- Someone Else Can Level Up?
Two days later...
Frizz was behind the counter, tinkering with the cash register. "I thought this was fixed." Two days had passed since his disruption of the illegal brothel along with his older brother. The several arrests were a hit on the local news and social media, with many people commenting that the police were finally off their asses. The young women were now taken care of, their welfare handled by the local government.
"Young women deserve to be protected against these predatory men taking advantage of them! Make these scumbags pay along with those who pay for the services!" An interviewed woman declares at the local television, several women cheering behind her.
Frizz watched the overhead television inside the convenience store, smiling happily yet conflicted. "Psh! I did all the work," he whispered.
Yani exited the break room, approaching Frizz. "Hey, can we talk?"
"Uh, sure."
"We can talk in the break room."
Frizz followed Yani into the break room. Mina, stocking shelves nearby, spotted them. (I can't believe Yani knew about Frizz's abilities from the start.) She mused, remembering when Frizz revealed she wasn't the only one who knew.
*Buzz!* Mina's phone buzzed; it was a text message from his boyfriend, causing her to click his tongue in disbelief. "Useless piece of crap."
"Listen, can you help me?" Yani confided, nervously shifting.
(Finally, I can't bear seeing that unfinished objective anymore.) Frizz thought, breathing in relief. "So, who should I beat this time?"
"Please help my sister."
"Okay, cool. Where is she being held hostage?"
"No, not like that." Yani corrected his assumptions. "She can't walk anymore, she was hit by a drunk driver three weeks ago and because of that my parents had to take out an even bigger loan from the loan sharks."
"Her whole body is a mess; she still has some injuries and wounds that are yet to heal, and several of her bones are broken." Yani paused, almost sobbing. "Her forearms, arms, waist, legs, thighs, jaw, and some of her ribs were fractured."
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
"H-heal her." Yani stuttered, locking eye contact with Frizz. "Back when we rode home together, I heard you mutter to yourself. Something about healing hands."
Frizz closed his eyes, sighing. (I should stop mumbling to myself from now on.)
"Yeah, sure. She's at your home, right?"
Yani smiled, breathing in relief but then taking a small step back. (Why is he always so eager to help me? He's not the charitably type.) she thought, darting her eyes around.
(No, think about it later; my sister can be healed. That's the priority.)
Frizz also stared at her, confused. (Does she have doubts? It doesn't matter; I want to see the extent of my skill. I can make a whole lot of money and hopefully some EXP with this.)
"I don't live far from here; maybe we can walk there during lunch break. I can buy you lunch."
"No need, I still have a lot of money, and I haven't even spent that much." Frizz declined her offer. "Is that all? I still need to tend the counter."
"That's all. T-thank you..."
Frizz left the break room, bumping into Mina. "Oh hey, sorry Mina." Mina smiled as she entered the break room, locking eyes with Yani. "About Frizz..."
Two hours later...
Frizz stared at Yani's older sister, sleeping peacefully on a bed with propped pillows. Several bandages can be seen all over her body, wrapping and stabilizing her injuries; her face was full of scarring cuts and gashes. Frizz winced, remembering a painful memory from before. "Yeah, this looks bad," he comments while using alcohol wipes.
Yani tugged his sleeve. "Please be careful..." she said with worry, still unsure with Frizz.
"Relax. I promised to help you, so why not?" Frizz stated, putting his hands on Yani's sister's exposed shoulders.
"Healing hands."
[System]
[Healing Hands II] skill is active.
"Might as well use soothing hands too."
[System]
[Soothing Hands II] is active.
"Disable all perk activations." (I thought I already gave this order; I saw that intimidation perk activation notification last time.)
Frizz's hands glowed, shimmering and glittering in a green hue. The glow emanated to the target, slowly enveloping her whole body. "Hmm." Her sister hummed, still deep in sleep. He could feel his mana slowly draining but still continued, planning to use most of it to try and heal the woman in front of him.
[System]
Mana: 20/51
Frizz let go, deciding that it was enough and not risking a full mana depletion. "I did all I could," he remarked to Yani. (I think it's possible for me to fully heal her though it will take a damn long time.)
"Is she fully healed?"
"No, that'd be suspicious. She still has a long recovery ahead of her," Frizz answered, momentarily pausing. "Still, that healing should've shaved off some weeks, maybe even a month."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, with the healing that I did, instead of recovering in." Frizz paused, assessing the state of the injuries. "Eight months; it will only take maybe six and a half."
