CHAPTER 4
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One month into the game, I had already heard countless tales of Lee Jehee's heroics. The man had achieved legendary status by halting the Outbreak and defeating the ultimate adversary, the Keymaster. His name was everywhere - in articles, news stories, and even entertainment shows. People were utterly captivated by Lee Jehee, and he basked in the spotlight. His deeds were even enshrined in textbooks as the savior of Korea.
But he wasn't some fictional, caped crusader from a movie or a comic book hero dressed in flashy attire. Lee Jehee was a living legend.
"There's no reason it won't work. Just do what you usually do," he assured me, his confidence unwavering.
"But what do I usually do?" I asked, genuinely perplexed.
"Put me to sleep," he replied, and added, "...And help with my insomnia."
It appeared that his troubles extended beyond just insomnia. A sinking feeling told me that this was about to get complicated.
I discreetly frowned at Jehee, then forced a sigh, attempting to appear at ease. "But, you see, my level is low, and my Trait Rank is only C-Rank. I'm not entirely sure I can perform it effectively. Perhaps it would be wiser to find someone else. I'm being honest here."
I gazed into his eyes, silently conveying that my reluctance stemmed from concern for his well-being.
The truth was, I didn't want any part of it. It was a well-known rule that those who held the secrets of the powerful often had short lives; even if they remained silent, they could meet a grim end.
Having devoured countless books and movies from a young age, I was acutely aware of this fact.
"It's possible because you're Yeon Seonwoo," Jehee explained. "Abnormal status effects are typically associated with attack skills, which wouldn't affect me. My defense and resistance are high, so regular skills wouldn't be very effective either. In contrast, Supporter abilities can be used regardless of resistance, such as the Heal skill, which works on anyone."
With Jehee's explanation, I began to understand why he had brought me here. Sleep-inducing status effects were usually tied to attack skills, making them ineffective against him. On the other hand, Yeon Seonwoo possessed a support skill capable of inducing abnormal status effects.
He had started as a Supporter with his Primary Trait and transitioned to a Mentalist with his Secondary Trait. Mentalists, a rare class, lacked many of the conventional skills needed in dungeons, and the few they had were relatively weak compared to other Supporters. It was evident why Yeon Seonwoo had abandoned the path of a hunter and established a clinic with such a peculiar name - a profession that, in a gaming context, would prompt players to reroll their characters simply due to its impracticality in combat.
However, it appeared to be the perfect fit for Jehee's unique situation.
"So... you're asking me for a sleep-inducing effect, Hunter Lee Jehee?" I clarified.
"Yes," he affirmed without hesitation.
At this point, Han Chorok impatiently rolled his eyes, silently urging me to get on with it.
I found myself in a predicament. What choice did I have?
"Shall we begin?"
"...Okay."
There was no alternative.
Following our tense exchange, Jehee guided me to an adjoining space connected to his office. The room was dimly lit, with just one chair, seemingly designed as a deliberate resting spot—a place to unwind during the workday.
"Let's get started. Relax and close your eyes," Jehee instructed.
Curiosity piqued, I followed him into the dim room. Meanwhile, he reclined comfortably on a chair, looking entirely at ease. As I cautiously approached, Han Chorok, who had trailed me in, unsheathed his sword once more.
"Don't try anything funny," he warned.
"Unfortunately, I'm not that kind of person," I replied.
"Don't forget that I'm keeping an eye on you."
With his overwhelming presence, it was impossible to forget. I swallowed hard and settled into the chair, trying my best to relax. I raised both hands in a gesture to show that I meant no harm, all the while keeping an eye on the sword pointed at my throat. Han Chorok's glare remained unwavering. If not for Jehee's laid-back voice, I was certain he would have continued to scrutinize me.
"Greenie, you can go and take care of other things," Jehee said.
"But..."
"It's fine. Go ahead."
