Possessed into "The World Is Already Under Hypnosis" (5)
"Hello? We've met again."
"Ugh... Park Jisoo."
"I told everyone else to leave because I wanted to talk to you alone."
Her last memory was getting hit with a taser in the interrogation room and blacking out. When she opened her eyes, she was face-to-face with Park Jisoo in a spacious office. Beyond the glass walls, the skyline of Paradise City stretched out below. It looked like the top floor of a high-rise—probably dragged all the way to the executive suite.
"Your name's Han Seungyeon, right? I heard about you."
"Wh-what do you want with me? I just want to go home."
"Where's home?"
"…………."
She couldn't just blurt out her family's address. For starters, she didn't even know Han Seungyeon's address.
"They said during police questioning, you only gave your name and nothing else. Got some secret you can't talk about?"
"………"
She couldn't afford to run her mouth in front of Park Jisoo. This woman was sharp as a tack, quick on her feet, and paranoid as hell. She'd been a staff officer in Kim Hoyoung's assassination squad W.L.K., graduated top of her class from Nakwon University—the best in Korea—and aced the senior civil service exam. High-spec didn't even begin to cover it. One wrong word, and she'd see right through to her bones.
"A rare micro-brained wandering around Paradise City these days. Hell, it's damn near impossible to find one here. This is Hoyoung's turf. Anyone who feels off gets the hell out, and the ones who resist openly? They end up hypnosis fodder. Kids like you are practically fossils."
"…………."
"How the hell do you live in Paradise City without getting hypnotized? Sure—"
She wasn't saying a word, but Park Jisoo kept rambling on solo.
"—some people are born with resistance and just get lightly affected. But you? You didn't even register. Tossing Hoyoung's photo away in disgust, puking at the smell of his cum? That's zero influence."
"…………."
"Living in Paradise City with zero hypnosis effect? Doesn't add up. You're no ordinary micro-brained, are you?"
"………."
"And this morning, when we bumped into each other, you acted like you knew who I was. We even caught you faking hypnosis symptoms. So you're a micro-brained with intel on us? That's straight-up impossible. You're weird."
Damn it. This was why Park Jisoo was dangerous. She'd already pieced it all together and branded her a threat.
"We can't tolerate anything that might threaten Hoyoung. A few days ago, he tripped on the street, so they're redoing the whole road construction. Can't have a road in this world that dared to make Hoyoung stumble."
"………."
Ridiculous bullshit, but exactly the kind of thing these people would do.
"Killing one nobody like you? Piece of cake for us. So, if you don't wanna die, spill it. Who are you? What's your goal?"
"……………."
Park Jisoo wasn't bluffing. These psychos would off someone without batting an eye. To them, anyone but Kim Hoyoung wasn't worth basic human decency. What now? Confess everything? That she posted hate comments and got isekai'd into this novel?
"Don't think too hard—just answer straight. Your life's in my hands. Don't forget that."
Park Jisoo's eyes darkened, sinking deep. Oh shit. That was a genuine murder stare. Terrifying.
Threatening to kill was easy—most of it was bluff, bluster, bullshit. Actual killers were rare. Unless you're a psychopath, anyone hesitates at murder. But not Park Jisoo. To her, this life was trash to discard if it shaded her master. Say nothing, and she'd really end it. And half-assed lies wouldn't fly with this brainiac.
"…If I talk, you'll let me live?"
"Talk first."
"…Fine. First off, I have zero hostility toward this Kim Hoyoung guy."
She laid it all out: She was from another world, observed events here through a novel format, got forcibly possessed by someone. Her only wish was to go home—no intent to harm Kim Hoyoung or anyone. Crystal clear.
Park Jisoo listened silently, then muttered a curt "I see" when she finished.
"Never saw that plot twist coming. How much to believe… Part of me wants to hand you to Dr. Gae Ddogi for a checkup and pump you full of schizophrenia meds."
