Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Bet (5)
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“Nngh...”
Kim Seon-ah lifted the fainted Hong Ryeon onto the mattress and laid her down neatly. Even though she was completely limp, she somehow felt incredibly heavy despite not weighing much. As Kim Seon-ah caught her breath for a moment, a groaning voice reached her ears.
“D-Done? Then help out here too...”
“...Ryu Jin-ah, all you've been saying since earlier is to help.”
“How am I supposed to handle something this heavy?!”
She couldn't very well ask the still utterly drained Ha Yoon for help either. Ryu Jin-ah dragged the similarly fainted and limp Baek So-ra as she spoke.
Kim Seon-ah shook her head helplessly and approached, grabbing the legs and lifting them up.
The weight felt much lighter now, as if it had never been heavy at all. Ryu Jin-ah let out a heavy breath and placed Baek So-ra on the mattress just like Hong Ryeon.
Wiping the sweat streaming down her face as she gazed at the two lying fainted side by side, