Chapter 88
“Yaaawn!”
Zeon, who had just gotten up and stretched, suddenly frowned as he noticed something.
His gaze landed on Brielle.
As if she had stayed up all night, her eyes were bloodshot red.
With those reddened eyes, she was staring intently at a silver pot.
Inside the pot, an unidentified liquid was bubbling vigorously.
“Just a little more… just a little more…”
Clenching her small fists tightly, Brielle muttered.
There was a deep madness emanating from her.
Zeon shook his head.
“Looks like you stayed up all night again.”
Brielle was nocturnal.
During the day, she seemed absent-minded, but at night her mind became sharp and clear.
That was when her research began.
The suppressed desire for knowledge she had accumulated while being trapped underground now burst forth in a frenzy.
It was as if the energy she gathered during the day exploded at night.
Even now, she stared at the liquid she had made overnight with crazed eyes.
“It’s almost done. Just a little more…”
Boom!
At that moment, the liquid in the pot exploded.
“Eek!”
Brielle was completely drenched in it.
The liquid splattered not only on her but throughout the entire house.
Looking around at the mess, Zeon clicked his tongue.
“Tch.”
“What went wrong? The formula was definitely perfect…”
Brielle muttered blankly.
Zeon said to her,
“Clean it up.”
“Ugh! Why did it fail? What went wrong?”
“Sigh…”
It didn’t seem like Zeon’s voice was reaching her ears.
She dipped a finger into the liquid on her body and tasted it, trying to analyze the cause of failure.
“Ahhh! What the hell is the problem?!”
Leaving the hysterical Brielle behind, Zeon stepped out of the house.
He knew that once she got like this, she wouldn’t come back to her senses for at least three or four hours.
Once she did, she’d clean everything up on her own.
Until then, it was better to spend time outside.
With both hands in his pockets, Zeon walked down the street.
“Hm?”
A hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.
There was a shabby street stall he hadn’t seen yesterday.
It was a skewer stall, and the smell coming from it was incredibly enticing.
There were already several customers gathered there besides Zeon.
Most of them were men.
Zeon quickly understood why.
The owner of the stall was a woman.
And quite a pretty one at that.
She wasn’t flashy, but she had a simple, natural beauty.
That alone was enough to draw the attention of the men in the slums.
“Don’t think I’ve seen you before?”
“Where do you live?”
The men, each holding a skewer in their mouths, bombarded her with questions.
All their questions were about her personal life.
Even in a world like this, men’s desire toward a pretty woman remained unchanged.
Though their advances could have been uncomfortable, the woman responded calmly without even blinking.
“Of course I live in Sinchon. I’m just new to this business, so I probably seem unfamiliar.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course.”
“When do you close up? Why not finish early today? I know a nice place—let’s go together.”
“Hehe! I appreciate the offer, but I need to keep working if I want to make a living.”
“How much do you make in a day? I’ll pay for it all.”
“Oh my! Really?”
“Of course!”
“Hehe! Just hearing that makes me grateful. How dependable you are!”
“Heh heh!”
The woman clearly knew how to handle men.
Her flattery and sweet talk quickly softened their expressions.
Zeon stepped into the crowd.
“How much for one skewer?”
“Oh my, a handsome oppa? Ten skewers for one sol.”
“One sol?”
“This is cultured meat made in Neo Seoul. The taste is completely different from monster meat.”
“Is that so?”
Seeing Zeon’s curiosity, the woman handed him a skewer.
“Try one. Once you taste it, you won’t be able to eat other meat again.”
Zeon nodded and took a bite.
Just as she claimed, it was incredibly delicious.
At this level, it was worth boasting about.
It was rare to find someone in the slums with this kind of skill.
Zeon took another bite.
Even the second chew was just as good.
The woman smiled and asked,
“Good, right?”
“It is.”
“See? I knew it, handsome oppa!”
“I think you’re older than me.”
“Hehe! If you’re handsome, you’re oppa. You really are handsome.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you live around here too?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“The Ant Tunnel.”
“Oh my! That’s a dangerous place. Aren’t you scared?”
“Not really.”
Zeon answered calmly at her exaggerated concern.
“But the clothes you’re wearing don’t look ordinary. Are they an item?”
“It’s nothing special.”
“Why is it nothing? It’s practically glowing with shine.”
The woman naturally reached out and stroked Zeon’s robe.
At that moment, a faint light emanated from her hand—but no one noticed.
Her behavior was so natural that anyone might mistake them for lovers.
Right away, jealousy appeared on the faces of the male customers who had arrived earlier.
“What the hell? Why are you being nice to that guy?”
“You judging based on looks?”
