The Master's Leash
A massive dining table overflowing with mouthwatering dishes. I stared intently at Ma Yeonseo, seated across from me.
"……."
Ma Yeonseo only made occasional clinking sounds with her utensils, silently focused on her meal. Without so much as a glance in my direction.
What's this girl's deal?
Right after the contract, she'd called someone to hurriedly fetch clothes for me, then dragged me to the restaurant with a simple "let's eat." Naturally, I had no intention of cooperating and firmly resisted, refusing to follow…
—Then strip too.
Unable to argue with her "strip if you don't like it," I'd ended up coming along. For a moment, I thought she might've changed, but no—her true nature was the same as ever.
What kind of bolt from the blue is this…
A sigh escaped me involuntarily. My life had finally started looking up, my breathing easing at last. It wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say only happiness lay ahead. Who could've predicted this absurd situation out of nowhere?
It was utterly devastating.
Damn this summon crap… Cut the bullshit.
Han Yeoryeon, who should've been home by now, weighed heavily on my mind. I'd vanished without even saying goodbye, dropped into America just like that. She'd be worried sick once she realized I was gone. No way to inform her of my situation—it was nothing but frustration.
I'm going insane.
As I heaved heavy sighs in my stifled frustration,
"Not eating?"
Ma Yeonseo spoke up lightly from across the table. It felt like she was teasing me, so a curt tone slipped out unbidden.
"…You'd eat in my shoes?"
"You must be hungry. No food till breakfast tomorrow if you skip now."
"…I'll handle it."
"Hmmm…."
Ma Yeonseo shrugged indifferently and slowly moved her fork again. I crossed my arms resolutely and sat there, quietly waiting for her to finish.
*
After the long, drawn-out meal,
Ma Yeonseo led me to her room.
What kind of house is this mansion?
Even from the comings and goings, I'd sensed it, but the place was ridiculously huge—like arriving at a luxury pension. Walking anywhere took forever, which I didn't like.
"This is my bedroom."
Ma Yeonseo's room on the second floor boasted a glamorous view of the distant city lights and sleek, stylish interiors.
…Damn, she decorated it perfectly.
My jaw dropped in unwitting admiration; it suited her taste to a T.
"This is your room from now on."
"……."
"Everything you need should be here, so make yourself at home."
Once we arrived, she mentioned needing a shower first and casually asked,
"Wanna shower together after so long?"
"No thanks."
I refused flat-out, of course.
"Suit yourself."
Shrugging as if she didn't care, she started stripping right there in front of me.
"Whoa!"
Startled by the feast of bare skin reflected in my eyes, I whipped around in a panic.
A snicker. Her laugh made my temper flare for a second, but I couldn't bring myself to protest.
She go in yet?
Only after the sound of pouring water finally reached me did I sigh in relief and sink onto the sofa in the corner of the room, racking my brains.
…Gotta somehow sweet-talk Ma Yeonseo.
The top priority in this mess was contacting Han Yeoryeon. Getting home could come after. Unfortunately, though, any progress on either required Ma Yeonseo's help inevitably.
Of all the luck, summoned with nothing on me…!
If I'd just had my phone, everything would've been solved. The more I replayed the situation, the more suffocating it felt.
"Hoo…."
How long had I been sitting there, calmly pondering, when the water sounds from the bathroom tapered off, followed by the hum of a hairdryer?
She won't come out naked, right?
Thankfully, she emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a robe…
"?!"
But through the wide-open robe, her heaving chest and insane curves were fully on display. She'd thrown it on over her bare body.
"C-Cover up a bit!!"
"It's my house?"
"B-But I'm here!"
"You can look."
Utterly unfazed despite flashing everything, she sauntered over and plopped down on the opposite sofa. Her loosely tousled hair, flawless face without a trace of makeup—stunning as ever. And with her overwhelming bust propping the robe wide open, her skin was exposed without restraint.
I couldn't face her straight-on and jerked my head away.
"…Tie it in front for me."
"Why?"
"Everything's showing…!"
"That's the point."
Her shameless words made my face burn. Vowing to look only at her face, I slowly turned back.
Just the face. Just the face…!
It was pure torture.
"…I have a favor to ask."
"What?"
"…Help me get home."
"This is your home now."
She tilted her head, rejecting me outright. As expected, I wouldn't get easy help, so I swiftly moved to plan B.
"…At least let me contact home. Gotta call work too… I have a life, you know."
"Hmmm."
She slid off the sofa, knelt, and bowed her head.
"I won't ask for anything else. Just one call! I'm in deep shit here…!"
It was an emotional plea in the end.
"Please… Help me out, Yeonseo…!"
But.
"I told you already. I'll think about it if we date again."
She was resolute.
Damn it…!
I needed to contact Han Yeoryeon no matter what, get her help—so I swallowed hard and met her eyes.
"If that's what you want, fine, we'll date again…!"
