These Lunatics are Obsessed With Me

As a result, casting my skill on Lee Geun-ho proved to be a good decision. The tide of battle turned in an instant. A long chain danced in his hands; his weapon was a thin, invisible chain that moved on its own without being wielded. Was it controlled by magic? I watched him fight with curiosity.

The chain cut off the centipede's leg, and when the other leg attacked, he blocked it with a shield. He then immediately used the chain to sever the attacking leg. Normally, no matter how all-rounder they are, they couldn't handle both offensive and defensive skills with such precision, but his skill control was amazing.

"Good."

We should be able to hold out until Kang Yoo-hyun and Sung Yoo-bin arrive. Alternatively, we could retreat to the portal as soon as we hear the system notification that the boss monster has been defeated. But before that, I need to deal with Baek Si-hoo.

My mind grew increasingly complicated. Summoning Hae Song-ha and getting help from the animal-type monsters was just a ploy. I didn't know how long those desert fox monsters could hold Baek Si-hoo. He might already be close.

"Hyung."

"Yes?"

Kang Soo-hyun was looking at me when I turned my head at his low voice calling me. He spoke with a serious expression.

"Please cast your auxiliary skill on me."

"Yes, I'll try to stop Baek Si-hoo when he comes."

"…"

Kang Soo-hyun nodded and answered. Seeing him like that, I pondered for a while.

Stopping the Giant Centipede was an urgent matter, and each S-class has its own different basic stats. Besides, Kang Soo-hyun had only recently awakened as an ability user. To be honest, I doubted how long he could hold out even if I cast my auxiliary skill on him.

However, Kang Soo-hyun had always defied expectations. It wasn’t just because he was an important character in the novel. For some reason, I felt he was reliable.

"Alright."

Let's trust him this time as well. With that decision, I grasped Kang Soo-hyun's outstretched hand and tried to activate my auxiliary skill.

"Ugh…!"

"Hyung?"

It felt like a thunderclap had erupted inside my head. The pain was so sharp it seemed like my head might split open. Kang Soo-hyun leaned in, looking surprised as I groaned and lowered my head.

"Hyung, are you okay?"

"Ugh."

I wanted to say I was fine, but only groans escaped when I opened my mouth. I felt like I was going crazy. I had definitely treated the bite wound on my neck with a potion, so why was this happening? As I groaned in pain, Kang Soo-hyun asked cautiously.

"Hyung, how many times have you used your auxiliary skill today?"

"Ugh… About… Four times?"

I answered after thinking for a moment. I had used it on Baek Si-hoo unintentionally, and then on Kang Yoo-hyun, Sung Yoo-bin, and Lee Geun-ho. That makes a total of four times.

“How much MP do you have left?”

“MP…?”

Han Yi Jin's body was in a pitiful state with a level in the low 20s when I first took possession. Since then, it had levelled up significantly. Sharing a reward with Kang Yoo-hyun in the first dungeon gave me a major stats boost. However, I didn’t experience a similar dramatic level up in the Sæ dungeon where I participated as a raid team member. Remembering this, I opened my status window.

Level: 55

Rank: B(??)

Title: Niflheim Conqueror (L), Conqueror of the Oceanic Realm (L)

Stats:

HP: 42

Strength: 31

Agility: 32

Mental Strength: 70

MP: 45

The lower section showed my current readings for remaining health and mana. While my health was at a moderate level, my mana was not. I was taken aback to see how critically depleted my mana had become.

“Huh? My mana…”

"Almost depleted, right?"

“Yes.”

“That’s why…”

Kang Soo-hyun muttered and moved his hand through the air as if searching his inventory. Then he took something out and handed it to me.

“Drink this.”

“Is that… A mana potion?”

“Yes.”

I reached out for the blue potion, which was unlike regular potions. Then I hesitated and suddenly asked.

“If I drink this, what about you?”

Mana potions were relatively rare compared to regular ones. They required advanced crafting skills to produce usable mana potions. Additionally, skills like detection and mental abilities consumed a lot of mana. Unfortunately, Kang Soo-hyun was a hunter with both detection and mental skills.

“I still have plenty.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Hurry up and drink it.”

Relieved, I accepted the mana potion and drank it in one go.

