[Explosive Advantage] Engaging in a Mental Battle with the Strongest Evil Spirit Since Birth, I Exceeded the Measurable Magic Limit – The Humble Conquest of the Cursed Child - Chapter 2

“Mayumi… Mayumi!”

A large-built man, his rugged appearance contradicting his tear-streaked face, rushed toward the mother who had just given birth, grasping her hand tightly.

“I… I thought I’d never see you again…”

With her exhausted body, the mother managed a strained but genuine smile.

The man who had hurried to her side was her husband—the child’s father.

“Mayumi…”

The father could do nothing but utter her name.

But then—

“This is… completely unprecedented.”

“…!”

A voice called out from behind him.

The speaker was a stern-looking man of a similar age to the father.

“…Akaike.”

The man, whom the father addressed as Akaike, continued.

“For not a single person near the vessel of Demon God Douma to have perished during the Summoning Ritual… this is unheard of.”

Akaike’s statement was correct.

Throughout history, the ritual had always claimed victims.

The mother, the midwives, and the shrine maidens had all braced themselves for certain death.

And yet—

“This is an ill omen… That child must be eliminated.”

“W-What nonsense are you spouting, Akaike!? I won’t allow such a thing!”

Furious, the father shot to his feet, his rage palpable.

At that very moment—

【What did that bastard Akaike just say…? That he’s going to dispose of me…? I’ll rip him apart…】

“…!”

“Wha—!?”

“Is it happening!?”

A malicious aura flared from the newborn, sending a ripple of unease through the room.

(Seriously, cut it out already…)

【Damn it, what in the hell is this brat!? How can my power be suppressed…!?】

“I-It… it’s settling down?”

For some reason, the ominous energy that had momentarily surged from the child suddenly dissipated.

The adults let out a collective sigh of relief.

Yet, Akaike pressed on.

“I am risking my life by saying this… but I will repeat myself—that child must be eliminated.”

“And I am telling you—absolutely not.”

The father and Akaike locked eyes in a fierce battle of wills.

And then—

“Both of you, calm yourselves.”

A gentle-mannered man stepped between them.

“…Ginzan.”

The man, whom the father addressed as Ginzan, was also of similar age.

Ginzan spoke in a level, measured tone.

“The seventh birthday.”

He continued.

“By the time the child turns seven, the spirit will leave the vessel. That is the nature of the ritual.”

Ginzan was right.

The Summoning Ritual functioned on a seven-year cycle.

Upon the child’s seventh birthday, the evil spirit would retreat into dormancy, its influence significantly diminished.

The purpose of the ritual was to confine the curse within the child until that day, minimizing its reach.

“Given this, wouldn’t it be wise to simply observe the situation until the seventh year? What say you, Akaike?”

“…Ginzan, have you grown soft since having a daughter of your own?”

“Let’s not allow personal feelings to cloud our judgment, Akaike.”

“…Very well.”

Akaike clearly remained unconvinced, but he begrudgingly relented.

“I owe you one, Ginzan.”

“No need for gratitude. I merely stated the logical course of action.”

The father expressed his thanks, but Ginzan’s reply was curt.

(Man… I can hear them talking, but my vision is terrible…)

A newborn’s hearing is relatively well-developed, but their eyesight remains extremely poor.

(From what I can gather… I’ve become a baby. Which means—though it’s hard to believe—have I actually been reborn? The language I hear around me is Japanese, so does that mean I’m still in Japan? But even so…)

This world was far removed from the Japan I once knew.

(And there’s something else that’s bothering me… My mother’s name—it’s the same as in my previous life…)

And then, as if to add to my growing list of strange occurrences, something unexpected happened.

A voice echoed inside my head.

【Oi, brat…!】

I had a vague idea of what this voice might be, given what I had overheard from the adults.

【Hey, I’m hungry… Cry.】

(Ah… well, yeah, that makes sense…)

“Ogyahhhhhh!”

【…! F-Finally…! You finally listened to me…!】

(…What the hell? This thing is actually kind of adorable…)