Paying Off the Debt First (1)
"What the fuck is this shit..."
If there's any silver lining, it's that after possessing this body, I've inherited some of Jeong Ga-eun's memories to a certain extent. Or maybe it's not inheritance so much as a fusion. In her final moments, Jeong Ga-eun couldn't hold out any longer and took her own life. The reason I haven't suffered any identity confusion despite taking over her body and memories is probably because she had no lingering attachment to life left. From the start, the only regrets she had were her daughter Jeong Seo-yeon and the protagonist's parents...
With her last shred of sanity, Jeong Ga-eun entrusted her daughter to the protagonist's parents, who had practically raised her like their own since childhood. After that, she explained everything as honestly as she could and left with a promise to return once she'd made a name for herself as a hunter. It was a blatant lie considering Jeong Ga-eun's hunter talent, but the couple—having heard the insane love story between their son's childhood friend (practically a daughter to them) and their own son—didn't have the capacity to see through it.
She returned home one last time, trusted those two wonderful people who were the finest souls she'd ever known in her life, and ended it all. And now, here I am—I have to deal with this goddamn illegal loan the author saddled her with first.
1. To cut to the chase, the situation is hopeless.
In truth, while Japan's yakuza have real power, Korea's loan sharks aren't quite the vicious scum portrayed in the media. Sure, they're the kind of bottom-feeders who make a living off this shit, but fundamentally, they can't escape the reach of the law. Which means forcing a woman who can't pay her debts into prostitution isn't something that happens in reality.
"Hey, missy. If you can't pay this month's interest... you know what happens, right? Heh heh..."
"Cut that shit out. She's not even a virgin anyway—boss already said we could have a taste first. You gonna take responsibility if you scare her into killing herself?"
"Boss really gave the okay? What's he thinking?"
"That bitch has been spreading her legs everywhere anyway. She's even got a kid dragging behind her... wonder if she'll hold up under pressure."
"Hey, hey. With a face like that, who cares? She'd make me cum at least three times just from sucking. And at her age, after popping out a kid, her technique's gotta be killer."
So why the hell are these guys in front of me acting like straight out of a damn drama?
"Um... when's the deadline for this month's interest...?"
I was about to snap at them, but one look at their hulking builds killed my anger dead. They probably sent these meatheads because even though I'm F-rank, I'm still technically a hunter.
"What? Pfft hahaha! You seriously gonna pay it? Interest alone this month is two million, you dumb bitch. Face it, spreading your legs is your only option—you're just a used-up slut."
"Yeah, what can a girl who borrowed billions from loan sharks even do? Don't go getting your brains fucked out at some sketchy brothel after overthinking it. Better to work under us for like five years."
The two men looked like they were dying to strip me right there. If I were a total civilian, I probably wouldn't have held back.
Ha... fucking hell, two million in interest per month? Two million?
Thinking back, this debt came after Jeong Ga-eun sent Heo Jin-woo packing. Desperate to track down the vanished bastard, she racked it up. Heo Jin-woo was Korea's hottest prospect, son of the nation's strongest hunter—no one wanted to dig into his trail. She kept upping the price until she finally handed over an insane amount to a tracking hunter and got her meeting.
After that encounter, Jeong Ga-eun chose death over life, even with her daughter waiting.
"Missy. Made up your mind yet?"
"One month... just give me 30 days. I'll pay the interest somehow."
"Jesus... what a pain in the ass. You think you can still act all high and mighty? How do we know you won't off yourself? We can't wait around on a fucking—"
"Shut it. She won't kill herself with a kid left behind, from what I saw before."
She almost did...
"Thank you..."
"Pfft... thank you? Heh... yeah, thank us all you want now. Next month, you'll be thanking us for pounding you nice and quiet."
"What're you saying? She'll probably say she loves us, kekeke... See you next month, missy~ Don't get too roughed up!"
The loan sharks left like that.
...Let's think. Interest alone—every damn month—is at least two million won. I graduated from what passes for a top university, but even so, I'm no genius who can rake that in from scratch. And Jeong Ga-eun? She's a Hunter Academy dropout. Big corps are out of the question.
So jobs that pay two mil a month? Streaming, celebrity, or hostess at a lounge...
Streaming's out. Jeong Ga-eun's a stunner—top 3% for a normie—but her face on cam is limited. No base to build on, no way to guarantee two mil this month.
