Chapter 117
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Epilogue - Ha Yoon
"Yawn..."
Han Seol-ah stretched her arms languidly as she sat up in bed. She brushed away the gathered tears from her eyes with a finger, then glanced to her side. All she saw were the rumpled sheets, as if he'd rushed out without a word.
At least say goodbye before you go. She grumbled softly to herself, then turned and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Squish—something soft gave way underfoot, and Han Seol-ah looked down.
"Oh. There you are?"
"Ugh... ack... ahh, ow!"
Instead of answering, Ha Yoon clamped her mouth shut, stifling a pained cry.
But when Han Seol-ah stood up with a pout, pressing down hard on Ha Yoon's chest and stomach, twisting her feet back and forth, Ha Yoon couldn't hold back any longer and let out a scream.
"You should answer when I talk to you, Ha Yoon."
"S-sorry...!"
"So why are you still here? Don't you have your own place?"
"You... you called for me, Seol-ah..."
"I did?"
Ha Yoon gritted her teeth at Han Seol-ah's head-tilt, her face saying she had no recollection whatsoever. But snapping at her here would only invite more punishment, so Ha Yoon forced herself to stay calm and reply.
"You said you'd feel lonely waking up alone, so..."
"Ah, right~ That's it."
Han Seol-ah clapped her hands as the memory belatedly surfaced. Woo Shin-hyung had to leave early that morning for some errand, so she'd called Ha Yoon in as a substitute.
Of course, she'd needed to be alone with him at night, so she'd probably sent Ha Yoon up to the bedroom right before he left. Han Seol-ah pinched Ha Yoon's nipple with her toes as she asked,
"So, did Master leave okay?"
"Ahh... Y-yes, he said he'd be back early and not to get too down about it..."
"Hmm, I see."
"S-Seol-ah... Sorry, but could you get off now? Urk!"
The foot pressing on her stomach bore down even harder at those words. The pressure felt like it might pierce straight through her back, making Ha Yoon dry-heave. Han Seol-ah smiled sweetly and said,
"Ha Yoon, you've grown up, huh? Giving me orders now."
"I-it's not an order, it's a request... ugh!"
"Same difference."
That fucking bitch. Ha Yoon squeezed her eyes shut as the foot shifted from her chest to her face, muttering the curse in her mind. Han Seol-ah toyed with her like a doormat for a good while before finally stepping off with a bored sigh.
Ha Yoon hauled her throbbing body upright. Of course, she couldn't stand on two feet. If Woo Shin-hyung were here, maybe, but Han Seol-ah hated the idea of her walking upright. So she crawled on all fours after her.
Han Seol-ah's days were monotonously simple. In the mornings, she'd take a quick shower or bath to wash away the traces of the previous night's passion. She'd skip breakfast or eat something light. Then she'd hole up in the mansion's study, reading books or watching a light movie.
If Woo Shin-hyung dropped by during the day, she'd cling to him for sex or various other games. Ha Yoon was always by their side, dragged along and tormented by the pair.
But lately, Woo Shin-hyung hadn't touched Han Seol-ah once. Not that he'd grown tired of her.
"Ha Yoon, care to help?"
"Yes."
At Han Seol-ah's words, Ha Yoon rose onto her knees and slowly undressed her.
Her pristine bare skin came into view, along with her prominently swollen belly. Noticing the gaze, Han Seol-ah gently stroked her stomach and murmured,
"My body's definitely getting heavier by the day."
Han Seol-ah was pregnant with Woo Shin-hyung's child.
TS Victims could conceive after a year post-onset. It had been six years since Han Seol-ah's transformation, but she'd avoided pregnancy until now with birth control pills.
It wasn't just because sex was tricky during pregnancy; legally, there was no framework for marrying TS Victims yet.
Just as you can't marry a human and a monkey, TS Victims weren't seen much differently.
They were primates identical to humans in species, yet not quite "people."
But a few months ago, a massive crackdown on cannibal conglomerates that devoured TS Victims sparked discussions on their status. The result: they weren't fully human, but regained some rights.
TS Victims still went to the academy for six months of training upon onset, but under strict oversight, unjust violence, trainer duty, and other non-curricular coercions were banned. Post-release support funds were increased, prioritizing families.
Of course, many still ended up sold to non-family owners. But with owner permission, they could remove their ID collars and get new, unregistered resident numbers.
Halfway to personhood.
Han Seol-ah had her ID collar removed and became a free citizen the moment the law passed, dragged by Woo Shin-hyung's hand. They held a wedding soon after, and after much effort, she conceived.
Ha Yoon, however, still wore her ID collar. Unlike Han Seol-ah, she hadn't gotten Woo Shin-hyung's permission. She wasn't sure she ever would.
He always whispered his love to her, but his top priority was Han Seol-ah.
If she didn't approve, Ha Yoon would remain a slave forever. Plus, in this monogamy-legalized country, freeing her would force him to let her go.
And Woo Shin-hyung was no man to make that choice. So the day she'd become free like Han Seol-ah would never come. At that thought, Ha Yoon couldn't hide her gloom.
"Ha Yoon? Your hands stopped."
"N-no, I'll get right to it..."
Of course, at Han Seol-ah's words, she snapped back and helped prepare the bath.
Now in her fifth month, Han Seol-ah struggled with basic movement and needed help even for bathing.
She teased and tormented Ha Yoon even during the assistance, but Ha Yoon couldn't muster any real resistance.
