Possessed in "The World Is Already Under Hypnosis" (16)
"What the hell?! I said no one comes in! You planning to defy my orders?!"
"Judging by that attitude, you've gotten pretty soaked in this world yourself. Drunk on the power that comes with being Kim Hoyoung's sidekick, huh?"
"What?"
This woman was no ordinary person. Who the hell was she? All the Japanese around here were too busy kissing my ass, but she just barged into the hotel room like she owned the place, and even when I snapped at her, she didn't flinch...
Red glasses, ponytail, modified black mubok. Wait... could she be...
"Ok Maehyang?"
"Oh, you know my name? Guess the rumors are true. They say you've read our story as a novel. So, how am I portrayed in that novel?"
"...A mysterious character who hasn't been revealed much yet."
Kim Hoyoung's childhood friend, but she didn't seem to worship him like the others. Rumored to have deep ties to the Black Stars chairwoman behind the scenes—a woman shrouded in secrets. She'd gone to the US for some kind of research, but no details were clear. Still, the Black Stars chairwoman had apparently pegged her as the definitive card to take down Kim Hoyoung.
Which meant she might be the one person I could rely on in this insane world.
"They say you ghosted calls and went off the grid... Took a hell of a lot of effort to track you down."
"H-how did you even know about me to come looking?"
"As a scientist, your existence is fascinating in itself."
Ok Maehyang locked the door and spoke in a hushed tone.
"Ever heard of the simulation universe theory? The idea that our universe might be a virtual reality created by someone—it's a hypothesis discussed quite seriously. But forget virtual reality; we're just characters in a novel? Haha. That's a pretty bold theory."
It's not a theory—it's reality.
"Anyway, once I became aware of your existence, I started my own research. I'm a genius, you know. You should be grateful."
"?"
Ok Maehyang hooked up an old CRT monitor to the hotel room's electrical circuit and hit the power button. Shockingly, on the screen appeared my family... my real family. Mom and my little sister! They could see me too.
"Mom!!"
"Huh? You're not our son..."
"Where's Oppa?"
"Mom! It's me! I'm your son!"
"Who are you?"
Ugh. Mom didn't recognize me. My sister was shaking her head, looking around for me. Of course. I looked like a full-on beautiful girl right now. How could I convince them I was Mom's real son? Dig up memories only Mom and I shared and cross-verify? It'd take time, but it wasn't impossible.
—But then the screen flickered unstably, on the verge of cutting out. Ok Maehyang swapped some circuits and said,
"Damn... the connection's shaky. It's about to drop, so say what you need to quick."
The link cut out. Bad pixels filled the CRT instead of Mom and my sister's faces. I told her to unplug the damn thing—I couldn't stand looking at it.
"Looks like in that world, you're completely gone. Your family was worried..."
".........."
"What? You crying?"
"Sh-shut up. I just finally came to my senses, that's all."
Honestly, getting swept up by Kim Hoyoung, I'd been losing sight of my original goal. I'd started fearing I'd never escape his clutches and spend my life as his plaything. Hell, part of me had even thought living under his favor wasn't so bad.
But no—I wasn't a character in this novel. I was a real, flesh-and-blood human from reality. I'd get out of here. Back to my family's arms.
"Ok Maehyang... why are you helping me?"
"You're a rare specimen resisting Kim Hoyoung. In this day and age, you're rarer than a national treasure. So, how was it? Reuniting with your family after so long?"
"...The best... and the worst..."
Ever since possessing this female body, I'd gotten emotional—tears came easy. Female hormones, probably. A little sadness and boom, waterworks. Just now, seeing Mom's worried face had my chest tightening and eyes overflowing.
But I was okay now. Couldn't cry forever. Thanks to Mom, I'd resolved to face Kim Hoyoung head-on again.
"Miss Ok Maehyang. I... I want to go back to my world. Is there any way?"
"Not yet. Making that unstable interdimensional communicator just now burned through my entire budget. Even secretly researching alone has its limits. Would be nice if some corporation sponsored me."
"Aren't you connected to Black Stars? Isn't that the biggest company here?"
