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

Chapter 164

The Saintess had one defining trait: she couldn’t be physically touched.

According to the researchers, it was a "limited physical interaction." Any material would simply pass through her, but she could interact with objects at will.

In simple terms, it was like saying, “I can hit you, but you can’t hit me.”

‘Maybe she can control it to some degree since a few people can touch her.’

For example, the Academy President had managed to pat the Saintess on the head. And now, here I was, tugging at her cheeks.

Thinking of it that way, being able to touch the Saintess wasn’t really an issue. It just meant she allowed it.

- Wiggle wiggle.
**["???" pouts, saying her cheeks are going to stretch if I keep this up.]**
**[Hypno-chan complains, demanding her own cheek-squishing.]**

‘She doesn’t seem to like it, but she isn’t stopping me. Why isn’t she rejecting it?’

But in this moment, I was deliberately tugging on her cheeks to tease her, and she seemed visibly unhappy about it, squirming as if to escape.

…If her powers were the same as usual, she could just phase out like she normally does.

‘If I can physically interact with the Saintess now, does that mean I can do the same with those monsters?’

My expression turned serious. The Saintess’s trait was similar to the characteristics of those creatures—the apocalyptic beasts that would emerge from the EX-grade gate in fifteen years.

And here I was, pulling on the Saintess’s cheek. Did this mean I might be able to harm those monsters, too?

The excitement was hard to contain as I realized I might hold a clue to preventing the apocalypse.

"Hehehe… Could it be thanks to this ‘???’?"

‘???,’ the mysterious restriction on me since my regression.

Each time I kissed one of my wives, another seal lifted, leaving only one last one to break—the one with my mentor. There was a high chance this was the cause.

After all, this was the first time I’d touched the Saintess since kissing Alice. Unlike before, when I’d only kissed Shia, the release of restrictions seemed to have progressed, enabling me to interact with the Saintess now.

- Scratch scratch.

**["???" scolds me for scratching her chin like she’s a dog and insists she's a dragon, not a puppy.]**
**["???" seems to find it oddly pleasant despite herself.]**

‘What even is this “???” anyway?’

I scratched under the Saintess’s chin as I pondered.

“???” had been with me since the beginning of my regression. 

Considering it seemed like a powerful being that allowed me to regress, it hurt like hell but boosted my stats, normalized my once-question-mark-riddled status, and now even let me touch the Saintess.

Who or what could it possibly be to have such amazing powers?

‘Well, it’s good for me, anyway.’

Whatever it was, I wasn’t complaining. If someone’s giving me a gift this good, I’ll gratefully accept. If they ask for it back, I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear.

With a happy heart, I lifted the Saintess up high.

- Whoosh.

‘I guess I’ll join the research team next time. I’ll definitely be helpful…’

**["???" sighs, remarking that I keep choosing pointless things to do.]**
**[Hypno-chan points, exclaiming that the Saintess’s bottom is showing.]**

Three months since my regression, I’d finally gotten my first clue toward resisting an EX-grade gate.

---

After that, my life became incredibly busy.

First, there was the festival preparation. Hosting an event that would attract global attention in just five weeks? I couldn’t let the Academy President do all the work, so I spent most of my free time working alongside her.

"Yu-jin, what about the cooperation request for the Ministry of Land and Transport?"

"I’ve already prepared a draft."

It wasn’t difficult. I had experience in clan management, after all. Even though I’d only assisted Shia as she took over from my father-in-law, this was nothing in comparison.

“Impressive. I didn’t expect it to be this polished for your first time.”

"Well, I’m pretty thorough. Also, I shortlisted three studios for live broadcasting, with costs and special features. Have a look."

"..."

- Mumble mumble.

"It’s you. You’re the one who’s tempting me, you troublemaker. As soon as you finish your freshman year, I’ll bring you in as my replacement…"

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Just a compliment."

Sometimes, the Academy President would give me a strange look, as if suspicious of my competence. But I didn’t mind much. I’d cleared S-grade gates before; handling paperwork wasn’t going to faze me.

"Oh? This week, we have a lot of international patients?"

"Yes. Most of the urgent domestic cases have been taken care of, so starting this week, we’ll be collaborating with the World Health Organization to treat critically ill patients from around the world, chosen by lottery…"

So, inside the Academy, I was kept busy with various tasks, and outside, I was equally occupied.

From preparing medical highlight reels…

"Alright, Awakener Seo Yu-jin. Let’s start data collection. Please proceed with the interaction."

"Sure thing. Come here, Saintess."

- Stretch.

**["???" grumbles about why I keep pulling her cheeks.]**

…to participating in the Saintess research, my life was jam-packed.

I no longer just sent the Saintess to research sessions; I joined in myself. Although my main role was, admittedly, just stretching and pulling at her squishy cheeks.

"Did you gather any useful data?"

"We’ll have to review it, but there haven’t been any major breakthroughs. We might need to change our approach…"

Unlike the festival planning, this research felt rather unproductive. All we’d discovered were things that didn’t help much.

