Chapter 134: The Brainwashed Princess

Now was their chance, while Han Do-hoon was unable to unleash his full power.

Sa-yoon seized Han Do-hoon, intending to slam him to the ground and kick him. However, Han Do-hoon’s hand shot out, seizing Sa-yoon’s ankle.

This had been their trump card, carefully prepared while distracting him with conversation. It had been neutralized far too easily.

Despite being struck by tens of tons of water, which should have clouded his mind, Han Do-hoon instantly regained his posture and counterattacked Sa-yoon. Caught off guard with his ankle gripped, Sa-yoon found the tables turned in a flash, and he was abruptly thrown to the ground.

“It’s useless.”

“Are you sure?”

Though Sa-yoon inwardly bluffed, an undeniable sense of defeat clouded his face. He had underestimated Han Do-hoon, never expecting him to recover so swiftly. In a pure contest of strength, Sa-yoon was at a distinct disadvantage.

Having neglected martial arts due to rarely engaging in close combat, Sa-yoon was no match for Han Do-hoon, who was naturally gifted with immense physical power.

Han Do-hoon’s thick hand clamped firmly around Sa-yoon’s neck. The pressure was so intense that Sa-yoon would have lost consciousness had he failed to catch his breath. Gritting his teeth, Sa-yoon glared at Han Do-hoon, focusing all his energy on inflating his lungs and breathing.

Water droplets, having streamed from Han Do-hoon’s completely drenched body, dripped onto Sa-yoon’s face.

A few cold drops landed near Sa-yoon’s eyes, obscuring his vision. He blinked several times, and the accumulated water around his eyes ran down his face like tears.

“Arrest time, 14:38. According to procedure…”

Han Do-hoon suddenly stopped speaking. His body, which had been reacting with mechanical precision, froze, and he stared intently at Sa-yoon. The pressure on Sa-yoon’s neck vanished.

“Cough, cough.”

As Sa-yoon choked, filling his lungs with air, his involuntary tears mingled with the water droplets that had fallen from Han Do-hoon.

“……”

Han Do-hoon, who had paused as if malfunctioning, began to move his hands again. Keeping his grip on Sa-yoon, he raised his other hand and reached out. His fingers gently touched Sa-yoon’s swollen, reddened eye.

“What is…”

Sa-yoon, still coughing, squinted at Han Do-hoon. The warmthless gaze, which had regarded Sa-yoon as a stranger, now wavered. Han Do-hoon softly stroked Sa-yoon’s eye, then hesitated, looking back and forth between his damp fingertips and Sa-yoon.

Sa-yoon’s eyes glinted at the sight. He didn’t know why, but this was his chance. His outstretched palm brushed against the hard texture of a rock. He pinpointed the coordinates of the deeply embedded stone, then ripped it from the ground and swung it at Han Do-hoon.

The rock struck the unsuspecting Han Do-hoon squarely in the side, embedding him into the opposite wall. The cliff, which had been gushing water, collapsed in a landslide from the impact, crumbling down.

Sa-yoon staggered to his feet, shaking off the mud mixed with water. He fled without a backward glance. His vision, blurred by water beyond his blinking eyelids, felt unreal, as if he were dreaming.

“Myeong-ah, let me ask you just one thing.”

Go Ok-kyung tapped the blinking monitor screen. Even though she knew this wasn’t Myeong-ah’s actual body, she had grown accustomed to looking at the monitor when she spoke to them.

[Briefly.]

Reading the text that appeared slowly on the monitor, Go Ok-kyung wore a wry expression.

Jung Myeong-ah had been like this since their consciousness was first linked. While it was a characteristic of prophecy-type Espers, seeing more of the world than others inevitably led to a cynical personality. For that reason, Go Ok-kyung had simply accepted Jung Myeong-ah’s lack of warmth. Yet, it seemed they were different in front of their closest friend.

When Jin Sa-yoon had been here, they had been so affectionate. But as soon as he left, they reverted to their usual self.

“When Jin Sa-yoon last returned, he spoke of ‘defeating the villain and saving the princess.’ What did he mean by that?”

The black screen remained blank. It was an attitude of not deigning to respond to Go Ok-kyung’s words. Go Ok-kyung, accustomed to the situation, sighed and spoke again.

“I haven’t seen any future beyond that, you see.”

The future Go Ok-kyung had witnessed contained a gaping void in the middle. She had seen the moment Sa-yoon achieved his final feat, but not the specific process leading up to it.

This was a side effect of Jung Myeong-ah’s intervention in Sa-yoon’s future, which began after they met. It was an unwritten rule that one could not see the future of a prophecy-type Esper superior to oneself.

Jung Myeong-ah’s reply was delayed. Sometimes they would simply ignore an unwanted question and fall back asleep, so Go Ok-kyung didn’t hold much hope as she wheeled her chair. Then, a cursor blinked behind her.

[A princess raised by a villain since childhood. She’s probably brainwashed and running wild right now.]

“Who, no. If raised by a villain, do you mean the Vice Commander?”

[Correct.]

Having lived a long life and become detached from most worldly affairs, even Go Ok-kyung couldn’t help but widen her eyes. She had thought the ‘last villain’ referred to the Alliance, including Han Do-hoon, but this analogy was beyond anything she could have imagined.

