Another mission, another cursed spirit to absorb. The ever lasting, seemingly endless cycle was twisting around again like water down the drain.

The mission was in an abandoned shopping district, certainly a place where many low level cursed spirits were dwelling. Typically, this place wouldn’t be much of a problem. Usually the higher-ups would send some random sorcerer to exorcise them, but their reports recorded a higher level presence here. So that’s where Suguru came in.

He had his hands shoved in his pockets as he walked around, scanning the area for the supposed Special Grade cursed spirit. Most other cursed spirits were cowering, hiding from his view. The shopping distract was desolate and in ruins, trash scattered and littered everywhere, broken windows and aged signs on the buildings.

Eventually, he senses the presence he was looking for. Suguru begrudgingly followed the trail, finding a little alleyway with a dumpster and old garbage bags. The smell was absolutely revolting, and it took everything in him not to back away and puke. Thankfully, a small rustling distracted his senses.

He yanked open the dumpster, anticipating some grotesque and vile form, but was met with… a child? A lone child, dirty and clothes tattered, but still a cursed spirit. It sat there, holding some trash in its hands.

Suguru’s eyes widened as his grip tightened on the lid of the dumpster, his mind racing. Should he just… absorb it? He should! The appearance was obviously a trick, a way to pull at heartstrings and morality. He lifted his arm, ready to activate his cursed technique.