Chapter 91

# 91

User Manual for the Reincarnated 091

We Will Be Together Forever (5)

It was right then that a change occurred in Jeong Hyeon's status window.

[Tendency - Fallen Advocate]

‘Don’t fall so suddenly…’ The words almost burst out of his throat.

‘That wasn’t the right answer.’

Realizing that saying "I love you" wasn't the right answer happened in an instant.

However, the problem was that there was no other option to choose from.

Now, he couldn't predict what kind of reaction would occur if he said he no longer loved her.

If neither was the right answer, it would be better to act in a predictable manner.

At least in this situation, he could predict the direction of the action.

He smiled without showing any signs, and she returned the smile.

‘I need to come up with a plan.’

As mentioned earlier, he needed to think of a way to control Jeong Hyeon besides the dungeon strategy.

Several options came to mind, but the most effective one came to him instantly.

He hadn't completely ruled out the idea of completely isolating or excluding Jeong Hyeon, but he considered it a last resort.

“I’ll be back after a short meeting, Hyeon. I’m preparing with Deokgu and Hee-young.”

“Okay! Big brother.”

The only time they could be apart was when the officers were discussing.

He saw Hwang Jeong-yeon, Kim Hyun-seong, and Lee Sang-hee already in conversation, confirming that he was indeed the last to arrive.

“Are you talking about the small statues?”

“Yes. The statues.”

“We confirmed that they are installed in certain areas, and for a short while, the voice in my head disappeared. Of course, it wasn’t a complete removal of the curse but a temporary suppression.”

“I see. So, can we consider these as safety zones in certain areas?”

“We don’t know if the statues in other areas have the same effect, but at the very least, they can help stabilize a deteriorated mind. Since divine power is not very effective after being cursed, it’s best to make the most of these.”

“That’s a relief. I was feeling that the cycle was getting shorter….”

“They are located a bit further away from here.”

He nodded, and the others greeted him.

From the tone of the conversation, it seemed that Kim Hyun-seong had discovered something.

In summary, it appeared they had found safety zones that could prevent the erosion of the curse.

‘Not bad.’

While these safety zones would have been discovered during the dungeon strategy, finding them at this early stage was certainly praiseworthy.

“How are the members of the 7th team?”

Kim Hyun-seong glanced at him.

Given that he had just returned from outside, it was understandable that he didn’t know the condition of their party members.

“They seem a bit uneasy, but they should be fine for now. Hee-young doesn’t seem to be affected much, and neither do I. The voice isn’t completely gone….”

“I see.”

“It seems to be influenced by the mental stat, though I can’t be sure.”

“Oh.”

“How about the 2nd team?”

“Yes. In our party, the front-line members with relatively lower mental stats seem to be more affected. The erosion speed is also a bit faster. It’s not a critical situation yet, but if this continues for three days or a week, it’s hard to predict what will happen.”

“Still, it’s a relief. At least we know there are safe places to rest in certain areas. Please instruct the priests in each party to focus more on the front-line members. It might not be very effective, but it’s better than nothing. If you have any other information, please let me know immediately, even if it’s minor.”

“Understood.”

“Let’s start moving right after the meeting. We’ll proceed with the search as we did yesterday, with Hyun-seong leading.”

“Understood.”

Lee Sang-hee spoke, and the rest of us nodded. It seemed that Lee Sang-hee’s part was done, but his own was just beginning.

“Hyun-seong, I’ll be back after a short talk with Jeong-yeon.”

“Ah… Understood.”

Kim Hyun-seong looked a bit puzzled, and Hwang Jeong-yeon also seemed surprised.

Seeing her nod, it seemed she was curious about what he had to say.

Kim Hyun-seong moved away, and Hwang Jeong-yeon opened her mouth with a curious expression.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. How about you, Jeong-yeon?”

“I’m fine too. My high mental stat seems to have helped. But Ki-yeong doesn’t seem to be affected much either.”

“It’s just that he doesn’t show it outwardly.”

“No, you woke up early even when the curse was cast. It’s a bit embarrassing, but everyone is different. Hehe.”

“Have you discovered anything else?”

“Ah… I’ve been collecting data, but I don’t think it’s the right time to share yet.”

“Can you give an example?”

