25. Punishment
25. Punishment
I couldn't sleep,
so I lay in my room enjoying my new senses of sight and hearing.
It was like running a high-end system
after using a junk computer on the lowest settings—
even just enjoying that world
felt fun in a way I couldn't describe.
Time passed.
Since my room has no clock, I checked the time on my phone.
It was 6 o'clock, the time I'd promised them.
I'm usually punctual,
but I deliberately stayed lying down.
Right now, they're probably waiting for me,
collars on, nervous.
To keep that tension going,
I lazed around for about 30 more minutes before getting up.
As I headed to the annex, I thought.
What am I doing right now?
I can enjoy a certain amount of coercion and sadistic behavior
during service hours.
The service hours have been conditioned so that I can enjoy them,
and they can enjoy them too.
But punishment...
At least I don't find it that enjoyable.
And I need to make sure they don't enjoy it either.
I stopped by the restroom to light a cigarette.
Reasons why punishment is necessary.
First, because the organization hasn't truly acknowledged me
as the real master.
That's the most practical and annoying reason.
There's no way to avoid it.
Second, because of the relationship between us.
Probably both they and I
are quite fond of each other.
But it's not a natural emotion—
the situation forced it.
To them, compared to my father, who was a painful master,
or the organization's facilities,
I've treated them far more humanely.
And I, until recently, was just a sympathetic person,
but now I have women I can satisfy
my unlimited sexual desires with however I please.
We talk, we share flesh, we eat together,
and even in just one day, it's true that feelings have grown.
But this is favor born from circumstance.
They and I are not in a romantic man-woman relationship.
I protect them, and they offer me their bodies.
We have a mutual contractual relationship.
Many relationships break because people confuse
friendship with love.
Many relationships crumble because people muddle
their personal and professional boundaries.
We must never forget that we are
master and slaves.
We were not lovers.
Only receiving service and treating them like lovers—
that, too, is ultimately using my position
to force feelings of love.
And third.
Thinking about this morning's events,
I realized that our communication
is actually going in circles.
The more I try to treat them well,
the less they believe my words.
Using jokes to lighten the mood
was probably one of the big reasons.
The words of the organization and my predecessor, my father,
were absolute truths and beliefs to them.
When I, their successor,
come down to their level and speak as a fellow human,
my words don't reach them.
We needed a different method of communication.
I put out my cigarette and headed to the annex.
As I had ordered, they had stripped naked,
hung their collars on the wall, knelt down,
and were waiting for me.
They heard my footsteps but didn't greet me.
They were prepared too.
Because I, coming to deliver punishment,
hadn't yet given them permission to speak,
unlike the me from earlier.
"Did I keep you waiting long? Lift your heads."
It wasn't a forceful tone. A comfortable tone.
But I knew without looking in a mirror
that my face
was smirking.
They only lifted their heads as permitted
and didn't move.
Ignoring the heavy atmosphere,
I touched each tool on the table—
dildos, clamps,
various whips, canes—
one by one.
"I've been thinking. You know?
I'm a newbie master.
I've thought a lot about punishment."
I picked up a sturdy whip of moderate size.
Slowly, one by one, I placed the tools from the table
onto the floor, continuing to speak.
"Since it's punishment, you have to be in pain, right?
But I wondered if you really have
that much to be in pain about anymore."
Everything on the table was now on the floor.
"Shame? Well, honestly,
if you went outside looking like that right now,
you wouldn't even be that embarrassed, would you?
Even if I made you shit in the middle of the street,
you wouldn't bat an eye.
Pleasure? Well, if I used something like a dildo,
maybe I could make you climax too,
but I'm weaker than you in that area, aren't I?"
A faint smile on my face;
they didn't move a muscle.
"So, since it's the first time,
I'll just hit you. You're used to that, right?"
I went to Kim Hyeon-ah's room.
Even though I entered, she didn't move
an inch.
