Telekinesis Lessons with the Sub-Heroine
After designating Yeo Seon-hui as a sub-heroine, Seong Ye-han gained telekinesis. He tried every which way to use the power, but he just couldn't get a feel for it. He wasn't even aiming to match Yeo Seon-hui's level, but whatever the issue was, the telekinesis he possessed remained utterly unresponsive. Honestly, he was starting to doubt if he even had the ability at all. It felt like something beyond simply manipulating mana was required.
In the end, he sought help from the one person he knew who had mastered telekinesis. And to do that, he naturally had to explain the unique nature of his own ability.
"What the hell? That's some broken-ass cheat ability!"
Yeo Seon-hui blurted out in shock upon hearing Seong Ye-han's confession, and he took her reaction in stride as if it were only natural. Truth be told, even he thought his ability was ridiculously overpowered. It let him copy not just other hunters' stats but their special abilities too—what else could you call it but a cheat if not that? Sure, there was a bonus factor since his first target for the Heroine Hunter ability had been someone on Shin Ye-hwa's level, but even before meeting her... from the very start, his power had cheat-level potential anyway.
"No wonder Ye-hwa's been weirdly chill about sharing..."
Seong Ye-han gave an awkward smile as he caught Yeo Seon-hui's mutter. He knew full well how much Ye-hwa had conceded for him.
"Still, I'm glad you were honest about it."
"We're gonna get a lot closer from here on out. Better not to hide stuff if we can help it, right?"
Yeo Seon-hui's response was a bit half-hearted, while Seong Ye-han replied earnestly. Watching him, she swallowed a silent sigh. How the hell did I end up hooked like this...?
Frankly, his confession was as good as declaring that the number of women by his side would only grow. No matter how hard she tried, he'd always be just one man, and the more people around him, the less time each one would get. As a woman, his words weren't exactly music to her ears. Of course, that wasn't his intent at all, but that's how she took it. He'd already claimed her body and heart completely, and now here he was, boldly announcing his polygamous intentions. It pissed her off, even if just a little.
But she could hardly tell an awakener to abandon developing and growing his ability. Enhancing one's power was both a right and a duty for any hunter. It wasn't hurting anyone, so who was she to complain? Besides, as the new girl rolling in, she could hardly protest when the deeply entrenched Shin Ye-hwa was actively supporting his expansionist policy. If she pushed back now, she would be the one who'd have to pack her bags first.
"Sigh... Fine. What can you do about an ability like that? Just... treat us all fairly from now on."
"Of course, sis."
As Seong Ye-han beamed and approached at her permission, Yeo Seon-hui pretended to relent and let him pull her into his arms. If she couldn't avoid it, she might as well enjoy it—and she wanted to savor this embrace as long as possible before more rivals showed up.
She buried her face briefly in his chest before pulling away. There was serious business to attend to, after all.
"So... what's the problem?"
She'd never formally taught anyone telekinesis, but as someone who'd walked the path before, she figured she could offer at least basic advice. Plus, since his telekinesis came directly from her, she might even solve his issue outright.
"Well... sis, it's like..."
"What?"
Yeo Seon-hui tilted her head at his hesitation. In the short time she'd known him, Seong Ye-han wasn't the type to waver. If anything, he was more the "act first, deal with the fallout later" sort.
"You want the honest truth?"
Like there's any other option? She nodded anyway.
"I just... have no clue, sis."
"Huh?"
"It's like... something's there, but I don't know how to pull it out..."
Seong Ye-han spoke with grave seriousness. In other words: I don't know jack. Wah! Teach me!
That one line made Yeo Seon-hui realize this would be far tougher than she'd lightly assumed. But what could she do? As the country's sole S-rank telekineticist, she couldn't bail right from the start. With an awkward smile, she began the telekinesis lesson.
How much time passed as the two put their heads together?
"I got nothing."
Yeo Seon-hui groaned in defeat and flopped onto the training ground floor. Their telekinesis session was a flat-out failure—at least in terms of results. Sure, it was only day one, so success or failure might be premature, but with an S-rank teacher and an S-rank student showing zero progress—not even a speck—it was undeniably a flop.
"This is tough."
"Tough..."
