Chapter 79
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Good Hypnosis (2)
"What the hell is going on all of a sudden?"
The system window that had popped up out of nowhere vanished in an instant.
Had I just imagined it?
I rubbed my eyes and summoned the Status Window.
"Status Window."
[Hypnosis]
[Hypnotizes the target. ∵¡Obeys∞theⅲ┻⑥user]
-Due to the replacement of the core component, the skill is changing. -Loading-
-Until system stabilization: forward/forward/forward error
The Status Window was glitching out like it had a bug, with the text all garbled.
The "Good Hypnosis" text I'd seen earlier appeared and disappeared, swapping to other words, like a program updating in real time.
"Well, it's not just a simple skill—it's a program, after all."
One made by the final boss of another world, using its own ego as the core component, no less.
After waiting a bit, the Status Window finally stabilized, and the text started displaying properly.
[Hypnosis]
-The consciousness integrated with the numerous yearnings directed toward the user has been detected.
-It has replaced the deficient core component, altering the skill.
-Tendency of the replacement core component: Benevolence, service, devotion.
-Changes: When using the skill for the purpose of good deeds, all existing restrictions are lifted, allowing the full power of Hypnosis to be unleashed.
[Additional Features]
-Good Deeds in Secret: Hypnosis used for good deeds will not be detected by other skills.
-Self-Reflection: If your own tendency is good (善), you can hypnotize yourself. The effect of self-hypnosis is equivalent to a level 1 hypnosis.
-The God Hears Your Prayers: You can hear the voices of those who desperately need help.
-The Eyes of God Pierce Through You: You can see the target's emotions and talents.
What is this?
The skill had suddenly been strengthened.
'No, is it really strengthened?'
It was more accurate to say it had changed.
Before, I could only cast strong hypnosis for lewd purposes, but now it only worked strongly for good deeds.
"In terms of versatility, this is way more convenient... but why the sudden change?"
One thing came to mind.
The numerous yearnings and integrated consciousness.
And the consciousness's tendencies of benevolence, service, and devotion.
It felt just like the Heavenly Harmony Church's disposition—doing good deeds while deceived by the fake name Novelia.
"Come to think of it, it mentioned something about the 10,000th believer joining earlier."
If the Heavenly Harmony Church's growing influence and their faith had changed my skill...
Then this change made sense.
'They say strong mental power can strengthen skills.'
Even if it wasn't my own mental power.
If the faith directed toward me had replaced the spiritually dead final boss, that could explain the current situation.
"Whatever the case, it's a good thing."
There was no way to investigate this further, and it wasn't a bad change.
Sure, it seemed weaker against villains compared to before, but the faith in the god the Heavenly Harmony Church believed in had added various buffs, actually increasing its overall versatility.
"Let's test it out first."
The first thing I checked was self-hypnosis.
The Self-Reflection ability thankfully maintained the erection suppression and libido suppression I'd already set.
'If this had disappeared, I'd be in trouble.'
I was already living with my sister—what if this vanished?
Like those old-school guys driven mad by lust, I'd probably fail to suppress my desires for her and dive headfirst into the fire pit.
'Even if it meant becoming a eunuch.'
Imagining my little buddy getting flattened like in a hydraulic press made my legs instinctively clamp shut.
Next was Good Deeds in Secret.
This instantly erased the biggest worry I'd had all along.
'The thing I was most worried about when hypnotizing someone was getting caught by precise inspections or whatever. With this, I can relax.'
It seemed my mindset of selfless service had manifested as a skill.
Thinking about it, it showed that the Heavenly Harmony Church was truly devoted to service.
'Next up... well, things I won't know until I test them.'
Hypnosis for good deeds has no restrictions.
You can hear the voices of those who desperately need help.
You can pierce through the target's emotions and talents.
I instinctively understood what the three meant, but I wouldn't fully feel them until I tested.
'Removing restrictions for good deeds must be because of the new core component filling the spot after the final boss vanished.'
Hearing the voices of those desperately needing help—probably reflecting the hearts of people praying to a god?
Then the last one, piercing through emotions and talents...
'It's an enhancement of the existing ability to sense emotions.'
Overall, it had changed, but it was definitely an upgrade in performance.
To test the three features, I threw on a light jacket and headed outside.
'This spot looks good.'
A busy intersection teeming with people.
Since my face was known, I wore a mask and quietly observed the crowd.
"Hey, kid, hurry up! Why are you so slow?"
"I'm sorry, Section Chief."
After a while, I finally encountered the kind of people I was hoping for.
"God, you're such a pushover! You think guys get treated like that forever just because you're a man? Up until college, maybe. Get your act together. Don't think society will baby you forever."
"Yes. I understand."
"Yeah, yeah~ All you do is give fancy answers. Anyone can talk big."
An unknown ajumma in a suit—probably a company worker—and a young rookie male employee.
I hadn't noticed them because they stood out.
His voice sounded so desperate that my gaze was drawn automatically.
[Damn it, that fucking section chief asshole! He's been such a prick ever since I rejected his confession last time. Sigh, I wish someone would just help me out.]
It wasn't a voice reaching my ears.
