Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Ballpoint Pen Tip
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"Someone's hurting."
Clicking her pen, Hong Ryeon spoke, and a situation similar to the morning roll call unfolded. But unlike then, there were no screaming voices.
Hong Ryeon, who had been staring at the roster, lifted her head to look at Ha Yoon.
Ha Yoon's body was trembling. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and she could barely stand, leaning on Kim Seon-ah beside her for support. The eyes that had always glared defiantly had lost their spark, staring powerlessly downward.
Just two days?
Honestly, surviving two days after what she'd been through was impressive. Most didn't last from the very first day against the trainers in groups like that. Hong Ryeon thought to herself as she wrote "no issues" and scanned the trainees.
"No one's missing, seems like. For Trainer Duty, go to your assigned trainer on time without me calling you out."
"Ah, damn it."
"I was hoping there'd be none today too..."
Sighs rose from here and there at Hong Ryeon's words. She smirked and began calling names in order.
"Yoon Se-rin, Teacher Park."
"Fuck, doesn't that bastard ever get tired?"
"Guess you're just that appealing. Who knows, squeeze him good and he might grant you a wish."
"Bullshit."
Ignoring Yoon Se-rin's cursing, she called the next one.
"Jin Si-won, Teacher Gan."
"Si-won..."
"It's fine. You know I like the pain, right?"
Of course, even Jin Si-won's masochism made Teacher Gan's violence feel like pure agony beyond pleasure, but she assured Shin So-hyeon, who clung desperately to her hand with worry.
What a show-off. Hong Ryeon muttered inwardly and called the last one.
"Ha Yoon, Teacher Choi."
"No!"
The shrill scream instantly silenced the murmuring trainees.
Hong Ryeon lowered the hand that had been plugging her ear and snapped irritably.
"Don't scream. Thought my eardrums were gonna burst. Time you learned how high a woman's voice can go."
"Wh-why do I have to go to that bastard Teacher Choi...!"
Her irritation meant nothing to Ha Yoon. Wandering eyes, quivering voice—it was pure panic. Just half a day's training had reduced her to this.
If she were still in denial, she might not have been this hysterical, but now her mind was clearer than ever. That's why the memories of being sensory-deprived and tormented were vivid.
"I don't want to go. I absolutely, refuse...!"
After going through that, to go back to Teacher Choi? Impossible. Ha Yoon hugged herself, hyperventilating. Just hearing the name brought back the afternoon's session.
Clearly nothing down there, yet a whining sensation and a stuffed feeling throbbed. Phantom pain. Feeling the delusion of a dildo inside her, Ha Yoon collapsed in place.
"Uh, uuu..."
"Ha, for real."
Ignoring her, Hong Ryeon ran a hand through her hair and spat coldly.
"You think you can skip just 'cause you don't wanna?"
"Y-you can go instead!"
"Why the hell would I?"
Like she had some loyalty to take her place? Even if she did, no way she'd volunteer.
As Hong Ryeon thought that, Kim Seon-ah wrapped an arm around the collapsed Ha Yoon's shoulders.
"I'll go instead."
"R-really? For real?"
"Yes, I'll take your place, so rest, Ha Yoon."
"Thank you, thank you so much..."
Hong Ryeon sighed deeply, pressing her temples hard at the sight of Ha Yoon sniffling and clutching Kim Seon-ah's hand. What to do with these idiots? she thought, but her body moved on its own.
"Hey."
"Sniff... Yeah...?"
"Stop the stupid shit."
Thwack! Hong Ryeon's foot slammed into Ha Yoon's face.
"Aaaack!"
"Ha Yoon! Why hit her! Ugh!"
"Shut up, you moron."
Hong Ryeon smacked Kim Seon-ah's head with the roster and approached Ha Yoon, slumped against the wall.
"What? Go instead? You think a trainer who's been here four years believes that's possible?"
"Uh, uuu..."
Ha Yoon just groaned and bowed her head as Hong Ryeon jabbed the roster into her chest for emphasis.
She knew it too. No such thing as substitutes on Trainer Duty. But desperation made it slip out.
Hong Ryeon stared incredulously at Ha Yoon, who only flinched without resisting, then slammed the roster on her head.
"Ack!"
"To think this trash was Teacher Ha."
Not satisfied, she tossed the roster aside, clenched her fist, and drove it into Ha Yoon's gut.
Ugh— With a groan, Ha Yoon doubled over. Weak compared to Teacher Choi or Teacher Gan, but still a shock for her.
Hong Ryeon eyed the ballpoint pen in her hand, staring at Ha Yoon's quivering head as she clutched her stomach.
Crush that skull with this? Nah, it'd break first. Skulls are tougher than they look.
Something else then. Hong Ryeon hauled up the coughing Ha Yoon, pinned her neck to the wall with her arm.
"Guhk, kuh...!"
"Hold still. It'll be quick."
Ha Yoon thrashed against the choking, but Hong Ryeon blankly pulled down her collar, plunging the pen tip into the exposed clavicle.
