Chapter 20: The Blood Hand Witch's Talent (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: The Blood Hand Witch's Talent (2)
The Blood Hand Witch, Han Baek-ha, stared at me with her mouth slightly agape, blinking in disbelief.
It was the first time I had ever seen her look so genuinely shocked.
Only after seeing her reaction did I realize exactly what had happened.
‘Wait, was that… the second stage of the Illusion Eye?’
Han Baek-ha had told me through sound transmission that the second stage of the Illusion Eye allowed the user to make the target act according to their will.
If that were true, then I had just successfully performed the second stage.
-…Attaboy. You’re a man, all right.
What are you talking about?
I vehemently denied the Lesser Conversation Sword’s remark.
-Why so defensive? I totally get it. A red-blooded young man wanting to see a woman’s naked body—isn’t that just natural?
Don’t frame it like that.
It would be insane to have those kinds of thoughts in this situation. I had simply been looking at the mocking Dam Ye-hwa and thinking that if the second stage were possible, I could humiliate her.
-And that’s what you came up with?
…I just thought it would be hilarious if she stripped naked and started dancing. It was a thought that flashed through my mind for barely a split second.
-Sure, sure. Whatever you say.
This was driving me crazy.
It wasn't just the sword; Baek Ryeonha was also staring at me with a frigid gaze. It was a look of pure disappointment. Even if they didn't know about the second stage of the Illusion Eye, it was obvious to anyone that I was the cause of Dam Ye-hwa’s sudden attempt to undress.
“Young Master.”
The Blood Hand Witch finally spoke.
Given the circumstances, I was terrified of what she might say. However, she didn't seem to care at all about the fact that Dam Ye-hwa had almost stripped naked. Her interest lay elsewhere.
“How did you do that just now?”
“…I’m not sure myself.”
“You’re not sure? What you just did was clearly…”
She trailed off, then continued via sound transmission.
[That was undoubtedly the second stage of the Illusion Eye. How on earth did you manage it?]
I could see a flicker of intense curiosity in Han Baek-ha’s eyes. It seemed she was desperate for a clue regarding the second stage. But the truth was, I didn't really know either.
[I honestly don’t know.]
[Don’t play coy with me. It happened right before my eyes. Are you trying to deceive the very teacher who taught you the technique?]
Her eyes sharpened. She was clearly determined to uncover the secret. After all, if she learned this, she would gain the power to move her opponents according to her will.
-What is she saying to you?
Since he couldn't hear the sound transmission, the Lesser Conversation Sword asked.
‘She wants me to tell her how I did the second stage.’
-The method? Hmm… I think it’s better if you don’t tell her.
I agreed with the sword. But how could I hide it when she had seen it with her own eyes? Moreover, looking at her now, she seemed ready to use force if necessary. In the end, I told her the only thing I could guess.
[I just thought it would be nice if things happened a certain way, almost like a passing whim, while I was using the Illusion Eye.]
[…So you thought it would be nice if Ye-hwa took off her clothes?]
[It wasn’t like that…]
Ignoring my explanation, she called out to Dam Ye-hwa.
“Ye-hwa.”
Dam Ye-hwa, who had been hurriedly refastening her clothes, replied with a bright red face.
“Y-Yes, Master.”
“Look into my eyes.”
Having been caught by the Illusion Eye twice already, Dam Ye-hwa looked like she never wanted to make eye contact again. However, she couldn't disobey her master’s command, so she reluctantly looked up.
I watched, curious to see what would happen.
The two of them stood still, staring at each other.
“……”
They stayed like that for quite a while, but nothing happened. Han Baek-ha’s brow furrowed. It seemed she couldn't trigger the second stage as she had hoped.
“Young Master.”
She called out to me.
“Yes, Sixth Blood Star.”
“You try it.”
Han Baek-ha pointed at Dam Ye-hwa. My hunch was right. At her words, Dam Ye-hwa wrapped her arms around herself, looking extremely uncomfortable. She, too, seemed convinced that I had done something to her.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Then why did my clothes suddenly…”
“Enough.”
Han Baek-ha cut her off before she could start arguing. It seemed the witch’s mind was entirely consumed by the second stage of the Illusion Eye. She was forcing her disciple into something she clearly hated.
“Look into the Young Master’s eyes.”
“B-but Master…”
“Now!”
Dam Ye-hwa had no choice but to submit. The hierarchy within their sect was absolute. She glared at me with a look of pure resentment.
-You’ve really made an enemy there.
