I realized one thing with absolute clarity.
Even without using Cursed Energy, and without relying on a Cursed Tool,
I was still capable of fighting fairly well.
The physical training over the past two weeks, combined with my body's gradual adaptation from continuously using Cursed Energy, had truly produced results.
My movements had become more efficient, my reflexes felt sharper, and my mind no longer went completely blank when facing pressure and relentless attacks.
I still lost—that was a fact. But I no longer collapsed without meaning.
After our fight finally came to an end, we all took a short break. I sat silently on the grass, my body feeling heavy, as if every bone and muscle was demanding more time to recover. A slow heat and dull ache spread through me, a lingering reminder of how brutal the training session had just been.
Mei Mei did not immediately continue either. She simply stood where she was, her shoulders rising slightly as she drew in a long breath. Then she began stretching at an unhurried pace. She rolled her neck slowly, lifted each arm one by one, as if she had all the time in the world.
Her movements appeared light, almost lazy, yet they revealed flawless control over her body. After a moment, her gaze shifted, settling on Shizuka and Rika, who were still standing not far from her, their faces filled with quiet vigilance.
Without much warning or signal, Mei Mei moved on to the next session.
This time, she fought Shizuka and Rika simultaneously.
The shift in situation happened so quickly it was almost seamless. The air around them seemed to tighten slightly, and Shizuka and Rika's instincts reacted at once.
They exchanged a brief glance before taking their respective positions, attempting to divide her attention and limit her space to maneuver. Even though they were prepared, the outcome… was fairly predictable.
Although Shizuka and Rika had shown significant improvement over the past few days, the gap in experience and technique still felt far too wide. Mei Mei moved with cold efficiency, every step precise, not a single motion wasted.
There were moments when Shizuka and Rika's movements still looked stiff. Their attacks were readable to someone far more experienced, and their coordination had yet to mature enough to confront someone like Mei Mei.
Every time they tried to corner her or apply pressure from two directions, Mei Mei always found an opening, breaking their rhythm before it could fully form.
In the end, Shizuka and Rika were thoroughly beaten as well.
Of course, Mei Mei held back. There were no broken bones, no serious wounds, and no permanent injuries left behind. Still, the pain, exhaustion, and frustration were undeniably real within their bodies.
Each strike that landed was hard enough to make their muscles tremble, precise enough to remind them of the distance in ability they still had to overcome.
Shizuka collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly, sweat dampening her temples. Meanwhile, Rika lay quietly not far from her, one hand gripping her own arm. Her face remained calm, her expression composed, though it was clear she was enduring the slow, spreading sting of pain.
Before we realized it, the afternoon had come to an end.
The sky gradually shifted in color, from bright blue to a soft orange. The sunlight was no longer blinding but instead draped the forest in a gentle warmth. The air grew cooler, carrying the scent of soil and leaves.
We all rested on the stretch of grass, allowing our bodies to recover little by little. No one spoke for a while. There was only the sound of uneven breathing and the whisper of wind slipping through the trees.
Not long after, Mei Mei rose to her feet and began preparing to leave, lightly patting down her clothes as if making sure no dust clung to them.
"Wait!" I called out to her at once, my voice breaking the quiet stillness of the night.
Mei Mei stopped mid-step and turned toward me. I was still seated on the grass, with Shizuka and Rika lying on my left and right.
Both of them looked exhausted, their bodies slack against the ground, yet their eyes remained open. They glanced at me with curious expressions, as though eager to hear what I was about to say.
"What is it?" Mei Mei asked, one of her brows lifting slightly, her face showing faint confusion.
I took a slow breath, organizing my thoughts before speaking. "Can you sell a Cursed Tool? Or… do you know a place where a Cursed Tool could be auctioned?"
"Hm?" Mei Mei frowned. "Why are you suddenly asking that?"
In response, I pulled an object out from the purple flames. The violet fire flickered brightly for a brief moment before dimming as the object materialized in my hand. I then extended it toward Mei Mei. "This."
She accepted the item and examined it carefully. It was a strange compass with an unusual design. Instead of a normal magnetic needle, fine grains of sand were sealed inside its circular glass chamber. The needle did not move like that of an ordinary compass, and its surface was decorated with faint, ancient-looking engravings, as if hiding a deeper, concealed function.
"This…" Mei Mei's eyes widened slightly, unable to conceal the spark of interest within them. "A Cursed Tool?"
"Yes," I replied shortly. "Its name is the Sand Sensor Compass."
I began explaining slowly, making sure every detail was clear. "This Cursed Tool can detect the location of Cursed Spirits within the user's vicinity. It works by continuously channeling Cursed Energy into the compass. As long as the flow of Cursed Energy is maintained, the compass will react. The sand inside will begin to move and gather into a clump."
"The stronger the Cursed Spirit being detected, the larger and denser that clump of sand becomes, while the needle will point directly toward the spirit's location." My tone grew more serious and measured as I continued, no longer as relaxed as before.
"There's even a possibility that this Cursed Tool can detect Special Grade Cursed Spirits nearby," I added slowly, making sure each word was delivered clearly. "Of course, that depends on whether the user can supply enough Cursed Energy to sustain its function."
Those words made Mei Mei stare at the compass in her hand with undisguised astonishment.
Her brows rose higher, her eyes widened a fraction more, and for a moment she forgot to mask her interest behind her usual calm expression. Her fingers slid carefully along the edge of the compass, as if she were afraid of damaging it.
"Then," Mei Mei finally said, her voice softer than before, "why are you giving something like this to me?"
"Isn't it obvious? Help me sell it," I answered with a faint smile. To Mei Mei, that smile might not have looked entirely friendly—more like the smile of someone who had already calculated several steps ahead. "Or, if possible, put it up for auction."
"I see…" Mei Mei shifted her gaze from me back to the compass, then looked at me again with a serious expression. "But how did you come across a Cursed Tool like this?"
She paused briefly before continuing in an analytical tone. "Most Cursed Tools are made for direct combat. Support-type Cursed Tools like this are extremely rare. Especially one capable of detecting Cursed Spirits."
"You don't need to know the origin of this Cursed Tool," I replied calmly, my voice nearly flat.
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