Reclaim the Earth: Warriors Not Under Hypnosis (6)
On the surface, the world seemed exactly the same as before. Six months had passed since the Shibuya mass masturbation hell, but Kazuha was still enjoying her ordinary college life at Akushu University, and the other Japanese people were living their unchanged daily routines without a single alteration. TV programs, internet news, and the streets showed no difference. If anything, only Sumire seemed to have gone strange.
"Why can't any of you notice! This world right now is a ranch hypnotized by Kim Hoyoung! Everyone... is it okay to become puppets of a man like that!!"
In a basement untouched by human eyes, Sumire was shouting in a frenzy. Just half a year ago, she had lived in an elegant Japanese mansion in Tokyo's priciest neighborhood, but now she was holed up in a cramped three-pyeong underground bunker, the stress piling up beyond measure. Still, it was better than the outside world. Seeing people blissfully unaware of their hypnosis, living their lives all chirp chirp, made her feel like she'd lose her mind too.
Japan had already fallen to Kim Hoyoung. 99.99% of the Japanese were under hypnosis, with zero opposing forces. Politics, the Self-Defense Forces—everything obeyed his commands. Recently, just for kicks, he'd shown up at the National Diet, made every single Diet member do dogeza, and left declaring, "Japan's gotten boring." Yet no one batted an eye or got angry.
"Well... Master Hoyoung can do whatever he wants, right?"
That was the reaction from the overwhelming majority of Japanese, transcending left or right.
Her mother, Himeko, was gathering the unhypnotized and running guerrilla ops from underground, but things weren't looking good. Comrades from just the day before would suddenly turn into Kim Hoyoung fanatics, guns pointed at them—it happened all too often. Himeko was steadily losing her footing in Japan. At least the family's massive wealth was still around, covering their living expenses.
"This won't do, Sumire. It feels like all the samurai with the will to kill Kim Hoyoung have vanished from Japan."
"Then what do we do, Mother? Is great Japan really going to crumble to the likes of Kim Hoyoung?"
"As if. Mom will never give up. Our Great Japanese Empire has always used whatever means necessary, generation after generation. If weapons are short in the homeland, we just procure from abroad."
"Wh-what do you...?"
"Let's gather foreigners to fight Kim Hoyoung. Relocate our base entirely to Korea."
"Why?"
"Because that's his hometown. We'll track down his house, scout his movements, and create an opening for a counterattack."
That's how they bought a building in Seoul, converted the underground parking into a new hideout not far from Kim Hoyoung's place. As Sumire left Japan, she vowed, "The day I return, I'll reclaim the beautiful Japan I know."
She met Scarlett shortly after settling in Seoul. Scarlett was an American who'd entered the tiger's den to kill Kim Hoyoung. Surrounded by rabid worshippers in Japan fawning over him, Sumire felt like she'd encountered a beam of salvation when Scarlett openly declared, "Kim Hoyoung is the worst criminal in human history, and I'll kill that bastard."
"Sister Scarlett. We have to reclaim the world. If we team up, we can definitely take down Kim Hoyoung."
"Damn right! Hey, I'm starving—got any food?"
"I'll cook for you!"
Hanging out with like-minded people, sharing meals, pushing toward the same goal. Sumire finally felt like she'd reclaimed a human life.
Park Jisoo joined next, balancing Scarlett's radicalism with practical input. Around then, they named their unit W.L.K and dove into real plans and mock battles to assassinate Kim Hoyoung—fulfilling days full of purpose.
Training abroad was grueling, but Scarlett's bright energy always reinvigorated the group. She loved talking about the world after killing him.
"What're you all gonna do after we kill Kim Hoyoung?"
"That again? Save the dreams for after we actually kill him."
"Shut it, Park Jisoo. Don't you have any dreams?"
"Hmph."
Sumire loved Scarlett's visions of the future. They painted a hopeful dawn, making her believe peace would return someday.
"I'll go back to college! I don't wanna end up a high school dropout."
"Yeah? I didn't even finish elementary, tsk."
"Oh my. Don't compare my brilliant daughter to you. Our Sumire has to become a politician and lead Japan after me."
"Ambitious as ever, Himeko. You'll run for Diet again, no doubt."
"No... After killing Kim Hoyoung, I'll purge all the brainwashed politicians who've lost Japanese pride and rebirth Japan as a superpower under His Majesty the Emperor."
"So outdated."
Park Jisoo adjusted her glasses and cut in. Himeko gave a faint smile to the Korean woman serving as their staff officer.
"What do you mean by that, Park Jisoo?"
"Emperor this, emperor that. Who wants absolute monarchy in the 21st century?"
