Prey Caught in the Spider's Web
"So, have you decided on the events? As you've probably heard, the rules for the Free 5 Events Game are best of five. You pick three events, Soyeon-ssi, and I choose the remaining two for our match."
Saying that as he sat on the sofa, Lee Soyeon hesitated before sitting on the sofa opposite him. She awkwardly covered her pussy with both hands as she replied.
"Yes. What I had in mind is…."
"No need to tell me in advance. We'll draw lots to decide the order. We'll put papers with your three events and my two into a box and draw them one by one."
"Ah, I see…?"
Her hesitant tone suggested she was worried about something. Was she suspicious of rigging?
"If you're concerned about fairness or manipulation, don't worry at all. We'll use a transparent box so you can see inside. The five papers will be bundled with a rubber band so you can't peek, and you can shake the box yourself and draw them one by one. It's all for fun, after all."
"Ah! N-no, I wasn't doubting you…. Um, what do you mean by 'fun'…?"
"If we know the events ahead of time, you might get distracted by the other four during the first game. Or both of us could prepare countermeasures. That would kill the fun, right?"
Of course, it was a rule he'd set because he didn't want to reveal his two events early. But it was phrased to reassure her, so no issue there. Her startled expression showed she hadn't even considered that angle.
"Ah…. Yeah, that makes sense. Thank you."
"No problem. And one more thing…. Even if one side gets to three wins first, all five events will still be played to completion. Did you hear that from downstairs?"
"Yes. I heard clearly."
From her perspective, whether she won three straight or lost three straight early, she'd still get chances for more points. Sounded great. Of course, that wasn't the kind intention at all.
Now, once she heard the final condition and stamped the contract, this woman would be perfect prey snared in his web.
"Then, as the final condition: once we start the games, there's no quitting midway. If you agree, we'll draw up the contract right away and begin."
"…Pardon? No quitting midway means…. Could you explain more precisely?"
"Simple: you can't forfeit the two events I pick."
Seeing her still puzzled expression, he elaborated.
"You'll be confident in your three, but if you forfeit mine, I won't get to have fun."
"Ah…. Yeah, that makes sense…."
"That's also why we set it so all five play out regardless of wins or losses."
"Yes. I understand perfectly."
His Unique Domain Skill that sustained this 100-story hotel. Its sub-skill, Contract Creation, bound people to whatever was written.
That's why, for the three women winning the dice lottery each business day, while they were dazzled by the hotel's grandeur in the lobby, he had them sign a contract under the guise of normal check-in. The first clause ensured absolute secrecy about everything that happened here.
'That way, even the bitches I fuck can't badmouth my hotel outside. They just leave with arms full of my supplies—a super happy ending.'
It was a power he'd verified countless times in his first run. Unbreakable. And perfect for little rules like this when he wanted casual fun.
Contract Creation
"So, shall we draw up the contract like this and challenge the Free 5 Events Game?"
"…Yes! I'll do it."
With her verbal agreement secured, he activated the skill, manifesting paper with the agreed terms and ink in midair.
"Check it slowly one more time, then stamp it. Everything we discussed verbally is documented."
With slightly trembling hands, Lee Soyeon took the contract paper. She examined it meticulously, confirmed no issues, and stamped it.
"Wh-what do I do…?"
A storm of three straight losses. In the events she'd picked herself—Go-Stop, Korean chess, and rock-paper-scissors—she'd lost them all. Despair gripped Lee Soyeon.
As the hotel owner Lee Hyun had said, the transparent box and her own draws were completely fair. Her three events had come up in a row.
Before starting, she'd worried a bit just in case, but that was unfounded.
But the results weren't good.
"Sniff, sob…! I should've just picked swimming…."
Before choosing events, she'd been told this hotel had an underground Olympic pool, gym, yoga studio, Pilates room… and unbelievably, a PC bang with over a thousand machines.
Almost everything from the pre-apocalypse world was here.
Last night in the suite, endless hot clean water for 24 hours. Room service delivering luxury foods she'd never tasted even before. The massive wall TV and computer working fine.
She could believe the pool and other facilities existed. But before even meeting him face-to-face, that old manager NPC had said the man wanted her body. She couldn't show her swimsuit to him—or her brother.
That's why she'd skipped her strongest event, swimming….
"At this rate, no points. The last two are his picks…."
Having lost all her own events, winning his seemed impossible even to her.
And that was a huge problem.
This goblin-like apocalypse hotel had appeared 50 days ago. No info leaked: what happened inside, owner's identity, human or NPC, supply stock….
But per the signs and placards, it offered untouchable luxuries easily.
Lucky dice winners left with supplies—varying amounts, but something.
Rumors, status window communities, testimonies from a friend in another party….
If she left empty-handed, her brother and others' reactions….
"Th-that's why! That man was so brazen about wanting my body…."
And thinking deeper: yesterday, first time in the hotel, lobby contract.
"The tiny print at the bottom… secrecy clause?! Is that it?!"
If real, it explained the info blackout. System power was absolute in this apocalypse world.
That terrifying realization dominated her mind. Low level, timid personality—but top-3 university smarts didn't vanish. She grasped her dire situation.
"R-run. Gotta run. Right now…!!"
Her face drained pale, Lee Soyeon bolted up. Before owner Lee Hyun returned, escape anywhere.
Out of consideration for her three losses in her picks, he'd left her in the living room and gone to his distant bedroom, saying 30 minutes.
Less than 10 minutes since the third loss—plenty of time.
She rushed to the central elevator button in the living room, doors opened wide on the 100th floor—but her feet wouldn't move inside.
"Wh-why?! Why won't my feet move…?! Eek?!"
Panicking at her uncontrolled body, a chill hit her. Turning, she saw Lee Hyun approaching with a faint smile.