When a Woman Holds a Grudge, Frost Falls in Summer (2)
When a Woman Holds a Grudge, Frost Falls in Summer (2)
Thanks to Suyeon's cooperation, the hypnosis succeeded.
Winterer's spirit had also been thoroughly broken.
That made it easy to coax and soothe her.
"You don't want to wear something like a dog collar either, right? If you promise not to rampage, I won't put one on you."
"Mm...."
"Haru would be angry if you hurt anyone, so use your power only against monsters, understood?"
"Mm-hm...."
—Ding!
[The skill 'Complete Hypnosis' threatens to spank her again if she disobeys!]
[The skill 'Complete Hypnosis' raises her soft little arm to boast of her strength.]
Every suggestion entered her mind without the slightest resistance.
Her mental state had apparently become extremely unstable.
She was so vulnerable that I could probably have treated her mental illness right then.
...But I couldn't treat her immediately.
I desperately wanted to help her, but her trial was still underway.
It would be better to cure her after her mental illness earned her a reduced sentence.
'Still, I felt sorry for her. I could at least help a little.'
"And you know? I don't know exactly what happened, but I think Haru did it because she likes you."
I could not cure her yet, but I had plenty of ways to comfort a dejected girl.
Winterer turned her tear-filled eyes toward me.
"Rice... Cake?"
"Haru sees you as a dependable older sister. She's bound to act spoiled around you. She's surprisingly affectionate."
"......."
"So indulge her a little. An older sister indulges her younger sister. That's common sense, isn't it?"
"What kind of common sense is that?"
"Besides... you're the strongest, Winterer. As the strongest older sister, you can do this much for Haru, can't you?"
—Ding.
"...I am the strongest. Winterer, the strongest in Korea!"
Winterer's expression brightened slightly.
The hypnosis had restored some of her pride.
Objectively, she was merely a sulking child who cheered up after one compliment, but...
She was cute, so perhaps that was fine.
"Right. And if you're ever truly in trouble, tell me. I'll help with anything related to Haru."
Because I felt guilty for making her cry, I added one more concession.
I promised to help her with anything concerning Haru from then on.
The offer apparently delighted her, and a smile bloomed across her face.
She looked like a child who had received a Christmas present.
"———Anything?"
"Yes. Anything within my ability."
"Can you swear that on that precious hypnosis of yours?"
"Of course. Limited strictly to matters concerning Seo Haru, I, Seo Yujin, will cooperate unconditionally with Winterer. Satisfied?"
—Ding.
[The skill 'Complete Hypnosis' pouts and says her master is digging his own grave again.]
"...Keh. Keheheh. Fine, Rice Cake. I'm counting on you."
Her laughter sounded slightly mischievous, but...
She and I both wanted to protect Haru.
Nothing would happen. Probably.
* * *
One of the C-rank Gates managed by Cheonhwa...
An ice storm swept through it.
It was Winterer's handiwork: a self-proclaimed Grade 1 Villain and a Wannabe Villain according to everyone else.
—Kraaaaaash!!!!
"Kyahahahahaha!! That feels... That feels so refreshing!!!"
Her combat ability was utterly overwhelming.
Every enemy that blocked her path simply froze.
The moment her delicate fingertips touched them, they became frozen displays.
Even monsters wreathed in flame were no exception.
Only ice sculptures remained in her wake.
"I never imagined she would be this strong...."
Even Cheonhwa's A-rank Awakeners couldn't suppress their admiration.
If veteran Awakeners reacted that way, ordinary people could hardly be expected to remain calm.
The accompanying non-Awakeners exclaimed repeatedly in awe.
"Winterer, you look like a princess from the Winter Palace...."
—Whoosh. Crunch.
"Civilians, stay away from the ice! It's dangerous until I finish the monsters off!"
"Ooh, Saint!!!"
There was one other object of their admiration: Yujin.
He rushed everywhere, finishing off the monsters.
He inserted his katana through gaps in the ice and drove it precisely into each vital point.
The frozen monsters could only roll their eyes before dying.
His flawless technique proved that his reputation was well deserved.
Awe filled the spectators' eyes.
It was awe toward a young hero.
"Some vital points are difficult to target through the ice, but he hasn't missed once. Right, Suyeon?"
"Yes. When it comes to vital points, he genuinely knows more than I do."
But one person did not share their excitement.
She was the Angel in White and Korea's greatest healer, Ryu Suyeon.
Her expression remained grim.
She did not see a hero before her.
———She saw only a patient in need of treatment.
'Winterer was actually the easier patient. Yujin was severe because he didn't realize how distorted he was.'
Suyeon knew that well.
Two weeks before the entrance ceremony...
A madman had repeatedly come to her in tatters.
That man was Yujin, someone who possessed not even a fragment of self-love.
[Yujin, please receive psychiatric counseling. I can ask a professor I know....]
[I'm fine. I'm perfectly sane.]
[...You've avoided your vital points, but you've been harming yourself to the verge of death for seven days. And you call that sane?]