Yeo Seon-hui furrowed her brow. To put it in perspective, Seong Ye-han was like a top-tier gaming PC without a keyboard or mouse. The hardware was fine, but without input devices, it was useless. Normal awakeners got the full setup—CPU, monitor, peripherals—with their special ability awakening, so they tinkered with efficiency or upgrades.
Seong Ye-han had the envy-inducing premium rig and knew how to use it in theory, but no controls. Even she couldn't fix that. As an S-rank telekineticist, sure—but she'd gotten her full kit from the start too. In the end, he'd have to figure it out himself... find the keyboard and mouse and plug them in.
"Ugh... embarrassing."
Shed had a prime chance to score points with her boyfriend, and instead she felt humiliated. She grumbled while sneaking peeks at Seong Ye-han.
"It's not your fault, sis. I'm the special case here... If it were solvable in a day, that would be weird."
"Still... I'm supposed to be S-rank, and..."
"No rush anyway. We'll get there eventually if we take it slow."
He comforted her, sounding more disappointed than she felt. It was just a matter of time, after all. If he never knew, he might stay clueless forever—but once aware, the path would reveal itself somehow.
"I'm starving. Let's grab some food, sis."
Seong Ye-han tugged the still-sulking Yeo Seon-hui's arm. She went along without resistance—fighting his strength was pointless anyway—so she let herself get pulled right up against his side. His rock-hard, warmth-radiating muscles never failed to lift her spirits.
"What's on the menu today?"
"Dunno. Curry?"
"Hmm..."
"What?"
"At least that's edible?"
"You don't have to join in on my suffering, sis..."
Seong Ye-han chuckled awkwardly. He knew exactly what she meant. Lately—ever since it came out that main and sub-heroines could swap—Shin Ye-hwa had started dipping her toes into cooking. Probably to ease her lingering insecurities. He thought her worries were pointless, but he didn't say it. If a bit of culinary torture helped her mental health, it was a small price for his tongue and stomach.
But it bugged him that Yeo Seon-hui was joining in. She claimed it was fine, but as Korea's second-longest-serving S-rank, she'd enjoyed top-tier treatment for years. No way Shin Ye-hwa's rookie-level cooking suited her palate. Yet she taste-tested without complaint once a day, which made Seong Ye-han quietly grateful.
"I have a conscience too... It's not a big deal."
"Still..."
"More tasters are always better."
"Ye-hwa would focus only on me, whether it's two or three of us."
"True... but it benefits me too in the end."
"You?"
"Yeah."
"How?"
"Secret."
"Aw, tell me!"
"Nope!"
Yeo Seon-hui shot down his plea with a playful scold and quickened her pace, slipping her arm free from his. Seong Ye-han followed at a leisurely trot as the thickening curry-scented air enveloped them.
That day's curry... was spicy, salty, and sweet. Intensely so.
Park I-rae had a problem. Lately, the eyes of someone central to the guild—the pillar, her friend, someone she genuinely liked—had taken on a shadowy, clingy intensity that left her uneasy.
She'd finally shared a memorable rendezvous with her long-crushed-on senior, basking in sweet bliss. But knowing full well it wouldn't look good to the outside world, receiving this observer-like gaze now pricked at her heart in a strange way.
The thief's own feet burn him—was that the saying for times like this? Of course, Ha Yeon-ah's stare wasn't meant that way, but Park I-rae couldn't help tensing up.
"The guild master said it's nothing..."
Ha Yeon-u—Ha Yeon-ah's sister and guild master—had pulled Park I-rae aside right after her vacation return, asking her to look after her sibling. She'd bashfully admitted Yeon-ah had been lonely during her absence. Made sense. Even as an A-rank, Park I-rae was still the baby of Neorul Guild. Handing an S-rank "attendance duty" to the maknae probably felt like too much.
Anyway, Park I-rae hadn't minded—their year-long friendship was solid, and she wanted to get closer. But the Ha Yeon-ah she reunited with carried an un-saintlike darkness.
"Unnie, need anything?"
"Nah."
"Snack then?"
"Mm..."
"Churros? Churros~?"
"Just one..."
"Yess~!"
Ha Yeon-ah snatched the prepped snack like lightning. This was normal, which only confused her more. What was the issue? Park I-rae pondered as Ha Yeon-ah devoured the treat in seconds and fixed her with another lingering gaze.