Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Malice (End)
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Black mask and black hat.
A man wearing a security guard's uniform.
Even though only his eyes were visible, Jeong Gyeowol was certain that man was Yoo Jun-seung.
His eyes gleamed with malice.
Lust, dark desires, obsession.
An ambiguous emotion surged within them.
"Got you. My love."
The stalker she had suspected turned out not to be Kim Gyu-jin.
Yoo Jun-seung had grabbed Jeong Gyeowol.
Her mind couldn't process the situation rushing in all at once.
If Kim Gyu-jin were the stalker, it would make sense that he'd been caught on-site and was trying to apprehend him.
But if Yoo Jun-seung was the stalker, what was the reason for suddenly showing up like this?
She had anticipated that he might eventually break into her home and assault her someday.
But this was too soon—way too soon.
Unless he thought he'd been exposed.
Jeong Gyeowol hadn't given any sign yet...
'Fuck... no way.'
What if there were cameras installed inside the house?
Staring at the laundry basket for a long time.
Gazing seriously at the scattered belongings.
Packing her bags, as if about to leave somewhere.
What if he'd been watching it all in real-time from nearby?
Goosebumps began to rise on Jeong Gyeowol's skin.
Yoo Jun-seung's actions surpassed her wildest imaginations. Facing pure malice without any pretext was no easy task.
"Yoo Jun-seung! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Executive, you're a bit slow on the uptake. I thought you'd figured it out by now... Winter and I have promised each other a future. But just a moment ago, she signaled for us to leave together."
"What nonsense is that? Let go first and talk."
"Can't you see she packed her bags to come with me? Don't interfere with us and just disappear."
"...Jun-seung, let go of Winter first. We can talk this out slowly..."
"Trying to steal her? You're trying to take Winter away from me, aren't you?!"
"No! That's not it! Calm down!"
"Like hell it's not! Yeah, something was off. You were always hovering around Winter and me, giving her those creepy looks. Pretending to focus on work while staring only at her? You think I didn't notice?! You stalker bastard! Winter's terrified of you!"
Yoo Jun-seung started "talking" to Kim Gyu-jin while holding Jeong Gyeowol tight.
No, it was just one-sided ravings disguised as conversation.
"F-First, let this go... It hurts..."
"Yeah, you're scared of that bastard too, right? Don't worry, Winter. I'll protect you."
As Jeong Gyeowol twisted her body slightly, Yoo Jun-seung hugged her even tighter.
Because of that, she felt something hard against her from his embrace.
His lower body was hard too, but this was something else.
'Crazy fuck... Is this a knife?'
There was a small, hard object pressing where his inner pocket would be.
She desperately wanted to escape his filthy grasp, but provoking him rashly could lead to anything.
For now, she'd bide her time and watch for an opening.
Kim Gyu-jin was behind her, security team staff in front, surrounding them...
But if he pulled a knife, squeezing in from both sides wouldn't help.
Twisted emotions, blatant malice.
Yoo Jun-seung was the type to stab if things went south.
The moment he revealed himself like this, his career was done for.
Did Yoo Jun-seung think he was that stupid not to know?
This was the guy who'd hidden his malice all this time, pretending to be a diligent manager.
With a knife on him, that meant special threats, attempted kidnapping, stalking, trespassing, embezzlement of lost property, theft.
KS would pile on every charge possible for maximum sentencing.
A guaranteed prison term.
Coming here like this made it seem like he no longer cared about his own life.
How had no one noticed his obsession with Jeong Gyeowol growing this intense?
'...Since when?'
She thought back for any moment that might have let him mistake kindness for love.
Any leeway she'd given him personally.
No matter how she racked her brain... nothing.
No matter what cause Jeong Gyeowol sought, there was only one reason.
Yoo Jun-seung was a psychopath.
Crazy people did crazy things—no reason needed.
"A rookie actress getting a scandal hits her image hard, so I've held back until now. But... on set, in the streets! At the company!! Guys keep sticking to my girl!"
