Jo Eun-hui

All content in this novel is set on a parallel-dimensional Earth.

What if a man who's great in bed also rakes in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cash?

As Eun-hui had put it, he was so virile she could claim she was the one supporting him. That seemed to settle everything—yet in reality, money still mattered. If he'd tried to build a harem in some shabby one-room place, the complaints would have piled up fast.

Now I was both incredibly virile and a man who brought home good money.

Huh. Women who said just having a dick was enough are treating me even more devotedly now that there's cash flowing in...

Eun-hui especially had changed the moment the words "quit the bank" left my mouth. Any lingering hesitation vanished completely.

The only real annoyance was the half-mask still covering my face. It was getting seriously in the way.

"Haaah, Master. Shall I get a piercing?"

I lay on my back. Eun-hui squatted over me in cowgirl, her hands planted on my chest as she ground her hips. She was floating on pure high, overdoing everything. And that damn piercing talk—this was already the third time she'd murmured it with that lewd little smile.

"Ah, cut it out. You're overdoing it way too much. Get the piercings on the bitches instead and live vicariously."

Slap. Thud.

"Huh? Aah, aah, I'm sorry. I just like it so much."

She said she was sorry, but her expression was anything but. I sighed. Hard to get angry when she was this happy.

"Heh. You that thrilled I made you quit?"

Career woman. Sounded cool, didn't it? Eun-hui had gone straight from the same girls' commercial high school as Hyeon-ju into a job, so her promotion ceiling had always been limited.

"Ahk—yes. I love it. That damn bank. Aaaah!"

"Want to study with Hyeon-ju? Thinking about university?"

She flinched. Eun-hui's movements stopped cold, and so did Hyeon-ju's—Hyeon-ju had been cradling my head against her thighs, stroking my hair.

"M-Master. Are you... sending us to university?"

Hyeon-ju boldly cupped my head and turned my face up toward her. Her eyes were trembling hard. Tears welled up too—I'd already lost count of how many times she'd cried today. Eun-hui wore the exact same look, eyes shaking, filled with raw hunger as she stared at me.

"In-Seoul schools. I'll even accept Ewha Women's University. Ace the CSAT. But at school you tell everyone you're married women."

"Hic. Master."

Hyeon-ju hugged my head; her breasts crushed against my face. Eun-hui collapsed onto my body, sobbing, and I felt her tears on my chest.

University meant that much to them?

I reached up and stroked Hyeon-ju's hair, then the head of Eun-hui pressed against my chest. Both of them sobbed identically, their whole bodies shaking. Tears wouldn't stop. I didn't bother telling them to quit.

"You like it that much?"

"Yes. University... I really wanted to go. I'm already thirty this year... I'd given up, telling myself I'd go after raising kids."

Drip. Drip.

Tears fell from Hyeon-ju's bowed head onto my neck. Was this supposed to be revenge? What kind of revenge looked like this? I let out a quiet snort of laughter.

"Me too, Master. At the bank they looked down on me so much... hic. Without a degree it's really miserable."

That was the same complaint Eun-hui always dumped on Hyeon-ju whenever she visited this house—grabbing her and grumbling that some college-grad bitch with no real skill still got promoted. Then the two of them would cling together and cry, and I'd end up dragging them to karaoke.

"Mm. Fine. Pick whatever major you want. You're not going to work afterward anyway, so keep that in mind."

"Yes. Thank you, Master."

Eun-hui lifted her head. Her eyes were bloodshot; tears streamed without pause. I reached up with both hands and wiped them away with my thumbs.

"I'm sorry. For not recognizing what kind of Master you are. I..."

"Just do well. From now on you two will have to look after me for the rest of your lives whenever I ask."

"Yes. We'll look after you for life."

Eun-hui stretched out a hand and caressed my cheek. For a moment her eyes even carried the look of an aunt, emotions crossing in a complicated wave.

The women who'd handle the housework were already decided—the four who'd received the mission. They'd take care of the kids and school runs. These two had been known prodigies even in their rural middle school; they'd only gone to commercial high because of money. At that school they'd fought each other for first and second place. They'd crush the CSAT.

"Once those bitches move in they'll handle the kids, so don't worry. Just find a house fast. Set up a study room. Hyeon-ju, grab my old notes and use them."

"Hic—yes. Can I call you 'honey' just for today?"

Hyeon-ju locked eyes with me, desperate. Hardly a big ask if it was only for today. I nodded. I met Eun-hui's gaze too and nodded again.

Ziiing.

The tape hit the end and the reverse click sounded.

Ah, right—the camera was still rolling.

"You two don't see that? The camera caught every second of you crying."

