Being able to twist soone else’s mind at will was a massive advantage, yet despite that, Im Haekyung had always wanted a material-type skill for quite so ti.
'But why he never plundered one... that’s the real question.'
Either way, that wasn’t what mattered right now.
“But I think you owe an explanation. Why exactly are you trying to drag along?”
“To put it bluntly, I need your Mind Control skill to clear a quest.”
“There aren’t even any living beings there. What do you need mind control for?”
Im Haekyung tilted his head slightly, puzzled. I answered right away.
“Yes. The quest is structured around reaching consensus, but getting every person there to agree one by one is impossible.”
“So... you want to control people’s minds so you can clear it?”
“Yes.”
As expected, Im Haekyung was quick on the uptake. He made a faintly odd expression, then burst into a short, crisp laugh.
“Mm... so what rank is the Gate?”
“B-rank.”
He thought for a mont, then smiled as he asked,
“And the location?”
“The exact spot... you’ll find it if you search.”
At my words, Im Haekyung instinctively pulled out his phone and opened the map app. Wrong move.
“Hold up.”
“Yes?”
I closed out the map for him and went straight into the news tab.
[Gate occupied by illegal guild... strategy unclear]
“...”
“...”
He stared at the article, then looked at with a blank expression. I cut in first.
“I’ll explain the situation.”
“I think I need that.”
“Want the short version or the long version?”
Short would be better — ti was tight.
And sure enough, even with a faintly skeptical expression, he matched my expectation.
“...Short version?”
“I was kidnapped near there today, and that’s where the Gate turned up.”
“No, give the long version.”
His expression hardened. He enunciated every word.
“Who, what, when, where, why, and how. Start at the beginning, give the whole thing with a proper setup and conclusion.”
'So much for that.'
I hesitated over where to start, then opened my mouth.
“Yesterday, on my way to work, five guys suddenly chased —”
“...Keep going.”
After I finished my long-winded explanation, Im Haekyung sat in silence for a while.
“So basically, you’re saying you want us to enter the Gate near the place you were kidnapped?”
“Lucky, right? That Gate just happened to—”
Suddenly, while listening, he turned his gaze toward Do Yehyun.
[ Brainwash (S) is activated. ]
'The hell, is this bastard insane?'
But I couldn’t show it. He turned back to with a soft voice.
“Mm... but I do wonder why you thought I’d need a non-ntal skill.”
“...”
“Was I lacking sohow back in Sokcho?”
I shot a sidelong glance at Do Yehyun. His condition hadn’t changed even after the skill was cast. Well, Brainwash wasn’t the sa as Mind Control — maybe it didn’t show imdiate effects.
'Truly fitting of an S-rank hunter’s personality.'
Without warning, just casually tossing a ntal skill at Do Yehyun.... The oppressive weight that usually ca with Im Haekyung’s skill use was minimal this ti. He must have fine-tuned the target.
I almost laughed at the absurdity, but I held it in. If I asked why he specifically used it on Do Yehyun, I’d be the one answering bombs next.
'Focus on what matters.'
Like whether I could actually get him into that dungeon. I’d tried dangling the skill reward to persuade him, but realistically, I was the one desperate here.
For him, whether he got the reward or not was irrelevant. For , it was everything. Which ant it was ti to use the best move for soone at a disadvantage.
'Beg.'
“I’m F-rank. I’m desperate enough to claw at anything just to snag a skill.”
“So what you’re saying is — both you and I need a skill reward, so we should enter this quest-type dungeon and clear it before the Special Response Team moves in. Preferably right now, to get the jump.”
“Exactly.”
Even though we were the sa height, he deliberately perched on the desk, forcing to look up at him.
“I’m curious about your motives, Jehyun.”
“Is it so strange for an F-rank hunter to want to level up his skills in a dungeon?”
“It is when it’s you. You’re very strange.”
Hearing that from the weirdest man alive left speechless. When I didn’t reply, Im Haekyung smiled with his eyes, then clapped his hands once, sharply, like a scene break.
“But since you said ti is tight, shall we get going? You said it was urgent.”
...Not going to press further? I’d already lined up excuses in case he pushed harder.
