Judith and Erne headed to their godmother's room after hearing Kaya's words that she felt a strange aura. They couldn't just ignore Kaya's words, who was raised as a medium, of all people.
“Hmm, that’s a strange feeling.”
The godmother's blurry eyes became sharp.
“For the past three days, I’ve been feeling strange whenever I’m around Miss Harrington.”
Although she was still young and couldn't explain it in detail using professional terms, Kaya did her best to express what she felt.
“Later, the feeling got stronger and stronger, and earlier it felt like being pricked by a needle. Is this a strange feeling, Godmother?”
“Yes, that’s right. I guess you felt it because you slept in the room right above Sir Erne’s bedroom.”
The godmother stroked the back of Kaya's head, saying that she was proud.
“Good job, Kaya. Go wake up Tan and tell him to come over, and you can sleep some more.”
“Yes, godmother.”
Kaya rubbed her eyes, still feeling sleepy, and went out of her godmother's room.
“Sir Erne, would you please open the second drawer over there?”
When the godmother pointed to the chest of drawers with her finger, Erne obediently opened the drawer.
“There should be something wrapped in a grayish-brown cloth there. Take it out and show it to Miss Harrington.”
Erne took out an old gray-brown cloth from the drawer. When he unwrapped it, he found a crystal inside that looked like it had just been dug out of a rock.
“These are the purest salt crystals. They are used to determine whether someone is under a spell or not. If someone is under an evil spell, the salt crystals will change color.”
Judith took the purest salt crystal from Erne's hand. She held it tightly with both hands just in case, and a dark stain appeared on the part where Judith's hand touched it.
“Oh, there’s a stain, Godmother.”
“You’re under a spell.”
The godmother once again asked Judith to tell her about the incident that had happened. The godmother nodded after listening.
“From what I’ve heard, it seems that the spell that Miss Harrington was under was a ‘contagion of curse.’ It looks like this is going to be a long story, so please sit down.”
The godmother offered Judith and Erne a seat. When they were seated, the godmother spoke again.
“Now, let’s check if that spell really works. If there’s anything you’ve lost and can’t find, please tell me. No matter how small it may be.”
After a very long conversation with the godmother, they discovered that Judith was under a spell.
“Miss Harrington was under the spell called ‘Contagion of the Curse.’ We call it Contagion among ourselves.”
Tan, who had been called out from his sleep, cleared his throat and continued his godmother's explanation.
“Contagion is a sorcery based on past contact.”
Any object that an owner becomes attached to acquires a part of its owner's essence.
“The more you treasure an item, or the more often or long it has been used, the more powerful the spell can be cast on it. The charcoal that was pickpocketed by Miss Harrington must have been used for a very long time, right?”
Judith nodded, thinking of the charcoal that had grown almost as short as a fingernail.
“I found it the first day I came to this mansion and have been using it ever since, so I’ve been using it for quite a while.”
“I guess they cast a spell on it. This contagion spell has the effect of bringing minor misfortunes.”
Contagion was a spell that made you fall, lose something, or make a mistake in an important situation.
“It is the most basic of all curses.”
As it is basic, its effect varies depending on the skill of the medium casting the spell.
“If an incompetent psychic does it, it ends with one or two minor mistakes. Like losing a small amount of money, stepping in shit, or getting into a fight at a bar.”
“But the spell cast upon Miss Harrington was cast by a very high-ranking medium. It piled up minor misfortunes and made them into a major one.”
The godmother continued to explain.
“Originally, the contagion was a one-time curse. However, as I said before, the medium who cursed Miss Harrington was a skilled one. They could set the curse to last until a certain goal was achieved.”
For example, one could cast a spell that would cause the curse to remain in effect until the target became disabled or died.
Judith thought back to the incident at the fireplace earlier. It was most likely a curse intended for her own death, as it had been trying to throw her into the flames.
Judith shrugged her shoulders as the back of her head began to ache.
“Can’t you find out who cast the spell?”
“If you want to find out, you can, but it takes a long time.”
“The process is complicated and has a high chance of failure. And Miss Harrington has to remain under a spell the entire time we’re tracking it. I think that’s a bit dangerous.”
Tan shook his head, saying he didn't recommend it.
“Then is it possible to get rid of the curse?”
When Erne asked, Tan nodded vigorously.
“Of course, since we have a godmother.”
The godmother let out a short sigh at Tan's boastful voice.
“Can you really remove the spell, Godmother?”
“It would be more accurate to say that we are removing it rather than eliminating it. We are going to transfer the spell.”
“Yes? Move? Where?”
The 'transfer of magic' used the magic of unity. The magic of unity was literally a magic that utilized unity.
“Anything that resembles me can be me. My portrait is like me, my hair is like me, my nails are like me, so they can be me.”
Anything that is like me can become me. That was the essence of the magic of unity and the principle that transferred the magic.
The godmother woke up Mia from her sleep and instructed her to make a stuffed doll using Judith's underwear and the stuffing from her pillow. She then filled it with Judith's hair, fingernails, and the bloody bandage from her injured foot.