In the corner of the room were two bags of their feed.
One nearly empty, one new.
I lifted the new one with one hand.
Hmm, heavier than I thought. About 60kg?
They said it was worth a million won; the packaging is sturdy too.
Not something that tears by hand.
Unless I use strength.
I placed the feed on the table, standing it upright.
"There's something different about me and my father.
I don't like my slaves getting broken."
Words that would have been kind yesterday.
But now, my voice echoing in the annex
was low and cold.
"You're used to being hit, right?
I'm not used to hitting, though..."
In an instant, I swung the whip
with maximum strength.
Using my Eyesight's tracking ability,
I aimed for the dead center of the feed bag.
With a sound like a bomb exploding,
that sturdy feed bag literally burst.
After the tremendous roar,
brown dust filled my vision, obscuring everything.
The feed pellets inside flew like shrapnel.
They were positioned behind the bag,
so the feed didn't hit them,
but in front of where the whip struck and to the sides,
feed flew at incredible speeds.
From the small iron doors on either side,
I heard sounds like rocks being thrown at them.
If anyone had witnessed it,
they'd think a bomb went off.
Naturally, most of the feed flew toward me,
but I dodged it quite easily
with minimal movement.
The power of Agility, used for the first time.
Soon, the dust settled,
and our eyes met.
For the first time, their expressionless faces cracked.
The difference in experience between Kim Hyeon-ah
and Shin A-yeong as slaves is only a year,
but their experiences differ considerably.
Kim Hyeon-ah, who endured all kinds of abuse from my father,
versus Shin A-yeong, who was conditioned in a facility—
the difference showed here.
I've seen fear in Kim Hyeon-ah's eyes
a few times before.
But back then, it was fear
about being abandoned.
Now, it's fear directed at me as a human.
Enjoyable.
Her face lit up with a bright smile is nice,
but I wanted to see this face too.
At least Kim Hyeon-ah only changed her expression,
but Shin A-yeong was trembling slightly.
A face I would never have imagined
from the girl who clung to me this morning, acting cute.
"Ah, did I put too much strength into that? I should swing more gently.
I thought hitting was the easiest thing,
but well, you're the experts, so it'll work out somehow.
Alright, both of you come out and stand in front of me."
At my words, Kim Hyeon-ah immediately jumped out,
and Shin A-yeong came out on trembling legs.
Either way, it's a good sight.
"Alright then, let's begin the punishment.
Arms behind your heads, feet shoulder-width apart.
Perfect for being hit."
At my command, they obeyed.
Seeing them stand naked before me,
posing to be hit,
a sadistic satisfaction raised its head.
"Then first, tell me
why you deserve punishment.
Kim Hyeon-ah, one at a time in order.
If you get it right, I'll punish you."
I put moderate force into the whip and swung it in the air.
Just that alone created a sound of breaking air.
Kim Hyeon-ah opened her mouth to give her prepared answer.
"Well... when we first met Master,
without Master's permission, we
touched Master's body. Please pun..."
Before Kim Hyeon-ah could finish,
I lashed the whip across Shin A-yeong's chest.
Shin A-yeong, not expecting to be hit,
screamed and clutched her chest.
A woman's chest is one of the vital points.
There's no way it doesn't hurt.
"Wrong answer. If you're wrong, the person next to you gets hit,
so think carefully.
And Shin A-yeong. If you break your posture,
Kim Hyeon-ah will be punished."
Not with the whip, but like flicking a forehead,
though with considerable force,
I flicked Kim Hyeon-ah's nipple.
"Ugh... uk. Thank you."
Maybe because I had warned her, Kim Hyeon-ah didn't break her posture,
and Shin A-yeong quickly put her hands behind her head
and clasped them together.
As if she would never let her hands down again.
"No need to thank me. It was wrong after all.
Alright, Shin A-yeong, you try.
If you're wrong this time, I'll slap Kim Hyeon-ah."
