"Don't you dare pee in my car! Let me switch lanes and pull over to the side of the road," Alwin conceded to Ace's threat.
"Dad, hurry!" Ace urged. But then he noticed the gremlin stop reaching for the accelerator and locking eyes with him. It seemed to have noticed that Ace could see it. Just then, the status screen popped up, informing him,
[ — Status screen —
Target: Gremlin
Race: Curseling
Class: Mortal-Tier
Title: Mischievous Grunts
Info: Gremlins are small, impish Curselings with grotesque features with large, pointed ears, sharp teeth, and clawed hands and feet. They are known for tampering with technology & machinery and playing pranks on unsuspecting individuals.
Known Skills:
i) Mischief Breeder: Brings out the worst in people and technology alike.
ii) Mischief Feeder: Feeds on negative emotions generated by its mischief. So, its mischief usually doesn't kill victims unless gremlins are caught in the act.
Note:
i) Source: Dame Wasp, Steal Song Society archives.
ii) This data is created for human convenience by humans. Curselings don't assess to this.]
'Fuck!' Ace cussed in his mind, feeling a sense of impending danger reading the status screen, and sure enough, the gremlin's grotesque red face twisted into a grin as it taunted Ace, whispering, "Are we there yet?"
Meanwhile, as Alwin prepared to change lanes, he encountered a sudden issue: the accelerator got stuck. The car steadily picked up speed, making it impossible for Alwin to slow down or change lanes. Faced with an unexpected situation, he stayed composed, trying to regain control by gently tapping the brakes and freeing the accelerator pedal with his foot.
"Alwin, what are you doing?!" Mary asked, sensing the car speeding up instead of slowing down.
"The accelerator's stuck. Hold on!" Alwin informed, his knuckles turning white as his grip on the steering wheel tightened, with his attempts to regain control proving unsuccessful. The car accelerated steadily as the accelerator remained stuck, and the brakes did not function.
'Come on out, Rose!' Ace mentally called out to Dame Wasp, aware that the gremlin was responsible for the malfunction of the accelerator and brakes.
As Dame Wasp arrived next to Ace in her 1/100 form and camouflage, the Gremlin continued to grin at Ace, enjoying the chaos it breed in the car, unaware of Dame Wasp's arrival.
[ — Status screen —
> Cybernetic Braid laser, activated.
> Target Locked
> Maximum output selected.
> Fire! ]
In an instant, a string-sized beam of red light pierced between the brows of the gremlin, morphing its grin into disbelief as its body dissipated, leaving behind a small marble rolling by the shifter.
Soon, Ace heard his father shout, "Nobody panic! Everything's fine now." The accelerator and the brakes were functioning normally again.
Regaining control of his car, Alwin quickly switched lanes and brought it to a screeching halt by the side of the road.
Parking the car, Alwin turned to look at his wife, Mary, who had remained silent throughout the chaos. She nodded in confirmation of her well-being. Her steady presence was a source of comfort for him amidst the turmoil. As they took deep breaths and their racing hearts slowed, the couple exchanged grateful glances.
Camouflaged, Dame Wasp carried the gremlin's curse core and handed it to Ace,
[ — Status screen —
> Master, it is good to see you again.]
With a gentle smile and nod, Ace took the curse core from Dame Wasp and shook his head, feeling she had gotten addicted to using the status screen.
"Ace, you okay back there?" Alwin checked on his son, his concern evident in his voice.
"Yes, and I don't have to pee anymore," Ace replied in relief, having exorcised the Curseling.
"Don't tell me you went in the car," Mary exclaimed.
"If I did, trust me, you guys would be first to know," Ace replied. Mary rolled her eyes at the son. Then, turning to her husband, she said, "It's time you bought a new car?"
"I get it, Mary, but my Camry has been with me for two decades. Both our kids learned to drive in this. I reckon with a few fixes, this baby can still squeeze out a few more miles," Alwin replied casually, not wanting to part with his Camry yet.
"Alwin, it's time to let go. Besides, we can afford it, and you deserve it," Mary persuaded her husband, then added, "Nothing fancy, but let's go with a Ford Fusion this time."
"Nope, if we have to, we're getting another Camry," Alwin declared firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Okay, we are getting a new car then," Mary said with a sly smile.
"Mary, that's not what I meant. We still have to worry about the house, with the wildfire and all," Alwin said, giving his family a rare insight into the weight of responsibility he carried on his shoulders.
"Alwin, you worry too much. The house will be fine," Mary assured her husband. Even Ace spoke up, saying, "Yeah, Dad. I believe the firefighter subdued the fire before the fire could spread down the hill."
"Sure, if the house is fine. We're getting a new Camry," Alwin played along, hoping it might help calm their nerves. After all, it had been a nerve-wracking day for his family.
"Say, Dad, if you're getting a new Camry, I can take this one off your hands. I promise to take good care of her," Ace sneakily offered, his eyes gleaming with eagerness. He could not be more obvious about his desire to own a car.
"You wish, and what's next, a teenage pregnancy?" Mary immediately dismissed her son's request before her husband could agree.
"Mom, this is just an old Camry, not some miracle worker," Ace protested, implying that an old Camry wouldn't suddenly make him a hit with the ladies, especially girls his age.
"Hey," Alwin interjected Ace's sarcasm, but he agreed with his son. "Honey, the boy is right. If anything, it will help him repel women. Camry tends to have that effect on ladies."
"Let us discuss this later, but what now?" Mary did not budge in her decision.
"Let us call a tow truck. It's too risky to drive this with a sticky accelerator. There's a gas station a few miles ahead. So, it will be cheap," Alwin responded, prioritizing his family's safety.
Mary glanced at her phone, then announced, "We seem to be out of network coverage here."
"Then, you two stay here with the car. I will be right back with the tow truck," Alwin said, deciding to walk to the gas station and get help.
"Dad, no need. My phone has bars. I will contact the garage in the gas station up ahead and ask if they can send a tow truck for us," Ace informed his father while Dame Wasp used her cybernetic enhancements and advanced software to upgrade Ace's smartphone into a satellite phone.
Ace didn't persuade his father that driving the car was safe, realizing it would be pointless. His father wouldn't take the risk with his mother and him in the car. While his father was concious about spending money on himself, he didn't hesitate to get a tow when a gas station was nearby. For his father, family's safety always came first, no matter the inconvenience or expense.