04. The Way to Bind a Female Teacher
I stroke my chin, pondering a concrete method.
Like this... could I turn Ryu Se-hee into my slave?
"Hmm...."
"...Teacher? 2nd Class teacher?"
"If I could just find out how much debt she has at minimum..."
"Han Tae-oh Teacher!"
"...Huh!?"
I snap my head up, startled by the voice from outside the classroom.
Turning my gaze, I see an incredibly pretty teacher calling me from the doorway.
A bright smile—the complete opposite of Ryu Se-hee's perpetual frown.
Large eyes and neatly styled light brown hair.
A sunny outfit like date wear, unique to new female teachers, contrasting with her massive breasts.
Flawless white skin that screams she was raised with care.
"Ah, Min Yu-ha Teacher?"
Next class over. 6th Grade Class 3 homeroom. Min Yu-ha Teacher.
Twenty-five this year. Second-year newbie.
"Yes, it's me. 2nd Class Teacher. I was calling you forever with no response."
"Oh, was I? Sorry, I didn't hear. Come on in."
At my permission, Min Yu-ha steps into our classroom with a "Excuse me~."
As she approaches my desk next to the teacher's platform, a fresh perfume scent wafts over.
"You've been staring at your phone for a while. What are you looking at?"
"Ahem."
I quickly turn off my phone screen first.
I can't exactly say I was peeking at Ryu Se-hee Teacher's phone, digging for weaknesses.
I come up with a plausible excuse on the fly.
"Oh, this? Work-related. The principal gave me a sudden task."
"Oh... really? If you're busy, should I come back later?"
"No, it's fine. What's up?"
"It's nothing big! I need the globe for tomorrow's class, but I can't find it... I was gonna ask the chief, but she seemed busy."
So she came to me because I don't look busy?
...Thanks for the visit!
I stand up from my seat.
The youngest is struggling— as the senior from the next class, it's only right to help.
"That's easy."
"Ah, no! It's okay. If you're busy, keep working. Sorry for bothering you...."
"No worries. We'll need it for our class after yours anyway. Let's grab it now and take it to the prep room."
"Sh-should we...? Hehe...."
Min Yu-ha's face lights up.
This teacher's expressions are so easy to read—love that about her.
Just like a fresh education grad: lively and pure.
She must've been super popular in college.
Actually, she still is. With the kids.
Can't blame them. She's kind. Pretty. That's enough.
She'll probably be the first love etched in our 6th-grade boys' memories forever.
Of course, popularity doesn't make teaching easy.
When a naive, innocent teacher who hates conflict meets pubescent boys' attention, it creates synergy in the worst way.
Like a reactive streamer pulling aggro from troll donations— she deals with the kids' pranks daily.
Word is she's struggled a ton this year because of it.
Yet Min Yu-ha keeps her energetic, bright expression.
"The globe... where the heck is it? I needed it for social studies."
"Ah, latitude and longitude lesson?"
"Yes! Exactly! But I can't find it anywhere."
"For a globe, check the science lab first."
"Huh? Oh...! The science lab! Aah! Right! Why didn't I think of that?"
She fixated on it being for social studies.
Newbie mistake.
"Phew... If it weren't for 2nd Class Teacher, I'd have been searching weird spots till tomorrow! Hehe...."
Min Yu-ha beams innocently.
She's really pretty, damn.
How can next-class teachers be such polar opposites?
One's out running loan shark debts, always bitchy.
The other's an angel of purity.
Min Yu-ha's checkered skirt sways as she walks the hall. My eyes naturally follow the hem.
"Science lab this way, right? I know all the activity rooms now!"
"Ah~ Last year you did that school tour 'cause you couldn't find classrooms with the kids?"
"Th-that...! Don't say it! It's em-embarrassing...."
Min Yu-ha blushes and covers her face with her hands.
So cute.
No wonder the kids bully her daily. Reactions too good.
Following Min Yu-ha down the hall, I glance at Class 1's room.
No one's in the classroom.
No sign of Ryu Se-hee. Talking to the loan shark somewhere else?
Let's check.
"...Huh?"
I stop dead the moment I turn my phone back on.
The screen has changed from what I saw before.
From Ryu Se-hee's cat wallpaper.
To a text message screen.
"2nd Class Teacher? What's wrong?"
"Ah, no. Nothing. Go ahead. Work thing."
"Oh... okay!"
While Min Yu-ha answers, I quickly scan the screen.
All the loan shark texts are marked read.
She checked her phone.
And in real-time, I see Ryu Se-hee typing a reply.
I read it fast with my eyes.
That's the amount she borrowed. Decent sum—not huge, not small.
