18. Awakening
The moment my eyes closed in awakening, two women appeared vividly before me: Cheong-ah and Bella.
Activated.
Conductor's Eyes effect: You can check the status of targets from afar.
Confirm targets?
[Y/N]
Of course it's yes—what kind of stupid question is that?
Currently, there are three targets.
Maximum confirmable targets: 3. More targets consume more of the Conductor's mental strength.
Current Conductor's mental strength: 250 / 500
Max mental strength of 500...? It was 300 before, wasn't it? When the hell did it grow?
The moment I wondered about it, another message popped up beside it.
Brother, a special gift for you. By your loving sister
……Jesus Christ. Thanks a ton.
While I was out cold, in what felt like a dream or maybe inside my own mind, I'd heard that voice. The conversations with her came flooding back one by one.
But that's not important right now—skip. The most important things to me are Cheong-ah, Bella, and Dina.
Focus for now. My current mental strength is at 250 probably because I just woke up after passing out. But that's plenty.
"Confirm targets: Bella and Cheong-ah, and……"
Dina's probably fine, but no playing favorites.
"Dina too, for now."
3 mental strength consumed every 10 seconds.
If all mental strength is depleted, the Conductor will be incapacitated.
At the same time, three screens appeared before my eyes. The black mana I'd shot out reached them instantly.
Screens showing Dina, Bella, and Cheong-ah respectively.
……I've done dual monitors, but triple? Gonna need some serious multitasking.
I quickly assessed the situation.
Bella, covered in blood. Cheong-ah, clothes torn everywhere, bones broken. What the hell happened while I was out?
I bit my lip hard.
As for Dina……
"Is that all you've got? Get up and come at me! This body hasn't even warmed up yet!"
She was completely overwhelming her opponent. As expected of my Dina. Reliable as hell.
To conserve mental strength, I released Conductor's Eyes on Dina first—the monitor showing her vanished.
Mental strength consumption now 2 every 10 seconds.
Just in case, I activated the imprint alert for emergencies.
Signal will transmit if target is in danger.
The imprint's a new ability…… Courtesy of that voice claiming to be my sister from over there.
Anyway, back to Cheong-ah and Bella.
First, protective barriers. Block attacks heading their way and transfer the impact to me.
Grants protective barriers to targets Ju Cheong-ah and Bellatrix, blocking incoming attacks.
The price? I take the pain and shock meant for them.
Kuwoooong…!
"Urk…"
An axe swinging at Cheong-ah's head—my skull throbbed, pounding like hell. Felt like my cranium was rattling, brain turning to mush, nausea hitting hard.
But it's fine. Better me hurting than her head getting smashed.
Kwaduduk…!
"Huhk…!"
"Husband, what's wrong?!"
"It's nothing, Karlson. Don't worry about it for now……"
A stabbing agony piercing my chest. Heart pounding like it might burst, blood surging back up through my body.
But this is fine too. Way better than Bella's chest getting run through, her heart torn out.
These are just illusory pains anyway. No actual damage to my body—just the ability's feedback. So, like always, grit through the hurt.
Pain's familiar now. Though adapting wasn't easy, so pained groans slipped out naturally.
Next: healing right after blocking. Fully restore their battered bodies—no scars, no lingering effects.
All wounds on targets Ju Cheong-ah and Bellatrix are healed.
In exchange, agony ripped through me—skin and muscles tearing, bones shattering joint by joint, no, splintering to pieces.
"Grraaaaaah!!"
Brutal pain. Healing all their wounds at once dumps every bit of suffering they'd have endured onto me in a single burst.
Like three days of nagging pain compressed into one massive hit. Kinda like dabbing Albothyl on a canker sore—instant cure, but excruciating.
Analogy's a bit weird, but yeah.
"How can I not worry?! Husband, you're the lord's……!"
Karlson fretting, trying to support me every time I staggered. I gently pushed his hand away and pointed to a chair.
"Just grab me a chair. It's my ability acting up."
"Your…… ability, sir?"
"Yeah, I'll explain later. Situation's urgent right now."
Cheong-ah and Bella had been in dire straits. But now, crisis averted—blocked the lethal blows, healed the wounds.
"Understood."
As Karlson fetched the chair, I refocused. Enemies still standing. Barriers and heals didn't quench my rage.
Daring to fuck with my women……
Links the Conductor's pain and agony to share with desired targets.
I glared at their enemies through the screens.
Targets are undead. Can absorb their death mana.
Absorbing death mana will greatly weaken undead targets.
Absorb that shit, fuck yeah…!
Absorbs death mana and converts to target's mental strength.
- Depending on Conductor's current authorities, absorbable targets increase.
- Current absorbable targets: Magic stones, undead.
I forcibly ripped the mana from the undead bastards, pulling it toward me. My depleting mental strength started refilling.
The undead, mana-drained, crumpled powerlessly, writhing in agony on the ground.
That's the pain I'm feeling right now, you fucks.
After neutralizing them, I sent words to the girls via thought.
'Cheong-ah, sorry I'm late. You can open your eyes now.'
'Bella, sorry I'm late. Not too late, right?'
Along with the words, I used the sensory exchange authority. Gave Cheong-ah back her sight, Bella her right arm.
- Vision
- Physical ability: Right arm
At once, they murmured, dazedly looking around as if searching for me.
[Darling…?]
[Husband?]
Voices laced with worry and longing for me, despite nearly dying moments ago. I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat, refocusing.
My vision blurred a bit, but I quickly wiped it with my sleeve.
'Yeah, it's me.'
[Where are you, darling?]
[What? Where's my husband?]
'I'm here…… Uh, with some other people. Karlson's next to me.'
Right on cue, Karlson with the chair.
"Here you are, husband."
"Ah, thanks."
I plopped down and continued chatting with them.
[Then how is this…?]
[What the hell? How'd you do this?!]
Same question, different wording. I grinned and replied quick.
'I'll explain later. First, deal with those bastards.'
[Ah…… That fucking bastard.]
[Oh yeah, fuck…… Gotta crush that dog first.]
Cheong-ah's eyes sharpened with venom; Bella exploded in rage, grabbing her greatsword with both hands.
'I'll be watching. Kick ass.'
My cheer twisted their expressions oddly.
[D-don't watch! It's embarrassing!]
[Watch what?! Don't look!]
Embarrassed that I'd seen them get pushed around so badly? I'm the one who should be sorry……
I've been dead weight, no help at all.
But saying that? Cheong-ah'd go, 'No way, darling could never be a burden.' Bella'd smack my back, 'Bullshit, you dramatic psycho.'
No point. Just worry them more. Knowing that, I teased playfully.
'Can't exactly not watch, y'know.'
[You're such a tease.]
[What a psycho.]
"Hahaha……."
I burst out laughing at their reactions, then poured my heart into the message.
'Hurry and finish up. I miss you.'
[Yes, coming soon.]
[Jeez, got it. Wait just a bit.]
[Me too.]
[Me too.]
[Because I miss you.]
[Because I miss you.]