READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 113
The Hermit’s abilities include Split, Transformation, and finally, Mental Interference.
While Mental Interference might be labeled as an offensive capability, it’s not all that simple.
When exposed to mental magic, traumas manifest as hallucinations.
If one fails to overcome this, going insane is a natural outcome, and death could be a possibility.
In other words, if one manages to overcome it, both mind and body become resilient, leading to enlightenment and a significant level-up.
This was the reason why Hermit’s Mental Interference was termed a trial.
Enduring the trial naturally comes with rewards and achievements.
“Did Mr. Hermit have such a talent?”
“A, talent, you say…?”
At Isabella’s words, Hermit bit his lip tightly and cast his eyes downward, beads of cold sweat trickling down his face.
All the attention around had turned to Hermit, and it seemed to weigh heavily on him.
Hermit vaguely knew of his own strength but didn’t fully understand it.
His low self-esteem surely played a role, but it was also likely because there were no intruders in the dungeon to serve as comparisons.
“In the end, that’s the reason we gathered, isn’t it? That mental trial thing.”
“Yeah. Think of it as a kind of training.”
“Uh, um….”
Isabella repeatedly opened and closed her lips.
“Hey, Boss. If what you said is true, isn’t it dangerous? You said we could die.”
“Hermit can release it at will, so you don’t need to worry.”
The aftereffects and lethal doses are things Hermit can discern through the subject’s resilience.
There was really nothing to worry about.
“You explain it. What exactly is it?”
Cecilia glared at Hermit as she spoke.
Despite being scared of everything, Hermit seemed particularly terrified of Cecilia.
“Um… think of it as a nightmare.”
“A nightmare, you say?”
“Yeah, a nightmare. Oh, maybe you should think of it as a hallucination…?”
“A nightmare or a hallucination; they’re similar, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s right. To elaborate, it’s about turning trauma from memories into hallucinations. But it’s somewhat exaggerated memory. Really negative stuff…”
It presents hallucinations based on traumas from memories.
Of course, simply recalling existing memories wouldn’t qualify as Mental Interference.
The exaggeration Hermit mentioned was about maximizing traumas.
It takes the existing memories and exaggerates them to maximize the trauma.
“For example, um… there’s someone who was pecked by a pigeon as a child, right? That person ends up developing a fear of birds. Then, that memory is recalled like a hallucination.”
“And then?”
“Um, then… once the memory provides a sense of reality, it maximizes the trauma. Like being surrounded by a flock of pigeons or having one’s eye poked out. Something like that…?”
The initial goal was to shatter the target’s mental strength.
It’s only natural that maximizing traumas would occur.
“There’s also one more thing. There are memories that one has subconsciously forgotten, right? Um… traumas that got buried with time or shock? Anyway, you can dig those up too. Even fears from the past can be recreated.”
“…”
Cecilia subtly glanced my way.
“Is it possible to access the memories of the Undead?”
“Pardon? Undead?”
“You said you could recall forgotten memories.”
While hope flickered in Cecilia’s eyes, it was nothing but a false hope.
Even if memories could be recalled, it would be traumas.
There were likely no memories related to Cecilia.
‘I’m curious too, though.’
If it were applicable, would it be memories about this body? It’s Mental Interference, so wouldn’t it be modern memories?
Though it’s Mental Interference, Hermit couldn’t spy on the traumas of the subject.
The start and release, the manipulation of trauma maximization—the scope of his understanding was somewhat limited.
“Ah, um, the Undead are completely forgotten beings. So, it probably won’t work…”
It was likely he was right.
While it wasn’t certain, I had once heard.
If you play at Undead difficulty, you would be immune to mental attacks.
I thought I had heard it was one of the few advantages, but I hadn’t paid much attention and had never experienced it myself.
‘…This body was the initial start.’
Death Knight Barugore was my introductory character for Undead difficulty.
I had no real expectations, but unlike me, Cecilia’s eyes widened with hope.
“You never know. Let’s give it a try.”
“B-but it really won’t work. Normally, people leave a bit of a trace even if they lose memories, right? But the Undead are different.”
“…”
“They’re beings that have forgotten all their memories and, um, they can’t even sleep. It’s probably unlikely…”
“Just do it.”
Cecilia’s tone dropped dangerously.
Swallow. Hermit’s throat bobbed.
He looked so scared; his face went pale.
“Y-yeah. But don’t get your hopes up too much… um, Boss? Can I trouble you for a moment?”
“Sure.”
His hand reaching towards me trembled like a leaf.
Hermit cautiously placed his hand over my head. A faint vibration pulsed through my skull.
I wondered if it was some strange magic, but it turned out to just be his trembling hand.
“Uh, you need to release your magic first. Even if I can’t completely drain it, you should loosen it as much as possible. That way, I can interfere smoothly.”
“…Done.”
I had no magic to begin with.
“Then… shall we begin? You need to prepare your mind beforehand. I’ll control it well, but still.”
“Understood.”
Hermit’s fingers began to twitch one by one.
From those small movements, dark magic began to bloom from his grasp.
As I started, I felt an unexpected sense of anticipation.
Maybe I could delve into the memories of this body’s owner.
“Uh, uh, how does it feel? Is it hazy or anything?”
“….”
It was surprisingly the same.
I thought it would change over time, so I remained still.
However, no matter how long I waited, there wasn’t a hint of change.
“It’s still the same.”
“Uh… I suppose so?”
“Do it again. Properly.”
Cecilia persistently requested. Maybe she wanted to cling to a thread of hope.
Though it was regrettable for her, there was still no change.
