I Will Definitely Pay You Back, Yi So-ok
"I will definitely pay you back, Yi So-ok."
"M-Mother?"
Namgung Ji shot up from his seat with a startled look on his face. It was acting, but not entirely—it was all too real. In truth, whenever he ran into his stepmother Yi So-ok, his heart nearly dropped out of his chest. She was that terrifying, that loathsome. So his reaction now was utterly natural.
On the other hand.
"What brings you here so suddenly, Mother?"
Namgung Hwaran's voice held a hint of surprise but remained composed. Unlike her half-brother Namgung Ji, she was Yi So-ok's own flesh and blood. Raised with endless doting and love.
"Hmph."
Yi So-ok said nothing at first, simply staring silently at Namgung Ji and Namgung Hwaran. A middle-aged beauty with a seemingly kind impression. But Namgung Ji knew better than anyone that she hid the sharp fangs of a venomous serpent, ready to strike at any moment. He'd experienced them firsthand.
His stepmother was a viper pretending to be harmless. That much was certain. Which was why Namgung Ji always tensed up and shrank back in her presence.
"Something's off. You two being so cozy like this."
Yi So-ok said, staring impassively at Namgung Ji's face. Eyes that seemed to peer right into his soul. Namgung Ji flinched involuntarily, his body trembling.
Thank heavens he'd always acted like a mouse before a cat around Yi So-ok. If not, this could have been a dangerously suspicious moment. But the real problem started now.
What Namgung Ji had urgently instructed Namgung Hwaran was to act as she always did. If she failed to pull it off perfectly, everything could fall apart.
It all depended on Bang So-un's power.
Namgung Ji clenched his sweaty palms tightly.
"Th-this humble son..."
"Cozy? I was just about to cut off Big Brother's ridiculous nonsense cold."
Perfectly timed, Namgung Hwaran cut in before Namgung Ji could stammer further. He snapped his mouth shut. No telling what she might say—he couldn't risk butting in and ruining the play.
"What nonsense?"
Yi So-ok's question. Namgung Ji prayed inwardly it was something beyond suspicion.
Namgung Hwaran's mouth opened again.
"He asked to borrow money. I refused flat out."
"Money?"
Yi So-ok's brow furrowed slightly. She knew all about it—how Namgung Ji borrowed from everyone around due to his shortage of funds for whoring. Her husband, family head Namgung Myeong, had even scolded him harshly for it once.
Yet Namgung Ji hadn't mended his ways. Not that it mattered. He'd already been pushed out of the successor race anyway.
But begging her precious daughter for money? That was an infuriating affront she couldn't overlook lightly.
"You may go, Hwa Mulin."
Yi So-ok said to Hwa Mulin.
"Yes, Great Madam."
Hwa Mulin bowed politely and left at once. Yi So-ok held the highest status in the family, second only to Family Head Namgung Myeong.
Creak.
Once Hwa Mulin was out, Yi So-ok closed the door. Then she strode over and sat at the head of the room.
"Sit."
Her voice was dry.
Namgung Ji bowed his head deeply and dropped to his knees. A perfect display of how much he feared his stepmother. In stark contrast to the composed Namgung Hwaran.
"You asked your sister for money?"
"Y-yes... th-that's right."
Namgung Ji stammered. His voice quivered with unease.
That instant.
"Is this how I raised you?"
An icy, chilling voice struck Namgung Ji directly. Cold enough to freeze his skin. Sweat poured down his forehead.
This wasn't acting. Facing someone he already feared, piled with anxiety, he was in no state to fake it.
At least his half-sister had responded perfectly. No signs of suspicion. That alone kept Namgung Ji grounded.
"I-I'm sorry."
He couldn't even make excuses—just apologized immediately. He knew any defense would only worsen things.
"What do you plan to do, straying like this?"
A remark that deserved curses from Namgung Ji's view. Heaven knew, and he knew—the root cause was right in front of him.
But he couldn't utter a peep. Just prey before a beast.
"......"
He simply hung his head lower.
"I'll ask you."
"Y-yes."
"Was it wrong, or not?"
"It w-was wrong."
"At least you know that much."
Yi So-ok turned her icy gaze to the door.
"Pappa."
"Yes, Great Madam."
"Fetch the switch."
"Right away, Great Madam."
The door opened soon after, and an old woman entered. Stooped like a hunchback. Yi So-ok's aged servant, called Bitter Bamboo Granny in the family. She leaned on a cane.
