Chapter 80
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Kind Hypnosis (3)
“Ugh......”
30 seconds.
That’s how long it took for Yura noona to arrive.
Even by car, it took over 20 minutes from Millennium Guild headquarters, but she got here in 30 seconds flat. She instantly grasped the situation and gave each of those punk middle schoolers a solid flick on the forehead.
“Phew, what a relief.”
When noona first showed up, I nearly fainted.
Her face wasn’t the gentle one I knew—it was like some fierce demon goddess.
“Thank goodness it ended with just flicks.”
I was the one who called her, but with that look on her face like she was ready to rip someone apart, I worried she might beat those punks too badly. Turned out, it was just the right punishment.
“Ugh......”
Of course, the ones on the receiving end were collapsed on the ground, steam rising from their foreheads.
“Jun-hyuk, you okay?”
“I’m fine, obviously. I’m more worried about them.”
“I went easy, so they’ll be fine.”
Her soft hand gently stroked my head.
Feeling that touch, I asked what had been on my mind.
“Noona, what if you’re in a gate or too far away? Wouldn’t you not be able to come even if I call?”
“It’s fine. The guild master promised to come in my place. She has a summon artifact too, so if I’m in a gate, the signal will go to her.”
“The guild master?”
She was someone with pretty refined tastes, right?
“Isn’t the guild master super busy?”
“Huh? Not at all? Most guild masters are swamped with paperwork, but ours doesn’t know how to use a computer, so she just hangs around. At most, she meets with other guilds for greetings. Or attends government-hosted meetings. Those are rare anyway, and if something comes up, I’ll handle paperwork at the guild and wait, so don’t worry.”
Not just refined tastes—she doesn’t know modern tech at all.
How does someone like that even run a guild?
I was curious but held back. No point badmouthing someone behind their back.
“So, time to wrap this up?”
“Ugh...... What the hell just happened......”
Noona approached the middle school punks who were just coming to and jotted down their phone numbers.
She told them she’d report it to their school and call their parents too. Once they fully snapped out of it and recognized who she was, the punks just nodded in shock without a word and slunk away.
“Alright, Jun-hyuk. Head home safe. Call me if anything happens.”
“Yeah!”
Before leaving, noona glanced at the girl still lingering in the alley.
She already knew the girl was the victim, but it seemed like she wanted me—a guy—to step in rather than her saying something rash herself.
Or maybe she was hoping I’d soothe the girl with my hypnosis skill.
After noona left, I cautiously approached the girl. The situation was resolved ages ago, so she could’ve just gone home without it being weird, but she was crying.
“Crying all the way home? Her pride as a girl wouldn’t allow it.”
In my past life, maybe, but now genders are reversed.
“Let’s wait till the tears stop.”
I stayed by her side without saying a word. After a few minutes, her eyes were red and puffy, but she finally stopped crying and bowed her head in thanks.
“Thank you for helping me.”
But why...
Did her eyes not show even a hint of gratitude?
“Is that resentment?”
The girl resented me. Why?
I saved her. She must’ve wanted help deep down, so why resent me after getting it?
“No problem. Just doing what anyone would. By the way, were those guys friends of yours?”
“Fri......friends?”
This time, anger.
She shook her head violently, denying it.
“They’re not friends.”
I wondered if I’d misunderstood them as friends, but no.
If they really were, she wouldn’t react with such rage at the word.
“Then...... what’s the reason?”
To understand someone’s thoughts, you have to put yourself in their shoes.
It’s not easy just by thinking, so I tried self-hypnosis.
[I am a bullied student. A severely bullied one.]
Suddenly, even breathing felt anxious.
I don’t want to go to school. No one’s on my side there—just beatings and thefts waiting.
‘Teachers? If they’d helped, it wouldn’t be like this.’
They just tell us to get along, either to protect their image or because it’s a hassle!
No one can be trusted.
‘And...... why am I even outside?’
I was scared to go out, terrified of running into those tormentors.
My legs trembled now, worried they might pop out from around the corner.
‘Don’t get too immersed!’
I barely snapped back to reality, but the hypnosis made it feel so real I kept glancing around instinctively.
In a situation like this, if someone actually helped while those guys were tormenting you...
‘You’d be grateful.’
An EX-Rank Hunter showing up and scolding them? You’d be thrilled.
But more than that, the fear of going to school tomorrow—those punks blaming you, using it as an excuse to bully and beat you even worse—that was way scarier.
“Um...... are you okay?”
The girl’s worried voice snapped me out of it. I released the hypnosis.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“......You look like you’re catching a cold. Take care of yourself.”
Even in her position, she was worried about me.
Separate from resenting me, she had a kind heart.
‘And now I get why she looked at me like that.’
For me, it’s one-and-done.
But she has to go back to school and face those guys again.
“Are you a middle schooler? What year?”
“......First year.”
That’s two more years, even excluding this one.
If unlucky, they end up at the same high school for three more.
The immediate help paled against the dread of tomorrow—those punks venting on her, yelling, ‘We got hit because of you!’
‘Is there a way to help?’
Her tears had dried, and she seemed ready to leave. I pondered how to assist as I watched her.
‘Option one: Hypnotize her to have a confident, positive personality.’
Would that stop the punks? Probably not—they’d bully her harder for fighting back.
Forcing someone positive out of nowhere? Feels like drugging their mind. Pure evil.
‘Option two: Give those punk delinquents a proper thrashing.’
Second-best. Would that let her return to normal life?
Maybe, but it’d take time, and nothing says it won’t happen again.
