STAGE ONE Complete.
The central square was circular, with the mission room at the 12 o'clock position. In the center stood several tables seating four to eight people for resting. Radiating corridors encircled the square, each leading to a Paradise participant's private room. Vending machines selling various items lined up at the 6 o'clock position in the square. And right in the middle, where there hadn't been one before, stairs led upward.
It had to be the way to the second floor. Since Yumin was already out in the square, he decided to check it out. He climbed the stairs. They stretched long, matching the square's impressive height below.
The second floor was circular too, but much narrower than the central square—a empty round space with doors spaced at intervals. Plaques above each door indicated their purpose: lounge, library, bathhouse, clinic, and so on, just as Angel had mentioned.
Yumin approached the nearest door, the lounge. It was an automatic sliding door with no handle, just a terminal like a transit card reader attached to it.
He knew exactly what it was for. The indestructible metal bracelet all Paradise participants wore on their left wrists, impossible to remove. Yumin held his bracelet to the terminal.
[Beep! Participant Lee Yumin's points: 0. Unable to use this facility.]
So that's how it works? It looked like he wouldn't get proper access to the second-floor facilities until he earned some points. Yumin took a quick look around before heading back down to the central square.
Gazing at the vast, empty square, Yumin felt an urge to run. He circled the perimeter, sprinting round and round. It had been so long since he'd run that his breath came quick, sweat pouring down—but his heart felt incredibly light.
He found it almost ridiculous that something so simple could remind him of freedom's value and let him feel it so vividly.
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That evening, as the square opened up, the Paradise participants gathered, buzzing with excitement after so long. They checked out the vending machines and the second floor with genuine thrill. Yumin's group spent ages examining the vending items and upstairs before finally settling at a table to chat about it all.
"I've gotta buy clothes first. Finally ditching these damn prisoner uniforms."
"Jiwon's right, unnie. But clothes aside, I wanna eat chocolate. Potato chips too, and drink cola..."
"Me too, but... points..."
The fashion-forward Jiwon from college eyed clothes first. Minseo and Gayeong fixated on snacks.
Gayeong had never once joined a mission. Not even close to having sex, let alone dating a guy, she was relieved to stay out of them—but bummed about missing points.
Yumin was the one who'd blocked her, using his privileges to fully exempt his little stepsister from missions. He was satisfied with that, but felt responsible for her lacking points anyway. Glancing at Gayeong sneaking peeks at the snack vending machine, he vowed to earn plenty and spoil his cute sister.
But first, he needed to check if points-purchased items could be transferred to others.
"Too bad there's no booze. Thought there'd be at least canned beer. Tsk."
Jeongho seemed to crave alcohol most. Suji, at the same table, gave a slight nod—probably wanted some too.
With his privileges, Yumin was more than satisfied with their current meals. Even before, Paradise's three daily meals had been decent—no nutritional gaps, tasty, healthy, and hearty. As a family man who'd had to tighten his belt, he was grateful for that much. But luxury snacks were sorely lacking.
Luckily, no smokers in Yumin's group. Smokers would've suffered most without cigarettes. But even without tobacco, coffee or chocolate had their own addictions—withdrawal hit hard after long deprivation.
If they were impossible to get, you'd give up. But with them right there in plain sight? Pure torture.
"Hey. You all got enough shampoo, body wash, lotion? Burning points on random stuff now means suffering later when you run out, right?"
Seohyeon pointed out the practical issue. Yumin's tutorial essentials were running low too. Women's probably depleted faster than his, so even more urgent. Once points piled up, necessities before snacks, as she said.
"Yeah, Seohyeon unnie. Shampoo and body wash first... My chocolate's getting farther away... Hng..."
As square hours ended, Yumin parted from his somewhat excited group and returned to his room. He could've stayed with privileges, but didn't want others spotting it. Best to keep privileges secret, as Angel advised—and it just seemed smarter.
Plus, he had a reason to head back now. It lay on his bed.
Yumin picked up the document and checked its contents.
