Mountains Beyond Mountains
Only after hearing Noa's words could Hyun-ah set a clear goal for herself. She wasn't a foreigner, after all—she just needed to meet him as one person to another. It was a straightforward answer. But that path wasn't going to be easy by any means.
"Wow... how much does this car even cost..."
Slaves might lose their freedom and rights, but at least they were objects for men to ravish at their whim. Lovers, on the other hand, were at least outwardly equals. In other words, the competition to claim one of the scarce men was every bit as cutthroat as vying for slaves.
Hyun-ah's face grew darker as she scrolled through SNS. The women boasting about their boyfriends were on another level altogether—stunning enough to leave even another woman breathless. Elites from chaebols, politics, the military, judges and prosecutors... even they had to pull out all the stops just for a single meeting with a man. The everyday gifts they showered on their men were luxuries Hyun-ah had never even laid eyes on. The monetary contracts between slaves and masters almost seemed more honest by comparison.
Women threw obscene amounts of money at men who so much as pretended to be interested, driven mad by lust. And yet plenty of those men wouldn't even bother with sex or a date—just a word or two of thanks before bouncing. Some women even counted themselves lucky for that much. The men who could be tempted by cash and gifts alone tended to be older or exceptionally ugly. To get close to a solid guy like Seongha, you'd need an introduction through upper-class women at exclusive clubs you could only enter by recommendation.
"At this rate, maybe I should just start buying lottery tickets... Nah, even that's..."
Winning or not aside, money was just one tool to prove a woman's worth. She needed status too—at minimum, president of a solid company, a famous athlete, judge, prosecutor, or doctor. Sure, every man was different; some were freewheeling with women, stripping pretty cashiers on the spot or hunting strangers off the street. But those types had only surfaced briefly after the war—they'd never become mainstream. Men didn't shop at convenience stores or wander streets to begin with. If a guy only had one or two women, he might chase fresh thrills. But someone already juggling dozens of girls and hundreds of phone numbers? No need for that hustle.
Get ravished like that, and all you'd lose was your virginity—nothing close to the relationship Hyun-ah craved.
"This is tough..."
Her one realistic shot was grinding through studies to pass the exams. Doctor or lawyer gigs made snagging a man way easier by comparison. Starting a business? Capital was the first hurdle. No talent for arts or sports either.
Seongha being single was another wildcard. If he had even a few girlfriends, she could gauge her odds by comparing specs. He wasn't the only guy sticking to slaves over girlfriends—possessive types or those with warped libidos often did. But Seongha didn't strike her as sadistic or twisted.
Mountains beyond mountains. Problems stacked endlessly.
Still, Hyun-ah's expression wasn't all gloom.
"I can do this. I can do this!"
No matter how broke or desperate, she could hustle and succeed. Unlike before, when she had no clue where to start. Even if she poured in the effort and still needed his mercy? No—this wasn't that. Just a mountain of hard work ahead.
Hyun-ah let out a deep breath and set her phone down.
The cafe door swung open. The woman who entered instantly drew every eye. Even bedridden for years, she'd been beautiful. Now with color in her cheeks and minimal makeup, she was breathtaking. She could pass for someone's young mother, a widow, or a fresh newlywed. The mismatch of her soft features and faint melancholy aura only amplified her allure.
She glanced around briefly before spotting me and sliding into the seat across.
Hyun-ah's mother, Ha-yeon. First time seeing her outside the hospital.
"Welcome. Wasn't sure what coffee you'd like, so I got something standard."
A frothy beast loaded with whipped cream and a ridiculously long name.
Ha-yeon sat gingerly. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No worries. So, what you wanted to say..."
"First off, thank you so much."
Her head dipped in a bow—deeper than necessary, almost excessive.
"I owe this outing entirely to you, Seongha. I could thank you a thousand times and it wouldn't be enough."
"It was nothing. Really."
But her vibe suggested this wasn't just a thank-you call.
"Which makes what I have to say next... pretty shameless, maybe. But as a mother, I can't hold back."
Her resolved expression left me at a loss for words.
"What exactly are you doing with Hyun-ah?"
She already knew.
"Nothing at all."
But I hadn't crossed any lines. I'd never turned her into a slave. Sure, she'd wasted time at the slave market, but it wouldn't derail her life. No sex with Hyun-ah. No promises of love. Plenty had happened, but we'd never gone beyond patron and beneficiary.
"Really?"
Ha-yeon stared me down like she was trying to bore holes through me.
"You're telling me you shelled out all that cash just because you pitied me and my daughter?"
If she was prying into motives, even I wasn't sure. Could I swear my help came from pure altruism, zero lust involved?
I hesitated, but honesty wouldn't help here.
"Yes. Just think of it that way and go live happily with your family from now on."
"You think I don't know anything?"
Her eyes glistened wet.
"Tell me straight. Is Hyun-ah... because of me..."
She trailed off, tears spilling.
"No, really, it's not like that."
I grabbed my coffee and stood. She eased down her cardigan zipper.
"If that's the case... use my body instead."
Cafe corner—no one could see. I swallowed hard at the massive breasts peeking through.
"Not a virgin, but it'd be easier than with young Hyun-ah..."
Beautiful curves aside, I had zero intention of taking her.
"It's a total misunderstanding. I'm not asking for anything."
Her face flushed crimson with shame.
"Can I... believe you?"
"Of course."
She pondered, sighed, and zipped back up. The breasts retreating was its own spectacle.
"Thank you truly. But... please, stay away from Hyun-ah and Hee-ah from now on."
Harsh, but the words of a mother with daughters.
"We lived together a bit, but your old place looked too dangerous—that murder case—so I brought you over."
She blinked in surprise at the cohabitation reveal but didn't scold me.
"No reason to meet anymore. With Mom back, you won't need my help."
"Shameless as it is... thank you."
She bowed her head.
Hyun-ah had a packed to-do list. Cancel the slave application at the community office. Say goodbyes at the academy. Heading back to school felt bittersweet. She'd never expected to return, never see those people again. In the end, she hadn't achieved much, but it wasn't a bad close. Mom was awake, they'd scored a decent home. Best of all? Meeting good people. Yukiko was intimidating but considerate; Mikoto, brief chats but solid. And above all, the coolest guy ever.
The door lock beeped. Hee-ah was definitely home.
"Mom!"
Waiting at home, Mom unlocking and entering—the everyday routine. But for the sisters, it was a desperately craved normalcy.
Hee-ah was already at the entryway.
"My girls!"
Ha-yeon swept both daughters into alternating hugs. As Hyun-ah embraced her mother, a strange incongruity hit her. Probably imagination, but... no underclothes?
"Where've you been?"
"Met that Seongha guy."
"Really? I messaged him for tomorrow and he said he was busy..."
Today, her mom looked oddly unfamiliar to Hyun-ah. Just been too long seeing her outside the hospital, she thought, shoving down the unease.