Chapter 178 - Heaven and Hell
◇ The next day.
Meimung woke up in the morning as usual, did her training, and took a drink of water from the innkeeper.
"Thank you!"
"Haha, think nothing of it. Ah, you're cute as ever today, Meimung."
"Mung~ Mung☆"
—Really? Do you really think I'm cute? Or is it the opposite?
"Meow, mung……."
"Meimung?"
"H-Here's your water jug! You drank it all up!"
Ever since the old lady had praised her cuteness yesterday, a suspicious voice kept echoing in Meimung's head whenever she heard such compliments. Meimung hurried back to her room and stared at herself in the full-length mirror.
"Huh? Why……?"
She looked just as cute as always. And the innkeeper, saying she was cute with that same unchanged expression—he definitely meant it.
But.
—Really?
A doubting voice questioning if those words were genuine reverberated through her mind. And it persisted even as she headed to the Adventurer's Guild, greeting people along the way. Even when they beamed at her and called her cute.
—Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really?
Her own voice echoed relentlessly in her head, denying her cuteness over and over.
'Why? Why am I thinking like this? Why is Meimung…….'
This was so different from yesterday. She couldn't grasp why she had become like this or why these doubts plagued her. Even at the guild, when friendly adventurers greeted her with "You're so cute," or leered at her with heavy breaths and adoring gazes.
—Do they really think Meimung is cute?
—Is that gaze really because Meimung is cute?
The questioning voice filled her head. Morning passed, lunch came and went, evening fell—and still, the doubts wouldn't leave her. The only relief came when she was alone in her room.
"Urgh……."
Meimung clutched her head, her face twisted in agony that no one outside could see. The suspicious voice finally vanished.
She glanced at herself in the full-length mirror.
"Ah……."
Her face looked exhausted and downcast. Meimung immediately forced a bright smile and repeated to her reflection.
"Meimung is cute. Meimung is cute."
Chanting those words to herself brought no doubting voice.
"Yeah…… Meimung is everyone's idol. Being cute is…… natural. Phew…… Today was really weird! But! A good night's sleep will fix it!"
Everyone who called her cute meant it—her eyes could see that much. The only odd thing was the suspicious voice in her head. Meimung reaffirmed that she was cute, that people thought she was cute and looked at her that way, then washed up and lay down in bed.
But.
—Really?
The next day, the moment the innkeeper called her cute first thing, the doubting voice overwhelmed her.
'Again…… Why…….'
This phenomenon, like denying herself, filled her with anxiety. She didn't know the cause. The unease grew every time people at the guild called her cute, amplified by the swelling voice of doubt.
That day too, Meimung acted normal around others, hiding her torment, showing her usual bubbly, cute self. But once alone in her room.
Thud!
Meimung dropped to her knees.
"Hic…… Hic……."
She let out shallow breaths born of stress and anxiety.
'Meimung is cute. Everyone thinks Meimung is cute! So why…… why…… keeps…….'
Two straight days of endless questioning voices gnawed at her mind. Every compliment, every adoring gaze—from men, women, elders, children, anyone.
—Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really?
Her own voice relentlessly filled her head with suspicion, denying it all. Especially today, since she'd skipped requests for patrols, the voice echoed nonstop while she was out.
Her stomach churned from the stress, tears welling in her eyes. Meimung barely hid her state.
But if this voice continued tomorrow, the next day, forever?
"Hic……."
Imagining that horror, Meimung hugged her arms and trembled. It was too terrifying for her.
'Solution…… Some way to fix…… this…….'
Meimung desperately pondered how to resolve this abnormality amid her shaking anxiety.
"H-Hypno…… o…… ppa……."
After much thought, Meimung remembered Hypno. He handled consultations, and two days ago—even after being called cute—he'd seemed happy and fine.
◇ The next day.
Hypno waited alone in the consultation room for clients. He'd let Clarice play by herself for once in a while.
"Aaaahhh!"
After her morning climax, he'd permitted it, so Clarice wandered off with semen smeared on her lips and pussy juices dripping down her thighs.
"I…… wanna train today."
Wintineas hadn't taken any major subjugation quests lately and wanted to train to keep her skills sharp. Hypno respected that.
He always wanted to be with Wintineas, but he had Meimung to conquer now—and more importantly, he didn't want to be the pathetic guy who selfishly restrained his lover.
