The Man with Hypnotic Powers Doesn't Hold Back the Second Time Around

Chapter 109

Gong, the gate raiding specialist, hadn’t expected much from Yu-jin.

After all, Yu-jin’s base stats were only around B-rank. Even if he was exceptional in ways beyond sheer power, Gong hadn’t imagined Yu-jin would manage to be a standout in an S-rank gate.

He’d assigned Ninomiya to support him for this exact reason. With her by his side, Yu-jin would at least have a chance.

---@@@@

[Yu-jin] *"Done! Whew, thanks for all your hard work, Gong."*

[Gong] *"Don’t relax yet. We haven’t even cleared the boss room."*

*Even though I saw this coming, it still feels unreal. Even with a Mana Fuel Rod, how is this even possible?*

Yet again, Yu-jin had pulled off an astonishing feat.

A five-person gate raid. A strategy that sounded insane, suggesting they draw out and fight each monster individually. But they’d done it.

Of course, without Gong’s strategy, Aika’s support, and the combined abilities of Sia and Alice, it would have been impossible. But Yu-jin’s brilliance couldn’t be understated either.

An S-rank gate cleared up to the boss room, with all monsters wiped out in ten hours. Zero injuries, zero casualties. This was an accomplishment only possible because of Yu-jin.

Gong’s eyes glinted with pride.

*Of course, my one and only friend... Only someone like him could match me!*

*Sly grin.*

*Why’s he looking at me all starry-eyed? And why do his eyes look so... soft? Does he want to fight me or something?*

The sight was annoyingly endearing for Gong, but at least the raid was almost complete.

Now, only the final challenge remained: the boss room—the most dangerous part of any gate.

Yu-jin and Gong exchanged a glance.

"Take a break before going in. Get plenty of rest, Yu-jin..."

"You’re going to scout the boss room, right? Let me come with you."

"...Fine. Come along."

The two slipped away from the rest of the group, intending to discuss the boss strategy.

Aika started to follow them.

"Student, let me come with you..."

"Master, please rest. You’ve been exhausted from supporting me. You need to take it easy."

"I’m fine, really."

"I can’t bear to see you pushing yourself like this, Master, my delicate Master."

"Hehe. Well, if you insist, student."

*Satisfied grin.*

*Being treated like a fragile woman is the best... hiding my strength was worth it!*

Content with Yu-jin’s genuine concern, Aika stayed behind, allowing Yu-jin and Gong to talk freely as they strolled through the gate.

They looked like comrades sharing a peaceful conversation, though the topic was anything but.

"...Wait, you saw an alert saying this was an S+++ gate? Just for you?"

"Yeah. I don’t know why, but it might be because of me. A similar thing happened with the A+ gate. Only this time, it’s much worse."

"And you’re only telling me this now, you crazy idiot!?"

The mood wasn’t exactly serene anymore.

Yu-jin averted his gaze.

"I thought I’d get less flak if I told you after carrying the raid... I’m really sorry."

"Ah, you little—!"

*Thwack, thwack.*

Gong’s fists lightly pounded Yu-jin’s back, not hard enough to hurt him, just enough to let out his irritation.

The way he puffed out his cheeks was oddly cute, making Yu-jin wonder if Gong had been assigned the wrong gender. Regardless, the atmosphere lightened.

"Well, since you confessed before we entered the boss room and did carry the team, I’ll let it slide."

"Thank you, Sister Gong."

"Who’s a sister? Anyway, any other unusual details?"

"Well..."

Yu-jin finally relaxed, beginning to explain.

*Should I mention that mysterious mark? Hmm...*

*Ding!*

[Skill ‘Perfect Hypnosis’ waves a “No Go” banner frantically.]

*Guess not.*

Even if he couldn’t reveal the “???” detail, there was one thing he could share.

"Apparently, a transcendent being intervened. It killed the dungeon boss."

"...What?"

The reason he’d decided to confess. At the very least, he had to warn Gong about the lurking threat in the boss room.

