Exposed

I was in the middle of testing whether Innate Vital Energy could be absorbed through the mouth (it could), when—

Knock, knock—

Someone was pounding on the door.

Who could that be? Whoever it was, first things first—

“Don’t say anything foolish.”

I placed Ahn Ji-seok under hypnosis, telling him not to say anything strange. (I’d intended to make it a strong suggestion, but it took hold powerfully on its own.)

I slipped on my robe—no, my bathrobe—and opened the door.

Standing on the other side were… the police?

And a whole group of them, heavily armed.

“Yes?”

The officer at the front stared blankly at my face.

My beauty was one thing, but my current state… My entire body was drenched in sweat, with nothing but a single bathrobe clinging to me.

“Ah, my apologies. We received a report of a monster sighting at this motel. The CCTV footage showed it entering this room.”

Ah. I suppose Se-hyuk’s transformation would cause that kind of misunderstanding.

I’d heard that guilds even issue official guidelines about it: don’t transform in public. It leads to reports like this.

“Oh, that…”

I explained, mixing truth with lies. That bastard, the Magic-type Awakener Ahn Ji-seok, had brought me to this motel, intending to assault me while I was drunk. My boyfriend, Park Se-hyuk (the story would sound strange if he wasn’t my boyfriend), sensed something was wrong, transformed, and came looking for me. Since he can turn into a werewolf, I suggested that must have been what caused the misunderstanding.

Combined with the CCTV footage of Ahn Ji-seok practically dragging my ‘unconscious’ body into the room, the explanation was quite logical.

A few officers came inside.

They saw Park Se-hyuk sleeping on the bed (thankfully, I’d covered him with a blanket) and Ahn Ji-seok sprawled in a corner on the floor (no blanket for him). Seemingly grasping the situation, they began searching for their Awakener Registration Cards.

They found both cards, confirmed one was a Transformation-type and the other a Magic-type, and arrested Ahn Ji-seok, who, according to my story, had been knocked unconscious by Park Se-hyuk.

And just like that, the situation was over.

The police try to avoid getting involved in crimes between Awakeners as much as possible.

Of course, they have to intervene when necessary, but the inherent danger of Awakeners forces them to be passive.

If they absolutely must get involved, they dispatch a special unit composed of Awakeners, or a guild (usually a government-certified one) steps in first.

But for incidents like this, staying out of it is the best answer.

Even if they tried to intervene, crimes between Awakeners often aren’t resolved according to the letter of the law.

Naturally, they get a lot of flak for it.

I used to complain about it a lot back when I was a non-Awakener, but now that I am one? This sloppy way of handling things is fantastic.

From the officers’ perspective, the situation had ended well, and they’d arrested the culprit. Mission complete.

The looks on their faces were much brighter now that their job was done. When I first opened the door, their expressions were… something else.

Of course, it must be pretty terrifying in its own way when you knock on the door of a room that supposedly contains a monster, and it just opens.

Then again, should you even be knocking on the door of a room a monster just entered?

…I’m sure the police know what they’re doing.

The officers withdrew from the room, telling me to call if I needed any more help.

Phew. The situation was really over.

I’d figured out how to use the skill from Ahn Ji-seok, obtained Innate Vital Energy, gotten Essense from both of them, and Park Se-hyuk had no idea what really happened to Ahn Ji-seok.

It felt like I was finally being compensated for all my past suffering.

[Essense: 2660/7536]

[Innate Vital Energy: 1000+473/1000]

Just looking at the numbers was reassuring.

The Essense Park Se-hyuk gave me at the end and the Innate Vital Energy Ahn Ji-seok gave me (?) at the end were both filled to the brim.

Final test: the efficiency of ‘Innate Vital Energy Conversion’.

When I absorbed the Innate Vital Energy, I’d felt a warmth on a completely different level from Essense, so I couldn’t help but have high expectations.

[Essense: 2670/7536]
[Innate Vital Energy: 1000+472/1000]

Ten.

One point of Innate Vital Energy converted into ten points of Essense.

Considering this was at level one, the efficiency was absurd. Even ‘Essense Conversion’ was only one Essense to five Mana at level one.

Seeing as the conversion ratio for that skill increased by five with each level—5, 10, 15, 20—it was possible that ‘Innate Vital Energy Conversion’ would increase by ten with each level: 10, 20, 30, 40.

If I remembered correctly, the other skill leveled up after converting 100 Essense…

I converted the remaining 99, and—

Ding—

[‘Innate Vital Energy Conversion’ Leveled Up: Lv.1 > Lv.2]

My Innate Vital Energy became 373 and my Essense became 3660, and the skill leveled up at the same time.

Just as I expected.

