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

After several events, my status in Korea had risen significantly.

To the point where even professors started addressing me with the honorific "Sir Seo Yujin."

‘Well, it’s only natural.’

What was my position, after all?
An Awakened so sought-after that world leaders scrambled to meet me.
The successor to Seol Hayeon as the next Chair of the Awakened Association.
A man with far greater renown than even my first-regression self could have dreamed of.

It wasn’t surprising that even professors unconsciously used honorifics with me.
The me of this second—or rather, third—regression had become that influential.

And yet, despite having become a living legend…

"W-wait, Sir! Please calm down…."
"Calm down, you goddamn brat?! Calm down?! Seven wives? Se-ven?!"
"Gggghk…!"

…I was being choked by my father-in-law.

It was summer.

***

Rewinding time a bit—about three hours earlier.
I had suddenly spoken up in front of my wives.

Well, not all of them. Sibylla and Kkong had returned overseas, and Winterer was off at work.
That left only four of them here.

‘Today’s focus is on Shia anyway.’

"Shia, how about we visit your father today?"

I spoke casually, trying to sound as composed as possible.

I didn’t want to show any fear.

"…Hmm. So you’ve made up your mind?"
"Yeah. Even though we’ve decided to announce the marriage after I’m officially Chair, we should at least let our families know ahead of time."

I explained calmly.

Even if we had agreed among ourselves to the harem,
marriage was too significant a matter to decide solely within our group.

While Haru, Winterer, and I were orphans with no one to inform, the rest still had families.
We needed to inform them and, ideally, earn their blessings.

"That’s why I want to start with your father."
"Yujin, does that mean…?"
"Yeah. Next will be Japan, then the UK, and so on. I’ll meet them all, one by one."
"My lord…!!!"

My words lit up the room.
Alice beamed as she rubbed her cheek against my arm, while my mentor, Aika, looked teary-eyed with emotion.

Though Aika’s affectionate gesture—rubbing her chin on me like a cat—was less impactful, the reaction overall reassured me.

It was worth practicing for this moment.

"Dad, are you going to meet Flatty-Dad? Can I come too?"
"Haru, this isn’t a casual visit. This is going to be a very serious conversation."
"…Serious conversation?"
"Yeah. Like, serious enough that he might get mad and hit me."
"…Then Dad shouldn’t go! I don’t want Dad to get hurt!!"

Haru clung to my shoulders, still in the middle of giving me a back massage.
Her grip clearly conveyed one thing: she didn’t want me to go.

"It’s okay, Haru. This is something I have to face."
"Why? Dad didn’t do anything wrong! You’re the best dad ever—you even played with me and Big Sis yesterday! You’re awesome!"
"That’s actually why I have to go."
"Why though…?"

I tried explaining why I had to go, but it seemed a bit too complex for Haru to grasp.

Sighing, I gently motioned for my wives to step aside.
It was time for a lesson in family dynamics.

"For example, Haru, imagine if I went off and played with another kid without even telling you. Wouldn’t that make you feel bad? Like a squished rice cake?"
"Well… yeah, I guess."
"Right. And I’d feel the same way if you started playing with another man without telling me."

First, I established common ground.

"And here’s the thing. Most dads get upset when their daughters get married. It’s because they love them so much that no man ever seems good enough."
"…Okay."
"Shia’s dad is the same. To him, I’m the guy trying to take away his precious daughter. And not just take her away—but bring her into a harem, with other women."

Then, I shifted the perspective to Shia’s father.

"So think about it, Haru. Imagine if you were Shia’s dad, and I was the one trying to take you away…"
"Dad would be totally squished rice cake! Super wrong!"
"…Exactly."

I ended the lesson by letting her come to the conclusion herself.

…Though it hurt to hear Haru call me a “super wrong squished rice cake,” it was something I had to endure.

"That’s why I’m going to apologize and beg for forgiveness."
"If it were me, I’d never forgive you…"
"And I’m also going to promise that I’ll make her happy—that I’ll love her forever, without neglecting her for anyone else."
"…Okay! Dad, good luck!!"

The tension in Haru’s grip finally eased.
I was ready to go take my verbal beating.

"Alright, Shia."
"The car’s already here. Change quickly, and let’s get going."
"Thanks. I’ll be out in a minute."

This was what had happened before Shia and I left for the headquarters of the Cheonhwa Clan.

