I want to make myself clear. The only bad thing about Park Rhea is her smell. Everything else, based on the times I've seen or interacted with her, was extremely likable.
I've met her three times (I think), but this was the first time we talked face to face. Despite the fact that we were basically strangers, the first thing she did was pull out an expensive-looking gas mask from who-knows-where, giving it to me. Now that my nose wasn't being murdered -all because of the stupid system and its stupid blessing of a stupidly overpowered sense of smell- she dragged me into another alleyway. I really didn't see the point of going into another alleyway when we were already in one, but she forced me in without giving me a chance to resist.
Once we were in the alley, she positioned herself so I was completely cornered, unable to escape. She then pushed me against the wall and lectured me on the importance of not using 'Skills' of a WOKE member "outside of the lawless cities" unless on a "mission" or "absolutely necessary.
I spaced out almost immediately and instead looked over this girl in front of me. Now that I got a closer look at her, she really was pretty. Even though she was lecturing me rather harshly, I could hear the worry in her voice, like a senior reprimanding an underclassman. She also did not give off a murderous aura, unlike the only other Woke I have encountered. In fact, her figure was not imposing at all; her entire presence screams "please leave me alone, I have social anxiety".
The only exception was her deep purple eyes. Her eyes were sharp and serious, as expected from a member of the Woke cult. This was definitely a person I'd never want to cross. Dark long hair trailed behind her as she moved, as if she was wearing a cloak. She was wearing clothes you'd expect any girl to wear in a lawless city: leather pants and jacket with a golden spider lily pin-
Oh, she has a higher rank than me.
"Why did the cult even send a newbie?" She mumbled as she realized I didn't hear a single thing she said. "Did they really not have anyone else to spy on the academy?"
She shook her head in disbelief.
I have no idea what she's talking about with spying missions and stuff, but it's none of my business.
In the meantime, I had other things I wanted to ask about, like "how do people protect their valuables in the lawless city?" or "would it be bad if someone saw us together?" or "what were you doing in the TREE academy?" or "where the hell did you get this gas mask for me?" or…
Now that I think about it, I didn't know anything about Demon Worshippers/Wokes other than they're no longer human and they can learn some magical "Arts" similar to Skills. The system had told me Skills and Arts were somehow fundamentally different, but I didn't get it. But then again, I'm basically two weeks old with about as much knowledge about magic as a 2-week-old newborn. There were probably a lot more I didn't know.
[Ding! The average civilian was not aware of the existence of Wokes. The Cult of Woke was kept secret even to a majorities of the low-ranking Woke members, many of whom were told that the Cult of Woke is an 'organization to protest inequalities against unGifted people.'] A/N: unGifted = people without Skills.
You're telling me I accidentally stumbled into something like a huge anti-government conspiracy? I thought the Cult of Wokes was just a bunch of random people who made contracts with demons just for some Skills.
[Ding! The System would like to remind the Host that the System had explained this before.]
"Are you also cursed?" Rhea suddenly asked.
"Curse?" I was really confused. Did she know about my contracts with the Goddesses? That's the only curse I know of.
"Nevermind please forget what I just said. Follow me." Rhea grabbed my hand and led me away once again. After going in and out of another dozen alleyways, we finally reached a dojo-looking building. A dojo? You know what, I should've stopped asking questions a long time ago.
She showed her pin to the man who sat at the receptionist's desk, who proceeded to sweat nervously while kicking everyone out. Before long, the two of us were alone.
If this was a stereotypical manga world, my current situation would raise a lot of flags. However, the only flag I see above my head is one that says "DEATH". I just hope it is quick and painless.
"So," I interrupted the awkward silence as she pulled out a pair of stiletto daggers from leather jacket, "what are we doing here, Rhea?" I pretended to act natural, but I noticed the flinch and the frown when I said her name.
"You can call me Rhea, but not in public." She mumbled before telling me to take out my weapons, "also, we are training."
I took out the two red daggers I "borrowed" from Bi Suk's shop… yeah, his name was so ridiculous that it's easy to remember.
"Nice Skill," She said, "Shadow Inventory from Shadow Ravens?" I nodded.
Rhea had me stand up as she looked over my body. She then started nagging me about how my body was so thin and how my arms were like chopsticks and how weak I was and how I can barely survive in the world…
Who is she? My Mom? She's not wrong, but the truth still hurts.
"How did you get accepted into the silver rankings in the first place?" She asked with a face filled with disappointment and confusion.
If Rhea had realized I'm not really a part of Woke, or that I killed one of their members and stole their pin, I don't think even 'Immortality' can save me.
Once I had gotten prepared, not that there was much for me to do, the training started. Well, I say "training", but it was more accurate to say she beat me up over and over again.
I resisted the urge to complain and yell in frustration as I barely dodge another stab of her dagger. The blade flew less than a centimeter from my face. If I hadn't tilted my head to the side at the last second, I think I would've died.
After about a thousand cuts and scratches in my arms and legs, as well as being kicked and punched in the stomach and the back, Rhea told me to take a break.
I dropped the daggers and flopped on the wooden floor. She actually didn't kill me. I thought she was just playing around with me like a cat-and-mouse game, slowly edging me to death, but she's actually teaching me how to dodge attacks. I swear she's a better teacher than Son Tae: that man did nothing show us a bunch of dummies and said, "Here are some targets, just don't kill yourself or your classmates."
"What's your name?" Rhea suddenly asked.
Name? But didn't she already know?
"A Chul." I replied, still breathing heavily and sweating while laying on the ground.
She tilted her head with a confused expression on her face, "Isn't that your cover-up name? My cover-up is 'Park Dae', and yours is 'A Chul'. Obviously, we can't expose our identity, but since you know mine, it's only fair that I know yours."
I panicked a little bit, since 'A Chul' really is my cover-up in this world. Should I tell her about my real name? Would it expose my identity? Does 'America' even exist here as a country?
[Ding! The 'United States of America' does not exist, nor does any other country from the Host's previous world. However, people from Sections 69 of area 420 of the world of Numen do speak English and use 'American' names. If the Host reveals his name from his previous world, he would not reveal his identity as an other-worlder.]
I see.
"Alex Stanley." I replied.
She gave me a thoughtful look, "Well, nice to meet you, Alex Stanley. My name is Park Rhea." Rhea gave a proper introduction and offered a handshake.
I took her hand as she pulled me up. "Likewise."
She then proceeded to beat me up for another two hours of 'training'.