He caught my expression, chuckled lightly, grabbed his coat, and headed for the door. Just before stepping out, he glanced back with an unreadable tone.
“But next ti... let’s have a proper conversation, shall we?”
“...Sure. Sounds good.”
I smiled back. So he wanted to help first and interrogate later. Honestly, that was no loss to .
***
We drove down to Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province in Im Haekyung’s car. And by “we drove,” I an I drove.
'Here, take this.'
'What is it?'
'Car keys.'
'...'
'You’ll need them to drive.'
He passed the responsibility off so smoothly it almost sounded natural. But he couldn’t bring another guild mber along, and Do Yehyun didn’t even have a license, so logically, I was the only option.
'Drive carefully, now.'
'Of course. Safety first.'
But with light traffic and ti running short, I opted for very safe speeding. Got caught on cara maybe... three tis?
“Excellent safe driving,” he said softly, mocking as he got out of the car.
Do Yehyun, quiet the whole ti, added as he stepped out,
“That was fun, hyung.”
“....”
Pretty sure he ant it, too.
Near the Gate, a handful of police and Special Response Team hunters were blocking off civilian access.
“Shall we go the cooperative route?”
“Yes. That would be best.”
Calm as ever, Im Haekyung approached and greeted the officers and hunters.
“Hello.”
“Gasp....”
“It’s Im Haekyung...!”
While the Special Response Team gawked, he instantly identified the one in charge. I stood back with Do Yehyun, quietly watching the exchange.
“Yehyun.”
“Yes?”
“You recognize all Infinite Guild mbers by face, right?”
“Not... all of them, no.”
I hoped he wouldn’t panic. As long as he handled it like when we went to their office, that’d be fine.
I put a hand on his shoulder and murmured,
“There are three Infinite Guild mbers inside.”
“...Inside the Gate?”
“Yeah.”
“How do you kno—”
He stopped himself mid-sentence, turned to with wide eyes.
“The guild that kidnapped you... was Infinite Guild?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you tell — No, wait. Why the hell would they? You already paid them back!”
Exactly. Look at this kid — perfectly reasonable. Sothing the Infinite Guild could stand to learn.
“So this... this is because of again, isn’t it?”
“More like because Infinite Guild are scumbags.”
“But still, if it weren’t for , this wouldn’t have happened...!”
True enough. Instead of replying, I whispered in his ear.
“Either way, it’s done. Think priorities. Can you go in there right now?”
“...”
“A B-rank Gate, with an S-rank guild master who could ss with your mind anyti, plus the guild mbers who traumatized you...”
“...”
“It’s a shitshow. But we still have to go in. Can you handle it?”
He bit his lip, glared at , then shoved my arm off his shoulder.
“...I’ll trust you, hyung. I’ll follow you. Always.”
“Really?”
“So just... tell beforehand next ti.”
I held his gaze. No need to test his sincerity — it was written all over him. I answered without hesitation.
“Fine. I’ll give you notice.”
“Promise.”
What was the point of a promise with no binding? But Do Yehyun seed like the type to care about that stuff. If it had been Joo Seowon, he’d have been shoving «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» a Trust Covenant under my nose already. Funny how roommates could be polar opposites.
One obsessed with promises, the other with contracts...
'And this one over here makes you keep your word with mind control.'
Just then, Im Haekyung wrapped up his chat, caught my eyes, and smiled before telling the lead hunter,
“Then I’ll take them in with .”
“Yes, sir! Thank you for your hard work!”
No paperwork? Guess that’s what happens when the Haeseong guild master says so.
Bottom line: I was finally entering the Gate with the two of them.
B-rank Gate [Reverse Space]
Recomnded party size: 6 (6/6)
'Party size fulfilled!'
Right before stepping through, I leaned toward Im Haekyung and spoke quietly.
“By the way, there are already three inside.”
“Three?”
“Yeah. The illegal guild mbers from the article. There was... a bit of a hiccup when we shoved them in.”
“Didn’t you say you were kidnapped?”
“Yeah. I was.”
“...”
I flashed him a bright smile.
“Let’s show so great teamwork!”
Despite my upbeat tone, he just stared at with that inscrutable expression for a long mont.
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