So, what about the conversion ratio?

[Essense: 3680/7536]
[Innate Vital Energy: 1000+372/1000]

I converted one point as a test. Twenty.

That was also just as I expected.

This meant I could assume it would level up in the same pattern as ‘Essense Conversion’.

In that case, I’d need 199 Innate Vital Energy for the next level.

I could do that with the 372 I had left.

But 200 Innate Vital Energy would be 4,000 Essense.

4,000? That’s insane.

Anyway, whether it was 200 or 199, converting it to Essense would exceed my maximum capacity.

The solution was to fill my Essense up to 4,000 and level up ‘Demonic Horns’!

[Essense: 4000/7536]
[Innate Vital Energy: 1000+356/1000]

I converted an additional 16 to reach 4,000.

And then— Tiring—

[Skill (A): Demonic Horns – Enhancement (4000/4000)]

[‘Demonic Horns – Potency’ Leveled Up: Lv.3 > Lv.4]

[‘Demonic Horns – Manifestation’ Leveled Up: Lv.3 > Lv.4]

I felt the horns grow longer, curving upward midway. I hadn’t manifested them, so they weren’t tangible, but I felt if I straightened them out, they’d be about a handspan long.

They’d grown thicker, too, a perfect thickness for their new length. Not too thin, not too thick.

But the size and thickness of the horns weren’t the important part.

[Demonic Horns – Potency: Lv.4
-Magic Power +10%
-Max Essense +300%
-Skill (P): Essense Absorption +2 Levels
-Skill (P): Magic Power Absorption +2 Levels
-Skill (P): Flowing Desire +2 Levels
-Skill (A): Demonic Whispers +2 Levels
-Skill (A): Seductive Kiss +2 Levels
-Skill (A): Body Recovery +2 Levels
-Skill (A): Body Enhancement +2 Levels]

[Demonic Horns – Manifestation: Lv.4
-Strength +20%
-Skill (A): Demonic Whispers +2 Levels
-Skill (A): Body Recovery +2 Levels
-Skill (A): Body Enhancement +2 Levels]

Mm. Now this is what I’m talking about.

But none of the Innate Vital Energy-related skills leveled up. A shame.

Still, all the effects that used to be ‘+1 Level’ had uniformly changed to ‘+2 Levels,’ including the relatively new ‘Seductive Kiss’.

‘What’s this?’

Huh, was that the spirit’s voice?

It seemed the spirit residing in my horns had noticed they’d gotten bigger.

‘Wow, the house got bigger!’

“Right? I put in some effort.”

‘Thank you! I saw you working hard!’

“Uh… you saw?”

‘Yep! Both of you seemed to be having fun, so I was happy too!’

Both of us? Uh… well…

“Really? I’m glad you were happy, then.”

‘Yep! But I’m hungry!’

“Ah, you’re hungry?”

‘Yep!’

Ah, crap. I used up all my Essense. I’ll have to convert some Innate Vital Energy.

I was planning to level up ‘Innate Vital Energy Conversion,’ but I guess I have no choice—wait, if I convert it to Essense, the skill will level up anyway, right?

Just as I was about to convert the Innate Vital Energy, the spirit reacted.

‘Huh? What’s that?’

It sounded curious. It must be asking about the Innate Vital Energy.

“This? It’s called Innate Vital Energy. I think it’s a higher-tier version of Essense.”

‘Huh?’

It didn’t understand.

“Hmm… like, tastier food? But it’s hard to get.”

If it likes Essense, wouldn’t it like Innate Vital Energy even more? It’s premium-grade food, after all.

‘Really? Then I wanna try it! Can I come out now?’

“Now? Uh… would that be okay? I feel like you’d set things on fire… and this isn’t my place.”

To be honest, it wouldn’t be okay even if it were my place.

‘It’s okay! I can make sure I don’t burn anything! And I can just float!’

Is that so? I guess if it floats, it should be fine.

“Alright? Then come on out, slowly.”

A small flame popped out of my horn and quickly took on a humanoid shape.

The knee-high spirit grabbed my hand and floated in the air, as if it were skydiving.

It joyfully wiggled its short arms and legs, happy to be out of the horn.

Thankfully, its emergence didn’t set anything nearby on fire. If it can float like this, it might be able to come out even when I’m at home.

So, should I give it the Innate Vital Energy now? How much would it take to satisfy it?

I gave it 2,500 Essense the first time, so I figured about 100 Innate Vital Energy would be equivalent. I started by giving it 50—

‘Whoa! Whoa—! What is this?’

The spirit also seemed to feel the superior warmth of the Innate Vital Energy. A feeling of pure awe filled me.

As the spirit flapped about with awe and delight, its limbs stretched out.

