Melody opened up and didn't look exhausted. “Oh lil’ bro. Where is my little sister? And why does your hair look like a mess? Did she really let you go out like this?”

  Don't worry. In the new unhinged Misha on the block. There is someone you need to meet but…

  I inspected the stable crystals floating around her.

  Never mind, it seems you figured it out.

  “Oh these? Yeah, it was rough. I just have to find a way to charge them with magic that can dispel curses and then… write a research paper… I'm not looking forward to that…”

  Still impressive to get this far in a month.

  “I feel like I’m cheating with my race… it would have taken forever without my tails…”

  Welcome to the club. Now come!

  Noelle was still slow as ever. I think that in a race between Giana and Noelle, Giana would leave her in the dust. It would still be a battle of a snail vs a tortoise, though.

  Melody proudly told me how she managed to stabilize the crystals and get them to hold more complicated magic. The hours she had spent in the library and more. She was about to ask what we were up to when we arrived at Azu's house.

  With Noelle dropped off, it's time to locate Rai Shin and Silk. I'm leaving Gerda as last, as it might increase the time of possible awkwardness. I'm not completely socially retarded!

  They were not home, so I tried their workshop. Silk was spinning some strange thread, and Rai Shin was zapping a strange appliance.

  Breaking stuff again?

  Agn…Minerva! Look! Everyone loves me!

  He gestured at the 3 Misha working here besides Silk. It looked more like ‘respect for a colleague’, but if that's what he needs to behave, then that's fine.

  How is the clumsiness Silk?

  “I…I will get you back for that!” Silk seemed vengeful, but she tripped. Doesn't seem so vengeful anymore. I caught her, preventing her from face-planting.

  I will make it up to you. Do you like ice cream?

  Ooh I want some too! I could use a break. Ladies, that's all for today. Good job!

  The Misha cleaned up Rai Shin's mess and left.

  Working them to the bone eh? I left some ice cream behind at a strange place. Let's go!

  Silk told me what they were up to. While Rai Shin didn't get much done, she developed the threads I saw. They had interesting properties and could be woven into our garments. It didn't take long for Silk to talk normally to me. It was different from her ‘idol mode’. She was quite the chatterbox. How unexpected.

  Right, the others are already inside, I just have to find Gerda.

  “Rai Shin, you go inside. I will join Minerva. I know where Gerda is.”

  Don't blame me if all the ice cream is finished when you return!

  Silk wanted to lead the way, but tripped again.

  I’m sorry Silk, the tripping is almost over. We found a way to dispel the curses.

  “Really?! That's great news!” Silk started with a lot of energy, which died down.

  Is something the matter?

  I asked as I noticed that she led me towards the academy. Greg's either in the library or sneakily following lectures.

  “It's about Greg… It's difficult to keep up and deal with him.”

  I patted her shoulder.

  I have reason to believe that he might change after the curses get lifted. Hold on a bit longer. Else we'll start a plan to crack his head open!

  Silk nodded and we entered the academy. “Greg is currently in the novel section of the library.”

  Quite the stalker.

  “Hey! I'm also your big sis…ter…” Silk’s face got gloomy. “What do you actually think about me?”

  Uhh that's a strange question. Not quite a sister, but family? Hmm, not quite. One of my own, maybe. I don't know exactly, but don't worry, I won't put you willingly in dangerous and unfavorable situations. I hope that you trust me enough to know that even in a situation like this, I mean the best for you.

  “I see… I did wonder why you dropped us in this dangerous city at first… but… it helped Rai Shin and me a lot. His mana control got better by quite a bit. Noelle seemed to have found something, too.” Silk fidgeted. “Thank you for not treating us like defenceless idols. I was afraid that you would treat us as such.”

  Well, you are mythical beasts, and I trust you guys. This trust… it isn't easy. I had to learn this when Raishin, Greg, and Elliana got sucked up to another dimension. I tried to rush and get them back. I learned that I shouldn't worry about them, but whoever messes with them. It made me relax and realize that they can cause as much destruction as I can.