"I don't care. Honey. I'll actually rewatch today's tape over and over later. Today I finally understood how much you cherish us..."

Hyeon-ju stroked my head and cheek, looking down at me. In both her eyes was something I'd never seen before—not mere submission, but overflowing affection. A casual remark from me, and their loyalty had shot through the roof. Especially Eun-hui. Her eyes were pure lovey-dovey.

Ugh...

Both of their eye shapes completely changed. Those sharp gazes... so the saying 'love makes you beautiful' is real.

"You two are this worked up—what if your CSAT scores suck and you can't get into university?"

"I'm confident. Right, Eun-hui?"

"Yes, unnie. Husband. We went to a rural commercial high, but when we took the CSAT back then we could've gotten into your university. Tuition and the need to earn money... and unnie got pregnant on top ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of it."

I remembered the scene after the CSAT when the two of them had begged to be sent to college. Even when they said they could get a full four-year scholarship to Daejeon University, both families' adults had refused. Hyeon-ju had the pregnancy issue, and Eun-hui faced heavy pressure to earn money fast and get married. After watching Hyeon-ju head to Seoul, Eun-hui arranged a match with a man who had a Seoul job, married the next year, and transferred her workplace to the capital. The village credit union had just expanded into Seoul around then too.

Was that when they started changing? Not the marriage itself?

People were hard to judge cleanly. Complicated animals like this...

"Hmm. Fine. Figure it out yourselves. I've never even taken the CSAT. Don't ask me."

"Yes."

By that measure I was the same as them. I simply couldn't last a full year. If my family had given full support I probably wouldn't have applied early-admission for the first semester and might have sat the CSAT. Korea University... a little regretful, but I wasn't going to get a job now either. Yeonseo University was enough.

"Honey, if we get into Yeonseo we'll be your juniors. You'll acknowledge us, right?"

"Sure. I'll walk around calling you my wife. Get in first, then we'll talk."

"Unnie, we're getting in. We'll score high enough for Korea University and tell Husband all cool: 'I came to Yeonseo because of you!!' Heh."

Drama-obsessed Eun-hui. She'd slipped into pure fantasy, mind floating off to another world. She sat there with her mouth hanging open, grinning "heh" like an idiot.

Did I make a mistake with the Absolute Obedience Contract? No—people's hearts could change anytime. Better to lock it down solid.

Whoa... what the hell is this now?

I'd have to see them first. But right now was tough—Eun-hui had started moving again, and Hyeon-ju sat on my chest to trade kisses with her.

Nah. No real need to attach them... let's think it over a bit.

And if I was going to attach any, Hye-yun came first. Even cold water has an order of top and bottom.

I picked up the camcorder in the master bedroom, filmed the two sprawled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠women, then switched it off. I ejected the tape, wrote the time on it, and stacked it on the pile beside me. Then I peeled off the black mask that had been smothering my face the whole time and set it on top of the tapes.

The clock read 2:30 a.m. Sunday, February 9th.

I headed to my own room and powered on my phone. A flood of missed calls.

Younger maternal uncle: 36.

Uncle-in-law: 12.

There were texts too, but I ignored them. Uncle-in-law had even rung the doorbell several times, being a real nuisance. He must have worn himself out—no contact for hours now.

I'd already texted Hye-yun that I was busy today and tomorrow so I might not answer, which was probably why there were no calls from her—only messages.

It was sleeping time so I hadn't expected much, yet the reply came instantly.

A smile rose unbidden, mixed with a little guilt.

I powered the phone off right away.

I dragged two suitcases in from the living room and packed only the clothes I'd wear immediately plus the things I was taking. Anything disposable I tossed without mercy. Books, clothes—I started sorting them one by one for the new place.

"Hmm. These books and notes Hyeon-ju and Eun-hui can use for reference... these I don't need."

Books just needed sorting into trash versus give-to-Hyeon-ju. The English dictionary was high-school level and ancient, so it needed replacing; not a single book was worth taking. I brought boxes from storage, marked them "books to discard" with a marker, and filled them. On the shelf I left only the study materials and notes the two women could use. Writing tools would all be bought new, so I left them on the desk.

From the drawers I packed keepsakes starting with photo albums into the suitcases, and ruthlessly dumped the miscellaneous junk into boxes. Clothes—I took only enough for a few days. I checked every pocket just in case, then parked the two suitcases by the door.

Once I leave tomorrow, I probably won't set foot in this house again.

On a Post-it I wrote: take the books on the shelf and use them for studying. On another: the clothes in the wardrobe—if you have time, send them to the new place or handle them however. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠neatly folded the outfit I'd wear in the morning and set it on the desk, then headed back to the master bedroom, slipped between the two women, and went to sleep.