Utaha stood a few steps away, looking at Miko's pitiful state with a pang of guilt.
The fingertips of her left hand still seemed to retain the warm, sticky sensation of touching the eyeball, and a faint, lingering smell of blood seemed to hang in her nostrils.
She felt she had to do something.
Sukuna? Expecting that being who viewed human life as worthless to apologize?
That was simply a fantasy.
His "healing" of Miko was probably more out of research interest in the Spiritual Eyes than any pity. This apology could only be borne by her, the "accomplice."
Taking a deep breath, Utaha slowly walked forward. She didn't approach immediately but stopped over a meter away from Miko, slowly squatting down to bring her gaze level with Miko who was sitting on the ground—a posture designed to be as non-threatening as possible.
"Um... are you... okay?" Utaha's voice was a bit dry, carrying obvious apology and caution.
She had never spoken to a stranger in this tone before, making her feel extremely awkward, but she couldn't worry about that now.
"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you again." Utaha quickly added, raising her hands slightly to show she meant no harm.
"Just now... that wasn't me, it was... another being inside my body."
She struggled to explain, feeling her vocabulary was inadequate.
"I can't control him. I'm sorry... really... I'm so sorry."
She lowered her head, her black hair falling and partially covering her face. Her voice was filled with sincere remorse.
This apology was both for the terrifying, unwarranted torment Miko had suffered and for her own helplessness in stopping Sukuna's violence.
Miko stared blankly at Utaha before her. The apology on her face didn't seem feigned. Those red eyes were filled with complex emotions—guilt, helplessness, and even a trace of shared exhaustion?
It was completely different from the cold, cruel, demon-like presence she had just experienced.
What could she say?
Angrily accuse? Cry and demand compensation? Call the police?
These thoughts merely flashed through her mind before she dismissed them.
That "being" opposite her was clearly a monster she absolutely could not afford to provoke. The power to instantly gouge out her eyes and instantly heal them exceeded her entire understanding of "strength."
Moreover, strictly speaking, the other party had indeed "healed" her, leaving not a single scar. From the result, she could even be said to have "profited from a misfortune"—if one ignored the process.
Looking on the bright side...
Miko blinked instinctively.
Her vision seemed... clearer than before?
She could even see the fine cracks on the distant wall clearly, and the colors seemed more vibrant and saturated.
Was this a complimentary vision correction service with the medical treatment?
This somewhat absurd thought helped clear her chaotic mind a little. Since childhood, she had been able to see those disgusting things, which had long forged a heart far more resilient and even a bit eerily strong than an ordinary person's. Faced with a terror she could not resist, the fastest way to survive was to accept reality and try to find even the smallest advantage for self-comfort.
She took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down, her voice striving to remain steady. "I... I'm fine now. Thank you for helping... heal me."
Even she felt awkward saying it, but it was the most appropriate response under the circumstances. She dared not anger the other party and could only choose to accept the apology.
Just then, that deep, authoritative male voice sounded in Miko's mind again, making her heart, which had just begun to settle, leap violently once more.
"Little girl."
It was that monster's voice!
Miko's body instantly tensed, and she looked at Utaha in terror, only to find that Utaha's mouth wasn't moving.
Sukuna's voice carried an unquestionable indifference, with not the slightest hint of apology. "Listen, I disdain uttering nonsense about bullying you. Just now, I took your eyes for a moment. Though I returned them, I did lay hands on you nonetheless."
His tone shifted, and the words that followed left Miko stunned. "As compensation, I have left a wisp of my aura within you. From now on, those annoying, brainless low-level evil spirits, sensing this aura, will treat you as a natural predator and dare not approach or harass you again. Your daily 'peace and quiet' is thus guaranteed."
What... what was this?
Miko's brain momentarily couldn't process it.
Was this terrifying monster helping her? Using his aura to drive away the evil spirits that had plagued her for years?
For Miko, this was an unbelievable blessing. Since awakening her Spiritual Eyes, she had endured the visual pollution and mental harassment of those disgusting things every moment, expending immense mental energy pretending not to see them.
If what this monster said was true, her daily life would be utterly transformed. She could finally walk the streets like an ordinary person without deliberately avoiding certain corners, sit in class without enduring the ghost floating behind her deskmate, and even sleep soundly at night without worrying about something standing by her bed.
The value of this "compensation," to her, far exceeded money or any material thing.
Sukuna seemed to sense the turmoil in her heart and continued in his emotionless voice, "Of course, this aura can only repel mindless, low-level trash. If you ever encounter a real threat in the future, or if you yourself develop a desire for power, you can call upon my name, Sukuna, through your will at any time."
His voice took on a faint, almost imperceptible note of temptation, like a devil's whisper. "Form a contract, pay the price, and you will gain the power to personally slay those filthy things. The price is determined by the contract's terms—perhaps your memories, your emotions, your lifespan, or a part of your body. The choice is yours."
Form a contract? Gain power?
Miko's heart contracted sharply. The proposal was incredibly tempting. She deeply understood the importance of having power.
But... the price?
Memories? Emotions? Lifespan? Even body parts?
It sounded like making a deal with a devil.
She looked at the apologetic Utaha before her and felt the cold, powerful presence in her mind. She was uncertain.
This being named "Sukuna" didn't seem like a purely malevolent entity who delighted solely in destruction and slaughter, but he was still a lofty existence. He wouldn't bully the weak without reason, but he was certainly no benevolent, merciful deity either.
He wouldn't harm her lightly, but she absolutely dared not offend him lightly either.
A contract?
Without fully understanding his nature or what the price truly entailed, she didn't dare gamble everything she had.
So, Miko took a deep breath, bowed deeply in Utaha's direction, and said respectfully, "Th... thank you very much for your gift, Sukuna-sama. I will remember the kindness of driving away the evil spirits. As for the matter of a contract, I... I don't have such a need at the moment. I hope you'll forgive me."
She chose to refuse. With a cautious attitude, she maintained her fragile dignity and right to choose.
Sukuna didn't seem surprised by her answer, merely letting out a faint, indifferent hum before falling silent. The oppressive presence lingering in Miko's mind also dissipated.
"Can you get home by yourself?" Utaha asked softly, concern in her tone. "Do you need me to walk you?"
Miko quickly shook her head, forcing herself to stand up and patting the dust off her clothes, even though her legs were still a bit weak. "N-no, it's fine. Thank you, senpai. My home is very close, I can get back myself."
All she wanted now was to leave this place as quickly as possible. Right now, she just wanted to think things through properly.
Utaha, seeing her feigned composure, didn't insist. "Then... be careful on your way."
Miko nodded, gave Utaha one last complex look, then turned and almost ran out of the alley that had left her with such a deep psychological scar.
"Let's go." Sukuna's lazy voice sounded again, tinged with a hint of impatience.
"Too much time wasted on this pointless sympathy. It's time to attend to proper business."