“So. You’re saying Han Do-hoon is…”

“Han Do-hoon is a princess? You damn brat!”

Sa-yoon muttered, staring into thin air. A shiver of betrayal ran through him, and he gnashed his teeth, silently cursing Jung Myeong-ah. Jung Myeong-ah, who had given Sa-yoon false information, was probably having an emotional reunion with Jung Hyun-woo, who had rushed to Korea upon hearing the news.

Sa-yoon vowed to grab Jung Myeong-ah by the collar the next time he saw them, no matter how happy and joyful they might be. Of all people, why would they call Han Do-hoon a princess? It was utterly preposterous.

The Han Do-hoon Sa-yoon had encountered again was completely different from before. He didn’t remember Sa-yoon, and his unique aura and abilities had all changed. In their initial clash, Sa-yoon had been too preoccupied with resolving the situation to think clearly, but as he returned to the village, his mind cooled and settled.

Sa-yoon clicked his tongue softly. Considering the various circumstances, the outcome was obvious. Sa-yoon had been questioning if *he* was brainwashed, only to find the clumsy Han Do-hoon was the one brainwashed and being led around. Just like a kidnapped princess in a fairy tale.

“Even so, that expression is really not it.”

A princess. Calling Han Do-hoon a princess was not just unfitting, it was repulsive. Moreover, if Myeong-ah’s words were a prophecy, the problem became even more severe. It meant that saving Han Do-hoon was the only way to reach the final scene the prophets had envisioned.

While Sa-yoon muttered, Kang Tae-han, who had been lost in thought beside him with a dark expression, sighed. He, too, was deep in contemplation. Han Do-hoon’s condition, which could only be explained by brainwashing, forced him to rack his brains.

“It’s quite a serious situation. I never thought the Alliance would go this far.”

“Actually, it’s stranger that they left him alone until now. Giving an adopted son the Vice Commander position and all authority—it seems there was a reason.”

Indeed, upon reflection, it was only natural. The Alliance, ever suspicious and power-hungry, would not have given such a powerful figure as Han Do-hoon a high-ranking position without some form of control. They had clearly taken out an insurance policy to protect their power when needed.

“In any case, we’ll have no choice but to confront Han Do-hoon.”

“We were prepared for that from the beginning, weren’t we? Though it is a little different from what we expected.”

Kang Tae-han smiled wryly as he spoke.

“Honestly, I had a sliver of hope that Han Do-hoon might side with us once he learned the truth.”

He had hoped that Han Do-hoon, like Sa-yoon who sided with Airain after learning of their false accusations, might also change. If Kang Tae-han’s words came true, the situation would be reversed in an instant, but this was all futile talk.

Despite his words of regret, Kang Tae-han’s face was quite bright.

“Still, the fact that Han Do-hoon was brainwashed at this particular time means he must have been close to the truth, doesn’t it?”

“…That must be it.”

Brainwashing someone of Han Do-hoon’s caliber would not have been a short-term effort. They must have been tampering with his mind for a very long time, planting a bomb within.

Until now, Han Do-hoon had followed orders from above without the need for cumbersome brainwashing. There would have been no need to interfere with a Han Do-hoon who was as compliant as a tongue in one’s mouth. Yet, precisely now, Han Do-hoon had been brainwashed.

The conflict with Airain was just intensifying. Intervening with Han Do-hoon, the Vice Commander and the most crucial asset in this operation, was a high-risk move.

“……”

The reason for the Alliance’s actions was obvious. Han Do-hoon must have become interested in the truth and started to defy his superiors. And the reason for his defiance was…

‘There’s only one reason.’

Sa-yoon subtly clicked his tongue. He recalled Han Do-hoon calling out to him at the very end. Han Do-hoon truly hadn’t known the truth. That’s why he must have tried to find out if Sa-yoon’s words were correct, even to the point of incurring the displeasure of those above him.

“Anyway, Sa-yoon, you need to be careful too.”

“It’s fine. I’ll win.”

“Normally, yes.”

Kang Tae-han poked Sa-yoon’s arm. The bandaged arm bore the marks of burns.

“You changed your style to one more suited for one-on-one combat right before a large-scale battle, which tells me you’re the main target. They seem intent on using Han Do-hoon, a major asset, solely against you, so be careful.”

“He was a bit tricky.”

This was the first time Sa-yoon had clashed with Han Do-hoon at full power. Having always fought on the same side, it hadn’t truly registered before, but facing Han Do-hoon head-on, he was a more formidable opponent than expected. Evading the dozens of diverging flames was difficult, even for Sa-yoon.

Sa-yoon’s greatest weakness, given his ability to precisely adjust coordinates, was mobility. It was hard to perform at his best while dodging Han Do-hoon’s attacks, which had increased range and speed.

Moreover, he was incredibly, stubbornly durable. Sa-yoon had even pierced a hole in the cliff to create an artificial waterfall, yet Han Do-hoon moved as if completely unaffected. If Han Do-hoon hadn’t suddenly frozen, Sa-yoon wouldn’t have been able to return unscathed.

Sa-yoon’s escape from being completely pinned to the ground was almost a stroke of luck. Han Do-hoon had suddenly acted strangely, allowing Sa-yoon to seize the opportunity to attack. Why had Han Do-hoon suddenly stopped, though?

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