  We reached the novel section and Silk pointed at where to go.

  I applied this to you, too. If you got found out, who would be screwed the most? You or Noelle? Or the Misha. I believe that the Misha would be screwed.

  “I never thought about it like that. I don't think I could do that and throw us into a situation like this…”

  That's fine, each of us has things we can do and can't do. I hope you will cover me in the things I can't do. Look its Greg

  We surrounded Gerda, but she didn't notice.

  A fox has been spotted in the library, and it seems he knows the skill [Tsunami]!

  Gerda got up, grumbled, and was about to leave so Silk and I blocked her path.

  Ugh, I should have known. I’m close to a breakthrough.

  I looked down at the book he had put down.

  By reading mystery novels?

  I was on my break.

  I see… I feel generous, want some liquid shadow vodka ice cream?

  Gerda grabbed me like an addict.

  You can make that?! Lead the way!

  My team is so easy to manipulate. Gerda didn’t put up any resistance and followed us. I walked in front to give Silk some time with him. He started to talk about novels, though… isn’t he interested in what she had been up to? I really hope this curse is doing this.

  Where are you leading us to Minerva? This city block is destroyed.

  And you pay attention to this, eh… pain in the ass…

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  Hey! I heard that!

  Oh look, we’re here!

  I ignored Gerda and unlocked Azu’s door. We stepped inside and found ourselves in chaos. Melody was kicking Rai Shin’s ass. Athena and Selina were eating ice cream, chatting, and ignoring the chaos and Azu was laughing and egging the brawlers on.

  I leave you alone, and this happens… Melody, Raishin! Calm the fuck down else you will get turned into ice cubes and won’t get ice cream! Athena! You will get some punishment later on for not keeping order, and Azu… this is your house… why aren't you stopping them… you will clean this mess by yourself!

  I got many protests as a result and created a [Fireball].

  Oh you guys want to talk back?

  I increased the temperature and ruined all the ice cream.

  I am the master of ice cream, ice cream gets created and destroyed by my whims. You better behave if you want more!

  The sorry bunch organized themselves, and Azu started to clean up.

  That was impressive and… I haven’t seen Azu in forever.

  Gerda greeted everyone and went to help Azu with cleaning up.

  What the? I’m so sorry Yv, I don’t know what's up with him….

  “Its not your fault… do you need help with making ice cream?”

  Uh, sure why not? If you have something convenient as a love potion, just mix it into Greg’s portion. I permit you.

  Team Hourai behaved, I temporarily lifted the illusions on everyone, and Yv and I started making ice cream. I did most of the work, but she was in charge of the flavor balance.

  “What did you and Giana do all the time? This one needs a bit more citrus.”

  Oh, thanks! And you will find out soon. It’s the reason I’ve gathered everyone here today.

  Yv released the chatterbox mode of all the possible fruit combinations we could use for ice cream. I also asked her what she knew about specific plants like Dawnlights, the fruits we need to fill our soul container, or rare and useful plants like phoenix flowers. She apologized and said that she doesn’t know anything beyond basic knowledge.

  We finished the mountains of ice cream and pushed them into the living room with a frost cart I had made.

  There is enough for everyone. I won’t be responsible for any stomach aches. You hear that Raishin?

  Aye!

  Maybe I have found a major secret. It's possible to tame mythical beasts and Misha with ice cream. Everyone was behaving and eating ice cream.

  “Thank you for the ice cream lil’ bro!” Noelle liked some crunch in her ice cream, so it had some crushed walnuts in them.

  Giana liked her ice cream extra fluffy, Raishin liked enormous volumes, not noticing that I padded the volume with illusions, else he would get stomach aches.

  Azu with her cheesecake ice cream, Greg with his liquid shadow vodka ice cream, Yv with pieces of fruit, and Selina went for chocolate ice cream. She wanted coffee, but I had no coffee beans on me.

