Hypnotic Ruin: Regret and Corruption
"Ugh... ugh..."
Lee Younghee opened her eyes on the hospital bed. Her head felt a bit foggy. When did I pass out? It seemed she'd lost consciousness without realizing it.
Cheolsu! The moment her eyes fluttered open, she remembered Kim Cheolsu collapsed nearby. She bit her lip hard. Just thinking about it made her chest ache like it was going to burst.
"Hic... ugh." Tears welled up in her eyes again. She forced them back. She couldn't afford to waste even the strength to cry.
...No. This isn't the time to wallow. A moment ago, regret and guilt had nearly crushed her. But that changed nothing. She had to somehow get Cheolsu back on his feet. There had to be something even a powerless girl like her could do. Healing and treatment were her specialties. If it could help Cheolsu even a little, it was worth it.
As she tried to sit up with that resolve—
Clank.
"...Huh?"
Only then did she notice the collar around her neck. A chain attached to it was firmly secured to the bed. Naturally, she couldn't move at all.
"What... is this...?"
She couldn't make sense of it. Why would a hospital restrain someone like this? Even if they did, it wouldn't be with a collar. This was excessively sadistic. Why had this happened to her? Who would do such a thing?
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, her usual headache struck. Something hovered on the edge of her mind, threatening to shatter through. No matter how hard she tried, it was like pushing through fog—she couldn't grasp it. As Younghee clutched her head and groaned—
"Oh, you're awake earlier than I expected."
A chilling voice addressed her. She turned her head slowly. Very slowly.
There stood a man. A tall, handsome one with a slightly weary expression. The instructor who always wore his doctor's coat like a badge of his profession, even in class.
"Ah..."
Memories flashed like fireworks. It all came rushing back. What this man had done to her. The hypnosis she'd fallen under. And worst of all, what she'd done to Cheolsu as a result.
"Aaaahhh!!"
Younghee lost her reason and lunged at him.
Clank!
But the collar held her back. She couldn't get any closer.
"You! It's because of you! Cheolsu... because of you...!"
She stretched out her hand, desperate to reach him even a little. Her outstretched arm trembled pitifully. She tried to cast a spell, but nothing happened. The collar must have some special seal on it.
Dr. Jekyll regarded her with leisurely eyes.
"My, my. Don't push yourself when you're not well, Younghee."
"I'll kill you! I swear I'll kill you!"
Younghee screamed in rage. Her eyes burned with intense fury. If not for the collar, she might have torn him apart right then. It was a killing intent she'd never shown before.
Jekyll smiled in ecstasy at the sight.
"Ahh, splendid, Younghee. Humans bloom into their true selves in the depths of despair."
"Why?! Why did you do it?! Why did Cheolsu have to suffer like that?!"
Even Kim Yujin had kept a bare minimum of lines. He'd fought ruthlessly, beaten him down without mercy—but he'd never intended to take Cheolsu's life. This man was different. He'd toyed with her heart and hurt Cheolsu. And he didn't even care if people died because of it.
"I won't forgive you! Never, no matter what!"
"...And what will you do about it?"
Jekyll stepped right up to her nose. Just close enough that her hands couldn't quite reach.
"Let me remind you—you can't use magic right now. And you're chained up, so you can't move."
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, Jekyll reached out and pressed down on her head. Despite his slender build, his strength was immense. Her head slammed into the bed, forcing her into a bow.
"Your physical abilities aren't anything special either. What could you possibly do?"
"Grr... ughhh..."
Younghee's shoulders and head trembled as she gritted her teeth. She strained to lift herself, but it was futile.
Jekyll looked down at her with satisfaction.
"Don't you know how I sneaked into the hospital? Or why no one cares that I've tied up a patient?"
He pulled something from his pocket. A black coin with a chain attached to the end.
The moment Younghee saw it, her resistance stopped. Fear gripped her body, making it shudder uncontrollably. It was a physiological reaction beyond her will. Her mind hadn't even processed it before her body reacted. It was the thing that had tormented her in nightmares countless times.
"Ugh... ugh..."
"Oh? Does this scare you?"
Jekyll approached with a laugh, dangling the coin in the air.
Flinch!!
Terrified, Younghee recoiled. Her fear overpowered her anger. She crawled backward like a baby. Even then, she couldn't tear her eyes from the coin.
"Haha, weren't you going to kill me?"
