"It's nice to go on a stroll in Orario without anything happening." Hakuno admitted as Lili walked beside her.
"I agree Lady Hakuno, but what had Lady Hestia all worked up last night?" the Pallum asked. Last night, Hestia went to Hakuno's room, and started hugging and crying while sputtering comprehendible nonsense and saying how proud she was and all that. All Hakuno could do was give her pats on the back as she tried to make sense what happened. But at least she got to eat a rather special Jagamaru-kun that Hestia and Passionlip made together.
Hakuno made sure to give Ais a piece because she looked at it like it was a Dungeon Boss.
The markets weren't up to speed with their business since several shops have been wrecked by War's initial assault are still under repairs. But everyone was working together in helping to return everything back to normalcy. Today the Familia taxes were due, and Lili was helping Hakuno handle it since her condition had improved but still required someone to accompany her outside of the Familia home.
As they reached the Guild, Hakuno froze before looking around alarmed. "Lady Hakuno, what's wrong?!" Lili panicked. It was rare to see the usually unflappable Holy Witch looked alarmed as she was looking around with sheer focus.
"There's a curse somewhere in the building." Hakuno stated, eying two advisors, as one held a pile of books with her before Hakuno's eyes widened in alarm. She immediately walked right over and slammed her hand against the counter to startle them as they screamed at looked directly in Hakuno's veiled face and took notice of the stern frown on the visible half of the face.
"T-The Holy Witch…!" Eina squeaked out as everyone froze and slowly looked at the source of the commotion before giving the area where Hakuno and Lili were at a wide berth out of fear.
"The curse, where is it?" Hakuno demanded.
"Eh?" Eina blinked, looking confused.
"There's a book in that pile that holds a very strong curse to it. I need to find it before it gets to anyone." Hakuno explained.
"Wait, you can tell when-oh wait, you're a witch, so you'd know a curse anywhere." Lili grumbled, almost feeling foolish for almost forgetting Hakuno's occupation.
"A curse? No way! These are all books on romance! Why would anyone put a curse in one of these?" The other advisor Misha retorted with a playful snort.
"Trust Lili lady, you don't want to know how spiteful some people are when it comes to romance. Lili can vouch for that." Lili instantly answered with a distant look in her eyes, recalling how…disastrous some members of the adventurers she was hired by acted when they suffered a failed romance and broken hearts. The sheer spite and vitriol they spewed terrified the Pallum and made her wish she died. Which was very often around Valentine's Day for men who never received chocolate in their life.
Never again.
Eina cupped her chin in thought as she eyed the books warily. If one of the books are cursed, then it would be best to dispose of it immediately for the sake of others. "Is this one cursed?" Eina asked, handing Hakuno a book as she took it.
""Find Your Love This Summer for Dummies" …eh?" Hakuno read aloud with a quizzical tilt of her head. That title was a 'For Dummies' series book she recalled seeing back on the Moon Cell in the library. How'd this get to this Lostworld? Did the author somehow drift here by accident?
""16 Ways to Make Hot Elves Fall for You", "108 Secrets Popular Girls Have" …are you pulling Lili's leg, Miss Advisor?" Lili commented, looking at Misha with skeptical eyes
"I'm a nerd for romance! I must study if I ever want to find my ideal partner for a romantic summer!" Misha beamed. All it did was give Lili a stomachache just listening to this woman. She's already given up on finding a partner, and she also had standards compared to some of her fellow female Pallums who'd be opportunistic at the smallest chance for living the high life.
Hakuno felt like the gods of this world inherited some of the more stupid aspects of Pan-Human History if some of the ridiculous aliases and book titles were to say anything about it.
"Still, if Miss Hakuno insists one of the books has been cursed, it should be wise to confiscate it before it can harm anyone." Eina suggested as Misha waved a hand in dismissal.
"Like that'd ever happen! Just read one and find out if it has some sort of crazy writing in it and then see if it has the curse." Misha said while handing Eina a book while Hakuno was cautiously examining the covered with her metallic fingers. It was still hard to believe the girl had prosthetic arms and act like nothing happened.
""6 Things You Should Do with Your Boyfriend on the Beach This Summer"? What kind of book is this?" Eina asked Misha as she was wary of it before attempting to read it.
"Oh, that book. Interesting decoration for sure, but it somehow gives out an ominous impression…" Misha commented, causing Hakuno to snap her head up and look at the book in Eina's hands…the one that she was currently opening to read. And saw the darkness within.
