After refining our miasma protections, we passed through the tunnel I’d excavated and emerged onto a bluff overlooking the Miasma Land. The terrain below was shaped somewhat like a gourd.
“Using miasma-warding ropes to secure the perimeter is a wise move. It ensures safety during entry and exit while preventing leaks and accidental trespassing,” Master Rosenberg noted.
“The rope cursed tools have been invaluable in several ways. Please, the path down is this way.”
“To think you’ve already installed such sturdy stairs.”
“The source of the miasma and its accumulation point are on the ground below. While I might struggle with soil already saturated with miasma, I’m quite adept at manipulating ordinary earth.”
As soon as we reached the site, Master Rosenberg immediately focused on the safety of the elevated area. It was likely an occupational habit. As I led the way, explaining the safety measures and the modifications I’d made, he listened intently, nodding in understanding while maintaining a sharp lookout.
Eventually, we reached the bottom of the stairs, arriving at the upper tier of the Miasma Land, which had been split into two levels by a past landslide. This was the primary source of the miasma, where the densest concentrations lay buried—the perfect spot for a statue designed for miasma absorption.
I retrieved the finished Jizo statue from my Item Box and placed it directly above the source I had identified with Kormi’s help.
“The statue appears to have two sides. What is the significance of these reliefs?” Master Rosenberg asked.
His question prompted an explanation of Jizo statues, cranes, and the relevant proverbs. The one I had installed was a type known as a boat-shaped mandorla. True to its name, the back of the Jizo statue featured a stone slab shaped like a boat, representing the Buddha’s halo.
Since these statues are carved from a single block of stone, they are categorized by the depth of the carving, such as half-relief or high relief. For this piece, I had carved a slumped, dejected Jizo on the front and a crane on the back, both in half-relief.
“‘A crane in a rubbish heap.’ I’m unfamiliar with the expression, but I take it you’re drawing a parallel between a rubbish heap and a miasma accumulation point?”
“I recall seeing these Jizo statues as part of the culture in the Dragonewt village, so perhaps the expression originates from there as well,” Sebas chimed in.
Knowing that I was a Child of God, Sebas-san stepped in to assist. He skillfully steered the conversation to imply the concepts had a known cultural origin so they wouldn’t seem to have appeared out of thin air.
“Master Rosenberg, I’d like to confirm the details of the spell. I intend to cast the magic on this stone statue using the same mental image as the Hand of Kesho. The effect will dissipate if the statue loses its form through miasma or physical destruction, or if the Mana Stone inside reaches its absorption limit. Does that meet your approval?”
“A countermeasure against the spell running wild? Excellent. I shall stand by in case of complications. Please, proceed.”
With his permission, I asked everyone to step back.
I checked the protective cursed tools on both hands, centered myself as I had during my previous attempts, and pressed my palms together in prayer.
I cast the spell as if offering a petition, entrusting the statue with my wish. When the target was a Jizo statue rather than a rake, this method felt far more natural; the decision had come to me instinctively.
“!”
Shortly after the spell’s activation, black dust began to flutter like soot in the wind. The condensed, visible miasma was being pulled toward the stone statue. Once I confirmed it was functioning correctly, I immediately retreated from the immediate area.
“Well done. The effect is unmistakable. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. This is my second time, and since I cast the spell on the statue, I didn’t have to stay at the center of the miasma. The fact that it finished so quickly was also a huge help. The burden felt significantly lighter—though, conversely, the intensity isn’t quite what it was before.”
“True, you likely find the effect weak compared to the Hand of Kesho. However, this is a safeguard for a time when you might have to use the technique in public. It must be something that wouldn't cause alarm even to those who don’t know you. For that purpose, this is more than sufficient. It is better that it is only that strong. If it produced an effect equivalent to the Hand of Kesho, we couldn't easily show it to others anyway.”
“Ahaha...”
I suppose that was inevitable, as even I considered the Hand of Kesho to be an extraordinary technique.
Then, a thought occurred to me. The finished version of the Jizo statue I just used wasn’t the Yakuza Jizo prototype I’d made in the Sea of Trees—the one modeled after myself. This one was designed for public consumption. While it was still linked to the mental image of the Hand of Kesho, I had made its appearance more traditionally Jizo-like, softer and more approachable.
To be blunt, looking at the Yakuza Jizo made me feel... complicated. So, I had remade it into the version standing before us. Since I could use it as the core for curse magic, the association hadn’t been completely lost in my mind. However, it was also true that the Jizo statue looked nothing like me.
If a statue so unlike myself could still produce an effect—albeit a weakened one—what would happen if I used the Yakuza Jizo?
“Owner, is something on your mind?”
I had only been lost in thought for a moment, but the ever-sharp Yudam-san noticed. I hesitated briefly, but since it wasn’t something I needed to hide, I explained the situation.
“So you have another prototype?”
“The mental image for the spell was quite clear, but that was a practice piece I made before creating this one. It’s much closer to the Hand of Kesho, and I even used one of the Mana Gemstone Fragments from the last test for its core. Considering public perception, I thought the current one was the only choice, so I brought it out first.”
“I see... If you still have the energy, let us try the practice statue as well. It will serve as both practice and a comparison of their efficacy.”
And so, we moved to the lower tier, and I brought out the Yakuza Jizo.
“This is... quite something. It radiates despair following agony, and then utter resignation. Even though the spell hasn’t been cast yet, I can feel the weight of negative emotions from this statue...”