Gong’s eyes narrowed.

"A transcendent? Never heard of such a thing. Is it a special type of monster?"

"I don’t know. Some letters showed up in the message, but they were all garbled and unreadable."

"Unreadable letters? What on Earth..."

Even as an experienced S-rank Awakener, Gong had never heard of anything like this.

"Really!? That’s amazing..."

"..."

*How should I tell him?*

But his face remained grim.

The future he saw was only thirty minutes ahead. No one died, but...

Someone was suffering as though they wished they had.

His friend, Yu-jin.

*What could have happened to make him look like that?*

The conditions of this “safe” future were specific: Yu-jin would enter the boss room alone, and after some time, the others

would follow.

When Gong tried it, he saw Yu-jin alone in a wrecked boss room, trembling.

He was pale with terror, gripping his katana so tightly that his hand was bleeding, breathing erratically in panic.

He couldn’t even imagine what Yu-jin must have experienced in those thirty minutes to be so utterly broken.

*And why would it take this much of a toll just to glimpse that future?*

Something was off. Normally, Gong could look a day into the future without issue. A mere thirty minutes shouldn’t have exhausted him so severely.

But now...

"Well, the thing is..." Gong spoke, his voice thick with guilt.

He couldn’t shake the dread he felt about the looming disaster, about sending Yu-jin, a young Awakener, into such unknown peril.

"So, you’re saying I’m just trembling? Not injured or anything?"

"It’s worse than that. The sight was so overwhelming I coughed up blood just by looking at it. Whatever you’ll face..."

"Hey, if I’m not dead, then that’s fine."

Yu-jin’s tone was calm.

He didn’t know what he’d face, but if he’d survive, it would be enough. Even if he got hurt, he could rely on Soo-yeon to heal him.

"And, uh... do I, you know, wet myself?"

"...Yes."

"Well, then I’d better hit the bathroom before we start."

At least he wouldn’t have to worry about that in front of his wives.

Gong finally broke into a smile.

"Does that even matter?"

"For a guy, dignity is a major thing."

"Fair enough."

With the atmosphere lightening, Gong rejoined the other Awakeners.

It was time for the final strategy of this S+++ gate raid. They would attempt the reckless tactic of sending Yu-jin in alone to scout the boss room.

"From now on, Yu-jin will..."

"You’re sending my student in alone? Are you out of your mind?"

"Master, please!! I know he looks delicate, but he’s dependable in situations like this!"

"Let go of me, student! I’ll fold that boy in half before he goes anywhere alone!"

"...Ugh. This is already chaos."

Naturally, the other Awakeners, especially Aika, fiercely opposed the idea.

"If Yu-jin dies, I’ll die with him. Satisfied, Ninomiya?"

"...What?"

"If he gets so much as a scratch, you can beat me up as much as you want. Even turn me into a woman, as you once promised on our trip to Korea."

"Oh."

With a solemn vow, Gong staked his manhood. Yu-jin was touched, the other Awakeners were impressed, and even Aika hesitated.

"You believe in him, thank you. I’ll be back safely."

"Go on. Take care."

And with that, the brave young man headed to the boss room, saluting the Awakeners behind him, facing the unknown without fear.

Trusting in his friend’s word.

*Whatever hardships await...*

*Step.*

*I trust you, Yu-jin. With everything, even my life.*

The final operation of an S+++ gate, a battle on which the lives of two S-rank Awakeners depended, had begun.

---

The moment Yu-jin stepped into the boss room...

"A humanoid monster! You’re beautiful, but I won’t hold ba—"

"Eine solche Schutzbarriere für die Seele zu errichten, zeugt von bemerkenswerter Kunstfertigkeit."

"...Huh? Are you... human? Are you a human?"

*Curious tilt.*

"Ahem. Would you understand me better like this?"

"Wow! You even speak Korean!"

Yu-jin felt a sudden swell of K-pride at the unexpected response.