Morning sunlight spilled across my room, stabbing at my eyes.
I hadn't slept much. Not because of the heat or the cheap mattress, but because every time I closed my eyes, I saw Jimin's face as she obeyed me. The System's messages replayed over and over in my head like a broken record.
[Quest Complete. New Ability Unlocked: Suggestion Lv.1.]
I rolled onto my side and pulled up the status window. The glowing text greeted me like an eager companion.
StatusName: YujinClass: Hypnotist (Locked)Level: 2Abilities:
Hypnotic Gaze Lv.1 – Weaken resistance through eye contact.
Suggestion Lv.1 – Plant simple commands in a hypnotized mind.
Energy: 15/15EXP: 0/200
I stared at the words, my mouth dry. Hypnotic Gaze had already proven itself. But Suggestion…
I tapped the ability mentally. A new window expanded.
[Suggestion Lv.1]Effect: Insert a simple instruction into a hypnotized target's mind. Lasts for a short duration or until broken by external force. Limited to minor actions or thoughts. Success rate increases with target susceptibility.Cost: 3 Energy per use.
My heartbeat quickened. With Gaze, I could open the door. With Suggestion, I could step inside and rearrange the furniture.
I clenched my fists under the blanket. This was power.
But how far could it go? Could I make someone give me money? Could I make them forget something? Could I… No. I forced the darker thought away. I needed to start small.
I sat up, dragged a notebook from my desk, and began scribbling.
Energy pool was limited. Fifteen points. That meant five uses of Suggestion at most before I was dry.
Each use cost more than Gaze, so I had to be careful.
Targets needed to be hypnotized first. No Gaze, no Suggestion.
It was a system with rules, like a game. And games could be mastered.
The corner of the status screen pulsed again.
[New Quest: Test Suggestion.][Objective: Successfully implant a Suggestion into a target.][Reward: 100 EXP, Energy Cap +5.]
I licked my lips. The System was practically daring me.
But who?
Jimin had been my first test subject, but I couldn't just knock on her door and hypnotize her again without raising suspicion. I needed subtlety.
My stomach growled. I sighed, threw on a hoodie, and headed to the convenience store downstairs.
The little shop smelled faintly of fried food and detergent. Fluorescent lights hummed overhead. I grabbed a sandwich and an energy drink, then headed to the counter.
The cashier looked half-asleep, her hair tied in a messy bun. She scanned the items without lifting her eyes.
"Six-fifty," she mumbled.
I handed her the money, then froze. This was a chance, wasn't it? A random stranger. No one would suspect.
I swallowed and activated Hypnotic Gaze.
The world dimmed again. The cashier blinked, her eyelids heavy.
My heart pounded. It worked on her too.
"Uh," I whispered, voice trembling, "drop the coins on the counter."
She obeyed without hesitation, releasing the change so it clinked onto the surface.
My pulse roared. It was real. Again.
Now for the real test. I called up Suggestion.
[Energy: 12/15]
The screen flashed as I focused my intent. Forget this happened.
Her pupils trembled. She blinked slowly, confusion clouding her face. Then, like nothing unusual had occurred, she went back to fiddling with the register.
I grabbed my things and bolted from the store, my heart racing.
Outside, I leaned against the wall, gasping.
It worked. She had followed my command, then immediately dismissed it.
The System chimed.
[Quest Complete.][Reward: 100 EXP. Energy Cap +5.]
My vision flashed.
StatusLevel: 2 → 3EXP: 0/300Energy: 20/20
New Unlock: [Shop Menu Available.]
A new icon shimmered at the edge of my vision. I tapped it.
[System Shop]
Energy Refill (Minor) – 50 EXP
Hypnotic Gaze Upgrade (Lv.2) – 200 EXP
Suggestion Upgrade (Lv.2) – 250 EXP
Skill Unlock (Random) – 300 EXP
I exhaled shakily. The System wasn't just giving me powers—it was a full progression tree.
"Like a gacha game," I muttered. Except the stakes weren't pixels on a screen. They were people's minds.
The rest of the day blurred. I couldn't stop thinking about it. About how easy it had been to bend someone's will. About how much stronger I could become.
But with power came paranoia. I kept glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting someone to burst out and accuse me of tampering with minds. But no one did. The world carried on, oblivious.
By evening, I found myself pacing my room. The glow of the monitor didn't distract me. Even my games felt hollow compared to the System.
I had to test more. Push further.
And fate delivered the opportunity again.
There was a knock on my door.
I opened it.
Jimin stood there, hair damp from a shower, dressed in casual shorts and a tank top. She held another package.
"You really need to stop messing up your deliveries," she said with a sigh.
I froze. The System pulsed eagerly.
[Target: Jimin.]
My chest tightened. Last time had been accidental, impulsive. This time… this time I would go deeper.
I forced a smile. "Thanks. Uh, do you want to come in for a bit? I, uh, bought too much soda."
She looked at me suspiciously. "You never share."
I shrugged nervously. "Trying something new."
After a moment, she rolled her eyes and stepped inside. "Fine. But only for five minutes."
My palms were sweaty. She sat casually on the edge of my bed, glancing around the messy room. "Still a disaster zone, I see."
"Yeah," I mumbled. My heart hammered. This was it.
I activated Hypnotic Gaze.
The world dimmed again. Her eyes flickered.
"Jimin," I said softly, "relax."
Her shoulders slumped. The sharpness in her gaze softened.
It was working.
Now… Suggestion.
I took a breath and let the words flow like a command etched in stone. "You trust me. You feel comfortable here."
Her lips parted slightly. "...I… trust you. Comfortable."
A thrill shot through me.
I pushed again, careful not to overdo it. "You enjoy talking with me."
Her expression softened even more. "Mm… I enjoy… talking with you."
I almost laughed out loud.
This was unbelievable.
For the first time, Jimin looked at me not with annoyance, but with warmth.
I wanted to keep going. To test the limits. But a warning window flashed.
[Caution: Overuse may strain target's mind. Risk of suspicion.]
I bit my lip. Fine. Baby steps.
I released the skill. The haze in her eyes cleared.
She blinked, then smiled faintly. "You know… you're not that bad to talk to sometimes."
My jaw nearly dropped. That was her own voice, not a command.
I managed to stammer, "R-Really?"
"Don't let it get to your head," she teased, sipping the soda I had handed her. But her tone was lighter, friendlier than I had ever heard.
I grinned behind my cup.
The System whispered again.
[New Quest: Deepen a bond with a loyal target.][Reward: ???]
I shivered.
This was just the beginning.
That night, as Jimin left my room with a casual wave, I collapsed back on my bed.
My heart was still racing.
I had done it. Not just commands, but subtle nudges. Shaping feelings. Planting seeds.
And tomorrow… I could do more.
I opened the Shop again, staring at the glowing options. My future branched before me like a skill tree.
Energy refills. Ability upgrades. Random skills.
I clenched my fists.
No more being average. No more being invisible.
With this System, I would rise.
And those around me would never look at me the same way again.
The System pulsed, a dark whisper filling my mind.