9. Charisma of my hidden skill

As we approached Mandale Market, the town came into view. The market buzzed with activity—vendors shouting about their products, people haggling over prices, and the air filled with the scent of fresh produce and baked bread.

Mandale looked like a modest town, with stone buildings that were sturdier than our home, though wear and tear were still evident. It was a simple place, but somehow it felt more welcoming than the crumbling walls we lived within.

Evan quickly set up a small stall for us, arranging our vegetables neatly on the worn wooden table. I watched him work with a mix of pride and admiration. Even though my mind was racing with thoughts about this new world, I couldn't help but appreciate how capable he seemed.

It wasn't long before trouble found us. A group of bullies walked up to our stall, their sneers making my stomach twist. "You're on our turf, kids. Gotta pay the protection fee," one of them said, his voice dripping with arrogance.

I folded my arms, staring him down. "Don't you have hands or feet? Why not try doing some honest work for a change?"

The lead bully's smirk deepened, his eyes narrowing. "Stop this nonsense, bitch. You're just level 1 with a Grade D fire element. How dare you lecture us?"

I froze for a moment. 'How do they know about my level, element, and grade?' I leaned closer to Evan, whispering, "How do they know that?"

"You need a 'Detect' magic skill to see someone's basic information," he whispered back. "You'll get it once you hit level 10."

I nodded slowly, my mind racing. 'So, they're all over level 10. Great.' I could feel the tension creeping up my spine, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. How could I protect Evan against them?

The leader's sneer turned into something uglier. "Although that bitch is flat as a board, I bet we could still have some fun. Feisty ones are always a good time."

A cold anger settled in my chest. Before Evan could respond, I felt something strange—a pulse of energy within me. 'Could it be the system?' I focused on the sensation, willing it to do something, anything.

[[The Curse of the Dark Phoenix activated.]]

Suddenly, the bullies' faces twisted in pain. One by one, they clutched their stomachs, their expressions turning green. Then, to my surprise and everyone else's, they started passing gas, loud and foul. The stench was unbearable.

People in the market turned to stare, some pointing and laughing at the bullies. Their faces flushed with embarrassment, alternating between red and green as they tried to hold themselves together.

"You brats got lucky today..." The leader tried to maintain some dignity, but another gas bomb escaped him, forcing him to flee with a tail between his legs, all of them followed their respected leader too.

Evan stared after them, his eyes wide. "What... what just happened?"

I shrugged, doing my best to look innocent. "Maybe they ate something bad?"

He shot me a puzzled look but didn't push it further. I exhaled a sigh of relief. 'So, that's what The Curse of the Dark Phoenix does… not bad.' I focused on the hidden skill again, hoping to learn more about it.

[[[The Curse of the Dark Phoenix]]

Description: Curses enemy targets harboring hostile thoughts toward the owner. Can only be used once per day. Upgrade the skill to increase uses.

MP Required: None.]

'A shame I can only use it once per day,' I thought, feeling a little disappointed. Then I remembered my title and decided to check it out too.

[[[Blessed Evolver]]

Description: A unique title awarded to the host as compensation. This title grants double experience points for every mission completed, double loot for each kill, and double growth points to the host for each level up. For every twenty level-ups, the host can upgrade her talent grade once.]

I couldn't help but smile. 'This title is a game changer. I'll grow stronger faster than anyone else.' The excitement bubbled up in me, making me eager to see how far I could go.

We spent the next hour selling our vegetables, earning a modest 20 Ethe coins. It wasn't much, but it felt like a small victory. As we packed up, I decided to share a bit of my discovery with Evan. "Evan, I found out that my title allows me to upgrade my element. So, you don't need to worry about my low grade."

His eyes lit up in surprise. "That's amazing, Sister! I knew you had something special. We'll get through this together."

I smiled at his enthusiasm, but I wasn't ready to reveal everything—like being a transmigrator. It felt like too much to drop on him all at once. "How much do we need to pay off our debt?" I asked as we began our walk back home.

Evan's expression darkened. "Fifty thousand Ethe coins. It's a massive amount, but we'll figure it out."

My heart sank at the number, but I quickly steeled myself. 'We'll find a way,' I told myself firmly. 'We have to.'

Determined to make the most of my situation, I decided to check out my skills in detail. Focusing on the Basic Fireball skill, I saw a description pop up.

[[[Basic Fireball]]

Description: Summon a small ball of fire to attack enemies.

MP Required: 10]

Next, I checked Fire Needle.

[[[Basic Fire Needle]]

Description: Create a sharp, needle-like flame to pierce through defenses.

MP Required: 15]

They were basic skills, but they were mine. And with the Blessed Evolver title, I knew I had the potential to become much more. 'I'll make this work,' I thought, my determination hardening.

As we returned home, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the worn wooden roof of our house. Despite everything, I felt a flicker of hope—small but growing. We'd faced a challenge today and come out stronger. And with Evan by my side, I knew we could face whatever came next.