Chapter 1009: You Reap What You Sow (16)
‘This is bad. This is really bad.’
My advancement to Doom Doom was pretty shocking, but it was a calculated move.
Actually, it would be better to say that I had no other choice.
The allied forces had gotten weaker because of Templar Genny's death.
If Bahamut absorbed Genny’s power like what he had done to the bull, we'd find ourselves in the worst-case scenario.
I took only a sip, but I had absorbed every particle of power and negative energy from that blood. Bahamut had a high resistance against Kim Hyun-Sung, so it made sense for me to absorb and use this power myself.
It was difficult to combine light and darkness, but…
‘But I have a link called the Regressor Instruction Manual.’
I even thought about making Kim Hyun-Sung use this negative energy.
I prepared a script that would allow the Plaguelord and Kim Hyun-Sung to reunite and join hands.‘This is the only time I’ll lend you my strength, and I'm the one who's going to kill you, or is that all you got?’
I had those words in mind, but that plan fell through.
‘His character changed too much.’
I never imagined that he’d change to that extent.
I looked around and saw people frozen in place.
The unexpected turn of events caused the battle to stop as if time had frozen.
It was strange to see Bahamut stare at me in a daze, but it was a natural reaction.
A transcendent mythical being had just appeared, so it was natural for him to be wary of me. He was so wary that his mane stood up.
Light Ki-Young had just become his second problem, and My presence alone was enough to make him nervous.
‘It’s actually better this way.’
I had yet to completely assess the situation.
I told myself that I needed to take action, but my feet wouldn’t move. Instead, I flew about one meter off the ground.
‘So I can levitate…’
I couldn’t really move fast, but it was enough to set the mood.
I didn’t even need to flap my snake wings.
I moved forward slowly to show off and create a heavy atmosphere.
My movement felt foreign and strange.
I raised my hands slowly, but it didn’t mean anything. I was just trying to show off.
And that was when I heard Kim Hyun-Sung’s voice.
“N-No…!”
“...”
“No… no…” Kim Hyun-Sung muttered. He was crying. “No… Heuk… This is…”
The PTSD that he had sustained from the Plaguelord incident was triggered. The thought of that alone was enough to awaken him from a deep sleep. I was acting as if I was telling him, “It’s fine now. I’m tired.” �
I was acting like I was on the verge of giving up on life.
“Ah… ahh… ah…
” Kim Hyun-Sung stammered.Jung Ha-Yan stared at me, and her unsteady gaze made it seem like she was up to something. Her face was flushed red, and her nose was bleeding.
Judging from the fact that her nose was bleeding so much to the point I could hear it dripping, it seemed like my passive skill, which was a special ability that affected the minds of those around me, truly suited me as the Monarch of Lust and Eternal Sleep.
“Ah… ack… ack… Huh? Uh?” Jung Ha-Yan finally realized that her nose was bleeding.
She placed both her hands on her nose, but it wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding. Her hands and face were covered in blood, and it seemed like I was seeing more whites in her eyes.
She was trembling, and it felt like she was going to be a threat to me at any moment. I was kind of scared because I had no way of knowing what she was thinking right now.
“O-O-Oppa… Oppa…” Jung Ha-Yan stuttered.
‘Based on her reaction, I must be strong.’
“I think… this is going to be difficult, no, it’s going to be difficult,” Cha Hee-Ra mumbled.
Cha Hee-Ra didn’t react the same way Jung Ha-Yan did, but the blood dripping down her lips told me that she was using her superhuman willpower to withstand my passive skill.
“Physically… and mentally… I’m exhausted…” Cha Hee-Ra said.
'No, you’re not at your limit, noona. Endure it.'
“I don’t like doing this… but I think it’s best if I sit this one out,” Cha Hee-Ra remarked.
'Yeah, you should do that.'
Cha Hee-Ra was worried about losing her sanity.
My passive seemed to be extremely effective on the opposite sex. I had yet to look into it, so I was not exactly sure, but it was really effective against members of the opposite sex, especially when they were weaker than me.
Perhaps it could affect animals and monsters as well.
The crux of the matter here was one's Resistance stat. Resistance was going to determine whether one could withstand a certain mind-type skill or not, after all.
‘What should I do? How do I solve this?’
“Kim Hyun-Sung, what kind of condition… is my darling in?” Cha Hee-Ra asked.
“...”
“Get ahold of yourself, you bastard. You really want to die here?” Cha Hee-Ra questioned.
“I don’t… I don’t feel anything. Nothing…” Kim Hyun-Sung replied.
My burning anger was gone and was replaced by indifference.
Just like the Doom Ki-Young incident, the plan was to show a new personality after awakening, which was why my first words were important. The people before me were wary of Bahamut, but they were wary of me as well.
Actually, they seemed more wary of me than Bahamut.
[Creating an Average-rank Forced Quest.]
[Noona, take Ha-Yan and get away from here. (0/1)]
[An Average-rank quest has been delivered to Cha Hee-Ra. No quest rewards were declared, so Cha Hee-Ra will not receive a reward.]
She replied immediately.
[Creating an Epic-rank Forced Quest.]
[Shit… I was wondering what was going on… I’m glad. But don’t talk to me telepathically next time, darling. Unless you want to be in danger. (0/1)]
With that, Cha Hee-Ra grabbed Jung Ha-Yan and disappeared from my sight. I got a bit scared when I saw Jung Ha-Yan staring at me while getting dragged away. Fortunately, she did not do anything drastic, so I was relieved.
