Kiss to Break the Hypnosis (2)
Hayeon looked at me with a resolute glint in her eyes, then pulled a glass vial from her bag and held it out.
"Eunha, wanna try drinking this...?"
We were in the hallway on our way to class. I had no idea what was going through her head as she suddenly offered me the potion.
But since it was something my friend had prepared with care, I took the vial with a light heart.
The colorless, odorless liquid gave no hint of its nature even after a quick glance.
She already made a potion for me...?
I was touched by Hayeon's kind heart.
"What's this? A potion?"
"Yeah. It's like a special nutritional supplement I made. Good for mana recovery... and especially for clearing your head."
Her eyes were too serious for just handing over a supplement.
Instead of her usual gentle demeanor, I sensed a sharp intensity.
It was like she was dead set on me drinking it, no matter what.
I didn't make a fuss about her odd attitude and just downed the potion.
Nutritional supplement... if it's good for mana recovery, can't hurt.
Gulp, gulp.
I chugged it in one go. A cool, refreshing sensation slid down my throat.
"How is it? Feel... any different?"
Hayeon stared straight into my face as she asked.
I blinked and checked my condition.
"Hmm... feels like my body's a bit lighter?"
It was like my chest had cleared up after a glass of ice water. I could feel Hayeon's mana trickling down my throat, but that was it.
No physical or mana enhancements.
Seemed like just a practice brew.
"Thanks, Hayeon. So what kind of potion is it?"
Her expression darkened noticeably at my question.
She didn't answer directly, just muttered quietly.
"...Why? Does it not work if you can't recognize the hypnosis yourself?"
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"Nothing. It was just a basic stamina potion. Feel more energized?"
"Of course! I feel pumped. Thanks to you, I can focus in class today."
"......Really? Sigh."
Hayeon let out a big sigh all of a sudden.
I didn't know why, but I couldn't help shrinking my shoulders at the sight.
I had a guilty conscience.
No way she heard me masturbating on the phone last night, right?
The call hadn't cut out midway, and she hadn't yelled, so I figured I was safe. But even if she hadn't caught me, I still felt sorry.
It wasn't hypnosis or an aphrodisiac—just pure desire on my part, which made it worse.
I nervously gauged Hayeon's mood.
Luckily, my worries were unfounded; she smoothly changed the subject.
"Eunha. Can I sit in on your class today...?"
"Huh? Special class has alchemy, right? It's your major—sure you can skip?"
"Doesn't matter. I already know it all."
"If you say so, fine... but why the sudden urge?"
"I just wanna be with you today."
Hayeon followed me into the combat major building without waiting for my reply.
Her words made my heart flutter with joy, but her face didn't look like someone enjoying a date.
It felt more like she was watching me, monitoring me.
Forcing herself to tag along to check something—her vibe sent a chill down my spine for no reason.
We took seats in the corner of the lecture hall.
This class was Mana Fusion Martial Arts. It taught martial techniques using mana.
Soon the professor entered. After taking roll, he pointed at the unfamiliar face—Hayeon.
"You there, black-haired student. Who might you be? Seems you've wandered into the wrong room."
"Special class, first-year, Baek Hayeon. I'd like to audit your lecture, Professor."
"Audit? No applications on file. Well, doesn't matter, but we're doing partner practice today in pairs, so you can't join in. If that's fine, feel free to observe."
"Yes, observing is enough. Thank you for your consideration."
Hayeon politely got permission to audit and sat demurely beside me.
Then she pulled out her smartphone and started recording the lecture.
"Gonna log the content for review later."
"Oh, yeah. You're so diligent, Hayeon..."
Not wrong, but she was alchemy major. Not combat like me.
Did she really need to record this enthusiastically?
Anyway, impressed by her studiousness, I focused on the class.
But oddly, it felt like Hayeon's camera lens kept drifting toward me more than the professor.
Every time I moved, the angle seemed to shift slightly.
...Overthinking it. What would Hayeon even do with footage of me?
I brushed it off and listened intently to the professor. Theory was boring, but mana classes were decent.
"Theory ends here. Now for hands-on practice. For awakeners, resonance with others isn't optional—it's essential. Especially on the battlefield when mana runs dry; quick resonance can mean survival."
The professor's explanation was logical.
And the practice content that followed was perfectly sensible and efficient.
