Branding - 7
"So, you mean I have to come in a few more times?"
"Sorry about that. This is a case where a slave's status changed, right? We have to start over from the handover of the case."
Ironically, just a few days after kicking her out, I started regretting the decision.
"But the settlement was already all done."
"Exactly. This procedure was targeted at Se-in Lee, the owner of slave Han Seol-a. The settlement was based on that too."
"Yes."
"But by the time this wraps up, Mr. Se-in Lee won't be the owner of slave Han Seol-a anymore, so... yeah."
It was complicated. My head was spinning.
"Ha..."
"It won't take long to redo it. The victim side is satisfied with the settlement amount anyway."
If it were anything else, money wouldn't be an issue for me. No need to sweat it. But legal hassles? The annoyance that came with them? That was something money couldn't fix.
"Five? Six... something like that more times. We don't want to drag in someone as busy as you, boss, but procedures are procedures."
"Can't be helped."
I'm just a civilian. In extreme terms, a rich bum with too much time and money. No dedicated legal team to handle this for me. Sure, I could hire a lawyer, but bringing one on just for this? That was a nightmare waste in its own right.
"So, what if I just take the slave back?"
I'd heard their procedures weren't fully wrapped up yet either.
"Well, that'd be fine. But taking back a slave you already kicked out once? Isn't that risky?"
"Doesn't matter. Worst case, I wait a week and it's sorted."
"True."
"Then..."
I wanted to forget it fast. I didn't even want to think about Han Seol-a at all.
...
Kicking out Han Seol-a wasn't wrong. It wasn't irrational or outrageous. I had clear reasons. I'd put up with her for a long time, and crossing the line was entirely her fault.
But the misfortune she'd face? That was regrettable.
That's why I didn't want to dwell on it.
The countless poor in the third world, boy soldiers suffering in civil wars—no matter how much misery or pain they endured, it happened out of my sight. No one blamed me for not spending my money to stop it.
Seol-a was the same. Her family situation was clearly unfortunate, giving her plenty of plausible reasons to end up with such twisted character. It was bad luck. Sadness.
Her backstory didn't justify her crimes or wrongs, but that didn't make it any less tragic.
So I just wished it wouldn't happen right in front of me.
...It's just temporary.
But going out was a hassle. Seeing her for a week was uncomfortable, but getting dragged back to the station over and over as a suspect in a crime I didn't commit? That was a total pain.
I decided to meet her again.
"Please wait here for a bit."
Administratively, Han Seol-a was still my slave.
Buying a slave was easy and straightforward. At least for the buyer. The Slave Market staff handled all the procedures and negotiations.
From what I'd heard online, individuals forming owner-slave contracts directly was a huge hassle. But selling? That required a ton of complicated steps.
Specifically, because I had no one to handle it for me.
I'd handed her over to the state, but the "final adjustment period" was still ongoing.
"S-sorry. Not many people come here..."
"Is that so?"
"Unless it's some crazy bitch, women facing prison don't kick out their owners."
Most people feared prison. The rare survivors testified to its horrors without holding back. Prison promo videos no longer showed "a guard's daily routine" or "a criminal's daily life." Criminals endured horrific conditions and even worse torment. No one wanted that.
"A-anyway... just a bit longer. She's not in a state to talk yet—"
"Talk?"
I frowned.
"Technically, incarceration hasn't started... but, y'know, administrative convenience."
The vibe was off. The guy in front of me was sweating bullets.
"Gotta prep for prison life, lots to do before it starts..."
I nodded and sat quietly in the visitation room, waiting for her.
Well, slim chance she'll refuse to be my slave again...
She'd wanted to die from the start. Maybe she hated me more than I thought.
Legally, she was a slave in "pre-liberation waiting" status. Aside from choosing prison over freedom, she was one step from citizenhood after escaping oppressive ownership.
Cancelling that needed her consent.
If not, it's just a minor inconvenience...
A few more station visits, and it'd be done.
I waited. And waited.
I killed time with an old mobile game for dozens of minutes, but she still didn't show.
"When's she coming? Hasn't woken up or—"
"Sh-she's coming! Sorry! Just a little longer!"
Ten more minutes.
Then the door opened.
Han Seol-a appeared.
"...Hm?"
Anyone could see she wasn't normal.
I want to die.
After the drug injection, Han Seol-a's mind was filled with pure murderous intent. Self-directed rage overwhelmed everything.
Why, why, why, why...
No room to think. She couldn't guess what clothes she wore, how her arms and legs were twisted. Couldn't feel them.
Pure agony dominated her mind. Horrific pain nothing else could fill.
Aaah, aaaah, aaaaaaah!!!
She wasn't clueless about her own foolishness, but she'd never imagined this.
No human should endure this. No living thing.
Now she understood why released prisoners emerged deranged. Once experienced, no returning.
Infinite torment ruled her. Body out of control. Couldn't twitch a finger or toe. Just flail in endless pain.
...Ah.
Han Seol-a finally realized her arrogance—thinking she'd bite her tongue in a dire moment.
This world's prisons offered no clean mercy to criminals.
Days blurred. No sleep, no breaths by will, no self-fed meals. Just forced globs of sticky, nauseating gruel shoved down her throat.
Her pain-marinated body registered every stimulus as agony. Disgust turned to hurt. Gruel touching lips, scraping palate, sliding down esophagus—all stained with pain.
Every breath stung nose and mouth. Chair back pressing, ragged clothes brushing skin—torture.
If I'd known it'd be like this...
She'd never have left his arms. Would've done anything to avoid prison.
Only now did she recall those she'd mocked—men and women doing vile, humiliating things to avoid prison at all costs. They were wiser than her.
...
Pain left little brainpower. But in rare lulls, unrealistic fantasies: Se-in returning to save her.
Then shame at the shamelessness, snapping back to torment.
That was her life.
"Neutralizer! Hit her with the neutralizer quick!"
Someone splashed water on her face.
"Aaaaaaaaagh!!!"
A needle stabbed her arm. Han Seol-a dimly regained senses.
"Dosed her too hard at first... Why the hell does that owner wanna see this bitch?"
"Fuck if I know. Shit. We finished processing her, now this hassle..."
The old torturer grabbed her shoulder roughly.
"Listen up, you slut. Your ex-owner's coming. If you beg him to take you back... I'll make you beg for death for real."
He threatened her.
"Seriously. I'll drown you in so much drug your past pain feels like a joke."
Seol-a stared silently. Her mind fogged; she hadn't regained head control yet.