Driven into a state of near-madness at the sight of Girimehkala, the three spirits finally reverted to ordinary human forms and fainted. After nursing the trio (?) back to their senses, I had just finished hearing out their circumstances.
"So, you're saying you were instructed by this young lady, the master of this estate, to drive us away?"
"Yes. Originally, we planned to scare everyone off, but Din's twin sister was taken hostage by Kernel, a subordinate of the King of Curses. We were coerced into offering several of the earlier intruders as sacrifices."
Sitting upright on the floor in formal seiza, the full suit of armor nodded heavily, confirming my question.
The situation was as follows.
Their master, Lucile, was a woman who had purchased and lived in this estate in the past. However, a terrifying entity nested within the mansion, and Lucile was cursed to death. Ever since, her soul had remained bound to the estate. In the years that followed, numerous others had bought the mansion, only to be cursed to death as well.
"That damn bureaucrat! What happened to 'five unnatural deaths and two cases of severe injury'?! That's entirely different from what he told me!"
From what I had just heard, people had been cursed to death by the dozens. It was nowhere near a mere five unnatural deaths.
"The King of Curses, was it...? This smells exceedingly dangerous. Kai, I believe we should fall back for now and report this matter to the Hunter Guild."
"That is one option, but the Hunter Guild likely won't be able to act immediately."
"Why not?! People are actively falling victim to this!"
"Because the faction that recommended this place to me was the vice headmaster faction of Babel."
The former vice headmaster, Crab Einstein, was nothing more than small fry, but the current vice headmaster, Rasputin Grahart, is reportedly hailed as the greatest mage in Babel's history—a man not easily dealt with. Recommending this estate to me through one of his pocket officials was likely petty harassment aimed at me for permanently removing his senior, Crab, from this world.
For hunters to conduct large-scale operations here in Babel, permission from the academy is required. In the first place, since their objective is to harass me, they will surely stage some form of sabotage against any request from the Hunter Guild. At the very least, I doubt he would ever nod his approval.
"That may be true, but it is obvious what will happen if people continue to be consumed by the curse! If we explain the danger—"
"It's useless. It is precisely because it's dangerous that Rasputin will leave this estate as it is."
If the curse of this estate runs rampant and harms the students of this city, he will use it as an excuse to hold the current headmaster accountable for the disaster. That is the scheme he must be orchestrating.
"How could he...?"
Turning my gaze away from Rose, who let out a crestfallen murmur, I looked down at the three spirits sitting on the floor.
"The enemies are the ringleader behind the curse and that fellow named Kernel who took up residence in this estate a few years ago, correct?"
I asked bluntly.
"Y-Yes. That is correct."
As if cutting off the nodding maid, Rose gasped.
"Wait, Kai! Don't tell me you intend to handle the King of Curses by ourselves?!"
Her face pale, Rose asked what went without saying.
"Of course."
The opponents were the King of Curses and his subordinates. As if I would ever hand over something so entertaining to the Hunter Guild. Lately, I had grown sick to death of dealing with nothing but novices claiming to be arbiters of good or evil.
The razor-thin line between life and death, the terror, the despair. All of it had been entirely absent from my recent life. Perhaps against this King of Curses, I might finally experience a thrill that would make my skin prickle.
"Lord Kai! Leave this matter to me! I swear I won't disappoint you again!"
Asura, the three-faced fierce god who suddenly materialized, slammed his right fist against his chest and offered his service.
"Hmm, to you, is it...?"
Asura had asked me to spar with him, so I had been training him relentlessly. Furthermore, he had recently been roughhousing with Beelzebub, and while only slight, he had certainly grown stronger than before. Even so, he was still hopelessly unrefined. The enemy's strength was an unknown. Was it truly wise to leave it to him?
"Belze, are you there?"
"By your side, master."
Beelzebub, the bipedal fly wearing a crown, welled up from my shadow.
"What do you think of his offer?"
"No problem at all, for sure."
If Belze, who had been keeping company with him lately, said so, there was no mistaking it.
"Very well. I shall leave it to you. I will now move to exterminate the King of Curses and the rest of the lot dwelling in this estate. Asura, you, Zenki, and Goki will form a team to protect the residents of this mansion. Do not let so much as a single bug leave these grounds!"
If my prediction was correct, the enemy wouldn't be limited to just that fellow Kernel. It would also be tedious to care about every single move made by the King of Curses' minions.
"You got it!"
"By your will."
"Understood."
Zenki and Goki appeared as well, kneeling before me and voicing their compliance.
"Girimehkala, are you fine with this as well?"
"O Great Father of ours! But of course!"
Girimehkala dropped to his knees and bowed his head deeply.
"Let us begin at once."
"U-Um..."
Din looked up at me with an anxious expression, calling out hesitantly.
"Fret not. I will surely rescue that twin sister of yours unharmed. I will also thoroughly destroy the King of Curses who abducted her. Yes. So completely that not a single trace remains."
Flashing another smile, I made my declaration with conviction.
Whoever they might be, scum who would murder innocent children have no right to exist. To bind their souls even in death, and on top of that, take a child hostage? They had already crossed several of my taboos. Even if they wept and screamed, there was not the slightest chance I would grant them mercy. On my conviction, I would inflict the most terrifying despair imaginable before wiping them out.
With that resolve burning in my chest, I drew Murasame from my back, rested it over my shoulder, and began to walk.