***

In the car heading to the Cheonhwa Clan headquarters,
the secretary’s eyes kept darting to the rearview mirror.

Her glasses, equipped with a miniature hidden camera, captured the scene in the back seat.

["Shia, there are other people here."]
["Who cares? Come here, you loser. You must be so nervous. Let me give you a lap pillow—your favorite."]

"…Chairman, should we pop some champagne?"
"Haha, not yet."

The footage was transmitted to the Cheonhwa Clan’s operations room,
where smiles lit up everyone’s faces.

They had gathered, curious about the announcement of Seo Yujin’s visit, only to witness a sweet, affectionate moment between a couple.
Anyone could see they were dating.

It was a heartwarming sight.

‘Our little lady… when did she grow up like this?’
‘It feels like just yesterday she was running around, shouting, “I’m going to be an S-Class Awakened when I grow up!” Sigh.’
‘Be happy, my lady!!’

To the other Awakened,
Shia had always been like a little sister since joining Cheonhwa.

Calling her “our lady” wasn’t just a habit—it came from genuine affection.

Seeing her so happy with someone she loved filled them with joy.
The young couple’s love was simply beautiful to witness.

"……."
‘I thought I’d feel uneasy if my daughter brought home a man… but with someone this good, it’s just satisfying.’

Shia’s father, Yoo Jeong-cheol, felt the same.

His youngest daughter, Yu Shia, born late in his life, was a treasure.
The daughter he cherished so much it wouldn’t hurt to put her in his eye.

But even so, her suitor was none other than Seo Yujin.

The man who single-handedly skyrocketed Cheonhwa’s stock.
An Awakened shaking the world with his influence.
Undisputed S-Class #1 and soon-to-be Chairman of the Association.

On paper, he was the ideal partner.

And his character?
The world knew how upstanding and kind Seo Yujin was.
Even with a power like hypnosis, which seemed tailor-made for villains, he was respected and admired.

If a man like that was dating his daughter,
Yoo Jeong-cheol could only feel gratitude.

He approved of this marriage…

"I intend to marry Shia. Along with my six other wives."
"…What?"

Until he heard something unbelievable.

Wrinkles formed on his brow.
What had he just heard?

"Yujin, I found it odd when you insisted on a private conversation with Shia and me, but… is this some kind of joke?"
"This is no joke, sir."
"Haha. Is this one of those newfangled MZ challenges? Some kind of trend?"

Yoo Jeong-cheol’s eyes scanned the air,
searching for the camera that must surely be filming this.

A classic attempt to escape reality, but…

"No, Dad. I’m going to marry Yujin. Along with the other women."
"…You goddamn brat!!!"

His daughter’s words shattered his delusion.
Rage filled his eyes.

With surprising strength for his age, his hands wrapped around Yujin’s neck.

"S-sir, please calm down…."
"Calm down?! You expect me to calm down after hearing that?! Seven wives?! Seven?!"
"G-gahhkk…!"

The trashy young man’s throat emitted strained gasps.
And the enraged Yoo Jeong-cheol, overcome by fury, panted heavily.

‘This is insanity. It must stop immediately.’

But his rational mind, his instincts as a businessman, desperately tried to hold him back.

Even Cheonhwa couldn’t afford to make an enemy of Seo Yujin.
If he left the clan, their stocks would plummet by trillions.

Better to negotiate and use this as leverage—so his rationality whispered.

—Tremble.

‘It must stop, but… last year, she was still in a high school uniform! And now, he dares…!!!’

But rationality couldn’t win against his paternal instincts.
The veins on his hands bulged as he tightened his grip on Yujin’s neck.

"You think the world putting you on a pedestal makes you invincible? You think you can handle multiple women, you rotten brat?!"
"I can’t believe I misjudged you so badly!"
"Love isn’t something you can give to seven women! Not even one is enough to dedicate a lifetime to, let alone seven! Seven?!"

And with that, he looked ready to snap Yujin’s neck.

"I’ll knock some sense into that rotten head of yo—"

—Tap, tap.

"Dad. Dad. That’s enough. He’s going to die."
"…What?"

Just as his bloodshot eyes seemed ready to burst,
Shia lightly tapped his shoulder and reminded him that Yujin might actually die.

He snorted in disbelief.

"Hah! Don’t baby him and stay out of this!"
‘There’s no way an Awakened would die from this.’

