Taking up the Phantom Paint curse exorcism request meant Ace and his toy summons had already decided on what the fifth toy summon would be. Considering the abilities of the fifth summon, Dame Wasp had delayed forging her new body. Its unique abilities would greatly aid her in creating it. Emi, too, was waiting for the fifth summon to help her grow the wig and flesh face she had promised her senpai.
As a result, the Dame Wasp and Emi were now entirely focused on studying curse crafting to help actualize the fifth toy summon. Especially since Ace had put off adult fun until Dame Wasp got her new body.
[Rose, how many curse craft techniques have you been able to authenticate so far?] Ace asked, his tone curious as he recalled Dame Wasp's ongoing effort to collect free curse craft techniques from the Curse Web.
Dame Wasp had been meticulous in her approach. She didn't simply gather everything that crossed her path; instead, she focused only on those techniques that had genuine, positive reviews and had proven their effectiveness over time. Even with these criteria, she would painstakingly fact-check each one to ensure its authenticity.
Initially, Ace and Dame Wasp had considered purchasing a decent intermediate or advanced curse crafting technique online. However, Ace couldn't bring himself to trust those online techniques. It wasn't the money he was worried about losing—it was the risk of going astray. Practicing a fake curse crafting technique could cause irreparable damage to his innate curse tool or even his curse core. That was a risk he wasn't willing to take.
Although some online sellers tried to prove the legitimacy of their goods by signing curse contracts, Ace had his doubts. It was difficult to verify whether the person signing the contract was the actual seller or just a scapegoat being used to peddle fake techniques. This ambiguity frustrated Ace, and he began to realize the downsides of staying in the shadows.
His over-cautiousness, while keeping him safe, was costing him in terms of growth rate. He resolved to find a solution soon—before it became too late to recover lost ground.
Dame Wasp had previously advised him to abandon his reclusive approach and fully embrace the World of Curses for what it was, saying, 'Master, until you step into the light and embrace the World of Curses completely, you will just keep seeing monsters lurking in its shadow.'
Ace, however, had laughed it off. 'Maybe when the sun stops setting. But that's impossible—darkness is eternal, sweetheart.'
Dame Wasp's voice brought him back to the present. [So far, I've been able to authenticate five curse crafting techniques, Master. As for the rest, they have good reviews, have been around for decades, and are widely used. But I haven't found enough conclusive evidence to confirm their authenticity.]
There was a hint of frustration in her tone. Despite her futuristic cybernetics, which allowed her to process incredible amounts of data, Dame Wasp had only managed to authenticate five genuine basic curse crafting techniques out of the hundreds she had reviewed. This fell far short of her expectations, leaving her visibly irritated.
Ace frowned, noting her frustration. Attempting to reassure her, he said, [I suppose quality always beats quantity. But still, it's no small feat, Rose. You guys should first start familiarizing yourselves with curse crafting using these techniques. After all, you need to be prepared in time for actualizing the fifth toy summon.]
[We understand, Master. For now, we will start practicing these five curse crafting techniques and familiarize ourselves with curse crafting,] Dame Wasp agreed, fully aware that there wasn't much time left before they would need to prepare for actualizing the fifth toy summon using the Phantom Paint's curse core. Determined not to waste more time authenticating other curse crafting techniques, she resolved to focus on practicing the five she had already verified.
[Good. If you feel something is off, stop practicing that curse craft technique. If none of them fit you or Emi, or fail to meet our needs, we'll have no choice but to wait until our next visit to the curse mall,] Ace advised, knowing that not every technique was suitable for everyone or the curse tool one plans to craft. This was why curse crafters often practiced numerous curse crafting techniques—though it came at the cost of cultivating their curse core and honing other curse arts.
[Don't worry, Master. We will be careful,] Dame Wasp assured him. With that, each of them prepared to begin practicing their individual curse arts and techniques.
Soon, Ace settled comfortably into his practice session focusing on the Body Reinforcement curse art. His brows furrowed in focus as he channeled his energy, determined to master the two curse arts he was currently undertaking before moving on to others, like Curse Sensing arts.
After all, it would be a little inconvenient to rely on Dame Wasp if they were ever in a fight with other curse masters. However, he couldn't simply pause the Body Reinforcement curse art to practice other arts, as it was a fundamental technique. With every increase in proficiency, his body would be augmented by the curse energy, becoming more refined and sturdier.
Time slipped away unnoticed as Ace immersed himself in circulating his internal curse energy, following the intricate flow of the Body Reinforcement curse art. His breathing slowed, deep and even, his mind entirely focused on the steady hum of energy coursing through his limbs. He had no idea how much time had passed—until a sudden, sharp crack shattered the silence—Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of gunshots jolted him out of his meditative trance. His heart pounded as his eyes flew open, darting to the window. Ace shot out of his chair, adrenaline surging through him. His muscles coiled like springs as he dropped into a crouch and took cover beside the wall.
His breath came quick and shallow, his mind racing. For a brief moment, he strained his ears, waiting to hear if the shots were directed at him or the house. The seconds stretched unbearably.
Nothing. No bullets tearing through walls. No shouts or footsteps.
Ace exhaled shakily, realizing the gunshots were nearby but not aimed at him. Relief crept in slowly, but his instincts stayed sharp. He clenched his fists, steadying his nerves, and carefully leaned toward the window.
The courage to take a peek came reluctantly. Just as his eyes swept over the field, another volley of gunshots shattered the tense stillness. Ace flinched back instinctively, his pulse thundering in his ears—lup-dup! lup-dup! lup-dup!