‘…Tell me about it.’
But what was done was done. Since there was no way to soothe her feelings right now, I gave up on trying to explain.
[Make Dam Ye-hwa sit down and then stand back up,] Han Baek-ha instructed.
“Whew.”
I met Dam Ye-hwa’s eyes. Reciting the mnemonic for the Illusion Eye, I focused my eye power. Han Baek-ha watched us both intently, her eyes darting between me and her disciple.
Just like before, I recited the mnemonic while visualizing Dam Ye-hwa sitting down and then standing up.
‘……’
However, even as time passed, there was no reaction. Instead, my eyes began to ache from the prolonged focus.
“Sixth Blood Star… it doesn't seem to be working.”
“Young Master. You aren't failing on purpose, are you?” Han Baek-ha asked suspiciously.
Did she not believe her own eyes? I showed her my face. Seeing that my eyes were bloodshot and tearing up from the strain, she fell silent. She then sank into deep thought, her expression turning grave.
The Lesser Conversation Sword asked me:
-Oho. Did you trick her? You really are clever…
‘No.’
-You didn't trick her?
If I were tricking her, why would my eyes be stinging like this? I had truly recited the mnemonic. I wanted to confirm it for myself, so I had tried my best to cast the Illusion Eye on Dam Ye-hwa, but it simply wouldn't take.
“Hmm.”
After being lost in thought for a long time, Han Baek-ha looked at Dam Ye-hwa. As their eyes met, Dam Ye-hwa flinched, then suddenly stumbled as if she were about to collapse.
“Gasp!”
Thud!
But this time, she snapped out of it on her own without anyone having to catch her.
‘Ah.’
It seemed that even the first stage of the Illusion Eye, the hypnotic suggestion, could be resisted if one were exposed to it frequently. That was a good thing to know.
On the other hand, it seemed Han Baek-ha was looking for something else. She had likely been testing if the Illusion Eye would work at all.
“…It seems you were telling the truth.”
“Why would I lie to the Sixth Blood Star?”
She nodded, seemingly convinced as she looked at me.
“Very well. I shall believe you. I have kept my promise, and it is late, so you should head back… Ah.”
Han Baek-ha, who was about to leave in a hurry, seemed to remember something and looked at Baek Ryeonha. Baek Ryeonha gave me a sharp glare and shook her head. It appeared she had also had something to say to me.
-I think you’re officially on her bad side.
Don’t say things that make me feel uneasy. No matter what, surely her opinion of me wouldn't change completely because of this? She was a candidate for the position of Blood Cult Leader, after all.
However, a single sound transmission that reached my ears as she walked away made me freeze in my tracks.
[Lecher.]
…Dammit.
*
Thanks to that mistake, I was firmly on the bad side of both Baek Ryeonha and Dam Ye-hwa. I could deal with Dam Ye-hwa being angry, but Baek Ryeonha was the future Cult Leader candidate; I hadn't wanted to leave a bad impression. It was just bad luck.
The Lesser Conversation Sword tried to comfort me.
-You’ll have a chance to clear up the misunderstanding later. Perk up.
The problem is I don’t know when that will be. Until then, I was nothing but a lecher in her eyes. Regardless, there was nothing more foolish than regretting what had already happened.
-But why did she leave in such a hurry?
The sword asked curiously, referring to Han Baek-ha. Indeed, despite it being late, she had used her lightness skill to rush back to the main hall.
‘Because she found a clue.’
-A clue? You mean for that Illusion Eye thing?
‘Yeah.’
Even if it was a fluke, she had seen the second stage succeed right before her eyes. Her mind was likely filled with nothing but the desire to replicate it. That’s why she hurried back.
Creak—!
That was my guess, at least.
I quietly opened the door and stepped inside to find Song Jwa-baek and Song Woo-hyeon lying on the floor. Since the number of rooms in the guest house was limited, the three of us had to share. Perhaps because they had grown used to sleeping on the cave floor, the twins chose the floor, leaving the only bed for me.
-You’re back, Un-hwi?
The Namcheon Iron Sword greeted me. I had left it in the room, thinking I wouldn't need it while learning the technique.
-Is your business finished?
‘Yes.’
I crept into the room, careful not to wake the two on the floor. I stepped over them, sat on the bed, and unfastened the Lesser Conversation Sword from my waist, placing it on the edge of the bed.
It was then.
Rustle!
Song Jwa-baek, who had been lying down, sat up. He looked at me with half-closed eyes.
