Chicken and Cold Fridge Lights
Hey, tonight we're having chicken haha
I guess that after I got pulled into that weird hallucination or space thing... this is what happened.
She counted to three and then the protection barrier shattered with a crack. My body just... lost its balance, like the strings on a puppet had suddenly snapped.
Not long after that, she casually mentioned some tiny physical changes had happened to me, but she never actually said what or how. Even when I gave her big pleading puppy eyes, she kept dodging the question.
I told Noah and Sora-unnie about everything I went through, and even though they already knew, Noah still said something like... "I don't know about that one. It might be a special kind of mental pollution."
"...Anyway, I figured out what was happening. If I calculate it right, it seems like anyone at level 15 or higher whose barrier gets destroyed will fall into that hallucination state. I don't know how much passive mental power they have at max, but... just go check it yourself once your level increases."
My mental strength isn't that strong, actually. But the part about powerful mental damage... closing my eyes and nothing being there felt kind of comforting. Still, I didn't want anyone nearby to worry, so I hoped it wouldn't break.
"Passive mental pollution reduction measurements are pretty much done too. I think we'll wrap up the ability investigation at this point. Considering the demerits, I'll set your initial grade at C+ and then move on to profile registration."
"A, yeah. And can you... get a little farther away?"
Ever since I came back, Noah had been hugging me tightly like she was trying to protect me. She must have thought my mental state hadn't settled down yet after seeing that hallucination. While she stroked my head and combed through my messy hair, I felt... something warm and fuzzy.
Is it because this body is triggering my protection instinct? Or is it just that Noah has an overprotective personality...? Maybe both.
"...Okay, got it."
Being this close made me feel even lonelier for a second. But I was being way too clingy. I had to focus on the next step.
After finishing the detailed ability investigation, you need to bring something that proves your identity and decide on an activity name you want to use as an awakened person. This is all basic hunter knowledge from way too many fanfics.
"My ID... you mentioned there were some circumstances, so once I pick the activity name, the official procedure with you is basically over."
"A, I already thought of a name."
Some people use their real names as activity names, like Sora-unnie, but most don't. Noah said she would make a "guardian" too. I didn't really get the deep meaning of that... and my naming sense is terrible, so I decided to just go with the passive name as-is.
"Just make it Cheon-a, please."
"Yes, I'll input it as Cheon-a."
It means "daughter chosen by heaven," I think. It's a grand name, but in the hunter world there are way more grand and believable ones. So it probably won't stand out much.
"Now that I have a name to call me, that's nice."
"Yeah. The rest is all for you to fill in, right, Sora?"
"Mhm, ability summaries and special notes will be handled by Sora. Good work, Noah. I'm gonna go pick something up real quick and be right back."
"Um, yeah. Go and come back."
The moment Noah stepped outside, a slightly awkward silence filled the room. Sora was typing away on her laptop finishing up my registration, so it was hard to talk. I had a lot I wanted to say... but before I could decide, Sora spoke first.
"Once the procedure is complete, please log into the official association website and finish the guided courses within a week. The login ID is listed at the bottom of your registration certificate."
"A, got it... um."
"Is there a problem? Ah... due to the backlash..."
"No, it's not that. I wanted to get an autograph..."
She doesn't do signings or pop-up stores, yet here I am asking for one. When I shyly asked her to autograph my notebook, Sora smiled softly and pulled out a sheet of paper to sign it for me with a quick pen flick.
Hehe. Just like that, I've gotten signatures from half of the six S-grade hunters in the country. While I was still giggling, Sora put the pen and notebook back in her pocket and closed her laptop.
"I'll be right back to print it. While I'm at it, look over here and smile for me?"
"Ah, yes."
Click. Sora took a photo of my face with her camera, then slashed the air open and stepped through the crack. Since Sora had to get back to work... I decided to do some gallery lurking. Time to post that registration is done.
[Just registered as a new hunter]
Author: HunterJjowayo
I'm finally an official association member yahho
Initial grade is C+... is this good?
Replies
Wolha: Even if C is average, C+ is pretty good haha
Revenge: Has the association even accepted registrations? It's already 9 PM
HunterJjowayo: I'm writing this from home
Kawaranade(g): You should sprinkle ketchup on that burger
HunterJjowayo: No way I don't like it don't do it please
Kawaranade(g): Just kidding. C+ initial grade is awesome
Hubris: You should know that higher initial grades make it harder to raise them later
Fabong: Good but don't be too arrogant.
Hubris: I'm the one who wrote the comment here, mister
Fabong: Full of yourself.