“For example, the voice appears every 10 minutes and 46 seconds. It shortens by 38 seconds every hour. The erosion speed is slower when resting without any action. Of course, there are individual differences, but this is my current state.”

“Ah, having a good memory is definitely helpful.”

“Yes, but it’s not pleasant to hear the voices of those bastards more vividly. Anyway, what’s up? Are you trying to keep the promise from last time?”

“No, the timing isn’t right now. Deokgu is also struggling, and we’re inside the dungeon.”

“Hehe. You two seem to be relying on each other… It’s romantic.”

“It’s not really a romantic situation. We’re both affected by the curse.”

“From the outside, it doesn’t seem like a problem.”

“Because we’ve been together for a long time, I can notice subtle differences.”

“Let’s say that.”

“Hmm… Why didn’t you tell Sang-hee or Hyun-seong?”

“It’s something I need to handle alone.”

“Still, it’s better to let them know. Dungeon strategies can change with even the smallest variable. If Hyeon’s condition is bad, you might consider leaving the dungeon first.”

“No, there’s no guarantee that leaving the dungeon will help… It might even be more dangerous.”

“Being together is a better choice.”

“Also, at least Jeong-yeon knows. It’s like having an insurance policy in case something happens.”

“It’s good to have your trust, but I can’t say I’m confident. I’m under a lot of stress, so what can I do to help?”

There’s no reason to drag this out. I looked at her and spoke.

“Can you use illusion magic, hallucination magic, or mental magic?”

“Hmm….”

“……”

“Mental magic is impossible.”

‘Ah…’

“Illusion or hallucination magic is possible. Mental magic isn’t completely impossible, but it’s complicated. You know that, right?”

“Yes, I’m aware it’s difficult.”

“I can guess what you’re thinking, but it’s not that easy. Illusion or hallucination magic doesn’t work well on people with high mental stats, and even those with low mental stats can resist if they have high mana. Mental magic is even harder. Even if the person tries to accept the magic, humans instinctively resist mental intrusions.”

I knew it would be difficult, but hearing that it was impossible from the start was a bit disheartening.

However, I knew that people like Hwang Jeong-yeon find it interesting to turn the impossible into the possible.

“It’s impossible, no doubt. But… what if the target is cursed?”

“It would still be difficult.”

“What if we use drugs or catalysts?”

“Are you talking about the way you use magic?”

“Yes. I also have a potion I’ve been researching. It’s designed to affect emotions. While it hasn’t been very successful, it’s not bad. It can produce similar effects.”

“……”

“Is it possible?”

“I’m not sure. But combining potion treatment with illusion magic might work. The simultaneous approach could be effective. The potion could break down the mental barriers, and the curse has already weakened the mind….”

Hwang Jeong-yeon was muttering to herself, seemingly thinking about the theory. She looked a bit interested.

“If this works, it could make the dungeon strategy easier. Of course, more experiments are needed, but at least a month….”

“We should skip the formalities and start the experiment immediately. We have a suitable test subject.”

“Huh?”

“I should do it myself. It won’t harm me, and I know the potion best.”

“Ah….”

“Is it possible?”

“I can’t give a definite answer, but it sounds interesting. We can discuss the theory on the way and start the clinical trials whenever we have a break. If there’s any mental abnormality….”

“It won’t happen.”

I can’t guarantee it, but it’s true.

We’re in a situation where we have to take a risk.

I thought this was necessary to maintain my relationship with Jeong Hyeon.

Of course, I knew that seeing me with Hwang Jeong-yeon would negatively affect Jeong Hyeon, but…

‘It’s part of the plan.’

Considering the bigger picture, this didn’t seem like a bad choice.

“I’ll let Hyun-seong know.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll be moving with the 2nd team for a while.”

“Understood. It’s a good idea. We have a lot to do, so it’s better to send our party members. We can tell the others that we’re conducting research on the dungeon. We don’t know when the monsters will appear, but at least we’ll have some time to experiment.”

“Understood.”

“Do you have the catalysts?”

“Of course. I brought the alchemy kits, so don’t worry.”

“Three days. Let’s solve it within three days.”

“I’ll try to do it faster.”

“Hmm… The incantation is difficult, but we have the materials. If I fail, my title as a mage will be in jeopardy. This will be the second experiment, then?”

“This time, Jeong-yeon is the doctor.”

“Yes. Assistant. I’ll do my best.”