It was transmitted straight to my heart.
Even in this noisy place packed with people and roaring vehicles, his inner voice came through crystal clear.
'Now, let's test the next ability.'
I immediately locked eyes with the ajumma he'd called Section Chief and cast Hypnosis.
We weren't making eye contact, but the skill took hold perfectly. She flinched, then her face filled with regret.
"Hey, Kim? Was I too harsh?"
"Pardon?"
"I've been bullying you too much lately. I suddenly feel so sorry. There's no real emergency anyway—I was too hard on you. The work for today ends with this business trip, so head back and rest."
"Yes!?"
The hypnosis I'd cast amplified her feelings of guilt toward Kim.
She apologized right away, patted his shoulder with a sorry smile, and left first.
But the guy didn't seem as happy as I'd expected.
[What the hell? Is the section chief finally dying? Or is she trying to kill me? Why the sudden change?]
Of course he'd think that—people don't change overnight.
Anyway, testing the hypnosis, I could feel that if the purpose was a good deed, I could go up to level 4.
'But that doesn't mean I can actually do it.'
There were many ways to grant his wish just now.
If I actively used level 4, I could drastically enhance his physical abilities and make him beat the section chief to death.
But that would be abetting a crime, so it didn't feel like a good deed—instinctively, I knew it was impossible.
'So the standard for good deeds is my own moral compass.'
Standards of good and evil vary from person to person, after all.
Like that purple bald villain in a movie from my past life who planned to massacre half the universe's lifeforms but thought it was a good deed.
If I were a psychopath, I could've cast that hypnosis, but as an ordinary person raised in a rule-of-law society, I didn't want to, possible or not.
'It's not like he killed someone—just scolded a subordinate. Not a death penalty offense.'
Besides, level 4 was a physical modification hypnosis that could even enhance the body.
Even with the strengthened skill, the target needed sufficient mana to handle the modification, so I couldn't use it on just anyone.
'Mess it up, and it could wreck their physical balance and do more harm than good.'
After the two disappeared, more voices came, but most were trivial wishes.
I don't want to go to school—wish the school would collapse.
Don't wanna work today—hope the server crashes.
When I get home, hubby's gonna nag again? Please, no nagging.
If these were audible voices, daily life would be impossible—people were praying nonstop in their heads.
'Not prayers, just everyday gripes.'
Fortunately, the mental voices weren't too loud, each one distinguishable, with no headaches or anything.
Listening quietly, I noticed the voices varied in volume.
'The more desperate the wish, the louder the voice.'
Trivial daily wishes were quiet, fading with distance.
Desperate ones were loud, clear even from afar.
[I'd rather die than live like this.]
Yeah.
Like this one.
I headed toward the source, walking and walking.
But no matter how much I walked that way, the owner of the voice wasn't visible.
'How desperate does it have to be to reach this far?'
Even as I walked, more mental voices kept coming.
[But suicide's scary. Better if those bitches beat me to death by mistake.]
[Then they'd get punished too. My report got hushed as community service, but murder? Even the school can't ignore that.]
[But would Mom and Dad be sad? I don't want that.]
[I don't want my parents to be sad.]
I'd already pieced together the situation on the way.
So desperate that I pinpointed the location before even arriving.
'Here it is.'
Even in advanced Seoul, rundown areas exist.
I'd reached an alley between shabby villas.
"Heh heh, she really said that?"
"Yeah. I asked the teacher when she lost her virginity, and the guy's face turned beet red? Fucking adorable."
"What if she reports you for sexual harassment?"
"Pfft~ Even if she does, I'm a juvenile delinquent~"
I recognized the uniforms.
Not high school—middle school.
About six middle school girls who looked young and immature, squatting gangsta-style, smoking and spitting.
"But how do we fuck this bitch up?"
"Hey, you fucking bitch, report me again. Huh? Go on, report. I really thought you were my friend, and you snitch? Can't even lend money to a friend?"
Sandwiched among them.
One gloomy-looking middle school girl.
She looked like a private surrounded by sergeants—gave me instant PTSD.
'That's her.'
I knew instinctively.
The one who'd been pleading for help in her mind was that girl.
"Hey, oppa over there! What're you staring at? Get lost before you get hurt."
"Hey, wait. Mask aside, he looks kinda hot?"
"Don't fall for it. Street magician."
"You won't know till you check. Oppa? Wanna hang with us?"
Kids these days have no manners.
An old saying.
Not like in my day—each generation gets ruder, and now even middle schoolers are like this.
"Oppa? Deaf? Come here when I tell you?"
Hmm.
I could hypnotize them.
Rescuing the girl from these delinquents would count as a good deed.
But I wanted to test more than just the skills.
"Scaredy-cat, huh? Girls, don't be too harsh."
"Aww, were you scared? Yes you were~"
I quietly rubbed the ring on my right hand clockwise.
Then, not a mental voice, but one directly in my head.
[Jun-hyuk? What's up?]
Snitches get stitches, kinda.
Felt a bit guilty calling my busy sister for this.
[Sis, some weird kids are harassing me.]
Gotta test if it works properly, right?