CHAPTER 3
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Damn it, if they were going to thrust me into a game without my consent, they should have dropped me near the beginning. Then, like other protagonists, I might have had a glimmer of hope for returning to reality if I managed to clear the game. But instead, I found myself abruptly thrown into a game that had already reached its conclusion, and I had absolutely no clue about what I was supposed to do.
"Shit..."
I found myself in what appeared to be Jehee's office, kneeling and rubbing my eyes with my hand as tears threatened to spill over. This whole situation, the fact that I, not the real Yeon Seonwoo, had to endure this doggone ordeal, it was all so unfair.
It had been a full month since I arrived in this world.
At first, I thought I had merely entered a game, but here I was, in a world with another Yeon Seonwoo who shared my name and face, and I had somehow become them. Although this other Seonwoo never made an appearance in the game, they were a hunter, a somewhat enigmatic character who ran a private business known as the Happiness Management Clinic because they had no special abilities as a Supporter.
No wonder I hadn't noticed them in the game; their circumstances were just too pitiful.
As I desperately searched for a way back to my own world, I gradually learned about how this world's Yeon Seonwoo lived. It wasn't easy to make a living in the game world, that was for sure. Living off someone else's money was a tough gig in any world. The silver lining, though, was that I could utilize my abilities as a hunter without any issues.
"Come, have a seat."
At that moment, Jehee, who had been lost in thought while sitting on the sofa, gestured toward the chair across from him. I stood up hastily but then hesitated. My legs had gone numb from kneeling for so long, and they refused to cooperate. However, in this place, there was no one on my side.
When I hesitated to take Jehee's offer, the intimidating guy behind me grabbed my arm and forcefully pulled me up.
"Ouch! You crazy bastard!" I screamed in pain as my legs throbbed. "It hurts! Cramps! I've got cramps! Stop it!"
The man, giving me an odd look, paused in his tracks.
I shot him a glare.
"Greenie, he's in pain. Let him go."
"Okay."
As soon as I heard that nickname, my eyebrows furrowed in recollection. I now remembered who he was – Psycho Green, Han Chorok. He was one of the characters from 'D-Rank Hunter's Regression,' a man who had been following the protagonist, Jehee, since he took him in as a child. Han Chorok was a loyal hound who would mercilessly crush anyone for Jehee's sake, and he had the skills to back it up as an S-Rank Sword Master-class hunter.
If my memory served me right, his awakening trait was... Berserker, right? The berserker with a seemingly gentle face, Han Chorok. Damn it, I almost got myself killed by a mad dog just now. I silently thanked my lucky stars that my head and neck were still intact, squinting my eyes innocently as I lay face down. It would have been a real hassle if I had gotten into a brawl. I needed to be cautious around these dangerous individuals – one being a regressor who had become the world's strongest after countless regressions, and the other, his loyal sidekick.
"Yeon Seonwoo, let's just have a chat like this. Take a seat comfortably."
So, I was supposed to comfortably lie on the floor. It was so comfortable that it brought tears to my eyes.
Suppressing my sarcastic thoughts, I glanced up at Jehee, who was seated on the sofa. Due to the height difference, my gaze naturally tilted upward. Annoyed by his condescending posture, I gritted my teeth and forced a stiff smile.
"Your consideration is truly... overwhelming." I mumbled through clenched teeth. Nonetheless, as long as I maintained this humble smile, Jehee seemed satisfied.
"I tend to be that way."
What a heartless jerk. Was it because of his nature that he had dragged me into this situation like this? As I glared at him in irritation for his nonsensical response, a metallic sound resonated through the room, and a blue-tinted sword materialized over my shoulder.
Damn it, I would have understood if you had just told me.
Why resort to threatening me with a sword?
"Don't even think about getting cocky in front of the master. Consider this your sole warning," came the stern caution.
I wanted to protest, insisting that I, a genuinely decent person, didn't possess such arrogance. However, recognizing the futility of reasoning with someone who wouldn't grasp it, my eyes turned to Jehee. It was a silent plea for his intervention.
But to my dismay, all I received in response was his laughter, with no intention of assistance.
"The kid is touchy about arrogance. Watch your step."