“…Uwaek.”

It tasted horrible—like a blend of various alcohols, sodas, ionised drinks, and energy drinks. I forced myself to swallow it, fighting the urge to vomit.

"Haa…”

Still, the effect was certain. I saw my depleted mana quickly restore through the status window. As I marvelled at the change, Kang Soo-hyun continued speaking seriously.

“Hyung, you need to be more careful next time. Mana is as important as health. Auxiliary skills, like mental skills, consume a lot of mana.”

“Well… You’re right.”

Actually, I hadn't checked it carefully. Now that I think about it, I wonder why I did it. I probably didn’t expect to use my auxiliary skill so many times in one day. Since the skill was embarrassing to use, Kang Yoo-hyun had advised me to limit it to only three people per day last time.

Looking at it now, it seems I can only use my auxiliary skill about four times a day. I could use it more if I took a mana potion, but my mental strength would deplete before then. Fortunately, Han Yi Jin has a high mental strength stat.

It could have been dangerous if I hadn’t been careful. I nearly crossed the Jordan River trying to cast my auxiliary skill. Phew, I sighed and extended my hand again.

"I think I'm okay now."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Even though I said I was fine, Kang Soo-hyun, who wasn’t the owner of this body, looked at me with doubt. Am I really that untrustworthy? It wasn’t pleasant to be doubted by someone younger.

"I said I'm fine!"

I must have used too much force, because my grip on Kang Soo-hyun tightened. His large body wobbled and then toppled toward me.

"Whoa…!"

"Oh…"

Kang Soo-hyun fell and hugged me. Although Han Yi-jin's body wasn’t small, I was completely enveloped by Kang Soo-hyun, who was twice my size. It was somewhat humiliating. Moreover, I couldn’t bear his weight, so I stumbled backward and fell.

"Ugh, ouch…"

"Hyung, are you oka…?"

I was too embarrassed to lift my head. As I looked down and closed my eyes, a strong citrus scent wafted past my nose. Was it Kang Soo-hyun's cologne? I opened my eyes out of curiosity.

"Gasp…"

"…"

Kang Soo-hyun’s face was right in front of mine. I was startled when our eyes met. His light brown eyes were intently gazing at me.

"Hyung."

"Wh-what?"

Maybe because I was flustered, I stuttered. For some reason, Kang Soo-hyun’s eyes appeared darker than usual. He continued speaking in a confidential tone.

"The physical contact… isn’t just limited to holding hands, right?"

"Yes?"

I frowned and tilted my head at Kang Soo-hyun's question. Kang Soo-hyun had learned about my auxiliary skill in detail with Park Yoon-sung and Kang Yoo-hyun on the day of the press conference, so he knew the conditions well. He also knew that the effect increases with the intensity of physical contact.

"That's right, but isn't holding hands enough for now?"

"…"

Kang Soo-hyun narrowed his eyes at my words. I meant that the protagonist and heroine who defeated the boss monster would come soon, so there was no need to unnecessarily raise his stats. However, Kang Soo-hyun's face looked dissatisfied.

"Think about it, Hyung."

"What about?"

"What do you think will happen to us if Yoo-hyun Hyung and Yoo-bin Noona are a bit late?”

"…We'll get annihilated?"

"That's right. Then how should Hyung use your auxiliary skill on me now?"

"…That?"

"Exactly."

Kang Soo-hyun looked at me expectantly. At first glance, he had such a gentle face that he appeared naive. However, I couldn't help but shake my head when I realised he was asking me to increase the intensity of our skinship.

"This… This high schooler is being so bold!"

"What’s the big deal? I’m graduating soon."

"You're not!"

Besides, I couldn’t understand why I was arguing with a man over the level of physical contact. I was suddenly struck by a harsh sense of reality. Kang Soo-hyun clung to me persistently.

“I don't want Hyung to just hold my hand; kiss me too.”

"What… No, how do you even know about that?"

“There’s a way to know everything. Anyway, quickly.”

“Haa…”

I don’t know why everyone wants to do that with me. These crazy guys—are all high-ranked hunters gay? Even if my skill can boost their stats, they seem to be asking for more instead of feeling repulsed. I shook my head in frustration.