Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Ending That Takes Everything from the Protagonist (2)
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What makes a protagonist a protagonist?
A unique character? Being involved in every major event? Playing a key role in the narrative?
Opinions might differ, but no matter the criteria, the man standing before me right now seemed utterly lacking as a "protagonist."
"...What did you call me here for, Instructor?"
The man, with his frail impression, couldn't even stand properly in the room. He hunched awkwardly, gazing over at me.
His once-handsome face was gaunt and hollow, its appeal halved by his lack of confidence.
He couldn't meet my eyes straight on, averting his gaze.
'Status Window.'
The trait made just for the protagonist, Hero Who Overcomes Trials, hadn't grown at all and was stuck at C-grade.
This trait, which should bloom more with each crisis overcome, showed no progress whatsoever.
All the connections and opportunities meant for him—I'd snatched them all away.
The future where he built bonds with various heroines, overcame crises alongside them, and became an unparalleled existence in this world... that was no longer allowed to him.
Seol Eun-byeol, the officer who would have held great expectations for him and spared no effort in aiding his growth, was gone now.
She'd become a woman who preferred enlarging cadets' cocks over turning them into great people.
Song Jin-ah, the instructor in charge of 3rd and 4th years who would have provided fitting support, was gone too.
Rather than helping Seong Eui-nam's talents blossom, she'd become nothing more than a pathetic pussy squealing in perverse cosplay.
And that wasn't all. Looking at the shattered scenario, it was clear I'd stolen every trial meant for him—and all their rewards.
The fame and money from subduing the predatory loan shark villain, the enlightenment gained while dramatically thwarting the academy raid and defeating the villain.
Even all the romances between academy seniors, juniors, and peers.
His crises, his growth, his rewards, his relationships—all twisted because of me.
They were futures I'd taken for myself.
"Um, uh, Instructor Jung Jin-hyuk?"
"Ah, I got distracted for a moment. Have a seat, Student Seong."
As if terribly anxious, he glanced around the room with a fidgety expression before sitting down.
"I called Student Seong today because I wanted to offer some advice on your growth path."
"...Really?! Is that true?!"
He suddenly shot up from his seat and grabbed my hand.
Realizing his outburst too late, his flushed face stammered apologies repeatedly.
Of course, his excitement was understandable. Every cadet who'd received my personal "growth guidance" had exploded in progress.
Besides, before my involvement, Seong Eui-nam—the former protagonist—had been seen as a talented prodigy. His stagnant growth, due to never facing trials because of his trait, must have frustrated him endlessly.
That unconscious reaction stemmed from joy at grasping a clue to his agonizing impatience.
'Perfect.'
The Mind Manipulation ability worked best when the target was vulnerable. The type of vulnerability didn't matter much.
Whether beaten to a pulp physically until passing out, inhaling mind-fogging incense,
tormented by unfulfilled desires, or aching for a lost family—it didn't matter if it was physical or mental.
As long as there was a weakness to exploit, it greatly aided mind manipulation.
A mind desperate for growth. This was plenty exploitable.
"Listen carefully, Student Seong. I'll need your full cooperation."
"Y-Yes... Understood...!" His voice tensed with anticipation.
"No need to be so nervous. Do you know what my ability is?"
"Yes! Talent Analysis and Mental Care, right?!"
Indeed, that's how it was publicly known. I smiled, nodding along as I explained.
"...Spot on. But accurately analyzing someone's talent and gently shaping their mind to suit it requires the target's complete cooperation."
"Complete... cooperation?"
"Can you do it?"
"Yes! I'll do it!" He replied with eager enthusiasm.
"Good. Shall we start right away then?"
"Huh? R-Right now?" He flailed in surprise.
Understandable—he hadn't expected to start immediately.
"Why drag it out?"
"I-I hadn't thought we'd do it right now... Give me a moment to think..."
"...I'll respect Student Seong's judgment. Just know that if not now, your turn might get pushed back quite a bit."
I tapped my wristwatch as I continued.
"I'm a busy man."
"No! I'll do it now!" Terrified of missing out, he blurted hastily.
I channeled mana toward his seated head, activating Mind Manipulation.
Mind Manipulation (S)
Implanting suggestions / Lowering mental resistance
"Instructor, this is..."
He grimaced at the resistance, asking me.
'As expected of an S-grade... not a walk in the park.'
"It's a one-time process. Focus."
"My head... it's kinda dizzy..." He furrowed his brow.
"Unconscious reaction. Try to control it. For me to awaken your talent, I need your full cooperation."
"...Ugh, okay..."
