Chapter 45
It's the first time Purification hasn't worked.
I can't help feeling a little nervous.
If the curse gets reflected back at me... "Barrier: Reinforcement."
For my peace of mind, I'll protect myself first.
The ant's entire body is covered in black patterns.
Is this some altered version of a curse?
When you think of curses... hexes, vengeful spirits, possession.
...Could the curse have possessed it?
I look at the giant ant.
I look into its eyes... I can't tell.
But for now, I'll start with what I can think of.
A Core suddenly appears right in front of me.
The Core shields me as the giant ant lunges at me.
The Core's entire body shines, and the giant ant is blown away.
The resulting vibration echoes through the cave.
When the giant ant gets back up, the Core lets out a growl and threatens it.
Soa and Hio line up beside the Core.
As for the giant ant... Are those its young?
Quite a few ants much smaller than the giant ant appear.
Every one of them has black patterns.
I get a bad feeling from them.
For now, I'll do what I can.
If it's possessed, then exorcism.
Huh—??
...No good. I can't even imagine what exorcism would look like.
Something else, something else.
The sound of the giant ant clacking its fangs echoes through the cave.
Clack, clack, clack.
...Scary.
Ah, it's in an abnormal state.
Since it's been taken over, maybe I should focus on its mind?
Its mind is bound by something, leaving the ant itself unable to emerge.
In that case, I should imagine the mind... Anything will do.
I picture an ant bound within space, then burn away whatever binds it. No, I'll cut it.
Cut it, and let it move freely through space.
"Curse Release"
Rings of light appear around the giant ant and the smaller ants surrounding it.
A wall of light forms around them, enclosing them, and as light pours in, the black patterns gradually fade.
With a little pop, the light vanishes, and the giant ant is left there without its black markings.
The smaller ants have lost their markings too.
Did it work?
So curses in this world can possess living things too... That's scary.
When I check on it, the giant ant is watching me.
It isn't threatening me anymore; it's just looking over here... at me?
As the giant ant comes a little closer, the Core threatens it.
The giant ant stops... I somehow get the impression that it's confused.
By spending time with the Cores and Boss-san and the others, I've learned to read their moods a little.
Communication is still difficult, though.
I approach the giant ant myself.
Somehow, I reach out and stroke its head... Oh, it's cold and smooth, like pottery.
I had expected it to feel rough, but I find myself stroking it all over.
Little did I know the giant ant was even more confused.