'Am I harnessing my power by just standing around?'
Quinn couldn't be more surprised.
As if answering him, a light crimson screen popped up right before him. Mid-air. Quinn shivered a little when it appeared.
What is this? A rectangular screen floating in the fucking air?
'Sick.'
Quinn had to go behind it to confirm no hand was holding it. How crazy this actually looks.
"Wow."
Afterwards, he returned to his original position. And leaned closer to the screen to read the texts that just manifested on it.
[You have successfully contacted your Curse!]
[Welcome to your Cursed Realm, Transformed Quinn.]
[Life or Death?]
Quinn snickered.
He already guessed this thing won't be totally fine upstairs.
"That should be tea or coffee, dumbass."
But realisation slapped him in the face as new stringed texts were arranged in place.
Quinn gasped.
"Wait, what?! What the hell are you on to?!"
[Transformed Quinn, you are required to make only one choice.]
[And the chance that you may continue enjoying this new life the Curse provided you solely depends on that choice. Don't flaunt it.]
Quinn pondered,
"My new life?"
His eyes rolled here and there.
His pulse throbbed in his ears.
He had read similar things before. The fake help. The goddamn gifts. The disguised kindness!
Just like in those manhwa.
And when everything sank in, Quinn clenched his fist.
"No, no, I knew I was going to end up in something like this. From when that man was saying shit… I knew it! This is how it all goes. They help you only to demand something greater…!"
But again, did he ask for their help? Right, he never did!
Quinn shot his eyes back at the screen. However, just as his lips parted, the thing changed texts again.
[It was your last wish.]
[To have the privilege of being strong.]
Quinn creased his brows.
"When…?"
But the memory slipped in immediately.
… Jett had asked Quinn if he was refusing to transfer schools because of his mother. That was the most reasonable thing Quinn had ever heard from the mouth of a bully.
But he was unable to say anything back then. Simply because… he lost all energy.
Then, Quinn started losing his consciousness little by little. In that vulnerable moment, he felt two things.
Regret - how could he even present himself in heaven after dying pathetically? People usually die as heroes in the manhwa he read.
Regret, and one other thing.
That thing was…
What the fuck! The screen thing was right.
Quinn had wished to be strong. He had hope. The hope to be divine.
Quinn swallowed. And took a deep breath.
'A good day to be an open book.'
The Curse moved on,
[That's why the fire chose you. It chose to bear a new "you". And that makes you…]
"Son of the Flame?" Quinn said, entirely as a joke.
But the stupid Curse had other plans.
[Sub-Name Updated,]
["The Son of the Flame".]
[Time of Death and Rebirth: 10 pm.]
Quinn didn't even bother to argue. But who takes a joke that seriously?
Welp, it was dumb to begin with.
But along the line, he rechecked the screen. That one was a sub-name?
Then, what's the real title?
Quinn Vale? Probably not.
It then inquired,
[Are you ready to make your choice?]
[Become a Spirit Hunter,]
[Or get comatose forever?]
[The ball is in your court.]
Quinn loosened his brow.
"A Spirit Hunter… heh? That's what the old man called himself, too."
He took a deep breath.
He rubbed his chin.
What does he lose by rejecting?
Everything.
And that's annoying.
'Fucking son of a gun… Of course, I don't wanna die.'
He made his choice.
"Whatever. I will be a Spirit Hunter…"
And so, the world spiralled before his eyes.
Quinn screamed, seeing both the sky and the surface at the same time. His head roared at him. He heard cries. Heard threats.
Every bit of sound was as loud as thunder.
Quinn grunted. And he dropped to his knees, clasping his head tightly.
"Make this stop!"
But nothing changed. If anything, it worsened.
He saw faces. The centre of his chest scorched with a searing heat.
Everything was… too much.
"God… damn it!" Quinn cried, slamming his fists into the ground.
Just like that, it stopped.
Quinn breathed erratically, like a goat that had just escaped slaughter.
Immediately, he shot his glare upwards. And yelled,
"What just happened?!"
The screen faded into red embers, then reappeared below at Quinn's eye level.
[All memories have been successfully secured in your brain. If action should be taken soon, it will.]
Quinn steadied his breathing.
"What does that even mean?"
But, curse this sharp pang in his head.
He used a couple of seconds to stay calm. And fortunately, the pain slowly vanished.
So, Quinn rose back to his feet. And the screen switched positions too.
It displayed,
[Congratulations on officially becoming a Spirit Hunter.]
[Status Window.
Name: Quinn Vale
Level: 1
HP: 120 / 120
MP: 40 / 40
Fatigue: 0
Strength: 5
Agility: 4
Intelligence: 3
Sense: 3
Vitality: 5
Available Stat Points: 10
Abilities: Locked.
Real Name: ??]
… Quinn wasn't so impressed. He sighed.
His body suddenly felt light. Too light. His head grew empty, and before he knew it, his eyes were already closing.
He fell straight downwards. Mid-fall, the ash-covered surface beneath morphed into the grassy type.
Quinn's back slammed into it the next moment.
But how lucky he was that he had already lost consciousness before the fall.
Meanwhile, Silas and Lady Maya were right by his side. They weren't so surprised to see him pop out like that from thin air.
Silas mumbled, staring down at Quinn,
"Did this kid accept or reject the offer? Can't be so stupid, hm?"
Lady Maya instantly bent and placed her finger close to Quinn's nostrils. She sighed in relief afterwards.
"He's alive."
Silas nodded slowly. Then, he lifted Quinn with an arm and slung him over his own shoulder. He headed for the door without saying anything.
But along the line, he also smiled in relief.
"Smart kiddo!"
After Silas took the boy inside, Lady Maya turned around and stared into the starry sky. It was night already. Their house was better described as being in the countryside. Because you could hardly see any other house nearby. Only trees.
The woman swallowed.
She sighed.
"Will this boy make it through his first year either? I wish there were a way he could remain alive without becoming a hunter. But… the Curse is too strict."