Aimless Escape
Aimless Escape
[Your trait is 'Solutio'.]
[Player 'Solutio' can accumulate damage received from those designated as 'Evil' and then release it.]
[The scope of damage is broad. Anything the Player deems unjust qualifies.]
[The same applies to Release. It can dispel not only physical harm but also curse and binding-type debuffs.]
[However, Release will consume Coins. Please keep this in mind.]
....
Kang Ha-jun stared hard at the block of text that had appeared before his eyes.
A message that had popped up hours ago, right after he killed a man he didn't even know.
Honestly, he'd been thrown at first, but he adapted quickly enough.
Wasn't this a standard trope in web novels and games?
Nothing hard to grasp.
'Release. Release, huh...'
His interest was snagged.
What caught his attention most was the part about lifting debuffs — just reading it made his heart race for no reason.
Wasn't that tattoo the bastard carved into him a kind of debuff too?
So if that was the case... maybe he could remove it.
Only a possibility, sure, but he figured there was no harm in trying.
Ever since that tattoo was etched into him, his actions had been shackled.
Direct hostility, for one thing, was impossible.
He could feel the enmity. But the moment he tried to act on it, his body locked up, like it had snagged on something.
And whenever the guy ordered him around with that "it's for your own good" bullshit, he couldn't resist.
There'd been loopholes, of course.
When ordered to spill everything about this ability, he hadn't been forced to tell absolutely everything.
The point was just not to lie.
But in the end, that was petty defiance at best.
The reality that he was effectively a slave didn't change.
A disposable tool who rolled over when told to roll over, died when told to die.
Life in this camper van wasn't all that bad, but that one fact gnawed at him constantly.
Every time that man looked at him, he frowned like Kang Ha-jun was an eyesore.
He was only reining himself in because of his sister, Kang Ha-rin. The man was clearly ready to dispose of him the moment a chance presented itself.
Kang Ha-jun had resigned himself to a life little better than a servant's, but that didn't mean he'd accepted death alongside it.
Today was the turning point.
The man had played with his life for sport.
Even if he'd chosen this himself in a fit of anger this time... if situations like this kept repeating, would he survive the next one?
He didn't think so.
He had to get out.
As fast as possible.
So he acted fast.
Kang Ha-jun placed his hand over the spot where the tattoo was engraved.
Immediately, a new notification window flashed before his eyes.
[A binding-type debuff has been detected. Do you wish to remove it?]
[Accumulated Pain: 352...>353]
[Coins Required: 100]
It's working, it's...!
He'd tried it on a whim, but to his shock, this bizarre system had actually recognized it.
On top of that, the Coins he had matched the requirement exactly.
As for the pain accumulation... maybe it kept rising as long as the tattoo remained?
That seemed like something worth investigating further.
Kang Ha-jun barely suppressed a burst of laughter and pressed accept.
Click.
[Consuming 300 Pain and 100 Coins.]
[3...2...1... Ding!]
[Enslavement removed! Player 'Solutio' no longer serves Player 'Lucky One & Dark Merchant'!]
"Ooh...!"
The tattoo vanished.
The large teardrop tattoo etched into his shoulder disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Kang Ha-jun cheered inwardly, then spoke to the slumped Number 2 and the grimy woman on the floor.
"Hey, you two. Follow me."
"...What now? There's more?"
Number 2's eyelids were already drooping, half-asleep.
In contrast, the disheveled-haired woman, Kwon Na-jeong, stared at Kang Ha-jun with bright, alert eyes.
Had she caught on to something off about his unusually impatient demeanor?
Unlike his habitual lethargy toward everything, she seemed to be showing a fair amount of interest in his actions now.
"You've made some kind of decision, haven't you."
A remark that landed dead-on.
Kang Ha-jun fought to hide his surprise.
"Cut the chatter and both of you get dressed. We've got somewhere to go."
"Where...? At this hour?"
"I said just do what I tell you, got it? It's a job that bastard ordered us to do."
At that, Kwon Na-jeong shot him a slanted, suspicious look.
She was clearly sharper than Number 2, because she saw right through the flimsy excuse.
But she didn't push it further.
As if she'd let it slide just this once, she let out a small, silent laugh and began gathering up her clothes, dressing as he'd said.
"What did he order? And why are you dragging us along?"
"None of your business."
"Ugh..."
Number 2's face was full of complaints, but she obeyed quietly.
She'd already caved, afraid that arguing would earn her another beating.
About two minutes later.
After confirming both of them were dressed, Kang Ha-jun carefully opened the bathroom door.
Creeeak.
"Let's go."
He swallowed dryly, steeling his nerves.
No turning back now.
If they got caught here, it was over.
He'd either be stripped of all authority and forced to scrape by in a pathetic state with his whole body bound like last time, or the man would kill him without a second thought for his sister.
But despite that, this was well worth the gamble.
Freedom.
What a sweet word that was.
The future gnawed at him, but right now, the sense of liberation was beyond compare.
'I have to seize the chance while it's in front of me.'
The time was three in the morning.
