A Hypnotized Yandere Isn't Half Bad?
'What an odd team.'
Lee Younghee tilted her head as she looked over the survival assignment team assignments. The lineup itself seemed fine enough. Three combatants, one mage, one supporter. The problem was their grades—they were insanely high. Any one of them could walk into another team and immediately become the centerpiece. Bundling four of them together like this? It was the kind of setup that could draw accusations of unfairness, and no one would have a leg to stand on in defense.
'Did they make it with Kim Yujin in mind?'
Of course, the wildcard was Kim Yujin. Most students were downright terrified of him. And there was no reason to expect he'd cooperate in a group project anyway. If you thought of it as a handicap, the composition started to make sense. The other kids probably saw it that way too—no one was raising any objections. Messing around and ending up grouped with Kim Yujin? That was a guaranteed nightmare.
'I'm a little uncomfortable with it myself...'
Younghee glanced around unconsciously, her eyes landing on Cheolsu. Her chest stirred with a pure, sinking chill. Her gaze turned ice-cold in an instant. The shift left her frowning in disgust, like someone was toying with her emotions against her will.
'...What's wrong with me lately?'
Recently, Younghee had noticed her feelings acting strange. Cheolsu was precious to her—no doubt about that. But every time she saw him, her heart went cold, and a faint revulsion bubbled up. Emotions rising independent of her memories or thoughts. It made her skin crawl.
"Younghee?"
Someone called out to her as she sat lost in thought. She turned to see the class president.
"Oh, Yura. What's up?"
"Just checking if you're okay. Your face looked super scary just now. You were frowning and everything."
Younghee touched her cheek. Had I been making that face? Why?)
"Hm, it's nothing. Probably just nerves about the assignment. What about you, class prez? You look exhausted."
"Ah, um... I'm fine. I just had something on my mind all of a sudden."
Yura gave an awkward smile. Her face was visibly deteriorating—dark circles sharp under her eyes from sleepless nights.
"If something's up, tell me. I might not be much, but I'll help however I can."
"Hehe, thanks. I'll hit you up later."
As she spoke, Younghee suddenly remembered something and stood up.
"Oh, right. I've got somewhere to be. See you later."
─────
"Sure~"
Younghee hummed a little tune on her way to the nurse's office. She pushed open the door and stepped inside. The moment her foot crossed the threshold, a wave of wrongness hit her.
'...Wait, why did I come to the nurse's office? No—why did I think I had to?'
She lifted her head, puzzled, and there was Dr. Jekyll.
"Ah, you've arrived, Miss Younghee. Looks like the suggestion took hold properly. I'm relieved."
Her head throbbed sharply at his words.
"Ugh?!"
She clutched her temples with both hands. Staggering from the headache, Younghee quickly regained her senses. Memories flooded back—everything that had happened in this very room.
"R-Right! You... you put that weird hypnosis on me...!"
Snapping to full awareness, she whirled toward the door, reaching for the handle. But a voice beat her to it, snaring her.
"Stop, Miss Younghee."
Her body froze like a statue. Jekyll's command wrapped around her like invisible ropes, binding her tight. No matter how hard she strained, her hand wouldn't budge another inch. Trembling, Younghee forced her mouth open.
"...Release this disgusting hold on me. Now."
"Haha, can't do that. You'd run off and tattle, wouldn't you? That'd be a real hassle."
Jekyll spoke casually while sorting papers, utterly unhurried. No trace of urgency in his posture—like there was no need to rush at all.
And he was right. She'd thrown everything she had at it, but her body wouldn't move a millimeter.
'How the hell...'
She knew he had some kind of mental ability. But could simple hypnosis really do this? Control memories, actions, even emotions? An ability that could shatter a person's life with such ease?
"To break my suggestion on your own power... You're truly remarkable, Miss Younghee. Come here—"
At his call, Younghee trotted over obediently. She hopped lightly onto his lap like a cat, nestling in as if it were the most natural thing. Snuggled against him, she ground her teeth—a rare flash of fury for her. Acting against her own will was utterly revolting. Pure hatred surged toward the man before her.
"Make me stop this idiotic nonsense. Right now."
"What a splendid expression. If you'd shown that face to Cheolsu as planned, I wouldn't have to keep fixing things."
Jekyll shook his head. The botched job had piled on needless work. A flicker of annoyance crossed his mind.
"I genuinely admire you. Not many can shrug off my hypnosis with sheer willpower."
"I don't care about th—"
Jekyll flicked his hand with a smile. Younghee's mouth snapped shut; she stared blankly at him. Her eyes glazed over, will draining away toward him.
"Miss Younghee, I distinctly told you to hate Cheolsu, didn't I?"
"Yesss...?"
