The Price of Curiosity

There's that old saying about how knowing too ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠much is a curse. In reality, it's not a real proverb—it's more like the opposite of "ignorance is bliss."

"No way."

But I never thought it'd apply to me so perfectly.

-_- That was a few hours ago.

Our home computer, the TV... my ID's resident registration number is all messed up, so how the hell have I been gaming and signing up for accounts?

It was just simple curiosity. After a wild day that started with delivery food and ended at the Management Bureau's medical wing, I slept like a rock and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠woke up with a clearer head. So I did something totally pointless but nagging at me.

I booted up the computer, logged into the gaming site I'd been using, and checked my member info.

Then, a weird screen popped up.

"What the—."

Refresh? Same thing.

Log out and log back in? Same crap.

"No!!"

Even switching browsers? Still!!

"..."

I'm screwed. The computer I'd been using fine until now was totally bricked. Couldn't do jack.

Just edit the member info, right? If that worked, I wouldn't be freaking out.

"What do I do?"

Honestly, yeah, I lost it at the Management Bureau medical wing from all the frustration and stormed home on impulse. But it's not like I didn't think ahead. What're they gonna do, find me on Earth? Post a wanted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠notice or track my location—if I just hole up at home, how the hell are they gonna get me? I've got computer, TV, food, gaming console—all stocked.

'Course, I'd have to restock food periodically.'

Big deal. Hit up a supermarket every now and then. Anyway, plan was to just chill at home forever...

But a single day later, the computer's dead. All because I clicked that member info button. Without even thinking.

"This is driving me insane, for real."

If this keeps up, only the console and TV left. Sure, I could tough it out with those... but losing my most useful, biggest gadget? That's a mental blow.

Screw it, I'll endure! You think I can't handle this? I'm the self-proclaimed strongest in this world!!

...That's what I thought back then.

"Why... why..."

If I'd known it'd hit the console and TV too, I never would've touched that damn info button. For real.

-_-

The problem was simple. My ID's registration number is garbage, so fix that, right?

Just get a new ID.

"..."

And solving that simple problem? Suddenly a nightmare.

How do I fix the ID issue? Let's sum up my situation.

First: No birth record, no registration number—I'm a ghost in the system. Suhyun checked everything tied to my name, so that's solid.

Second: My appearance. Full-body mirror check—anyone'd peg me as middle or high schooler. Could pass as a short adult, but they'd doubt it hard. Need ID to prove it, but I don't have one. Can't reissue without knowing my info.

Third: The mess with the Management Bureau. Already logged my face, mana, basics there. Lie through all that for a new ID? How??

"..."

Dead end. Totally.

"Ugh, head hurts... gonna sleep."

I give up. Just wanna crash. This is all God's fault for screwing up my ID...

Plop—

I bury myself in the soft bed, grab my phone, and open Mitube. At least that's working...

"You fucking—!!!!"

This pisses me off so bad!!!!

"Aaaargh!!!!!"

I lose it completely, rampaging through the house howling like a beast. No one's watching, so who cares? I just... needed to. Or I'd go nuts...

.

.

An hour of that later? I calm my head and think hard.

Fundamentally, it's my appearance and mana signature causing issues.

"..."

Wait, the vessel.

My body's not normal. It's literally a vessel made to hold God's power.

That sparks a genius idea.

Like potters shaping clay however they want. What if I reshape my body like that?

"...Gotta try now."

This might solve everything clean.

-_-

Not as easy as I thought.

The massive mana waterfalls surging through me? Hell to control consciously. They flow in the vessel's original mold. Trying to redirect now is like yelling "New path—go that way!" midstream.

Changing the body's shape itself? Easy. It's a mana blob from the start. Explains why I was fine buried in rock in that gate.

"Nngh..."

Not working great, frustration building. Theory was perfect?

"...Sigh."

Relax control a bit to rest, and mana snaps back to original paths like it was waiting.

Tough. Like a wide-open road that's totally transparent—no clue where to step.

"...Hm?"

Genius strike: Don't build a new body from scratch. Blend existing forms?

No need for new paths. I have two complete ones: normal me, and God's proxy form.

Both exist. New form's the hard part.

So mix 'em bit by bit?

"Huh...?"

Grow height a tad. Refine face slightly. Tilt mana flow a smidge toward transform state.

Like drawing an in-between frame between two finished pics.

"...This might work?"

.

.

Once I get the feel, it snowballs.

As expected, mana waterfalls follow familiar transform paths, flowing smoothly.

Lots of fails, sure. Height grows but face stays—weird. Voice changes but body lags—off.

But using the mirror for each flop...

"Got it!!"

Nail the path, body forms along it... tweak hair, shape to my taste!

"Heehee."

Feels like customizing a game character.

Test public-facing second body!

"Complete!!"

Shaaa—

Shaky, I stand before the full mirror, projecting the new body.

"...Eh."

Well. Mirror shows... overly sparkly, overly bright, total idol girl.

"..."

Wink one eye, V-sign—brain freezes.

"...Uh."

Something's off. Looks like she'd yell "Kyaa☆!" any sec.

Hmm... anyway, new body's done. Check if mana flows fine inside.

"...Yeah, okay."

No issues.

"...But this look... feels unusable."

How to say... just screams "don't use me."

Way too eye-catching. Not for ID office—for streaming, she'd top charts instantly.

Go to Bureau like this? Forget ID, photo goes viral first.

'Wait, this is for a new ID.'

Does new body fix ID? Might look more suspicious. Unknown face demanding ID? Yeah.

'Did I waste my time...?'

Shaaa—

Worse: Release mana frame, body dissolves like mist. Back to pint-sized me, staring blankly.

Not some transformation jutsu—drop mana hold and it vanishes?? Useless then???

"Ha, haha..."

Hard-earned power's a dud, can't even sustain. Silver lining: Preset like game character, tweak mana to repro.

Constant focus and mana feed? Near-permanent.

But now? Too lazy. No point, no motivation...

Boil ramen, crash...

"...Sigh, such is my fate."

I gloomily set water for ramen.

..But sudden spark.

In novels, don't S-rankers get IDs made when they pop up? To keep 'em domestic?

'Could that apply to me...?'

Worth a shot.

Gurgle—

..Food first.

-_-

Devour ramen quick, craft another body. Skip tastes—no sparkles, cuteness, flash.

Just "adult woman who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blends anywhere." That's it.

Don't mess proxy frame much. It's flashy, but whatever—deal.

Mana flow way stabler. Less tweaks = better hold, natural.

"Mm, good."

Voice: sultry, sexy—not my usual chirp.

Head to Bureau like this...

'Then what?'

Declare S-rank...?

'Nah, projection drops mid-test or machine explodes? Disaster.'

Hold off.

'Hmm...'

Great idea hits.

"Just say God's proxy?"

Matches look, powers. No fake ID needed. World knows that one better.

"Perfect?"

...Could backfire into more hassle.

But no energy to care.

Prove with transform. Return in projection, not original body?

"...Actually genius?"

Sounded flawless. 'Course, I didn't know the Bureau was utter chaos cleaning my mess from yesterday.