“It’s done. Stop.”
“Eh, okay.”
Hermit slowly withdrew his hand.
From the corner of my vision, I caught Cecilia’s face.
Her expression was blank but filled with emptiness.
Feeling a wave of pity, I approached her.
Thud. As I placed a hand on her shoulder, Cecilia turned her head.
“It’s okay.”
“…Master.”
Master, huh.
The deep pink level hovered brightly above her face as she looked up at me.
She only knew me as Lucas and had feelings for me.
A pang of guilt struck, but there was no way to change that now.
‘…Lucas.’
I wished I could recall the memories of this body.
Though it’s not like I could actually be Lucas.
At the same time, I found myself pondering.
It was strange for someone like me, a stagnant player for 30,000 hours, to not know the hero who was executed by the Empire.
I had a clear understanding of Cecilia’s background.
No matter how I retraced my steps, I couldn’t find anyone that could be considered her master.
If I remembered correctly, Cecilia used to survive by pickpocketing in the slums as a child.
In an unfortunate life of barely surviving, she randomly found a rusty sword and taught herself swordsmanship.
Her background was that she had grown self-sufficient and got selected as a hero.
‘There’s probably nothing else aside from that.’
I let my thoughts drift off with a sigh, stopping myself from contemplating further.
There was no point in asking questions that wouldn’t yield answers.
***
“I can’t believe this…. I thought I was going to die….”
“…I want to cry.”
Starting with Isabella’s turn, we had wrapped up hasta the second, Estizel.
In the end, both failed, and they gathered in a corner like fallen warriors, staring blankly at the void.
Charlotte shot a glance at the two who were sulking from a distance.
In contrast, the question turned towards Hermit.
“Is it really that hard?”
“Uh… yeah. Honestly, this is really tough. It’s because they let their guards down.”
“So you’re saying it’s tough solely from the aspect of overcoming?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Before starting, Hermit had told them to release the magic that resisted the Mental Interference.
If they allowed the interference freely, the target would lose consciousness.
Without consciousness, they couldn’t mobilize their magic.
Only overcoming it with mental strength was the way forward.
“How is that insect doing?”
At this time, Balutak was sprawled out pathetically.
Hermit gauged Balutak’s mental state while adjusting his magic.
“Um… resistance is gradually diminishing. Looks like he’s breaking down.”
Charlotte clicked her tongue and glanced towards the boss.
Even if they looked this way, they were still executives of the Seven Lairs.
What must the boss be feeling seeing his subordinates crumble with no resistance?
“Are you alright?”
Charlotte asked cautiously.
The boss’s dim gaze turned towards her.
“I was worried you might be troubled.”
“I’m fine.”
While he said he was okay, deep down it was likely different.
Charlotte wanted to know the inside story, but it was hard to gauge.
It wasn’t easy to penetrate the Undead’s expressionless face.
“Kyieeeek!”
At that moment, Balutak shot up and screamed.
The sound pierced my ears, causing Charlotte to scrunch her face unconsciously.
“The Lion King was trying to kill me! The Great Chief abandoned me! Buraltak abandoned me too!”
“Shut it and get over there.”
Using telekinesis, Charlotte tossed Balutak into a corner.
He was welcomed by the group of fallen warriors.
“Oh, I knew you would come.”
“You were making a big fuss.”
“Kiriririr….”
With exasperation, Charlotte sighed deeply.
Coincidentally, only Cecilia and Charlotte remained.
Charlotte subtly raised her hand as she glanced over at Cecilia.
Cecilia shook her head slowly as they exchanged gazes.
“I don’t want to do it. I have a feeling I know what the memory will be about, and I don’t want to recall it.”
Of course, it would likely be a memory related to her master.
Charlotte let out a scoff at her troublesome heart.
“Are you scared?”
“Yeah. I’m scared.”
“…Tsk.”
“What about you, Lieutenant?”
Charlotte glanced over at the boss’s face.
He had been looking at her. His gaze held an inexplicable sense of expectation.
“I have high hopes for you.”
“….”
He wasn’t mistaken; he really did have expectations.
Aside from being an executive of the Seven Lairs, Charlotte was also a high-level wizard.
While knights train the body, wizards refine the mind.
Not only the boss but also everyone around had something to look forward to.
The boss was anticipating her, more than anyone.
Charlotte steeled her resolve and nodded her head.
She promised she would succeed, no matter what, and overcome whatever might happen.
“Um, Lieutenant? If you really can’t take it, try to think of a support. Maybe family, lover, or friend? Do you perhaps have parents?”
“I don’t.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry….”
Hermit bowed repeatedly.
Charlotte took it lightly.
The pain of losing family had long been overcome.
Having thought like that, she also believed she could overcome Hermit’s trial.
“Is there anyone aside from your family that you can mentally rely on?”
“Someone I can rely on mentally, you say?”
“Yeah, exactly, a mental anchor… Mentally relying on someone will ease it. If you can lean on them, the achievement might be lower, but the chances of success will increase.”
If it’s someone she can truly depend on mentally.
Charlotte turned her gaze and focused on one spot.
The boss was wholeheartedly captured in her pupils.
“…Yes. I understand.”
She likely wouldn’t mentally crumble, but if it became hard to hold on, she thought of reaching for that person.
After all, they were the only one she could mentally lean on.
“Hey, Lieutenant? Would you like to sit in front of me?”
“Yes.”
She slumped into a seat in front of her, loosening her magic like instructed.
Hermit’s hand rose above Charlotte’s head.
“Alright, I’m going to start right away.”
“Yes.”