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

Three days, which Yujin thought would pass idly, flew by quickly.

"Yujin, sir! You really don’t need to…"
"Kkong can’t move, so I have to help out in her place."
"But isn’t this kind of grunt work beneath you, sir?"
"Come on, just let me help. Please."
"Kkong can’t move because of me, after all."

During the day, Yujin traveled all over Vietnam, assisting with restoration work.
Although he’d already used hypnosis to finish the important tasks on the first day, he still went out of his way to take on mundane chores…

"And above all, Necromancer—no, Mai. You can’t just start working without Kkong or me nearby, can you?"
"That’s… true, but…"
"I’ll draw attention, so let’s get as much done as we can."

For Mai, a national-level restoration Awakened, to work effectively, either Kkong or Yujin needed to stay by her side.

"And please, prioritize areas with the most survivors."
"I still need to do some wide-range hypnosis."

Yujin also performed large-scale hypnosis on Vietnam’s population.
If he left without doing so, Mai would undoubtedly become the scapegoat for everything, enduring blame for her entire life—far worse than what Yujin had faced before his regression.

If that led to her mental health deteriorating, it would be a major problem.
So Yujin aimed to create at least a small escape route for her.

He didn’t expect the Vietnamese people to forget their resentment entirely…
But if Mai, even without her memories, dedicated herself to Vietnam’s restoration and her efforts had a visible impact across the country,
then someday—if not immediately—people might understand.
They might realize that Mai was also a victim of this tragedy,
and that the real issue was the phenomenon of villains itself.

"It’s just minor hypnosis to gradually ease negative feelings based on her actions."

It wasn’t an elaborate hypnosis.
It simply amplified the natural tendency for people to remember good deeds, especially when performed by someone once regarded as an enemy.
In the three days, he managed to plant subtle suggestions in many Vietnamese minds.

"Kyaaaa!!!"
"Yujin, Yujin!! Yujin!!!"
"The savior of Vietnam!!!!!"
"......"
"Ugh, anyone would think I used a different kind of hypnosis."

His efforts appeared differently to others, of course.

It was a natural reaction.
To draw attention, Yujin had been hauling cement in the most visible spots at the restoration sites.
And as S-Class Rank #1, no less.

The sight of him—hauling 0.8-ton cement bags effortlessly—brought Vietnamese people to tears.
"Oh, our savior of Vietnam is carrying cement like this!" they exclaimed, sobbing with emotion.

Inadvertently, Yujin’s actions became a performance far beyond a politician’s soup-kitchen photo op during election season.

Even Kkong, upon hearing the details, asked, "…Are you planning to go into politics?"
That said it all.

Yes, Kkong, during the day, I stayed busy like this… so at night, it was time for you.

"Politics, my foot. Come on, get some rest. You’re heading back to Korea tomorrow, right? At least make sure you can walk there."
"Ugh, no. Forget resting. Yujin♡ Come lie down♡"
"......"
"She’s really turned into a full-on female. Well, she was a woman to begin with."

When Yujin came back from work, Kkong was there to greet him.
For the first time since her commission, she had taken a three-day medical leave…
And ‘she’ made it clear she wasn’t just resting but was there to take care of him instead.

Such an adorably unnecessary gesture.

"Seriously, just sleep. I’m tired too. Come on, I’ll hold you, and we can—"

Of course, handling Yujin three nights in a row was utterly out of the question.
Tonight, he was determined to hold back and…

Rustle.

"…I bought some cute lingerie for tonight?"
"Argh, I can’t take it anymore!! Come here!!!"
"Kyaa♡"

A Kkong in cat-themed lingerie? That was impossible to resist.

***

Three days later.
After countless rounds of applause, we boarded the plane.

Kkong, Hypnosis-chan, and me.
Just the three of us.

"Master~ You only slept with her every night! Why didn’t you sleep with me too? I was lonely because you didn’t cuddle me~."
"Hey, hey, don’t say things that could be misunderstood, my dear little sister."
"Misunderstood? Don’t you remember how you always made me play smack the carrot, Master~?"
"Please, stop it…."

On the way, I ended up playing some WWE rounds with Hypnosis-chan.

"Excuse me, but what’s so funny?"
"Oh, nothing~ It’s just… It looks so sweet. Seeing the Captain leaning on Yujin’s shoulder."
"…!!!? This is just… She’s really tired. I’m just helping as a friend. Neither of us is gay."
"Of course, of course. Absolutely not."
"……."
"Why does this feel so unfair?"

With Kkong leaning against me, her subordinates looked on with amused smiles.
I debated clearing up the misunderstanding but ultimately gave up.
Instead, I just shouted inwardly, "Bojji-Kkong XX is soft XX!" like some frustrated confession.

And that’s how we passed the time, peacefully, until the plane landed in Korea.

"Kkong, we’ve landed. Can you stand? Want me to carry you?"
"N-no… Yawn. I think I can walk now. I’m fine."
"Really?"

Poke, poke.

"Heeung!? Don’t poke me!! I’ve recovered enough, really!!"
"Alright. I’ll trust you."

The long flight seemed to have allowed Kkong to recover her stamina.
We were fully prepared to disembark.

"Alright, let’s go."
"Time to bow down to my wives in apology!"

We got off the plane, with Hypnosis-chan trailing behind us.

And waiting for us at the airport were not my angry wives…

"You depraved scoundrel. You’re finally back?"
"Huh? Chairwoman?"