The illusion of help, trust in the instructor, obedience to authority—he yielded, letting my mana flow in.
The mana shielding his mind faded gradually.
Once I could touch his mind slightly, I implanted a light suggestion.
To make the rest smoother.
"Every time you accept my mana, you'll feel more and more at ease."
Instinctual rejection of manipulation—this suppressed it effectively when interspersed.
"Ah... It's true... Really..."
His dazed expression relaxed far more, accepting my control comfortably.
His faintly resisting mana gave up entirely, matching his shifted emotions.
"...You can take a quick nap if you want."
"Yes..."
"When you wake up, everything will be better."
"Oppa, how'd it go?"
My little sister Areum, lounging on the sofa in comfy clothes while watching TV, greeted me with a smile.
"Good, better than expected. He was really kind."
"Really? He was super scary with me, hehe. What made Instructor Jin-hyuk so kind?"
"Huh?"
What was it again...? Details were fuzzy. Just a pleasant, dreamlike haze throughout.
"He, uh, explained specifics of my Supernatural Ability that I didn't know about."
"Really?! That's great, oppa! You've been so down since third year—I was worried. What a relief!"
She beamed like it was her own victory.
"So, what'd he say about developing your ability?"
To her question, I replied.
"He said... I need trials."
"Trials?"
"Yeah. And I have to learn to feel good about those trials."
"Hmm, that sounds tricky. What even counts as a 'trial'?"
"Something I find painful, something extremely hard to overcome."
"Eek, that seems dangerous... What if you get hurt?!"
To her worried words, I smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. Instructor also taught me a safe method."
I whispered in her ear the method Instructor Jung Jin-hyuk had shared—one that was risk-free yet grew my trait.
Listening, Areum finally nodded in understanding.
"Aha, so that's it..."
"What is?"
To my question, she pulled something from her bag.
"Instructor Jung Jin-hyuk suddenly gave me this out of nowhere."
A translucent silicone lump sat in her hand.
"...Definitely... something oppa really needs... ♥"
For two years at the academy, everything felt like it was going perfectly. My trait made me stronger every day, and the heroic path I dreamed of seemed within reach.
Until third year.
Incredibly, no incidents happened. No growth at all. Even my female friends started drifting away.
When I was struggling most, what held me up was my lover.
Yun So-mi, the light of my life.
My childhood friend had embraced me in my tough times, becoming my most precious person.
And now, Instructor Jung Jin-hyuk was taking her from me.
...No, not taking. It was all realistic acting.
To give me a trial worth suffering over, the instructor agreed to "steal" my lover as performance art.
Through vivid acting, I'd suffer—and overcoming it would grow my trait.
Apparently, becoming a Netorare Masochist would let me conquer this trial.
I didn't fully get "a guy happy about getting NTR'd," but he'd hinted something to Areum too.
Sitting side-by-side on the sofa with my sister, I connected the video call.
A large screen lit up on the wall as the call linked.
There sat my cute girlfriend So-mi, looking reluctant and uneasy, next to Instructor Jung Jin-hyuk.
The two on a single bed in a small room stirred an unpleasant feeling in me.
"Oh, connected."
Instructor Jung Jin-hyuk draped his arm around my girlfriend's shoulder, pulling her close so both appeared on screen. She tried to resist but couldn't against his firm grip, pressed tight.
"Hi, Instructor! Hi! Unnie!" Areum waved cheerfully.
"...Hey, So-mi?"
"Hey, honey..."
My girlfriend greeted me from the screen, but displeased, the instructor slid his hand down, roughly groping her breast.
Seeing her treated like a cheap slut, negative emotions welled up.
'Is this... the [trial]?'
"Nngh... Don't touch me...!" Her face flushed red to her ears, mortified by the situation.
Ignoring her plea, Instructor Jung Jin-hyuk asked me.
He freely fondled the soft breasts I'd never touched—hidden inside her cadet uniform—grinning sleazily.
"Can you see well, Student Seong?"
"...Yes, clearly."
Watching him sniff her nape like appraising meat hurt my chest.
"Mmm... Nice fragrance..."
"...Pervert."
So-mi glared at him in contempt.
"Can you hear this conversation too?"
Crystal clear—even her anxious breaths came through sharply.
"Haha, good. These negative, painful feelings you're sensing? I'll help Student Areum process them all."
"...Yes, understood."
"Then, shall we begin...?"
Watching So-mi and Instructor Jung Jin-hyuk act out my worst nightmare—[my precious girlfriend stolen by another]—I vowed to become a Netorare Masochist and overcome this trial.