"Rose, you scared the shit out of me!" Ace barked, his voice sharp with both relief and frustration as Dame Wasp materialized before him.
For a fleeting, agonizing moment, he had thought she'd gone rogue in a reckless bid to impress him and win back his trust. But no—Dame Wasp had already secured the doll case. On her way out, however, she wanted to hack into the resort's Wi-Fi, intending to hijack its surveillance system. She planned to monitor the movements of the S.S.S. members and eavesdrop on them through the microphones of devices connected to the network.
He should have known better than to think Dame Wasp would pull a reckless stunt just to impress him and end up putting him in danger. He understood that he had grown insecure about his powers and often wondered if he truly deserved them. Ace wasn't afraid of hatred or hardship—but love, unconditional and selfless, terrified him. He felt unworthy of something so precious, something so many could only dream of. And yet, here he was, with two loyal toy summons who would do anything for him, and soon, he was going to animate another one.
"Sorry, Master. I should have been clearer in my report. Do you want me to return and hack into the resort's Wi-Fi?" Dame Wasp apologized, in a tone laced with contrition, understanding that her incomplete report had caused her master distress and worry.
However, the words Ace had said to her earlier, and seeing him receive her with concern and worry, made her feel blessed, like the luckiest toy in the whole damn world. Though she felt bad for making her master worry unnecessarily, her wings vibrated, unable to hide her extreme joy.
Dame Wasp thought she had lost her master's favor because she prematurely confronted his trauma, but it turns out she underestimated her master's love and faith in her. Knowing this made all of it worth it, though it would not have affected her duty in any way, as she would have continued to serve him loyally regardless of his feelings for her.
"No!" Ace exclaimed, then added with a grin, "I can't wait for you to gain your new body and teach a lesson or two. Why go looking for trouble when we just got out of it? Now that we've collected the doll, let's go camping by the creek. I'm famished. We can catch and grill some fish while the new member of our family animates."
"Alright, Master. I know just the place that fits your requirements and taste," Dame Wasp replied. She began to prepare to return to her toy space but paused when she noticed Ace kneeling down.
He reached for the doll case, eager to inspect the life-size adult silicone doll of Doctor Druid, which he planned to animate as his next toy summon using the changeling curse core.
Ace ran his fingers over the military-grade case that served as the doll's box, his awe evident. With a determined tug, he broke the locks and lifted the lid. As it creaked open, a glimpse of flawless green skin made him stop short. Swallowing hard, he slowly lifted the lid further, revealing a stunning green-skinned female humanoid doll with ample curves.
Adorned in thorny vines that accentuated her striking figure, the doll was both enchanting and provocative. Ace couldn't deny the temptation she stirred within him. He hesitated for a moment before reaching out, his fingertips brushing over her dark green, alluring lips.
His hand moved instinctively, caressing her flawless skin and toned yet curvy body. The doll's cold surface reminded him it wasn't real flesh but silicone, yet it was almost better—smooth, supple, and sturdy all at once.
Snapping out of his trance, Ace shook his head to clear his thoughts and pulled out the drawers built into the case to check for accessories. What he found left him momentarily speechless.
In addition to all the props for Doctor Druid, the girls from the Oracle Doll Makers had packed an array of sultry dresses and lingerie tailored to the doll's green skin tone and voluptuous body. The pieces were trendy, fashionable, and undeniably alluring. It was as if the women from Oracl Doll Makers had perfected the art of appealing to every man's fantasies.
Ace let out a low whistle, closing the drawer with a chuckle. "Those Oracle girls really know what they're doing," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he prepared to focus on the task at hand.
"The Oracle Doll Makers outdid themselves with this one," Ace muttered, closing the doll case. With a flick of his hand, he fed it to his cursed toy box sending it to Emi's toy space for her to store in her storage talisman. Turning to Dame Wasp, he asked, "Speaking of them, should I be worried about them?"
Dame Wasp considered the question before replying, "The resort seemed like a legitimate business to me than a hideout. Especially, its prices were insanely high but the rooms and service was equally flawless. While I was there, I didn't find anything suspicious or concerning. It was entirely run by mortals and not by curse slaves like in the curse mall. Plus, this isn't the first time the girls have visited this resort. They've been here a few times before and liked it, which is why they recommended it in the first place."
She paused, her wings flickering slightly before continuing. "Considering the surge in curse-user activity across the county, I actually think this resort is one of the safest places for them to unwind. After all, the members of the S.S.S. aren't stupid enough to ruin their own hideout, nor are they likely to tolerate anyone else causing trouble here. They'll keep the peace to maintain the sanctity of their safe haven."
Ace nodded, his brow furrowing as he absorbed her reasoning. Dame Wasp's logic was sound. It was true that curse users were everywhere—today more than ever, for reasons unknown to him. Mortals had few places to escape the growing menace, and this resort, guarded by the self-interest of the notorious S.S.S., was likely as secure as it got.
He could demand the Oracle Doll Makers leave under some pretense, but who was to say they wouldn't run into a malicious curse user on their way home? That was beyond his control. Believing otherwise would be foolish.
Ace sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "You're probably right," he admitted, though the weight of responsibility lingered in his eyes.
Shaking his head, Ace stuck the invisible and presence-erasing talismans onto his body and bike before gathering the three talismans he had used to create his cozy hideout.
As he climbed onto his bike, Dame Wasp returned to her toy space but continued to share his senses. With his growing curse prowess and spirituality stats, Ace had discovered he could use his sense-sharing skill to allow both his toy summons to experience his senses simultaneously.
However, it came at a cost—prolonged use left him mentally and spiritually drained. He wondered if practicing curse arts that focused on sensory enhancement might help him utilize this skill more efficiently. It was yet another item to add to his ever-growing to-explore list to remind him to hurry and complete mastering the body reinforcement and curse concealment arts.
Not wanting to exhaust himself before reaching the campsite, Ace decided to cut off the sense-sharing connection with Emi, preserving his energy for the journey ahead.
Navigating through the dense woods and steep slopes under Dame Wasp's guidance, Ace finally arrived at a hilltop. The sight before him stole his breath. It was, without question, one of the most beautiful scenes he had ever laid eyes on.
The landscape looked untouched by mankind, like one of those pristine, unspoiled vistas often featured on outdoor channels. It stirred something deep within him—a primal feeling he hadn't known existed.
The breeze carried the crisp, invigorating fragrance of wood and the creek below. The wind whistled gently through the trees, mingling with the melodic calls of birds. The serene symphony of nature created a peacefulness that felt almost otherworldly.
Ace couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. He only had a single afternoon to enjoy this slice of paradise. If he didn't have to return home before school let out, he would have gladly spent a few days here practicing his curse arts.
Now that would have been fantastic.
Lost in the breathtaking scenery, Ace's eyes caught sight of steam rising further uphill among the dense woods. He blinked in disbelief before summoning Dame Wasp and Emi. "Is that what I think it is?" he asked, his voice tinged with excitement.
"Yes, Master, that's a natural hot spring," Dame Wasp replied with a smile. Her tiny form hovered around him, basking in his joy. This had been the big surprise she'd kept from him, and seeing his elation made it all worthwhile.
"Rose, I love you!" Ace yelled, breaking into a sprint toward the spring. Dame Wasp followed close behind, her wings vibrating in delight, while Emi quickly stored the bike in the storage talisman and hurried to join them.