Kid? Where was the "kid" here? Surely, he couldn't be referring to that tall, greyhound-like individual who appeared to be well over 180cm, right?
With a mixture of exasperation and resignation, I glanced at Han Chorok and dutifully uttered, "I'll be cautious. Very cautious, so please, put that away...."
As they say, survival takes precedence over pride.
Finally, Jehee made a gesture signaling Han Chorok to stand down. Upon seeing the sword sheathed, I let out a long sigh of relief and settled onto the floor.
Jehee seemed entertained by my submissive stance. "I appreciate your cooperation. Shall we cut to the chase?"
"Yes!"
He liked cooperation, did he? Perhaps because I was genuinely cooperative? No, it was more likely because I was utterly powerless. Despite that, I maintained a bright smile in my response, hoping he wouldn't misconstrue my intentions.
"Greenie, bring me the information you've gathered on Yeon Seonwoo."
"Yes."
In response to Jehee's command, Han Chorok approached the table adjacent to the sofa. He picked up the file, displaying impeccable manners, and handed it over to Jehee. The man seemed unbothered even by such a small task.
Suppressing the urge to click my tongue, I observed the proceedings in silence.
Jehee, revealing with a lack of interest that he had thoroughly investigated me, tossed the file my way. "Yeon Seonwoo, I've heard you're a Supporter with mentalist abilities, specializing in inflicting status effects. Is that accurate?"
"…Yes, that seems to be the case."
I retrieved the file that had fallen to the floor before me, quickly scanning its contents before responding. If the information in this report was correct, Jehee knew more about 'this world's Yeon Seonwoo' than I did.
"I don't appreciate vague answers. Give me a proper one, alright?"
He appeared irritated once again, his words curt. But how could I provide a comprehensive response when I didn't possess all the answers?
"Yes."
Reluctantly, I acquiesced, and Jehee slowly shifted from his casual position to an upright posture. Now that we were getting to the heart of the matter, I straightened myself and concentrated on his words.
"Your specialty lies in inducing sleep or manipulating emotions through status effects, correct? I've heard you run the Happiness Management Clinic using these abilities."
Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, I nodded.
The peculiarly named 'Happiness Management Clinic' established by this world's Yeon Seonwoo mainly catered to hunters grappling with depression. They suffered from symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, and emotional numbness, and Yeon Seonwoo would provide them with the necessary emotions to alleviate their struggles. Although the effects were temporary, surprisingly, visitors kept returning, and there were a substantial number of regulars.
He probably never anticipated being apprehended and brought here due to this.
I couldn't fathom why I had to endure the consequences of a person who shared my name and face.
"Then, may I request a favor?"
"...From me?"
"Yes.”
“A favor from Hunter Lee Jehee?"
"I'm not a fan of long conversations. They're quite bothersome."
Jehee met my eyes with a smile that sent shivers down my spine. The ominous feeling was so palpable that I quickly averted my gaze.
"No, it's not that. I just genuinely don't understand. There must be plenty of others who can use status-related abilities like me..."
My question was only logical. Jehee, having achieved the highest stats through countless regressions, had wealth, prestige, and power at his fingertips. So why would he summon a C-Rank like me for a favor?
"Because I require your unique talents."
Was this Lee Jehee's idea of flattery? In a game where everyone around him could potentially be a love interest, he had lived as the protagonist, spouting such lines indiscriminately. I recalled the comments on game guide websites that dubbed it charming, and I furrowed my brow.
Nevertheless, it appeared that Jehee sensed my dissatisfaction, and his expression remained gentle. "Just follow my instructions. Knowing the reason won't change your circumstances."
Oh, thank you for the reality check. I offered a strained smile to Jehee. Living without power truly made for a miserable existence.
"But if things don't go well..."
I began to raise my eyes, attempting to broach the subject of potential failure. However, Jehee's gaze shifted slowly, causing me to falter in mid-sentence.
Following his gaze, I spotted the person from earlier, barely clinging to life and covered in blood. In essence, his gaze was a silent threat—did I want to end up like that?
What was going on? What in the world was happening?
Even when playing the game, Jehee seemed a tad unhinged, but he was still a hero who protected the weak and saved the world. What could have possibly transformed him to this extent? Could a person change so drastically just because the game had ended?