While Yoo Jun-seung "conversed" with Kim Gyu-jin, a security team member crept closer.
Muffling his footsteps, nodding slowly as if to reassure Jeong Gyeowol.
"Are you sure that's not just your one-sided feeling? Has Winter ever said she likes you?"
"Executive... Gyu-jin hyung! Do I have to spell it out? There are signals between men and women you just know without words! That's why you've never gotten married!"
"Exactly, that's why I don't know much about it—could you explain?"
"...What the hell are you playing at?"
Kim Gyu-jin had spotted the security member's approach too, dragging out the talk to keep it going.
But Yoo Jun-seung wasn't that easy.
The moment he sensed something off from Kim Gyu-jin, he whipped around.
Locking eyes with the approaching security member, he spun Jeong Gyeowol's body.
Pulling a knife from inside his clothes, he pressed it to her throat.
'...You fucking bastard, you said you like me, love me. Then shouldn't you not even scratch me? Even if your hands get wet, shouldn't not a drop of my blood spill...'
She cursed inwardly but couldn't move or speak.
Yoo Jun-seung aimed precisely at her carotid artery.
If the blade went in more than 2cm, death in 12 seconds.
Even without full penetration, a cut vessel would spray blood like a fountain—rapid blood loss without quick action.
Knowledge from Psychometry Her was always useful, anytime, anywhere.
But in a situation like this, it only amplified her terror.
Knowing how easily people die made rash actions impossible.
Freezing up only made injury more likely.
"Stay back! No one can take Winter from me!"
"...C-Calm down. I won't come closer. Put the knife away."
"Shut up, you fuck! A dorm guard dog trying to butt into an actress's business! Know your place! On your knees!"
The security member knelt on the ground, and only then did he pull the blade from her throat.
A drop of blood beaded up, but Jeong Gyeowol had no time to feel pain.
"I'm leaving with Winter now. Follow us... you know what happens? Winter can go to hell with me. And so can I."
Yoo Jun-seung had booked a one-way ticket to hell—for both of them—without her consent.
Pressing the knife back to her throat.
"Get inside."
"Inside where...?"
"Don't nitpick—move!"
"Okay! Okay! I'll go in! Just calm down."
"Oh, first, hand over the car keys."
He shoved the annoying Kim Gyu-jin and security staff into the guard booth, then zip-tied Jeong Gyeowol's hands.
Picking up the car keys Kim Gyu-jin had thrown on the ground, he was about to get her in the car and escape.
But a car was barreling toward the barrier at tremendous speed.
Screeech—
It slammed on the brakes, sliding sideways to block one side of the barrier.
Two vans followed, completely sealing off any escape route. Then, from a sleek luxury sedan, Kim Seul-ong stepped out, followed by his security team piling from the vehicles.
"W-What? How the hell did that bastard..."
Yoo Jun-seung, who had shown anger or madness before but never panic,
visibly faltered at the sight of Kim Seul-ong.
Escape by car impossible, he dragged Jeong Gyeowol out.
"Sorry, Winter. Does it hurt? It'll be over soon—just hold on a bit."
"...Crazy fuck."
She didn't want to provoke him rashly.
But the curse slipped from Jeong Gyeowol's lips.
Yoo Jun-seung didn't seem to mind.
"Yeah, I'm a crazy fuck. Crazy for you."
"..."
Hugging her from behind again.
Knife to her throat, he headed toward the building.
But suited security personnel emerged from inside the building.
"What the fuck! How did those bastards..."
Kim Seul-ong's security team pressed in from the front.
Trying to flee inside, but more security poured out from within.
They were the advance team that had infiltrated the rooftop.
Panicking, Yoo Jun-seung looked around for escape,
but he was already surrounded by security forming a circle.
Kim Gyu-jin and the security staff from the booth joined them.
"No way out, Jun-seung. Drop the knife and come quietly. If we end it here, I'll push for leniency."
