These Lunatics are Obsessed With Me

Chapter 120

Chapter 120

An ominous feeling crept over me. From past experiences, I knew that getting involved with the protagonist or heroine had never led to a positive outcome.

Every time I intervened, it not only altered the original storyline but also seemed to bring even greater consequences upon me.

That’s why I couldn't help but ask Kang Yoo-hyun. I had a sense of what he was planning to do, and his lips slowly parted in response to my question.

“You don't need to know.”

“…”

I'm anxious! His words left me feeling unsettled.

Suddenly, lines from the middle part of the novel flashed through my mind. It was a memorable part because that’s when Kang Yoo-hyun’s mental state began to unravel.

‘You don't have to know.'

‘…Hunter Kang Yoo-hyun!’

It was clear that Kang Yoo-hyun's mental state began to decline after conquering the Muspelheim Dungeon, as the frequency of the dungeon's rating anomalies had decreased.

He had been suffering from severe PTSD since returning from the gate. Although he was able to suppress it during the hectic period of resolving the rating anomalies, he found it increasingly difficult to do so after the abnormality was addressed.

The first person to notice the signs was Sung Yoo-bin, the heroine and his closest companion in battle. However, Kang Yoo-hyun concealed his weakness from her. He tried to cope with his stress in the wrong way. I could only stare at him in disbelief.

"By chance… Are you… "

"…?"

“Ah, never mind.”

I turned away from Kang Yoo-hyun with an awkward expression on my face. I had a strong feeling that I shouldn’t pretend to know anything, like a novice shaman.

At the same time, I couldn’t shake off my worry. I didn’t worry about Kang Yoo-hyun; I was more concerned about those who would suffer from his poor decisions. After all, Do-gyul would be the one most affected by Kang Yoo-hyun's mental state.

I got myself into trouble again. I knew I should keep quiet to avoid messing up the original story even more, but thinking about Do-gyul made it hard to stay still.

Even if Do-gyul moved to a new place to avoid running into Kang Yoo-hyun, they would still inevitably cross paths as long as they were in the same guild. Just imagining the shock Do-gyul would experience each time…

‘…Damn it.’

I couldn’t help but glance at Kang Yoo-hyun again. Just this once, let me meddle one last time. With that thought in mind, I spoke to him.

"You… Are you really okay?"

"…"

"No, I mean…"

The problem was that I didn’t know what to say to resolve the issue. If it could be solved with just a few words, the heroines in the original story would have done it long ago.

But Kang Yoo-hyun is a stubborn protagonist. He feels the weight of protecting the world as the only SS-rank, yet he only creates more trouble by refusing to show any weakness.

I need to have him meet Director Oh Seo-hyun soon… But first, I have to deal with what Kang Yoo-hyun is about to do. My mind is a complete mess.

"…Han Yi-jin?"

"Yeah?"

Kang Yoo-hyun’s gaze felt strange as he looked at me. Now that I think about it, our relationship was a bit too ambiguous for casual conversation.

And why was I focusing on his lips of all things right now? That was just a secondary action I took to use my auxiliary skill! It means absolutely nothing. It means nothing at all.

"Are you worried about your younger brother?"

"What?"

Kang Yoo-hyun's sudden question took me by surprise. When I saw the serious expression on his face, I replied awkwardly.

"Ah, well… yeah."

I didn't want to be labelled a pervert for staring at his lips, so I did my best to sound casual.

“But, well… you should also try to take it easy.”

"…"

"It’s also an issue that Do-gyul is so sensitive."

It wasn’t solely Kang Yoo-hyun’s fault; Do-gyul had his own problems as well. The kid was still having trouble controlling his abilities, which is why Kang Yoo-hyun’s mental struggles became apparent so quickly instead of unfolding over time.

“So, if anything happens, you need to let me know.”

"…Okay."

Kang Yoo-hyun nodded at me with a look of suspicion in his eyes. I smiled awkwardly and walked past him. It felt as though his gaze was relentlessly following me.

