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

Chapter 187

The heated sparring matches, which started with Shia and Alice, had ignited the festival with incredible fervor.

The response was just as fiery. On an otherwise lazy weekend, this sudden surge of adrenaline was nothing short of a dopamine-fueled spectacle. Honestly, if I weren’t involved, I’d probably be sitting back with some popcorn, enjoying the show.

…Too bad my position didn’t allow me to watch it with that kind of ease.

‘I can’t fight like that, though.’

Who am I?

The "Hypnosis Guy." The honorable man who fights with a simple “click” of hypnosis.

Because of that, my real fighting style was surprisingly plain. All that “flashy” stuff people say about me? Honestly, it’s just for show—purely for aesthetics. My actual combat? It’s just me firing hypnosis over and over. Boring to watch? Yeah, probably.

But until now, that hadn’t been an issue.

Who cares if it’s dull? I’m going to beat my mentor. The result will overshadow the process.

‘But that was before everyone’s eyes started sparkling with anticipation. Sigh.’

The cadets were putting on fights so intense it was practically an Awakened version of UFC, just without the blood. The spectacle was incredible.

Naturally, the audience now expected the best fight of all—from the strongest cadet, Seo Yujin.

But if I stepped into the arena and won with a simple “click” of hypnosis?

“Oh, wow. Impressive.”
“Impressive, but boring.”

That’s the kind of reaction I’d get.

When expectations are pushed to the limit, people demand performances that match their heightened anticipation. And I wasn’t going to meet those expectations.

Under these circumstances, confessing to her was out of the question. If I was going to confess, I wanted it to be amidst thunderous applause—a confession worthy of the world’s greatest declaration of love.

‘Sigh… No helping it. Let’s just work my mouth instead.’

Step. Step.
When the final event of the day arrived—my sparring match—I casually strolled toward the audience instead of the arena.

The commentators were flustered. “Wait, where is he going?!”

Thousands of spectators and countless cameras focused on me.

“First, I want to thank you all for gathering here today for the Academy Festival. It seems like everyone’s had a great time….”

I started with a formal address.

After all, I needed to cool down their excitement. Their dopamine levels were through the roof, and nothing does the trick better than a headmaster-style speech.

“Ahem. I digress. Now, only one event remains—the match you’ve all been waiting for: my sparring match.”

After calming them down, I began stoking the flames of excitement once more.

The audience’s attention shifted back to me. Gone was the subtle boredom they tried so hard to hide earlier. Now, their eyes gleamed with genuine curiosity.

‘Perfect. The mood is just right. Time to stir things up.’

I smiled mischievously.

“Many of you have asked: ‘Since you’re a cadet too, will you spar? And if so, who’s your opponent?’ Originally, I was supposed to face Chairwoman Seol Hayeon, but, well… due to the recent terror attack, she, uh, threw her back out in shock.”

The audience erupted in laughter as I coughed, pretending it was a slip of the tongue.

“Oops, that was classified! My apologies.”

First, there was the issue with the Chairwoman.
Feigning a slip of the tongue, I subtly discredited her, though it was all part of my plan.
It was a deliberate move to reassure the crowd by highlighting her safety, amidst all the terror and uncertainty.

And yes, Pyemon, the mastermind of the recent attacks, was in the audience to hear it.

But it didn’t matter. There was no way she’d believe me.

After all, Pyemon had witnessed my and Hypnosis-chan’s spectacular trick show firsthand. Even if I spelled it out for her, she’d probably think:
"No way, she’s already blown to bits."

Even if, by some slim chance, she did believe me, it wouldn’t pose a problem. At most, she’d try to figure out my intentions—quietly, without exposing herself.

In short, no matter what, Pyemon would have to wait patiently until the sparring was over.

“Anyway, it left me with quite the dilemma. Besides Chairwoman Seol Hayeon, there’s no one who can match me. I couldn’t just call Kong for a fight with a day’s notice, and bringing someone from another country? Out of the question.”

Even as Pyemon’s presence remained utterly still, I began laying the groundwork, step by step.
Setting the stage for my sparring opponent.

The audience started murmuring, the speculation buzzing through the air.

“Maybe he’s fighting another professor?”
“No way. At best, they’re A-Class. That’s not a fair match.”
“Then maybe an S-Class Awakened?”
“Impossible. Seol Hayeon’s injured, and Kong’s in Vietnam. There’s no way another S-Class would come to Korea for something like this.”

The murmurs grew louder, their curiosity escalating.

“Wait… could it be?”
“No way. Sure, they’re both S-Class, but the difference in power…”
“Wait, is he serious? Could it actually be—?”

The audience was growing restless.

By process of elimination, only one possibility remained.

The only S-Class currently in Korea who could spar with me—a woman who could plausibly agree to this match.

And yet, the very same person everyone believed would never entertain the idea.

A woman leagues above all other S-Class Awakened.

A being so powerful she was treated as a walking natural disaster. A single human body regarded as the equivalent of a strategic nuclear weapon.

Ninomiya Aika.

“In the end, the only choice was my mentor.”

The crowd’s collective gasp was almost deafening.

Their reaction was only natural.

