Three Islands (1)

I pressed the YES button, and a quest notification popped up in midair.

'It's not a sex showdown anymore—now it's straight-up sex with Eun-seo. Thank you very much.'

With this, the Sexual Wall Change Ticket could really shine. She'd turn heterosexual just for me and go into heat, so even as a lesbian, I could slide right in. Good call choosing the substitute quest.

I opened the status window, and her profile was already registered.

Libido at zero, and now affection too. She really has zero interest in men. After witnessing that peak technique, the 'Bored' status made total sense. She's waiting for someone who can surpass her.

The last tip was censored again. Last time, it showed up after accepting the linked event—maybe the same here?

'3P... that's tricky.'

Her sex tag was a problem. As a lesbian, it'd be three women, so how the hell was I supposed to wedge myself in? But with my killer item this time, I decided not to sweat the tag.

The second tip screamed tsundere. Was that describing her personality?

The two of them emerged from the villa, fully changed. Eun-seo strode out confidently, while Yu-jin looked like a defeated soldier being marched off as a POW after losing a war.

Eun-seo stared at me and Seung-ah, then said, "That your maid?"

'Whoa, listen to her talk. What a bitch.'

"My name's Lee Min-ho. Not 'that'."

"Oh, a name... Didn't ask."

"Pardon?"

"I said I didn't ask for your name."

"H-Hey!"

Seung-ah rarely showed emotion like that. It was touching that she was angry on her master's behalf, but we couldn't let the situation blow up. The quest had just started.

I held Seung-ah back and chose my words carefully. If I fired back too, it'd only make things worse.

Huh? Her thoughts were fine. It was her delivery that was the issue. Or maybe it wasn't just her sexual orientation—maybe dealing with men in general freaked her out? Either way, perfect timing to read her mind.

"She's not a maid. These clothes are just because of some circumstances..."

"You two seem close, so not employer-employee. But a woman fawning like that doesn't scream equals either..."

"Who's fawning! Min-ho's just a friendly neighbor kid!"

"You must've misunderstood. Seung-ah noona's never fawned over me. Even if she had, what does that have to do with you, Eun-seo?"

"Nothing... for now."

'What the hell? If not now, then never.'

"Anyway, I won, so keep your promise. Yu-jin, let's go."

She dragged off the slumping Yu-jin. Just hold on a bit. I'll save you soon.

*****

"Lately, it's been weird. Something appears and vanishes outside the window, and sometimes I feel like someone's watching me."

"You getting too sensitive after last time? We're not important enough for anyone to stalk."

"That's what makes it weirder. And scarier."

"Starting tomorrow, I'll match your schedule to the cafe. Come with me. We'll leave together for work too. We'll do that till you feel safe."

"Hehe, thanks, Master."

She snuggled right into me. This is why you keep a slave.

I'd only said it to comfort her anxiety, but damn, her intuition was spot on. She really was being watched.

A few days later—

As usual, I met Seung-ah at the cafe and we came back together. As we stepped off the elevator into the hallway, someone was waiting at the door.

"Can't you come home earlier?"

Seung-ah flinched at the voice and hid behind me. Ever since that bastard ex-husband incident, my back had become her safe haven.

"Eun-seo? What brings you here?"

Yeo Eun-seo—the one who'd made me look pathetic in the sex showdown—stared at us impassively.

"You gonna make me stand here forever?"

"Didn't invite you."

"I have something to say. Lead the way."

"Then I'll just..."

"I have something to say to Seung-ah too."

She looked at me anxiously. I nodded slightly and opened the door.

"Pretty humble digs."

"That's on me."

She was picking a fight nonstop. If I couldn't read minds, I'd have kicked her out on the spot.

Still, she was a guest, so I brewed some coffee.

"Instant coffee, huh."

"One more snide remark and you'll hear my business at the doorstep."

"Joking. No need to get all serious."

Patience, patience, patience!

"So, what is it?"

"Before that, I have a question. Why are you Seung-ah's master?"

Seung-ah and I both went wide-eyed. How'd she know?

"You said she wasn't a maid?"

"It's just a title we use when we're together. How'd you know?"

"Been observing for days."

So damn brazen, I was speechless. But Seung-ah's intuition nailed it.

"Observing or stalking? You know eavesdropping without consent is a crime?"

"No bad intentions. I was just curious about Seung-ah."

"W-Why me?"

Her expression shifted. Not the idol leader—just the lesbian version.

"Felt like you'd taste even better than Yu-jin?"

Straight ball, no curve. Seung-ah yelped and hid behind me. Sorry, Seung-ah, but this was a golden quest opportunity.

"A recently divorced woman calling her much younger neighbor 'Master' and following him around? Anyone would be curious about that relationship."

She'd even doxxed her personal info. What the hell was with this reckless energy?

"Listen up, Seung-ah. Aren't you being exploited right now?"

"E-Exploited?"

"Yeah, exploited. Doesn't he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have some dirt on you, forcing you to stick around?"

"No way... It's not like that!"

"Then why would a woman like you call such a mediocre guy 'Master'? Yu-jin too—this guy's weird. A lowly roadie manager..."

SLAP!

She hit so hard ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Eun-seo's head snapped viciously to one side.

"You bitch! Wanna die? What? Mediocre guy? Lowly manager? Dirt? You crazy slut with that gaping mouth... Get out or I'll kill you!"

If I hadn't stopped her, Eun-seo's hair would've been yanked out. This wasn't just road rage—our slave was terrifying.

*****

Stuck between a fuming Seung-ah and a sniffling Eun-seo, I couldn't move.

"Sobhic, I've never even been hit by Dad."

"Shut it before you get another."

"Eek."

The distance between them widened. How was I supposed to talk now?

"Apologize to me first. I'm not living next door to exploit Seung-ah or anything. It's probably the 'Master' title throwing you off, but it's not what you think."

Since she knew the title, no need for 'Seung-ah noona' anymore. I glossed over the slave part and spun the ex-husband incident appropriately, emphasizing my protector role.

"That's our deal, so no more pointless misunderstandings. I call him Master 'cause it makes me feel safe having one around. Nothing weird."

"Sniff... Y-Yes. S-Sorry for the harsh words."

She kept glancing at Seung-ah. Was that the tip about 'fantasies of dominant older men'? If so, I could use it.

"Now that I've answered your curiosity, why'd you come?"

"Ugh, one sec."

She went to the bathroom to fix her makeup and came back. Her cheek was a bit swollen, but she didn't seem to care, so I let it slide.

'No, what requires this kind of resolve?'

"About that showdown at the villa—I won, right?"

"Yeah."

"I'm here to give you a shot at revenge."

What nonsense was this?

"Revenge?"

"Yeah... Let's do the showdown again."

"Calling Yu-jin?"

"Not Yu-jin."

"Then who...?"

"Seung-ah."

Seung-ah and I exchanged dumbfounded looks, then turned away.

"So, you want me to do it with you, then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seung-ah with you, and compare results?"

"Yes, exactly."

"Are you kidding me right now!"