The silence lingered for quite a while.
There was no sound other than the faint, steady rhythm of quiet breathing echoing softly within the shop. The old wooden shelves surrounding us stood motionless, and every now and then, a faint creaking sound could be heard, as if the place itself was observing our conversation.
The atmosphere, which had previously only felt awkward, had now turned heavier. My words seemed to have dropped something deep into Yaeko's mind, shaking her understanding of a world she had always believed to be normal and simple.
"So, are you ready to work in this shop?" I asked again, breaking the silence with a casual tone, as if what we had just discussed was nothing more than a trivial matter.
"…I'm ready." Yaeko paused for a moment before finally answering.
Her expression had grown more resolute now. Her jaw tightened slightly, and although traces of hesitation still lingered in her eyes, her answer was clear. The decision came slowly, yet firmly, as if she had stepped past a point she could no longer return from.
"Hahaha! Good, very good!" I let out a light laugh, the sound breaking through the tension that had briefly settled in the air. The heaviness slowly eased, though it did not disappear entirely.
"In that case, I'll explain some of the basics first." I shifted my position slightly, leaning forward before fixing my gaze on Yaeko with greater focus. I deliberately held my stare for a few seconds, making sure she paid close attention to every word I was about to say.
"This is my first shop, one that will sell various magical items—or more precisely, what are known as Cursed Tools," I said in a calm, clear, and measured tone. "All the items in this shop fall under the category of Grade 2 Cursed Tools."
Yaeko listened intently.
Her gaze had become more focused now, no longer wavering as before, though her brows still furrowed occasionally. It was clear she was trying to comprehend the unfamiliar terms, piecing together the meaning behind every word I spoke.
"Overall, there are five levels, or Grades, of Cursed Tools," I continued, raising one hand, my fingers slowly spreading as if helping her visualize the explanation.
"They are Grade 4, Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1, and Special Grade." I paused briefly, allowing the information to settle in her mind.
"Grade 4 is the most common and the weakest," I went on. "It's usually used for simple purposes, with relatively low risk. In some cases, even ordinary people can use them without experiencing serious side effects."
I narrowed my eyes slightly, my tone growing deeper. "However, the higher the Grade, the greater the power—and the danger—of the Cursed Tool. Grade 3 and Grade 2 already require a certain level of understanding, especially in controlling the energy within them."
I paused again, making sure Yaeko was still following. "As for Grade 1… it enters a category that cannot be taken lightly. Its power far surpasses Grade 2, and it often possesses abilities that are significantly more advanced, whether in delivering destructive attacks or affecting a wide area."
I looked at her more sharply before continuing. "And Special Grade stands at the very top. The strongest, the rarest, and of course, the most dangerous. Not only are they extremely difficult to control, but they also carry the possibility of influencing their user. Only the great Jujutsu clans are likely to possess Special Grade Cursed Tools."
I let those words hang in the air for a moment.
Because in a world like this, what's dangerous isn't only what you can see… but also what slowly changes you without you even realizing it.
Yaeko's gaze gradually shifted, no longer filled with mere hesitation. Something was beginning to take shape in her mind, as if every explanation she had heard was now connecting, forming a larger, more tangible picture.
A realization began to dawn on her—the scale of what was being discussed… or at the very least, the understanding that the world she had always known might only be a small fragment of the true reality.
"And in this shop, I only sell various Grade 2 Cursed Tools. Nothing lower, and nothing higher," I continued in a relaxed tone, my shoulders lifting slightly as if I were merely talking about ordinary merchandise. "The price of a single Grade 2 Cursed Tool generally starts from ten million Yen and above. Ten million Yen is the most common price for one item here."
Yaeko's expression changed again.
Her eyes widened slightly, a reflex she couldn't suppress. Her shoulders tensed, and her breathing halted for a moment, even though she was still trying to maintain a calm expression on her face.
But that effort didn't fully succeed.
"And the most expensive Cursed Tool in this shop is a Grade 2 one priced at one hundred million Yen," I added in the same flat tone, without emphasis, as if such a number was nothing unusual.
This time, Yaeko's reaction could no longer be hidden.
Her body lifted slightly from the iron chair she was sitting on, a spontaneous movement that happened before she could control it.
She actually gave a small jump.
Her eyes widened completely, her pupils sharply dilated, and her mouth opened soundlessly for a few seconds. Her expression showed pure shock, unfiltered, without any attempt to restrain it.
A few seconds later, Yaeko quickly sat back down, as if she had just realized her own reaction.
She took a deep breath, once… then again, trying to steady her breathing which had briefly fallen into disarray.
Her hands returned to her lap, but this time her fingers were clasped much tighter. The tips of her fingers turned slightly pale, a sign that she was holding something back—whether it was shock, tension, or a mix of both.
I continued my explanation without giving her too much time to dwell on that shock.
"Then I won't explain too many complicated things," I said, slightly shrugging, my tone still light, almost casual. "Because I don't want you to get too stressed thinking that this world truly has a much wider mystical side than you imagine."
I looked at Yaeko for a moment, making sure her attention was still on me.
"The point is simple," I continued. "Every human has something called Cursed Energy."
I paused briefly, letting the term hang in the air before continuing. "That energy comes from negative emotions—such as fear, anger, anxiety, and despair."
The atmosphere suddenly became a little quieter.
"Most people are not aware of it," I said again, my tone remaining steady. "That energy keeps leaking without them realizing it, flowing just like that, slowly but constantly, and they live their lives as usual without ever understanding that such a thing exists within them."
Yaeko's gaze shifted again.
Now it wasn't just shock that could be seen, but also deeper thought. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her gaze was no longer fully focused on me—part of her was clearly recalling something.
There was a faint flicker in her eyes, as if she was beginning to connect my explanation with her own experiences.
Perhaps the fear she had felt without any clear reason. Or the anxiety that came without a cause she could understand.
"However, for certain people..." I continued, this time in a slightly lower, deeper voice, "...that energy can be controlled."
My words hung for a moment, creating a pause that felt heavier than before.
The atmosphere fell silent again, but this time it was different.
Not just because of shock, but because of a new understanding slowly unfolding before Yaeko—something she could no longer ignore.
Yaeko didn't answer immediately.
She only lowered her head slightly, her hair falling to cover part of her face. Her breathing had not yet fully stabilized, rising and falling in an uneven rhythm.
Her fingers clasped tightly in her lap, stronger than before, as if she was searching for something to hold onto amid the sudden change.
Her shoulders tensed slightly, then slowly relaxed, as if she was trying to calm herself from within. And for a moment, she simply remained silent.
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[Note: This novel is updated on every even-numbered date]
[Note: This is my other novel: As the White Spider-Man in Earth-76 with the Spider-Man System]
[Please forgive the author for the late update, everyone. A lot of things happened, but starting now, the author will update more often. Sorry again, everyone!]
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