By Zephyria 
“R-Really…?”
“Yeah. Of course. So come here.”
Ban No-ah gestured, and an ordinary-looking man in his late 30s stepped forward.
“Wow….”
The man with hazy eyes trudged over and stood before Ban No-ah.
With trembling hands, he received the red orb from Ban No-ah. As reverently as a hero receiving a sacred object.
“This is… finally mine. It’s mine.”
Joy shone in the man’s eyes as he fondled the crimson orb, happiness evident.
‘As expected, it’s fortunate that there was trash next to Jin Eu-tteum.’
Tsk, Ban No-ah clicked his tongue, unable to hide his scorn for the man who reveled in stealing another’s ability.
The man who received the orb as if possessed was none other than Jin Eu-tteum’s cousin, Jin-irang.
Jin-irang was an E-class Esper, practically closer to an ordinary person than an Ability User.
A trivial ability to charge a dead battery with electricity. Even then, only half-filling it with a weak energy.
Awakening was an unfortunate event that only brought Jin-irang disappointment and frustration.
Because he awakened on the same day and at the same time as his cousin Jin Eu-tteum, Jin-irang had to be compared to Jin Eu-tteum every time.
“To think they have similar abilities but are so different….”
Compared to Jin Eu-tteum, who could freely summon lightning, Jin-irang’s ability seemed truly insignificant.
As the days passed, the intensity of the comparisons made among the relatives grew stronger.
The better Jin Eu-tteum did, the more famous he became, the more Dungeons he conquered…….
Jin-irang’s inferiority complex and relative deprivation swelled like a monster.
Jin-irang was consumed by ugly jealousy whenever he saw Jin Eu-tteum.
‘Why couldn’t I have that ability?’
Watching Jin Eu-tteum become a popular star Hunter loved by the public, Jin-irang accumulated hatred and resentment with nowhere to go.
Eventually, the unresolved anger was twisted in an unexpected direction.
‘If it weren’t for you.’
‘If that were the case, I would have had that great ability.’
‘Because of you, I only awakened such a pathetic ability and became ruined.’
‘It’s all, all because of you!’
This led to uncontrollable paranoia, but no one paid attention to Jin-irang.
His parents were ashamed of Jin-irang, who had awakened as an E-class, and didn’t talk to him much. The relatives, who were initially busy comparing and ridiculing him, also forgot about Jin-irang. All they cared about was Jin Eu-tteum, who was bringing honor to the family name.
‘If only you weren’t here, I could be happy!’
With a twisted heart, Jin-irang lurked around Jin Eu-tteum, constantly looking for an opportunity to disgrace him.
Then, the opportunity came to him.
A handsome young man in a jet-black suit approached him and made a devilish proposal.
‘Have you ever wished you could have Jin Eu-tteum’s ability?’
‘What…?’
‘Of course you have. I’ve already investigated you thoroughly. You envy and are jealous of Jin Eu-tteum, but you also admire him. You’re the one who’s been cursing Jin Eu-tteum on the internet every single day, aren’t you?’
‘H-How did you….’
While he had hoped someone would recognize his ugly feelings, Jin-irang was terrified when he was actually found out.
‘A-Are you going to tell Jin Eu-tteum?’
Jin-irang was afraid. He was living off Jin Eu-tteum’s generosity without a decent job.
Jin Eu-tteum always worried about his cousin and sent him some money as pocket money. Jin-irang couldn’t refuse it. Without that money, he would have trouble making ends meet.
So Jin-irang was terrified that Jin Eu-tteum would be disappointed in him and abandon him.
‘I-I’ll never do it again. So please, don’t tell Jin Eu-tteum….’
Ban No-ah chuckled as he watched Jin-irang tremble and beg in his weakness.
‘No, I’m not.’
‘…What?’
‘I’m on your side, not Jin Eu-tteum’s. I know better than anyone how frustrating it is to not have abilities, shall I say?’
‘What does that….’
‘I can give you Jin Eu-tteum’s ability.’
It was an absurd statement. Jin-irang was so surprised that he couldn’t make a sound.
Ban No-ah whispered to Jin-irang, who was gaping in astonishment.
‘Don’t you want it?’
Jin-irang couldn’t possibly refuse the chillingly tempting offer made by the devilish man.
‘If, if I could, I would steal it. Jin Eu-tteum’s ability.’
Jin-irang’s face was grotesquely distorted as he said those words.
Seeing his ugly inner self revealed, Ban No-ah curled up the corners of his lips.
