POSSESSED 16

It was Lee Sunghwan, an A-Rank hunter from the Jeoksang Guild, which had a terrible reputation. Baek Joomyeong knew of him not because he was the Vice Guild Leader, but because they had once fought in a Gate battle together back when he was a member of Psychokinesis Team 1.

Lee Sunghwan, who was directly aligned with the Jeoksang Guild Leader, was famous even among hunters for his poor character. No matter where he went, he established a hierarchy and caused discord. The biggest problem was that he did not hesitate to use violence whenever something didn’t go his way.

Baek Joomyeong narrowed his eyes.

Of all the people he could meet, why was he meeting someone like that?

It was just a personal hunch; he couldn’t jump to conclusions. Thus, Baek Joomyeong decided he would have to ask if they met tomorrow, his blue eyes sinking with a strange intensity.

I should have realized it when I felt that odd sense of deja vu upon seeing the identification tag marked “Jeoksang Guild,” but I stupidly brushed it off as just feeling familiar. I had focused only on the fact that Lee Sunghwan was a hunter.

Looking at it now, the fact that this man was a hunter working under someone specific was more important. To think he’d be a lackey under Kim Gitak, the very first villain.

Is Kim Gitak already planning to make a move?

As far as I knew, the time hadn’t come yet. Kim Gitak was a villain who stretched out his demonic reach shortly after Lee Kangseoo made his appearance. In order to put Baek Joomyeong in a crisis, he placed Lee Kangseoo in danger.

“…”

I stared precariously at the man, who was dazed and had lost his senses.

What was Jang Taeyeon thinking? Did he approach them purely with the intention of extorting money?

Then again, from what I read in the book, a scene where Jang Taeyeon and the Jeoksang Guild meet never appeared. There wasn’t even a description stating he was involved with Kim Gitak. If that’s the case, it could be a coincidence. The coincidence of looking for a target to scam, only for it to be the Jeoksang Guild. Added to that was the act of ignoring Baek Joomyeong’s grudge despite knowing about it.

Whatever the case, the inner thoughts of the original Jang Taeyeon are no longer important. What matters is my heart, which doesn’t want to commit evil acts, and my will to live peacefully. I do not want to help them. This feeling was firm and upright, without a hint of swaying.

“Erase Jang Taeyeon from your mind.”

I attempted to manipulate his memory before sending the man away. By making him forget my existence. Even if he happened to think of me, he wouldn’t remember who I was, but would just move on, thinking that the business with me had been concluded well.

And although it was a hassle, I decided to return the money in cash, just as I had received it. He likely intended not to leave any financial records. I planned to go along with this. I planned to leave the money—bag and all—in a storage locker at Seoul Station after 8:00 PM and wait; once he arrived, I would tell him the location and the password.

“One more thing. You won’t recognize Baek Joomyeong even if you see his face. Every time you hear his name, you won’t be able to understand it.”

Making him forget altogether might be a stretch, but it should be fine to cause this much minor confusion.

“Now, leave without looking back.”

Lee Sunghwan left in a flash. He didn’t stop, like someone who would never return.

I didn’t let my guard down even as I watched his receding figure. Worried that if I wavered, my ability might break, I watched the man with a racing heart; only when he had completely disappeared did I feel relieved and collapsed right there.

I know that a person under mind control only acts soul-less like that in front of the person who activated the ability, while acting perfectly normal in front of others. Therefore, no one will be able to suspect him easily.

I don’t know how many days it will last, but for now, I’ve bought some time.

“Haah…!”

I cradled my head with both hands and let out a pained groan. Again, it’s happening again. The pain of my eyes burning and my head being prodded began.

Do I have to go through this kind of pain every time I use my ability? Did Jang Taeyeon hurt like this too? I don’t recall any memories of him being in pain. Is it because I’m a possessor?

As soon as the pain subsided, I barely managed to hold onto my consciousness. I put strength into my trembling arms and pushed up my upper body.

“Haah…. Look at my situation….”

There was no need to stay on the dirty asphalt floor with my home right in front of me. However, my body wouldn’t move the way my heart wanted. It was because the tension was releasing, draining my energy, and the pain from the places where the man had kicked my body was growing.

Earlier, I’d asked if he thought it was over after hitting me just this much. It was plenty. If I’d been hit any more, it would have been a disaster. Even now, not only does my body feel as heavy as if it were wrapped in lead, but it also feels stiff and achy with even the slightest movement.

I managed to get into the house somehow, but I couldn’t even make it to the bed and collapsed right at the shoe rack. As soon as the thought that I was finally safe hit me, the strength simply drained from my legs.

“Agh, ugh…”

Using mana really consumes a massive amount of energy. Especially the mental exhaustion—it’s too much.

🍥

The second a loud alarm went off, I reflexively jolted my upper body up. Then, a half-beat late, I frowned at the throbbing in my head and the stiff ache in my lower back as I looked around.

Ah. I collapsed here yesterday.

I barely managed to raise my body, which felt even heavier than yesterday. I waddled inside and started taking off my clothes, but decided I simply couldn’t do it, stopped midway, and just stretched out. This time, I successfully landed on the bed.

“I can’t go…. I can’t go to work today….”

I can’t go even if I die. No way.

They say the day after is always more painful than the actual event. My current state was exactly like that. My beaten body hurt more than yesterday, and I couldn’t even lie down comfortably. A sense of tension lingered throughout, making me uncomfortable.

Even just lying down is a struggle—how much could I possibly do standing and moving around?

However, I was me. I forced myself up and went to work. Showing a diligent and sincere attitude for the sake of the growing children. It was my own sense of duty, and I couldn’t abandon it.

I did my best to greet the children nonchalantly. Since my face didn’t have a single scratch on it anyway, no one could tell as long as I pretended to be fine. Although some bruising had formed around my ribs, as long as no one pried and looked, there was no way I’d be caught.

“Seoyun, hello. Taeseo, hello to you too.”

I greeted the children who arrived by the school bus one by one, and didn’t miss a single child led in by a guardian’s hand.

“Taeseo, you got your hair cut? You look cool.”

It’s about time they arrived. I checked the time and looked around. Just then, I saw Baek Joomyeong coming from over there, holding Yeonji’s hand tightly.

As I stared blankly at him, I marveled as usual at how cool the guild uniform looked. Then, remembering the dinner I’d shared with him yesterday, I felt a little bashful.

Yesterday, that man and I fed each other pork cutlet…

As soon as Baek Joomyeong reached me, he gave a bright smile. I responded by drawing a curve over my lips as well.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning. Good morning to you too, Yeonji.”

The girl smiled brightly and gave a deep nod. She seemed to be in a good mood today.

Come to think of it, I didn’t see any news about Gates on the morning briefing. That means there was no Gate battle, so Yeonji seemed satisfied that her uncle didn’t have to leave the house. Moreover, her hair was tied up nicely and round like a steamed bun today. Yeonji lightly tapped her tightly rolled hair with her hand.

Lately, there’s something I’ve learned about Yeonji. Yeonji has a habit of fidgeting with her hair whenever she likes the way it’s done.

Looking at her, she’s so cute I could just die.

“Did you get home okay yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Yeonji-ya. Say goodbye to uncle and let’s go inside with Teacher.”