Two Slaves
Night had fallen deep when Seo Hyun-sook finally stirred awake.
“Master??”
While she slept, her body had burned with fever. The beatings, the exhaustion—it had all taken a toll, leaving her in rough shape. I wiped her down and laid a cool damp cloth across her forehead, nursing her to bring the fever down. That's when she woke and spotted me.
“Feeling better now?”
“Ah... um... yeah... I think so.”
She didn't look it. Her temperature clocked in at 38.6 degrees. It had been pushing 40 just moments ago, but my care had brought it down a bit.
“Let's get some porridge in you. I'll feed you. Then medicine.”
“Master... thank you... hic...”
Tears welled up again at my kindness. I pulled her close, patting her back gently.
“It's all over now. You did great. Hyun-sook.”
“Really? It's done? We can be together now?”
“Yeah. You held up so well.”
Only then did she break into a radiant smile. Her face was still pallid from days of suffering, but her beauty shone through undimmed. I spooned porridge into her mouth. She took every bite eagerly—she hadn't eaten since yesterday morning, so she must have been starving.
After feeding her and giving her the meds, I tucked her back in.
“Master... can't you stay by my side tonight too?”
She must have loved sleeping with me. Blushing hard, but her eyes sparkled as she asked.
“My arm hurts...”
I lay down beside her anyway, offering my arm as a pillow.
“Thank you...”
She'd always been so bold and fiery before, the type with a strong presence. Now, this shy side was a total reversal, making her even cuter.
“Tomorrow, my other slave's coming here. She's your senior, so treat her with respect.”
“Another slave? Got it.”
I watched her face closely—no hint of jealousy. She accepted my words without a flicker.
“Hmm... probably someone you know.”
“Wait... that woman from before?”
“Ah~ Kim Ye-rin? Nah. Not Lee Soo-min sunbae either. You'll see tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah. Now sleep.”
I patted her back. She drifted off quickly. I dozed too, but when her fever spiked again against my arm, I got up and nursed her through the night. The fever reducer worked fast—thank god—and we finally slept together.
Come morning, Hyun-sook looked worlds better, refreshed.
“How's the body? Okay?”
“Yeah. Felt like a good dream. Haven't slept that deep in ages.”
“Glad to hear it.”
I didn't mention my all-nighter nursing her. No need to brag.
“Anyway... she should be here any minute?”
Before I finished, the bell rang. I opened up to find Lee Eun-joo standing there, porridge in hand. She'd made it for Hyun-sook. Her face showed tension—this was her first time meeting another slave.
“You're here? Come on in.”
She followed me in, hands clasped neatly in front.
Guided to the bedroom, she gasped in shock. Even to her, Hyun-sook's condition was dire—body covered in wounds, eyes sunken and hollow. Not a normal sight. Good thing I'd warned her ahead; otherwise, she'd have freaked.
“Breakfast was recent. Porridge for lunch. As you can see, Hyun-sook needs rest for a bit.”
Eun-joo stashed it in the fridge and returned, fidgeting awkwardly about where to stand. Hyun-sook lay on the bed; I sat on the edge. No spot for Eun-joo.
“Come sit here with us.”
She perched beside me.
“Eun-joo, you know Hyun-sook?”
“No... never seen her in my lectures.”
“Hyun-sook?”
“I know her. Famous professor at our uni. Never dreamed Professor Lee Eun-joo was Master's slave.”
Hyun-sook looked stunned too. No wonder—Eun-joo was the campus idol, admired for her looks and figure by tons of students.
“Gotta be this caliber to serve as my slave.”
“Pfft... me included?”
“Yeah. Now that Hyun-sook's my second slave, you're both in.”
As Hyun-sook and I chatted casually, Eun-joo just watched. Felt like she couldn't quite join in. But Hyun-sook wasn't shutting her out either—treated her strictly as a superior, her old professor from the same university.
Lunchtime rolled around, so I slipped to the living room and told Eun-joo to look after her. While I watched TV, voices drifted from inside, then laughter now and then. Atmosphere seemed good.
