The curse was essentially a 'mark' or 'contract.' As long as that water god spirit wasn't exorcised, the pact would hold, slowly draining Eiko's life until she became the next sacrifice, and then it would move on to another.
"Natsume... am I to blame?" she asked through her tears, her voice thick and choked. "If I hadn't saved her, maybe she wouldn't have died, and I wouldn't be like this..."
"No," he replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "You did nothing wrong. The fault lies with that thing pretending to be a god."
He gently lifted her chin, forcing her tear-swollen eyes, so pitiable they stirred sympathy, to meet his own blue Six Eyes blazing with icy rage.
"Eiko, listen."
"From now on, you don't need to fear a thing or worry about anything.
"Get ready. We're leaving for Izu tomorrow."
"I'll deal with the thing that cursed you and erase it completely."
...
Meanwhile, across Tokyo, in the Shinomiya family's main estate, with security stationed throughout the grounds.
In a sleek, minimalist room filled with cutting-edge technology
Ai hung up the call from Shinomiya without a flicker of emotion.
She stood motionless in the center, her blue eyes holding their usual indifference, showing no reaction at all. It was as if the order she'd just received, one that could change the course of her life, was nothing more than a trivial weather report.
As a servant of the Shinomiya family, or rather, a carefully trained tool for this vast conglomerate, she had long grown used to obeying any command, no matter how absurd or dangerous.
Her will, her feelings, even her life, had never truly belonged to her.
"Highest priority mission... target, Natsume..."
She murmured softly, and a massive holographic display materialized before her.
It scrolled rapidly through every detail on Natsume. From his enrollment at Sobu High, to in-depth backgrounds on everyone close to him, even the top-secret report the Shinomiya family had pulled with maximum clearance from the national university about the instant erasure of the special-grade curse spirit Hanami.
Ai's mind, working with machine-like efficiency, began analyzing the intel at lightning speed, constructing a psychological profile of the target.
[Name: Natsume Yuu]
[Identity: Transfer student in Year 2 Class F at Sobu High, head of the Occult Club, registered special-grade sorcerer]
[Ability Assessment: Possesses the legendary Six Eyes, technique system sourced from Gojo but appears to include some unknown special ability for purification and regeneration. Danger level: immeasurable.]
[Personality Analysis: Shows no clear interest in power, wealth, women, or other worldly desires. Highly values and enjoys a peaceful everyday life. Actions seem casual but follow strong personal principles.]
[Breakthrough Evaluation: Standard approaches like casual chats, chance meetings, money lures, or seduction... estimated success rate 0%. Target's Six Eyes likely pierces all lies and disguises. Any deliberate approach with ulterior motives will be transparent, triggering high alert and total mission failure.]
Conclusions flashed across the display one after another.
In the end, all the data pointed to one single, incredibly difficult entry point.
The Occult Research Club.
It was Natsume's only active link to the supernatural world.
To enter his life legitimately, in a way he couldn't refuse, the only option was to become a genuine client who truly needed his help.
A bold, reckless plan took shape in Ai's mind.
She walked slowly to her wardrobe and shed the impeccable maid uniform that marked her as a servant.
In its place, she slipped into simple white activewear, easy to move in.
She tied her distinctive golden hair into a casual ponytail, then added a baseball cap and black-framed glasses to hide her striking beauty completely.
Now, she looked like any ordinary college girl heading out for a night run.
"If I cannot get close to him," she said to her plain, almost unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, her voice flat and emotionless, "Then I'll become the kind of victim he can't ignore."
She turned and pulled up a map on the holographic display, compiled from the Shinomiya intelligence network, showing all high-risk supernatural sites across the Kanto region.
Her finger traced across it slowly, finally stopping on a spot in Chiba Prefecture marked deep red for extreme danger.
Inunaki Tunnel.
According to the rumors, anyone who entered never returned.
Recent reports showed curse residue levels spiking exponentially, reaching quasi-special grade.
"This is the place."
Ai calmly shut down the display, took a small emergency beacon disguised as an amulet from a drawer, and tucked it into her pocket.
Then, like someone stepping out for a casual stroll, she opened the door and walked alone into the inky darkness of the night.
She was walking straight into danger.
This perfect agent of the Shinomiya family, to fulfill her mission, chose without hesitation the most perilous and unforgiving path.