“Where have you been?”
The fact that he asked this first meant he had been curious about my disappearance. I shook my head and answered.
“Nowhere special.”
“…Nowhere special, yet you’re coming back at this ungodly hour?”
He was being annoyingly persistent. What excuse should I give? He was staring at me as if he wouldn't let it go until he got an answer… Ah!
Suddenly, I felt the urge to test it on him.
-The Illusion Eye?
Yes. It hadn't worked when I tried it on Dam Ye-hwa earlier. But who knows? Testing it on him might help me understand why it failed before.
I focused my eye power while reciting the mnemonic.
“What are you doing? I’m asking where you’ve been, so why are you glaring at me like that?”
He protested, sounding exasperated. I suppose because I was straining my eyes to focus, it looked like I was glaring. I definitely needed more practice. It took time because I wasn't used to it yet.
“Hey!”
He looked like he was about to get up in anger. At that exact moment—
Song Jwa-baek’s eyes went blank just as he was about to stand. He sat back down and looked at his twin brother, Song Woo-hyeon, who was sleeping beside him.
Then, Song Jwa-baek raised his hand and smacked Woo-hyeon’s smooth head.
Slap!
With a crisp sound, Song Woo-hyeon’s eyes snapped open. He glared at Jwa-baek with a terrifying intensity. Song Jwa-baek quickly pulled his hand away, looking bewildered.
“W-why did I just hit your head…?”
In that instant, Song Woo-hyeon lunged upward and delivered a massive headbutt to Jwa-baek’s forehead.
Thud!
“Urgh!”
With a short cry, Song Jwa-baek collapsed. He seemed to have been knocked out cold, as he just lay there, the only sound being his breathing. Having neutralized his older brother, Song Woo-hyeon lay back down and closed his eyes.
-Pwahahahaha!
The Lesser Conversation Sword burst into laughter at the sight. I, however, did not. I had learned what I needed to know.
‘…It works.’
I had successfully performed the second stage of the Illusion Eye, which I had thought was a fluke, once again.
*
Over the next three days, I learned a great deal about the Illusion Eye. This was because I had been practicing it on various people, including the other candidates.
The first stage of the Illusion Eye was almost exactly as the Blood Hand Witch had described. However, the second stage was quite different.
Here is a summary of my findings:
First: Once caught in the Illusion Eye, the target would move according to my will for about five seconds, though it varied slightly from person to person. This meant Dam Ye-hwa had likely stopped undressing because the effect wore off.
Second: A target cannot be caught in the Illusion Eye consecutively. When I tried it on Song Jwa-baek the next day, it worked. But when I tried it again immediately after, he just got angry, accusing me of picking a fight since the night before. I tested this on other candidates as well, and the result was the same. It seemed a certain amount of time had to pass before the Illusion Eye could be used on the same person again.
Third: While I could make the target move as I wished, it was impossible to extract memories or information. They would perform the intended action, but I couldn't draw out anything spontaneous beyond that. This was quite disappointing.
Fourth: It did not work on those with exceptionally strong willpower or those who were far more powerful than me. I tried it on Escort Unit Leader Jang Mun-woong just in case, but it only served to irritate him. Thanks to that, I learned how to use it without noticeably bulging my eyes.
Finally, the fifth and most important point: Unlike the first stage, the second stage of the Illusion Eye consumed Innate True Qi. I didn't notice it at first because one or two uses didn't drain much, but with repeated use, it consumed a significant amount of Innate True Qi, similar to when I performed martial arts using the Life Bright Divine Art.
-So, is that why that Blood Hand Witch could only do the first stage?
‘It’s possible.’
As the sword suggested, Han Baek-ha had used the Illusion Eye for over twenty years without any further progress. Yet, I was able to use the second stage almost as soon as I learned it. This confirmed my suspicion.
The method to strengthen the suggestion of the Illusion Eye was definitely related to Innate True Qi.
-Oho. Then if your Innate True Qi gets stronger, will the third stage be possible too?
‘I don’t know.’
I had tried to see if the third stage, Hallucination, was possible, but it didn't work at all. It might be because my Innate True Qi was still insufficient. If this hypothesis was correct, then as the sword said, the third stage was well within the realm of possibility.
-Man. Still, you’ve learned something incredibly useful. That witch would be green with envy if she knew.
Han Baek-ha had taught me the Illusion Eye thinking it wouldn't be of much use. But what could I say? She had essentially gifted me a magnificent talent that even she herself could not fully master.