complaint is only a young child, it is better to be gentle.Shizhi didn't want to scare her sister.

Of course, she can continue to use spells to eliminate her sister's curiosity, but this is not the best way.So she went on.

"A long, long time ago, the conjurer of the Kamo family gave birth to nine heirs with the curse spirit—to be precise, nine fetuses that were not fully developed and had never been fleshed out. Later, these fetuses became special-grade curse objects Nine-Phase Diagram."

"Then are they very strong?" Still a strong curiosity.

"Hmm...maybe. That's why they become special grades." Shi Zhi caressed his sister's head, "But if you think about it carefully, they are not really alive, so it is actually very difficult to judge whether they are strong or not." Difficult thing, isn't it?"

"Is that so? Oh... I see. But I still think the children of humans and spell spirits will be very powerful. Think about it, sister, the power of spells comes from negative emotions, and the spirit of spells also comes from negative emotions. We magicians are A person who manipulates spell power, and a curse is a monster turned into a monster by the negative emotions of ordinary people who can't use spell power. If it is a child of a curse spirit and a human, wouldn't it be invincible?"

Her younger sister said childish words, her tone was brisk as if she was telling a joke.Shizhi also wanted to laugh, but couldn't.

These unintentional words got into her heart.She also felt that her sister who said this was very serious for a few moments——seriously thinking about this crazy guess.

Shizhi couldn't help but began to think about what a child of a human and a curse spirit would be like.

Her spell is emotional manipulation.Other conjurers say it is a unique and strange gift.Only Shizhi knew that her technique had insurmountable limitations.The curse has never been just a collection of emotions. She can control the flow of emotions, but she cannot control multiple emotions at the same time.

Moreover, there are many emotions in this world that she cannot understand.She doesn't even know her emotions.

How can a person who is completely ignorant of his own emotions subtly manipulate all the emotions in the world?

The hope of human beings is continued from generation to generation, and the art form is gradually perfected in the inheritance of life, so she has a more refined art form than her mother.She has always believed that her children will make her art more perfect.

If her child has the blood of the curse spirit, will he be able to control emotions better than her?After all, the mantra is just a collection of negative emotions, isn't it?

This crazy thought made Shi Zhi's heart twitch violently.She felt that she shouldn't think about such things anymore, but for some reason, her thoughts were involuntarily approaching this crazy idea.

Kneeling alone by her mother's gravestone, she couldn't stop thinking about the possibility.

If... she meant if.Wouldn't it be great if her ideas could achieve the best results, and she could use this child to make the technique of emotional manipulation more perfect?

If she just wishful thinking and gave birth to a terrible monster, it didn't matter, she could kill the child herself.To her, it was just a loss of ten months and one pain.

The rewards for success are considerable, and there are ways to remedy failure.She will be willing to bear all the consequences.

Well, just do it.

She was always like that, having an incredible idea and then dying to make it happen.It was like when she was a child, the day after she heard that thorns had grown in the well, she jumped into the well alone, and found that a thick layer of soil had accumulated at the bottom of the dry well, which was why the thorns grew.

Wujojue once said that she is a brave activist.

At this moment, Shizhi felt that she might be very cowardly.

She found the right spell.It used to be a magician, but before it died, it was bound by someone else's curse and turned into a curse spirit, which could barely maintain its human form.

Manipulate its emotions and make it obey itself.Shizhi experienced a pain, it was torture.The negative emotions of the mantra seemed to flood into her body.

She immediately killed the curse spirit, and for the first time had the thought of "I wouldn't have done it if I knew it earlier".

But no matter what, her madness had already set off—a new emotion was born in her body.

At first, this emotion was chaotic and hazy, and Zhi Zhi couldn't see it.As it grows up bit by bit, its emotions become clearer day by day.On rainy days, Shizhi could feel his anxiety.It rejoiced when her hand caressed its belly.

She justified the existence of this life with lies.In order to prevent any accidents, she never stepped out of the house, but stayed in her room, hoping that the child would never become a disaster.

