Hypnosis, Han Mi-na
For the first time in a while, a delicious aroma wafted through Yoo Ara's apartment that morning. Sizzle sizzle.
Even while living alone, she rarely cooked. Her usual breakfasts consisted of yogurt or cereal, and occasionally reheating some sundae-guk soup she'd bought the day before. It wasn't just because she was short on money—she simply had no talent for cooking.
Yet here was Yoo Ara, standing in the kitchen after a long hiatus, apron tied around her waist.
"Ughhh…."
Biting her lip, she stared at the yellow rolled omelet frying in the pan. The timer in her hand ticked away relentlessly.
Ding-ding-ding!
"Now!"
With all her might, Yoo Ara flipped the omelet using the spatula. Sizzle! The golden-brown roll gleamed temptingly. The moment she saw its perfect form, she clenched her fist without realizing it.
"Yes!"
Unfamiliar with cooking, she'd burned and cut her fingers countless times, leaving them wrapped in bandages. Ever since her defeat to Baek Han-beom in the end-of-month evaluation, she'd been in a funk. The loss stung, but what really gnawed at her was that it was Lee Hye-ri—not her—who had received Kim Siu's reward.
Even though Kim Siu had called her his first disciple, it hadn't fully soothed her. She was angry at herself too, for failing to beat Baek Han-beom in the end.
But she couldn't mope forever. Yoo Ara needed a change of pace—something unrelated to hunting.
And so, she'd chosen cooking. Specifically, a rolled omelet, because of Kim Siu.
Right after the semester started, when she'd visited his place, he'd mentioned it offhand.
-I like rolled omelets. My mom used to make them for me sometimes.
Those words had lit a fire in her. She'd heard somewhere that men perk up when you cook their favorite food. So she'd started practicing—watching countless YouTube videos and even buying a timer for precision.
It was her way of showing off her feminine charms.
Why bother? 'If Teacher likes it, maybe he'll give me more lessons.'
Her fingers bore the scars, but they were badges of honor.
"I've got lessons with Teacher today, so after school, I'll make him one and we can eat dinner together."
That was when the doorbell rang. Ding-dong.
Who could it be this early? Teacher, maybe?
"Who is it?"
Yoo Ara peered at the intercom screen with a flicker of hope. An unfamiliar face. A woman with short hair tinged red stared back.
-Hello. Is this Yoo Ara's place?
"Who are you?"
Her voice carried a note of wariness at the stranger.
-I'd like to talk inside.
"Sorry, but I don't believe in tours. No religion either. And no door-to-door sales—I'm broke."
-Do you think I'd come for something like that?
"Then maybe you should say who you are first."
The short-haired woman glanced around before lowering her voice.
-I'm from Daesung.
What?
"Daesung?"
-Yes. Didn't Professor Park Ji-yoon mention it? That Daesung requested your information be disclosed.
She remembered. Professor Park had shown her a profile—Kim Hyun-jeong, head of Daesung's scouting team.
"I recall refusing that request."
-You did.
"So why are you here? How did you even get my address? I thought refusing meant…."
-It's Daesung. Addresses are easy for us to find.
"That's rude. I clearly refused. Is this how Daesung does things?"
-Not with everyone—just prospects we're very interested in. I'd like to talk seriously with you, Ara. If the academy's making it hard, we can—
"Sorry. Nothing to say."
She had no intention of dealing with Daesung. She knew they'd approached her through Professor Park, but she didn't want more details. Her mind was made up. Daesung was another world.
-Why keep avoiding us? We just want to team up with you in a good way….
"Not interested."
-Do you already have a guild in mind? Or is there another reason you can't meet us?
"What?"
-I heard rumors that the academy faked your test results. If they're blackmailing you, we can help. Daesung can support academy students….
"Don't make me laugh!"
Faked results? Implying she had rigged them to avoid repeating a year? Ridiculous. What power did a D-Class student like her even have?
"I never faked anything! The academy never used me either!"
-That's not what I meant. We can help in many ways….
"No!"
Absolutely not. She wanted nothing more to do with this rude woman. Yoo Ara cut the intercom.
"Ara? Ara?"
After a brief knock, the intruder gave up and left. Confirming Kim Hyun-jeong's presence fading, Yoo Ara carefully sliced into the still-warm omelet and took a bite.
Delicious. If only that rude guest hadn't shown up, it would've been perfect. Such a shame.
"I've gotten better at cooking."
Munching away, Yoo Ara giggled imagining Kim Siu's reaction when he tried it later.
"What day is it today…."
Arriving at school, Yoo Ara bit her lip at the familiar face waiting.
Han Mi-na, Korean Hunter Academy's celebrity student from last year.
She'd come to 23-A Class looking for Yoo Ara.
"Hey, Ara."
"…Why are you here, Mi-na?"
"Why so awkward? It's not like I can't be here."
"Were we ever that close…?"
"We were same-year last year. Same age too."
"I don't remember talking much with you."
"Really?"