If she lost her temper and accidentally caused a miscarriage... Ha Yoon paled, shaking her head to dispel the thought.
Even imagining it is scary.
No telling how Woo Shin-hyung would react, but nothing good would come for her. The mildest outcome would be him killing her in a rage.
But she couldn't endure this forever. She'd die of frustration first... or maybe she'd get used to it and just deal with the stress.
It's been two years already?
After drying Han Seol-ah's hair with the blow dryer post-bath, Ha Yoon reflected.
It had been two years since leaving the academy and following Woo Shin-hyung to the mansion. She could recount every vivid detail as if it were yesterday.
Tormented by Han Seol-ah, sex with Woo Shin-hyung, her heart fluttering at his occasional whispers of love, then tormented by Han Seol-ah again—the daily loop.
Not always, but mostly.
Going naked around the house with a dog collar was now routine.
Only Woo Shin-hyung and Han Seol-ah ever saw her, and they dressed her for outings anyway.
Not wearing clothes even brought a strange sense of freedom; she was oddly content.
When they were out, she could use the study, movies, even the computer like Han Seol-ah did.
She'd handled computers as a teacher, so an unlocked one was easy. But she couldn't message anyone.
No phone, no contacts anyway. All she did was search the address Kim Seon-ah had given her before release on online maps.
It was... pretty far. Four hours by car. Impossible alone. She'd get caught immediately sneaking out, and her TS Victim status was the real issue.
Even with an ID collar showing an owner, idiots without brains could grab her and do worse. No way she could go solo.
Unless she got proper status like Han Seol-ah.
"...All done."
"Yeah, thanks."
Snapping from her reverie, Ha Yoon neatly arranged her hair, then helped her into a maternity dress.
She heard grumbling that it wasn't pretty, but Ha Yoon ignored it as usual.
"Ow!"
"No answer?"
"Y-yes. Something prettier would've been nice..."
"Right?"
Of course, she got smacked for not answering promptly. Clutching her cheek, Ha Yoon forced a smile.
After the bath came mealtime. Han Seol-ah had to eat breakfast for Ha Yoon to get hers, so she swallowed hard. But ignoring her anticipation, Han Seol-ah sprawled on the sofa and muttered,
"Not hungry today for some reason. Skipping breakfast."
"Yes..."
"That meek voice means you're unhappy, huh? What, mad 'cause I'm not eating and you're hungry?"
"N-no, it's not that..."
Ha Yoon floundered in excuses. Han Seol-ah smirked, beckoning her closer with a finger.
Crawling over cautiously on all fours, she got her head patted as Han Seol-ah said,
"Ha Yoon. It's been two years we've lived together now, right?"
"Yes..."
"Hold on just two more years."
Two more years? Ha Yoon stared, confused, but Han Seol-ah continued.
"In two years, our baby with Master will be born and start walking. That's when it'll need less hands-on care. I'll be back in shape by then too, so raising it won't be hard."
"R-right...?"
"It took over five years of being with Master to get pregnant... but that was because there were no proper laws back then, right?"
"Y-yes...?"
Ha Yoon couldn't grasp why she was beating around the bush like this.
Noting her puzzled look, Han Seol-ah chuckled and stroked her cheek.
"You're next after me."
"...Pardon?"
"Master won't treat a woman carrying his child like a dog. I won't be this harsh with you then either. You've caught Master's eye like I did, after all."
"W-wait a sec...!"
Ha Yoon's face flushed with panic and excitement as she blurted,
"Y-you mean... I'll get pregnant with Master's child...?"
"Why the surprised face? Doesn't he whisper he loves you every time you're together? You planning to refuse him?"
"N-no, it's not that!"
Under Han Seol-ah's chilling glare, Ha Yoon shook her head frantically and mumbled,
"A-a child... I've never even thought of that..."
Even in this body, pregnancy had never crossed her mind. Same when her first period hit.
She'd seen proof her body could bear children, yet it hadn't felt real.
Afterward, they just added pills, but Woo Shin-hyung always insisted on creampies, periods came regularly.
With Han Seol-ah already pregnant, Ha Yoon hadn't imagined it for herself.
He whispered love, sure, but Han Seol-ah was always number one.
Ha Yoon saw herself as their sex toy for confirming their love.
So hearing she was next was bewildering. Clutching her fists, she muttered,
"Besides, even if I get pregnant, I won't become a free citizen like you. This country's got legalized monogamy..."
"Oh? And here I thought you were complaining about something else. You're greedier than I thought."
"...Huh? Ack!"
Han Seol-ah yanked her hair, yanking her face close, eyes blooming like cherry blossoms as she said,
"So you thought getting pregnant with Master's child would make you his wife like me? You'll just be some chaebol mistress. Your kid'll be a bastard."
"Ugh... urk..."
"Of course, kind Master will free you and register the kid. But it'll be listed under my child. Your name will never be beside Master's. Got it?"
"Y-yes... hnn."
Ha Yoon answered in a trembling voice, and Han Seol-ah shoved her away, releasing her hair.
She crashed down, bruising her butt, but instead of pain, she lowered her eyes, breathing raggedly.
Han Seol-ah watched, then smirked.
"Ah~ Talking so much dried out my throat. Ha Yoon, water?"
"...Yes."
"Thanks~"
Ha Yoon bowed her head at the giggling voice and headed to the living room.
Misery dripped from her every step.