[Chapter 85: Such a Curse Is Impossible]
Daniel shook his head. "There's no movement over there for now. I came to ask you some questions."
Tanusha replied, "Didn't I tell you everything last time? What else do you want to ask?"
"If a person sacrifices their life in exchange for the power of a curse, the cursed individual will die within three days," Daniel asked. "Do you know of such a curse?"
Tanusha scoffed. "So, there are times when you do need me?"
Daniel said coldly, "You can put it that way, or--"
His hand flickered, and a Soul Separation Seal appeared in his palm.
Tanusha's face went pale, a flicker of fear flashing in her eyes.
Suddenly cautious, she began to explain carefully, "There are many curses that involve sacrificing one's life, and similarly, many curses that lead to death within three days. What you're describing is too vague. Do you have more detailed information?"
Daniel thought for a moment. "During the curse, an evil spirit constantly follows the cursed person. After three days, a Hell portal appears and drags the victim into Hell."
He recalled the movie Drag Me to Hell -- the moment the female lead falls onto the train tracks, the ground beneath her splits open, and she is pulled into Hell.
"Impossible," Tanusha flatly denied. "A curse like that can't exist. Opening a Hell portal and dragging someone into Hell -- that's absurd. If portals to Hell were that easy to open, spirits would've escaped ages ago. No one would still be alive."
Daniel nodded. Tanusha's words echoed his own reasoning. Movies often exaggerated all kinds of supernatural elements -- portals to Hell summoned at will -- but reality required logic. If those gateways truly flung souls into Hell so readily, how could any living person still roam this world?
Tanusha continued, "About an evil spirit following someone -- I know that well. What you're describing sounds like a curse where the caster sacrifices their own life to bind themselves to an evil spirit. In return, the spirit kills the target. It's a very low-tier method, mainly relying on the spirit's power."
Daniel asked, "But the cursed person definitely has some curse power on them, right?"
Tanusha nodded, "Is that curse power strong?"
Daniel admitted, "It's not nearly as strong as the Consecrated Thrall you raised -- or the tricks you pulled before in my shop."
"Then that fits." Tanusha's confidence grew. "The caster isn't powerful enough to embed much curse power directly. Most of the work falls to the evil spirit."
Her explanation confirmed Daniel's suspicions and offered some relief. He wasn't an expert on curses, but dealing with evil spirits was his specialty.
"The strength of the spirit," Daniel asked, "depends on the life sacrificed?"
"Yes, but there are exceptions." Tanusha's gaze sharpened. "If that spirit had a special connection with the one who sacrificed their life, it might require little energy to control it."
Daniel recalled the case -- the old woman seemed unconnected to that spirit. Yet that spirit was powerful enough to kill the female exorcist the protagonist hired.
"I understand. Thanks for your explanation." Daniel put away the Soul Separation Seal and reached to put the anti-bite device back on Tanusha.
She pleaded, "Can you stay and talk a little longer without this thing on?"
Daniel said firmly, "I appreciate your explanation, but that doesn't erase your crimes."
After securing the device on Tanusha, Daniel turned and left the room.
...
Outside, Amanda rushed over eagerly. "How is it?"
Daniel gave a slight smile. "I'm more confident now in helping you survive."
Relieved, Amanda let out a long breath, her anxiety easing.
Lunch was still at the Douglas estate.
Frank asked when Katherine's soul transfer could be performed.
Daniel replied, "There's been progress, but it'll take more time."
Frank sighed but asked no more questions.
Suddenly, Amanda screamed, dropping her knife and fork. She jumped up, knocking over the chair behind her.
Daniel stepped forward, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "What's wrong?"
Amanda pointed shakily at her plate. "I just saw a face growing out of that piece of meat -- it was that old woman's face."
"That's a hallucination caused by the curse. It's all fake," Daniel said.
He moved his hand and produced a Clarity of Mind Seal.
Folding the paper into a triangle, he placed it in Amanda's palm. "Close your eyes and focus on this seal."
Out of complete trust, Amanda complied immediately.
Within moments, the shadow of fear and anxiety lifted from her heart.
Her mind calmed, and when she opened her eyes to look at the food again, everything appeared normal.
No trace of the old woman's face.
...
Once order returned and they were seated again, Frank asked, "What sort of curse is this? It sounds powerful."
Daniel recounted the story. Frank listened and then sighed, "I've been in business for many years, met countless people. I've seen many like what you described, but never this extreme. Ms. Seyfried, you're truly unlucky."
At the word "unlucky," Amanda exchanged a wry glance with Daniel.
This misfortune was entirely her own fault -- except this time, it had gone far beyond anything she would have accepted.
Being told she would die? That was absolutely unacceptable.
...
After lunch, Daniel and Amanda said goodbye to Frank Douglas and returned to Amanda's home.
In this situation, Amanda couldn't work or go anywhere without Daniel by her side.
She heeded Daniel's advice and postponed all work for three days.
Amanda asked, "Will it really take three days to fix this?"
Daniel said, "That's for the big problem. There's a smaller problem I can handle for you tonight."
"What smaller problem?" Amanda asked, curious.
"You'll see tonight," Daniel replied, keeping it brief.
Anticipation stirred in Amanda.
Just then, she felt a sudden sweet taste in her throat, immediately followed by the sharp metallic bitterness flooding her mouth.
Her face paled drastically as she dashed to the bathroom, vomiting thick, bright blood with a harsh gasp.
Daniel followed swiftly, frowning as he stared at the blood in the toilet bowl.
Amanda's complexion grew ashen, and fear she'd been holding back surged anew. "Daniel, what's happening to me?"
Daniel said gravely, "Curse power is another form of dark energy. It damages the body over time."
Amanda asked, "Can you get rid of it?"
"Not yet," Daniel answered.
"Not yet?" Amanda seemed to understand but was about to ask more when Daniel silenced her with a look.
Repressing her urgent questions, Amanda began cleaning the toilet quietly.
...
Around 10 PM, the window -- clearly closed before -- suddenly slid open on its own.
A strong gust of wind blew inside, billowing the curtains high.
The room turned sharply cold, whether from the breeze or something more sinister.
On the bed, Daniel and Amanda, who had been lying in each other's arms as if asleep, suddenly opened their eyes.
Daniel spoke calmly, "Finally here."
*****
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