"I know it's nuts, but it's true. Even if I'm some delusional schizo, what does that matter to you guys? Can't you just… let me go?"
"…………."
Park Jisoo propped her chin, lost in thought. Her fate in this woman's hands? Infuriating. How the hell did it come to this? She was just a reader leaving honest comments on a novel—what crime was that? So unfair. If she got back, she'd grab the author by the collar and deck him. If she could just return… Yeah, she really, really wanted to go home.
"How to handle this… Even I'm stumped."
"………."
"I'd love to mull it over, but Hoyoung's visiting today. No time for you."
"K-Kim Hoyoung's coming here?"
"Yeah. Oh, right—leave it to him. Perfect."
"What? No, that's insane!"
She shot up in panic.
"Why the hell would I meet Kim Hoyoung? Absolutely not! Hell no!"
"When you're confused and don't know the answer, ask Hoyoung. Best way."
"Y-you're smarter than him! Judge it yourself!"
"Not the point. If Hoyoung says black, it's black. White, it's white. His word is truth. He judges. We just believe."
Whatever nonsense that was, she was already in Park Jisoo's palm. In the end, she was forced to face the root of all evil—the trash protagonist of this trash novel. The one she'd die before meeting.
"Ah, that the so-called dimensional traveler you mentioned?"
"Yes, Hoyoung."
The man Park Jisoo brought in entered like a king, with her escorting him deferentially. Outwardly, just an average-looking young guy. Average height, build—not fat, not skinny. Plain features, neither handsome nor ugly. Normal, full head of hair.
"Hmm… Kinda cute. Especially that ribbon in your ponytail. Ponytails are always right."
"………."
This was him—the bottom-three most hated protag in all the novels she'd read. Kim Hoyoung. Ugh, seeing the revolting text bastard in the flesh. Probably the world's most tragic reader. Getting isekai'd into this shitshow? Fuck.
"Hey, Seungyeon. Nice to meet you."
"………"
"Oi, Han Seungyeon. Hoyoung's graciously greeting you. Hurry up and dogeza or something to show your gratitude."
"Park Jisoo, stay out of it."
"Yes, Hoyoung. Sorry for overstepping."
The visible hierarchy chilled her spine. Park Jisoo immediately bowed 90 degrees in apology. She'd once read a post about the Queen's maids—they were high nobles. Why serve? Honor. Even a servant to the Queen was glory.
Park Jisoo's utter submission screamed that supremacy, that supreme honor toward Kim Hoyoung.
"Park Jisoo, wait outside. I'll talk to Seungyeon alone."
"But that's dangerous… I'm worried, Hoyoung. If anything happens to you, we all have to commit group suicide."
"Your suicides my problem?"
"!! No. Our lives are disposable napkins at best. Not worth your concern. My thinking was shortsighted again. Sorry for the stupidity. I'll leave as ordered."
For whatever reason, Kim Hoyoung cleared out his subordinate. It was Park Jisoo's office, but who cared? He'd probably barge in at her bedtime, tell her to get out, and she'd apologize, head to the living room for a nap on the floor.
"Wh-what do you want, Kim Hoyoung? I just… I just wanna go home. No plans against you! Just… let me go!"
"Seungyeon, you're pretty cute."
"Wha—! You bastard!"
She tried not to curse, but his chin-stroking, lip-licking leer was too disgusting.
No good. This demon was clearly planning to fuck her. Time to barricade.
"Listen up! I was originally a guy! This body's possessed—not mine! You gonna fuck a dude? Even a perv like you wouldn't!"
"Hmm… Think I would?"
"What?"
"You read my novel all the way, right? From a reader's view, what kinda guy am I? The type to rail a TS'd cute girl? Or let her go? Which?"
"You… you'd…"
The Kim Hoyoung she knew. The one she'd seen.
What would he do with a cute girl who's actually a TS'd guy?
"…………………."
—Ah, a terrifying thought just flashed through her mind.