Chapter 88: Curse

Lift the curse?

"Meow... it’s highly likely, meow~"

"Let’s gather these beans first, everyone, help out."

"Alright."

"No problem."

"Got it, meow~!"

They had already gained plenty of practice harvesting Fairy Beans back at the Fox Beastman village, so the work went fast, they were very skilled at it by now.

Before long, they had gathered a full bag of Purification Beans.

Ethan’s group brought the beans back to the handcart, only to find the ghost pointing in another direction.

"She wants us to follow again?"

"Let’s go."

This time, the ghost led them west — the exact opposite direction from the Witch’s Library.

They arrived at a steep cliff, the ghost pointed down.

"Um... do we really have to go down there?"

"My blood magic can handle it, don’t worry." Walter conjured two massive blood-red birds.

Ethan, Zharok, and Pearl climbed onto the birds’ backs, wings spread wide, the constructs carried them slowly to the bottom of the cliff.

"Ugh... what is this smell... it’s awful..."

All of them were very familiar with this smell, it was the smell of Chaos, compared to the mine they had visited earlier, the aura of Chaos here was much denser. ℯ

Ethan’s group arrived before a cave exuding a foul stench.

Pearl hastily covered its nose and said to Ethan, "Meow, hurry up and use the Purification Beans, meow!"

Ethan did as it said, scattering the Purification Beans in his hand toward the cave, a miraculous thing happened — the originally nauseating stench vanished, however, an unbearable odor continued to emanate from deep within the cave.

"Does she want us to go in?"

The ghost appeared again, pointing into the darkness.

Ethan drew the Holy Sword and took the lead, they passed through a long, narrow, dark corridor and reached the deepest chamber.

"This is..."

"Meow-ahhhh...!! What a terrifying curse, meow...!!"

A skeleton sat cross-legged deep inside the cave, completely covered in a black sludge that seemed to pulse with a life of its own, that nauseating stench was coming precisely from this sludge.

"It seems the reason we got lost earlier was because of this curse."

"Curses have this kind of power?"

"A powerful curse can distort the surrounding environment, this curse’s power is so immense, it’s not surprising at all that it made people lose their way." Zharok paused, then turned to Ethan.

"Try using the Purification Beans to see if you can purify it."

"Meow! This is a physicalized curse, meow! Ordinary Purification Beans won’t work, meow!"

"Is that so?"

"Only one way to find out, meow!"

Ethan scattered the beans over the black sludge, however, just as Pearl had said, the Purification Beans had absolutely no effect on it, not only was the black sludge not purified, but it also continued to wriggle, attempting to completely swallow the skeleton.

Seeing this, the ghost lowered her head in sorrow.

Ethan looked at her. "Let’s try another method."

"Another method? What method?"

’If the Purification Beans can’t lift the curse on the skeleton, I need something with stronger purifying power.’ He thought of the Purifying Wooden Bucket back at the cabin, it was currently being used to wash dishes and clothes, but perhaps its purifying effect could work on a curse like this.

"Zharok, could you make a trip back home for me?"

"No problem, but what do you need?"

Ethan explained his idea, after listening, Zharok crossed his arms, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head.

"Are you sure this will work?"

"If it doesn’t, then we’re out of options, but I want to give it my best try." He glanced discreetly at the ghost, she was staring unblinkingly at the skeleton and the curse, eyes bloodshot, and a trace of sorrow shone in her gaze.

"Alright, then let’s try it, I’ll..."

Ethan took out the Purification Beans from the bag. "I’m going to plant some new Purification Beans."

...

When Ethan and the others returned to the Fox Beastman village, Ash was very confused, after listening to Ethan’s explanation, he nodded thoughtfully.

"I see, I never expected such a terrifying curse to be there... truly unbelievable."

"Meow, it must be a curse related to Chaos, meow, the smell is awful, meow!"

"Such a terrifying curse must be eliminated as soon as possible, is there anything we can do to help?" Ash asked.

"Just lend me a piece of land to plant Purification Beans."

"No problem, use whatever you like."

After receiving Ash’s permission, Ethan’s group returned to the earthen house they had stayed in before, Ethan began preparing food for Zharok’s upcoming long journey.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Anything, ideally something that replenishes stamina and is easy to eat on the road."

’Steamed buns, then.’ Steamed buns were the most convenient thing for traveling, easy to carry, easy to eat on the move.

Ethan made a batch, adding salt and a bit of cured meat to each to enhance the flavor, he wrapped the finished buns in thick leaves and placed them into a leather pouch, then he patted Zharok on the shoulder.

"How long do you think it’ll take?"

"Full speed, I should be back in a week at most."

"I’ll leave it to you."

"Don’t worry." Zharok wolfed down a bun, turned, and left.

Ethan watched his figure disappear into the distance, then headed for the fields. "Let’s continue farming."

"Meow-meow, didn’t you say you’re planting Purification Beans? Is there a special method, meow?"

"Nothing special, same as the Fairy Beans." Ethan picked up a hoe, ready to get started.

Walter snapped his fingers, and a massive blood-red bird materialized in front of them. "Use it to plow."

"Oh, thank you." Ethan took the blade off the hoe and fashioned it into a plow, then secured it onto the blood-red bird.

Walter controlled the bird, walking it back and forth across the field, with every step the massive creature took, the earth was plowed deeper and more evenly than any hand tool could manage.

Ethan looked at the plowed soil in satisfaction, then took out the Purification Beans.

"What are you going to do, meow?"

"Sprout them." Ethan soaked the Purification Beans in water, then spread them evenly in a breathable wooden basket, he watered the beans at regular intervals while simultaneously activating Growth Acceleration.

"Meow! They sprouted, meow~" Tender green sprouts broke through their shells, one after another.

Walter couldn’t help but marvel. "Your abilities are truly miraculous."

"It’s nothing, now it’s time to plant them in the ground."

"Meow! I’ll help you, meow~"

"I’ll help too."

"Thank you both." With Walter and Pearl’s help, Ethan planted the sprouted Purification Beans into the field, they first leveled the ground, then dug small holes one by one, carefully placing each bean sprout inside.

He looked at the newly planted rows and picked up his watering bucket. "The rest will have to wait for Zharok’s return."