  Nilah got fed ice cream while I was petting her and waited patiently till everyone had finished catching up.

  Right, so we’re all here together to celebrate Azu’s return, but also to get rid of the curses that have plagued us since Boshi town. We have 3 experts here who can get rid of them!

  Huh? You found out that fast? What about my research?

  What about it? You didn’t think you could stretch the time we’d stay here by padding your reading time with useless novels, did you?

  Wha?

  I’m honestly disappointed that you thought that nobody else would find a result before that.

  But curses are my thing…

  I sighed and gestured to Azu to get to it.

  “Come here Greg! Let's see what nasty curses that Imposter had left behind on you!”

  Azu was being Azu and smothered Greg. That is solved.

  Giana and Selina worked together to get the curses off Raishin. I’m curious about what will change.

  I told everyone what Giana and I had been up to over the last month. I grinned and looked at her when I mentioned ‘tutoring’ as she is only halfway. I also told them to wrap up their research or pass it over to another Misha, as we would be leaving soon.

  “Do you really need to leave? I might be able to arrange a citizenship…” Selina commented.

  I could see on Selina’s face that she knew that there was a near 0% chance that she would succeed.

  Ooh! I feel! The same… or maybe not?

  Raishin had [Invidia] and [Luxuria] so anything related to lust and envy should be gone but… he already had strong traits like that before we got cursed. Just with mine. I still like to eat and think most things are a pain in the ass, and rather do nothing. Our curses did fit us, although Greg is a special case, greed doesn’t fit him, but pride… probably.

  It might be possible that we only see the effects on Raishin when related to relationships; maybe Noelle will have an easier time.

  I feel different…

  Deca, blast him with charm magic!

  Azu did that before Giana got a chance, and Greg seemed to show signs of being charmed.

  Yes! We did it!

  This is amazing! We don’t have to crack his head open now!

  Huh? What? Crack open my head? What does that mean?!

  Huh? You must have misheard. Maybe you’re still cursed, go for it Azu!

  “With pleasure!” Azu blasted him more with charm magic, and he began to blush in the proximity of Azu.

  “Alright, that’s enough charm! Deca, can you pull it out of him?” I turned Greg into an ice cube and got rid of the charm magic on him. Giana sighed and facepalmed. “Don’t freeze him!”

  Don’t worry! I know what I’m doing. Yv, would you be so kind as to tend to him?

  “Thank you!” I got a rabbit hug, and she dragged the ice cube to the kitchen.

  Phew… so Greg might be normal now. That’s good to know.

  So what changed for you?

  Giana gasped. “Oh, I didn’t ask, I’d love to know too!”

  Suddenly, the attention got shifted toward me.

  Uuh, I can just focus better, got faster, and am more energy efficient.

  “Wait…your focus, speed and energy consumption got suppressed?” Noelle asked while rubbing her temple.

  Yeah? Is that an issue?

  So you can now use even more complicated and flashy skills for less cost and more oomph?!

  That sums it up.

  I feel scammed… I also want a massive buff!

  Well… I’m no sure, but you might be able to interact better with people now. You were quite terrible at it. Go chat with Noelle to test out.

  Raishin and Noelle went to chat and Azu went out with Selina to arrange certain things. Azu wants to move her house and lab somewhere, but she did want to visit her lab first.

  “It’s just us two now, eh? But ehh what did you mean with that I will get punishment?”

  Your tutoring is only halfway!

  “Ugh, I wish I were smarter so I could understand it better.”

  Well, I don’t think you’re at fault. This is my fault, so I will make as much ice cream as I can to make up to you.

  Nilah was glaring at Giana, preventing her from coming closer. “Is there something I can do to make Nilah like me?”

  Hey girl, what does she need to do?

  My communication with Nilah seemed to have improved, just like my tails. Nilah was conveying concepts and ideas to me.

  What? Someone needs to test her?