She looked like just a frail, twisted crone. But something about her nagged at Namgung Ji. Instinct as prey sensing a predator? No, not just that.
His stepmother wouldn't keep some weak old woman by her side for nothing.
'I'll make sure to tell Brother Bang about that old hag. Don't forget.'
Namgung Ji etched the uneasy element firmly in his mind.
"Here you are, Great Madam."
Bitter Bamboo Granny handed over a fresh switch, like one just broken from a tree. Yi So-ok took it without hesitation.
"You're dismissed."
"Yes, Great Madam."
Bitter Bamboo Granny left again.
Yi So-ok turned her gaze to her stepson.
"Come here."
Namgung Ji's face paled. He knew exactly what came next.
But he couldn't refuse or bolt from the room.
"A-alright."
He shuffled timidly before Yi So-ok. Then, with trembling hands, pulled down his pants. Exposing bare skin.
"Before the stern lesson, hear this clearly. Never beg your sister for money again. Next time, it won't end like this."
The air felt frozen solid.
"......I'll remember."
Namgung Ji squeezed his eyes shut.
"We'll see."
Crack!
'Ugh.'
The switching finally began.
A grown heir of the family flogged by his mother? Even in a strict great family, it was absurd.
Especially with his half-sister watching plain as day.
It showed just how utterly she had him by the balls. Utter humiliation. Unerasable shame.
Namgung Ji shed bloody tears inwardly.
Crack! Whap!
'I... I'll definitely... pay it back...'
He endured the pain, desperately imagining revenge. Flogging his fearsome stepmother in turn.
Calves. He'd thrash her calves till they bruised black. No.
That wasn't enough. Somewhere more satisfying, more humiliating.
Tits. Yes, tits. Whip those udders till they were shredded raw. Maybe then he'd feel some relief.
No, still not enough. Her fat ass cheeks too, beaten to pulp.
If he could do that...
He'd sell his soul.
Namgung Ji's craving grew unstoppable.
"You fucking bitch!"
Crack!
The switch struck someone's ass. Not a man's— the voluptuous curves were impossible for any male.
The hand wielding the switch on that bare ass belonged to Namgung Ji. It struck her plump cheeks mercilessly again.
Craaack!
"You crazy fucking slut!"
Who was he cursing? Not the woman taking it right in front of him, clearly. His gaze was distant, not focused ahead.
"Mmmph!"
The woman being beaten had her mouth stuffed full of cloth. Desperate to stifle her pain.
And that woman's face? Shockingly, it was Namgung family's pampered jewel, Namgung Hwaran.
Stark naked, not a thread on her, getting switched by her half-brother in her own room.
No, at least to Namgung Ji, it wasn't all that shocking. Just yesterday, he'd confirmed Bang So-un's power worked perfectly on his half-sister.
He'd taken humiliation from his stepmother right after, but still. Learning Bang So-un's hypnosis worked flawlessly without detection, complete with perfect acting? Huge win.
But a win was a win, humiliation was humiliation. Unable to vent all day, stewing in his room, now the next day he was taking it out on his half-sister instead.
Not the culprit herself, but her cherished blood kin. Humiliating that kin tenfold somehow eased his rage surprisingly well.
Whap!
"Mmph!"
Namgung Ji's hand paused. Namgung Hwaran's ass cheeks were a total mess of welts. Swollen purple with bruises, her already huge rear even puffier.
"Lucky I can at least do whatever to your ass."
Namgung Ji muttered. He couldn't touch her pussy, but abusing her ass like this felt damn good.
"Tits."
At his word, Namgung Hwaran instantly faced him and thrust out her chest.
Namgung Ji smacked his lips, eyeing her crotch below. But no helping it. Now he fully got why Bang So-un set those safeguards.
"Putting up with it on you for now, but I'll make sure to pay back every bit of shame your bitch mom gave me."
"Mmmph."
Who knew what she meant. Curses? Normal reaction, but no way. Utterly obedient reply, for sure.
This little sister was nothing but his obedient plaything now.
"Haha, Brother Bang really is a lifesaver."
Crack!
"Mmph!"
Namgung Hwaran's tits jiggled lewdly from the strike. Red welts bloomed on the pale flesh.
Thus, Namgung Ji vented the humiliation from his stepmother for the first time in his life.
"Alright, time to go."
That day, Namgung Ji headed out. To discuss plans for capturing Bang So-un and his stepmother.