Interlude: Assault on the Magistrate's Office (1)
Interlude: Assault on the Magistrate's Office (1)
Local official Yi Ga-hyeon, the magistrate, was working on documents to submit to her superiors.
The execution of the mid-level yokai Guk-sun, and the eradication of the crime syndicate Shinjakdupa under his command. Truth be told, since she'd hired an exorcist, it wasn't purely the Magistrate's Office's achievement.
But she had to fudge the paperwork.
To Yi Ga-hyeon, the magistrate, what mattered most was real power.
She was a top scholar. Sharp as a tack. She could confidently say no one outdid her in thoroughness or sense of justice.
By ability alone, she deserved a much higher position. Being stuck as magistrate of a tiny village was surely because she was young and had this cute, dainty appearance.
Only massive achievements could back her up. When she met other officials, they looked down on her.
The old men who'd climbed the ranks one by one to high posts treated Yi Ga-hyeon like a little girl or enjoyed subtle harassment.
At gatherings of officials, Yi Ga-hyeon was always the youngest.
Most were middle-aged or elderly men, or at least the younger ones were rough military types. Either way, they saw her as an easy mark.
With the older officials, she had to pour their drinks like a courtesan, and the military ones—with their solid muscles, massive builds, and raging libidos typical of soldiers—threatened her.
Next month, she'd have to attend another officials' meeting.
Last time, one military officer had groped her thigh with his rough hand, pretending it was an accident. Without achievements, they'd always dismiss her. Recalling the other officials' lecherous stares made Yi Ga-hyeon's blood boil.
Ppadeuk.
She gripped her brush harder.
But with her reed-thin hands, she couldn't even snap a single brush. Taking it out on innocent objects was stupid. Yi Ga-hyeon set the brush down.
'It's fine. With this achievement, they'll all recognize me as a proper official.'
Yi Ga-hyeon's dream was a higher post. She burned with ambition for success, but she had a sense of justice too. She planned to turn this town into a great place to live.
To do that, she had to root out the yokai and thugs who bred crime.
Even now, criminals still looked down on Yi Ga-hyeon.
She always tried to carry herself with dignity, but no matter how hard she tried, her small, cute looks never made her seem like a stern lord.
Even petty crooks would tremble when dragged in by constables, but in court, they'd sneer at Magistrate Yi Ga-hyeon with lines like, "What's this pint-sized bitch doing sitting as lord?"
Fucking trash criminals. Fists over law any day. If you looked weaker than them, they'd start looking down on you for sure.
As long as I'm lord here, I'll rule with an iron fist, Yi Ga-hyeon ground her teeth.
Today, the constables had all taken group leave.
The constables were split into factions—those who followed the new lord and those who ignored her. Luckily, the loyal half was holding.
She'd have to crack down on the slackers soon to restore discipline. Yi Ga-hyeon knew some of the dimwit constables badmouthed her behind her back.
It wasn't outright cursing, just casual leering.
Even the constables saw Yi Ga-hyeon as a sex object.
"Crazy bastards. Discipline's gone to shit."
Yi Ga-hyeon muttered as she left her office. Her mood soured. On days like this, she had her usual routine.
Seeing the prisoners she'd captured always cheered her up. It was noble work—catching villains to make the town safe.
Yi Ga-hyeon headed to the prison to check on the inmates.
The constables guarding the prison spotted her. She was hurrying over from afar with quick steps.
She was the smallest and youngest lord they'd ever served. The constables always felt awkward saluting a girl like her, but they knew the rank difference and greeted her energetically.
"You've arrived!"
"Yeah, open up. I'll take a look inside and come out."
Yi Ga-hyeon always entered the prison alone. If she went with constables, the prisoners got scared. When she wandered alone, they'd treat her like easy prey and throw all sorts of come-ons.
She just marked those guys for later—send 'em straight to the execution ground. If they couldn't reform even in prison, no hope for rehab.
