These Lunatics are Obsessed With Me

"Oh? This is…”

My eyes widened. The item's shape, as described in the novel, was so distinctive that I recognized it instantly. I knew right away it was the item I had been searching for.

I quickly checked the item's details, relieved that I could examine items regardless of their grade, unlike with monsters.

「Sweet Sleep (S)

An item that guarantees a peaceful sleep with just a single use.

※ Overuse may lead to side effects.」

“You can't do this…!”

Sim Dante was startled and reached out, but I quickly snatched the item first. It was the so-called "Sweet Sleep" item.

From the outside, it resembled a luxurious perfume bottle, and the pink liquid inside made it somewhat—no, quite—intimidating for a man to use.

It matched the novel's description perfectly, so I was relieved to recognize the item right away.

“Give that to me.”

“I said no!”

Sim Dante shouted in surprise. He attempted to take the item from my hand, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He looked strong enough to snatch it away, yet he hesitated. What a strange softie, I thought to myself as I shook the item.

“Quit being so stingy, you bastard. Just give me one!”

“Do you have any idea how many times I failed to create that as an S-grade item? It’s my only successful S-grade creation!”

“Hmm…”

One would expect someone with Sim Dante's level of skill to produce S-grade items effortlessly, but that wasn’t the reality. Regardless of skill proficiency, crafting an S-grade item was as rare as plucking a star from the sky1.

Additionally, some items came with a risk of failure. While the “Sweet Sleep” item appeared quite unremarkable on the outside, it was far from ordinary.

A deep sleep.

In truth, all S-rank or higher hunters suffered from insomnia. Many, like Kang Yoo-hyun, dealt with PTSD, but they never revealed it outwardly.

As heroes tasked with saving the world, they had to maintain an image of perfection. They could never show their weakness to others.

A deep sleep was vital for them; even just resting properly could alleviate stress. That’s why the “Sweet Sleep” item was so highly sought after among S-rank ability users. As Sim Dante pointed out, its challenging creation made it one of the most coveted rare items.

The solution Kang Yoo-hyun mentioned must have referred to this item. He unexpectedly got scammed while trying to acquire it, leading him to become involved with illegal items and triggering the incident. He lost control of his powers and plunged the Odin Guild into chaos.

I had to prevent that at all costs. With Do-gyul in the Odin Guild, I was resolved to do whatever it took to keep Kang Yoo-hyun away from illegal items. Yet here I was, stumbling upon the real “Sweet Sleep” item. I felt incredibly lucky. 𝙍

“I really need this. How much are you selling it for?”

“You’re actually going to pay me?”

“…”

Sim Dante looked at me in disbelief.

Why is he staring at me like that? Does he think I won’t pay him?

Well, I had never actually paid him before. To be honest, I didn’t feel the need to since I was just a victim of Sim Dante’s experiments. I thought it was only fair to demand that much.

However, considering the rarity and value of the “Sweet Sleep” item, I felt a bit guilty about taking it for free. Despite my offer to pay, Sim Dante still appeared troubled.

“Then just give it to me.”

“No, wait! Hold on!”

“Ah, why?”

“Haa…”

Sim Dante let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. He then turned to me with a frown and asked,

“You're going to use that on Hunter Kang Yoo-hyun, right?”

“Uh…”

How did he know? I was caught off guard and couldn't hide my surprise, but Sim Dante kept on speaking.

“Haa, looks like I’ll be the one getting nagged again… but I guess there’s no helping it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll give it to you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

I stared at Sim Dante in disbelief as he nodded. Is he really going to give it to me this easily? Just like that? I couldn't help but wonder if he had something up his sleeve.

“Ah, why are you looking at me like that when I'm giving it to you for free?”

“I need to know that I can trust you. What do you really want, huh?”

“Well, if you insist…”

“Wait, don’t say it.”

“Oh, come on, my esteemed customer! You’re really going too far!”

When I feigned distrust, Sim Dante pouted and pretended to be angry. I looked at him with an indifferent expression before glancing at the item and tilting my head.

"But how am I supposed to take this with me?"

My current body belongs to someone I don't recognize. If I go back to Han Yi-jin's body, I won't be able to bring the item with me. However, Sim Dante spoke as if he had no concerns at all.

“Your inventory should still be accessible.”

“What? The inventory? But I’m in someone else’s body.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Your soul is connected to the server, after all. You might not be able to use skills in that body, but your inventory should still be linked.”