Celebrity? Nah. Pretty enough, but not the kind agencies drool over and beg to debut. At 22 with a kid? Even a mid-tier agency would be a miracle.
That leaves hostess work... But getting railed by random dudes for years? I'd rather die for real. The only lifeline is a top-tier no-2nd-round lounge...
Luckily, 22 is late for idol debut without connections, but a huge plus for hostesses. Face like this? They'll take me. Gotta try.
2. "New face, huh?"
The second I walked in, a terrifying-looking guy blocked the way.
"Yes... I'm here to see the madam."
"Hm. Who recommended you?"
"No one... do I need a referral?"
"Nah. You're above passing. Wait here."
He picked up the phone right away.
"Madam, yeah. Got a new girl who walked in on her own. First-timer, looks like. Face? B-list celeb level, but gotta doll her up to know for sure. Even like this, she's passing. Got it."
Am I in? That should do it, right? Ha... me, working in a place like this... but damn, he's super polite to the madam.
"What're you waiting for? Follow."
"Ah, yes!"
I trailed the scary dude inside, glancing around. No wonder this place is famous... everyone's gorgeous.
"Hey, manager oppa. Who's the newbie?"
"Taking her to see madam."
"Ooh~ Pretty! Looks young too. What brings a cutie like her to a dump like this?"
The manager—already looking pissed—snapped.
"Kim Su-jin! Guests are coming soon, and you're acting trashy? What the hell—"
"Pfft, whatever. I've been here years—think I'd screw up in front of customers? And if this ain't what a lounge is, what is? Ah, where's my sugar daddy at~"
"Old hag like you, acting all—"
His phone rang. Face went white.
"Y-yes, madam. Sorry. On my way."
He grabbed my wrist and hustled me to the door.
"Um... who's the madam, exactly?"
"Shut up and go in. You'll see."
What? Did I fuck up? Who's the madam that everyone's scared shitless...?
The door creaked open.
"Yo, Manager Choi. You're late."
"Sorry, madam. Su-jin's been off lately..."
"Su-jin? Whatever, someone wants her—value's tanked. Anyway, our newbie?"
"Y... yes... yep!"
"Hehe... you look shocked."
...What? No way—it's Heo Eun-seo. Heo Jin-woo's aunt, an A-rank hunter... why the hell is she running a lounge?
"Overkill much? You a fan or something?"
Wait... she doesn't know me? No surprise—that runaway prick wouldn't introduce family. Small mercy... I guess?
"Not that either? Hm... pretty, but I don't need zero-aegyo girls."
"S-sorry! I just... wasn't expecting someone like you..."
"Whatever. Everyone knows anyway, just don't blab everywhere. How old?"
"22."
"22? Perfect. You know girls here gotta act classy on the surface, right? Any experience?"
Experience? Does flunking out of the academy count...?
"Academy student till last year. Bottom of the class, though."
"Academy? Great packaging. Hehe... got a story, huh?"
She's thrilled about the academy bit... but my backstory's such a mess, where do I start...?
"I have debts—"
"Don't care. No one's interested in your sob story here. Just don't show it to customers. Can you manage?"
She's hiring me, right?
"Yes! Um, monthly take-home...?"
"All 'yes' from you? Needs training... You keep at least 1.5 mil a month. With that face, learn aegyo and sponsors'll line up."
The madam said it casually.
"About sponsors—"
"Hate 'em? Weird girl. Doesn't matter. No 2nds here—our call. Go free with fave hunter or celeb, or skip. Up to you."
Unless they pay off my debt in one go, hell no... actually, even then, probably nah...
"Got it... thank you."
"No thanks needed. Just don't fangirl obvious—looks cheap, bookings tank."
She looked fed up, like it happened all the time.
"Yes. When do I start?"
"Dunno. You need lotsa training. Go next door to Eomo for now."
"Yes... please take care of me."
"Train with her awhile, then back here for contract."
I bowed politely to Heo Eun-seo again and headed next door.
"Madam. Checked the girl—over ten bil in loan shark debt. One of Black Tiger Guild's blacklist. Told nearby spots not to hire her."
"Black Tiger? Whatever. Shut it down. That face and body? I'll have her tending me when she's ripe."
"Yes, madam. Will do."