These Lunatics are Obsessed With Me

I stared at Sim Dante in astonishment, but this shameless bastard just smiled and looked at me.

What did he just say? Temporary possession? So, I’m in someone else’s body again? What kind of messed-up situation is this?

“What do you think? Isn’t it impressive? It didn’t last long since it’s only temporary, but I’ve already made this much progress in my research. Forcing a soul into a designated body is—”

“Hey, you fucking bastard!”

“Argh!”

I grabbed Sim Dante by the collar with both hands as he rambled on with that smug look on his face. But this body felt so weak I had no strength in my arms and ended up swaying. These thin arms were barely half the size of Han Yi-jin's and trembled uncontrollably.

“Whoa, whoa, please calm down.”

“How can I calm down, huh? What is going on…!”

“That body’s owner is in a deep sleep, but if you move around too much, it could be dangerous.”

Getting up so suddenly made my head spin. Is this body suffering from anemia too? Why is it so weak?

Moreover, I couldn’t feel the power of an Awakener at all. Of course, Han Yi-jin's body was out of sync at first and couldn’t call up the status window or access his abilities, but this body feels completely different.

Han Yi-jin’s body had a strange energy from the moment I possessed it, while this one feels entirely empty inside. After being in an Awakened body for so long, the contrast is even more pronounced.

“This body… Could it be a non-Awakener?”

“You’re right.”

Sim Dante caught my staggering body with a grin. He gently placed his arm around my shoulder and spoke softly.

“Alright, alright. Don’t get too worked up. Just sit down for a moment.”

“Damn it.”

Reluctantly, I sat back down on the bed where I had woken up. Next to me, that suspicious machine buzzed, and I felt extremely annoyed.

“Actually, an Awakened person's body usually has strong resistance. You could say I’m experimenting from the ground up.”

“You bastard… So that’s why you’ve been targeting only low-tier Awakeners.”

“Hehe, did I get caught?”

"Sigh…”

Sim Dante tricked low-tier Awakeners like Han Yi-jin by claiming he could elevate their ranks, all to sell them the machine for his possession experiments. It turns out that was the reason behind it.

I had thought he was just targeting low-tier Awakeners to easily scam them, but high-tier Awakeners' bodies probably weren't suitable for experiments.

Just imagine that machine trying to work on Kang Yoo-hyun's body—it probably wouldn’t even function. His mental strength stat must be maxed out. I shook my head without realizing it.

“But now you know, right? I wasn’t just playing around all this time. I've been working hard to keep my promise to you…”

“Promise? This is just an experiment to satisfy your own greed. I’m the unfortunate one who got caught up in it.”

“He–hehe.”

When I hit the nail on the head, Sim Dante let out an awkward laugh. I glanced at him and sighed again.

“Ha, it’s cold. Can you give me something to wear?”

“Sure.”

I was topless, just like when I first possessed Han Yi-jin’s body. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was in a non-Awakened body or if it was just too cold here, but I was shivering. Sim Dante quickly found a shirt and put it on me.

“Is this your lab?”

“Yes, well, it’s one of many.”

“One of many…”

I wonder how many illegal experiments this son of a bitch is running.

Even if he's secretly experimenting on Awakeners with machines, isn’t it clearly a crime to experiment on non-Awakened people? This is biological experimentation!

When I gave him a suspicious look, Sim Dante quickly waved his hands in denial.

“No, I absolutely didn’t kidnap or imprison anyone! I had their consent and a proper contract… But, well, it’s not an experiment approved by the government or any associations.”

“That’s still illegal, you crazy bastard.”

“Haha, that’s true.”

“Sigh…”

There’s no point in talking to this crazy guy anymore. I should just take care of my business and get back. But can I even return to Han Yi-jin’s body? As I shot him another suspicious glare, Sim Dante quickly spoke up.

“What is it?”

“Can I really go back to Han Yi-jin’s body?”

“Of course you can. The coordinates are set.”

“…Then what about returning to my original body?”

“That’s not possible.”

“Sigh…”

I suppose that’s still not possible. The need for coordinates means I haven’t been able to find my real body that Han Yi-jin has taken over. I let out another sigh.

