The Hypnosis App Was Fake – Chapter 22

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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What did I just hear?

Being hugged tightly by Faster, being called kind, feeling relieved in this situation—none of it made any sense.

One thing was certain: being held by Faster was the best feeling ever. The terror, anxiety, and tension that had been driving me crazy melted away in his embrace.

“Suh… Haaa…”

And the scent of him, burying my nose in his chest and inhaling deeply, was pure bliss. Aromatherapy was nothing compared to Faster-therapy.

The only downside to this perfect hug was the intense craving for it to last forever. It was absurdly addictive.

“Suh… Huh… Suh… Huh… Heh… Hehehe…”

Each inhale brought happiness, each exhale anticipation. Caught in this perfect cycle of bliss, I found myself grinning like an idiot.

I knew I shouldn’t be making such a spectacle of myself, but I couldn’t stop smiling. This moment was too perfect.

A hug that could instantly turn someone into a blubbering idiot… even the power of an S-rank Awakened was nothing compared to this…

As I reveled in the blissful embrace, Faster, as if remembering something he needed to say, released his hold on my back and shoulders, gently pushed me back, and looked into my eyes.

The whole sequence felt like a scene from a romance, two lovers exchanging a tender gaze after a heartfelt hug. My heart pounded in my chest.

My face felt hot. I must be blushing. Ugh… I wanted to maintain my composure, my ‘older sister’ image in front of Faster…

The romantic atmosphere filled my mind with flowery thoughts. Uncharacteristically sappy, shoujo manga like monologues filled my head.

Embarrassed by my own thoughts, I thought, I wish he’d just hug me again… Just then, Faster spoke.

“Ms. Ia Aris, you deliberately acted like the villain because you felt sorry for me being dragged away by Scarlet, didn’t you? I know you acted out of character because you didn’t want me to feel guilty or indebted to you. You can stop pretending now. I don’t like seeing you like that, even if it’s an act.”

I almost blurted out, ‘What the fuck are you talking about?!’

Thankfully, my mind was still filled with romantic fantasies, preventing any actual profanity from escaping my lips. But I couldn’t help but feel completely dumbfounded.

How could he possibly come to that conclusion?

I’d completely demolished his precious apartment and then mocked him for his loss. Any normal person would be furious, ready to kill.

Why was he making these assumptions? How much did he trust me to think like this?

I was incredibly relieved that he wasn’t angry at me. But his unwavering trust, even after I’d vowed never to cross the line again, was baffling.

Why did he trust me so much?

Being trusted by him was wonderful, of course. But his trust wasn’t romantic. To him, I was just a good older sister, a good colleague.

That kind of relationship would never develop into what I wanted.

I craved a mutually possessive, co-dependent, obsessive relationship with Faster. I’d do anything to make that happen.

Anything except make him hate me.

I was relieved that Faster didn’t hate me, yet simultaneously uncomfortable with his unwavering trust. It was ironic.

How could I make Faster see me differently? Should I just grab his face and kiss him? Would that make him see me as a woman? Would his heart skip a beat? He trusts me, right? I could just say, ‘You trust me, don’t you, Faster? It’s just a kiss,’ and make it impossible for him to refuse. And then, after the kiss, we could… you know… take things further?

My mind screamed at me to make a move, but after imagining the possibility of him rejecting me, I was too scared to be so direct.

The best I could do right now was to hug him silently.

“Is the act over? Can I… look at you now without worrying?”

Faster, through some absurd misunderstanding, had interpreted my genuine feelings as an act. But I couldn’t deny it.

Right now… I’ll just enjoy this moment. Being held like this by Faster is enough.

I buried my face in his chest again and nodded slightly. And just like that, my true feelings became an ‘act.’

It seemed Faster had burrowed his way deeper into my heart than I’d realized.

I’ll let it slide this time, but next time… Oh, Faster smells so good…

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“Hee… Hehehe… Suh… Haaa…”

Ia Aris nuzzled her brown, shoulder-length hair against my chest, inhaling my scent and giggling happily. Her laughter sounded almost angelic.

