Identity (2)
Bzzz. Bzzz.
"Ugh, who the hell is calling in the middle of the day...?"
I'd been dead asleep, sweet dreams and all, when the vibration from my phone on the nightstand yanked me awake. My whole body ached and throbbed. Whoever it was, they had ruined my precious nap. I didn't know who, but right then, they were the most hated person in the world.
"Yawn... So who is it?"
The buzzing had stopped, so it wasn't a call. But come to think of it, who would even text me? Even before my body changed like this, I didn't have anyone I kept in touch with.
Curious, I grabbed my phone and checked.
"Oh, right."
Seeing the text snapped me awake. Yesterday, after barely taking down the hidden boss in the tower and dragging myself home, I'd messaged Cheonhwa late at night and passed out without another thought. Only now did it hit me.
Am I an idiot...? Was I that wiped out from collapsing... How do I forget something like this?
Was it the exhaustion from yesterday, or the injuries? I smacked my dumb head a few times and started typing a reply to Cheonhwa.
"As expected from an S-rank hunter. She gets shit done fast."
After replying to Cheonhwa, I checked the time on my phone. It was exactly 11 a.m. The address she'd sent was about a 20-minute walk, so plenty of time.
"Gotta wash up first."
After that intense fight yesterday, I'd come home, checked my rewards, and crashed without properly cleaning up. My whole body felt grimy.
Shhhh—
"Ughhh— so cold!"
I turned on the shower, and freezing water hit me like a truck. I'd forgotten to deposit the cash Cheonhwa gave me into my account, so the gas bill must not have gone through. No hot water.
"Damn it, seriously. I'll handle all that crap on the way back today. Sigh."
I shoved the bills out of my mind for now, rinsed off quick, and headed out. Cold water was chilly, but good for health, right? I wrapped fresh bandages around my body, threw on some random clothes, and plopped down on the floor.
Then, as usual, I pulled up the System window in front of me.
"I definitely got a skill from the tower yesterday..."
It was too late to check when I got it—the reward from beating the hidden boss, straight from the tower, not a gacha pull.
"Gotta be something good, right?"
I switched straight to the status window to check the skill.
"Whoa... Hell Fire? Sounds badass."
Fitting for a hard-won hidden boss reward—the name alone screamed power. Hell Fire. Just hearing it made me think it'd incinerate everything.
But what really caught my eye were the diamond-shaped buttons next to Cook Your Food and Hell Fire. New pattern. Intriguing.
"Hmm... Should I press it?"
They looked way too tempting. Eh, what's the worst that could happen? Curiosity won, and I tapped one.
Fuse 'Hell Fire' and 'Cook Your Food' skills?
[Y/N]
"Fus... ion?"
The message popped up about skill synthesis.
"Smells kinda scammy..."
Fusing skills? Shady as hell. Sometimes they upgrade, but often it's a trap that trashes them.
But that's exactly why these shady things exist—to poke 'em. Hell Fire and Cook Your Food, both fire-related. Fire + fire? Common sense says it gets stronger.
"Do it now!"
I smashed the Y button without hesitation.
Vrrr!
The fusion window shook violently and glowed white.
"Wait, is it actually gonna explode?!"
Pop!
It trembled like mad, then burst with celebratory particles and snapped back to blue.
Acquired skill 'Hell's Furnace Fire'.
"Holy shit—thought my heart was gonna stop."
The white glow and shaking freaked me out, thinking it'd blow up. But it didn't, and fusion worked. Good enough.
I pulled up the status window to check the new skill.
"Whoa..."
The description was no joke, proving the fusion wasn't a waste. And more than that...
"Fucking sick! So cool, goddamn badass!"
From the name to the description, it screamed I'm OP. After all those lame food-cooking skills, this naming slapped hard. My heart raced.
One issue, though.
"Mana..."
First time mana consumption was mentioned. No idea how much per use, but with my mana stat at 20, it wasn't spammable.
"...Worry about that later."
I checked the time on my phone nearby.
"No way, already?"
1:00 p.m. sharp. Time flew. I shook out my damp hair, threw on one of the hoodies I'd bought in bulk last time, grabbed my mask for hiding my face and my beloved kitchen knife, and bolted to the meeting spot like a maniac.
After sprinting forever, the phone map showed I was closing in, and I hit 13:20—right on time.
Nearing the destination, I slowed and scanned around. The address photo showed a vintage-style cafe.
"Found it."
Matched perfectly. Approaching slowly, I peered inside. Quiet place, mostly empty. There was Cheonhwa, wearing a black coat instead of her usual outfit.
Ding~
"Welcome."
*Bow.*
I spotted Cheonhwa and headed straight in. Nodded lightly to the greeting staff and sat across from her, where she sipped tea casually.
"Ah, you're here. Sit."
"...Yeah."
From afar, it was fine, but up close? Weirder. She always rocked the look, but casual clothes hit different. She noticed my stare and tilted her head.
"...Why stare like that?"
"No, just... thought you only wore the outfit."
"Hehe, is that so? And your impression?"
She grinned slyly. That smirky eye-smile was annoyingly cute.
"It suits you well."
"...If you think so, fortunate."
Didn't wanna feed that smugness, but she's the boss lady, so a tiny bit of lip service.
"Anyway, you got my ID and awakening cert?"
"Yes, I brought them... but."
But...?
Cheonhwa trailed off, eyeing me.
"We're in a transaction, aren't we?"
"Taking ID and cert for free? Quite bold."
"Tch—"
*Click.*
I clicked my tongue in regret. Was hoping for a total freebie, but she nailed the core. Rice cake plan foiled.
"So, what do you want from me, Cheonhwa?"
"Hmm..."
Failed dream aside, back to negotiations. She pondered, chin in hand, with a meaningful smile. Then it bloomed into a grin.
"Decided. A request. In exchange for the ID, grant me two favors."
"Favors...?"
What kind? Unease hit as I tilted my head. She laughed reassuringly.
"No need to worry. Not difficult ones."
She stood.
"First favor, then. Listen well."
Gulp.
She approached me across the table for her first request. What could it be? Anxiety surged—
"Stay still until I signal. Got it?"
Grab—
"Mmph—!"
Her hand squished my cheeks roughly. Her eyes were... oddly glazed.