"...How the hell did you get here! You bugged Winter, didn't you, you bastard?!"
The hostage crisis had lasted just over 15 minutes.
Yet they'd arrived with a full security team?
Even if working late at the company, this speed was impossible without real-time monitoring.
Company to dorm, ignoring signals and flooring it: just over 10 minutes.
While he screamed at Kim Seul-ong charging in like a white knight,
Kim Gyu-jin emerged from the booth, holding up his phone.
"Jun-seung, I told you. Whenever a situation feels risky, keep the phone call connected and move."
The moment Kim Gyu-jin confirmed the stalker was Yoo Jun-seung, he called Kim Seul-ong.
Kim Seul-ong mobilized the security team upon hearing the conversation.
But even with security there, without the hostage teleporting, the crisis held.
Yoo Jun-seung planned to use Jeong Gyeowol to slip away somehow.
He zip-tied her right wrist to his left.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Kim Seul-ong led the security team in.
Like Yoo Jun-seung, even I couldn't help but be shocked, but Executive Kim Gyu-jin waved his phone.
It was connected to a call with CEO Kim Seul-ong.
...My phone always used as a physical weapon seemed less versatile by comparison.
Distracted by the sudden security arrival, Yoo Jun-seung had placed me on the opposite side from his knife hand.
His gaze fixed entirely on the security.
Escape impossible with the zip-tie on my wrist.
But for me, who'd been waiting for an opening, it was a golden opportunity.
Miss this, and if he pressed the knife to my throat again, I'd be helpless once more.
I believed that if I created even a split-second chance, they'd handle it.
Didn't matter their martial arts skills or sprint speed.
I didn't know how they'd come with Kim Seul-ong at this hour or from which precinct, but I saw one prepping a taser.
Security teams couldn't carry tasers legally. Those in plainclothes were definitely cops.
Kim Seul-ong shook his head, as if sensing I was about to act.
But perfect preparation was no different from inaction.
I'd planned to hold out for a surer chance.
But now, this slight gap.
I had to move, risks be damned.
I stepped my left foot out as far as possible, leaning my whole body.
Yoo Jun-seung noticed and tried to turn, but too late.
Turning actually made my strike more effective.
My elbow, aimed at his temple, now targeted his face.
Shoving my shoulder forward, using my extended left foot as a pivot, I spun my entire body.
Unleashing my full power, I smashed his face.
Thwack—
"Guhk!"
Yoo Jun-seung staggered.
My body shook with his.
Best if he passed out, but he just reeled.
Knife might fly, so I hunched my shoulders, shielded my neck, raised arms to protect my face.
That was the best I could do.
Now, leave it to the undercover cops.
That moment felt eternally slow, like slo-mo.
But...
'Fuck... why aren't they firing?'
The taser just aimed, didn't shoot.
We were thrashing; they hesitated who'd get hit...
This way, he'd have the knife to my throat first.
Some security rushed in, but too late.
This bastard was already alert. Tension pulled on our tied wrists.
"Shoot now!"
I don't care if I get hit. A shock like that?
Pass out or convulse once—fine.
Better than knife to neck or face.
As I yelled,
Tat-tak—
Tasers flew from front and sides.
One missed Yoo Jun-seung despite aiming,
The other hit—but
'...Fuck.'
—one prong in Yoo Jun-seung's thigh. One in mine.
Never thought they'd actually hit me... Am I gonna die?
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat—
"Gaaaaaaah!"
"Kyaaaaah!"
In an instant, my legs buckled, body crumpling.
Muscles spasmed beyond my control, trembling violently.
Like every nerve ending fired electric signals.
Agonizing pain wracked my entire body.
Tears streamed down. As I thought this was it, the taser stopped.
Snip—
The zip-tie snapped.
Security subdued Yoo Jun-seung.
'You fuck... I... won...'
"Winter! Jeong Gyeowol!"
Executive Kim Gyu-jin rushing to me was the last thing I saw...