For instance, I could only apply a certain amount of force on the Saintess—enough to tug her cheeks or give her a light tap on the forehead. The only force I could apply was through my hands, and any tools or objects passed right through her.

It was knowledge that would be useless in tackling an EX-grade gate.

‘Well, this will probably be resolved once I kiss my mentor.’

There was no need to rush. For now, all I needed to focus on was beating my mentor and, hopefully, getting a kiss from her afterward.

‘For that, I need to…’

- Ding!

**[Yu-jin, there’s a B-grade gate in Mt. Gyeyang, Incheon.]**

"I’m on my way~."

And so, I diligently tackled every gate that appeared.

Whenever a gate opened, Clan Cheonhwa would secure it, and they’d hold it until I arrived, allowing me to clear it solo.

It led me all over the country, but my stats steadily increased.

A month later, during the Academy’s 14th week, with only a week left before the festival, I’d finally reached the minimum level required to challenge my mentor.

‘Status window.’

- Ding!
=====
**Stats**:
Strength [9.73 (+0.67)]
Agility [9.31 (+0.67)]
Intelligence [5.12 (+1.00)]
Luck [10.0 (+1.00)]
Magic [9.27 (+0.67)]

**Unique Abilities**: 
Perfect Hypnosis (Lv. Max), Apostle of ??? (Lv. ???)

**Current Condition**: Hypnosis, Restriction: ???
=====

‘Wow… Did I really achieve this much in less than six months? My heart feels grand, just like my mentor’s.’

All my hard work flashed before my eyes.

The grind during the first two weeks.
The intense training to build my initial strength.
The life-changing encounter with my mentor, where I gained the “Thousand-Year Elixir.”
The countless gates I’d cleared.

…Looking back, it was incredible. How had I managed all this while still handling other tasks like the hypnosis highlight reels, Saintess research, and festival preparations?

- Clench.

‘It’s amazing, but what’s scarier is that even with these stats, my chances against my mentor are only 50-50.’

Who am I, after all? Even with a power level barely in the C-grade range, I’d managed to hypnotize everyone around me.

Now, with stats approaching my prime, even top Awakeners like Chairman Gong or Sybilla couldn’t hold a candle to me.

But my mentor? Her strength, agility, and magic stats were all maxed out, and her unique traits amplified them further.

Fighting her with my current stats wouldn’t be easy.

If we fought head-to-head, I’d be flattened in three seconds. If my mentor used her full strength, my odds would drop to near zero.

Only if she held back for a few seconds would I stand a 50-50 chance.

The match was anything but certain, which made it all the more daunting.

- Grab.

"Aika, what’s for dinner?"

"…H-Huh?! W-Whatever you’d like."

"Then let’s order in. Sushi sounds good."

- Ding.
**[Activating skill: “Perfect Hypnosis”...]**

Just in case, I attempted a hypnosis suggestion while hugging her.

**[It fails.]**

"If that’s what you want, I’ll make it myself! Just tell me what you’d like, and I’ll go shopping for ingredients!"

"Come on, Aika, there’s no need. Let’s just order in, okay?"

"No! What do you think I took

 all those cooking classes for? Wait, I’ll buy everything I need!"

- Whoosh.

"..."

As expected, it didn’t work. I couldn’t even get her to agree to sushi delivery, let alone use hypnosis to influence the match.

Publicly, the Academy was already abuzz with ads hyping the event. There was no backing out now.

The Chairman and Gong had spread the word that the Pentagon Academy Festival, aka “The Academy Event,” would showcase an unprecedented match between top-tier Awakeners.

The public was thrilled. Would Seo Yu-jin participate? Who would he duel?

Losing wasn’t an option. Losing would be embarrassing, and it would ruin my chances of impressing my mentor.

I clenched my fists, determination burning within.

‘This “???” has to make a difference. I’ll confess to my mentor, kiss her…!!’

- Clench.

‘And then, I’ll confess to all three wives at once, get their blessing for my harem, and… Well, let’s say it, I’ll finally…!’

With unashamedly male desires fueling me, I focused on training to increase my chances of winning.

- Ding.

**[Yu-jin, your katana is ready.]**

"Oh."

Looks like it’s time to train with my new sword. If it’s crafted to my specifications, my odds might just rise to 80%.

---

While Yu-jin kept himself busy, elsewhere…

In a slum in Hong Kong…

**[Pentagon Academy in Korea announces a grand festival event.]**
**[Could S-rank Seo Yu-jin participate in the duel?]**
**[Rumored duel with Ninomiya Aika likely.]**

"Hmm~."

A woman let out a delighted hum as she skimmed the headlines. Despite it being broad daylight, she was dressed in barely anything, yet no one seemed to notice her, as if enchanted.

The woman, Paimon, let a sly smile stretch across her face.

"Not usually into guys with shiny faces, but…"

"Might as well go watch for fun. I was bored anyway."