Meeting Ifrit: The Curse's Cruel Twist – Dog Collar Wish Before Battle
Jin grabbed Sylvia's hand, feeling its soft texture to ease his anxiety. He met her gaze and gave a slight smile. Sylvia smiled back, calming his nerves. Somehow, the stuffy feeling in his chest eased a bit. He didn't know why, but he couldn't stay here long. Was it the high altitude? Yeah, that must be it. He'd never climbed a mountain this tall before. That had to be the reason. He forced himself to relax with that naive thought.
That's when it happened. As they scanned the area for the primordial flame spirit Ifrit, a massive white bird flew right up to them.
"Chirp! Hello?"
He flinched, startled. A talking bird. Fantasy world stuff, sure. He was surprised, but he didn't scream like an idiot—not with Sylvia right there holding his hand. Dignity mattered.
"You here for Lady Ifrit? Chirp!"
The bird casually preened its feathers in front of them, asking without a hint of tension. Jin and Sylvia exchanged glances before he replied.
"Yeah. Are you Lady Ifrit's guide?"
Not human, so probably a guide, but whatever—details.
"Better if the man answers instead of the ugly bitch. Chirp!"
'...Fucking bird.'
He was pissed for a second but kept his cool, asking calmly while kneading Sylvia's soft hand to soothe any hurt feelings. Damn, she didn't even flinch at that crap. My owner's tough.
"Greetings! We've come all this way seeking aid from a great one like Lady Ifrit. Could we possibly meet her!?"
Jin laid on the polite charm. Your move, fucking bird.
"Chirp! Caw! Even funnier hearing it up close!"
"Up close?"
"Chirp chirp! We heard you climbing from afar."
"Ah! Then could you guide us~?"
"Caw! Why should I? No reason to go that far, right?"
Looks like it has nothing better to do. Helping wouldn't kill it—too busy eating bugs? Jin kept his poker face and pressed.
"True! Well... so, if Lady Ifrit isn't too busy!! Could we meet her now!?"
"Chirp chirp chirp! Fine. I'll tell her."
Then fuck off and fetch her. The bird flitted away. Hopes high. That chest tightness? Just the altitude, yeah. Kneading Sylvia's hand brought reassurance.
Soon, blazing flames filled the area.
"Yuseong! Behind me!"
Sylvia quickly deployed a shallow barrier. Even Jin felt the heavy mana closing in. The flames condensed before her, forming a shape. A 2-meter fire giant... with feminine curves. Flame hair flickering upward like a lighter, eyes barely distinguishable in the glow. No heat from the constantly burning body—just overwhelming power.
The primordial flame spirit spoke.
"What brings you young ones to me?"
A voice full of dignity. With Jin behind her, Sylvia replied.
"Great flame spirit Ifrit. I am Sylvia Armani Rune Lumer, a young witch bitch as you say. I've been struck by an evil curse that damaged my memories and mind. I've come here seeking your holy flame to lift it—please, in your mercy, lend me your aid."
"My holy flame."
Sylvia was polite yet composed, never groveling. If Jin heard that, he'd nod in approval.
"I see. Young bitch, I sense a foul aura on you. I'll remove it."
"You'll use the holy flame?"
"Heh. The holy flame isn't just pleasant—it's searing agony for young ones like you, worse than death. I could lift it painlessly with magic, so don't refuse."
"But that's why we came for the holy flame—magic couldn't do it."
"For you young ones, perhaps. Remember, I am a spirit who has forgotten even the span of my own life."
Done! Heading home! But the chest tightness worsened. Weird sensation. Why? No clue, so he stayed silent behind Sylvia, watching Ifrit.
Tap... Ifrit's sparking finger touched Sylvia's ample breasts. With sacred light, Ifrit chuckled softly, said it was done, and vanished.
The light faded... and Sylvia had doubled.
No, why? The Sylvia shielding him, and another opposite her. Eyes, nose, mouth, figure, clothes, wand—identical twins, perfectly matched. He'd groped those breasts, hugged that slim waist, brushed those hips and smooth thighs unconsciously. No doubt. Both were Sylvia.
Ifrit, you bitch, where'd you go? What the fuck now?
The shielding Sylvia raised her arms to shoulder height, backing up with him. Sweat glistened on her forehead.
"Sylvia?"
Why so tense? Like facing a deadly foe...
Sylvia ignored him, widening the gap from the other.
"...Looks like you protected Yuseong well while I was gone. Good job."
The other spoke. The one in front trembled fiercely, eyes wide in disbelief.
"You're... you're not..."
"I want Yuseong back. You want to keep him too, right? We can't both have him."
"...Your mana... identical... no, slightly more...? About a month...?"
"One of us has to vanish. I'm you, you're me. We're two. But Yuseong's only one."
Sinister words. No way, right? The other claimed to be pre-curse Sylvia. His Sylvia couldn't deny it. The other was stern; his was soaked in sweat.
"Even without memories of coming here, I have everything after meeting Yuseong. So who's real? Me, with more time with him? Or... you?"
"Sh-shut up. I... I'm..."
Jin couldn't watch the standoff.
"Sylvia? You're both Sylvia. Why say scary shit like that."
"Sorry. Yuseong, step back for a bit."
The other silenced him gravely. Not the moment to butt in. His Sylvia gripped her trembling wand-hand tightly, steadying it. She turned, voice calm.
"Yuseong."
"...Yeah?"
His chest tightened more.
"I'll win and come back."
"Sylvia...!? C-can't you not fight?"
"Just stay back a little?"
"Why fight at all..."
"Because I'm the real owner. I'll prove it."
"You don't need to—Sylvia's already my own—"
"Believe in me and wait. If I win and return..."
Sylvia cut him off with a fragile smile.
"...Buy a red collar and leash... put it on my neck? And walk me in public, showing I'm your owner."
"Why now, of all times? Why say that...?"
His breath caught. Her idiotic, Sylvia-like wish didn't amuse him.
"Can you grant your owner's wish...?"
"Sylvia..."
"Hehe... sorry. Weird talk out of nowhere. Be right back."
No time to stop her—she gripped her wand and strode forward resolutely.
What the hell? Why this? Both Sylvias—the one he took her first with. Why fight? Just memories, yet bodies split. Where's Ifrit? Fix this. Would one vanish? What now? Why do this? What can I do?
"Gotta go max firepower from the start."
"Same here."
⟨ [Advent: Descent]! ⟩
⟨ [Advent: Descent]! ⟩
The two began battle.
Their hair whipped wildly, horns of light sprouting on foreheads. Golden eyes glaring, they clashed like lightning, rising into the air. Jin blinked at the dirt clods hitting his minor barrier. They'd get hurt. Why such powerful magic? Shortens lifespan, right? He recalled doppelganger myths—meet your double, die. Fantasy making superstitions real? A simple memory loss curse leading to this? Because it was a curse? Hence the bizarre side effect?