[It isn't self-harm. I'm merely training somewhat intensely. Please help me for a few more days.]
'Even if hypnosis numbed the pain, no sane person carved into their own flesh.'
She had realized on the first day that Yujin didn't feel pain.
At first, she'd assumed he suffered from congenital insensitivity to pain.
But even if his body felt no pain, his mind was still human.
A mind capable of tearing apart its own body could not be healthy.
To her, Yujin was a patient.
He was mentally ill, trapped in an incomprehensible obsession and harming himself.
He possessed no self-love and would gladly throw away his life whenever given the opportunity.
'He had improved considerably since entering the academy, but....'
[No. You've already reached your limit, Yujin....]
[I can manage one more person, cough. I'm... fine.]
'Judging by his condition during rounds, the rot inside him had not changed.'
After that long reflection, Suyeon looked forward again.
She watched the young man who had always known vital points frighteningly well.
A determined light entered her eyes.
'Yujin, I'd cure you. I'd stake everything on it.'
—Murmur, murmur.
"Hey. Is Suyeon's gaze a little strange, or is that only me?"
"Is Suyeon joining the competition now too? This is becoming ridiculous."
"No way. She sobbed that she'd never love anyone again... Surely not?"
To everyone watching, the way Suyeon stared only at Yujin was easy to misunderstand.
Ryu Suyeon herself remained oblivious.
* * *
The Gate-clearing exercise ended without a single disturbance.
Winterer remained docile and did not rampage.
Yujin also rushed everywhere to ensure that no civilians were harmed.
Their remarkable achievement immediately swept across Korea.
[Title: Winterer just crushed everything with raw power, what the hell]
[Title: Seriously, how did Hypnosis Guy ever subdue that?]
[Title: Yep, it was him again.jpg]
Public opinion of both Winterer and Yujin skyrocketed.
Seol Hayeon's plan had worked perfectly.
———Except for one problem.
It was a problem even Seol Hayeon had failed to foresee.
"Hey. You said you'd do anything I asked, right?"
"Anything related to Haru? Of course. You behaved today, so tell me what you want. I'll do any—"
"Bring your face here. I'm going to kiss you."
"What?"
Nobody had expected Yujin to dig his own grave.
They sat in the back seat of a vehicle returning to the academy.
The wholesome young man's eyes widened.
"Why so suddenly...? Do you like me?"
"No. Honestly, I still want to kill you."
"Then why are you doing this? Are you planning to bite my tongue?"
"I won't do that, so shut up and give me your lips. This is for Haru."
Winterer merely smirked.
Her expression perfectly matched the word "Pathetic♡."
'I had originally planned to make that Rice Cake kiss Haru... but for now, I was supposed to indulge her. I'd practice on this bastard instead.'
Her reasoning went as follows.
Yujin had promised to do anything for Haru.
Should she make him kiss Haru?
No. That would make it look as though the great Winterer was fleeing from the slurp-slurp she hated.
I wasn’t running away. An older sister indulging her younger sister was “common sense.”
Then what was she supposed to do? It was too valuable an opportunity to waste.
She had also reached the limit of what she could teach Haru about kissing.
In truth, Winterer had never kissed anyone before. She was nearly out of material.
She would use this chance to gain practical experience.
She would gain experience to teach Haru, give Haru an indirect kiss, and torment that Rice Cake at the same time.
It killed three birds with one stone. A truly evil plan.
It was a plan befitting a Wannabe Villain.
"You and I kissing is for Haru? Why?"
"I don't have to tell you. You only need to shut up and offer your lips to the great Winterer."
"Hah. Sorry, but hypnosis can't enforce a lie...."
—Ding!
[The skill 'Complete Hypnosis' looks away and says her master brought this on himself.]
"......!?"
But her claim was technically true because she intended to do it for Haru.
Yujin's body slowly moved toward Winterer.
It did so against his will.
Yujin's mouth fell open.
"You sincerely believe that? That I have to kiss you to indulge Haru!!?"
"That's what I said. Now hurry."
"W-We can't do this!! I'm Haru's father, and you're her older sister...!"
"Shut up and bring your lips here. That's an 'order.'"
"E-Eek!!"
His body continued moving despite his scream.
Yujin hurriedly called for help.
He sensed that the two of them would begin slurping at this rate.
He appealed to Ryu Suyeon, who had been observing from the driver's seat.
"Suyeon!! Please stop her!!"
"Hehe. Yujin, you could at least surrender your lips."
"Suyeon!!!?"
His desperate plea was rejected without hesitation.
Suyeon's brown eyes curved gently as she watched through the rearview mirror.
'Winterer was probably doing this as a prank, but....'
'Yujin's reaction looked genuinely disgusted. Was it because he loved someone else?'
From Suyeon's perspective, Yujin was a patient whose mental state had improved considerably after only one week at the academy.
She believed that love was the reason.
It was love for either Ninomiya, Yoo Sia, or Alice.
Even now, after being forced toward a kiss with Winterer...