"Not absolute monarchy. The Emperor's a symbol—actual governance by others."
"Like shoguns back in the shogunate days? So you'll be the new shogun of Japan, Himeko?"
"...Park Jisoo, you're sharp for a Joseonite, but that bluntness is a flaw. We Japanese don't flaunt desires like you lot. We're far too refined a people."
"Hmph. Say whatever. If we can't kill Kim Hoyoung, it's all hot air."
Unlike nobility-born Himeko, Park Jisoo had clawed her way up through sheer study from dirt-poor parents. Seoul University grad, top scorer on the civil service exam—she was prudent and realistic in all things. She constantly clashed with dreamy optimist Scarlett.
"I... after killing Kim Hoyoung, I'll head back to Hollywood. Make it big as an actress, become a global star, live glamorous and flashy. Then... find a real man to love, build a loving family—not like my trash parents—have kids, live happy. That's my dream."
But Sumire always adored Scarlett. Pure, beautiful, kind... scarred by a tragic past, yet always dreaming of a hopeful future. That's why she could never forgive Kim Hoyoung.
"That trash who crushed Sister Scarlett's dreams and stole her future! I won't let him get away!!"
—The shy Scarlett sharing dreams in memory overlapped with Scarlett impaled on Kim Hoyoung's cock, pledging undying loyalty. Any hesitation or fear in Sumire's heart vanished.
"Wait for me, Kim Hoyoung! I'm coming!"
Sumire didn't flee down her escape route. Instead, she charged straight for the biggest target.
To kill Kim Hoyoung. And to save Sister Scarlett.
Himeko and Park Jisoo had already written off the hypnotized Scarlett—ready to kill her on sight if they met again. But Sumire couldn't abandon her kind big sister. That's why she proposed this reckless solo infiltration.
She only stopped running once she reached Kim Hoyoung's house.
"That's Kim Hoyoung's house... Storm in now? If he's off guard, I could kill him in one shot."
The key to assassinating Kim Hoyoung: kill in one breath. Deny him any chance to counterattack or hypnotize—that was the path to victory.
Ideal scenario: jam a blade into his temple while he slept. But he had family. Probably his most thoroughly brainwashed slaves. Sneaking past them would be tough.
In the end, Sumire opted to enter naturally. No fuss, quiet and meek.
"But how...?"
That's when she spotted a familiar maid-like figure. A face she'd checked countless times in drills. Kim Hoyoung's mother, Kim Hea-e, humming a tune with a market basket as she headed home.
Sumire unconsciously blocked her path.
"Eh...? Who might you be?"
Kim Hea-e greeted her with an utterly innocent, kind, noble-lady face.
Beautiful— That was Sumire's first impression.
But she couldn't let her guard down. This woman was the mother of a vicious hypnotist, blatantly brainwashed by her own son—the ultimate red flag.
Like a proper elite agent, Sumire donned a hypocritical mask and began her performance.
"Hello. You're Kim Hoyoung...-nim's mother, right?"
"Oh my! You know my son?"
Her face lit up instantly at his name, as if just thinking of him was bliss.
"Yes! I'm Kim Hoyoung...-nim's friend."
"Oh my!"
Suddenly, Kim Hea-e dropped to the ground in prostration.
"I've committed the grave sin of failing to recognize my son's friend-nim. My deepest apologies."
"Wha? Ah... um, ma'am? G-get up!"
Prostrating just because she was the son's friend? Sumire couldn't wrap her head around it.
"A friend-nim of my son is naturally far above a mere mother like me. Showing proper respect is only etiquette."
"...Hmm..."
Chills ran down her spine at Kim Hea-e's deferential tone, calling her own son -nim every time. Having a terrifying mother like Himeko, Sumire even pitied her.
"I'm way younger than you, so please treat me casually."
"But I'm just the son's mother. Everyone knows a mother ranks below her son—basic common sense, right?"
Common sense from what world...? Obviously the brainwashed one under Kim Hoyoung. Kim Hea-e was thoroughly his slave.
Sumire steeled herself and decided to exploit this chance encounter.
"Ma'am. Is Hoyoung home right now?"
"Master Son is currently taking his noble nap."
Sleeping...? Jackpot.
"I see? Mind if I come in and wait? But quietly—don't want to wake him."
"...Yes."
Kim Hea-e opened the door with thief-like caution. She couldn't bear committing the sacrilege of disturbing her son's precious sleep.
And just like that, the Japanese virgin plotting the hypnotist's assassination slipped effortlessly into the enemy's lair.
Intent on slaying the sleeping Kim Hoyoung before he knew what hit him—
Wait for me, Sister Scarlett! I'll kill Kim Hoyoung and save you soon!