He was a non-Awakened.
No matter how strong his grip, he couldn’t truly harm someone like Yujin.

For someone like him, this was akin to a baby’s tantrum.

‘Look at him. He’s probably just fine—’

"G-guhh… ggkkk…."
"———?!!!!!"

But then, why…?
As his vision cleared, the sight before him was nothing he had expected.

Yujin’s face was beet red, his breathing labored, and his hands trembling as if suppressing the urge to fight back.

Though it was clear he was in pain, Yujin clenched his jaw tightly, refusing to even let out a whimper.

Yoo Jeong-cheol’s grip slackened.
Yujin collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

"…Huff! Huff, huff…."
"What… is this…?"
"It’s a new technique he’s been practicing lately."
"Shia?"
"Sigh. He’s such an idiot, honestly."

Shia sighed, her frustration as his wife evident.

"He’s been deliberately suppressing his mana in his neck to make it vulnerable—like a normal person."
"…That’s possible?"
"I don’t know. He says he figured it out based on his experience with spirit form. Even Aika barely managed to replicate it."
"But why would he do something so ridiculous?"
"He didn’t want you to hurt yourself, Dad."

Her gaze drifted upward, as if recalling something painful.

In the first regression, Yoo Jeong-cheol had been so furious he strangled Yujin, then resorted to physical violence when it proved ineffective.
After several minutes of beating, he collapsed from hypertension, and Yujin carried the guilt for the rest of his life.

The memory was still vivid.

"He said he wanted to face all your anger directly. Not as an Awakened, but as a man."
"……."

Yoo Jeong-cheol’s gaze fell to Yujin, still lying on the ground, drooling slightly from the pain.
The clear handprints on his neck stood out starkly.

"…Hmph. If he were truly scum, he’d have just hypnotized me. That’s the kind of man he is."
"Cough… I could never do such a thing to you, sir."
"‘Sir,’ my foot. I haven’t even forgiven you yet."

He turned, grabbed a bottle of whiskey from a nearby shelf, and set it on the table.
A strong one.

"But… sit down, at least."
"Dad?"
"I’ll hear him out, for the effort he’s shown."

***

It was several hours later when Yujin’s conversation with Shia’s father finally ended.

On the table sat one, no, two empty bottles of whiskey.
It was a clear testament to how deeply conflicted Yoo Jeong-cheol had been.

"To think Bozzikong was actually a woman… No, wait. Looking at her, it makes sense."
"Yes. That’s why I’ve committed to making her happy as well. I sincerely apologize for adding another woman while loving Shia."

Yujin bowed his head deeply, for what felt like the hundredth time that day, offering yet another apology.

Yoo Jeong-cheol, observing him quietly, responded with a single question:

"So, do you love her too?"
"…Yes. I can’t imagine life without Kkong anymore."
"You said the same thing about the others. You have no shame."
"I have none. I’m deeply sorry."
"Hmph…"

Unimpressed with the answer, Yoo Jeong-cheol let out a low grunt.
The oppressive weight of his disapproval filled the room, pressing down on Yujin like a physical force.

Yujin, now nervously glancing at his father-in-law, worried what might happen if his anger flared up again…

"Hmmm…"

But Yoo Jeong-cheol’s mind was elsewhere.
His gaze briefly shifted to Shia.

‘Not that Shia’s a bad choice, but…’

Flashes of the other six women Yujin had mentioned crossed his mind:

• Ninomiya Aika: A literal powerhouse and a late bloomer finding love at 32.
• Seo Haru: Rescued by Yujin from the Awakened augmentation project.
• Winterer: Another woman saved by Yujin, once wrongly accused and nearly imprisoned for life.
• Sibylla: A woman cured of madness thanks to Yujin’s efforts.
• Bozzikong: A cross-dressing woman whose life—and her country—were saved by Yujin.

‘With such grand stories, what does Shia bring to the table?’

Even Alice Littonwood, the closest to Shia in terms of status as a classmate, couldn’t compete with the sheer gravity of the other five.

‘And Alice… well, sorry to say, but she’s a notch above too.’

Yoo Jeong-cheol’s gaze lingered on Shia again.

Her modest chest made him briefly consider suggesting surgery,
but he quickly dismissed the thought—it would earn him at least a month of cold shoulders from his daughter.

Instead, he quietly pondered what advantages Shia might hold over the others.