"Eina, no!" Hakuno cried out. But it was too late. Eina flipped the book open and froze. The half-elf's heart beating rapidly as she felt another presence overwhelmed her mind. Then, darkness consumed her.
"Ah shit, here we go again…" Lili grumbled. Just once, JUST ONCE! Would she like a peaceful week without anything bad happening.
*Dian Cecht Familia*
"I see you're doing well Kishinami-san, unlike our newest patient here." Amid noted with a side glance at an unconscious Eina who was currently writhing in agony. "So, you say this is a unique curse?" the Dea Saint asked while Hakuno folded her arms and sighed.
"A curse of resentment and longing. Whomever the author was clearly did this out of petty spite. I'd cure it myself but doctor's orders." The witch shrugged nonchalantly while Amid was at the least happy her patient was taking the order to the utmost seriousness. But it also served as an inconvenience since this curse refused to be purified.
"What kind of book was it, and by whom?" Amid asked as Misha held the book in question out. "Ah," Amid said, realizing the structure anywhere. "Hakuno, that's a…"
"Yes, a grimoire. Whomever did this was rather devious in disguising it as a book on romance. And this is no ordinary curse. It's a deep-seated desire from the one who put it there that will not disperse unless conditions are met. I'd ask my mom but…" Hakuno trailed off, as everyone shuddered at the idea.
Morgan could easily disperse the curse, but she would not be amused being asked to do something she'll consider trivial when she's busy running a kingdom. That was a complete no.
"We can't leave her like this either. If left under the curse's influence, she'll develop unusual symptoms." Amid explained as she cupped her chin in thought.
"What kind of symptoms?" Misha asked, unaware of the figure behind her while Amid had reread the book carefully to figure out the author's intent. Hakuno gestured to Lili with a rather amused smile on her face and Lili suddenly got the picture and stood to the side. It was poor luck they didn't have any popcorn on them right now.
"Wait, this book is written by..." Amid froze in realization before turning to Misha. "The Goddess and her familia who weren't popular in their life!" she announced.
"…Huh?" Misha blinked, trying to comprehend just what she just heard right now.
"…Pfft!" Hakuno had to look way and stifle her laugh. It was so stupid and absurd to the highest degree it reminded her of Shinji and Elizabeth when they teamed up in the Far Side. It was so bad in a good way that the Holy Witch realized what was going on now. This was a comedy route.
"…Lili needs a drink." The Supporter stated with a flat expression, officially fed up with the world for all its idiocy it was throwing at her.
"…Misha…" Eina spoke in a whisper, right behind her co-worker as she turned to see her friend standing there with flushed cheeks and a look in her eyes that sent warning bells inside Misha's head.
""…So I'll, like, make this wish into a curse and leave it for future generations." …is what is written in the book." Amid finished reading aloud on what was written in the book.
"Because one girl couldn't get a boyfriend, she decided to make a curse to do…whatever it is to the advisor?" Lili asked, tone in disbelief while Eina was slowly getting close and personal with Misha who was scooting away from her co-worker.
"Let me guess," Hakuno said, her tone filled with mirth as she watched the scene from her spot on the other side of the room. "The curse is an act of desperation to get a boyfriend or an equivalent to one?"
"I should take you home…You are a cutie…" Eina said, transfixed with her friend.
"Correct. She'll hit on anyone, no matter the gender. That's what the curse does!" Amid confirmed as Eina tackled Misha and tried to kiss her.
"Someone get her off of me…!" Misha cried out, trying to keep her friend's face from hers.
"…Lady Hakuno, can we pretend we never saw any of this?" Lili asked her Captain, who, under her veil was smiling. Which Lili realized was a bad thing, as she felt something terrible was going to happen.
"Amid, did that grimoire say anything about how to lift it exactly?" Hakuno asked. Amid blinked at the question and then checked the grimoire again.
"There is. If we can do the six things the Goddess or her familia never could do in this book, then the curse will be lifted." She confirmed while Hakuno clapped her hands and had a rather smug smile on her face.
"Lili, I know what we're doing for the next few days!" she announced while Lili had a dry smile on her face.
"Lili knows this is going to be one of those bizarre adventures again…" the Pallum mused wistfully. Just like old times when she first met Hakuno.
"It's good that you are all aboard with removing the curse but help get her off me!" Misha shouted hysterically as Eina was closing in with a 'kissy face'.
Oh boy, never a dull moment huh?