Yani placed her hand on his sister's face, noting the somewhat better complexion. "The cuts on her face, they mostly disappeared." Yani grabbed her sister, lightly nudging her.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Frizz exclaimed, proceeding to hide behind a large cabinet.
Yani's sister woke up, awakening to her younger sister with tears in her eyes. "Yani, what's wrong? Why did you wake me up?"
"How are you feeling, Mich?" Yani's sister, Mich, smiled. "Still ba—" Her older sister paused, feeling something different. "My sides, it doesn't hurt as much as before."
Mich's eyes bulged in disbelief. "It doesn't hurt that much when I talk now, and I can feel my legs; my toes don't hurt as much too." Yani smiled, breathing in relief as a tear dripped.
[System]
Objectives Completed.
Help Yani: 1/1.
Rewards: Enough experience to advance.
Twenty minutes later...
Frizz opened another can of root beer, resting in the convenience store's break room. "You better not tell your sister about me. I don't want another person knowing what I can do."
"I know, I managed to explain that it was her painkillers and prayers, and that seemed to have calmed her down." Yani clarified, clutching his head. "Thank you...again...thank you. This meant a lot to me."
Frizz hummed, directing his full attention to the system notification in front of him; he spent the last ten minutes trying to select the better perk.
[System]
New name is now level 14.
Select a perk: [Survivor II], [Fleetfooted], [Desperate Outlook], [Jump to Conclusions], [Identifier].
(Yeah... This is hard, but... ah, screw it.) Frizz clicked his tongue, finally deciding on a perk. "Jump to conclusions? What kind of a perk is that?"
[System]
New name received: [Jump to Conclusions].
Displaying descriptions: After a failed negotiation or persuasion, the perk user's strength and speed are temporarily boosted, allowing a better-prepared fight or flight response.
Frizz sighed, facepalming; he didn't mean to pick this perk. "Fucking system, wait for my goddamned confirmation. I was just curious."
Yani faced the mumbling Frizz. "Something wrong?"
"Peachy," Frizz replied, throwing away the half-empty can of root beer and heading towards the restroom.
[System]
Fighter perk acquired: [✬High Morale✬]
Description: Confidence boosts the perk user with great physical prowess, but fear and doubt greatly weakens the perk-user's physical prowess.
Fighter skill acquired:
Description: When activated, the perk user's movement and running speed are double for twenty seconds. (18)
White Knight perk acquired: [✬Unfair Duelist✬]
Description: While the
White Knight skill acquired:
Description: Upon activation and physical contact, both combatants are locked in an enclosed space for an eight-second close-quarters duel. Neither can escape, nor use skills or spells. The victor gains a temporary but substantial boost to physical prowess. (30)
Frizz skimmed the system notification in front of him, not paying clear attention. "All good," he commented, peeing.
[System]
[Spell Selection]
「Crackle」「Firebolt」「Incite Pain」「Chilling Point」「Splash」
Frizz raised a brow, then suddenly grinned. "About damn time I get to cast some damned magic," he added, the feeling of exhilaration coming back to him. "You can't go wrong with something basic."
"Crackle," he ordered.
[System]
New name received: 「Crackle」
Displaying descriptions: A strong jolt of electricity comes out of the caster's hand, effective up to fifteen meters. (5 MN)
Frizz washed his hands and looked at it, feeling a small surge of electricity. "Time to test this out soon," he thought, walking out of the restroom with an arrogant smile.
"Frizz..." Mina called out, waiting outside the restroom. "Someone is looking for you; they're outside," she notified, concerned.
He walked out of the convenience store, spotting an average-height woman with long black hair and white streaks. He first noticed her chest; it was substantial in size, a cleavage bulged from her tank top. She was familiar, noting that he must've met her some time ago.
"Frizz, right? I wanted to talk to you. My name is Divine." The woman takes out her hand, expecting a handshake. Frizz shook it, smiling and asking. "Do I know you?"
"No, but I am just like you." Divine smiles, putting some power in her grip. (She's strong! Even stronger than me!) Frizz thought, confused.
Divine's eyes glowed as her hands suddenly increased in temperature, almost burning Frizz's hands.
"I too, can level up." She whispered, winking.