Reluctantly, Han Chorok left the room, giving me a final distrustful glance, even though it was Jehee himself who had instructed him to do so. I must have appeared like an easy target. I couldn't help but smile at his apparent attitude, though he still couldn't shake off that suspicious gleam in his eyes.
"I'll be waiting outside. Call me if you need anything," Han Chorok said as he exited the room, his gaze lingering on Jehee.
As I watched Han Chorok's shoulders slump, I heard laughter and glanced down. Jehee, practically reclining in his chair now, chuckled.
Unsure of what else to say in this peculiar atmosphere, I settled on the safest words. "You two seem to have quite the relationship."
"It's unique and troublesome but also adorable."
I blinked in response.
Jehee was known for his flirtatious behavior with everyone in the game, regardless of gender. He was undoubtedly a natural-born charmer. Calling a grown man "adorable" was utterly ridiculous, but it seemed to amuse Jehee.
However, when he opened his eyes, I quickly adopted a more humble expression. Observing my mouth almost forming a laugh, Jehee's eyes narrowed with amusement.
"How long are you going to keep doing that?" he asked.
"Ah, yes. Then, let's begin," I replied, eager to move past the awkward exchange.
"Alright."
The stakes were high now. Any mistake on my part could lead to the same fate I had witnessed earlier.
With a trembling heart, I positioned myself behind the chair where Jehee lay and took a deep, silent breath. I wasn't certain how effective my ability would be on him. However, regardless of the rank difference, a healer's skill usually had some effect, so it shouldn't be entirely ineffective. Unlike offensive skills, which varied greatly depending on factors like defense and status resistance, buff-type abilities were generally more reliable.
With trembling hands, I reached out and touched my fingertip to the philtrum area on Jehee's face as I activated the Status Transfer skill.
A status window appeared.
[Preparing Status Transfer. Please set the status to be transferred.]
Using one hand to support Jehee's head and the other to navigate through the settings, I noticed that 'Sleep' was at the top of the list, perhaps because many hunters visited the clinic for insomnia. Without hesitation, I selected it, and the skill was activated.
[Activating Status Transfer skill. Applying 'Sleep' status according to the settings.]
As the skill activated, a warm energy gathered at my fingertips. I could feel the energy flowing into my target, and I glanced down at Jehee's condition. His face slowly relaxed after a slight frown.
Had it worked?
Had I succeeded?
I hadn't used this ability extensively, so I was still getting the hang of it. I kept my hand in place, concentrating intensely to maintain the skill. After a while, I could barely discern the faint sound of steady breathing.
With a silent sigh of relief, I carefully withdrew my hand, taking care not to disturb Jehee. The Status Transfer skill only required contact during activation, continuing to function flawlessly as long as I remained within a certain range.
Once I was sure that Jehee was sound asleep, I moved away from the chair and settled down in a corner, crossing my legs. As the Sleep skill continued to exert its influence, I could sense my mana slowly depleting.
I let out a small sigh of relief, knowing that I had successfully fulfilled Jehee's request.
Leaning against the wall, I closed my eyes, intending to spend the remaining time in reflection.
'D-Rank Hunter's Regression,' or 'DHR,' was a well-known action role-playing game renowned for its high level of freedom. It also incorporated elements of a dating simulator, enabling players to achieve various endings with any character.
'With any character' meant precisely that. In this world, players could pursue relationships regardless of gender, and as long as they accumulated enough affection points, they could attain the ultimate ending. This aspect resonated with many players, making the game a hit among individuals of all ages and genders.
Furthermore, the game's slightly whimsical storyline and characters were set in Seoul, making it especially beloved among Korean players. However, the primary catalyst for the game's popularity was its protagonist, Lee Jehee.
When the meticulously crafted, handsome 3D character made appearances in subway station advertisements, it caused quite a sensation. Even before its official launch, the game had gained immense popularity through word of mouth. Despite the significant drawback of lacking a save feature, it had garnered enough following to warrant fan cafes. Thanks to that, the game's development company found itself swimming in profits.