Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Unable to Control the Lower Body
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"Warden, what brings you here?"
I faced the Warden with a tense heart.
"You've arrived? The ring suits you well. Keeping it on properly, I see?"
I had no choice but to wear it everywhere.
The moment Yoo Seol's mark and Park Seo-rin's mark had faded...
All I could trust was this one ring the Warden had given me.
"Of course I have to. It's the only thing I can rely on."
"Good, good. That's the right attitude."
"So, why did you call me here?"
"Well..."
I was already getting scared.
A lingering fear gnawed at me—what if something huge like another escape had happened?
'Though it's awfully quiet for that.'
"I just wanted to check on your condition."
"Pardon?"
"No issues with your body?"
"No... nothing out of the ordinary, as far as I can tell."
It was an inexplicable question.
Was she referring to the injuries from before?
"Listen carefully."
The Warden's expression suddenly turned deadly serious.
"Lately, there have been some very strange incidents targeting men."
"Strange incidents?"
"Yes. Reports of men's sexual urges spiking abnormally."
Her words piqued my interest more and more.
"Could you tell me more details?"
"I'd like to, but these are happening simultaneously across the country. They're isolating cases as soon as they're discovered to keep it from becoming public knowledge."
"So, no one's figured out the cause yet?"
"Exactly. That's why I called you—to tell you to be careful."
"Ah... Understood."
With that, I left her office.
I was bewildered.
Unexplained symptoms striking men all over the country at once?
If only they knew the reason.
But it made no sense that they hadn't even identified the cause.
"Ha... First Kim Da-in, now this. The public servants in this country are strangely incompetent."
I couldn't make sense of it, but I didn't particularly want to dwell on it either.
"I'll just focus on my own job."
With that, I headed back to my post.
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"Yawn... What time is it?"
How much time had passed since I returned to my station?
The clock hands were already inching toward quitting time.
'Time really flies these days.'
I packed my things.
Maybe it was the end-of-shift vibe,
but I suddenly felt a surge of energy.
I hurried out of the room.
I had a pre-quitting routine.
Nothing grand enough to call a ritual, but something I always did.
"See you tomorrow, Seo-rin. Ian."
"Take care, you too."
"See you."
Exchanging goodbyes with them made it feel real—my day was truly over.
It might just be politeness, but I always felt compelled to say farewell to them.
Then I walked home.
After Yoo Seol kidnapped me, I'd considered buying a car,
but I wanted to end each day with at least a short walk.
'Can't even hit the gym anymore. Might as well get some fresh air.'
Maybe it was the big lake along the way,
but the path home always brought a pleasantly cool breeze that lifted my spirits.
"Ha... The air's so nice."
After breathing the stale prison air all day, this fresh breeze felt incredible.
I passed the lake and, as usual, cut through the back alley.
It was quieter than the main road, with less traffic and fewer people—perfect.
-Thud, thud
-Thud, thud
My footsteps were slow, the only sound the scrape of my shoe soles on the asphalt.
"Ugh, what?"
Suddenly, something brushed against my ankle.
At first, I thought it was a leaf or twig carried by the wind.
But it didn't just graze once—it slowly crawled upward.
"Wha... what the... what is this..."
It wriggled up my shoelace toward the back of my hand.
I looked down, tearing my eyes from ahead.
A pitch-black, fuzzy caterpillar clung to my shoe.
Its body was covered in dense black fur, like a tiny black bottlebrush.
About half the length of my thumb joint.
"Ah, it's just a bug. Scared me for a second. Must be warming up outside—bugs are coming out."
That was the moment.
It curled up and sprang forward onto the back of my hand.
"Ah!"
It landed with a faint, feather-light touch.
Lighter than a mosquito bite.
Just a subtle press against my skin.
I shook my hand—what the hell?
The caterpillar dropped to the ground with a plop.
I saw it wriggling away across the asphalt.
Seconds later, it vanished beyond the streetlamp's glow.
I looked at the back of my hand.
Between my thumb and index finger, three tiny red dots.
"Damn... Talk about bad luck. Bitten by a bug..."
Each dot was less than 1mm across.
Just slightly inflamed skin.
No itching.
No sting.
No burning.
No swelling.
Just a faint color change.
Probably a few hairs stuck in, I figured.
I kept walking.
The back of my hand still felt nothing.
-Beep
I arrived home.
Even as I opened the door, kicked off my shoes— no change.
"What should I have for dinner tonight?"
I went to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and set water to boil for ramen.
While it heated, I glanced at the back of my hand.
The three red dots were still there, but already fading.
Started as deep pink; ten minutes later, pale rose.
I ate my ramen in front of the TV.
Glanced again.
Now barely visible.
Had to tilt it under the light to make out the faint three points.
Normally, a bite would swell, itch, keep me scratching all night.
Not this time.
Same after showering.
No reaction to water or soap.
Checked once more before bed.
Gone completely.
Skin back to normal.
"Weird. Can a bite mark vanish this fast? Maybe a tent caterpillar or something..."
A flicker of curiosity, but no way to investigate—it faded quickly.
I fell asleep.
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"Hah...!"
I woke the next morning feeling off.
The blankets were much hotter than usual.
My skin burned, body feverish.
Hand to forehead—no fever, but heat surged from within.
"What... what's this?... Body feels weird... Not pain, but... what..."
As I sat up in bed, a pull from below.
Sexual desire exploded upward.
Not my usual morning wood.
My mind filled with it completely.
Breath ragged, heart pounding.
Hand nearly drifted down on its own.
In the mirror, cheeks flushed red.
Eyes glossier than normal.
"What the hell..."
Eyes quite bloodshot.
Rubbed them in sleep?
Body rarely this hot.
Not a cold, hadn't drunk.
Suddenly hypersensitive—all senses alive.
"This is weird... something's wrong..."
In the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face.
Skin reacted sharply to the touch.
Dried off, mirror check—cheeks still red.
Below still throbbed.
Gritted teeth to endure.
Even after shower, heat lingered.
Clothes brushing annoyed me constantly.
Even thin underwear felt off.
Getting ready for work, thoughts circled obsessively.
Couldn't focus.
Worried now.
The Warden's words from yesterday flashed back, amplifying it.
"No way... couldn't be."
Just paranoia?
Twenty minutes post-shower, it cut off abruptly.
Heat, insane lust—gone instantly.
Like flipping a switch.
Body normalized.
Heat cooled, below quieted.
Mind cleared.
"......What was that?"
I muttered.
Felt odd, but it had passed—no urge to dwell.
Just a tiring morning, I shrugged.
Thought of telling the Warden,
but she had enough headaches without mine.
Brewed coffee, grabbed bag, headed out.
In the elevator, glanced at hand.
The three red dots from last night's alley bite? Completely gone.
'No way that bug...? Nah, that's just imagination.'
No trace.
The thought passed.
Walking to work—no issues.
Phone, music, blending into the crowd as usual.
The morning heat and desire? Erased from memory.
Just a strange morning.
Body fine now—decided not to overthink.
I arrived at the prison.