Jekyll advanced again. Younghee fled in response. Thud—something hit her back. The wall. Nowhere left to run.
She shook her head side to side. Her trembling lips parted cautiously.
"Hic... please... don't... please don't do it..."
"Do what?"
Finally, Younghee burst into tears. She was terrified. Of the man before her. Of what she'd become under him. Of the future where she'd hurt Cheolsu again. The fear was unbearable. Her heart already hurt this much. She couldn't imagine the pain when she woke from it.
"You'll... you'll toy with my mind again... and hurt Cheolsu..."
Jekyll's lips curled into a grin.
"Half right, half wrong, Younghee."
"?"
"I did hurt Cheolsu, yes. But I didn't toy with your heart."
Younghee couldn't comprehend. What did that even mean? He'd made her hate her most precious Cheolsu.
"I merely unearthed the feelings buried inside you and made them honest."
"Liar..."
"It's true. You did it because you wanted to."
"Lies! I'd never want to hurt Cheolsu!"
For a split second, she forgot her fear and shouted. Jekyll hopped right in front of her. Their eyes met, and her body froze again.
"Do you really think that? Can you swear it? That there was nothing about him you disliked?"
"No..."
"Didn't you find him pathetic, always losing to Yujin? Didn't it annoy you how nice he was to the class president?"
"I said no..."
Younghee muttered in a fading voice. She hung her head. Her confused mind wouldn't turn properly. She couldn't spot that this conversation was Jekyll's gaslighting.
"Well, enough games."
Muttering that, Jekyll lifted the coin again. He began to swing it slowly. Younghee's gaze followed, drawn in. Soon, the light faded from her eyes. She became blank, thoughtless.
"Ah."
He forced open the locks of her mind and poured in his thoughts freely.
Hypnosis had inertia. She might resist the first time. But repetition broke her down. Younghee was stubborn, but her mentality was already in tatters. Pickled this much, it was simple.
"Younghee, you hate Cheolsu."
"Ah... no... yes..."
"Look, Cheolsu's in the building next door. You could kill him easily right now."
Jekyll watched her a moment, then tilted his head. With a sigh, he swung the coin slowly again.
"Hmm, impressive, Younghee. You still have that much resistance left. It won't go exactly as I want, it seems."
"Ugh!"
"Shall we try a different approach? Not hating Cheolsu, but finding joy in hurting him."
A completely different hypnosis overlaid her. Bliss filled her body. Like prying open her skull and stroking the pleasure centers of her brain. Rage, sorrow, resentment—all twisted into happiness and pleasure.
"Cheolsu... where's Cheolsu...?"
Younghee asked with vacant eyes. Jekyll nodded with a smile.
"Curious where Cheolsu is, Younghee?"
"Yes... I want to see Cheolsu."
"What will you do if you meet him?"
"If I hurt Cheolsu... it feels like it'll make me happy..."
There was no lie in her eyes. She truly believed it. The terror of this hypnosis was that for that happiness, she'd do anything without hesitation.
"Hmm, perfect. Much more splendid now."
Jekyll reached out and stroked her head. Even that felt good. Younghee purred like a cat. No thoughts came. For this happiness, she could do anything.
"Listen well, Younghee. Mind and mana are linked to emotions."
Younghee tilted her head at the incomprehensible words.
"I'm going to force open your heart now. It'll amplify your power."
"Amplify?"
"Even a decent hero couldn't stand against you. Of course, it might wreck your body, but you're both disposable anyway."
She couldn't understand his words. But they felt like truth. She had to obey this man. That conviction bloomed within her.
"Honestly, even for me it's tricky, but after this much effort, it's the least I can do."
Jekyll's mana flowed into Younghee. It ravaged her heart, forcing doors open and awakening her body.
"...How do you feel now?"
"How I feel?"
"I'm asking if you feel good."
"Mm... yeah, I do."
Younghee felt good. Obeying this man made her feel good. So she had to obey. Whatever it was.
"Good. Then shall we go finish off Cheolsu? The guards won't come quickly now."
"Yes! As long as I can see Cheolsu, I don't care!"
Younghee answered obediently. When he unfastened the collar, she stood. Jekyll swung the black coin again. With unfocused eyes, Younghee stared at it.
Her atmosphere was utterly changed. Her gaze turned toward the building where Cheolsu was.
She wanted to meet Cheolsu. Nothing else mattered.
"Now go kill Cheolsu, Younghee."