‘Good. It’s so much better when you’re honest.’
I should give a reward to the good boy.
After a low, sweet voice rang out, Jin-irang’s eyes slowly turned hazy, like a mountain shrouded in mist.
‘R-Really…?’
‘Of course.’
Jin-irang didn’t know. That he was gradually being taken over, swept away by the Brainwashing ability that Ban No-ah had used.
Having confirmed that he had completely penetrated the cracks in Jin-irang’s heart, Ban No-ah threw away his pretense of kindness and ordered him.
‘Now. If you want to obtain Jin Eu-tteum’s ability as I suggested, follow my instructions. I’ll be the one to kill Jin Eu-tteum, but you’ll be the owner of the red orb, the crystallized essence of the ability extracted from him.’
‘Then….’
‘From beginning to end, all the crimes will be committed by you, Jin-irang. Killing Jin Eu-tteum, stealing his ability, and even the murders of the Ability Users before that, all of them will be your evil deeds.’
All you have to do is take the blame for all my sins.
It was an absurd price, but Jin-irang readily nodded.
‘I will do so….’
Along with the Brainwashing, his long-standing inferiority complex toward Jin Eu-tteum blinded Jin-irang.
And now.
As Ban No-ah had instructed, Jin-irang faithfully received the red orb, Jin Eu-tteum’s ability, and stayed by his corpse.
Ban No-ah instructed Jin-irang, who was standing there with a blank expression.
“You will stay there and greet the guests who will come instead of me.”
“What should I do…?”
“Confess that everything was Jin-irang’s doing, and die on the spot.”
Leaving only cruel orders, Ban No-ah maximized his Brainwashing ability.
With unfocused eyes, Jin-irang mumbled blankly.
“Everything was my doing….”
“If possible, be spiteful and vicious. You can even say that you’re not the real Jin-irang, but a monster wearing Jin-irang’s shell.”
“Yes….”
Leaving Jin-irang, who was mindlessly repeating his orders as if he had lost his mind, Ban No-ah hid himself using a stealth artifact.
‘This should allow me to avoid that damned Hyeon Jae-ha’s eyes.’
He held his breath and waited for the persistent trackers to arrive.
A short while later.
White Tiger Unit members, who had completely silenced their presence, swarmed around the abandoned factory.
Ha Ri-ra, carrying Samoa, who was completely drained from using her Tracking ability, asked.
“Is this the place, Samoa?”
“Yeah… this is definitely it. Ugh.”
Samoa, barely suppressing the nausea that made her stomach churn as if she were about to throw up, pointed to the abandoned factory.
“Jin Eu-tteum’s body is inside there. I’m sure of it.”
Hyeon Jae-ha, who had been running ahead, leaped high at Samoa’s words.
“If you’re sure, there’s no reason to dawdle any longer.”
“Captain?”
“You guys surround this area. Make sure no one gets out.”
Kwaaaang-!
Hyeon Jae-ha, who had smashed the dilapidated roof with his strength, landed steadily on the floor of the abandoned factory.
A choking dust storm tickled his nose. Two figures were visible under the dimly lit light bulb.
Jin Eu-tteum, already dead and stiff like a stone, and Jin-irang, grinning beside him.
“It’s mine…. This is finally my ability…. My ability that I took back from Jin Eu-tteum.”
‘Is he out of his mind?’
Hyeon Jae-ha used telekinesis to violently slam Jin-irang against the wall.
An invisible, giant hand pressed down on Jin-irang as if to flatten him into a pancake.
“Aaaaaargh!”
Jin-irang screamed, but Hyeon Jae-ha didn’t care.
He simply pressed Jin-irang with a terrifying expression.
“Where is the red orb?”
“Kee, hee hee. Why do you ask….”
“Isn’t that the crystallized essence created from the abilities you stole after killing Ability Users?”
“What if it is? What are you going to do about it? Jin Eu-tteum is already dead, isn’t he?”
Hyeon Jae-ha’s brow twitched at Jin-irang’s words.
Jin-irang, who had lost his fear due to Brainwashing, babbled on.
“This is mine! It’s my ability! I won’t let anyone take it! It’s mine!”
Jin-irang, who was struggling under Hyeon Jae-ha’s telekinesis, shouted and tightly gripped the red orb in his hand.
Then, a faint yellow light emanated from the red orb.
Pajijik.
A fierce electric current sparked from Jin-irang’s hand towards Hyeon Jae-ha.