♥ Age: 30
♥ Height: 167cm
♥ Weight: 52kg
♥ Three Sizes: 36-26-37
♥ Sexual Preferences: Femdom (female domination), one-night stands, prostitution.
♥ Notes: Worked at multiple sex trade establishments, history as a gold digger.
- Only child of unwed mother. Dropped out of high school, worked various sex venues.
Extensive experience led to gold digger career. #Gold Digger Activities: See attached.
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Seonjeong was born to a bar girl who slept with men, never knowing her father. Her mother tried squeezing child support from suspected dads, but they all refused. So Seonjeong grew up with a single mom.
Home life was a mess, but Seonjeong didn't stray too far in school—just a bit wild. Despite her mom's total failure as a parent, homemaker, or provider, Seonjeong had few complaints. Hanging late with friends vented the stress.
One thing grated: her mom's revolving boyfriends. Mom dragged them home anytime, regardless of Seonjeong. In their cramped two-room place over 10 pyeong with crap insulation, Seonjeong went mad from the raw noises from mom's room every night.
Then one night. Home late, Seonjeong sighed at the big man's shoes by the door, washed quick, slipped to her room, and crashed.
She woke to heavy weight on her body. A man pinned her; she tried screaming, but he clamped her mouth, growling low.
"Quiet. Unless you want a beating."
Eyes adjusting to dark, she recognized mom's new boyfriend. Knowing his nasty, rough rep, resistance was impossible. Nodding was all she could do.
"Good. Stay quiet like that, it'll end quick. Good for me, good for you. Sending you to heaven soon."
Seeing no fight, he resumed. Seonjeong hadn't noticed in shock, but her clothes were gone—she was naked. She felt a heavy press on her lower belly: his bare cock, obvious.
His stinking, booze-reeking lips crushed hers. Mouth and hands groped, kneaded, toyed freely. She could only tremble in terror, yielding.
She felt him spread her legs, thrust waist forward. Then ripping pain in her lower gut.
"It hurts... Uncle, it hurts..."
"Fuck... Shit, you're so tight."
He ignored her pain, tears—pounded away to sate himself.
"Your mom's all loose. Heh... Young one's best."
"Aaah... Ack... Ahhuk..."
His hands mangled her breasts, warping them. He slammed deeper, rougher.
"Hah... Saw you first time, wanted to fuck you. Heh... So tasty, tight... Can't hold—gonna cum."
"Uncle... Ahhuk... No... Hng..."
No experience, but she knew basics—"cumming" meant creampie. Desperate to stop it, but her weak strength couldn't budge even his drunk ass. Soon, he erupted deep inside.
Done, he flopped beside, panting rough.
"Fuckin' slut. Damn tasty. You liked it too, right?"
"Sob sob..."
Pain deep in her belly, absurd horror—tears streamed.
"Hey, quit fuckin' crying. Wait, virgin? Jackpot."
Irritated at her sobs, he eyed his bloody cock and her pussy, smirking vile.
"Uncle'll treat you nice from now on, so stop bawling and sleep."
He fished wallet from pants, tossed her a 10,000-won bill. Dressed sloppy, back to mom's room.
After, whenever mom slept, he'd sneak in, rape Seonjeong. His sweaty, boozy sex hurt and disgusted, but that steady 10,000 won? Nice.
Long tails get stepped on. Their secret didn't last—mom caught them mid-act.
Door slammed open. Seonjeong froze, clutching sheets over nakedness.
"You fuckin' bitches, what the hell?!"
"Ah, Yeonghui."
Mom had gotten feisty with age. Even the guy knew. She bashed his head with her fist.
"You fuckin' bastard."
"Calm down, hear me out. Seonjeong seduced me first. I was drunk, not right mind."
"What bullshit?!"
"True. Said she'd do it for 10,000. Look, money's here."
Indeed, 10,000-won by her pillow. Seonjeong gaped at his absurd excuse.
"Now that you mention, Seonjeong, you've had cash lately. New clothes. You crazy bitch—fuckin' my boyfriend even if we're broke?!"
Mom's slap flew from him to her. Stunned, head blank white, Seonjeong couldn't speak.