Chapter 1 – Episode 1: Linia, the Married Woman
[Stamina: 5 | Agility: 5 | Technique: 5 | Magic: 3 | Intelligence: 2 | Endurance: 6]Skill: Absolute HypnosisMagic: NonePoints: 0
Floating in the air before my eyes was a simple, game-like window displaying a string of stats. It looked basic — almost too simple — like something from an old RPG menu.
There was no health bar, no mana gauge. Just the numbers. But among them was the one thing I wanted most: the skill I had chosen.
Can't I see the ability in more detail?
At that thought, the status window shifted, the letters enlarging, and a brief description appeared:
Absolute Hypnosis:Hypnotic waves spread in all directions through the user's will alone. Only those capable of communication can be hypnotized. A hypnotized person will obey the user's commands absolutely.
It was short and to the point. But just reading it made my whole body shiver with excitement.
"Oh… ohhh! This is it! This is exactly it!"
I actually shouted aloud, unable to contain myself.
"No hand gestures, no finger snaps, no need for direct eye contact… Perfect! If I'm blindfolded or restrained, I can still use it. Good! Good, good, good…"
I exhaled, running a hand over my chest to calm my racing heart. I had confirmed that my most desired skill was real and exactly as I wanted. Now, I could look at the rest of the stats.
I dismissed the skill description with a thought, and the window returned to the basic display.
Stamina: 5 | Agility: 5 | Technique: 5 | Magic: 3 | Intelligence: 2 | Endurance: 6
My eyes lingered on the numbers.
"Why is Intelligence only 2? If I planned ahead and picked abilities like this, shouldn't it be at least 10?"
Still, my higher-than-average Endurance was a comfort.
Magic must show available spells. Points are probably for raising stats or unlocking new abilities… So how do I level up?
I had assumed there would be an obvious "level" somewhere, but there wasn't.
Well, if there's a window like this, there must be a way to improve. No need to overthink it right now.
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, then looked around.
"Where… is this?"
I was standing in a forest. No human presence anywhere, no figures in sight.
If I walk far enough, I might meet someone…
I decided to start moving — but the moment I did, there was movement in the nearby bushes.
"Hm?"
A low growl answered me. A beast that looked very much like a wolf stepped into view, eyes locked on me. In my old life, I would have frozen in fear. But now…
I have Absolute Hypnosis! Hypnotize!
I called it out in my mind with all my strength — and immediately felt it. Something radiated outward from my body, an unseen wave rippling through the air.
So this is what it feels like to use it…!
Certain that the wolf was now under my control, I pointed at it and commanded:
"Show me your belly!"
The wolf did not obey. It kept growling, fangs bared.
"Uh…?"
Then the skill's description flashed in my mind:
Only those capable of communication can be hypnotized.
Of course. You can't talk to a wild animal.
Cold sweat broke out along my spine.
"…Shit!"
I turned and ran. The wolf immediately gave chase. My first attempt at hypnosis had ended in utter failure.
Three Days Later
"Hah… Hah… Hah…"
I was barely standing.
Somehow, I had managed to escape the wolf that day. But my stamina had been spent quickly, and I had wandered lost ever since.
Everywhere I went, there were only more trees. I hadn't found a single road or settlement. Hunger gnawed at me, and the fruit I had tried eating gave me stomach pains that drained what little strength I had left.
And then there were the other beasts — wild dogs, wolves — forcing me to keep running whenever they found me.
I should have been dead within a day… but in this strange world, even desperation had its benefits.
[Stamina: 6 | Agility: 8 | Technique: 5 | Magic: 3 | Intelligence: 2 | Endurance: 6]
In the past three days, I had somehow earned four points just from surviving. I had put them into Agility for speed and Stamina for endurance. But even with that, I was reaching my limit.
My body was wrecked. If another predator appeared, I doubted I could even run.
"If you were going to drop me somewhere… couldn't it at least be near a village?!"
Grrrr…
I turned my head slowly.
A wild dog stood there, baring its teeth.
"…Damn it."
I readied myself to flee, but my legs gave out, collapsing under me.
"Shit!"
The dog lunged —
Thwip!Thunk!
An arrow struck it in the neck.
"Hey! Are you alright?!"
The deep voice of a man called out. Relief crashed over me so hard that my entire body went limp. My vision blurred, and I barely managed to whisper:
"Help… me…"
Then the world went dark.
When I awoke, I was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
"Oh, you're awake?"
A woman's voice — warm, mature — drifted into my ears. I turned my head toward the sound.
She was beautiful. Brown hair tied back for ease of movement, emerald-green eyes, a full bust, and curvy hips. Her beauty was balanced by a kindness in her expression.
"Where am I?""This is my home. My husband found you collapsed in the forest and carried you here."
"I see… Thank you for saving me.""You should thank my husband. I'll call him. Honey~"
She left, her figure swaying as she walked. A moment later, a tall, muscular man with a red beard and blue eyes entered.
"Looks like you've come to your senses.""You're the one who saved me? Thank you so much."
"How are you feeling?"
Before I could answer, my stomach growled loudly.
"Uh… do you have any food?""Hahaha! Of course!""I'll bring you some soup," the woman said, smiling warmly.
I devoured the soup as though I hadn't eaten in years.
"Careful, there's more if you need it," the hunter said.
When I finished, he leaned forward.
"Now that you've eaten… Why were you being chased by wild dogs in a place like that?"
I couldn't exactly say I died from overindulgence in my old world and woke up here.
There was only one way to answer…
Should I use it? My hypnosis…
I activated Absolute Hypnosis. The waves spread outward, and instantly, the hunter and his wife's eyes glazed over, their expressions blank.
It worked…!
I felt it — the unmistakable sensation of a successful hypnosis.
"From now on, what I say is absolute truth. You will accept it naturally, without question.""…Yes."
"When I snap my fingers, you will follow my orders but return to normal awareness."
Snap!
Their focus returned.
"So, why were you in the forest?""I woke up there and wandered for several days before collapsing."
"That must have been awful.""Good thing my husband found you."
It worked. My first successful hypnosis in this world.
"We haven't introduced ourselves. I'm Glenn, a hunter, and this is my wife, Linia.""Nice to meet you. What's your name?"
A new world deserved a new name — one that reflected the power I now held.
"Call me… Hypno."
And so, my life as Hypno began.