“As a work of art with such a theme, there might be a demand for it. But... how should I put it? It has a presence that makes you want to keep your distance. It has a certain... atmosphere,” Yudam-san remarked.
“I have long known you were skilled at stonework, but this is a masterpiece above all others,” Sebas added.
They praised the quality of the statue, but I wasn't happy about it at all.
With those complicated feelings swirling in my mind, I cast the spell on the Yakuza Jizo.
“!”
The appearance might have been unsettling, but the effect on the statue—which felt much more ‘right’ to my mental image—was immediate. A volume of miasma incomparable to the previous Jizo statue surged from the ground in jet-black bands, coiling around the figure.
The miasma gathered with overwhelming speed, and for a moment, the statue was encased in a dark cocoon. It was being absorbed steadily. Though the miasma continued to gather without pause, the balance between convergence and absorption eventually stabilized, leaving the statue shrouded in a thin, dark veil.
However, because of that, the statue’s appearance became even more ghastly. It wasn't just the original gloom anymore; it looked truly cursed.
“...Owner, that thing looks incredible. Is it safe?”
“The miasma is definitely being sucked in, so it should be fine. It looks like you’d get cursed just by glancing at it, but I didn’t cast any spell like that.”
“From my perspective, there are no issues with the curse magic itself. As for the appearance, it is likely due to the original quality of the statue and the degradation of the stone’s surface. Objects exposed to miasma without protection weather rapidly, but this has gained an even more desolate feel... It looks as though it had been left in an abandoned mansion for decades.”
“The miasma around the eyes almost looks like black tears dripping down,” Sebas noted.
Covered in that thin black veil, it looked as if a God of Death was haunting it. As the surface weathered and chipped away, the stone began to look like flesh rotting off a bone.
Since there were no problems with the magic, we eventually ran out of things to say. We all simply watched the statue’s transformation in silence. Finally, the statue's head, now thin as bone, tumbled off. As the spell’s effect expired, the ambient sounds of the world finally returned.
“The absorption has stopped.”
“It seems that because the absorption speed was so high, the weathering of the statue was equally rapid. The miasma gathered just before the effect ended is drifting without being absorbed, but not to an extent that it will interfere with our management. Let us check the status of the upper statue and then summarize our findings.”
The results of the investigation were excellent. In terms of pure effect and efficiency, the Hand of Kesho was the highest, but it was also the most dangerous because it required standing at the source of the miasma.
Using the Yakuza Jizo was highly efficient—though not as much as the Hand of Kesho—and safe because the caster could maintain their distance.
In the case of the ordinary Jizo statue, while the efficiency was lower, the weathering was also slower. We decided to observe it over the course of several days to weeks. We had discovered the advantage that its effect lasted significantly longer.
For future Miasma Land management, we would choose between the rake, the Yakuza Jizo, or the ordinary Jizo statue depending on the situation. For public use, however, the ordinary Jizo was the only option.
“Well then, let’s finish up by performing a purification with smoke.”
“Yes!”
As I answered, I remembered another experiment. I actually had an idea I wanted to test regarding the incense sticks.
“Yudam-san, Sebas-san, could I ask for your help with something?”
“Sure, but what do we need to do?”
“Please, command us as you wish.”
I handed bundles of incense sticks to the two of them, who had agreed without hesitation.
“Please try using these. I’ve cast the same smoke-based purification spell we used last time directly onto the incense sticks. They’re similar to the misangas I made with the protection spell. At first, I thought it might be convenient to cast the spell beforehand to avoid consuming mana on-site, but then I realized... if it works, even people who aren’t curse specialists might be able to use them. I wanted to see if that was possible.”
“Understood. Are there any precautions for use other than lighting them?” Sebas asked.
“Just don’t blow on them to put out the flame after lighting. Oh, and I’ve also made a censer, so I’ll set that out. Once they’re lit, just stand them up in the ash inside.”
The two of them lit the incense, and I placed an extra-large censer. Master Rosenberg observed the scene from behind. As the scent of the incense spread, the air gradually began to feel lighter.
“It’s purifying. It doesn’t seem quite as effective as when Ryoma-kun uses the spell directly, just like with the statues... but your spells have a wide range to begin with, and the smoke will last for a while, won’t it?”
“In my prior tests, they lasted between one and two hours. The burn time and the spread of the smoke are heavily influenced by the weather, though.”
“If the effect holds for the duration, it should be more than enough for regular maintenance of the Miasma Land.”
“That’s a relief! Next, I’ll try using the purification spell directly myself. Once that’s done, I’ll leave this censer here for future use. I’ve prepared a lid to keep the rain out, and just to be safe, let’s wrap some miasma-warding rope around the area when we’re finished.”
“That is an appropriate response. Even if something happens, you’ve established a system where it will be noticed immediately.”
Looking up at the watchtower with a smile, Master Rosenberg gave his approval, and we continued our work.
Eventually, the wind began to pick up, and after about an hour, our management duties for the day were complete.
“Good work today. This was only the second time, but I have no concerns after watching you. Please continue with this level of performance.”
“Thank you. You as well, Master Rosenberg. Now that the work is finished, shall we head back to the management hut and rest?”
“The sun goes down early these days, and it’s getting chilly.”
“Speaking of it getting chilly, Owner... Isn’t this a good opportunity to use that new thing you made? Our clothes are covered in the smell of smoke, after all,” Yudam-san suggested.
“It might be a bit early, but doing so while it’s still light out would be a luxury,” Sebas added.
“??”
Master Rosenberg and Sebas-san looked puzzled, but I was certain they would appreciate the surprise once they saw it.