Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Twisted Affection
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“Ugh...”
Did I really pass out?
Thinking about it, I'd been burning through a ton of stamina lately. Even before Ju Hana raped me, I'd been holing up in the lab and skimping on sleep, and after that...
...It's weirder that I hadn't passed out by now.
I'd been getting fucked nonstop. All damn day, every day.
“Are you okay, Do-yun?”
As I sat up and just stared with my eyes open, Ju Hana asked in a cautious, worried voice.
What was this? A sudden change? If she'd always acted like this, I might've actually fallen for her.
...Hold on. Is this my chance?
My brain kicked into gear after a long hiatus, and I shook my head side to side.
“No, I'm not okay.”
“Really? Does it hurt anywhere?”
Both Ju Hana and Seong Ha-neul looked at me with concerned eyes.
Yeah, this was the treatment I deserved. Of course it was. Even if rape and criminal acts were legal now, I'd been plenty cooperative, in my opinion.
Back in the old world, there was this term 'queen bee.' It was more of a gaming slang than real life, used for a female player who dominated a game full of guys, taking them all on solo.
So in this insane world where men were rare and most refused sex, I was one of the few cooperative guys who actually put out...
In short, from their perspective, I was a queen... no, a king bee. They should be pampering me. Not working me to exhaustion until I collapsed.
I couldn't forgive this. Even if I could handle it, I wouldn't.
“Yeah, I'm so exhausted I feel like I'm dying...”
“Let me see.”
Seong Ha-neul rushed over with a panicked look and started checking my body all over.
“I've been trying my best to let you two do whatever you want... but all you do is push me too hard...”
“Uh, yeah?”
Ju Hana and Seong Ha-neul both wore bewildered expressions. Good, right on plan.
“If you'd just let me rest a little, this wouldn't have happened...”
“Ah, that...”
“Forget it.”
They'd at least dressed me so I wouldn't get cold—I was still in the outfit I'd worn outside.
It's been ages since I undressed myself.
They always forced it off me. I idly thought that as I undid the buttons.
“You two just need a body, right? Do whatever.”
No way they'd actually go for it. I glanced nervously, and sure enough, they'd never expected this—they looked seriously flustered.
Ju Hana biting her lip slightly, Seong Ha-neul looking down...
Guess they did feel bad. I suppressed a smirk and forced a straight face.
“...Are you mad?”
Ju Hana spoke first, gently stroking my hair before carefully buttoning my shirt back up. She leaned down to meet my eyes.
“Sorry. Don't be mad, okay?”
She's only sweet like this when it suits her. If she acted this way all the time, it'd be great. I'd have fallen head over heels.
“What are you waiting for? You apologize too.”
I just stared silently, so Ju Hana turned to Seong Ha-neul.
“Ah, uh... Sorry. You mad?”
“...Is that your apology?”
“What else would it be?”
Seong Ha-neul shrugged at Ju Hana's scolding, but her face still screamed remorse.
“Do-yun, if you're really mad, you don't have to talk. But let's head into the Gate first. Want me to carry you?”
I shook my head again, still not speaking to show I was pissed, and stood up. No matter how mad I was, I couldn't forget why we'd come here.
“Let's go.”
Ju Hana grabbed my hand tight and took a step toward the Gate.
He's cute even when he's mad.
He was seriously pissed, but he hadn't let go of her hand and was following along. And the way he warily glanced around at the new surroundings, like he was scared—it was adorable.
Maybe I should piss him off on purpose next time.
But that might backfire big time.
Men were like delicate glassware; one wrong move and they shatter. Better hold back for now to avoid breaking him for real.
Besides, the fact that he was mad at them at all meant he'd opened up a bit, right?
“Do-yun, wanna check that out? Those are monsters.”
“......!”
He'd been curiously eyeing the fluorescent dust floating through the forest when he jolted back in surprise.
“...So cute.”
“Ahem.”
Seong Ha-neul muttered it low so Do-yun wouldn't hear and get sulky, nearly making Ju Hana burst out laughing, but she covered with a fake cough.
“Grrr...”
The things that appeared were Plings, the weakest monsters around. Male in form, but no one got turned on by those wrinkled, hideous freaks.
...Though the equipment down there was huge—cut it off, process it, and it'd make a fine toy. Not that Ju Hana had ever used one. Her master had said she'd rather die than touch that crap.
Back then, she hadn't gotten it, but now she did.
“...They're ugly as hell.”