"Resonance's most basic method is mucosal contact. Saliva has no mana itself but excellent conductivity as a medium. Today, pairs will practice resonance via kissing."
The old me would've panicked, but not anymore.
Makes sense. My saliva's got mana in it already.
Of course, I was a special case. The professor even said saliva doesn't hold mana normally.
Still, I agreed saliva was a great medium and battlefield resonance crucial.
I wouldn't do it daily like some students, but for getting stronger, it was a necessary step.
Thinking that, I glanced at Hayeon beside me. She was trembling, clutching her phone tightly, face pale enough to worry me.
"Hayeon, you okay? You look bad."
"Eunha... you're really gonna do resonance? You who freaked out at the entrance ceremony?"
"That was sudden back then. This is a class I chose—I've mentally prepared."
I smiled to reassure her.
"Don't worry. It's just a means to share mana. Embarrassing, sure, but efficient."
At the professor's cue, students found partners. I locked eyes with a plain-looking guy nearby.
"Hey, wanna pair with me?"
I suggested first.
He stared blankly, then blushed and nodded.
"Uh, yeah... sure. Nice to work with you."
We faced each other.
Hayeon's phone was aimed at me. A bit embarrassing, but good footage crossed my mind first.
"Then, excuse me."
The guy approached cautiously, pressing his lips to mine.
Soft texture, warm heat.
No time to savor the first kiss sensation.
His mana flooded my mouth rapidly. My [Mana Sensitivity] trait reacted sharply.
Compared to holding Hayeon's hand last time... the mana flow's so much clearer...
I closed my eyes, focusing on the feeling.
"Churup, chup, haeup... eup♡"
A floating pleasure made my head spin. Just sharing mana, yet my back shivered uncontrollably.
We instinctively explored each other's lips.
Sticky saliva connected, mixed, dripped, flowed everywhere.
I stood on tiptoes, wrapping my arms around his neck for deeper tongue play.
"Chup♡ chup♡ haam, huuaa......"
We parted briefly; silver threads of saliva glistened.
Vision blurred, legs went weak.
Resonance... way better than I thought...
I leaned against his chest in ecstasy, breathing raggedly.
His pounding heartbeat reached me. Our eyes met, and we kissed again without a word.
"Haam♡ jup♡ chuup...♡"
Reason faded. We just devoured each other's saliva madly.
Suddenly, his hand headed for my chest.
Slap—!
I had no intention of allowing that, slapping his hand away firmly.
He widened his eyes in surprise.
Pitying his dejected look, I puckered my lips.
"Chest's off-limits for now. Lips are fine, though... haeup♡"
The moment I said okay, he lunged like a beast.
Like venting frustration from the rejection, he ravaged my mouth mercilessly.
"Eup♡ heup♡ haeueup...♡"
After wildly resonating mana like that, my trembling legs gave out, and I slid to the floor.
"Hehe... good practice..."
The guy in front of me gnashed his teeth, glaring with unsatisfied lust. But I had no plans to go further.
Not even hypnotized, can't push it more...♡
The practice ended successfully.
After class ended, as I basked in the afterglow of the kiss—no, the resonance—Hayeon approached.
"Eunha. Look at this. What do you think?"
In the now-empty lecture hall, she showed me the video.
On screen, a silver-haired beauty clung to a stranger's neck, kissing frantically.
Eyes half-lidded, even sticking her tongue out first, gulping saliva, letting out obscene moans.
...Me during resonance practice.
I felt my face flush. I'd been too lost in the moment to notice, but watching now, I looked like a bitch in heat.
But this was normal.
Nothing to be ashamed of.
"Yeah... just regular practice footage. So?"
"Do you know who that guy was? His name? Age?"
"No idea... but the professor told us to practice..."
"Eunha, snap out of it...! Doesn't something feel off? Last week, you said resonance creeped you out!"
"That was sudden then. Now... it's embarrassing, but necessary to get stronger, right?"
Hayeon slumped in deep disappointment.
But I still couldn't grasp what she was getting at.
...What's with her? Hypnosis worsening? But first week should be shallow.
The city's hypnosis deepened based on how far the protagonist fell, affecting those around.
As long as I resisted, Hayeon should be relatively safe.
That's why I'd relaxed, but today's Hayeon was off.
"Watching isn't enough... then maybe directly with her body...?"
I barely caught Hayeon's mutter.
But the determination in her eyes burned clear.