“Let this be left where Miss Harrington sleeps. The curse will confuse Miss Harrington with the doll.”
So the doll that resembled Judith was lying in Judith's place on Erne's bed.
And Judith, who moved to the incense workshop,
“Erne, do something about your legs. They keep crossing the line.”
“What do I do with long legs?”
She was held in Erne's arms.
What happened was that while the doll was pretending to be Judith, Judith had to hide her aura.
To do this, the godmother mixed rock salt and special herb powder to make a specially processed powder. If Judith were to enter a circle drawn with that powder, she would be able to hide her unique aura.
The problem, however, was that the amount of powder was somewhat insufficient. The method of making the powder was complex, difficult, and even time-consuming.
It couldn't be produced right away because the current quantity was small.
“Since there is not much powder, it would be better to take Sir Erne with you.”
“Why me?”
“I told you last time. Sir Erne has a very strong aura. Sir Erne’s strong aura will dim Miss Harrington’s aura.”
So Erne and Judith ended up inside the circle together.
“Do not step outside the circle, and do not touch the powder. No matter how much energy the doll contains, it is not as strong as Miss Harrington’s own energy. If there is even the slightest crack, the curse will stick to Miss Harrington again.”
Everything went smoothly. Except for one thing: the circle was too small. When she was drawing, she thought it would be okay if she sat down right next to it, but when she actually sat down, it was too narrow.
Tan had Judith sit facing Erne on top of his legs and wrap her legs around his waist, but... that was a bit much.
So in the end, Judith sat with her back to Erne, hugging her knees between his legs. But this time, Erne's long legs were the problem.
He couldn't control his long legs.
“Try to fold your legs more.”
“This is all folded up. This won’t work. Come closer to me.”
“Oh, like this?”
Judith slowly pushed her hips back, pressing her back against Erne's chest.
Erne wrapped her arms around Judith's shoulders and crossed his long calves in front of Judith's legs.
It was as if Erne was hiding Judith tightly in his arms. Erne's heartbeat was transmitted through their perfectly closed backs.
The tension that had been taut around Judith was released by his body heat. Even though the curse was targeting her, she wasn't that scared. She just felt a little creepy.
Is it because of the chest that touches her back and seems like it will never collapse or the thick arms that seem like they will never come loose?
Judith could feel safe in Erne's arms.
“You’re not sleeping, are you? You can’t sleep in this situation, right?”
“I’m sleepy.”
“Is this a bold personality, or a loss of fear, tsk tsk.”
While Judith and Erne were cuddling, Judith's doll was on Erne's bed enduring the spell being cast on her.
“Hmm, that’s a strange feeling.”
The godmother's blurry eyes became sharp.
“For the past three days, I’ve been feeling strange whenever I’m around Miss Harrington.”
Although she was still young and couldn't explain it in detail using professional terms, Kaya did her best to express what she felt.
“Later, the feeling got stronger and stronger, and earlier it felt like being pricked by a needle. Is this a strange feeling, Godmother?”
“Yes, that’s right. I guess you felt it because you slept in the room right above Sir Erne’s bedroom.”
The godmother stroked the back of Kaya's head, saying that she was proud.
“Good job, Kaya. Go wake up Tan and tell him to come over, and you can sleep some more.”
“Yes, godmother.”
Kaya rubbed her eyes, still feeling sleepy, and went out of her godmother's room.
“Sir Erne, would you please open the second drawer over there?”
When the godmother pointed to the chest of drawers with her finger, Erne obediently opened the drawer.
“There should be something wrapped in a grayish-brown cloth there. Take it out and show it to Miss Harrington.”
Erne took out an old gray-brown cloth from the drawer. When he unwrapped it, he found a crystal inside that looked like it had just been dug out of a rock.
“These are the purest salt crystals. They are used to determine whether someone is under a spell or not. If someone is under an evil spell, the salt crystals will change color.”
Judith took the purest salt crystal from Erne's hand. She held it tightly with both hands just in case, and a dark stain appeared on the part where Judith's hand touched it.
“Oh, there’s a stain, Godmother.”
“You’re under a spell.”
The godmother once again asked Judith to tell her about the incident that had happened. The godmother nodded after listening.
“From what I’ve heard, it seems that the spell that Miss Harrington was under was a ‘contagion of curse.’ It looks like this is going to be a long story, so please sit down.”
The godmother offered Judith and Erne a seat. When they were seated, the godmother spoke again.
“Now, let’s check if that spell really works. If there’s anything you’ve lost and can’t find, please tell me. No matter how small it may be.”
***
After a very long conversation with the godmother, they discovered that Judith was under a spell.
“Miss Harrington was under the spell called ‘Contagion of the Curse.’ We call it Contagion among ourselves.”
Tan, who had been called out from his sleep, cleared his throat and continued his godmother's explanation.
“Contagion is a sorcery based on past contact.”
Any object that an owner becomes attached to acquires a part of its owner's essence.
