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

Chapter 176

Seol Hayeon lived through a tumultuous era.

In the 1980s, when Awakened individuals were treated like monsters.  
Without any support, her comrades, who had just awakened, were sent to the battlefield and killed, simply for the reason that they had awakened.  
It was a horrifying time she still sometimes dreams about.

Because of that, she valued her life above all else.  
Even if she was rolling in a pile of dog poop, life was still better than death.  
This wasn’t just a saying.

...But, in an ironic twist, she now cursed her own survival.

- *Shudder.*

‘I should’ve died earlier!’  

The memory of what had just happened flooded Seol Hayeon’s mind.

If she had just said she was going to the bathroom, none of this would’ve happened. Instead, her pride got in the way, and she ended up showing Yujin the most embarrassing thing.  
Because of that, she had allowed the search team to close in.

‘How, how could I have let that happen in front of those young brats…!!!’

In the end, she had peed herself right in front of the search team.  
In front of her much younger subordinates, including Shia, a mere cadet, and Yujin, the successor she had chosen.  
A total of five or six people, all of them witnessed it.

Yujin had cleverly made sure no one noticed, but...  
That didn’t mean it could be erased.  
Even her steely mental fortitude had faltered.  
Tears were welling up in her violet eyes. Full of shame.

‘Damn it, damn it…’  
"......"

[Hypnotic Construct’s eyes are welling up with tears.]  
‘I won’t forget your sacrifice, my partner...’  

If Seol Hayeon had seen Hypnotic Construct, soaking wet in front of her, the self-loathing would have doubled. But anyway...

After what felt like an eternity, those watching the sudden urination resumed their search.  
Talking about roe deer tracks or something.  

The chairman’s mental fortitude had taken quite a hit from the incident.

- *Squeak.*

"...Chairman, that is..."  
"Ugh, hick..."  

A low sob escaped her mouth, one that sounded utterly unbefitting of a legendary Awakened individual.  
It was a sorrowful cry that even Yujin flinched at.  
Her tear-soaked violet eyes turned towards Yujin.

"This, this damn... damn..."

But the scolding didn’t come easily.  
She knew it herself.  
That her pride had led to this moment.  
If she had just said she needed to go to the bathroom, this wouldn’t have happened.  
Instead, she was too ashamed to admit she had to pee. She had to hide it, and this was the result.  

So, the arrows of blame turned back on herself.  
Damn it, old hag, what did you try to save your face for at this age? You could’ve just said it outright.  
You were too embarrassed to say you had to pee and now look at the mess you’ve made.

- *Sigh…*

‘And then, Yujin… What will I do about him now?’  

Her cheeks turned red with excessive shame.  
Even her glare at Yujin showed confusion.  
Honestly, Shia and the other Awakened might be able to calm themselves and forget after a little rest.  
But in front of the successor she had chosen, her humiliation would probably stay with her forever.

And then Yujin...

"Wait, I know you’re angry, but was that really the best option?"  
"...What?"  
"Let’s forgive each other. Let’s forget about what just happened."

Yujin quickly began to smooth things over.  
Interpreting Seol Hayeon’s expression as one of rage, he spoke in a calm voice to persuade her.  
We’ve all seen things we shouldn’t have. You weren’t the only one embarrassed.  
This situation doesn’t need to turn into a fight.  
It will only make things worse.  

"So, let’s just forget about it. I can use my hypnosis to wipe it from our memories."  
"...?"  
"Shia and the search team didn’t see anything, right? So, if we forget, it’ll be like it never happened."  

His second option, the one Yujin had considered when the search team was approaching earlier—memory erasure.

The tempting offer of a fresh start sounded sweet.  
If they both forgot, it would be like the whole incident never happened.

[Hypnotic Construct looks at Yujin with a puzzled expression.]  
‘I’m sorry, Hypnotic Construct. Those who want to live must survive.’  
[Hypnotic Construct’s cheeks puff out like a pufferfish!]  

Of course, it wouldn’t truly be erased, but there was no helping it.  

Seol Hayeon hesitated for a moment.  
Weighing the fear of erasing the memory against the agony of living with it for the rest of her life.  
After some careful deliberation, the conclusion came quickly.

"...Fine, let’s wipe it. Close your eyes."  
"I’ve had them closed already. Also, I’ve put a hypnosis to block my sense of smell."  
"Damn it."

- *Swish.*

A handkerchief popped out from Seol Hayeon’s loose pants.  
She quickly wiped herself off and pulled up her clothes.  
She forced her trembling thighs to hold up as best as they could.

Yujin and Seol Hayeon stood facing each other.

"...Done."  
"Yes. Now, I’ll perform the hypnosis, so don’t resist."  
"Get on with it."  
"Okay."

Yujin’s eyes glowed golden.

"We’ll forget everything that we wish to forget from today."  
"...?"  
"Any memories erased will become non-existent, and we will never recall them. If any discomfort arises, our cognitive abilities will temporarily decrease, and the gaps in the memories will be filled in appropriately."  
"...?"  
"This is all for our own good."

Both of their eyes turned hazy.  
Forgetting the memories. Memories that had to be forgotten.  
While they tried to push away those thoughts.

