The Kidnapping
As a new student, Goh Ju-young believed he was blessed.
His father was an awakened one.
He had built a major hunter business enterprise that ranked in the top two digits of the corporate world.
Despite living in the heart of Seoul since childhood, the family home was an impossibly grand estate, and luxury cars lined the driveway like weeds.
Whenever someone called, dozens would rush over and kneel before him.
Naturally, Ju-young became the second-generation chaebol heir.
Expensive clothes filled his closets, and shoes were discarded after a single wear.
No matter where he went — school, anywhere — money bought the best of everything.
If he wanted it, it came into his hands.
There was nothing he couldn't eat, nothing he couldn't take.
His capable parents gave him everything he desired.
All except one thing.
Growth didn't go as he wished.
Though he'd awakened early, his power didn't grow quickly.
His parents realized this right away.
But they weren't disappointed.
They had money.
With the family's backing, he could easily obtain rare byproducts from gates.
Purified magic stones, special drugs, enhancement serums, various catalysts.
Thanks to that, he didn't fall behind among his fellow awakened students.
Was it because of that single inferiority complex?
He'd lived his life in luxury and indulgence.
Expensive liquor, cigars, the neon lights of clubs.
Countless beautiful women circled around him.
He never hid how much money he had.
Whenever a woman caught his eye, he'd first show off his status and wealth.
Brand-name watches and cars, a card engraved with his father's company logo, expensive gifts.
What about people who refused?
He didn't care.
Sometimes he pushed through with force, sometimes he bulldozed his way.
He'd force himself on them even if it meant coercion, and if things escalated, he'd silence them with enormous sums of money.
Even the police bowed their heads before money and power.
He was an awakened one, after all. In this era where the world was held under the blade of isolation, he knew all too well that awakened individuals were the most precious resource.
With overwhelming financial backing, he had his charges dismissed before he was even branded a villain.
Ju-young believed he could do anything in this world.
Nothing was impossible.
His parents were negligent.
He was free.
No one stopped his behavior.
So he thought that was just how things worked.
In this world, nothing was impossible.
That day, he acted the same way again.
He didn't know that would completely change his life.
— BOOM!
A furious voice echoed through Ju-young's dorm room.
Ten days of suspension, a hundred hours of community service, and twenty hours of sex education.
The punishment handed to that Vallen bitch who'd tried to burn him alive was nothing compared to this.
"This fucking bitch... she had the nerve to sleep with me?"
The woman had been wearing nothing but a whore's clothes. She'd shown up with half her face scarred, acting like nothing was wrong, but he hadn't expected that kind of reaction.
Falling to the floor and helplessly surrendering. The mockery and laughter of other students surrounding him.
And the contemptuous look in those young eyes that looked down on him.
Rage surged through his mind.
No one had ever put him through such humiliation before. He was, after all, a second-generation heir from a top-tier family and an elite himself, and everyone who'd been around him had always rushed to keep him happy.
Even the background check revealed the woman was a penniless orphan with no family to speak of — someone who'd just popped out of nowhere with a laughable resume.
He called someone somewhere. After chatting about this and that,
[Goh Ju-young — specified time for on-campus service]
"Fuck... cut it. I'll go handle the report. Oh, and bring that thing. Let's try it out today — when else would we?"
A piece of equipment he'd acquired a few days ago. A prototype given to him by a guild he'd recently contracted with. He figured it'd be perfect for a situation like this.
"Handle it quietly. I'll head to your hideout later."
That was how Ju-young went to receive his punishment.
But the corner of his mouth carried a faint smile of pleasure.
— — —
"Ugh... what the hell is this weed-pulling nonsense. I really don't get it."
By the time the sun set, Yu-ryun had been dragged through forced labor that masqueraded as on-campus service. The scent line seemed even darker today.
She hadn't planned to live like this from the first day of enrollment. Now that she'd overexerted herself, all she wanted was to rest as soon as possible.
"Tch, damn. I was supposed to have dinner with Hwan-hyeon. Guess I'll have to take the shortcut."
Muttering to herself, Yu-ryun turned into an alley. If she followed the main road, she'd have to go a long way around, but cutting through here would get her back to the dorm in no time.
While she was moving between buildings, a car passed by briefly.
"Oh, this is inconvenient because of the CCTV. Lucky I can come through here."
A voice came from somewhere.
