The Strongest Curse Master
Chapter 407: Landers Against the Universe

Chapter 407: Landers Against the Universe

Lyra just stared at me, eyes brimming with rage. It became clear to me that if this continued, I would have to skip lunch and probably dinner too.

So, making sure our mom had gone downstairs and not waiting outside my room door, making sure we didn’t just return to quarreling after she left, I attempted to start the peace talks, "Lyra, what I did was just a wake-up call. It could have just as easily been the truth. I tried talking to you, but you wouldn’t listen. Therefore, I decided you had to go through it for you to stop seeing the ’World of Curses’ as one of those comic worlds where one can crusade around the city wearing capes and doing vigilant shit with no lasting repercussion, and see it for what it truly is. Therefore, if it’s an apology that you are seeking, you aren’t getting one from me."

"No, you will apologize," Lyra declared as her eyes had turned red and filled with tears. Seeing the tears, I broke down almost immediately, "Yes, I will. But what am I apologizing exactly?"

"When I saw how rich you had become. I thought you got lucky, awakened your powers, and earned easy money. I know you must have faced some challenges, but I never knew they were this dire and real. Every second and moment I thought Dee3 died felt like hell to me. Not to mention, the part of Sonia framing me for Dee3’s murder. I almost went full suicidal.

I am not lying, the tension was so high I forgot to breathe, and had to be reminded and guided to breathe. I thought of distracting myself by thinking of epic plots for comics and movies, which always helps me regain my cool, but I couldn’t. My mind was in disarray, and I wasn’t able to think straight.

However, having Fumetsu and Fujin by my side helped. The thing that did the trick was talking to you, even if it was over the phone. Though you were intentionally of no help, just the sound of your concerned voice got my mind on the right track.

On my ride over, I could only think about you. You have been in this world longer and all alone. I honestly have no idea what you must have gone through. Just the thought of my baby brother facing the unknown alone makes me feel like I failed you as your big sister, big time. That makes me mad, mad at you for not coming to me the very day you awakened your curse abilities.

When we were younger, you would always come to me first with this stuff. Why didn’t you come to me this time? Did I do something to make you feel like you can’t depend on me? Don’t you trust me? I thought it was you and me against universe, or was I mistaken?

I know you must have had your reasons for not coming to me with all this until you did, but I can’t help but feel the way I do. Just put yourself in my shoes, what if I had awakened my curse abilities first and kept it a secret from you? Would you not want me to apologize?" Lyra calmly made her case, explaining to her little brother what she was truly mad about.

Despite my sister’s long explanation, I still had no idea what she wanted me to apologize for. But I did realize that I had a lot to apologize for. However, I decided to make do with one, "I’m sorry for everything."

"My god, you are so easy. Your wife will not even feel challenged, and leave you feeling bored." A disappointed voice commented. I knew it was Mandy without even turning around. I had long known she was eavesdropping on our conversation. Compared to what she had already heard and seen, this was nothing.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to change the topic before Lyra and Mandy gang up and roast me. Together, they can make one heck of a Mean Girls. Even Uncle Dan was weary of their combined meanness.

"I wanted to know what Pickles did to get named Pickles, but now I want in. I don’t care if it’s dangerous and blah, blah, blah. If Lyra can be a part of it, then I am sure I can too," Mandy said, leaving no room for persuasion.

"What do you mean by if Lyra can? Are you looking down on me, shorty?" Lyra stepped closer to Mandy, trying to intimidate the latter with her height.

"Back off, Bigfoot. I am not talking to you," Mandy ignored Lyra and looked at her nephew expectantly.

"I am sorry, Mandy, it’s not up to me. It’s decided during our birth. You either have it or you don’t," I said calmly, trying hard to appear as indifferent as possible, not wanting Mandy to smell that I wasn’t telling the full truth.

"And you don’t shorty," Lyra smirked, but then, feeling it was uncalled for, she wanted to apologize, but her ego didn’t allow it.

"You guys better not lie to me because I will ask Pickles later," Mandy warned, trying to get a better read of her nephew, to check if he was keeping something from her.

"If it will satisfy you, please do. But her answer will be the same as mine. I checked everyone in our house, and only Lyra and I possess the potential to sense this energy. I am sorry, but humans with this potential are very rare. It is already an incredible coincidence that there are two in our family considering no one in our families previously showed this potential," I kept my tone as neutral as possible, not only to stop Mandy from figuring out I wasn’t being completely honest but also not to hurt her feelings.

This information had the potential to give anyone an existential crisis. The only reason I chose Mandy in my family to confide in was because she had a strong mind and personality. If anyone could continue living like nothing had happened after learning this information, it was Mandy.

"Ace, could you be a dear and let me smash your teeth out with a hammer?" Mandy said in annoyance, knowing what Ace was doing. She knew Ace didn’t pity her, but the way he answered her highly suggested that. Since this tone was popular among the receptionists of high-end jewelry or designer label stores.

"Sure thing," I agreed, considering Mandy’s strength and my physical stats, I had nothing to be afraid of.

"Thanks, but I will just slap them out, you little bitch!" Mandy exclaimed, pouncing on her nephew who dared to talk in a patronizing tone with her.

"Holy shit," Lyra was surprised by Mandy’s reaction, but hurriedly stopped her whispering in her ears, "Calm down my little badger. Calm down."

Looking at Mandy glaring at me, though restrained in Lyra’s embrace, the following words came to my mind, ’You can take a girl out of the country, but you can take the country out of the girl.’

Though I still don’t understand what I did to get on her bad side. I specifically chose my words to avoid this. I wonder what went wrong to get such a strong reaction from Mandy.