88. The Evil Dragon and the Photographer

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Recruiting Ji-yeon

Even if I don’t turn her into a monster, she’s worth negotiating with.

Striking while the iron’s hot, I followed the intense magical energy radiating from Songdo’s purification.

One source had already stopped moving – Sia must be fighting.

“This way then.”

The other presence wandering east of Yeonsu-dong would be Ji-yeon. A perfect lure if she meant to provoke me – Jin-seok must have told her I’d appear if she lingered here.

Not that I’d have missed her anyway. Ji-yeon ranked among my favorite characters. Who wouldn’t want to taste their favorite?

“Heeey~ Found you~”

“Photographer of Death. Seo Ji-yeon.”

Korea’s second strongest Hunter. Even Noah of Flowers and other guild masters fell to her camera’s shutter.

Definitely not someone to make an enemy of.

“Ooh, you know me? Can we negotiate?”

“Yes. That’s why I came.”

“Joining Seoul?”

“No.”

Her bitter smile told me she’d expected that answer. I wondered how this fierce woman would sound crying in bed.

“Then force it is?”

Force would hurt though.

“I’d rather not fight.”

“Rules are rules for Hunters versus monsters. I was an Apostle candidate, you know.”

Suddenly I stood inside her finger-camera lens.

Click!

Her mental world unfolded – endless white space framed by photographs revealing her psyche.

Clap clap clap

“Impressive. Rare to resist my shutter.”

“How rude~ Kidnapping a girl like this?”

I hadn’t expected to enter her mindscape. Just like the novels described – an empty canvas.

“Necessary for someone like you.”

“Can you attack minds here?”

This was why Ji-yeon terrified people. She could mentally break opponents trapped in her world.

“For example…”

Snap!

The scenery became ruins – likely reconstructed from Baekhwa’s backstory. Black Cult remnants fought Hunters amid devastation.

“Kill the cultists!”

“Please! We’re civilians!”

“Liar! Your suicide attacks murdered dozens!”

Even bystanders were slaughtered. Either she meant to upset me or demonstrate her mental control.

But if this was my stage too…

“I’m good at mental attacks myself.”

The mindscape felt malleable, reminiscent of Author Yoo Eun-ha’s domain. Having visited it during my century with Rachel, I recognized the connection.

As the author’s proxy, I could manipulate this space.

“Mental attacks won’t work on me here.”

“This is my domain too.”

Ji-yeon tilted her head. “Explain.”

Tap!

“Garden of Lilies!”

I showed her a new world – women kissing, fingering each other, scissoring in sweet lesbian passion.

“Wh-what? How? That’s possible?”

Unexpected. Rather than shock at my counterattack, she fixated on the yuri. Typical Ji-yeon – lethally curious.

“Love makes anything possible~”

I wanted to pounce immediately.

“Too many secrets. Who are you?”

“Can’t you tell?”

“I have manners.”

Manners? Here?

“First, a request.”

“What?”

“Join Baekhwa’s cult.”

Become mine. The mighty Azhi Dahaka kneeling this much deserved reward.

“A villain group?!”

“An all-female villain group~ Just girls loving girls?”

Most members were women anyway, aside from leftover cultists.

“Isn’t that weird?”

“Says the one dripping through her shorts?”

Her soaked thighs betrayed her. Of course, I’d manipulated that sensation – she still loved Jin-seok. Just teasing her curiosity.

“T-that’s just biology!”

“Arousal is arousal~”

She shook her head adorably. “Enough tricks! This is a mental battle!”

“Actually, I’ve wanted you for ages.”

“Wanted me how?”

“Drop the manners and see who I really am.”

My nun disguise melted into Yoo Eun-ha’s form.

“!!”

“You recognize me?”

“Why’s Baekhwa Eun-ha?! Explain or I’ll spank you silly before dragging you to Jin-seok!”

Her mock spanking gesture was cute.

“Sit. I’ll explain what I can.”

I summarized future events – the Sins’ invasion seen through Akashic Records. As my mental equal here, she’d know I spoke truth.

“If Akashic’s right, shouldn’t you join Seoul? Growing villain forces is wrong!”

“My ‘villains’ are reformed. The real scum are dead. And ask yourself – would Ha Jung-seok help, or exploit this?”

That power-hungry worm would definitely abuse my knowledge.

Ji-yeon knew – he’d tormented her in the original for her abilities.

“Still…as a Hunter…”

She was wavering. I clung tearfully – my beauty could sway anyone.

“At least until we defeat Gluttony?”

“I can’t ignore my duty!”

Such pointless righteousness. Perfect corruption material.

“I’ll pay with my body~”

“That won’t work! I’m straight!”

My tail could fix that. One thrust would make her forget men existed.

“Try it first~ You’ll like it~”

“Wait…you’re into women?”

She only noticed now? My earlier show didn’t tip her off?