I can’t babysit forever. Only a 50/50 solution.
‘Wait—if I can’t watch over her, she can watch herself.’
Don’t give fish; teach fishing.
Not sure if it’ll work, but she was still hovering, eyeing me anxiously—low self-esteem or too much trauma. I stared her down intensely.
“W-Why are you looking at me like that?”
No answer.
I was testing another power of my evolved hypnosis skill.
‘I see it!’
Talent: Dance (B), Piano (C), Speed Reading (A), Violin (B), Writing (A)
So this is how you read talents.
The skill’s system boost shows them with ranks too.
‘People have more than one talent.’
But none of hers would help break this situation.
‘Can I create a talent for her?’
What’s a talent? Innate physical aptitude, right?
Like when I boosted Yura noona’s skill before—maybe I can grant talents.
“Have you awakened? Got any skills?”
“......I awakened, but no skills.”
Not everyone gets skills upon awakening, and she was one of them.
No skills, so none listed.
‘Let’s try.’
Grant her martial arts talent.
Old stage-four hypnosis needed her mana for body mods, but she’s awakened, so she has some.
‘Probably not much. If she did, she wouldn’t be taking this crap.’
I don’t expect EX-Rank Hunter level—just enough to beat middle school punks.
Ranks’ effects? Unknown.
Better than nothing.
I activated the hypnosis skill. Instinctively knew I needed contact, so I grabbed her shoulder.
“Eek!”
Thinking I’d hit her, she squeezed her eyes shut and trembled.
Before I could speak, she went limp and collapsed.
“......What the hell.”
Checked her talents again.
Talent: Dance (B), Piano (C), Speed Reading (A), Violin (B), Writing (A), Martial Arts (S)
“Even on a normal awakener, it’s S-Rank?”
I realized how insane my skill was.
＊＊＊
“Haa......”
On the way home, Im A-young’s steps were heavy.
Normally, home was the most comfortable, happiest place. No tormentors, no girls ripping her books, no bitches reading her secret novels aloud.
[See you tomorrow. Be ready.]
But that one message shattered the peace long ago.
She scanned her surroundings with dying eyes, hurrying home.
‘Don’t wanna go to school.’
Terrified of her bullies, she crept along cautiously, so it took forever to get home—and she still had a ways to go.
‘Why the hell was Choi Yu-ra there of all places?’
Along the way, she recalled today.
As usual, tormented by the class delinquents who’d called her out, then Choi Yu-ra—someone she’d never see in person—popped up.
She flicked the delinquents and somehow they passed out. When she woke, everyone was gone.
Like being bewitched by a goblin.
‘Still...... thanks for the help.’
Grateful, sure, but she wasn’t gonna babysit forever.
Better if it’d ended with the bullying—tomorrow would’ve been the usual.
‘You meddled and made it worse for me.’
She knew she shouldn’t feel this way, but she resented Choi Yu-ra.
‘I wish I could fight well.’
Or awaken a skill.
With a skill, she could’ve gone to a special school, not regular middle school.
No delinquents, happy school life.
“Haa.”
Imagining beating her tormentors senseless, something caught Im A-young’s eye on the way home.
“Martial arts dojo......”
Normally, she’d pass without a thought.
But today......
[If you see a martial arts gym, you’ll want to go in and sign up.]
She couldn’t just walk by.
Because of that fantasy? Drawn like a moth, she entered.
“Um, ex-excuse me......”
“Oh, here to join?”
Her rock-bottom self-esteem kept her from speaking, but somehow the hypnosis shifted her words.
“C-Can I just look around?”
“Of course! You’re awakened, right? Got any skills?”
“N-No. Awakened, but no skills......”
The sleek, muscular woman at the counter led Im A-young inside.
Young girls often came to change or get stronger, and she pegged her as one.
“We’ve got tons of amateur and pro trainees here! Watch from the side!”
“Y-Yeah......”
Many balk if you hover, so no push for signup.
The woman quickly retreated to her post.
It was a popular dojo—no money worries.
‘Whoa, everyone looks scary.’
Im A-young’s eyes sparkled as she watched.
Especially the woman punching the heavy bag—the bag soaring with each hit mesmerized her.
‘If I were that strong.’
Just punches, yet so powerful?
Heard skill users can’t be pro fighters in boxing or MMA, so yeah?
‘Looks easy. Some special technique?’
Staring hard, Im A-young swung at the air.
Exact same form as the bag-puncher.
Bang-!
Air exploded, filling the dojo.
“Huh?”
Amateur and pro fighters all turned to her.
“S-Sorry!”
Low self-esteem kicked in; she bowed frantically.
Damn, should’ve stayed out!
What was that sound?!
“Um...... kid?”
A hand on her shoulder. Im A-young looked up.
Scary strong vibe.
Nearly 190 cm tall, broad shoulders, bronze skin—intimidating woman.
“Y-Yes!”
“Here for a tour, right?”
“Sorry!”
“No need to apologize. Ever trained before?”
“N-No......”
“Huh. Mind showing that punch a few more times?”
Can I just leave?
Wanted to say it, but that hand felt like it’d snap bones. Couldn’t refuse.
“Y-Yeah......”
Im A-young swung at the air.
Each time, air burst.
No time to wonder why—she just prayed it’d end soon.
“Hmm.”
“C-Can I stop now?”
The monster woman didn’t answer.
“Instructoriiiiiiiin!!!”
Instead, she bellowed at the top of her lungs.
“We’ve got a genius heeeeeere!!!”