Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Unexpected Hypnosis (2)
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She'd said it playfully, suggesting to Choi Jun-young that they grab a drink, but for Joo Na-young, it had taken real courage. After all, things hadn't started off well between them. Until just recently, they'd barely exchanged words beyond what was necessary for work.
"But lately..."
Even the kind of lame "Dutch pay?" question that would have annoyed her before now made her think, This guy's not the type to blow money frivolously later on. She realized she had it bad too.
Which bar had a nice vibe? Somewhere a bit dim would be perfect...
Her heart fluttered, making her smile uncontrollably, but she hid it as she walked ahead of him. Right then, her phone rang. At this hour, it could only be her mom.
"Hello? Mom?"
-...
"Mom?"
-Leave Na-young alone! Na-young-ah! Don't come!
-Shut up, you bitch.
Hearing the man's and woman's voices over the phone made her shoulders tremble violently.
That fucking bastard, how did he...!
Even after the divorce, he'd kept harassing her mom, so they'd filed a restraining order. And that hadn't been enough—they'd even moved to shake him off.
Her legs shook, but the voices continuing from the phone wouldn't even let her collapse.
-If you don't want to watch your mom die, get your ass home now. Got it? Go ahead and call the cops. Try it. See what happens.
"If anything happens to my mom... I'll kill you..."
Click.
As she spat the words through gritted teeth, he hung up first.
Rage boiled over, and she clenched her phone so hard it creaked.
Suddenly, she thought of the man who must be standing behind her. What if he overheard?
She remembered the first boyfriend she'd ever had, years ago. She'd always kept men at a distance because of her family situation, but his gentle looks and personality—total opposites of her father's—had drawn her in.
But the handsome guy who'd whispered "I love you" every day had dumped her the moment he learned about her worthless excuse for a father.
She turned to look at Choi Jun-young. Fortunately, he was on his own call, so he probably hadn't heard.
Staring at his broad back, she recalled how he'd saved her in that recent dream.
Should I ask for help? Is he different?
She wavered, then shook her head. The last time he'd appeared in her dream, she'd woken up determined.
No more letting her dad control her life.
When she'd kissed his cheek while he slept in the break room, courage had surged through her.
He helped me in the dream, but this time, I'll handle it alone. I can do this.
Moments later, after parting from him, she raced home. The moment she opened the front door, the stench of cigarette smoke assaulted her nose.
She comforted her mom, slumped on the floor sobbing, then approached the man lounging on the sofa, puffing away.
"You fucking bastard."
"Ha, fucking bastard? This little shit's gotten some balls! Calling your own dad a bastard? It's been ages since you got beat. Right?"
"You're my dad? Are you? Get out of our house! No, stay right there. I'm calling the cops right now."
"This fucking cunt? Call 'em. Go on, you fucking bitch. Let's see if you two croak first or if I get hauled off."
Slap!
"Agh!"
"Heh, heh heh. Fucking bitch. Ditch your dad and run away? Think you can hide?"
"S-stop!"
Thud!
Even her mom, trying to intervene, became the next victim of his fists.
Watching, Na-young ground her teeth.
The old her would have curled up in pain and fear, enduring it. But not anymore.
Even as he grabbed her hair and split her lip with a slap, she stared him down and advanced.
"Get out of my life."
"W-what the!"
With each step toward him, the strength drained from the hand slapping his own face in confusion.
Puzzled, she met his eyes—eyes filled with fear, like a cornered animal.
A hollow laugh escaped her.
This... this is what I was scared of?
Nothing frightened her now. She'd overcome her past. Once this was over, she'd tell Choi Jun-young everything about her family.
And after that... maybe confess? He'd be shocked. He didn't know about her dreams.
Some might mock her. It's just a dream. But those dreams had made her cry, laugh, and find courage.
Imagining his surprise brought a smile to her face. But she missed the fury and venom creeping into her father's eyes as he saw it.
"You... mocking me too? You?"
Thud!
"Kyaa!"
In that instant, her body flew backward.
She stumbled, trying to regain balance, but her slight frame sailed easily to the edge of the space. And then...
Ting! Crack!
Her back hit something, and her gaze was already fixed on the night sky.
"...Huh?"
A floating sensation followed by freefall.
Whoosh—.
The wind whistling in her ears finally made her realize she was falling.
Is this a dream too...?
Right before impact, she thought she heard his voice.
"..."
Whoosh—.
"Am I dying?"
Whish—.
"I was gonna confess..."
Swish.
"Help me... Choi Jun..."
Thud!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Fuck, my ribs are cracked!
The moment I saw Joo Na-young get flung out the window, I hurled myself across the living room.
The old man was prepping a sneak attack from behind, so I wasn't far from her, but she was already way below.
15th floor of an apartment. More than enough to kill. But way too short to catch someone already falling.
