If Seth recalled correctly, Midnight Avenue was around a forty-five-minute pedicab ride from where he currently was.

However, with the physical enhancements from [Null Presence], he should reach it much earlier by walking.

His stamina had improved a lot, and his breathing remained steady even after long distances.

After asking a few locals for directions to a shop that sold decorative or handmade items, Seth was pointed toward a small, tucked-away store called "Curious Crafts."

It was nestled between a laundromat and a closed-down bakery.

The shop's window displayed an odd mix of items: hand-painted pottery, carved wooden figures, and a few painted masks.

Seth pushed the door open, hearing a soft chime.

Inside, the shop smelled of wood polish, dried herbs, and old paper.

The space was cluttered but organized.

Shelves were lined with craft supplies, half-finished sculptures, and rows of books with titles like The Art of Woodcarving, Beginners' Pottery, and A Guide to Natural Dyes.

Behind the counter sat an old man, likely in his sixties.

He was deeply engrossed in a thick book titled The Science of Perfume-Making.

Behind him, more books were stacked— Metalworking for Beginners, Leather Craft Basics, Advanced Paper Sculpture.

He wondered if the old man had opened this strange shop because he enjoyed learning how to make things on a whim.

It looked like he liked many hobbies at once....

The shop itself felt like a collection of his interests, stacked together.

Seth guessed that the old man ran this shop not to sell, but to fund his ever-changing hobbies.

He probably learned one craft, made a bunch of items, sold some, then moved on to the next interest.

It explained the shop's eclectic feel...

The man did not even look up when Seth entered.

Seeing this, Seth quietly walked around the shelves without disturbing him.

The old man seemed engrossed in his reading.

His eyes were moving steadily from line to line.

Seth did not activate [Null Presence], nor did he intend to steal anything from the shop.

He was still a decent person.

Using underhanded methods had always been something he reserved only for those who deserved it.

Even without powers, everyone in the world had the choice to steal, lie, or harm others.

But a person's actions were still their own decision.

Seth only acted harshly when the other party had already crossed a line.

As for money… he did not have much.

But last night, after beating up a pervert who tried to harass a woman on the street, Seth had taken the man's wallet before leaving.

In Seth's mind, that kind of person did not deserve generosity.

The man had been about to hurt someone...

Seth only prevented it and took extra payment for the trouble!

Seth browsed quietly.

Along one wall hung several masks...

Colorful festival masks, a delicate porcelain face, and a few made of painted leather.

Most were bright and cartoon-like—fox faces, owls, and wolves with exaggerated smiles.

But one mask caught his eye immediately.

It was a bone mask...

The mask looked like a bleached skull with long, narrow eye sockets.

The surface was rough, as if someone had carved it from bone.

The structure resembled the skull of a large canine or a deer, with thin cracks painted across it.

It did not look goofy or friendly.

Instead, it felt solemn and slightly eerie...

Its white surface was slightly yellowed at the edges, making it look old.

Seth reached out and held it.

The mask was surprisingly light.

Up close, he could see tiny carving marks.

Someone had put a lot of effort into making it look real...

"This one."

Seth said, turning to the counter.

The old man finally looked up from his book.

His eyes were calm, as if he had been expecting someone to speak eventually.

"How much?"

Seth asked.

The old man slowly closed his book.

He studied the mask for a moment before answering.

"That one is a bit special," he said in a calm voice.

"Two hundred Bathalas."

Seth did not respond immediately.

He checked the remaining cash inside his pocket.

The money he took from the pervert was still there.

Two hundred was acceptable.

He nodded.

"I'll take it."

The old man reached out his hand for the payment.

Seth placed the bills on the counter.

The old man counted them without hurry, then pushed the mask toward him.

"No bag?" Seth asked.

The old man shook his head.

Seth simply gave a small shrug.

Just as Seth was about to leave, the old man suddenly spoke.

"I take it back," he said.

"Give me that mask and get something else."

Seth stopped at the doorway and turned around.

"What?"

He was confused.

This old shop owner already looked like someone who changed hobbies on a whim...

Now he also changed his decisions without warning?

Seeing Seth's confused face, the old man shook his head slowly.

"Originally, I planned to sell that mask because I did not like its eeriness. But you seem like a good-hearted kid, so I'll tell you this in advance. That bone mask is cursed."

His tone was steady and serious.

"It's best you exchange it for something else."

Seth had no reason to panic.

He had just walked and saw the mask for the first time today.

There should be no reason for him to be affected by anything.

Seth asked calmly.

"Cursed with what exactly?"

The old man sighed and leaned back on his chair.

"I don't know the full story..." he said.

"But that mask has a bad history. Not once or twice, but many owners of it ended up going mad. Some lost their families, others their wealth, and some even disappeared. Every time it changed hands, something unfortunate happened."

He tapped the counter with a wrinkled finger.

"Those who kept it for long were always plagued by misfortune. They believed the mask was important, or they refused to give it away, even when their lives started falling apart. One man claimed his house was haunted by whispers. Another said shadows followed him everywhere. In the end, they could not separate from it, eventually it ruined them."

His expression turned solemn.

"Maybe it's just bad luck. Maybe it's cursed. All I know is that the mask brings nothing good to those who wear it."

He tapped the counter lightly.

"Luckily I've never tried it myself and do not plan to indulge myself to such curiosities..."

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