Wow. The comments are flying by at warp speed. Anyway, I told everyone I was writing from home... and Pa-ttak wrote a comment too? I should let the moderator know roughly. I opened the chat room.
HunterJjowayo: I just registered
Kawaranade: Heya, how's it going with Noah?
HunterJjowayo: I'm still at Noah's place, but once I get the association registration, I should be heading home
Kawaranade: It's late, how do you plan to get home?
HunterJjowayo: Huh, I didn't think of that
I pulled my eyes away from my phone and walked over to where Sora was typing.
"...Um, you open portals, right? When I go home later..."
"A, I was planning to do that anyway. Just tell me your address and I'll send you over."
"Ah, thank you."
I gave a quick bow. Walking around at night in this body is scary. Even though hunters have made crime rates drop, walking around like a little girl in this form is just... weird.
HunterJjowayo: The person who helped me register has spatial movement ability, so it should be fine
Kawaranade: Spatial movement? Yu Sora?
Oh no, I tried to play it cool but she immediately caught on.
HunterJjowayo: Ah yes, I even got a signature. I didn't want to mention the name on purpose
Kawaranade: If Noah knows a spatial mover, it has to be Yu Sora. They're super close.
HunterJjowayo: She said they're basically best friends. Meeting her was an honor.
Kawaranade: If you ever meet someone who gallerys 'Cheongpodosatang', pretend you know her. That's Yu Sora.
HunterJjowayo: Do I even have permission to casually reveal the guy's nickname??
Kawaranade: This is a close friends gallery, so pretty much everyone knows anyway. Hunter posts aren't exactly something to be ashamed of.
Ugh, seeing them all so chummy... does the hunter gallery hold special gatherings like legendary meetings? I could never imagine something like that here.
Kawaranade: Anyway, just pretend you know her but don't say anything. Most people already know her.
HunterJjowayo: Aha~
Kawaranade: Oh, and Noah mentioned something to you, right?
HunterJjowayo: What do you mean?
Kawaranade: Hmm, your reaction makes me think you haven't been told yet. Never mind.
HunterJjowayo: ??
Kawaranade: It's nothing~
What? Why did she stop talking all of a sudden? Noah said she gave me something? Well, she seems to be giving me plenty of love already.
I was about to type more when Noah opened the door and walked back in, holding a white envelope in her hand.
"Ah, the smell of chicken."
Now that I thought about it, the only thing I'd eaten all day was a half-empty drink can. Maybe that's why I hadn't noticed I was hungry. The moment I smelled the food, my stomach growled loudly.
"Sora must have stepped out for a bit. I didn't know what you liked, so I got it fried."
"A, this is the brand I always order! Did I order it in advance? I didn't see it on the way here."
"I made it before you fell down and your barrier broke. I thought I'd feed you something when you woke up to calm you down. I'm glad you like it, but isn't it a bit too oily for a kid?"
"I'm not a kid though. Anyway, thank you so, so much."
"I need to talk with Sora for a bit. Once she brings the registration and documents, you can head home and eat."
I kept nodding my head. It was bad to stay at Noah's place for so long. Sleeping and eating here meant I probably needed to leave soon.
The second Noah placed the chicken on her desk, a crack opened in the air and Sora stepped out. Timing was perfect. Now that I thought about it, she just tore open space like that?
"By the way, if there's a person in the position of that crack, what happens? Does she get ripped apart?"
"No. Awakened abilities can't harm innocent people, so the crack is generated to avoid buildings and people. Same for area attacks."
Eh. I didn't know that. Sora handed me a sheet of paper and my registration certificate. The photo must have gone in. They can just take a snapshot like that and make the certificate...?
"In the end, I probably won't ever need to carry this certificate around with me."
I tilted my head when Noah said that strange thing. Eh. I have to carry it around. I thought when clearing dungeons you had to show a registration certificate if your name wasn't registered.
"A, anyway, there's a lot more to talk about, but let's save it for tomorrow. Today was too much for one day."
"Y, yeah."
I showed a weak side, I got thrown into a weird snuff film space... yeah. There was a lot that happened today. I don't want to talk about anything complicated anymore.
"Tell Sora your address and go home. Take the chicken."
"A, got it! Sora-unnie, you can open it right here."
I showed her the address for my house that I had marked on the map earlier. Then I walked through the portal and finally made it home safely. Whew.
There really was a lot that happened today. First, some gallery lurking, then tearing into chicken legs, showering, and bed. Tonight is chicken. Hehe.
Oh, and I remembered something I forgot.
"...Ah, clothes."
For a while, I guess I'll have to keep living in these dolphin pants and white t-shirts. Ugh.