Regardless, I knew what I had to do now. I just wasn’t sure if I could pull it off this time. I swallowed hard and kept walking.

I coaxed and comforted Do-gyul after he woke up, fed him, and guided him back to his room. He seemed reluctant to go to his room, and I worried he might become even more clingy.

I wondered what the real Han Yi-jin would have done. Would he have stayed with him for at least the first night? I regretted being too harsh on him.

"Sigh…”

But I had something to do tonight, so I couldn't avoid it. I sighed softly and checked my surroundings.

There was no one outside the room; it was quiet, and the timing felt just right.

I picked up my phone. I usually carried the one provided by the Odin Guild, but this one was different. I sent a message using the phone that had only one contact saved.

[Keep your promise.]

I soon received a reply.

[Sim Dante: When?]

[Today.]

[Sim Dante: No way.]

I stared blankly at the short message.

Before entering the Muspelheim dungeon, Sim Dante had told me he would show me his lab when I asked if he was actually fixing that soul-changing Q machine or whatever, and that had been his response.

If he was really cooperating with the Laufey Guild, I would have been reluctant to enter his hideout, but I had no choice.

First and foremost, I wanted to see the machine's performance for myself, hoping it would reassure me that I could return to my original world. Plus, there were items I needed to get from Sim Dante.

[Sim Dante: I will prepare it, my esteemed customer!]

To my surprise, Sim Dante quickly replied with his approval. It seemed he had already made all the arrangements. That sly guy.

[Sim Dante: /345dt]

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, I got a message that looked like spam. What was this guy up to now? I frowned and cursed under my breath, but soon after, another message popped up.

[Sim Dante: It's not spam!]

"…"

[Sim Dante: Please click the link, hehe.]

I felt a bit uneasy. I frowned and quickly tapped the link Sim Dante had sent. A standard warning message appeared, and I absentmindedly clicked ‘OK.' The browser window should open now…

Paat!1

“…!”

Suddenly, a blue light flashed from the screen. Caught off guard, I closed my eyes against the light that was engulfing my vision.

Damn it, Sim Dante, you bastard!

I cursed him inwardly as I felt myself drifting off to sleep.

"Ugh…”

The feeling of waking up after being forced into unconsciousness was always the worst. I pressed my hand against my spinning head and managed to sit up.

“Haa… Where am I?”

I was certain I’d wake up in my room, but instead, I found myself in an unfamiliar place. I tilted my head in confusion as I looked around.

The room was dim, and there was a pile of clutter, but oddly enough, it didn’t feel dirty.

“Ah, fuck.”

As I looked down at my body, I couldn’t help but let out a curse. Tube-like things were attached all over my bare upper body. It reminded me of the first time I possessed Han Yi-jin’s body. I frowned and quickly removed the tubes connected to the machine.

“Sim Dante, that bas…”

"Me?"

"Gasp!"

Someone suddenly appeared beside me, and I gasped in surprise at the sight of him.

“Sim… Dante?”

A man in a white lab coat smiled and nodded at me.

“Yep, that's right.”

“Whoa…”

He looked unexpectedly… young and tidy. I had imagined a scruffy old man with a beard, holed up in his lab and immersed in experiments. Instead, he appeared to be a fit young man. I found myself staring at him blankly, completely forgetting my anger.

"How are you feeling? You just tried temporary possession for the first time today."

"Temporary… possession?"

At Sim Dante's words, I glanced down in surprise at my body. Now that I thought about it, it did feel a bit strange.

Han Yi-jin's body had developed firmer muscles after I possessed it and rolled around in the dungeon, but this body appeared pale and frail. The fingers were long and slender, and no matter how I assessed it, this body didn’t seem to belong to an adult man at all.

"What is this…!”

The reflection in the mirror across from me was utterly shocking. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing in the small mirror. No matter how I looked, it wasn’t Han Yi-jin staring back at me. The face looking back was someone entirely different. I trembled at the sight in the mirror before finally turning my head away.

“What's happening?!”

1. The browser window opening sfx.