The Strongest Curse Master

Leaving Dee3 in my elder sister's care, I stepped out of the dungeon gate planning to go find Ava, but to my surprise, she found me as soon as I stepped into the servant villa.

"Ace, are you interested in Dee3? Be honest with me. She is beautiful. I won't blame you," Ava, who had managed to get rid of nagging Layla, asked the boy. Though she claimed to be fine with him being close to Dee3, her eyes told another story. She clearly wasn't cool with him being close to girls other than her.

"What the heck?" I asked, my face twisting into a pucker of disgust as I looked at Ava. "What's wrong with you? She is my friend."

"No, don't get me wrong, I was just asking," Ava recanted, taken aback by the look on my face. Still, she added with grievance, "I have noticed that you have many friends who are conveniently beautiful girls."

'Master, don't forget you need her help,' Emi immediately reminded mentally before I burned any bridges. Well, let's not get dramatic, it's just Ava. She will help me anyway.

'Still, what the heck is wrong with her? We were just under attack and lost Mr. Birdie and a sky-tier agent. And all she can think about is this filth,' I said, finding Ava's actions unfathomable, completely aware of the hypocrisy in my words.

'Master, that kind of thought process is typical for a teenager. At that age, their hormones do all the thinking. Also, not everyone is blessed with curse abilities that can allow them to live out their wildest fantasies to their heart's content like you,' Emi reminded me. She told me to stop acting so high and mighty, as I was no different. 'Speaking of, it's been a while since we enjoyed some adult playtime. With Senpai busy, I believe we should make the most of this time. I know for a fact that DD is looking forward to it.'

I couldn't argue with Emi; she was right. I was no better than Ava. As it wasn't just DD who was looking forward to some adult playtime—I was too. But with everything going on recently, I haven't had the time to practice curse arts, let alone indulge in my wildest fantasies.

"Come to think of it, you're right. It's no fault of my own that all men see me as a threat," I vainly replied to Ava in an attempt to ease the air between us. After all, a woman's jealousy was more dangerous than a sharp knife.

"I know exactly how you feel. For some reason, women come to hate me too, and men act like my long-lost friends. Even those whom I met for the very first time. Honestly, it's baffling and inconvenient. I entertain them a little so as not to come off as rude, but it's not like I have any interest in them. However, we need to be upfront so that they don't get the wrong idea and cause us trouble down the line," Ava agreed with me, no longer afraid to show her narcissistic side to me. While she was at it, she advised me to make my feelings clear to my friends, especially of the opposite sex. She couldn't be more obvious.

Ava seriously lectured me about "thirst gals" and relationships, though I knew she was subtly telling me to cut ties with every girl but her. I couldn't help but find this side of her adorable, so I teased her, "What if they don't take the hint and continue to pester you?"

"Simple, I beat the shit out of them," Ava replied. "But you can't do that. Society frowns upon men who beat women, even though they preach gender equality. So, just call me. I'll deal with those troublesome gals for you." She offered this as if my sarcasm was lost on her. Losing interest, I shook my head, rejecting her, "I wouldn't want to trouble you with my problems."

"No problem, I don't mind. Call on me anytime you need me," Ava insisted, and I nodded in agreement, not wanting to waste further time on this nonsense.

"Enough about that. Actually, I need your help to contact your mother. I can't contact her," I was honest with Ava, knowing that no matter how harsh I was, she would find it in her to help me.

"That's simple, I will call here now," Ava said, taking out her new curse smartphone, it wasn't the government-issued one. Agent-in-trainees weren't allotted curse phones until they earned it by showing they were trustworthy and capable. Her mother bought her his curse phone using her influence and spending a small fortune.

"What's wrong with it? Why does it not open?" Ava suddenly scowled, vigorously tapping on her curse smartphone's screen.

"Ava, please return to the ranch and join us for the team practice sessions." The curse phone screen finally unlocked only to receive a video call from Layla. With her Voltiac Wisp curseling partner, it was hard for her to hack into Ava's curse smartphone or even hide in it.

"Shut up and hang up the call Layla. I need to call my mother," Ava ordered Layla after failing to end the video call. However, the latter was no longer her glorified babysitter, but team leader and she was in no mood to entertain her whims.

"Ava, madam E.A.D bought you that curse smartphone to contact her in case of emergencies. Please don't abuse it," Layla warned Ava, reminding her that she was only to use her curse smartphone for emergencies. Because the government charges a hefty price for civilians to make use of its secured network. Their prices were so steep that even Matthews had to think twice before receiving her daughter's call over the secured network.

"Layla, not now. You are embarrassing me," Ava helplessly bit on her lower lip and begged Layla to stop embarrassing her in front of her crush.

Taking the cue, I spoke up, "Layla, I need to talk to Mrs. Martins. It's for Dee3."

"For Madam Dee3? Why didn't you say so sooner? I'll call Madam E.A.D. right now," Layla immediately agreed without asking for further details.

Around the time Layla joined the C.I.B. as a full-fledged agent, Dee3 had just escaped the secret base the government was holding her in. Her actions and the government's response were a huge debate back then until everyone learned the government had forced Dee3 to go on the run instead of letting her retire as the hero she was. What hit hard was the chilling reveal that they never acknowledged Dee3 as a citizen, but considered her as ‌government property.