“No way! They’re people you don’t even really know! And you don’t trust others that easily, oppa!”
As Park Ha-yul said, I didn’t trust people easily. Rather, I was cautious. Otherwise, I’d never know when or where I’d get stabbed in the back.
“I’ve been through a lot. Many have insulted without knowing , lots have approached with dark intentions. Not just before my Reset but even now, I’m sure there are still so. That’s why I’m still sotis afraid to step into the spotlight.”
Right after the Reset, without my Fear Resistance Skill, I couldn’t even leave ho, let alone appear on broadcasts. I’d been burned badly—sothing I’ll never forget.
“There was that bastard Cho Hwawoon who kidnapped and broke my leg, and there are idiots like you who helped him and put through this. So it wouldn’t be strange if I hated people, but still, I like those who like .”
I turned my head and t everyone’s gaze.
“Think about it. Why should I shrink away just because of a few dog-like bastards? I’ve done nothing wrong.”
The scars remained and might never fully heal, but I refused to let that stop . Out of principle alone. If I cowered, wouldn’t that be cheering for those who hate ?
“So I will still like people, and, you know—”
A smile ford unbidden.
“There’s no choice but to like those here, right? Even if it’s a dream, even if they think it’s safe. They ca here to help others.”
Whatever their reasons, they ca. They stepped up to lend a hand. These people joined forces, held hands to achieve sothing together—not only here but since the Breeding Grounds. And I know the hearts of ordinary people mixed in with them. I too wanted to be that person. All the more reason.
“I like you. Thank you.”
How could I not feel affection at that sight? It was everyone’s dream but also my dream and my wish.
“So, Park Ha-yul, you can’t lay a finger on anyone.”
Anyone who ca here to help us. Park Ha-yul gave a hollow laugh.
“Really, oppa... you’re amazing. You planned this whole thing when you made the contracts, didn’t you? But you didn’t include yourself among “anyone.””
I saw Yuhyun’s shoulders twitch. Ye-rim and Hyun-ah wore tense expressions. Behind them, Manager Song’s face had stiffened.
“Don’t do anything rash!”
I shouted at my companions. If they made an attack-like move, we’d lose our chance. As long as Ha-yul didn’t strike first, he couldn’t harm anyone. So—
Bang!
“Ack!”
A gunshot rang out. A bullet grazed Ha-yul’s ear. No wound, but his ear reddened as if struck. He clutched it, pained. Everyone’s gaze swung toward the gunshot. On top of a military vehicle, a soldier tossed down his rifle.
“It was a mistake! You said you’d allow one strike anyway!”
I raised both hands overhead to show I wouldn’t do anything. Ha-yul grinned at the soldier.
“You—!”
“Seems so.”
Bang! Another loud shot. This ti, Ha-yul deflected the bullet. The shooter dropped his gun and raised both hands.
“I’m falling back!”
One more person unable to attack Ha-yul. But only one. Countless eyes regained their glint and fixed on Ha-yul. Each tightened their grip on their weapon. Even foreigners who didn’t understand Korean received instructions with gestures. So fluent interpreters stepped in.
“ too!”
A robust shout. Sisiō, clad in thick armor and helt, charged like an enraged bear. Closing the distance in an instant, Ha-yul stumbled back to block.
“If you hurt him, it’s contract breach!”
I yelled. Ha-yul hesitated, and Sisiō ramd him with his whole body.
“I love you! May you live long!”
...Soone teach Sisiō proper Korean. Ha-yul was sent flying. Sisiō dashed toward , but Ha-yul teleported in front of faster, wearing an annoyed look. He motioned for Sisiō to go back.
“Ugh, what a ss!”
“Get lost, Demon King!”
A voice shouted. Ha-yul caught a rock hurled at him. He tried to swat away another—but—
Crack!
“What the—!”
An egg. The ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) white and yolk dripped everywhere. It wouldn’t hurt, but it felt disgusting.
“Hey, don’t be mad. You only get one hit each anyway.”
I said with a smile. Even Hyun-ah, standing back, relaxed slightly and spoke up.
“Like oppa said, just one hit each. If ten million hits are needed, fine. Whoever strikes oppa, get back in a car and report here. Beyond a certain distance, you can wake up.”