‘Her status as a Cheonhwa executive? But Yujin’s the Association Chair-elect, with influence that could command Cheonhwa itself in an emergency.’
‘Wealth? Hah, other countries are negotiating trillion-won contracts just for villain treatments. No contest.’
‘Appearance? She’s the most beautiful girl in the world to me, but her sharp features—like her mother’s—might be too intimidating. A softer look, like Bozzikong’s, would be better.’
‘Figure… Sorry, Shia. I should’ve made you eat more when you were being picky about food.’

His thoughts concluded objectively.
Shia had no edge in terms of backstory or status.

Among the seven wives, she was undeniably the weakest link.

Even with his fatherly bias, he couldn’t deny it—his daughter ranked at the bottom of the harem hierarchy.

"Shia, what about another man? Someone other than Yujin?"
"Absolutely not. If you don’t approve, I’ll run away, so keep that in mind."
"……."

Hopeless. His daughter was completely infatuated with Yujin, and nothing he said would sway her.

With no other choice, Yoo Jeong-cheol made a firm decision…

"Fine. I’ll allow it."
"…Father-in-law?!"
"Don’t get ahead of yourself. There’s a condition, and you’ll use your hypnosis to ensure it’s met."

A businessman’s negotiation began.

The cost: his daughter and her future.
The gain:

"No matter what happens, you’ll love Shia the most."
"She must never be outshone by the others. Take her on the most dates. Spend the most nights with her. No matter how much the others complain, Shia must have priority."

He was ensuring Shia’s position as the primary wife.

It broke his heart, but as a father, he couldn’t bear to see his daughter overshadowed.

"Of course. I, Seo Yujin, swear to never neglect Shia in comparison to my other wives."

Without hesitation, Yujin agreed.

Golden light swirled around his eyes, coursing through his entire body.

"…And about the nights. Make it clear—Shia gets the most attention in bed."
"That might be too much for her. Can’t we agree that I’ll hold her as much as she wants instead?"
"Fine. But under no circumstances are you to use hypnosis to override her free will."
"Understood. By the authority of complete hypnosis, I swear: I, Seo Yujin, will never refuse Shia’s request for intimacy, nor will I use hypnosis to avoid it."

To Yoo Jeong-cheol’s surprise, Yujin not only agreed but added an extra layer of assurance.

For Yujin, these conditions were nothing.
With his endless stamina and love for fairness among his wives, he had no issue with such promises.

But Yoo Jeong-cheol couldn’t possibly know the confidence of the “breeding master.”

"…I’m sorry, Shia, for discussing such things in front of you."
"At least you know. Ugh. Do I really have to hear this from my dad? I’m telling Mom."
"…Please understand. With seven wives, a man’s daily limit is one or two at most. I couldn’t bear to see you lonely and sleeping alone."

And Shia’s response to her father’s heartfelt words?

"What? My loser’s limit is one or two times?"

—Smirk.

"Well, I guess that’s all you could manage, huh, Dad? No wonder Mom was always nagging you."

And just like that, she drove a nail straight into his heart.

Outwardly twenty years old, but wielding the devastating wit of her thirty-five-year-old inner self.

"…What? Shia, it’s one thing to suggest Yujin is different, but let me tell you—no matter how much of an Awakened he is, in this area, men are all the same—"
"Pfft."
"…Wait. Don’t tell me, Shia, you’ve already… with this bastard?!”

Stabbed in the heart not once, but twice, Yoo Jeong-cheol snapped his head toward Yujin.

His eyes blazed with fury.

"You son of a—!!!"
"F-father-in-law!! Calm down! If you get worked up while drinking, your hypertension—ggghkkk!!!"
"She was in a high school uniform just last year, you bastard!!!!"

…It took Yujin a full week to earn Yoo Jeong-cheol’s forgiveness.

If Yoo Jeong-cheol hadn’t collapsed from hypertension midway through, it might have taken even longer.

"Father-in-law. Remember that blank check I received during the Cheonhwa contract negotiations?"
"If you think you can use that to talk about forgiveness—"
"No, not at all. I just wanted to ask you to please take your hypertension medication regularly. I know you’re not a fan of Western medicine, but it’s time to prioritize your health."
"…You little bastard."

The blank check, once a powerful bargaining tool from Cheonhwa, ended up being used to enforce “regular medication intake” instead.