“Is that so?”

If that’s the case, then it’s a huge win for me. After pondering for a moment, I envisioned opening my inventory. To my surprise, it actually appeared!

"Ah, you are right."

"Oho, I’ll need to take note of this."

“…”

Sim Dante took out his notebook and began writing something down. This bastard was still experimenting, even in this situation. I clicked my tongue and stored the item in my inventory. I turned my head away after admiring the ‘Sweet Sleep’ item with satisfaction.

“Show me some other items.”

“This shameless robber…”

“What did you just say?”

“…I didn’t say anything.”

I was having a great time robbing Sim Dante's workshop when I suddenly paused. A brief “ping” ringing in my head.

“…Huh?”

“Ah, I guess time’s up. First of all, with current technology, the maximum duration for temporary possession is…”

“Don’t write that down, you asshole…”

This time, I shot a glare at Sim Dante while he noted the time and frowned. My mind felt increasingly foggy, and Sim Dante's unpleasant smile emerged as he supported my collapsing body.

“See you later, my esteemed customer.”

“Haa…”

And just like that, I closed my eyes and slipped back into unconsciousness.

"Hok…!”

My eyes shot open. I blinked several times to adjust my vision and shook my head from side to side. Only then did my surroundings come into focus. I found myself in a familiar place—my room at the Odin Guild quarters. It seemed I had safely returned to Han Yi-jin's body.

“Ha, Sim Dante, that crazy bastard…”

I never expected to meet him like this. He was undeniably crazy. Yet, there was a silver lining: as he had boasted, the experiments to return to the original world were still in progress.

Though these experiments appeared to breach basic human rights and ethics, I had no choice given my desperate circumstances.

Most importantly, I had obtained a highly valuable item this time.

Looking at the S-grade items in my inventory, a satisfied smile spread across my face. Despite the abrupt and unpleasant experience, it felt worth it.

“…Kyaau!”

“Huh?”

At that moment, I heard a faint cry coming from somewhere—a sound I knew all too well. I turned to see where it was coming from.

"Yong-sik?"

I quickly approached Yong-sik. Yong-sik had been kept in the cage to make sure he wouldn’t run into Yong-sun while I was away. I opened the cage and checked on him.

“Yong-sik, are you awake?”

“Kyau… Kyauu…”

“…?”

Is he sleep-talking? I gazed down at Yong-sik in confusion as he cried out without opening his eyes. Although he sometimes mumbled in his sleep, he had never made such loud noises before, which startled me a bit.

Could it be that Yong-sik unconsciously sensed my absence earlier? Han Yi-jin's body, devoid of a soul, must have just been lying there like a lifeless shell.

“Kyauuu…”

“…”

His cries gradually faded, and I gently patted his chest as it rose and fell. I wondered if this was what a summoned beast was truly like. For some reason, witnessing his distress brought tears to my eyes.

“…Huh?”

A faint glow began to emanate from Yong-sik's body. Startled, I leaned in closer as the light intensified.

I recalled Yong-sik radiating like this after we returned from the Sæ dungeon, when I used Yggdrasil's essence on him.

Watching Yong-sik in astonishment, I began rummaging through my inventory.

「Yggdrasil’s Essence (L)

A crystal containing the essence of the World Tree, Yggdrasil.

Permanently bound item.」

“…”

So I had acquired it in this dungeon as well. It must have found its way into my inventory after I cleared the Muspelheim dungeon. It almost felt like someone had deliberately put it there.

“…No way.”

I shook my head to dismiss the wandering thoughts. While my luck with items had been remarkably good, the notion that someone was orchestrating it all seemed far-fetched.

I swallowed hard and took out the Yggdrasil’s essence from my inventory. If someone were truly showering me with legendary items, maybe they wanted to show me the ending of this novel I hadn’t read…

Then who could such a being possibly be? Just as this question formed in my mind, a vibrant light suddenly erupted from the Yggdrasil’s essence in my hand.

I shut my eyes tight as the light filled the room. When I opened them again, a completely different landscape had unfolded before me.

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T/N: To my wonderful readers, thank you for your support and enthusiasm for the translations I bring to you. Your encouragement makes every word worth the effort. As we step into the New Year, I hope for your continued support and look forward to sharing even more amazing stories together. Wishing you joy, excitement, and fulfillment in the year ahead—Happy New Year! ❤️🎆

1. Really hard/Almost impossible.