So are bad at lucid dreaming, kids, or people who don’t want to intervene, so count low—maybe thirty million if unlucky. Guinness record fodder.
“Return oppa.”
Yuhyun drew his sword. Ye-rim clenched a baseball bat with both hands. A residence-quarter Hunter handed Manager Song a three-section staff. A Sesung Guild mber, after hesitation, offered a golf club to Seong Hyun-jae.
“Speak nicely, old man, hand him over!”
Even if they all sward, they couldn’t hurt Ha-yul. But he too was powerless: he could no longer control or threaten them. As long as the system held, I could run.
“...Annoying.”
Ha-yul muttered.
– Grrrrrr.
The dragon, previously held back, began to move. Wait!
“Hey! That’s contract breach!”
“I’m not controlling the dragon. I released it.”
...Damn. This bastard knew how to be sly. The dragon thundered forward, placing a massive forefoot before the crowd. Even without orders, it snarled at those who seed weaker instinctively. Hyun-ah leapt ahead of Yuhyun and Ye-rim, shouting for them to dodge. Yuhyun hoisted Ye-rim onto Peace’s back. Flas gathered in the dragon’s throat. The residence-quarter and Sesung Hunters raised shields to protect Manager Song and Seong Hyun-jae.
Kwaaah—
The unpredictable breath superheated the air and shot forth. The sudden glare and heat made clamp my eyes shut. Please, not toward the kids.....
“Do I have no presence at all?”
A light voice. I opened my eyes. The suspended flas looped and fizzled out. Before stood a familiar yet strange face—the Puppeteer. He lowered his raised hand. His sleeve slid down to cover half his hand.
“With my full power, facing the ruler of this world would be tough, but handling lizards on a platter is easy.”
– Krk!
“Shh.”
The dragon, attempting another attack, gagged and staggered back. The Puppeteer turned to .
“Then say you like too.”
“...Well, looking at that face... um, Puppeteer, I like you.”
My eyelids ward. I must have a red spot. I’d eased up on myself more than before, but publicly declaring “I like you!” to soone who looked just like ? It’s... intimate. Self-love is important and fine, but unless you’re Seong Hyun-jae, you won’t say that easily.
“This is my dream. My dream, so why—”
Ha-yul muttered. Then he hoisted up.
“But oppa, I’m the strongest. Better to bring you sowhere no one can find and slowly persuade you.”
“Wait—!”
Ha-yul shot upward, carrying .
“Oppa!”
Yuhyun’s cry echoed then vanished. An unfamiliar location unfolded. Ha-yul landed in a forest.
“There are satellite caras, it’s annoying. This ti I’ll build it so you’re less visible.”
He said as he conjured a sizable mansion clinging to a cliff. Carrying under his arm, he entered the house.
“I really don’t get it, you know?”
“...Neither do I.”
Why is this crazy bastard doing this to ? Ha-yul climbed stairs and set on a bed. My legs still felt numb. He stared at sullenly.
“Why did you change, oppa?”
“Change? How have I changed?”
“You used to like .”
...What? I was stunned into silence.
“When I first saw you, I fell for you.”
“No, you didn’t!”
“At the broadcast station, you studied intently and smiled. You looked so closely.”
Well, my face was good enough, and my skills and stats high.
“And you replied to my ssages. You ignored everyone else!”
...Because I’m A-rank.
“And you ca alone to rescue even though it was dangerous. I totally fell for you then. There are many S-ranks and celebrities around you, yet you ca to .”
Park Ha-yul’s eyes sparkled, as if lost in a dream.
“You saved and shared your secret. A secret you didn’t tell Guildmaster Hae-yeon, the one you cherish most!”
“That’s......”
“You were very special to , oppa!”
Hearing it, I understood the misunderstanding. But still—was saving soone dangerous wrong? You can’t save people unreservedly? After a good deed, the return is... this?
“But suddenly you changed.”
Ha-yul’s expression snapped.
“Anyway, it’s fine. Now oppa will only be with .”
“...Why do you insist on keeping like this?”
“Because I love you. And... uh, I guess I have to? Now, oppa!”
Clap— I heard a hand clap, then darkness swallowed my vision. I felt breath stop.
“If you make unable to do anything, even with the system, I can’t escape, right?”
“Wait—.”
