My face is still in her lap.
Her legs are smooth. Warm. A little too soft for someone who just exploded part of the forest with vines.
"I'm not into lap pillows with death flags, thanks," I mumble, trying to sit up.
She gently pushes me back down with one finger.
"Hush, little curse. Let me enjoy the irony—your existence offends the gods, and yet your aura sings to me like a lullaby."
I freeze.
She knows. That I'm a curse spirit.
And she's not incinerating me.
The woman finally lets me sit up. Her throne is made of petrified bone and dark crystal, surrounded by floating red embers and shadowy butterflies. A low hum pulses through the air, like a heartbeat. I'm inside a natural shrine deep in the forest, and it radiates corruption—but in a weirdly elegant way.
She leans her chin on her hand and stares at me with gleaming, amused eyes.
"You may call me Lira. Demon Queen of Velnar, Sovereign of the Twelfth Hell, Devourer of Kings…"
She pauses, watching my blank stare.
"…Or just Lira. You look like the type who forgets titles anyway."
"Right. I'm… uh, Rin. Curse Spirit. Emotion type: Self-Loathing. New around here."
Lira raises a brow. "Self-loathing? Hm. Explains the lack of pants."I groan. "Okay, that's enough character development for today.""Don't be embarrassed. Most cursed spirits start naked.""…Is this one of those weird reincarnation novels with a pervy demon waifu?""Only if you earn it." She smirks. "And you're about 27 sins behind."
She snaps her fingers. A dark cloak floats over and wraps itself around me like living fabric. It's heavy and faintly pulsing, stitched with glowing red threads that resemble blood veins.
[You have equipped: Shroud of Silent Hate (Cursed Cloak – Tier C)]Effect: Conceals presence from Exorcist detection below Tier B. Increases regeneration when targeted by emotional attacks.
"Stylish," I mutter. "Do I get pants with that?"
"No," she replies without hesitation.
Suddenly, the clearing behind us rustles—and the young Exorcist trainee from earlier bursts through, sword drawn, bruised and limping.
"Get away from that curse!" he shouts, blade glowing white with purification runes.
I brace myself.
But Lira stands without a word, raises one finger, and snaps.
A wall of black fire erupts between us and the Exorcist, stopping Kael cold.
"Child," she says coolly, "This curse belongs to me now. If you'd like to keep your limbs, I suggest you holster that glowing toothpick and listen."
Kael hesitates—then slowly lowers his sword.
"...Why?" he demands. "Why would you protect a curse spirit?"
"Because unlike your Council," Lira replies, "I see potential where they see heresy."
She turns back to me.
"Rin. I'm offering you sanctuary. In exchange, you'll serve me."
"As your what?" I ask warily.
She smiles. Wide. Sharp.
"Spy. Weapon. Plaything. Whichever suits you best."
"...You had me at 'sanctuary,' but then you completely lost me at 'plaything.'"
Later that night, while Lira's off consulting her demon generals or whatever queens do, Kael and I sit around a campfire in awkward silence.
I glance at him.
He's polishing his sword while occasionally side-eyeing me like I might explode into spiders.
"You okay?" I ask.
"You're a curse. You're not supposed to talk. Or joke. Or look human."
"Yeah, I keep forgetting the script. I was human... before."
That makes him pause.
"Before what?"
"Before I got hit by a truck and woke up in a haunted forest naked and full of self-hatred.""…What's a truck?""A really fast metal horse.""...What?"
I wave it off. "Never mind."
He finally sighs.
"If you really aren't evil… will you help me take down the Exorcist Council?"
I stare.
"I just met you. I don't even know what this world's currency is yet."
"They lied to us," he mutters, voice hard. "They told us all curses were mindless. They didn't mention anything about ones with faces. Feelings. Voices."
That hits.
Harder than I expected.
"I don't care what you are," Kael says. "If you'll help me expose them, I'll protect you. Even if it means betraying my Order."
There's a long silence.
"…You're way too noble for this job," I say finally. "You'll probably die horribly."
"So will you," he replies without missing a beat.
"Cool. Partners?"
We shake on it.
As I lie on my back, staring at the cursed stars above the forest, something cold clinks near my neck.
It's a ring—dark silver, set with a gem that pulses with soft blue light. I don't remember picking it up.
Then I hear a voice in my head.
"Hey, idiot. Finally picked me up, huh?"
I flinch. "...Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Neri. Spirit of Hope. Long story. You're gonna need me if you don't want to melt into a sobbing puddle of emotional damage."
"…I already am emotional damage."
"Yeah. And I'm here to fix that."
[New Companion Bound: Neri – Spirit of Hope (Sealed)]
Passive Effect: +10% Emotional Resistance. +100% Sass.