"Hey, what's this? The mission item? Looks dangerous as hell," Alice said, grabbing a small vial from the Shogunate.
Inside swirled a scarlet curse energy.
"Careful, Miss," a samurai warned, visibly nervous.
"This is ultra-concentrated curse energy. We lost a lot of people collecting it," the samurai said with a bitter smile. "It drives youkai mad with bloodlust, and eventually, they lose all reason."
Reisen Riou and Raiden Ei found this curse on other youkai too.
It wasn't just targeting Chiyo or Yae Saiguu—it was aimed at all of Inazuma.
The curses varied: bloodlust, greed, survival instinct, fear-spreading.
Bloodlust curses were the most common; others were rarer but sneakier.
The Shogunate gave Alice the common bloodlust curse.
"Here's the deal, Miss Alice. Find the ones hiding behind this, fast," the samurai said, bowing.
"Got it. Leave it to me," Alice replied, asking when the youkai started getting cursed.
Most youkai didn't know when it hit them, but analysis pinned a rough timeline.
Reisen had tried the same, finding nothing.
Alice was different. She zeroed in on a suspicious figure right away.
Reisen and Ei exchanged stunned looks.
…
"Miss Alice, this is the youkai Kamai Kengenji, and this is Yashiro Commission deputy Yanagibashi Takuto," an Okuzumeshu yoriki introduced.
They bowed to the nameless yoriki leader. High-ranking youkai were on par with yoriki, but all bowed to an Okuzumeshu yoriki.
"Kamai, describe that weird feeling you had," the yoriki said.
"Yes, sir!" Kamai replied.
"Half a month ago, right after the General's patrol, Lord High Priest of Preservation's youkai energy swept through. No beasts around, so I planned to spar with Yanagibashi at camp."
"With the curse warnings, I stayed alert even close to camp."
"Then I ran into a malevolent spirit."
"Malevolent spirit?!" Alice raised an eyebrow. "What kind?"
"A common miasma-born Hyakume Oni spirit," Kamai said. "Looking back, it was weaker than usual. My chains met no resistance when I struck."
"After purging it, I stayed at camp. Three days later, I felt off. Tests confirmed an unknown curse," Kamai explained. "The Shogunate investigated, but found nothing."
"Too bad the One System, Ten Thousand Minds Machine is locked down. Would've made this easier," Yanagibashi griped.
"Quit complaining. The higher-ups have their reasons," the yoriki said.
"Can you show me where you fought that Hyakume Oni?" Alice asked.
"Sure, but it's been a while. Probably no clues left," Kamai said, leading her to the spot.
"Yanagibashi and I take turns patrolling. Routes vary, but this was near camp, so he saw my fight," Kamai said. "The Hyakume Oni popped out suddenly. Trees around camp were cleared, so I saw it clearly—it burst from the ground."
"Got it," Alice said, inspecting the area.
She occasionally used Elemental Sight.
"As I thought, it came from the ley lines. The Shogunate's right to lock the One System, Ten Thousand Minds Machine. Teyvat's ley lines are seriously messed up," Alice said, clutching her witch hat.
"But it can't fool me. Follow me!" She took off running.
"Miss Alice, slow down! It's dangerous!" the yoriki shouted.
"They've noticed us. Too slow, and they'll escape," Alice said with a grin.
They followed her to a desolate village with seven or eight houses, eerily empty.
The Inazuma samurai covered their mouths and noses. Kamai and Yanagibashi, local guardians, frowned.
"I don't recall a village like this nearby. Who's its guardian youkai?" Yanagibashi asked.
"Looks like it has none," Kamai said, frowning. "But that's weirder. How'd they dodge the High Priest's scans?"
Fighting sounds came from ahead. Kamai said, "I'll cast for backup. You help Miss Alice."
"No need, I'm done. Just caught some small fry, though. No big shots handling conspiracy cleanup," Alice said.
"Cough, who are you? Samurai, arrest this crazy woman! She attacked me!" an old man reeking of malevolent spirit energy yelled.
"No act needed, spirit. Your aura's a dead giveaway," the yoriki said, tightening his grip on his spear. "Spill who's behind this."
"Oh, time's up? Damn, can't even—"
"Fall back!" Alice yanked the two beside her as the old man exploded.
Golden talismans flared on the samurai, blocking the blast.
Alice, less gracefully, used a magic shield to fend it off.
Alice: "!!!"
You sneaky bastards.