"...!"
A chill ran through Yu-ryun's skin. There was definitely no one visible in the alley she was passing through. There was no gap where someone with such a deep voice could hide.
"Come out, you fuck! What do you want?!"
"What do I want?"
— CLANK!
The metallic sound of something being loaded rang out behind her.
"...Fuck, behind me!"
There was no trace of the nagging she'd heard that morning in her mind. All she could think about was burning the black shadow that had revealed itself.
"Huh?"
That was strange. Her fire infused with her own energy should have swept the enemy away in one shot.
No energy moved at all.
While she stumbled in panic, the enemy seized the opening and attacked.
— KWAAANG!
"Cough...!"
"Heh heh heh... This artifact forbids the wearer from using mana and reduces physical abilities to those of a normal human. It's a disposable piece that sword-wielders use during training, but it's more useful in a situation like this, wouldn't you say?"
Yu-ryun went down in a single hit. For some reason, her recovery wasn't kicking in properly either.
— THWACK!
"Ugh..."
When she struck at her neck, her weakened body went limp and she lost consciousness.
"Hya! She's waking up!"
"Sir, can we start working on her now?"
Several men asked the one who seemed to be their leader. He was the one who'd put a collar around Yu-ryun's neck.
"Wait. The young master comes first."
"Damn... that fucking germaphobe..."
"Either way, when she's done with him she'll hand her over to us. It said she's a parentless orphan, so we don't need to worry about the cleanup."
""Fuck you bastards!!"
"Go mess with the other bitches. Leave this one alone for now."
""Yes, sir!"
"You talk too much. Let's move quickly before we're spotted."
And so, in the dead of night, the shadow vanished without a sound or a whisper.
— — —
"Uuuuung..."
Her consciousness was hazy. A floating sensation persisted.
'I was definitely pulling weeds for half a day, and then I was heading back to the dorm...'
"BWAAH!! UUUWAAH!!!! ARGH!!"
Strange sounds came from her mouth, as if she were being forced to keep it shut.
"BLBB!! OWAAH!!"
She tried to speak, but something felt wrong in her mouth. With her jaw stretched as wide as possible, something was firmly fixed in place, and her tongue couldn't move easily either.
While she was processing her situation,
"Oh my, I didn't expect to find you in such a sorry state. Good thing I came."
A woman's voice — undeniably charming — reached her ears.
"Which one of you is Yu-ryun?"
"BWAAH! BWAAH!!"
'Who... who are you! Untie me!!'
"BWAAH BWAAH!!"
"I'm sorry. I didn't put you in this state, but I can't just go and rescue you right now."
"What the hell kind of nonsense is that!"
"I'll get back to you. Try to hang in there for now. And I wish you good luck."
Her footsteps grew distant.
"BWAAH..."
She screamed for a long time. Eventually, she had no strength left to twist her body or to scream.
It must have been nearly an hour. Or perhaps two.
— Thud, thud, thud.
The sound of multiple footsteps approached.
"The redhead one, we didn't touch her, right?"
"No! We didn't lay a finger on her!"
— CRASH!
"Hey, you little bitch. Do you know who I am?"
The person in front of her ripped off her blindfold. What she saw was—
"...!!"
The man who had harassed her that morning. And behind him, sturdy men were crowding in.
"That's right. When I said I wanted to do it once, and she said she'd do it willingly, how great would that be? No one gets their feelings hurt, and we all just walk away happy."
"..."
"Is that not what you want, you fucking bitch?!"
'Ugh, this guy's spitting so much it's disgusting.'
"Heh heh heh... That's right. Make her pay for making me the laughingstock earlier."
'No... no! Help me!!! You bastard!!!'
Her mind snapped awake. She wanted to get as far away from that man as possible.
— CLANG CLANG!
She put everything she had into the restraints that bound her. Even so, her path was blocked before she could go far.
"Where do you think you're going? Just sit still like a good girl."
The man drew closer. The sanctum he had only ever allowed Hwan-hyeon to violate, he was now trying to force upon someone else.
'Hwan-hyeon... ah...'
Time seemed to slow down. Like a final vision before death, but the only memories that surfaced were the short time she'd spent with Hwan-hyeon.
'...I miss you...'
That was all she could think.
And sometimes, desperate wishes do come true.
— SWISH!
A white sword energy streaked past Yu-ryun's eyes.