While the general public might not fully understand, those in the industry knew exactly how absurd this was.

Aika’s strength wasn’t just overwhelming—it was outright nonsensical. Even if every S-Class Awakened banded together, they wouldn’t last a minute against her at full power.

And here I was, her student, challenging her.

"What is this guy thinking? He’s like a squishy rice cake trying to smash itself against a mountain—no, a cliff."

But their disbelief didn’t faze me.

‘I’m not just some rice cake, thank you very much.’

Contrary to their assumptions, I had a chance.

Aika and I both possessed unique EX-Class talents.

If she was the pinnacle of physical combat, I was the apex of mental warfare.

Those familiar with my abilities—like Kong, Seol Hayeon, and Sibylla—had all expressed their confidence in me.

It might have seemed impossible, but I knew this was a fight I could win.

“And so, today, I declare my intention to become the strongest in the world by defeating S-Class Rank 1, Ninomiya Aika.”

The declaration echoed through the air, leaving the audience in stunned silence.

But I didn’t waver.

My gaze shifted, landing on the VIP section—specifically, where Pyemon was hiding.

With a sly grin, I curled one corner of my mouth upward, taunting her.

“Of course, there might be someone stronger than us out there…”

He smirked.
“No, that’s impossible. If someone that strong existed, they would’ve already come forward to fight, wouldn’t they? Instead of hiding in the shadows like a cowardly rat.”

A wide-scale taunt.

Aimed directly at the monster who believed strength was everything—Pyemon.

Her pride was a glaring target, and I was hitting it dead center.

The effect? Undoubtedly perfect.

Right about now, her hands and feet must be trembling with rage.

For Pyemon, chest size—a literal symbol of mana reserves—was synonymous with power.

The reason she hadn’t challenged my mentor yet was that she wanted to ensure an overwhelming victory by amassing enough mana.

But now, a flat-chested guy like me was mocking her?

There was no way this pitiful drum wouldn’t react. No chance at all.

The moment I won, she’d storm out, shouting about “proper discipline” or something equally ridiculous.

And that’s when I’d strike her down, with my mentor by my side.

Unlike the sparring match, this would be a true fight—with dramatic, explosive effects to boot.

‘So, come on. Play along, you pathetic drum.’

Wink.
To seal the deal, I gave a cheeky wink and flicked my tongue.

Pyemon’s presence immediately became unstable.

I couldn’t see her, but I could imagine her somewhere in the shadows, fists clenched and trembling.

“That bratty little boy…”

Well, honestly, at 300 years old, wasn’t everyone a kid to her?

Anyway.

“And so, today’s fight will decide it all. We’ll determine who truly is the strongest in the world.”

ROOOAAAAARRR!!!
Cheers erupted, filling the Academy.

Veteran Awakened from Cheonha, cadets, even my father-in-law—they were all cheering me on.

And then—

The warm, uplifting atmosphere lasted no more than three seconds.

• KRRRRRRACK!!!

“How adorable.”

A bolt of violet lightning tore through the clear sky, followed by a voice resonating with overwhelming power.

The spectators, who had been cheering with their hands cupped around their mouths, froze in place. The sheer strength behind the voice was undeniable.

Even my palms were drenched in cold sweat—it said everything about what we were dealing with.

• Smirk.

“I’m well past the age to be called cute, Master.”

But I didn’t back down.

After my regression, I’d set two clear goals for myself: to prevent the world’s destruction and to reunite with my wives.

And now, the moment to achieve the latter was right in front of me.

I lifted my gaze to the high heavens.

• Hummmm…

“To me, you’ll always be cute. What can I do about that?”
“And to me, Master is even cuter. No, you’re the cutest in the entire world.”
“Hmph, h-hah! Even joking in a situation like this…”
“Does it sound like a joke to you?”
“...Hmph. You’re infuriating.?”

From afar, a figure descended with the sun at their back.

Wrapped in an aura of immense mana, the sight resembled a meteor plummeting to Earth.

But this “meteor” was far too beautiful to be so destructive.

“So… showing up here means you’re giving me permission, right? Permission to spar?”
“How could I ignore you, passionately proclaiming to the world that you wanted to stand with me? Especially in front of millions of people?”
“And the promise you made is still valid, yes? You said that if I won, you’d surrender the title of S-Class Rank 1 to me.”
“Indeed. If you defeat me, everything I have will become yours.”

The bustling academy fell into complete silence.

Only the back-and-forth of my conversation with my mentor echoed, filling the air with a sense of anticipation.

“Then I absolutely must win.”
“It’s been so long since someone’s said that to me. Not since elementary school, at least. After that, whether it was kendo or as an Awakened, it’s been nothing but solitude.”
“You won’t be lonely anymore. I’ll be there above you, in the sky, standing at your side.”
“…Stop making me excited, will you?? If I lose control of my strength, whose fault will that be??”

The violet meteor descended slowly, glowing brilliantly as it approached me.

When the mana finally dissipated, the figure inside emerged.

The strongest in the world. The undisputed pinnacle of all Awakened.

Ninomiya Aika (????).

“Ahem. Well then.”

• Fwoosh.

“Come and take it—the title of strongest. Take everything that is mine.”