And in that instant.
Split. She spread her plump thighs wide as if to show off and declared,
"Strip. Then."
She wanted proof.
"Th-That's…."
"Can't, huh?"
Her gaze, looking down at me on my knees, held not a shred of trust. She knew I wasn't sincere.
We're screwed.
Persuasion was never gonna work on her to begin with.
"…Yuchan."
Ma Yeonseo recrossed her legs and spoke calmly.
"You know give and take, right?"
"……."
"Gotta give to get. I need something in return to give anything."
"……."
"But you don't like me anymore, do you?"
"……."
"…Think you've got the gist by now."
She wanted a fair trade, not one-sided support. And right now, I had nothing to offer. Nothing but this body of mine. Which, ironically, was the one thing she loved most: Kang Yuchan.
…Psycho bitch…
Seeing through her blatant intent to tame me, I clamped my mouth shut. Cheating on Han Yeoryeon for this? No way.
I'd rather die.
I didn't want to betray her.
"Talk's over. I'm beat—time to sleep."
Ignoring me, Ma Yeonseo rose, cinched her robe, and headed to bed. Then, as if it just occurred to her, she paused and tossed out,
"Sleep together?"
Still on my knees, I clenched my fists and murmured low,
"…No."
"Okay. Sweet dreams."
As she lay down, thick darkness blanketed the bedroom.
Fuck.
And so the first night passed.
*
The next day, Ma Yeonseo shoved a strange item at me, who hadn't slept a wink.
It looked like one of those black chokers women often wore.
"…What's this?"
"Your collar."
"What?"
Had I misheard?
"If you leave the room without me, you'll pass out. People will find you and bring you back, so don't worry."
"You're insane? No way!"
I scowled and refused vehemently.
But she spoke with a straight face.
"You will."
Her tone was utterly confident.
"What…."
In that moment.
Tentacles burst forth, binding my entire body!
"!"
She'd unleashed an S-rank summon just to slap on a collar.
"L-Let go…! Mmph…!"
"Good boy?"
Grinning like she was handling a dog, Ma Yeonseo finally fastened the choker around my neck.
She flashed a faint smile at me, glaring and unable to move.
"Suits you."
She really wasn't your average psycho.
"Phew…!"
Once the tentacles finally released me, I clawed desperately at the choker around my neck to remove it. But it was like it'd melted into my skin—nothing to grab. It felt like a tattoo etched on.
"T-Take this off right now…!"
"Nah, don't wanna."
"You think this makes me like you?!"
"You didn't like me anyway. Nothing changed?"
"You evil bitch!!!"
Even as I cursed, she just chuckled it off lightly. She was truly out of her mind.
"See you tonight."
With a few one-sided explanations, Ma Yeonseo up and left the house.
Left alone, I became a pathetic dog pining for its master.
I can't live like this…!
Vowing to escape come hell or high water, I first scoured the room thoroughly. Maybe she'd left some communication device.
Damn her. Nothing.
Nothing turned up. The only electronics in sight were the pager she'd shown me and the TV.
…There must be something outside the room.
Abandoning the search, I pondered deeply—then recalled her warning about fainting if I left.
Wanna test it?
I decided to experiment and see what it felt like.
Slowly…
Cautiously opening the door, I extended my hand.
"…?"
No sensation at all.
To be sure, I stuck my arm out up to the shoulder.
Huh?
For some reason, far from passing out, I felt more alert from the tension.
Bluff?
Just in case, I slowly stepped one foot out.
Tap.
The instant my toe touched the floor outside.
"……Huh?"
When I came to, I was lying cozily on the bed. Like blacking out drunk, the memory in between was gone.
…F-Fuck…
I'd really passed out.
You crazy bitch…! What the hell did you put on me?!
Shivering in dread, clutching my head, I racked my brain for escape methods from movies and books.
"……."
Then my eyes landed on the large TV mounted on the wall. A top-tier Korean model, known for performance.
"!"
An idea flashed. I snatched the remote and powered it on.
The screen lit up with the brand logo.
[NPI Smart TV]
Then a welcoming message appeared.
As expected from a rich house—latest smart TV, same OS as phones!
This is it!
Heart pounding, I steadied myself and fiddled with the remote to find the internet app.
There!
Sure enough, a built-in browser app.
"Ugh…!"
Fist clenched in silent triumph at finding the answer, I quickly launched the internet and pondered how to call for help.
Embassy? No, can't call… Right, Insta! DMs on Instagram should work!
Soon settling on a plan, I suppressed my excitement and waited for the connection.
But.
[This feature is not available on this device.]
"What."
[This feature is not available on this device.]
"No, cut the crap…!"
[This feature is not available on this device.]
No matter how many times I tried, the internet wouldn't connect. Not just the browser—anything internet-related was blocked.
"FUUUUCK!!!"
Escape failed.