But 200k interest per day? Total thieves.
Ruthless collection pressure. No wonder loan sharks are scary.
Ryu Se-hee goes silent for a while, then sends a short reply.
Even through the mirroring, I can feel her trembling hands—though I can't see them.
Screen switches back to the cat. Turned off her phone?
Ryu Se-hee... probably clutching her head alone somewhere.
I whip out the calculator quick.
Principal 5 million. Interest 200k daily.
Living solo with no hobbies, I've got that much cash.
Military savings and some stock gains.
Current time: 4 PM.
In 1 hour, Kim Manager the loan shark blasts her secret to contacts.
Can't let that happen.
Not out of pity for Ryu Se-hee. To stop rumors.
I need to be the only one who knows she took a loan.
If word spreads, no leverage to blackmail her. Plan ruined.
To block the shark's exposure and blackmail her...
Only one way.
Decision made, I yell to Min Yu-ha.
"Yu-ha Teacher! Got a sudden emergency. Globe's in the left cabinet top shelf in science prep!"
"Huh? 2nd Class Teacher?"
"One per two students, so grab ten!"
"Ah...! O-okay! Thanks!"
Leaving Min Yu-ha bowing, I sprint down the hall.
To wrap this in 1 hour, gotta move fast.
I dial the number from the screenshot.
Ring ring... a irritated male voice picks up.
"Hello?"
"Ah. Kim Manager, right?"
"Who is this?"
I grin into the receiver's snappy tone.
"Looking to buy some debt."
***
"Ha...."
In an empty classroom in the school corner.
Ryu Se-hee's hand trembles holding her phone.
"What am I supposed to do...!"
The ultimatum-like texts leave Ryu Se-hee speechless.
She opens the bank app to check balance.
[Shinhan Bank Public Servant Account]
Balance: 8,570 won
That's all she has left.
Broke every deposit, savings, everything to pay daily interest—but now nothing remains.
"Ha...!"
Ryu Se-hee clutches her throbbing head.
1 hour till deadline.
Need to scrape 200k somewhere in that time.
Borrow from another teacher?
Absolutely not...!
Teaching circles are tiny.
A 7th-year teacher borrowing 200k? Rumors fly.
People speculate loan sharks or crime ties.
Especially in the female-heavy teacher world—once marked, you can't survive.
Rumors linger across regions for 10 years.
Her juniors nearby, 2nd and 3rd Class Teachers, might lend secretly...
No. Can't let the chief show that side.
She's their leader, mentor, senior.
Asking strangers for cash? Prideful Ryu Se-hee can't stomach it.
"Ha...! What now?"
She presses her temples.
"If only that hadn't happened...!"
Ryu Se-hee wasn't always like this.
It started with simple investing.
Leveraged, a bit risky.
Good track record, so she thought she was skilled.
Until war broke out somewhere suddenly.
Wh-what is this...?
Account melted instantly; had to deposit more to avoid liquidation.
Broke deposits, then borrowed from employee welfare fund.
It'll end soon. Hang on, it'll recover.
Arrogant thinking.
Margin evaporated over time.
To hold, she hit banks, then second-tier finance.
"Teacher, you have too many existing loans."
"...Any way around it?"
"Interest alone exceeds your salary... Can you repay?"
Turned away from suspicious tellers.
Humiliating for a respected teacher.
Only one place lends to her kind: loan sharks.
"5 million. Minus upfront fee, 4.5 wired. Interest 200k daily."
"...Hah, 200k a day?"
"Take it or leave."
"Ah. No. I'll do it."
Absurd rate, but no choice.
Once stocks recovered, she could repay.
"Good. Sign the note. Photo too. Bring emergency contacts."
"...Why emergency contacts?"
"In case you run, we need collateral."
"I won't run!"
"Who knows. Can't trust you."
Unwanted, but necessary.
Ryu Se-hee secretly snapped the school emergency contact list.
All staff names and numbers.
As long as I don't run, fine.
So she thought—until interest demands next day.
Too late—contacts were for collections, not collateral.
Nearly 2 months since.
Chased daily by interest. Principal untouched, interest paid over 10 million already.
Salary seized by welfare and banks.
Held stocks melted more, force-liquidated.
No living expenses, bills piling.
Blood draining day by day.
Account: 8k won.
Really no way out?
Ryu Se-hee checks the clock.
4:20.
40 min left.
200k.
Must get it.
Borrow from Academic Director...? She's so quiet, probably won't tell anyone....
Then—knock at the door.
Knock knock.
"...Who is it?"
"It's me, Teacher. 2nd Class."
2nd Class...
Han Tae-oh Teacher?