They'd be in the middle of a frenzied sex party about now.
Deep in their lust, there was practically no chance anyone would step outside.
It had always been that way, and tonight wouldn't be any different.
Which meant now was the moment.
"Load the bags with water and some basic food. Flashlights, medicine, oh... and grab that blanket too."
"That blanket too? That's the one that scary unnie always wraps around herself..."
"I got permission, so just pack it."
Kang Ha-jun ignored the skeptical looks and kept working.
He shoved food and essentials into the backpacks.
All that remained was to get out of this place.
He had to move fast.
But his gaze drifted involuntarily to one particular spot.
The place where that goddamn bastard was, and the room where Kim Ha-yoon and the other women were staying.
— 'Haaang...! Cum inside, cum inside me...!'
A fevered moan echoed faintly from that room.
The voice belonged to Kim Ha-yoon — one he'd grown all too familiar with.
Was it really right to leave her behind?
Now that he'd finally gotten his hands on an ability like this...
Maybe.
Just maybe.
If he used this power to unbind her from that piece of trash...
'Thank you, Ha-jun. You saved me.'
Wouldn't she come with him?
So maybe he should delay the escape and persuade her...
"Better to let go of your attachments. You know it too, right? There's no way she'd choose you."
It was Kwon Na-jeong's languid voice that poured cold water over those happy daydreams.
She murmured it like she was reading his heart clear as day.
For a second, Kang Ha-jun's temper flared, but meeting her serious expression brought his reason trickling back.
Attachment.
Yeah, it was a useless attachment.
He already knew Ha-yoon had turned her heart away from him.
So this was nothing but stubbornness and bruised pride.
Something he had to let go of now.
"If you've made up your mind, you should leave fast. Wasn't that why you dragged me into this?"
"...It was. But you're coming along even knowing that?"
"Setting out on an aimless journey isn't so bad, you know. Instead of sinking into comfort... that's more my style, I suppose?"
...What a seriously strange woman.
Kang Ha-jun let out a hollow laugh.
Then, just as they were finally about to step out of the camper van.
"This is still weird. Are you absolutely sure the boss gave this order?"
Number 2 questioned him with a dubious expression.
Looked like her suspicion had hardened into certainty.
Her stupidity had carried them this far, but deceiving her any further seemed impossible.
Kang Ha-jun clicked his tongue quietly.
"And what if it isn't? You gonna turn back now?"
"Of course I will! Why would I follow you? This place gives us regular meals and is even safe!"
"Oh yeah? Then suit yourself. Go on and keep living that miserable, worm-like life here."
"What? Worm? You're done talk— Mmph...!"
It was Kwon Na-jeong who clamped her hand over Number 2's mouth as her voice rose.
She smiled faintly as she grabbed Number 2 and pulled her out of the camper van.
"Don't raise your voice. If you do, I'll have no choice but to get rough. At the very least, don't interfere."
"Mmph..."
"If you understand, nod."
Nod, nod.
Only then did Kwon Na-jeong release Number 2.
Number 2 looked utterly shell-shocked and asked in a trembling voice,
"You... why are you going along with this?"
"Because it looks like fun, obviously. Honestly, life here isn't bad, but it's just so damn boring."
"...That's your reason?"
"Why, not good enough? You must feel it too, at least a little. This place is way too rigid. Too stifling for a free spirit like me. Compared to that, this guy over here looks like he might actually be worth a shot, doesn't he?"
Kang Ha-jun wore a bewildered expression at those words.
Who said shit like that right in front of someone?
It was beyond honest — it was outright shameless.
"If equal treatment's what you want, this side's probably the better bet. Anyway, if you go back, you'll just keep being their errand girl, won't you? Might be a little riskier, but if you want to be treated like a human... you should come with us."
"Equal my ass. Do you know how many times that bastard hit me? He's a psycho, I'm telling you."
"I know. But from now on, he won't be able to do that anymore. Unless you plan on surviving alone in this city, he'll have no choice but to respect your rights. Right?"
Suddenly being asked to chime in put him in an awkward spot.
But since it wasn't entirely wrong, Kang Ha-jun slowly nodded.
"Yeah. I'll have to hold back on indulging myself. I'll be too busy just trying to stay alive from here on out."
"See?"
"....."
Conflict flickered across Number 2's face.
She glared hard at Kang Ha-jun for a long moment, then let out a deep sigh.
"Haa... You'd better keep that promise."
"Heh. So that means?"
"Fine. I'll go with you. But you."
Me?
Kang Ha-jun pointed at himself.
Number 2 shot back at him sharply, "Who else is standing here besides you?"
"From now on, use formal speech with me. You're younger than me."
"Ha, fine. Sure, whatever."
That was the moment their relationship got redefined.
Kang Ha-jun thought it was ridiculous, but he also felt it wasn't all that bad.
Watching her snap at him was a better sight than watching her shrink back every time their eyes met.
"Alright, let's get moving then."
"Get moving?"
"...Please."
And so, they left the camper van.
As far away as possible.
So they would never cross paths with them again.