"Ho, you even know that? But you don't know the details. The Black Stars chairwoman hides her face from me too, and contact's forbidden unless it's about the O.A.K.S operation. Asking for budget to help some random civilian? I'd just get ghosted."
"...Then what do I do? I'm broke."
"The interdimensional communicator was tough enough to build. Inventing something near-futuristic like a person-transporter? I'd need national-budget-level funds. And the only one who can front that cash, with that kind of power... is Kim Hoyoung."
"...Huh?"
"One way only. You convince him."
This woman—what the hell was she saying? Convince Kim Hoyoung? That bastard ever get convinced by anyone?
"But that's the only way. He's at least favorable toward you, right? Who else you gonna ask for trillions from? Got connections?"
".........A-any other way."
"Nope."
In other words, ask Kim Hoyoung to fund the machine to send me home. Seemed impossible, but no other ideas came. In the end, I had to contact him first and ask to meet—an unprecedented event.
Kim Hoyoung showed up in the hotel room with a prim-looking young Japanese woman.
"Sumire, you wait outside and keep yourself amused with some anal play or whatever. Seungyeon and I need to talk alone."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Sumire—Himeko's daughter—gave me a meaningful smile as she left. Cute, actually. But now wasn't the time for idle thoughts.
"Ahem. K-Kim Hoyoung. Actually, I have a favor to ask..."
"What? Money?"
"Huh? H-how'd you know?"
I'd been agonizing over how to broach it, but he cut straight to it.
"Ok Maehyang told me."
"No way... I didn't think you were in touch with her."
"Childhood friends. We text casually. Anyway, it's not pocket change you need. And you're doing all this to leave my side?"
"...Y-yeah."
A bit scared, but I mustered courage. Wasn't asking anything crazy, and no slaves here to take his side. Perfect chance to stand tall.
"H-how many times do I gotta say it? I don't wanna hang with trash like youuuu—Ow!! What the hell?! Suddenly!!"
"Kyaoooo!!"
"What is this bat monster—! Ah, Bianca?!"
A horned little girl burst from Kim Hoyoung's shadow and chomped my ankle. It hurt like hell.
"Hey, Bianca. Don't get cocky—back inside."
"Kyaoo!! That bitch insulted Master!"
"Inside."
"...Yes, Master."
Bianca slunk back into the shadow like sinking into a swamp, looking utterly deflated. Right, this succubus demon queen lived in shadows. So no such thing as a safe spot without Kim Hoyoung's slaves. Had to be cautious around him always. Fully armed, that guy.
"Th-that's enough playing with me, right? L-let me go now! I got family waiting to return to... human rights, freedom? I never threatened to smash your world or anything—just a humble citizen wanting to go home. Grant a simple wish like that, yeah? Come on, Kim Hoyoung?"
I appealed emotionally, hoping my sincerity got through. Knowing full well it wouldn't on a guy like him...
Kim Hoyoung was the craziest bastard in every smut novel I'd read.
"Fine."
"Knew it. I figured you'd say no—huh? What?"
Did I hear wrong?
"I said fine. I'll give you the money. Ask Himeko, she'll hand over the national budget. Use it for Ok Maehyang to build a dimension transfer machine or whatever, and head home."
"W-wait, really? For real?"
Whoa. First time I felt fondness for Kim Hoyoung. Maybe he wasn't all bad.
"One condition."
"??"
"You said 'that's enough playing,' but I haven't creampied you yet."
"????"
"So, sex first. Then I'll grant your wish."
Of course. This fucking misogynistic prick wouldn't let me off easy.
"Ugh... you bastard. Fine... just once... if we fuck, you'll really... give the money? If you lie... we're both dead."
"Don't worry. But it's a mutual promise—if you change your mind, I won't keep mine."
"My mind? What bullshit is that?"
"I mean, after sex with me, if you decide you don't wanna go home, deal's off."
"What?"
This mad bastard. After sex, not wanna go home?? As if.
"Do whatever. Sex with you won't change my mind."
Especially after seeing Mom's tearful face—only thing I wanted was family. Betray Mom's waiting hometown for Kim Hoyoung's side? For sex? Then I'd be a real bitch in heat, not human.