Ten long months turned into a solo journey, with Kore hardly seeing anyone anymore.The only time she saw Wujojue.

She remembered that it was a rainy day, and the little child was restless because of the sound of the rain.Gojosaku stood under the eaves, looking at her from a distance—with her swollen belly hidden under the loose kimono.

He didn't look away for a long time, he was so calm as if he was looking at something unimportant... so calm that he didn't look like him at all.Shizhi couldn't see through his emotions, but couldn't help but took a few steps back, turned sideways, and covered his abdomen with his sleeves.She knew very well that it was useless to do so, but she really didn't want Wujojue to see her current self.

He knows, he must know—she kept thinking so, her mind almost collapsed.

It is impossible for Six Eyes not to see what kind of life is conceived in her belly.impossible.So he definitely saw it, absolutely.

So what was he thinking?What kind of emotion is there under the unwavering expression?Is it disgust, or anger?Why can't she see, why can't she spy?

Please let her feel his emotions, just this one time is enough... Only at this moment, she must see through Wujojue's heart.

Her hands were shaking, and these chaotic thoughts filled all her thoughts.She seemed unable to think.

Why would I do this kind of thing... Would it be better not to?Will he deny me?

She kept asking herself that question.She even hoped that Wujojue could question her like this.

As long as he asks, she will definitely tell him everything, tell him all her thoughts, even if she is spurned by him.She will make the next decision according to his thoughts, and she can also abandon this child, even if she has already perceived all the emotions that this twisted life has.

As long as he asks her.Just a "why" is enough.

But no.

Wujojue turned and left in silence.He never asked anything, and kept her secret silently.

Shizhi didn't say anything anymore.She felt like she had betrayed Wujojue and herself.This daring secret no longer belongs to her alone, but it has been hidden until the child who should not exist is born and no one knows.

There is nothing disgraceful about having a child out of wedlock, at least for the Yae family.But no matter what, it is Zhi who is the leader of the family.She pulled everyone's emotions, so that they no longer questioned themselves, and no longer held grudges.

Her baby is also like a normal human being.She never felt anything unusual about him, nor did she feel like he was a cursed spirit.

He was just a normal kid, with a face that looked exactly like hers, growing up like all babies, from toddler to steady walk.Kore isn't sure if her wish has come true, but she knows this kid will make her smile.When he held her fingers with his small hands, she could easily forget all the heavy things.

She knew that she still needed to kill the child when the status quo deviated from her vision, but she had already forgotten her original fantasy.She also no longer expects this child to show the same talent as hers, she just wants him to grow up safely.

What kind of feeling this is, Zhizhi is not clear.Maybe this is what they call "love".

But no matter how much her child looks like a human being, he is still a life created by a curse spirit. Even if Zhi carefully hides this fact, it will not be able to hide it for long.

The Wujo family knew the child's secret.

Exactly how he knew, Shizhi had no way of knowing.All she felt was their anger, and a strong loathing.They stared at her as if she, too, was a disgusting curse.

It was too late to try to manipulate their emotions with closed palms now.They cut off her hand and never allowed her to manipulate anyone's feelings.

They said she was a greedy, dirty, unselfish conjurer, and she readily admitted it.They wanted to kill her and her baby, and she was okay with that.

She saw their contempt, and heard them say in a contemptuous tone that from the first time she showed the spell, she felt that she would be a person with evil intentions.

"Constantly manipulating people's hearts, maybe we have been manipulated by you from the very beginning!"

Emotions are not people's hearts, and Zhizhi will never be able to change their hearts.But even if they said that, they wouldn't believe it.They already hated her.

Hatred blinded their ears and blocked all voices. Even if she kept saying that she was willing to take responsibility for her mistakes, no one would listen.

In order not to give birth to scum like her, the Yusanjia decided to "clean" the Yae family, and all the sorcerers would die.

Each conjurer was brought before Shizhi and beheaded before her eyes.She was forced to see how everyone died, and to feel how their emotions changed from panic to despair, and finally turned into a mixture of hatred and unwillingness, chopped by the falling blade.

