Two Weeks of Sweet Deception
About two weeks until Ma Yeonseo's return. I'd resolved to fully conquer her in that time, so I dove into the operation headfirst. Not that it was anything grandiose. It was simply a matter of acting in ways that let her lower her guard completely.
"Sleep well?"
After passing out from the intense night before, she reached out with a drowsy expression, her fingers tentatively tracing my face as if confirming I was really there.
"...When did you wake up?"
I gave her a faint smile and wrapped my hand around hers.
"Not long ago. Sleep more if you're still tired."
"...Yeah...."
"Want me to hold you?"
"...Yeah...."
I'd recently learned that after we broke up, she'd started relying on strong sleeping pills and alcohol. Since she hadn't touched either once after summoning me, I'd thought it was a lie to gain my sympathy. But seeing the drawer stuffed full of heavy-duty pills made it real. I latched onto that relentlessly.
The key is her mental issues.
Even someone as seemingly perfect as Ma Yeonseo couldn't overcome her psychological weaknesses, depending on booze and pills for so long. Then I popped up, and suddenly the problem vanished. As she said, just having me around fixed her mental state. Know what that means? If I disappeared again, she'd fall back into booze and drugs. The knife's hilt was never in her hands—it was mine from the start.
I don't want to play dirty with someone's heart.
Honestly, exploiting someone's weakness isn't pure joy. Part of me wondered how much she had to mean to me for this to feel right. Hell, had I developed Stockholm syndrome? I even felt pity for her. But.
She'd crossed the line way too far for cheap pity. If she hadn't imprisoned me by force. If she'd just let me contact home. Hell, if she hadn't tried seducing me to break my stubbornness. I wouldn't harbor this ruthless intent.
I'll break her for sure.
Armed with the theory of inducing carelessness through endless affection, I planned activities to build her trust. Not just coexisting or sleeping together—ones that created new memories. I approached slowly, without raising suspicion.
"Ah. Being cooped up at home is boring. Let me out a bit. Aren't you bored?"
"Yeah. Because you're here."
"Ugh.... ...Oh. There's a pool downstairs, right? Can't we use it?"
"...Pool?"
We decided to use the pool attached to the house. It was spacious and well-maintained, yet barely used—maybe countable on one hand.
This is why rich people.
Anyway. With the weather perfect and cool water promising refreshment, we went for a swim.
"How do I look?"
Ma Yeonseo appeared at the pool in a micro bikini from some costume fashion show, draped in a robe.
This is unreal.
Her body, the design—impossible to wear outside.
"...Can I be honest?"
"Yeah."
"I wanna ditch the swim and go at it right now."
She smiled in satisfaction at my boldness and shed the robe.
Trust +1 point.
On another day, with a cool breeze, I suggested a picnic.
"Yeonseo. Let's go on a picnic."
"Suddenly?"
"Stuck inside's suffocating. I wanna get some air."
"...Can't go outside."
"Ah, the garden's fine!"
It was right there, but for new memories, I prepared properly and we picnicked.
"Let's make food for each other."
"Sounds good."
"Just so you know, no weird stuff."
"We'll see."
We tied aprons on each other, chopped side by side.
"I've noticed before, but you really suck at knife work."
"Everyone does it for me. No need."
"Living the easy life."
"Live with me, and you will too."
"...I'll think about it."
I brushed off her flirting with feigned reluctance.
"Hey. You cut it so huge the fruit's spilling out."
"Wanna switch...?"
"Nah. You made it."
"......"
In the garden, we shared sandwiches we'd made, slipping in compliments she'd like.
"Wanna use my arm as a pillow?"
"That'd be uncomfortable."
"Suit yourself."
"...Sure."
We read books together in the gentle breeze.
This one's worth at least +3 points.
One day, pouring rain trapped us inside all day.
"Feels that good?"
"Nngh.... So gooood...."
"I'll make it even better."
"Ahh...!"
We savored the rain sounds in a dark room, tangled in sticky passion, then napped cuddled up fresh and dry.
Out like a light.... Were the pills all fake?
That's when, pretending to fall for her bit by bit, building trust steadily—
"Wanna have a drink?"
"Uh.... Booze?"
Surprisingly, Ma Yeonseo suggested drinks first.
Come to think, I've never drunk with her.
One of the few things Han Yeoryeon beat her at.
