The Man with Hypnotic Powers Doesn’t Hold Back the Second Time Around

The necromancer, now fully conscious, was utterly bewildered.

"You're telling me I'm a villain who killed hundreds of thousands of people...?"
"That's correct. Oh, and by the way, it's the year 2020."
"No way! Is this some kind of hidden camera prank? It has to be, right? Please tell me it is!"

Her initial reaction was pure denial—an entirely natural response.

While Yujin was retrieving her divine essence, he had erased all of her memories from her time as a villain. The only memories she retained were those from just before her Awakening.

It was only natural that she’d be disoriented and in disbelief. Kkong and the Vietnamese Awakened knew this fact all too well.

"..."
[That damned woman...]

Even knowing the truth, it was hard to contain their anger.

She was the one who had brought nightmares upon Vietnam. Now, she dared to act as though she were innocent just because she'd lost her memories? The audacity was beyond infuriating.

The sheer animosity in their gazes—true, unfiltered intent to kill—was undeniable.

A small, frightened yelp escaped her lips.

"...Well, if this isn’t a prank, then…"
"Here. These are photos I took during our battle."
"…No way. This is supposed to be me?"
"Yes. And by the way, on that day, three of my comrades died. Because your zombies used civilians as bait."
"…"

Kkong explained her crimes calmly and methodically. He laid out the atrocities committed by the Grade 0 villain necromancer, who deserved nothing less than immediate execution.

It didn’t take long for tears to form in the necromancer's eyes.

"Aren't villains supposed to be beyond saving…?"
"Not anymore. The only person in the world capable of rehabilitating villains, Seo Yujin, cured you."
"Seo Yujin? A Korean?"
"That’s right. He’s the one who played a significant role in your subjugation. Around here, he’s known as the Savior of Vietnam."

A fleeting glance was cast in Yujin's direction. The young man, deciding this wasn’t his business, busied himself with something else in the distance. His considerate demeanor elicited smiles from those watching.

"——The complete opposite of you."
"Eek!"

However, as soon as their gazes turned back to the necromancer, the warmth vanished. Instead, their eyes burned with hostility, as though they were itching to end her life on the spot. Even Kkong, despite his usual composure, momentarily clenched his jaw in frustration.

The stark contrast was enough to hammer reality into the necromancer.

"W-What I did… I didn’t want to do any of it…"
"I understand you want to make excuses, but save them for yourself. If those whose families died because of you heard that, they’d tear you apart."
"…Ugh…"

Her legs, which had withstood even the harshest torture, began to tremble. Her teeth chattered audibly.

Fully grasping the gravity of her situation, the necromancer quaked in fear.

"Then… why did you cure me? Villains are supposed to be executed on the spot."
"Would that erase your sins? You’re responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Do you think dying would be enough to pay for that?"
"That's…"
"You’ll spend the rest of your life atoning for your crimes. As the first and last member of the Penal Corps, under my command as the leader of the Vietnamese Liberation Army."

The verdict was delivered with calm finality. On the surface, it sounded merciful—her life would be spared. But in truth, it was the cruelest punishment imaginable.

"Just so you know, any thoughts of desertion would be unwise. Even if you managed to escape, there’s no one in this country who would welcome you. If you don’t want to be pelted with garbage or attacked by Awakened, you’d better stay by my side."

The outcome was obvious, even without the ability to foresee the future. Unlike Yujin or himself, the necromancer bore the hatred and resentment of an entire nation.

• Knock knock.