Instead of my furious wives, the old hag was waiting for us.

Was she like one of those grandmas who circles dates on the calendar and waits eagerly for her grandkids to visit?
Her unexpected appearance left me speechless.

"I hear you literally turned Vietnam upside down. Thanks to you, the Association is being flooded with inquiries."
"Oh, about the villain treatment thing?"
"Yes. Particularly from countries looking for solutions to 0-level villains. They’re desperate and willing to pay astronomical sums to get an S-Class Awakened for their own nation."
"Oh."

No wonder she came running.

I puffed out my chest with pride.
Even I had to admit this recent "mad movie" of mine was pretty awesome.

At this rate, I definitely deserved the promised reward…

"And Bojji-Kkong."
"Awakened Seol Hayeon. Thanks to you, I am deeply indebted. As the commander of the Vietnamese Liberation Army, I offer my sincerest—"
"——So you’ve finally decided to let it all out?"

""Pfft!!!?""

My puffed-out chest deflated instantly.
Kkong and I widened our eyes in shock as the Chairwoman grinned in satisfaction.

"You made the right choice. I’ve been through it, so I can tell you—being a hero isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially if it means giving up a woman’s happiness."
"Seol Hayeon… When did you…?"
"From the moment I saw your application. I even waived all mandatory physical examinations for you. Didn’t you notice?"
"......"
"Chairwoman, just how much of a GOAT are you?"

That she knew all along about Kkong and still let it slide…
To only learn this truth in my third regression left me completely stunned.

"Thank you for your consideration, Awakened Seol Hayeon. Or rather… Chairwoman."
"Why all the formal gratitude? Behave as you always do—brash and rude. Save your manners for your husband."
"Ha-Hayeon, sis…!!!"
"Quiet, you. Even if it’s standard for heroes to have three wives and four concubines, I didn’t expect you to actually fill the quota. What a debauched scoundrel."

There wasn’t much time to be impressed by the true dignity of a legendary educator.
Perhaps feeling awkward, the Chairwoman playfully jabbed at me to break the tension.

Not that she was truly upset.

"Anyway, Yujin, follow me. Bojji-Kkong, go to your husband’s residence and wait there."
"…Pardon? Why so suddenly?"
"I told you before—I’ll resolve the legal issues for you."
"……!!!!"

Finally, the buildup reached its climax.
The reward for my three-day trip: harem legalization.

Hearing that, the urgency I felt to face my wives immediately vanished.
Now was the time to listen to the wise words of the elders.
To graciously accept the gift that had fallen into my lap.

"What exactly… No, I don’t know what this is, but I’ll join you."
"Didn’t I just tell you to rest?"
"No, I must assist. For Yujin, I’ll do anything."
"You can barely stand. How much did you…? Ugh."
"…Ugh…"
"This is Association business. You have no place in it, so back off."
"She’s right, Kkong. Just rest. I’ll handle this as quickly as I can."
"Alright…."

We left Kkong behind.

I was a bit nervous about leaving her among my likely irritated wives, but...

[My soulmate, tell Lady Mir to take good care of her. If anything happens, provide support.]
[Understood, Master~.]

With Mir and Hypnosis-chan staying with her, everything should be fine.
Trusting in them, I got into the Chairwoman’s car.

"Chairwoman, now that we’re here… What exactly is this harem legalization method?"
"Puhuhu. You’ll find out soon enough, you depraved fool."
"……?"
"Why does this feel so ominous?"

Somehow, I had a feeling this might turn into something else entirely.

***

There’s a saying: a bad feeling is rarely wrong.
It was true.

"At this very moment, I declare Seo Yujin as the next Chairperson of the Korean Awakened Association!!!"
"......!!!!?"

The Chairwoman suddenly accelerated into chaos.
I flinched, startled out of my wits.

No, really—she was standing on a podium that screamed "important announcement," surrounded by a swarm of reporters.
I could tell she was planning something major, so I braced myself for the bombshell…

But what? The next Chairperson is me?

I was dumbfounded.
What on earth does this have to do with legalizing my harem?

[Has this crazy old hag completely lost it!? What the hell is she talking about now!?]
[When have I ever spoken nonsense? Just play along. This is all for your sake.]

But the Chairwoman paid no mind and pressed forward.
She fixed her gaze on me, silently commanding compliance.

Go on, declare it.
Tell the crowd of reporters that you’ll be the next Chairperson.
That you’re willingly stepping into a role of immense responsibility with no perks—essentially voluntary servitude.
That you’ll follow in Seol Hayeon’s footsteps.

My brain began spinning at 100x speed.

"……."
"What should I do? If I’m going to overturn this, I have to do it now."

If I declared here, in front of all these people, that I would succeed the Chairwoman?
I’d be locked into this role with no way out.
Just like Seol Hayeon, I’d be worked to the bone until my black hair turned white.
That was the last thing I wanted.

And what’s the connection between this and harem legalization?
There couldn’t possibly be one.
Even as Chairperson, I’d have no more authority than a minister.
I wouldn’t have the power to amend laws or anything like that.

In short, none of this made sense.

"It doesn’t make sense, but…"
Ahem, ahem.

Even so, I cleared my throat.

I didn’t want to do it.
It felt like I was being dragged into a 50-year graduate program against my will.

But…

"I, Seo Yujin, pledge that on the day Chairwoman Seol Hayeon retires, I will succeed her and lead the Korean Awakened Association. Please take care of me."

"The stage is already set, and there’s no way to escape…."