“The more you treasure an item, or the more often or long it has been used, the more powerful the spell can be cast on it. The charcoal that was pickpocketed by Miss Harrington must have been used for a very long time, right?”
Judith nodded, thinking of the charcoal that had grown almost as short as a fingernail.
“I found it the first day I came to this mansion and have been using it ever since, so I’ve been using it for quite a while.”
“I guess they cast a spell on it. This contagion spell has the effect of bringing minor misfortunes.”
Contagion was a spell that made you fall, lose something, or make a mistake in an important situation.
“It is the most basic of all curses.”
As it is basic, its effect varies depending on the skill of the medium casting the spell.
“If an incompetent psychic does it, it ends with one or two minor mistakes. Like losing a small amount of money, stepping in shit, or getting into a fight at a bar.”
“But the spell cast upon Miss Harrington was cast by a very high-ranking medium. It piled up minor misfortunes and made them into a major one.”
The godmother continued to explain.
“Originally, the contagion was a one-time curse. However, as I said before, the medium who cursed Miss Harrington was a skilled one. They could set the curse to last until a certain goal was achieved.”
For example, one could cast a spell that would cause the curse to remain in effect until the target became disabled or died.
Judith thought back to the incident at the fireplace earlier. It was most likely a curse intended for her own death, as it had been trying to throw her into the flames.
Judith shrugged her shoulders as the back of her head began to ache.
“Can’t you find out who cast the spell?”
“If you want to find out, you can, but it takes a long time.”
“The process is complicated and has a high chance of failure. And Miss Harrington has to remain under a spell the entire time we’re tracking it. I think that’s a bit dangerous.”
Tan shook his head, saying he didn't recommend it.
“Then is it possible to get rid of the curse?”
When Erne asked, Tan nodded vigorously.
“Of course, since we have a godmother.”
The godmother let out a short sigh at Tan's boastful voice.
“Can you really remove the spell, Godmother?”
“It would be more accurate to say that we are removing it rather than eliminating it. We are going to transfer the spell.”
“Yes? Move? Where?”
***
The 'transfer of magic' used the magic of unity. The magic of unity was literally a magic that utilized unity.
“Anything that resembles me can be me. My portrait is like me, my hair is like me, my nails are like me, so they can be me.”
Anything that is like me can become me. That was the essence of the magic of unity and the principle that transferred the magic.
The godmother woke up Mia from her sleep and instructed her to make a stuffed doll using Judith's underwear and the stuffing from her pillow. She then filled it with Judith's hair, fingernails, and the bloody bandage from her injured foot.
“Let this be left where Miss Harrington sleeps. The curse will confuse Miss Harrington with the doll.”
So the doll that resembled Judith was lying in Judith's place on Erne's bed.
And Judith, who moved to the incense workshop,
“Erne, do something about your legs. They keep crossing the line.”
“What do I do with long legs?”
She was held in Erne's arms.
What happened was that while the doll was pretending to be Judith, Judith had to hide her aura.
To do this, the godmother mixed rock salt and special herb powder to make a specially processed powder. If Judith were to enter a circle drawn with that powder, she would be able to hide her unique aura.
The problem, however, was that the amount of powder was somewhat insufficient. The method of making the powder was complex, difficult, and even time-consuming.
It couldn't be produced right away because the current quantity was small.
“Since there is not much powder, it would be better to take Sir Erne with you.”
“Why me?”
“I told you last time. Sir Erne has a very strong aura. Sir Erne’s strong aura will dim Miss Harrington’s aura.”
So Erne and Judith ended up inside the circle together.
“Do not step outside the circle, and do not touch the powder. No matter how much energy the doll contains, it is not as strong as Miss Harrington’s own energy. If there is even the slightest crack, the curse will stick to Miss Harrington again.”
Everything went smoothly. Except for one thing: the circle was too small. When she was drawing, she thought it would be okay if she sat down right next to it, but when she actually sat down, it was too narrow.
Tan had Judith sit facing Erne on top of his legs and wrap her legs around his waist, but... that was a bit much.
So in the end, Judith sat with her back to Erne, hugging her knees between his legs. But this time, Erne's long legs were the problem.
He couldn't control his long legs.
“Try to fold your legs more.”
“This is all folded up. This won’t work. Come closer to me.”
“Oh, like this?”
Judith slowly pushed her hips back, pressing her back against Erne's chest.
Erne wrapped her arms around Judith's shoulders and crossed his long calves in front of Judith's legs.
It was as if Erne was hiding Judith tightly in his arms. Erne's heartbeat was transmitted through their perfectly closed backs.
The tension that had been taut around Judith was released by his body heat. Even though the curse was targeting her, she wasn't that scared. She just felt a little creepy.
Is it because of the chest that touches her back and seems like it will never collapse or the thick arms that seem like they will never come loose?
Judith could feel safe in Erne's arms.
“You’re not sleeping, are you? You can’t sleep in this situation, right?”
“I’m sleepy.”
“Is this a bold personality, or a loss of fear, tsk tsk.”
While Judith and Erne were cuddling, Judith's doll was on Erne's bed enduring the spell being cast on her.
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