Yi Ga-hyeon strolled through the grim prison alone.
The prisoners spotted her. A few unrepentant ones blew up in anger or tossed low-class flirts her way.
"Hey, Magistrate milord. If I get out, I'll fuck you till you scream."
"Isn't the lord a bit too tiny? No dignity at all."
One prisoner dropped his pants. He shook his dick at Yi Ga-hyeon.
Yi Ga-hyeon scowled and drew the sword at her waist. She had to drill into these criminals who was boss.
"You still haven't learned. Want to turn into morning dew on the execution ground tomorrow?"
"Don't just talk—try it. Dying to a cute girl ain't so bad."
"Trash."
Face memorized. She'd order the constables to execute him soon. Even the lord couldn't hand out death sentences willy-nilly.
She had to be judicious with executions, it was true. But most prisoners looked down on Yi Ga-hyeon. For now, she needed to go overboard with harsh punishments to build some authority.
Yi Ga-hyeon continued inspecting the prison.
From a dim corner cell came a kkadeuk sound. That was where they'd locked up a Shinjakdupa executive. But no executive inside—just some woman sitting there.
A woman with long black hair was munching on a fresh carrot.
"...Who the hell are you? Where's the prisoner who was in here?"
Yi Ga-hyeon drew her sword. Something was off. The Shinjakdupa exec had busted out, and this stranger was just sitting alone in the cell—chills ran down her spine.
The carrot-muncher suddenly jumped up and hopped over.
In the blink of an eye, she was behind Yi Ga-hyeon.
"Hello, Magistrate-nim? Name's Ok-tokki. Kinda like Guk-sun's senior? That slave market he made was fun, but you smashed it all—what a waste."
"You're a yokai. You bastards really... are such a huge pain."
Yi Ga-hyeon swung her sword swiftly.
Ok-tokki went Kek! and her head came clean off. Yi Ga-hyeon glared fiercely. Ok-tokki's eyes were wide in total shock, like she hadn't seen it coming at all.
"This sword's been ritually treated to cut yokai like you. I topped both civil and military exams. You picked the wrong mark."
"Whoa, scary! So you're not just some cute little lord?"
Ok-tokki's body picked up her head from the floor.
She plopped it back on her neck and fiddled with it till it stuck. Yi Ga-hyeon panicked and swung again.
The blade was gone. A rabbit hanging from the hilt had gnawed the entire edge off.
When the hell? As the stunned Yi Ga-hyeon gaped, Ok-tokki closed in and grabbed her by the hair. The hat symbolizing the lord's dignity tumbled off.
"Lord, I figured you'd freak. Braver than you look? Small animals are feisty, huh. Love that defiant face?"
"What do you want? Gonna kill me? I'm a state official. Harm me, and the whole kingdom hunts you down."
"Just don't report it, Lord. Keep our business secret. Good, right?"
Yi Ga-hyeon spat right in Ok-tokki's face.
"Who says? An exorcist will kill you. Dirty yokai—scram if you value your life."
"That's why I'm saying don't snitch... Think about it. Who'd get here first—an exorcist finding me, or me turning this village into a ghost town?"
Ok-tokki made a hand seal.
A moon appeared even in broad daylight. Around the blood-red full moon loomed massive pestles. One gesture, and they'd rain down like meteors.
Yi Ga-hyeon's face went sheet-white. Ok-tokki's binding spell, visible only to her, floated in the sky.
"Lord, you know nothing. To kill a yokai like me, you'd need a ton of exorcists. Or hey, call Mukmyeong? Pretty sure that guy's gone into hiding."
Mukmyeong was the suppressant for countless high-level yokai.
Now that he'd secluded himself, high-level yokai had little to fear. Other exorcists were threats, but manageable.
Only a tiny handful of exorcists seemed unstoppable. With one of them—Mukmyeong—missing, yokai could breathe easier.
Yi Ga-hyeon grasped the situation.
