[Rose, bring up the curse exorcism request once again,] Ace asked, his tone measured but persistent. This curse exorcism request was the errand he wanted to tackle while picking up the Doctor Druid doll.
During the move, Dame Wasp, who kept up to date with news in the 'World of Curses,' found a few curse exorcism requests located about 45 min to 2 hrs' drive from their town. As the name suggests, these were mercenary missions to exorcise curselings.
In cases of curseling emergencies, the local authorities usually contacted the C.I.B., who would immediately dispatch curse slave personnel to investigate and report the situation to headquarters. Based on the threat level and urgency, C.I.B. would decide on an appropriate response.
If the threat wasn't immediate or didn't involve risking the lives of a large population or important individuals, the C.I.B. would typically post it as a curse exorcism request on its official website on the curse web. These requests were available for registered and rogue curse users to complete in exchange for a decent cryptocurrency reward, paid upon submission of exorcism proof to the local/honorary C.I.B. representative overseeing the case—no questions asked.
While it might seem like the C.I.B. was being incompetent, the reality was that they were stretched extremely thin. They were responsible for monitoring borders and states for curse terrorists and powerful curselings. They had to stay prepared at all times for threats from the World of Curses, enemy nations, or curse calamities.
On top of that, the C.I.B. was tasked with protecting politicians, bureaucrats, lawmakers, VVIPs, and key figures critical to the nation's economy. Their duties also extended to safeguarding their own families from enemies they had made on the job. After addressing these priorities, there weren't many personnel left to attend to lower-level curse exorcism requests. Adding to their burden, they frequently had to deal with politicians and bureaucrats pressuring them to prioritize their neighborhoods over others.
This situation was why governments worldwide were pushing the issue of registering curse users among their citizens. It wasn't about forcing them into servitude but about maintaining order—treating them like tagged endangered species in a nature reserve. So they knew where they were and what they were upto.
Creating more curse masters and slaves seemed like a potential solution, but even among the best candidates, half died during the process. Aptitude for curse energy or strong will wasn't enough; an element of luck appeared to play a crucial role as well.
Thus, governments came up with a clever alternative: the curse exorcism request board on the curse web. Here, any curse user could take on requests and claim rewards upon proof of completion, no questions asked. Initially, curse users were skeptical—how could they not be? After all, these were the same governments that pushed for curse user registration. However, after decades of use, they were no longer skeptical, though they still warned others to undertake requests at their own risk.
Ace, who did not want his existence known to the World of Curses, would never have considered taking on a curse exorcism request—ever. But Dame Wasp had brought him one he simply couldn't refuse.
-Curse Exorcism Request-
Location: Wesley Winery Resort & Spa
C.I.B Rep: Town Mayor
Casualty: One staff member missing
Suspect: Phantom Paint (Confirmed)
Objective: Search for and exorcise the curseling
Time Limit: One week from the date of posting
i) Report to the Town Mayor upon completion of the request to collect the reward. (No Questions Asked)
ii) Only the curse user with the Phantom Paint's curse core will receive the reward.
iii) In case of property damage, the cost will be deducted from the reward.
iv) Any inappropriate conduct by the curse user will result in permanent banning from the curse exorcism request board and inclusion on the C.I.B. wanted list pending investigation.
v) Any inappropriate conduct by the local/honorary C.I.B representative should be reported via the C.I.B curse exorcism request board on the Curse Web, will be investigate immediately.]
Ace frowned as he reread the request. [Rose, how far is Wesley Winery Resort & Spa from here?]
[It's an hour's drive, Master,] Dame Wasp answered promptly.
[Alright. We're skipping school and heading there first thing tomorrow morning. Set the winery as the drop location. Ask the doll makers to deliver your wig, silicon face, and the doll there by 10 a.m. tomorrow. Follow the same protocol as the last delivery and text them all the details,] Ace instructed Dame Wasp through the status screen after a brief moment of thought.
For the first time, Ace was making a decision in haste. He couldn't let the opportunity to acquire the Phantom Paint curseling's core slip through his fingers.
To other curse masters, the Phantom Paint curseling might have been nothing more than a rare mortal-tier entity, but to Ace—the Toymancer—it could be the key to actualizing an overpowered Toy summon. The reward wasn't what drew him to this mission; it was the curseling's core, and for that, he was willing to take the risk.
[All done, Master. But I no longer require the wig and the face,] Dame Wasp reported to Ace, catching him off guard.
Ace raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. [Why, Rose? Did you change your new body's design or something?]
[No, Master, I didn't. The design is still the same,] Dame Wasp replied calmly. [But Emi mentioned that she can use the DNA material we collected from Janice during the Crab Boil to create an actual hair wig and a flesh face.]
Ace blinked, surprised. Before he could ask for more details, Emi chimed in to clarify, her tone warm and reassuring. [Master, I can use my spiritual arts to heal and accelerate regeneration for others. Similarly, with a little help from science, I can apply the same principle to the hair strands and skin cells we collected from Janice. By enhancing their growth, I can produce very long hair strands and flesh tissue, which we can then shape into a wig and a face for Senpai's new body.]
Ace leaned back, processing the information. [That's... impressive. A blend of spiritual arts and science, huh?]
Emi chuckled softly. [Exactly, Master. A perfect harmony of the two.]