Chapter 6: Why Did It Have to Be Her?

Did she know what was going on?

Maybe, just maybe, Iris knew how to break the curse?

The instant she realized this, a hint of delight flashed across Yuuri’s face, but she quickly calmed down. With Iris’s personality, there’s no way she would just tell her outright.

So, what’s the price?

That one would definitely ask for something in return. To learn the way to break the curse, she’d have to pay a price.

“It’s just that I have a tiny request, you know.”

Just as expected. She probably wanted Yuuri to hand over her body.

Though the temptation to break the curse was real, Yuuri couldn’t be sure Iris was telling the truth. Blindly trusting her would only leave her empty-handed—and without her body.

“What do you want?”

“You just need to let me borrow your body for a short while, Yuuri-chan. It won’t take long. What do you think?”

As she thought, exactly as expected. She knew she shouldn’t have had any hopes for this one.

If she gave in, her body probably wouldn’t belong to her anymore.

So, “Don’t even think about it.”

Turning around, she continued down the mountain, with Iris’s somewhat frustrated voice following behind her.

“You really don’t listen to reason, do you?”

Glancing back, Yuuri saw Iris stomping her foot in anger—though, truth be told, her feet hovered just above the ground.

Ignoring the sulking Iris, Yuuri focused on distinguishing the sounds carried by the wind.

The previous disturbance had faded, and now, among the howling wind, there was a deep rumbling sound.

It probably came from deep within the mountains. Suppressing her curiosity for safety’s sake, she decided now wasn’t the time to explore that place.

She’d return for now, and come back to explore if she had the chance in the future.

She still needed to keep searching for a way to break the curse. As of now, the intervals between curse outbreaks had shortened to half a month. Whether it would get even shorter was anyone’s guess.

The agony from the last outbreak had knocked her out cold, and Yuuri couldn’t guarantee she’d wake up next time.

When that happened, Iris would definitely seize the opportunity to take her body.

Damn it… she still didn’t have much time.

She could only hope her body had grown stronger, so she could tough it out when the next outbreak came.

She needed to find a new method, and, almost unconsciously, Yuuri stopped and looked back at those mountains.

Rumor had it that deep within the Withered Mountains, there was a secret treasure that could grant wishes. But as things stood, there was no treasure—just a little evil god who had been locked up for who knew how long.

The problem was, she wasn’t the first one to enter the Mausoleum.

But why did this little evil god pick her?

If not for Iris, the only thing she’d have to face would be the curse’s outbursts. But now, she not only had to endure those but also keep her guard up against someone coveting her body.

The question nagged at her until Yuuri finally spoke up without thinking, “Iris, I wasn’t the first person to enter the Mausoleum. There were people who went in before me. Why did you pick me alone?”

“Eh?”

Hearing Iris let out a confused “eh,” it seemed she hadn’t expected Yuuri to ask that.

“Well, um…”

Eh?

Iris started hemming and hawing. Could there be some hidden reason?

“You’re the only one who could hear my voice.”

Huh?

What did that mean?

Before she found the Hidden Mausoleum, Yuuri had indeed heard a voice. Then she’d seen a blurry figure, had been controlled by it, and was forced to open the Hidden Mausoleum, letting Iris out from the stone coffin.

So, the people who entered before her hadn’t been able to hear Iris’s voice?

If they couldn’t hear her guidance, and only saw Iris’s shadow, that meant they couldn’t open the Hidden Mausoleum or release Iris from the stone coffin.

But why?

Why her? Why was Yuuri the only one who could hear Iris’s voice?

Had she known, she’d have pretended not to hear it in the first place.

But back then, she’d had no choice. Even if she had another chance, she’d probably end up with the same result.

“Why?”

“I don’t know~ Maybe, Yuuri-chan, you’re just different from everyone else.”

Different?

Different how?

Was it because of the curse on her?

This thing really had ruined her life.

She forced out a smile, but it looked even worse than crying.

“What kind of face is that?”

“It’s nothing, I just felt like smiling.”

If fate really wanted to toy with her, then she’d keep struggling.

Until she broke the curse, she wouldn’t fall.

At the very least, she wouldn’t let her body fall into the hands of the little evil god floating beside her.

“If I die, you’ll take over my body right away, won’t you?”

“That… depends on the situation.”

Oh?

She’d thought that if she died, she’d be taken over immediately. Now Yuuri wanted to hear what those “situations” were.

“Hey, Yuuri-chan, you don’t really think I’d tell you the details, do you? Think about it—why would I tell you, let you prepare yourself? But, if you really do die, you’d better keep your body as intact as possible.”

She claimed not to say anything, but she’d still let something slip.

No worries. If that day ever came, Yuuri wouldn’t leave a whole body behind.

But that day wouldn’t come. No matter what happened, she’d keep fighting to live.

“But for you to bring this up now, does that mean you’ve changed your mind?”

“No, about that—don’t even think about it.”

“Eh, you!”

Hearing the disgruntled voice in her ear, Yuuri quickened her pace, trying to put some distance between herself and Iris.

Though Iris had conditions for taking over her body, she’d definitely play dirty when it suited her. After all, she was an evil god—there was nothing she wouldn’t do.

She’d have to stay on her guard from now on.

Listening to the endless chatter behind her, Yuuri frowned a little.

She’d gained an annoying presence—one that was also dangerous.

She really wanted to say it to her face.

“Miss Evil God, please stay away from my body.”

But even if she said it, that one probably wouldn’t listen.

It was getting late. After getting down the mountain, she’d find a safe place to rest for the night, and head back to town at dawn.

*****

Night fell, cloaking the land in darkness.

After leaving the Withered Mountains, Yuuri found a good spot to spend the night by the river.

Gathering dead branches, she built a campfire. Listening to the crackling flames, Yuuri cleaned a wild rabbit she’d caught along the way, skewered it, and set it over the fire.

Though she didn’t have any seasoning with her, the meat of this kind of wild rabbit was naturally tender. Even without anything added, it would taste quite delicious once roasted.

Just then, Iris—who’d drifted off somewhere—seemed to be lured back by the aroma, and silently appeared beside Yuuri.

She didn’t speak, just crouched quietly next to Yuuri, cupping her cheeks with both hands, her eyes fixed longingly on the rabbit turning golden and crispy over the fire.

“Gulp…”