Unlike Yoo Ara, who'd been in D-Class since her 22nd intake year, Han Mi-na had started in B-Class. With talented allies and connections, she'd skyrocketed to 22-A Class now.
No overlap with a repeater like Yoo Ara.
"I came to ask something."
"Ask what?"
"Yeah. Not great with everyone watching… Wanna talk privately?"
Han Mi-na's arrival had already drawn stares.
"Isn't that Han Mi-na? She's so pretty."
"Wow, her hair color's gorgeous. Dyed, right?"
"Yoo Ara holds her own, though."
"Idiot, you blind? Mi-na's prettier."
"Mi-na unnie's stunning… Should I ask for an autograph? Think she'll give one?"
Everyone, guys and girls alike, gazed at the superstar idol with admiration.
"Fine, but what's up?"
"Follow me. I booked a counseling room. Let's go there."
Yoo Ara followed Han Mi-na to a private room off-limits without clearance.
Thud. The door shut. Han Mi-na sighed deeply and spoke first.
"Ara, be honest with me."
"About what?"
"You're getting tutoring, right?"
Tutoring. The word from Han Mi-na's mouth sharpened Yoo Ara's glare.
What? Why bring up tutoring? Does she know Teacher Siu too? Want lessons from him? Or… interested in him?
Jealousy and hostility surged. Her morning irritation flared up again.
"What about it?"
Her tone cut like a blade. No—calm down. Maybe it's nothing.
"That Teacher Siu who tutors you. What's he like?"
Fox bitch. Alarms blared in her head. Danger. Teacher Siu's in danger. Lee Hye-ri was tough enough—now Han Mi-na too?
Yoo Ara bit her lip.
"Why do you care?"
"Uh, well?"
"Why's it your business? Doesn't matter who he is—you don't need to know."
"Ah, it's just…."
A pause. Han Mi-na's face flushed, breath ragged, eyes wavering. Certainty hit Yoo Ara.
This woman likes Teacher Siu.
No. No way. Absolutely not!
Han Mi-na, Korea's top celebrity, crushing on Teacher Siu? She might actually steal him. Yoo Ara trembled, unaware she saw him not as her tutor, but as a man.
"I was curious. What he's doing to you girls."
"What?"
"I-I overheard. You're learning from him, right?"
"…."
"Tell me. What's he like?"
Her mind flooded with visions: Han Mi-na seducing Kim Siu, the nine-tailed fox ensnaring him, abandoning her and Hye-ri.
"You don't need to know."
"Ara."
Suddenly, she recalled Kim Siu texting her about Han Mi-na. He must be interested too—not romantically, probably scouting students. But a top star like her? With that face, she'd seduce him easy. Even a stone like Teacher….
No. Absolutely not!
"I'm not telling. Anyone but you—no way."
"Sigh, guess no choice."
What do you mean, no choice?
"Sorry, Ara."
Then Han Mi-na held out her phone screen. A swirling pattern captured Yoo Ara's gaze.
Strange. Why can't I look away?
"Tell me. What's Kim Siu like?"
Target entranced.
Originally, she'd sought Yoo Ara just to ask if it was okay to take lessons from him. But Yoo Ara resisted talking about Kim Siu unusually hard—like it was forbidden.
Super suspicious. Something's up.
I didn't want to go this far….
Han Mi-na swallowed a sigh after using Hypnosis. Hiding it that fiercely meant something big. Maybe he had dirt on her, blackmailing her into silence.
"Just checking. To confirm…."
To see if he was shady. If he was safe to learn from.
"Tell me. What's Kim Siu like?"
"Teacher Siu…?"
"Yes."
Yoo Ara's vacant eyes drifted, then she beamed dopily.
"He's amazing. Handsome, great body, smells good. Hugging him and sniffing sometimes lasts me a week…."
"N-No, not that! As a teacher, your tutor."
Somehow, it felt like eavesdropping on something private.
"Great teacher. Thanks to him, I made it this far. His methods are weird, though…."
"Weird methods? Like what? Making you strip?"
Yoo Ara nodded.
"He said it's essential for effective mana rotation. My skills got stronger because of it."
"N-Not embarrassing?"
"It was at first… Now it's fine. I'm used to it. He's not doing it for other reasons."
"Results are real? Like skills getting stronger?"
"Yeah. Definitely."
His skills seemed legit. Perverted methods, but good outcomes. Yoo Ara wasn't lying—hypnotized people always told her the truth.
No red flags like the ones she'd feared: scum forcing her via blackmail.
Relief? Guilt? Either way, lessons from Kim Siu sounded good. He had real talent.
Mind-control him into tutoring me, then erase the memory….
Implant just the teaching part—he'd be fine even if she stripped in front of him….
Curious why Yoo Ara hadn't spilled pre-hypnosis.
"Then why hide it from me?"
"'Cause you'd seduce Teacher."
"…Huh?"
"Fox bitch, trying to tempt him? Think I don't know your game?"
Clearly hypnotized, yet glaring daggers at Han Mi-na.
"She is hypnotized… right?"