Huh? It grew this much from just 50? It looked like it would reach halfway up my thigh now.

‘It’s so delicious! What is this, and what was the stuff you gave me before?’

“This is Innate Vital Energy. What I gave you before was Essense. There’s twenty times more Essense available than this stuff. Which do you like better?”

‘I don’t care how much Essense there is, I like the Innate Vital Energy better!’

So it prefers Innate Vital Energy over Essense regardless of the difference in quantity. Does that mean the difference in quality is that significant?

“You mean the Innate Vital Energy, right?”

‘Yep! But this seems really hard to get….’

The spirit, which had been hopping with excitement, suddenly looked crestfallen. But only for a moment.

‘Still, the Essense you gave me before was good too!’

“Really? So which one should I give you?”

‘I think I’ll grow faster if I eat Innate Vital Energy, but it seems hard to get, so giving me Essense is fine too!’

What was that? Was this some kind of silent pressure? I didn’t sense that kind of emotion from it, though…

‘Well, I’m going back inside now! I don’t think I’ll be hungry for a while! Thank you!’

Having finished the Innate Vital Energy, the spirit said its goodbyes and returned to the horn.

But if it reacted like this after only 50 Innate Vital Energy, just how big is the difference between it and Essense…?

I should give it Innate Vital Energy whenever possible… Hmm, where can I find some bad guys?

After a quick wash, I lay down next to Park Se-hyuk and went to sleep. Come to think of it, the hypnosis worked well on him, too.

*

Park Se-hyuk slowly opened his eyes.

He stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, wondering where he was, before the memories came flooding back.

‘That bastard Ahn Ji-seok!’

He shot up. Ahn Ji-seok was gone. Only a woman was next to him, murmuring, “Mmm…” in her sleep.

A woman? Ah, Seo A-gyeol.

Gazing at her ever-beautiful face, he thought—

Right, what about Ahn Ji-seok?

He tore his eyes away from Seo A-gyeol’s mesmerizing face and scanned the room.

‘Did he run away?’

But there was no way that bastard would have just fled quietly. He could have done something while they were asleep, but both he and Seo A-gyeol seemed to be fine.

Ah.

At some point, his lips had met hers. He had leaned in and kissed her without even realizing it.

He could feel the soft breath of the sleeping Seo A-gyeol.

Drawn in by her faint scent, he had kissed her impulsively, and blood had naturally rushed down below—

“Mmm. Huh?”

She was awake.

He quickly pulled back, but had she noticed?

She yawned and slowly sat up. As she did, the blanket slipped off, revealing her bare chest—

Gasp.

Park Se-hyuk quickly turned his head away.

A soft chuckle.

“Why? Are you shy?”

“Ah, you, you should put on some clothes…”

“Come on, not after we’ve already done everything. Oh, right. The police came and arrested Ahn Ji-seok.”

“The police?”

“Someone reported a werewolf on the loose. But the police figured out it was because of Ahn Ji-seok, and he went quietly, so it should be fine.”

“Ah… that’s a relief. I should have taken care of the aftermath, but I must have dozed off for a moment. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, don’t be. I’m just grateful you came to find me.”

Huh? But—

“Doesn’t Ahn Ji-seok use illusion magic? We should check if he was really arrested—”

“Oh, it’s fine. He hit his head and was knocked out cold, so he couldn’t put up any resistance.”

…Even if he hit his head, he’s a B-rank. Would he really get knocked out just like that?

“Is that so? Then… that’s a relief.”

…Come to think of it, he didn’t resist much when I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, either.

“Why are you so shy?”

Seo A-gyeol leaned in close to Park Se-hyuk. Her bright, smiling face made her already dangerous beauty even more potent.

Gasp.

Park Se-hyuk’s eyes darted around, unable to meet hers.

“N-no, I’m not. Uh, um, are you okay?”

“Thanks to you… I am. Thank you.”

Seo A-gyeol leaned into Park Se-hyuk’s arms, as if seeking comfort. They both flinched at the sudden contact.

Seo A-gyeol slipped a hand under the blanket and grabbed something. A playful smile spread across her face.

“What’s this?”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to be so sorry. Thanks to you… I was able to forget.”

Seo A-gyeol slowly moved her hand up and down. Then she leaned in close, whispering—

“If you want to do more, you can…. I’d like that, too. It would help me forget even faster….”

In that moment, as the distance between their lips slowly closed—

“Ah!”

Park Se-hyuk grabbed Seo A-gyeol’s shoulders and pushed her away from him.

Gently, of course, since his precious member was still in her hand.

Park Se-hyuk decided to ask about the part that had been bothering him.

“Do you… steal magic power through sex?”