ill chapter 3

Nayul’s first instinct was to smash the wagon and kill the slavers. An Awakened’s physical abilities—from strength to hearing—far surpassed those of an ordinary person. Furthermore, she was a Hunter with S-Class recovery and purification skills. Her abilities transcended human limits to such an extent that she was practically a monster herself. Though her skills leaned toward healing, she had a few offensive ones as well.

I shouldn’t even need skills for this.

Without hesitation, she slammed her fist into the wagon wall.

“Ugh!”

She immediately recoiled, cradling her hand in pain.

How?

The wall she had expected to shatter was completely intact. Instead, it was her own hand that throbbed.

A system window materialized before her bewildered eyes.

[Awakened: Ha Nayul (OnlyOneITrust)

You have crossed dimensions. You are too powerful for this world. To protect the native population, your abilities will be temporarily restricted.

Current Rank: E-Class (Potential: S-Class)]

Crossed dimensions? She had challenged the Tower countless times but had never seen a message like this. Her abilities had been nerfed? The confusing text didn’t stop there.

[To protect the Awakened, the debuff ‘Unrecognizable’ has been applied.]

[While ‘Unrecognizable’ is active, the natives of this world cannot perceive your true form. Your appearance will be distorted into what the observer considers the ugliest possible being, provoking instinctive revulsion.]

…Provoking revulsion? The slavers’ conversation from earlier suddenly came to mind—their words about selling the “ugly foreigner.”

So, I was the subject of that conversation.

The thought didn’t sting.

If anything, this might be a blessing in disguise.

For the powerless, beauty was more often a poison than a gift. Though it was a debuff, now that her strength was sealed, she couldn’t ask for a better form of protection.

As night deepened, following a brief rest, one of the slavers began to carve a strange pattern onto Nayul’s wrist.

“…What is this mark?” Nayul asked quietly.

“Huh?” The slaver let out a laugh, surprised that she could speak. “Well, what do you know. It speaks our language.” He eyed her with a flicker of curiosity. “And your first words aren’t to beg for freedom, but to ask what this is?”

“You wouldn’t set me free anyway.”

“That’s right. You’re a sharp one, for an ugly wench.” The man chuckled, then decided to indulge her. “It’s a seal of obedience. Anoint it with the master’s blood, speak the incantation, and the slave is forced to obey.”

“…”

“All slaves have one. You’ve never seen a slave before?”

“…There are no slaves in my world.”

“I see. To be honest, we’ve never seen anyone like you, either. It’s not just your face; you’re different from us in every way. You’re definitely not from the Dithyramb Kingdom, are you?”

“Hey! Why are you chattering away with the merchandise?” another man called out.

“I was just curious…”

“Finish the seal! Now!”

Rebuked by his companion, the slaver’s professional coldness returned. His curiosity vanished. He let his blood drip onto the fresh carving on Nayul’s wrist. Drip. Drip. She winced, disgusted by the sensation of another person’s blood on her skin.

“Tha ipotachtheís se ména.”

[You shall obey me.]

The moment he uttered the incantation, the translated words bored into Nayul’s mind. The blood seeped into the grooves of the pattern, forming a strange, dark-red sigil that glowed for a moment before fading.

“It’s only temporary, but for now, I’m your master.”

Nayul didn’t answer him. Her attention was fixed on the system window hovering before her.

[Curse Activated.]

[Seal of Obedience (Curse Rank: A-Class)]

So it’s a curse, she thought, studying her wrist.

“Here is your first order: do not even think about running away, and do not dare to harm your master. Understand?”