Peeking back in, they were chatting and laughing. The porridge bowl sat empty.
“What're you two talking about?”
“Sis was telling how she met Master. Master, is it true? Turned ten million into a hundred million in a day?”
“Yep. I'm that good.”
“Whoa... can't believe it.”
Topic had been me, naturally. They seemed closer now, calling each other sis and all.
I left them to talk and fired up the laptop in the living room. Time for stocks.
Down to nine billion after burning a bill on the original ten. Luckily, one of today's lower-limit stocks was set to rebound, so that'd pump things up.
Glancing at the clock, it was go-time. First stock site login in ages. This week had been chaos—no real trading.
Sehan Heavy Industries — 28,571 shares purchase completed
Snapping up stocks with nine billion isn't easy. Sometimes my buys propped up the bid price, halting the drop. Could even alter the future. Past ten billion, I got cautious—no more one-minute blitz buys. Spread it over an hour and a half, nibbling steadily.
Stock was at lower limit, but I grabbed at around minus twenty-five percent. By the time my cash ran dry, without my support, Sehan Heavy Industries hit the floor.
Afternoon: sell off gradually to guide it up. Selling's easier than buying—everyone piles on rising stocks. Folks hold falling ones hoping for rebound; risers draw the crowd.
Back in the room, Eun-joo was meticulously applying ointment to every inch of Hyun-sook's body. She couldn't wear clothes yet. Sheet on the bed kept blood off the bedding, barely.
“Ahh!”
“How could anyone do this to a person's body...”
She trailed off, meeting my eyes—awkward. After all, I was the one who'd inflicted those wounds.
“Ahem... Haven't seen much of you lately, Eun-joo? Getting chatty?”
“Ah! Sorry, Master.”
She dropped to her knees instantly, begging forgiveness.
“Kidding. Take good care of Hyun-sook.”
“Yes, sir.”
We spent the weekend together—movies on TV, delicious food. Hyun-sook improved bit by bit under our devoted care. She could move around some now.
When I was with Eun-joo, her eyes lit up, signaling she wanted in—but I shut it down firm. Still needed rest.
“No school or work till next week. Just focus on recovering.”
“Understood.”
She obeyed my every command without question now.
With the Time Loop week here, I spent more time at Hyun-sook's apartment with her. Planned to stick around this week, and confirm her recovery even in the loop.
Friday, I got summoned by Professor Im Dong-min, Korea University's top math prof. Kim Ga-young was already there.
“Oh, you're the student Cha Hyun-su? Professor Kim Ga-young's been singing your praises.”
“Just bumped into her during a lecture and solved a few problems together.”
“Heard you're exceptionally talented. Care to tackle this one?”
“Sure.”
Professor Im set the same problem before me and Ga-young. I memorized it first. Glanced over—Ga-young was struggling hard. I didn't touch it either.
“Why... is it too tough?”
He seemed deeply disappointed. I'd come hyped as a genius, but reality didn't match.
Ga-young groaned through it for an hour before quitting.
“Ah... this is way too hard. New theory, right?”
“Indeed. Fresh theory crafted by our nation's top profs.”
Dragging out a problem like that? Impressive guy in his own way. No wonder even Ga-young couldn't crack it.
“Had high hopes for you, Cha Hyun-su. Didn't expect you couldn't even start.”
“Um... mind sharing the solution? Got me interested in studying it. Never really done math before, but now I'm hooked.”
“Never learned math? What do you mean?”
“Ah! Just high school cram for uni entrance.”
“For real? Incredible. And you've solved Professor Kim's problems too?”
“You're too kind.”
I played humble. Convinced I had talent after all, he lit up and dove into explaining the theory's solution and proof.
Brain throbbed, but I focused on memorizing over understanding. Two hours of lecture crammed in, then I bolted from the office.
“Welp... bet's a draw?”
“Looks like. See you next week, Professor.”
Left her looking a bit wistful and parted with Ga-young.
Just you wait till next week.