Innate Talent and Acquired Talent
"What the hell is this."
Standing in front of the mirror, Yeonwoo kept scrutinizing her own body. Every time she tilted her head this way and that, her hair—falling just past her shoulders—swayed seductively.
Beautiful.
How to put it? Yeonwoo lacked the words to describe this beauty. Such a stunning body was now hers. For a man like Yeonwoo, a woman's form felt awkward. It was itchy, somehow floating, disconnected. Her expressions wouldn't cooperate.
"Insane."
Even that awkward expression turned into beauty. The unease was repackaged as decadent allure, elevating the atmosphere.
"Ugh."
Yeonwoo leaned closer to the mirror, then abruptly turned her head away. The reason was simple. She'd never seen a beauty like this in person, let alone from nose-touching distance. Staring felt embarrassing. No matter how long she looked, the face was pretty. She'd never enjoyed such luxury in her life.
So that's why you left me?
My precious weapon. Sorry for being such a pathetic, worthless man.
"Haa."
Of course, she was a woman from now on. The altar had taken her precious weapon. And this cramped room. It barely qualified as one—just a separated living room with a dingy sliding door.
...I returned to the past?
At least five years back. And as a woman, no less.
"Is this a chance?"
Yeonwoo glared at her reflection. Height around mid-160s, a bit short. Taller than average, but small in the hunter world. Plus, this body was already awakened as a hunter. Proof dangled from her right ear: a red earring. Hunters called it the Bag.
The reason was straightforward. Yeonwoo tapped the earring.
▶ Weapon
▷ Grow by fusing weapons into weapons.
A status window appeared. Normally, it showed inventory items beside the translucent panel, but she had none yet.
"But..."
The Bag manifested as jewelry, varying by person in position and form.
"Why two?"
Yeonwoo spread her left hand. A red ring gleamed there too. Touching it brought the same status window.
"Some kind of proof, huh."
Evidence of returning to the past. A trace that she'd once had manhood?
"And my Stigma changed?"
Her original was Weapon Expert. Now it was just Weapon, sans expert.
▶ Weapon
▷ Grow by fusing weapons into weapons.
"Oh?"
This felt like hitting the jackpot.
Fusion's never betrayed me.
Daeyang Company's leader Jeon Daeyang's Body-Sword Unity. The Witch's Compound. Special Mobile Team's Kang Cheolhan's Armored Soul. All top rankers with fusion Stigmas.
The old Weapon Expert was gone, but who cared?
No Stigma's worse than Weapon Expert.
Yeonwoo traded her precious weapon for this new one. She just lacked a way to test it yet—no weapons on hand.
"License registration first."
Essential for buying gear. The Center provided basics, but memories soured: long lines, chased out after glares before picking a fitting weapon.
"This time'll be different."
Her looks alone changed everything. In caste terms, old armed Yeonwoo was death-row compared to now.
Experience remained, though—the know-how and instincts honed by endless effort that made veteran Yeonwoo.
Key was the post-awakening body.
"Let's see."
Yeonwoo moved: swung arms, twisted, hopped in place.
"Eut...!"
Unfamiliar cry halted her. Awakened hunter body handled weight fine, but baggy T-shirt rubbed sensitive spots raw.
"Light. Nimbler than expected."
A woman's body, yet superior to her original awakening. High price yielded premium goods.
"And insanely flexible."
Sensations impossible as a man. Joints seemed absent—body flowed smooth, unhindered. She could probably lick her elbow.
"..."
As Yeonwoo yanked her elbow and stretched her tongue...
"What're you staring at to make such a girly noise...!"
Drag!
The sliding door flew open.
"Uh."
"S-sis... ter."
Forgotten in shock: woman, past regressor. Yeonseo. Two years younger sister. They shared this cramped 1.5-room monthly rental. Poverty's fault, obviously.
"Who are you to scowl like that..."
Yeonseo muttered blankly. Her first words beat stranger-shock: a spectacle.
* * *
"So you're... my oppa?"
"Told you."
Proving she was Yeonwoo was easy. Rough upbringing meant a few stories sufficed.
"No way. Awakened as hunter and turned girl?"
"Yeah."
Why woman? Hunters explained it.
"Makes sense?!"
Thud.
Yeonseo slammed the desk-cum-table.
"Tell me about it."
Yeonwoo had no real answer. Her cynical vibe sold it—Yeonseo seemed accepting.
"Close your legs a bit!"
"Sigh, can't help it."
"Think about how I feel seeing my undies between your thighs? Huh?"
"Sis now. Adapt, Yeonseo-ya."
"Gonna lose it."
Yeonseo slid down, forehead to table. Oppa-voice from this beauty spun her head. But worse: eyes glued despite slutty sprawl and oppa-talk!
"So, o— n— ugh. Why were you doing that?"
"Sis."
"Became woman just to lick your elbow like that?"
"Watch. It works."
Yeonwoo eagerly stuck tongue to elbow. Long, crimson tongue extended. Gazes intensified the decadent eyes, crushed chest from strain. Mismatched borrowed undies amplified.
"..."
Yeonseo frowned. World-class beauty doing idiot stunt as her oppa. But that pose... subtly erotic. Especially the tongue. Her eyes narrowed, face flushed to neck.
"Don't ever do that outside! Got it?!"
"Why yell? Can't you?"
"Shut it! Got it or not?!"
"Bragged once, good enough."
Yeonwoo giggled victoriously, leaning cockily on sink, legs splayed again.
"So. What's the plan? Suddenly a girl."
"Well..."
Yeonwoo trailed off, scanning the cramped 1.5-room rental. Sister got the "room"; she used sliding door for living room. Leftover space? Nil. No room for table in living-kitchen-entrance hybrid—had to open door midway for portable one.
She sleeps under clothes rack 'cause room's tiny.
Money first, obviously. Same back then. Became hunter craving good life. No innate awakening—trained like dog to barely awaken. Escaping this hole took ages. Hunters weren't easy; earnings vanished fast. Balancing growth-stability? Tough. Push up, money dragged; invest time, lag behind. Half-speed of innately gifted.
This time, just wanna live well.
Block Babel Company's bastards later—that's five years out. Now, happy life.
"Gonna hunter."
Yeonwoo declared boldly. Yeonseo startled but worried danger, eyeing top-to-bottom.
"Anyone can? With that body?"
Prime hunter material—worry natural.
"Model instead? Got cards."
Yeonseo pulled wallet cards: fashion editor, dating agency caster, mall rep.
"Look, Yeonseo-ya."
Yeonwoo moved fast. Never expected instant buy-in—would've blocked too. Had to show: experience wasn't wasted. Talent in this body proved it.
Whoosh.
Whip-like arm snatched cards pre-reaction.
"...!"
Fwoosh.
Yeonwoo flung toward ceiling. Cards blocked yellow light, plummeting.
Or not. Chopsticks in hand—three.
Whish—thunk!
Swish. Thud!
Whip. Pack!
Thrown chopsticks pierced midair, slamming walls, pinning cards—full speed show-off.
"Uh..."
Yeonseo's mouth gaped. Trembling eyes on Yeonwoo. Blunt chopsticks stunt amazed, but her look burned in: predator's glare. Lethal, breathtaking. Same as leg-sprawling elbow-licker? Doubtful.
"Uh, y-yeah..."
Yeonseo nodded slowly. Wanted retort—speechless. Post-throw Yeonwoo: suffocatingly seductive, sharp.
Insane. This face, talent—not hunting? Humanity's loss.