‘*That thing*, get out of my head...!!!’

For Yujin, it was natural.  
The horrifying thing he had seen earlier, something he couldn’t even describe properly—it was the most unpleasant memory he wished to erase.

‘Ah, Hypnotic Construct. I think I’ll forget the chairman’s urination too. I won’t even remember your sacrifice. You’ll have to make up something plausible for me.’

[Hypnotic Construct nods in a disapproving manner.]  
[It grumbles, saying, ‘If I’d let it go, I was going to have my master do something unpleasant.’]

Yujin couldn’t forget his comrade’s sacrifice, so he’d made sure Hypnotic Construct was covered.  
That’s when the Construct’s heart softened.  
It was happy that its master was thinking of it, and the air in its cheeks went *psssh*.

‘Forget it. Forget that moment in front of them...’

Seol Hayeon, on the other hand, was desperately wishing to forget.  
She wanted to erase the memory of herself getting caught peeing in front of everyone at her age.  
Her desperation soon made it easy for the hypnosis to take hold.

- *Ding!*  
[The skill ‘Perfect Hypnosis’ activates.]

Yujin and Seol Hayeon’s souls were touched by the power.  
It ensured they wouldn’t recall what they didn’t want to remember.  
The compassionate energy wrapped around them and vanished.

Their blurry eyes regained focus.

"...Huh? Chairman? What are we doing here?"  

- *Tilts head.*

Yujin tilted his head in confusion.  
He had forgotten the painful sacrifice of Hypnotic Construct and the horrifying thing he had seen earlier.  
This was a clear demonstration of the terrifying power of hypnosis—its true nature.

"That... that’s..."  
"Anyway, let’s go quickly. Fortunately, we shook off the search team, so it’ll be easier to escape from here."  

- *Lifted.*

"Ah!? Excuse me."  

Yujin casually lifted Seol Hayeon onto his back, acting as if he had been completely unaffected by the earlier catastrophe.

- *Lifted.*  

‘Hypnotic Construct… huh? Why does it feel so damp?’

[Hypnotic Construct smiles, saying it used hypnosis to block the scent.]  
"Yes… my master isn’t to blame... I’ll bear the pain alone," it muttered softly.

The tragic irony of placing Hypnotic Construct on his head, unseen by anyone else, was still a secret to them.  
Nonetheless, Yujin quickly began heading down the mountain, carrying Seol Hayeon on his back, with Hypnotic Construct atop his head.

...Unaware that the chairman’s face was strangely red.

[AAHHHHHHHHH! My eyes....]  
‘Yujin said he’d help me forget, but why does it still feel the same...?’  

The reason her face was red.  
Unlike Yujin, she had a clearer memory of what happened.  
She had forgotten about the urination, but the memory of Yujin screaming when he saw her was still vivid in her

 mind.

So, she accepted the situation like this:  
She had been caught peeing. Yujin, who suggested they erase the memories.  
But only Yujin had forgotten. She was left with her memories intact.

[Forget everything we want to forget about today...]

‘Could it be that I didn’t really want to forget it?’  

This was why her face was red.  
She had cried and wished to forget it, but deep down, she didn’t want to.  
What a complicated mess of feelings she had inside.  

She was so, so embarrassed.

"Chairman, you know? When you’re in the ICU, don’t do anything. You can pretend to be treated, and Soyeon will make sure to block any visitors."  
"Got it..."  
"And should I use the Association President’s name? Can I borrow it?"  
"Go ahead..."  
"Oh, by the way, I overheard the conversation with Pyemon earlier. You were really impressive. I respect you even more now."  
"......Don’t speak to me. No, just stop talking."  
"Eh? Oh, yes."

At this, Yujin thought, *Huh? Is she embarrassed about the tears from earlier?*  
But no one would ever know the truth.

***

Meanwhile, near Incheon Airport.

A brown-skinned girl, her chest so large it seemed ready to burst, was standing proudly.

After a moment of huffing and puffing, she began to fiddle with her horns.
It was a way to calm her anger.

"Damn it. How dare some insignificant creature talk about being a ruler in front of me? How foolish. Powerless justice is so utterly futile."

Fortunately, her rage quickly subsided.
The reason? Seol Hayeon’s explosion.
She was certain of it.

...Though, what she saw was only the precursor to the explosion.
Seol Hayeon wasn’t dead. She was currently being carried by Yujin, undergoing some mysterious, humiliating ordeal.
But that was something Pyemon would never know.

Pyemon’s eyes gleamed.

• Swoosh.

"Strength is everything. The overwhelming magic of my master will prove him by burning this world to the ground."

The source of her strength. The symbol of the magical power she had accumulated over decades.
She lifted her chest, reaffirming to herself that she was the truth.

"Well, anyway. The most troublesome one has been dealt with, so shall we enjoy the rest at a leisurely pace?"

Meanwhile, back with Yujin and Seol Hayeon:

"Yujin? Could it be...?"
"On the chairman’s orders, I’m temporarily taking over as the head of the association this weekend."
"No, but even so, with everything that’s happened, how can you still proceed with the academy’s event?"
"That’s right. Foreign media are all raising concerns…"
"It’s fine."

• Grin.

"No matter how strong they are, we are stronger."