My body trembled. Rough breaths escaped. I recalled the mont after system disconnect, when I lost all sensation. It was terrifying.
“Do you even know what you’re doing—”
“Neither can I move my hands.”
Sensation vanished from my arms too. Ha-yul, unsure what to do, laid on the bed. My heart pounded. I had to act.
“...Myeong-woo!”
“Why suddenly Hunter Myeong-woo? He’s not Guildmaster Hae-yeon.”
“Um, Mana Engraving.”
It’s been more than a day—he might reconnect here. Myeong-woo, please.
“Should I block your voice too?”
“Don’t, please!”
“Wow, oppa’s whining. Scared when you can’t move?”
Myeong-woo once helped use my skills. He could remove a Mana Engraving. The system ssage window was invisible, but mana flow along my spine soon glowed. I inhaled, intensifying awareness of my mana circuits. Even my paralyzed limbs carried my mana. And I sensed external mana.
I felt them slowly. Though thin, I began to perceive the outlines of surrounding objects. Ha-yul’s form appeared faintly. That gave life—but I breathed even more urgently.
“You, trying to make dependent like this!”
“Huh? How so?”
“If I can’t do anything alone... I’d have to rely on you!”
“Oh, I see. You want to rely on , oppa?”
“No! ...Stay here.”
I spoke in a trembling voice. Ha-yul blinked. Catch my aning, damn it.
“Stay here, okay?”
“If I disappear, if I feel all alone... you’ll co find .”
It was blunt, but perhaps he’d understand now. Ha-yul tilted his head, “Oh, is that so?”
“A little push-and-pull, huh? Then I’ll stay alone for a bit.”
“......”
“About an hour?”
“Fine, go. An hour’s nothing.”
“Then half a day?”
“...Anyway, I can sense your mana.”
“Really? I’m F-rank but sensitive. I’ll clear out my influence and stay alone for half a day. It’ll take ti to find —this planet’s big.”
He said, “I’ll plant briars outside,” and stepped back. Though his face was fearful, his lips were sealed. I heard a door open and close. I exhaled, focused on my limbs’ mana, and slowly revived my senses. Having endured this before, it wasn’t hard.
‘How do I get out?’
[Well done.]
A ssage window suddenly appeared. It didn’t feel like Myeong-woo’s style, and the system font looked different. A tiny mouse scuttled onto the bed.
[Everyone’s safe.]
“Mouse—”
[Shh. You send ssages to too. It’s not hard.]
Even if it’s “not hard,” mana’s thin and it’s a ss. I struggled to mimic a system ssage.
[Who are you]
[This is a dream I control. You dread of a little mouse, gave that dream, and beca my puppet.]
[Ohhh really?]
[Write properly.]
It’s easier. Crafting letters is tough. The mouse spun in place.
[Ohhh so you control ]
[You’re dropping honorifics?]
It’s hard to use formal speech, okay? And the typos.
[Ohhh... I thought “Ohhh really”]
[Both. I’m a puppet and I can control myself—so I’m a puppeteer and a puppet.]
I see—a dual aning.
[Your brother’s held by Moon Hyun-ah and Park Ye-rim. You’re mine and I know your location, but calm down.]
That was a relief—I worried most about Yuhyun.
[You need to get out. Co this way.]
The mouse scurried off the bed toward the window. A sizable hole had been gnawed in the fra.
[I chewed it well. Here.]
[I’ll slip through with my fist then]
The window was firmly locked with bars. Even if I squeezed through, the briars blocked the way. The mouse stood upright and looked up at .
[Transform into Delouse.]
[No item equipped]
A young Delouse could slip through that hole and the briars, but couldn’t open inventory or use items effectively. The mouse waved its front paw.
[You used bound items on it several tis. You’re used to it. Now your mana sense is maximized. Your body’s mana you can control at will—that’s the basis of your transformation skill. Turning into a common kitten is no problem. I’ll support your lacking mana and skills. Cast the Teacher skill on the mouse.]
[Grade restriction]
[I’m a mouse now.]
True—below F-rank, I could use the Teacher skill. I cast Teacher on the mouse. Following its instruction, I recalled the Delouse transformation skill and painfully followed the mana flow where it had been applied. After fumbling and wandering, my viewpoint dropped sharply.
[Go.]
I followed behind the mouse and stepped forward.
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