It felt like it was time to turn around and start talking.
“M-Mr. Ki-Young,” Kim Hyun-Sung muttered.
“...”
“Are you… okay?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.
[Please come here.]
My voice seemed to have changed. I was embarrassed to say this, but I sounded so wicked that it felt exaggerated. I spoke softly, but my voice filled the entire cavern.
“Just now…”
[I think I know what you’re afraid of. I’m still the same person you’re thinking about. Please… come here.]
“...”
[Don’t be afraid… Ah… Come here. Please… Please come here~ Mr. Hyun-Sung.]
I said it like a siren luring sailors into the sea. It was like I was singing to him to come here.
Kim Hyun-Sung walked slowly toward me. I told him through the Regressor Instruction Manual that I had no intention of harming him. I also added the fact that I was the same Lee Ki-Young.
I thought it'd be best to help him out a little so he could make the choice on his own.
My personality had changed slightly, but this version of me remembered every memory we shared, and I made sure to recall those memories. Those scenes were probably being sent to Kim Hyun-Sung right now.
I was telling him that I remembered everything, including our famous lines.
‘Mind attack!’
The way I looked made it look like I was attempting to attack him mentally, but that was what I was actually aiming for because Kim Hyun-Sung looked like he wasn’t in the condition to fight right now. Actually, it'd be better to exclude other emotions.
Of course, Kim Hyun-Sung definitely found me strange.
Anyone would think that way.
Just before this, I took out my anger on him, but now, I was telling him to get closer to me, so he’d be an idiot if he didn't find this strange. Despite that, he was still moving toward me.
I was angry at him earlier, and he had no choice but to accept it.
Perhaps he was probably feeling puzzled right now, but I could not say for sure, as I was having a hard time reading his emotions.
He was feeling a range of emotions, such as regret, anger, despair, and confusion. He was also questioning how we ended up in this situation.
I thought he had gotten a little stronger mentally, but the wall he built slowly up until now was getting destroyed really fast, as if it were getting hit by a battering ram. The only wall he had left was the comfort of knowing that I remembered him.
‘At least he feels better than the Doom Ki-Young incident.’
“Mr. Ki-Young…” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.
[Yes… I’m that Lee Ki-Young.]
Of course, I didn’t forget to tap into his mind using the Regressor Instruction Manual.
I slowly broke down walls of useless emotions such as caution and discomfort. Actually, I had to leave those alone, as those emotions were the foundation of my work here.
With each step he took, Kim Hyun-Sung became more and more confused.
‘But there’s less emotion I need to exclude than I thought…’
It was probably because of the brand-new attribute that I had just obtained.
I hadn't done anything to him yet, but Kim Hyun-Sung was walking toward me as if he were sleepwalking. To others, he seemed like he was crawling into a trap of his own will.
Actually, he was crawling into a trap.
“Mr. Ki-Young… Are you… Are you okay?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.
It was like he was under a spell or was half-asleep.
Actually, he was under a spell, but this was more systematic and complex than a mere spell.
[Yes, I’m… fine.]
“I-I’m… I’m glad,” he said.
I could see him feeling relieved with his eyes half open.
“I’m really glad. I’m… I’m really… Heuk… glad that you’re okay,” Kim Hyun-Sung cried.
'You’re crying again? You’re always crying. You’re such a crybaby.'
[Mr. Hyun-Sung.]
‘Why is your mind so weak?’
I knew I had the Regressor Instruction Manual, but it felt like it was over in thirty seconds. I really had to create items or artifacts tailored for him. If an enemy capable of attacking minds were to appear, things would quickly become disastrous.
[You see…]
“Yes?” Kim Hyun-Sung answered.
[T-That’s… really scary.]
“W-What? Afraid… What…”
[That monster over there. I-I’m really scared of it.]
“Ah… I see. I-I’ll… take care of it,” Kim Hyun-Sung offered.
[Can I help you?]
“What? That’s…”
[I want to help as well.]
“I-I see. If that's what you want… but you have to be safe…” Kim Hyun-Sung said.
First of all, I had to be on the same level as him.
I knew that Kim Hyun-Sung could wield his holy power.
I wasn’t sure how he learned it, but he sent me a quest once.
I combined my negative energy with his holy power. The white and black energies took form, transforming into a giant white skeleton that resembled the Red Goddess of War.
My power alone wasn’t enough to do anything against Bahamut, but it was a different story with Hyun-Sung's help.
[Would you please follow me?]
“S-Sure!” Kim Hyun-Sung answered enthusiastically. He knew what I wanted. If I pointed in a certain direction, he'd immediately head that way.
[You’re doing… well. Yes, just like that.]
“T-Thank you,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.
‘It’s kind of hard.’
Of course, it was difficult, but our souls were connected, so there wasn't any internal strife. The moment Kim Hyun-Sung turned around, the giant created with both holy power and negative power turned around and drew its sword.
Boom.
[I think it would be better… if you clean it up…]
“As you wish… Mr. Ki-Young,” Kim Hyun-Sung answered.
[For me.]
“Yes… for…” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.
The giant of sunset and white darkness swung its sword.
The arm of friendly villain Bahamut fell to the ground.
“...”
[...]
‘...’
"Roaaaaaaaaaaaar!"
‘Why is it so strong?’
I couldn’t believe it.