"So you just took them out directly?"

Larry stared speechlessly at the burly men groaning on the ground.

"That’s not fun at all. It’s no different from crushing them with raw power."

"My heart’s already battered because of them. Do you still have the energy for sarcastic remarks?"

Alicia cast a powerful ‘Goddess’s Blessing’ on the hand gripping Demon’s Jest. The Yuan Staff then detached from her grip on its own.

"I just taught them a lesson with Demon’s Jest."

Larry shot back, "Your ‘lesson’ is exhausting. Hurting the enemy a thousand but losing eight hundred yourself."

Cursed artifacts earned their name from the potent curses afflicting their users.

Once infused with Essence Force, Demon’s Jest bound to its wielder, draining their Essence Force, blood energy, and mental strength. The drain worsened over time. Without unbinding, even the mightiest would be sucked dry.

But the binding couldn’t be broken at will. Severing a limb or discarding it only brought it back. Destroying it risked hastening death.

All prior users had been killed by it—except Alicia.

She wielded it thanks to her ‘trait’, ‘Heaven’s Blessing’. Traits were innate talents; every being in this world had one.

Alicia’s trait doubled buff, healing, and defensive Yuan Techniques on others—and quadrupled them on herself. She was a super support and healer.

Yet it doubled Essence Force costs. Worse, she couldn’t learn any offensive or curse-based Yuan Techniques.

Not even basic fireballs or water arrows after a year of practice.

Demon’s Jest fixed that by twisting supportive magic into attacks and curses.

Alicia countered its side effects by stacking buffs and heals on herself first.

Past ten minutes, she’d use ‘Allah’s Blessing’ to forcibly remove Demon’s Jest.

(Allah’s Blessing cleansed curses.)

Alicia proved past users failed simply because their techniques weren’t strong enough. Her quadrupled ‘Allah’s Blessing’ worked.

"Not bad. Its suction felt weaker today," Alicia said, scratching her head. She kicked Demon’s Jest away.

The Yuan Staff always hid into nearby space once distant—silent and automatic.

Alicia stored it this way.

But this time, a pleased voice seemed to echo—was it a hallucination?

"Oh oh oh oh!"

Alicia: "...Larry, was that my imagination?"

Larry stared blankly where the staff had flown, shaking his head. "Shared hallucinations? I heard it too. That creepy sound gave me goosebumps."

"What’s going on?"

Alicia scratched her head, puzzled.

Just then, ‘Demon’s Jest’ reappeared at her feet—not vanishing into dimensional space.

Alicia: "??? Did those gay guys break this weapon?"

She picked it up, examining it. No damage.

Larry suggested, "Try that kick again?"

"Sure."

Alicia didn’t hesitate. She executed a bicycle kick, sending the staff flying.

Then…

"Oh oh oh oh! So good!"

Larry and Alicia exchanged confused glances.

The staff floated before Alicia, voice trembling with excitement.

"My dear lady, my tsundere lady, my violent lady, my beautiful lady! Your face outshines jade, your figure is slender and graceful—and your tsundere, arrogant, wild style? Perfect for me! You’re my dream master! Scold me, whip me—I’m yours forever!"

…

Alicia stumbled back, startled by the fervent voice. She only stopped when leaning against Larry.

"Larry, Larry—did you hear that?"

Larry gaped at the staff, nodding. "First talking Yuan Staff I’ve seen. Is this a cursed artifact’s spirit?!"

"Spirit my ass! Your whole family are spirits!"

The staff spun proudly. "I am the great Demon Overlord Mitchell Freyd!"

Larry: "Demon Overlord? Impressive?"

Alicia: "Dunno. Just a noble title?"

Larry: "He does look like those flashy nobles."

Alicia: "And his personality’s weird. Not strong at all."

"No! My tsundere lady! I’m no empty-title trash! I’m a true demon powerhouse—one of the topmost in the demon realm!" Mitchell rushed to defend himself.

Alicia frowned skeptically.

"You brag, but you’re sealed inside a Yuan Staff."

"Sealed?! My lady, you’re wrong! Mitchell is my own super cursed artifact—I willingly sacrificed myself to enter it!"

Alicia realized ‘Demon’s Jest’ was actually named Mitchell. A better name.

"Huh? Why?"

"For love!" Mitchell’s voice turned dreamy. "As Demon Overlord, I lived lavishly—but grew tired of corruption. While searching for meaning, a woman as beautiful as you appeared. She approached fearlessly, unlike ants. She did something that awakened my dormant heart!"

Larry asked curiously, "What?"

Mitchell sneered, "Ugly creature, inferior to slime—don’t speak to me. You make me sick."

Larry’s expression turned utterly offended.

He’d been insulted by a black, stick-like Yuan Staff that looked like street trash!

"Hahaha!" Alicia pointed at Larry, laughing hard. "I—I’ve never heard anyone insult you so badly! Hahaha."

"My great master, you’re happy? I’ll insult him daily!" Mitchell fawned, inching toward Alicia.

Under Larry’s glare, Alicia wiped tears, waving a hand. "No need. Hahaha—I’ll insult him myself. Just tell us what she did."

"Of course, beautiful lady!" Mitchell gathered his thoughts. "She didn’t kneel. She planted her hands on her hips, stared like I was filth, pointed, and cursed me with every vile word she knew. Oh oh oh!"

His voice soared—a perverted moan echoing in Alicia’s ears. She flinched, hugging Larry and hiding behind him.

"Don’t be scared. Hey, act normal—you’re terrifying her." Larry’s protective instinct flared, seeing Alicia like a startled kitten.

"Brat, shut up! In my day, I’d roast you in hell’s depths for billions of years!" Mitchell snapped, then softened. "Ah, sorry, sorry. My lovely lady—that memory is my peak excitement. I couldn’t help climaxing, hehehe." He oozed closer, making disgusting sounds.

"Stop! Stay there! And quit that noise—worse than a Fuxin Worm’s!"

(The Fuxin Worm feasts on rotting corpses, emitting ear-splitting, unsettling shrieks.)

"Oh oh oh! Calling me worse than a Fuxin Worm—I—I—I’m overjoyed! Yes! My rough lady!" Mitchell’s voice peaked, then he froze obediently like a trained dog.

Alicia and Larry: "…"

Was this guy a hardcore masochist?

Alicia noticed she was clinging to Larry. Her face flushed. She stepped back. "I wasn’t scared. Just startled. People make protective moves when shocked. Understand?"

Larry nodded, amused. Mitchell cried out again: "Oh oh oh! My perfect lady acting tsundere is adorable!"

"Shut up! Pervert!"

"Oh oh oh oh!"