Even Do-yun nodded unconsciously at Seong Ha-neul's words. They were that grotesque—hard to believe things like this even existed.
“I'll go first.”
Ju Hana casually raised her hand. Her mana manifested as shadows rising from the ground at her will.
This was her skill Shadow Sculpting in full display.
“......!”
She could feel Do-yun's eyes go wide from here. Smug, she swung her hand.
“Grk...!”
Slash.
The Pling drooling and glaring at Sado Yun got its head sliced clean off. All that remained: a head rolling on the ground and a frozen body.
“Grrrk!!”
“Grrrr!!”
Its buddies freaked out and bolted.
“Guess I'll show off too.”
Seong Ha-neul stepped up, cracking her neck.
Silver mana spread instantly, enveloping their area. The fleeing Plings tripped like they'd hit something invisible, stumbling to a halt one by one.
“Show-off.”
Ju Hana instantly knew the skill: Illusion Zone, Seong Ha-neul's most terrifying one.
It was what she'd feared most in spars with her before.
“Time to die?”
With Seong Ha-neul's smiling words, the Plings started dropping.
“Grrrk...!”
Clutching their throats, eyes bulging.
“Ah...”
First time seeing combat Awakeners fight? Do-yun let out a sound beside her.
He shut his mouth quick, but Ju Hana and Seong Ha-neul smiled, pleased they'd impressed him.
Bet he's smitten now.
I looked stronger than that bitch, right?
Ju Hana and Seong Ha-neul thought the same, but the man in question was elsewhere entirely.
...Should I apologize now?
Bow my head, say sorry for acting up—maybe they'd forgive me.
The Gate clear wrapped up without a hitch.
Too overwhelmingly easy to call it just successful, though. I hadn't realized Ju Hana and Seong Ha-neul were that strong.
“How was it, Do-yun?”
I couldn't meet Ju Hana's eyes as she asked.
S-scary...
Did I push too far and piss them off enough to kill me? Was I done for?
No, they loved my body. They wouldn't kill me. Still a chance, right?
“...Still mad?”
Like she read my mind, Ju Hana leaned down to meet my gaze.
...Shit, what do I do.
If they knew I was scared, they'd flip and go back to abusing me.
...If they'd treated me like this all along, none of this would've happened. This was all Ju Hana's fault.
“...I'm over it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Not over it at all, but pretending for boyfriend/lover points. Please notice.
“We hit our quota today—wanna grab something yummy?”
“...Sure.”
“...You sure you're over it?”
“Yeah, I said I am...”
Not over it. If you had any sense, you'd drop it. I stared at the ground pointedly as I walked.
“C'mon, don't be like that...”
“Hey, Ju Hana.”
“What?”
Ju Hana's persuasive gaze shifted to Seong Ha-neul.
“Hold up.”
“What?”
Seong Ha-neul beckoned her over. Ju Hana grumbled but patted my head once before heading there.
“Ear here.”
“Ugh, seriously...”
Then they started whispering. I caught fragments.
“...If we do that, ...make it...”
“...Then even more...”
“No, it'll work. Just ...do it and...”
Made me uneasy. The more I heard, the worse I felt, so I sat on a nearby bench to wait.
...How long would this take? Time to head home. I don't know the way. Phone's dead too.
Finally, I decided to speak up first, just this once.
“Um...?”
If they hadn't been there, sprawled and beaten half to death by one woman, it might've been fine.
“Do-yun... run... away...”
“Kkh, you... bitch...!”
The problem: mighty Seong Ha-neul and Ju Hana, thrashed to near-death by a single mystery attacker.
“Wh-what...?”
“Run...!”
As Ju Hana spoke, the intruder's eyes turned to me.
Malevolent, gleaming with murder and lust. Meeting that gaze head-on, only one thought hit.
Run.
That word looped in my head.
“Eek, eek...!”
I bolted from the bench.
“He gone?”
“Yeah.”
“Good enough.”
Seong Ha-neul clapped, and their forms shifted.
Bloody skin healed clean. Broken limbs straightened. The attacker melted into thin air.
“So we do this, then swoop in to save him?”
“Yup. Straight from Master.”
“...I don't remember hearing that.”
“Guess Master figured you couldn't handle romance. You're such a psycho.”
“......”
Ju Hana couldn't argue—Do-yun had been raped into the picture too—so she changed the subject quick.
“Let's go.”
“Right.”
They glanced where Do-yun fled, then dashed off.