“Would you like to take a look around while you're here?”

“Um…”

Sim Dante looked at me with his hands respectfully clasped together. It felt a bit odd, like a researcher waiting for approval from someone important.

I felt like a VIP, even though I wasn’t providing any financial support. I scratched my head before turning to Sim Dante and opening my mouth.

"Before that, I want to ask you something."

“Sure! What is it?”

Sim Dante tilted his head, and I narrowed my eyes as I questioned him.

“Do you also sell items to the Laufey Guild?”

“Ah, haha…”

Actually, I didn’t need to ask; it was obvious. I was just curious about how he would react. Sim Dante's face stiffened awkwardly.

“No, I mean, I’m not selling it to them because I want to…”

“You’re just a menace to society.”

“What do you mean by ‘menace'? The items I’ve researched and developed with great effort have done so much for the world…”

“Those very items nearly got me killed!”

When I shouted, Sim Dante's eyes widened. He then scanned my temporary body from head to toe and shrugged his shoulders.

“Aren’t you alive?”

"You son of a bitch!"

I shouted angrily, causing Sim Dante to step back in surprise. However, his exaggerated gestures only fueled my anger. When I shot him a deadly glare, Sim Dante shrugged his shoulders dramatically once again.

“I can’t help it if the items I create are that impressive. Besides, if I don’t supply them, my life could be in danger.”

“Does the Guildmaster of the Laufey Guild know where you are?”

“He hasn’t found out yet, but I’m worried he will eventually…”

“You don’t have any certainty in what you’re saying. You’re just lying, aren’t you?”

“Ahaha, when have I ever lied to you…?”

“…”

Sim Dante's laughter faded as our eyes locked.

Wow, I really want to kill this researcher or whatever he is. Wouldn’t getting rid of this bastard actually be for the greater good?

As I considered this seriously, Sim Dante slowly approached me.

“Now, now, my esteemed customer. No need to get too riled up. I’ll give you my latest masterpiece for free, just for you…”

“I only accept S-grade items and above.”

“Ah

Sim Dante let out an awkward laugh, his mouth stiffly curled up. He frowned slightly as he spoke.

“No, come on, I can’t produce S-grade items every time, you know?”

“Really? Then I guess we won’t be collaborating anymore.”

“Sobs, that’s just unfair!”

As I turned my head and looked away, Sim Dante let out an irritating sob. I sighed inwardly and rose from my seat.

“S-grade.”

“…Yes”

Sim Dante reluctantly answered and guided me to his workshop with a listless expression.

I glanced at the machine making noise and then left the lab.

"This is the workshop where I usually create items!"

Sim Dante exclaimed proudly, but I surveyed the surprisingly ordinary workshop with a disinterested expression. It was strange that I hadn’t seen anyone on the way here, especially in such a big place.

The neat and organized workshop looked suspicious, as if someone had been maintaining it. There was no way one person could manage this place alone.

"Are you alone? Where are the others?”

“Ah, I’m the only one allowed in here for security reasons.”

“Oh, really?”

So this guy keeps his workspace this tidy all by himself? Sim Dante looked hurt when I stared at him in surprise.

What a despicable jerk.

"But what is this?"

"Ah! As expected, my esteemed customer has a discerning eye!"

When I picked up an unusual-looking item, Sim Dante approached me like an enthusiastic salesman and started explaining it in detail.

"Well, that is my newest creation. It’s an S-grade item! I call it ‘You Can Cook with Leather Boots!’ It’s a kit that lets you make food from all kinds of ingredients. If you take this to the dungeon, you’ll never have to worry about food at all! You can even cook and eat dragon scales!”

“…That sounds pretty lame.”

“Lame? How can you say that?!”

I put the item down, ignoring Sim Dante’s whiny protest as if he were genuinely hurt. No matter how limited my inventory space is, keeping some emergency rations for backup is essential.

But to think that something this useless was classified as an S-grade item—it's truly pointless. I clicked my tongue and turned my head, and there it was—the thing I had been looking for.

T/N: Merry Christmas and happy holidays every