Despite their outburst, the woman replied calmly without changing her expression,
“Everyone, quiet. Who said I was treating him differently?”
“Huh?”
“I’m not, am I?”
Suddenly, the men’s expressions went blank.
As if enchanted, they accepted her words without question.
It was a very strange scene.
Anyone looking would have found it odd.
And yet, not a single man around the stall realized it.
The woman smiled sweetly at Zeon.
“Now we can talk quietly, right?”
“You’re using an interesting skill. A mental manipulation ability, huh.”
“Oh my? You’re perceptive too. I like you more and more.”
She clapped her hands and laughed.
She looked genuinely delighted.
In contrast, Zeon’s expression remained unchanged.
He had already realized she wasn’t ordinary.
There was a reason female vendors were rare in this street.
The slums were that dangerous.
Even a slightly attractive woman could be kidnapped or assaulted without it being surprising.
That was the value of women in this world.
Unless they were Awakened or had powerful backing, even walking outside required caution.
And yet, a clearly attractive woman suddenly running a stall here?
It wasn’t normal.
Zeon asked,
“Did you come targeting me?”
“Not targeting—just trying to meet you naturally?”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“They’re completely different. Even the nuance is different.”
“You speak in an amusing way.”
“Do you find it amusing? Then that’s good.”
“Why go through all this trouble to approach me?”
“Because I like you.”
She answered without the slightest hesitation.
But Zeon wasn’t naïve enough to believe the words of a stranger.
“Who sent you?”
“I told you, I came because I like you.”
She smiled again.
And somehow, she looked even more beautiful.
It was almost as if a halo was shining behind her head.
“Tch.”
Clicking his tongue, Zeon put down the skewer he was holding.
“What’s wrong? Doesn’t it taste good?”
“My appetite disappeared since you keep using brainwashing skills on me.”
At his words, the smile vanished from her face.
But she quickly composed herself.
“When did I ever use brainwashing?”
“Where are you from? Dongdaemun, by any chance?”
“….”
“I see. So I’m right.”
“Tch. You’re really annoying. Why are you so perceptive for someone with such a pretty face? And why is your mental barrier so strong?”
She could no longer deny it.
Her name was Kim Jaekyung.
One of Johan’s most trusted subordinates.
Her specialty was mental-type abilities like brainwashing.
With her modest appearance, she would lower her target’s guard, make contact, and then activate her skill.
Ten out of ten would develop favorable feelings toward her.
With continued use, they would eventually become completely subservient.
She had used this method to bring countless people under her control.
Especially men—they never resisted.
Naturally, she thought this would be no different.
Brainwashing someone like Zeon should have been effortless.
But her ability didn’t work on him.
His mental defenses were far stronger than she expected.
“You’re more impressive than I thought.”
“Was it Johan’s order?”
“‘Lord’.”
“…What?”
“Add ‘Lord.’ He’s not someone you can casually refer to like that.”
At the mention of Johan, her gaze changed.
There was even madness in her eyes.
Zeon clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘Tch. Just earlier Brielle had that look, and now another one’s showing madness.’
Even though he thought his luck was terrible this morning, his expression didn’t change.
“Fine. Lord Johan. Did he send you?”
“That’s right! He told me to persuade you nicely.”
“Is brainwashing considered ‘nice’?”
“Of course! Being brainwashed by a beautiful woman like me—do you know how blissful that is?”
“I know quite a few women prettier than you.”
“What?”
“By my standards, you’re not that pretty.”
“You…!”
“So know your place.”
“Damn it! I tried to do this nicely. Submit!”
At that moment, with a loud shout, a powerful light burst from her body.
Subjugation.
A C-rank skill.
It consumed immense mana, but its effect was equally absolute.
Kim Jaekyung stroked Zeon’s body a couple of times, injecting her mana.
She had already laid the groundwork beforehand.
That was why she was certain her skill would work.
But then—
“Hmph.”
Zeon let out a snort.
At the same time, a massive shock struck her mind, as if hit by a hammer.
Boom!
“Aaagh!”
Kim Jaekyung screamed and collapsed.
Blood began to flow from her nose and ears.
Looking down at her, Zeon said,
“Tch. You should choose your targets more carefully when using mental skills. If you use them recklessly, you’ll end up hurting yourself.”
“W-What did you do?”
“As you can see, nothing.”
“That’s impossible…”
Kim Jaekyung’s face filled with disbelief.
Until now, there had never been anyone her skill didn’t work on.
No—there had been exactly one.
Johan.
The man she considered a god.
His mental barrier was so strong and unshakable that her ability had no effect.
‘Don’t tell me… this man’s mind is as firm as Lord Johan’s?’