Slap—the head fell to the ground, and the emotion disappeared.

Complicated but similar emotions pierced into Shizhi's heart one after another, and even breathing made her painful.The blood sprayed from the round wound can splash very high, and it will always splash on her face.They came to die in front of her as if in a procession, each screaming in despair.

Shizhi also screamed and cried bitterly, just when she saw the first person die.She said everything was her fault and not to punish others.It's fine to kill her, it's fine to make her suffer, she is the one who carried out the absurd delusion without authorization.

Words are useless.The butcher knife still fell, and the blood still spattered.

Fear, despair, hatred, unwillingness...

She couldn't cry any more, her numb heart accepted the sting of all emotions.

After witnessing the death of all the sorcerers, she finally received her punishment.

She and her child were thrown into a thorny well.The sharp thorns pierced into the flesh, and she seemed to be bound among the thorns.The distant sky turned into a small circle, so far away that it was no longer within reach.

"Did we make a mistake?"—she was asked by a young child.

No, it's not that "they" made a mistake.It's just her fault.

It was she who killed them all.

The little child snuggled up beside her.He seemed to have been subjected to some kind of spell, and he gradually shrank in her arms bit by bit, his emotions gradually faded, and finally he could no longer feel it.On the third day in the well, it shrank so much that its body disappeared into Shizhi's palm.

So far, she was left alone waiting for her own death.

It would be fine not to do this, and it would be fine not to delusional about the inheritance of hope.These thoughts wrapped around her like thorns.The touch of death gradually became real, she seemed to have seen the real state of death, as if she could touch it as long as she stretched out her hand.

But between her and death, there is a white figure.

Wujojue stood by the well, looking at her with lowered eyes.For some reason, Shizhi remembered that a long time ago, he also looked at the thorns at the bottom of the well with such an expression.

His emotions are still unknown, and Korea has no intention of feeling them.

Look no further and let her die.

She closed her eyes, but heard him say, "I didn't tell anyone."

She knew, she always knew.If Gojojue wanted to be an informer, she would have been executed on that silent rainy day.

At this point, she has no intention of guessing who discovered this secret—even if she knows the answer, it's useless.

It's irreparable, everyone is dead.

"There are still some members of the Yae family who have not been executed. They are all non-magicians who cannot see the curse." He said, "But they are not eligible to stay here anymore. They will be deported to Wakayama... I morning I was told everything, and this was the only decision I had time to make. Now, as the head of the Gojo family, I ask you, do you realize what kind of mistake you have made?"

It's Zhi who wants to laugh.She pulled the corner of her mouth and let out a few unseemly hums.

"Still asking me this..."

"Don't say such things!" His voice echoed in the well, "Don't think too much, just answer me, do you know that you are wrong?"

It turned out that this was not a harsh question, but his expression was a little distorted.He asked such a question as if to prove something.

Shizhi was very tired, and his vision became very hazy at some point.She blinked. In this short moment, she thought a lot.

I thought of the falling heads and the splashing blood, and thought of my mother holding her hand and saying that the hope of mankind is to continue from generation to generation.

But she has no hope, and she has cut off the hope of others.This must be the greatest sin.

"It's my fault..." Her lips trembled, "It's all... all my fault."

"That's good. As long as you say this sentence is enough." He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "I will find a way to get you out of here. Don't be afraid, you won't die in this place."

"Don't lie to the dying."

"It's not a lie!" His voice was eager and sharp, resembling anger, "Have I ever lied to you?"

"……No."

Wujojue never lied to her.

"I can definitely save you. You didn't hurt anyone, and you shouldn't face the punishment of death. I'm sorry, I didn't have time to save more people, but I must save you. You won't die! "

He said it so seriously that Shizhi almost believed it.She knew Wujojue was not lying, but this matter was absolutely impossible.

No one thought she was worth living, not even herself.

Only Wujojue kept saying that her fault was not unforgivable - he was the only one who thought so.

Is branch tired of hearing.

"You knew what a terrible thing I was doing, but you didn't stop me. Why?"