Shin A-yeong was frightened.
"If you're late, Kim Hyeon-ah gets hit again, right?"
At my words, she answered hastily.
"We begged to stay here
without Master's permission.
Please, punish me."
"Wrong again."
I slapped Kim Hyeon-ah across the face.
Unlike the whip, the force applied to her face
sent Kim Hyeon-ah falling.
Her posture broke. Though I was the one who broke it.
The whip lashed Shin A-yeong's thigh.
Similar force as before, but Shin A-yeong endured.
The red line on her thigh excited me.
Shin A-yeong, more than her own thigh,
looked at the fallen Kim Hyeon-ah, her eyes reddening.
"Kim Hyeon-ah. Is my question too hard?"
"I'm sorry, Master.
With our humble minds, we don't know.
We heard that we must be punished
for that day's transgression."
Kim Hyeon-ah's answer
sounded almost defiant.
She probably wants to take the brunt of my anger here,
so that I can hear the answer I want.
If wrong answers continue,
the pain for Shin A-yeong, who is like a daughter, also continues.
"Who said that you must be punished for that?"
"Supervisor Kang Min-jeong."
Hmm. So Kim Hyeon-ah knew
Lawyer Kang Min-jeong's name.
"Kim Hyeon-ah. Is Supervisor Kang Min-jeong your master?"
"No, Master is."
I let out a small laugh.
"Mm. Whose turn was it this time?"
"Hyung... Hyeon-ah eomma's turn to answer."
Shin A-yeong said urgently.
"No. You asked me the last question.
It's A-yeong's turn."
If you're wrong, the other person gets hit.
Their answers, as if trying to shift responsibility,
actually showed that while trembling in fear,
they were protecting each other.
"How touching. If you get it right, you yourself get hit."
"Then I'll answer."
Shin A-yeong stepped forward.
She seems confident in her answer.
"Go ahead."
"Our punishment belongs to Master.
But we, following the Supervisor's decision,
demanded punishment from Master.
Please give us punishment."
"Shin A-yeong. Correct."
Shin A-yeong's face brightened.
"Shin A-yeong. Where do you want to be hit?"
"Left breast, please."
She seems happy to take the hit herself
instead of Kim Hyeon-ah, who was barely getting up to pose.
Since I had whipped her right breast a little earlier,
she now asked for the left.
"Shin A-yeong. I like you."
I struck without reducing force from the whip.
"Th... thank you."
Enduring the pain with a flushed expression,
Shin A-yeong thanked me for swinging the whip.
My sadism was mixing with my sexual desire and rising.
I touched Shin A-yeong's vagina,
her legs spread.
Wet vaginal fluid was flowing from her opening.
She must have been conditioned
to respond to pain with pleasure.
But that doesn't mean she isn't afraid,
or that it doesn't hurt.
It's just that her body and mind
react differently.
"This is how it works.
When all the reasons for punishment are exhausted,
punishment ends. Neat, right?
Alright, Kim Hyeon-ah next. Shin A-yeong just got it right, didn't she?
Show me your motherly strength."
"...When Master showed us favor,
we were too rude."
"Wrong answer. I was the one who told you to be comfortable."
I quickly slapped Shin A-yeong's vagina.
Whether male or female, the genitals are very sensitive.
"Ahhkk!!! Th... thank you!!"
Wet with her fluids, it must hurt more, like a wet whip.
"Shin A-yeong, if you get two consecutive correct answers, I'll give you a reward."
"When we served Master,
wanting to be praised,
we served excessively beyond what Master instructed,
making Master displeased."
"Too bad, Shin A-yeong.
Wrong answer on the same point.
I don't get angry about things I've permitted."
I lashed the whip across Kim Hyeon-ah's side.
Now, little by little,
my intentions were being conveyed to them.
Repeating wrong answers,
they desperately tried to infer my thoughts.
Now,
my true feelings were beginning to reach them.