Sip. What to do. Not great with alcohol....
I'm not super tolerant, so I hesitated. Mess up drunk, and it could ruin everything. But passing this chance? Too wasteful. Drunk words are sober thoughts—drinks are a huge trust event. With time ticking, too many regrets to skip.
I'll pace myself.
I went all-in, accepting eagerly.
"Sure."
Clink clink clink. Seductive brown liquid poured over round ice in on-the-rocks glasses, releasing aroma. American whiskey she used to love.
"Seeing whiskey reminds me of getting scouted at a host bar after turning adult."
"Host bar...?"
Tipsy after my second glass, I shared my first adult part-time gig as a drinking story.
"The boss kept saying he'd pay big, just work a bit!"
"...Hng...."
"Something about all VIP guests with manners? Yeah, right. Ridiculous."
Sipping nonstop, Ma Yeonseo shot a subtly displeased glance but said nothing. Before, she'd have glared and snapped. The booze softened her, it seemed. I exploited it.
"Anyway, stuff like that happened."
"I see."
Chat flowed, then lulled into brief silence. I drained my glass and slid next to her.
"Pour a bit more."
As she filled it, I wrapped an arm around her waist, resting my head on her shoulder.
Whoa. Feeling the buzz.
"...Soon I'll have to go back to work."
"Yeah."
"...While I'm stuck here forever."
Thud. She set the bottle down, sipping quietly.
"......"
"......"
Savoring her scent, nuzzling, I pulled her close and whispered.
"...Can't you let me go soon?"
"You wanna leave?"
No instant no—sign of willingness.
"Kinda.... ...Really need to contact Korea soon."
I slipped Han Yeoryeon into the talk, testing.
"......"
She sipped silently, no reaction.
...Push more?
No rejection yet—worth pressing.
"Nooo. They're probably thinking I'm missing."
"So?"
"Gotta contact so no issues later. Too long missing, they declare dead, lose ID."
"That's fine?"
She turned with a playful smile. I sensed it: almost there.
"C'mon, don't."
I nuzzled her nape cutely. She accepted wordlessly, not displeased. No pushback after all this—my trust-building paid off.
"You contact for me.... Just say I'm alive. Yeah? Basic decency."
First goal: Let Han Yeoryeon know I'm safe. Gripping Yeonseo's leash later.
"...That worried?"
Her tone chilled, glancing sharply.
Stay calm.
Side with Yeoryeon without seeming to.
"Nah, she's the only one around me who'd care...."
Nibble her nape lightly, deflect.
Buzz muddled my head.
"Do it.... Please?"
"Just words?"
I kissed her face as we hugged. She tilted eagerly, offering lips.
"Mmwah... Smooch... Slurp...."
Victory in sight.
"You'll do it?"
"...I'll think."
"Ow. No thinking...! You promised release if I fell for you."
"...You like me?"
She glanced, eyes meeting mine.
Focus.
I willed my numb muscles to nod naturally, slowly.
"Totally love you."
She turned fully, stroking my bangs lovingly.
"Believe it? Or scheming?"
Offhand stone killed the frog. Lie sniffed out—face slipping.
"Don't, then what?"
I gripped her hair lightly, bluffing tough.
"What can you do but get fucked by me?"
She chuckled low, liking the provocation.
"...True. Can't live without you. Helpless."
"Gonna obey Yuchan now?"
"Yeah. Guess so."
Her lips curved in pure enjoyment.
Done.
Sensing victory, I praised her sweetly and kissed passionately.
I won!
Finally, I'd broken Ma Yeonseo.
*
While Ma Yeonseo doted on Kang Yuchan.
In Korea.
"Is that rumor true?"
Unsettling rumors swirled in the Awakener Association. Hard-to-believe ones that could flip the nation.
"Dude, that make sense? If real, it'd be all over already."
"It is now."
"But if true, shouldn't we know first?"
"Fair."
Strategic Team 1, tied to the rumors, buzzed all day....
"......"
Han Yeoryeon ignored it all, buried in work. Lifeless eyes, pale face—far worse than a month ago, drowning in tasks.
Tap. Tap tap.
Deep in work—
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Her charging phone on the desk lit with a DM alert. Owner oblivious, battling the monitor.
Screen showed a photo and cryptic message.
Hours later, Yeoryeon checked, screamed horrifically, and wailed in agony.