Her tone and face were utterly submissive now, a far cry from before. Jekyll stroked her hair, pleased.
"Yet you did nothing of the sort. Why was that?"
"I... have no reason to hate Cheolsu. I don't want to hurt him."
Jekyll let out a soft sigh. Some people were like that—ones who hated causing pain to others. Or maybe they just didn't know how, innately.
'In society's eyes, she'd be praised as a saint without question.'
But that wasn't the kind of talent Jekyll sought. He wanted emotions that bred jealousy, hatred, even ruin. He needed Younghee to harbor those toward Cheolsu—to mold Kim Yujin into a proper Heukcheon heir.
"Miss Younghee, don't answer. Just listen."
"I want Yujin to grow stronger. And I believe ugly emotions are what make humans strong."
Jealousy, resentment, rage, desire, greed. When negative feelings tangled together—and goals slipped away despite it all—humans fell. Especially in relationships. Watching that descent was pure ecstasy. Jekyll believed it was when people glimpsed their true selves.
"Wounds and trials forge heroes stronger. You understand, right?"
"..."
"Ah, you can answer that one."
"Yes..."
Jekyll peered into her eyes. Unfocused, they absorbed his words unconsciously. If he claimed crows were white, she'd believe it without question.
"That's why we need Kim Cheolsu."
"Cheol...su...?"
"My investigations show Yujin has been supporting him."
Heavy donations to Cheolsu's orphanage were just the start. Covering hospital bills, providing B-rank gear. All under anonymous covers to dodge Heukcheon's eyes—clever and seasoned. Even hypnosis on a few students revealed regular sparring sessions. Clear proof: Kim Yujin was grooming him.
'Probably plans to use him as a personal soldier he can control.'
Yujin's position in Heukcheon was shaky. Executives were openly plotting against him. Building a faction there was near impossible. But the academy? Different story. Heukcheon's gaze couldn't reach inside.
'Kim Cheolsu, Lee Younghee, the class president—they're all top elites even at the academy.'
No coincidence his friends were all geniuses. Yujin had deliberately cozied up to them. Jekyll planned to exploit those bonds.
'Watching bonds you forged crumble is how humans evolve.'
There might be some losses, sure. But cheap compared to becoming Heukcheon's true head. At least, that's how Jekyll saw it.
"From now on, you must hurt Kim Cheolsu."
"Hurt...?"
"Yes, any method you like. Slip him poison on the sly, attack while he sleeps—whatever. Sabotage his gear too. Oh, but don't kill him."
Death was harder to undo. Cleanup issues later. Better avoid extremes.
"But make sure no one finds out. Let them suspect each other endlessly, never knowing the culprit. Actually, best to wipe it from your own memory too."
This survival group project. They'd be stuck together for days. If key fighter Cheolsu kept suffering mysterious injuries and sabotage? Misunderstandings were inevitable. And given the test's nature, Yujin would draw the most suspicion.
'I can't wait to see his face when the ones he nurtured turn on him. Yujin's growth will be glorious.'
A bit excessive, maybe. But necessary. Yujin was too soft in spots. Best learn humanity's ugliness young and green.
"Understand? Hurt Cheolsu, and frame it so Yujin takes the blame."
His every word painted her heart like spilled ink. Hurt him. Who? Cheolsu. How? Any dirty trick, in secret. Why? Doesn't matter. Don't need to know. Her tender heart drowned under Jekyll's ugliness.
"Got... it..."
Stripped of emotional control, Younghee had no choice but to obey. No matter how precious Cheolsu was. No matter how it betrayed her morals.
She'd carry it out flawlessly—without even realizing.
"Do you fully grasp your mission, Miss Younghee?"
"Yes... I do. I'll... follow your words, Dr. Jekyll..."
Jekyll nodded, smiling in satisfaction. He reached out, petting her head.
"Keep proving useful to me. You're precious to Yujin too, you know."
"Precious...?"
His words lit her face with rapture. Every crack in her psyche bared, it hit like a drug. No resistance—straight to her unconscious depths.
"Am I... precious to Yujin?"
"Of course. You're a valuable pawn for him. Do your job right, and you'll be more precious than anyone."
"I see..."
Younghee flushed in ecstasy. She'd become precious to Yujin. That meant she could protect Cheolsu. Nothing could make her happier.
'...But I have to hurt Cheolsu. I like Cheolsu but I hate him. I'm precious to Yujin. That lets me protect Cheolsu. Don't know why, but I have to.'
Contradictions tangled in her mind. Utterly mismatched, a total wreck. Hypnotized, she couldn't see the abnormality. Nor the emotional trigger planted deep.
Younghee repeated her mission.
'To protect Cheolsu... I have to hurt him.'
A new class was about to begin at the Hero Academy.