A tiny point less than 1cm pierced the soft skin, making a hole.
"Aaaack!"
"Ryu Jin-ah. Come block her mouth."
"Uh, huh? Okay..."
Ryu Jin-ah, stunned by the suddenness, rushed over clumsily to cover Ha Yoon's mouth.
"Don't, sto— Mmph...!"
"H-hold still!"
"Mmph!"
Meanwhile, the pen tip dug in and out again.
Ha Yoon's eyes bulged as she struggled fiercely, but the two women's strength pinned her. Plunge, plunge—the tip relentlessly holed her clavicle.
Not random. What seemed patternless formed words.
The word "Sex Slave." It'd heal in under an hour, traces gone, but this was enough.
Hong Ryeon stabbed the final stroke with all her might, then yanked it out, panting. Unlike before, blood spurted out—must've nicked a vessel.
Won't die from that. She released her grip; the bloodied pen clattered limply to the floor.
Ha Yoon gasped raggedly, tears streaming. Hurt a lot? Hong Ryeon hoped so, since she'd suffered too.
"Ho, Hong Ryeon. Was this necessary?"
Ryu Jin-ah, still holding Ha Yoon's mouth, stammered as Hong Ryeon blankly surveyed the mess.
She hadn't expected this extreme. Come to think of it, Ryu Jin-ah had gone easier on Ha Yoon since the shower beating.
She vents alone then stares like I'm the cruel one. Hong Ryeon suppressed it, fixing her hair.
"No."
"Th-then why go this far?"
"Just annoying as hell. Pathetic little nothing."
Two days should've been enough to give up and adapt, not cling pathetically. She couldn't become a trainer again like old times.
Hong Ryeon muttered inwardly, picked up the dropped pen, and wiped it on Ha Yoon's clothes. Still leaning against the wall, trembling.
A faint red aura lingered, but unnoticeable. Hong Ryeon grabbed the roster and faced the trainees.
"Roll call over. Handle the rest yourselves. I need another shower."
The metallic blood stench clung to her, even splashing at the end—laundry too. Infuriating.
As Hong Ryeon left with a cold gust, the frozen trainees stirred cautiously.
"Ha Yoon! You okay?!"
Kim Seon-ah rushed over, shoved Ryu Jin-ah aside, and checked her. Ha Yoon whimpered through tears and gasps.
"It hurts. Here, like burned, stinging and hurts..."
"Oh my god..."
The spot Ha Yoon pointed to was where Hong Ryeon had brutally stabbed—three-digit holes spelling "Sex Slave."
At the gruesome sight, Kim Seon-ah covered her mouth and shielded Ha Yoon's eyes.
"Don't look. Better not see till it heals."
"D-don't cover my eyes. I'm sca, scared..."
"O-okay. Then Ryu Jin-ah!"
"Uh, me?"
Ryu Jin-ah jumped, pointing at herself at the sudden call.
"Get something for a bandage, anything!"
"B-bandage, right. Wait a sec!"
No bandages around, of course. In the dorm, Ryu Jin-ah glanced around, then at her clothes.
Damn, ripping this exposes everything. Oh well.
Riiip— A cloth strip for bandaging. She dashed back and handed it to Kim Seon-ah.
"This work?!"
"Isn't this your clothes?"
"Like we'd have bandages here, fuck!"
True enough. Kim Seon-ah thanked her hastily and wrapped the clavicle urgently.
A bit short, but for covering eyes, not hemostasis—fine. Once fully covered, she told Ha Yoon.
"There, done."
Ha Yoon sniffled, looking down. Still burned, but not knowing the wound's state hurt less.
"Thank you..."
"No, but why'd Hong Ryeon do that?! Stabbing out of nowhere!"
"W-well, Ha Yoon did a lot to us..."
"Even so! To someone suffering like this...!"
True... Ryu Jin-ah inwardly agreed with Kim Seon-ah, though unsaid.
She'd thought it'd stop at beating and torment, not this sudden explosion. Cool exterior, but boiling inside?
Then Baek So-ra sidled up slyly.
"Ha Yoon."
"Sniff... Yeah...?"
"Did it hurt?"
Ha Yoon nodded, wiping tears. Childlike response tugged pity, but Baek So-ra smiled faintly.
"Good."
"No, Baek So-ra, what're you saying suddenly...!"
Ignoring Kim Seon-ah's shout, she vanished as abruptly as she'd come.
Kim Seon-ah sighed incredulously at her back. Ryu Jin-ah, feeling awkward, scratched her head and turned.
"W-well, I'll go too..."
"Ryu Jin-ah."
"Uh, yeah?!"
Ryu Jin-ah flinched, fearing a scolding, but it wasn't.
"Thanks for ripping your clothes for the bandage."
"N-no biggie. Bye!"
Kim Seon-ah watched Ryu Jin-ah flee, then hugged Ha Yoon's head.
"It's okay now, you're okay..."