Ok-tokki was holding the lives of the entire village hostage. Yi Ga-hyeon couldn't just abandon her people.
"Lord, don't fight back. Don't call the constables for help. Squeal cutely, and I'll wipe this village off the map. I could kill hundreds before any exorcist shows."
"What... do you want?"
"Just stay put, Lord."
Ok-tokki gestured. Every prison door swung open.
The prisoners, who'd been holding their breath at the yokai's entrance, stared blankly and stepped out through the bars.
A low-level Shinjakdupa member gawked at Ok-tokki.
"Wh-what? You letting us go?"
"Yep~ Made a deal with your boss. You're free now!"
"Thanks!"
"Where you think you're going?"
Ok-tokki blocked the petty crooks. Only Shinjakdupa got their freedom.
But constables guarded outside the prison. The Shinjakdupa thugs milled about, unsure how to escape.
"No need to worry. Lord'll pardon you all. Right, Lord?"
Ok-tokki smirked.
The yokai's red eyes gleamed eerily bright. Yi Ga-hyeon clenched her teeth and spat back.
"Don't talk shit...! You gonna let these trash roam society again?"
"Whoa, trash? Harsh much? Can't just take that lying down—ain't manly. Right?"
Ok-tokki spun Yi Ga-hyeon's body around. Her perky tits now faced the freed prisoners.
Ok-tokki grinned mischievously. She hid a wicked smile behind her hand.
"Won't you get revenge? She's the one who nabbed you."
"Wait, what the hell are you—"
Ok-tokki's delicate hands cupped Yi Ga-hyeon's cheeks.
"Smart lord like you still clueless? They all get it already."
Including the Shinjakdupa thugs, the prisoners all cackled as realization dawned. With a yokai as backup, for inmates, nothing beat an evil ally on your side.
All the prisoners were men. Women's cells were separate. They strutted forward, bulging cocks tenting their pants, closing in on Yi Ga-hyeon.
Yi Ga-hyeon's face drained of color.
Plenty of men had courted her—overflowing, even. Drawn to her petite, animal-cute looks, guys had hit on her nonstop.
But she'd poured everything into her career and studies, zero dating experience. Obviously a virgin.
No room in Yi Ga-hyeon's life for men outside work and learning.
"Lord, too cute...! That face right now is gorgeous! I love when you look all teary-eyed!"
Ok-tokki mocked.
Yi Ga-hyeon quickly schooled her expression and glared at the yokai. Revulsion surged, her hand twitching on instinct.
She slapped the yokai's cheek. Mistake.
But Ok-tokki didn't seem mad. She'd baited it on purpose. Her red rabbit eyes now blazed a dangerous crimson.
"Ahaha, I like getting hit too. Rabbits are in heat 24/7. Wanna play hard with these guys?"
Yi Ga-hyeon trembled all over.
Rage numbed her brain. Now the filthy prisoners' hands were inches from her jaw.
A rough-looking brute grabbed Yi Ga-hyeon's tits. Small stature, but surprisingly stacked. The guy kneading them was a low-level Shinjakdupa she'd personally thrown in.
"You think... I'll submit...?"
"Hang in there long. Need a playmate who lasts."
"No scheme or taunt changes the outcome. You touched an official. Extreme punishment for all."
"True. But first, Lord gets cum-drenched and turns into a dumb slut."
Ok-tokki stroked Yi Ga-hyeon's face and nipped her shoulder. The men yanked at her clothes.
This outfit was the state-issued symbol of the town ruler. If torn, it'd show.
Yi Ga-hyeon stripped herself. Better than letting ugly criminals ruin it.
"Good call. Just so you know—better watch out. Can't have anyone interrupting us. If a constable notices, I'll grind 'em personally..."
Ok-tokki said chillingly.
From that day, the prison was no longer a holding cell for criminals. It became paradise for the guilty.
And Yi Ga-hyeon's hellish days began.