He shuddered with revulsion.
He might not have reacted so strongly even immediately before being raped.
...Unless he genuinely loved someone from the depths of his heart.
That convinced Suyeon that love was Yujin's cure.
'I would observe for now. I needed to determine whether this was merely a defense mechanism or genuine pure love.'
So she simply watched.
She wanted information about his mental illness.
She waited until their lips were nearly touching.
'First, I needed to pull the car over....'
—Screech.
'There was no helping it. Since things had come to this, I would counterattack!'
Yujin acted the moment the vehicle stopped.
His eyes flashed gold.
"Winterer, answer one question. What kind of kiss do you want?"
"What?"
"There are many kinds of kisses. There's a simple peck on the cheek, and there's the deep kind shared by lovers."
Yujin forced them to define exactly what she meant by a kiss.
Winterer answered without shame.
The kind of kiss Haru wanted was obvious to her.
"Obviously, the kind lovers do. Not that I want to become lovers with a Rice Cake like you."
"......!!!"
'This was my chance!'
It was precisely the answer Yujin had desperately wanted.
To him, a kiss between lovers meant the kind of kiss he shared with his wives.
And the hypnosis reflected his interpretation.
'She wanted me to do it the way I did with my wives, according to my standards? Fine. I would see how long she lasted!'
—Grab.
The direction of the hypnosis changed at that instant.
Yujin quickly reached out.
His hand slipped beneath Winterer's sleeveless shirt.
His fingers caught the strap of her sports bra.
—Slide.
"...? ......Hyaaaah!!!!?"
Winterer froze briefly. She understood his intention only after the strap moved.
Yujin was trying to remove her underwear.
"......!!!? W-What are you doing, you perverted Rice Cake!?"
"You said you wanted a lovers' kiss. Lovers do this too, don't they? They strip each other, caress each other, and kiss. Didn't you know?"
"Y-Y-You...!!?"
His answer was the Hypnosis Breeding Guy's definition of a kiss.
Winterer lacked the knowledge to refute it easily.
Confusion spread across her face.
'Was this what kissing meant? Wasn't it simply pressing your lips together?!'
She'd already grown accustomed to kissing, so that alone no longer bothered her.
But this was a little—no, extremely—different.
Even the greatest villain possessed a sense of shame.
But what if it was for Haru?
And Yujin was handsome. Perhaps she could close her eyes and endure it.
She nervously worked her lips while considering that.
—Slide.
"If you don't like it, I'll stop. Just tell me to stop. Please."
Meanwhile, the strap continued sliding down her shoulder.
It hadn't even moved one centimeter yet, but...
There was no question what would happen if this continued.
Winterer's eyes spun as she imagined the future.
"Th-Th-That's... I...."
[The skill 'Complete Hypnosis'....]
"Oh. A grown woman would be terribly embarrassed if a man she didn't even like undressed her, would she not? You should tell me to stop immediately, right?"
Yujin's face, by contrast, turned deathly pale.
'Please become hypnotized already. I didn't want to undress you either.'
'I couldn't face my wives, and it felt as though I was committing a crime. It was terrifying. The laws protecting minors would never leave me alone—'
Those thoughts filled him with fear.
In other words, this had become a game of chicken.
They were competing to see whether Winterer's shame or Yujin's guilt would explode first.
It was an exceptionally pathetic contest.
The outcome was...
"S-S-S-Stooooop!!!"
"......All right, I'm sorry!!! I won't do it if you hate it!!!"
—Release.
'I-I was nearly stripped. That Rice Cake nearly stripped me!!'
'Ugh. I felt like vomiting because I seemed like a pedophile....'
They both suffered emotional damage, and that was the end of it.
—Snicker.
'Pfft. Winterer was so cute. She became embarrassed over so little. If it were me, I might have....'
To Ryu Suyeon, who had watched the entire exchange, it was an adorable fight.
* * *
After subduing Winterer's rampage at the cost of enormous emotional damage...
I quickly fled to the front seat.
The frosty atmosphere behind me was terrifying.
"That damned Rice Cake, perverted Rice Cake, rotten and swollen...."
—Sneak, sneak.
"Suyeon. That was not what I intended."
"I know. I know you didn't do it for that reason, Yujin."
"...Thank you."
Fortunately, an objective observer believed there were extenuating circumstances.
Only then did the tension drain from my body.
A sigh of relief escaped me.
'Right. I wasn't a lolicon. I liked mature women. Exactly.'
"Hmm. Winterer is on the cute side. Since you rejected her... do you prefer mature women?"
"Of course!"
Perhaps because of my relief, I answered without thinking.
I did not understand what Suyeon's question implied.
"Hmm... Then what do you think of me?"
"What?"
—Glance.
"If you're willing, Yujin, you can do it to me. That thing lovers do."
"...Come on~ Don't tease me. What are you saying?"
"Well, I'm not wearing underwear, so there'd be nothing to remove."
"———Why are you saying things like that too!!!?"