"Come anytime if you crave cum, Winte!"
"Yeah…… But today I'll train hard while holding back…… Suuuper tightly…… So at night, lots with Hypno."
"Winte…… Training while torturing yourself with the urge to fuck! I'll love you tons tonight!"
"Yeah♥"
For those reasons, Hypno waited alone.
'But…….'
Recalling the morning, Hypno thought of Meimung.
'Two days in, and no sign of it. She really doubts she's cute?'
Two days since hypnotizing her. Hypno observed Meimung every time he visited the guild. She showed no cracks—beaming and waving cheerfully as always. He'd even secretly tailed her patrol yesterday, but she seemed fine.
Hypno trusted his hypnosis absolutely, but her seamless facade sparked doubt.
Right then—
Knock knock.
'Hmm, might as well take a consultation. Quick fix for a guy, quick fuck for a girl…….'
"Come in."
Creeeak…….
"Hiya~☆"
Permission granted, the door flew open, and Meimung entered with a radiant smile.
"Meimung?"
"Hypno oppa, hiya~! Here for a consultation!"
Slam! She shut the door and approached Hypno.
"Consultation okay now?"
'Coming for one now means…….'
Hypno smirked inwardly but played it cool.
"Of course. What's it about? Wanna get even cuter, like last time?"
"Ah…… Not that."
His words about getting cuter briefly dimmed her usual brightness. That reaction confirmed the hypnosis worked.
"Alright then, have a seat. Standing's tiring."
"Yes!"
She beamed again and sat across from him. Hypno asked,
"So, what's the consultation?"
"Um…… Well, you see…… Oh, this might sound weird, but…… It's super serious for Meimung…… Could you keep this consultation secret? Just between us?"
"Consultations are always confidential unless you say otherwise. No worries."
"Phew…… Okay, I'll tell you."
Meimung fidgeted with her fingers, glancing at him shyly.
"Actually…… Something's been off since two days ago."
"Off how?"
"Meimung's cute, right?"
"Yeah. Super cute."
"Hehe☆ Thanks! But every time someone says Meimung's cute…… In my head…… Huh? In my…… head?"
Meimung trailed off, blinking at Hypno.
"Hypno…… oppa?"
"Yeah?"
"Me, Meimung…… cute?"
"Obviously. Fucking adorable."
"Hehe, heehee. Wha, what? Uuuhhh?"
She tilted her head more, staring at him.
"What's up, Meimung?"
"I, I'm okay? Hyp, Hypno oppa! Wait a sec!"
Meimung bolted up and rushed out.
A minute later.
Creeak! Bang!
She returned, covering her face with both hands, muttering softly.
"Still…… even now…… Urgh."
The ever-bright Meimung now exuded a melancholic aura.
'She went out to check 'cause my words didn't trigger it.'
"Hyp, Hypno oppa……!"
Meimung trudged toward him, her expression a strained, awkward smile.
Standing over the sofa-bound Hypno, she peered down and asked,
"Me, Meimung is…… cu, cuuute, right? She really is cute…… right? You think so?"
Anyone who knew her usual self would spot the anomaly instantly—the quivering anxiety in her voice. But Hypno showed no sign, smiling warmly just like before.
"Obviously cute. Why ask something so obvious, Meimung? You're everyone's idol."
"Ah, aaah. Hic. Uuuhhh…… Aaaah."
At his words, Meimung's face lit up with overwhelming joy, relief, and reassurance, tears pooling in her eyes.
"No voice…… No…… voice. Meimung is cute. Yeah, Meimung…… is cute."
"Meimung?"
"Ah! S-Sorry! Meimung showed a weird side! Meimung's embarrassed☆"
She snapped back to her bright self.
'Relief lets her recover fast? Time to poke a bit.'
"Yeah? Well, you're so cute even a weird side is adorable."
"Waaah! That makes Meimung so happy☆"
"Glad you're happy. Looks like no more worries, so consultation over?"
"……Huh?"
Hypno stood.
"No other clients today, feels like. Bit early, but I'll close up and take a quest."
He headed for the door.
Then—
"W-Wait!"
Meimung grabbed his hem.
"Me, Meimung…… St-Still has consultation stuff. Qu-Quests too!"
Hypno looked down at her.
"So don't go…… Give Meimung your time, Hypno oppa……."
Her gripping hand trembled faintly, her face frozen in that awkward smile again.