"Even if you stop it, it may not be useful." He smiled self-deprecatingly, "Before, I told you not to go down to the bottom of the well, and I also said that it would be dangerous, but you still want to know why thorns grow. And into the well. You've always been like that, bold and bold. So no matter what I say, you won't..."

"I would. If you had told me I shouldn't...I would have stopped."

He seemed to be stunned, and after a long time, he uttered a stiff "I'm sorry".

In fact, Zhi didn't want to hear his apology.She just thought that if he could ask "why" on that rainy day, then he wouldn't have to say sorry at this moment.

"This is the sin of both of us. Let me bear this sin together." He said firmly, "So believe me, I will definitely take you out. After leaving here, slowly make up for the mistakes of the past That's fine—we'll make it up together."

Wujojue reached out to her at the bottom of the well.For a brief moment, Shizhi saw a youthful clarity on his face.

"That's the deal, okay?"

His hand is obviously far away and untouchable, but Shi Zhi is willing to believe it.

"……it is good."

He left with a smile, and has never been seen by the well since.This is not betrayal, nor is it forgetting the agreement.

Wu Tiaojue, who died with the head of the Buddhist monastery in the imperial contest, could not come back.Soon after, the thorns entwined at the bottom of the well also died with ignorant expectations.

Pick up the corpse from the bottom of the well, and disintegrate the remnant with a technique.While the conjurers of the Gojo clan are certain that sinners who have committed a crime cannot become curse spirits, the pardoners of the Yae clan finally arrive at their place of exile.

No one saw that, in the hope of death, crawled out of the curse called despair-it was an ugly frog.

Shizhi curled up in it, already falling into a chaotic and lonely dream.

record

—■■■■year■month, ■■, ■■■—

As if someone knocked on the door, Shi Zhi woke up from a dream.

Little strange children stood not far away.On them, Shi Zhi felt the most familiar breath.

They are children of the Yae family.

One, two, three... eight children came to visit her.

She thought she should be very happy, because she raised the corners of her mouth.A smile equals a good mood, someone once told her.

It's just that these kids are weird.As soon as they saw themselves, they ran away.

Why run away?Don't leave, I will love you well.You are all lovely children.

she said loudly.

She clasped her hands together.The realm unfolded, arrows rained down, and mountains and seas surrounded them.Her fingertips are pulling their emotions, dragging them into the same feeling (despair) love (hope) as her own.That way the kids will want to stay.

Then, pull them closer to you and hug them tightly.

But why did they disappear all of a sudden?

The conjurer who used to control the most subtle emotions with her ten fingers has not realized until now that her emotions have long been misplaced.

She knew that love is kisses, love is hugs, love is the softness of everything.

She once knew that hate is pain, hate is torture, hate is the sharpness of everything.

But now, what is love?What should she do to express her "love"?So confused.

So love becomes violence, and longing becomes slaughter.

She will never be able to embrace the children whom she has manipulated with despair.

But only one child is special.From the very beginning, Shizhi felt that the child's emotions were invisible and could not control her.She didn't fall into Shizhi's feeling (despair) love (hope).

This child reminded Shire of someone, someone far away in his memory.

I really want to talk to this child, but she runs too fast.

Shizhi stepped forward and grabbed her hand.The child's face was dirty. It turned out to be a naughty dirty child.

Gently wipe her face... Ah, this child really looks like me.

Shizhi seemed to think of something, but he didn't seem to remember anything.

She looked at the child as if she were looking at herself.

"Don't trust Six Eyes."

She said to the child, as if telling herself.

When she said this, she thought of the person whose emotions she could not spy on.

In fact, she has never been able to perceive Wujojue's emotions.She never knew what her feelings for Wutiaojue were.

In this long hundred years of "life", not even once.

The author has something to say: Why is the mantra spiritualized as a frog? First, it borrowed the meaning of a frog at the bottom of a well. Second, because the pronunciation of "frog" in Japanese is the same as "帰る" (back), it is a descendant of the Yae family. They want to return to the monsters shaped by the emotions of Gojo's subordinates