"Fuck, Flight!"
I activated the skill for propulsion.
Shiii—whoosh—.
The scenery rushed by: distant city lights to nearby shops, then the wall of the next building... drawing closer to the ground.
"F-fucking terrifying!"
I caught up to Na-young with less than half the distance left, but grabbing her scared me— what if my hands slipped? Instead, I sped up a bit more and slipped under her.
She was falling face-up, her slender body twitching faintly. I steeled myself with a deep breath.
"Hoo."
Slowly, slowly, I matched her speed as closely as possible.
If she panics and flails, it'll be dangerous... [Stealth Touch].
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Stealth Touch (Lv. Max) Target cannot detect contact. Panic resistance increased.
I scooped under her back with my chest, wrapping my arms around her from behind.
This way, she'll live. And for me, landing on her back beats face-planting.
Thud!
Agh! R-ribs!
I must've misjudged the speed— even matching it perfectly, the impact sent agony through me when her back hit my chest. Na-young was out cold, unmoving.
Shooo—.
I glanced down; the ground was so close it terrified me.
Ughhhhh!
I eased off the flight speed gradually.
Shooo—.
Fall speed slowing. But too slow to stop in time.
Gonna be late!
At this rate, we'd survive but get wrecked.
Plan was to catch her and bank away sharply, but it wasn't like flying solo.
Shoo—.
Ground rushing up made me nauseous.
What do I do? Shit, right—Pomi stuffed nitrogen snacks in my inventory. Pull 'em all out, cushion the landing... yeah right! S-skills! Level up a skill!
Panic blanked my mind; no useful skills from my list came up.
Ugh, calm down. Breathe. In... out. I searched skills on the bus the other day. You remember, Choi Jun-young!
Yeah, that one—[Invisible Hand]? Sounded like a total perv skill, nicknamed it Grope Master... kyaah! Wrong!
All I could think of were sex skills!
Shooo—.
Fuck, what was it? Ugh! F-Flight! Level this up! [Flight] level up! Yes!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Spend 600pt to raise Skill (Flight, N) to Lv. 1?] [Yes] [No] The belated window vanished awkwardly, and a power incomparable to Lv. 0 Flight filled me.
Yes! Now upward, uurrrgh!
Shooo—swish.
I poured everything into reversing direction, but my body halted effortlessly. All that panic felt stupid now. Way too easy. Should've learned it sooner for just 600pt.
Fall stopped, I looked down and yelped "Heek!" We hovered a bit over 2 meters up—taller than a big guy.
F-fuck... almost died saving Na-young-ah and became Die-young...
Right on cue, a whisper from Pomi.
💕 Pomi Whisper 💕 Junnie! You okay? -Yeah. Barely survived. But I just thought of a killer joke.
-Not listening. Disconnect.
-Huh? Hey, Mia?
This girl— she cracked one earlier!
Anyway, saved Na-young. I lived. Good enough.
Checked her in my arms: eyes closed, still out.
Gently laid her in a safe nearby spot, then stepped away and dropped Invisibility.
"Wh-what? Na-young-ie, my coworker, here?"
Groooan, Oscar-worthy acting! Gotta sell it—who knows who's watching.
By the way, her mom upstairs should be fine. I had Pomi filming via phone, told her to nuke his balls if he tried anything.
"Na-young-ah! Na-young-ah?"
Slap, slap.
"Na-young-ah, wake up. Why're you lying here? Na-young-ah?"
Slap.
"Ugh... uungh."
"You with us?"
After my flame-slaps, her eyes fluttered open. She focused on my face and muttered.
"Ugh... ugly..."
"You little shit."
Pfft.
Na-young laughed at my pissed-off face, then seemed to recall what happened, her voice puzzled.
"I fell... how...? Ah! M-mom! My mom's in danger. No, she is!"
Don't try so hard to go informal even now.
"Help my mom, please. Hurry—kya."
Stagger.
Her legs buckled, willpower outpacing her body, so I scooped her up.
"H-hey, what? Hurry up and go!"
"Just tell me where you live. Your mom's in danger, right?"
"Th-that way."
I strode in the direction she pointed.
Carrying her bridal-style without breaking stride, her face flushed—surprised by my unexpected strength and toughness, probably.
Heh heh. Secret: Flight on low power? She's barely heavy! Why didn't I think of this sooner?
New [Flight] application discovered. Defying gravity like this? Perfect for the alpha male carry-fuck position from now on. Yu-ra's gonna lose her mind later.
Walking with her in my arms, a system chime suddenly rang.
📜 QUEST COMPLETED 📜 Loser's Hidden Power
📍 Joo Na-young admires your hidden strength.
🎁 Reward: Paid after intercourse ends
The sudden window left me dumbfounded.
This was the quest? All that agonizing I did... for nothing?