Smiling warmly, I gently stroked her hair and thought,

Holy shit. What the hell is going on? Is Ia Aris just as crazy as Scarlet?

Recalling that shocking realization, my hand froze mid-stroke.

Ia Aris, looking up at me with a questioning gaze, I quickly plastered a gentle smile on my face and pulled her head closer to my chest.

“Mmm… Hehehe…”

With her face buried in my chest, Ia Aris started giggling again, inhaling my scent. Looking down at the top of her head, I broke out in a cold sweat.

That was close.

I breathed a sigh of relief and replayed the things Ia Aris had said, revealing her true nature.

‘Now there’s no need to bill Scarlet for the repairs. It’s obvious I destroyed your apartment.’

‘You should do to me what you were planning to do to Scarlet, shouldn’t you? That’s the only way you’ll get compensated. Uhuhu…’

‘I told you, didn’t I? You’re so frustrating, Mr. Faster. So dense, so oblivious to my feelings. I had no choice.’

‘Let me put it another way. Ahem.’

‘I-If I didn’t do this, you wouldn’t even notice me!’

Just recalling her words and the situation sent shivers down my spine.

At first, I’d tried to dismiss it as a joke, or assumed she had a good reason for acting like this. But the more she spoke, the more certain I became.

Even someone as clueless about women as me couldn’t miss such blatant signals.

Ia Aris, whom I’d believed to be a normal person, was just as crazy as Scarlet, and for some reason, she wanted to possess me.

It was common knowledge in the Awakened world that Ia Aris had indulged in extravagant spending before joining Liar’s Trap.

She had a peculiar habit when it came to luxury goods. If she set her sights on something, she would ignore everything else and do whatever it took to acquire it.

No matter how long it took, no matter how much it cost, Ia Aris always got what she wanted.

Despite her slum background, her dark past, and her status as a role model for countless Awakened, her extravagant spending hadn’t tarnished her image.

On the contrary, people said she deserved to indulge.

When I first heard about it, I, like everyone else, had agreed.

‘If an S-rank Awakened can’t indulge in luxury, who can?’ That’s what I’d thought.

And soon after, Ia Aris transferred to Liar’s Trap.

She continued her extravagant spending for about three months after joining the guild.

She even filled the infirmary with display cases to showcase her luxury goods. But then, one day, she suddenly stopped, losing all interest.

That moment coincided with the time we started becoming close.

Holy fucking shit. This is insane. So creepy.

Ia Aris’s habit, the timing of her sudden shift in spending habits, and her possessiveness towards me… it all clicked.

She hadn’t stopped indulging. She was simply biding her time, preparing and waiting for the right moment to acquire what she truly desired.

“Mmm? Faster…? Why did you stop…? Are you tired?”

Ia Aris, unable to endure even a moment without my touch, tilted her head questioningly.

I looked at her, forcing a natural smile, and resumed stroking her hair.

“Ms. Ia Aris, should I take you home now? I don’t want to keep my lifesaver in this… ruined place.”

“L-Lifesaver?! That’s a bit much, Mr. Faster! I just… I’m just a close older sister looking out for her younger brother. Don’t feel burdened. Okay?”

Ia Aris, her arm around my waist, speaking like the kindest person in the world, was a crocodile, its jaws clamped tight on its prey.

To avoid being eaten, I had to become a plover bird, cleaning the crocodile’s teeth.

And to do that, I had to prevent her from even thinking about biting me.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll gladly accept your kindness. Ms. Ia Aris. No… I-Ia… Noona.”

The word ‘noona’ (older sister), combined with addressing her by her first name without the honorifics, was a powerful move. Ia Aris blushed, smiled brightly, and then, seemingly embarrassed, buried her face in my chest.

Gently stroking her hair, I screamed internally,

Why is this happening to me?!

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Whoops our MC’s Knew that both girl is crazy 🤣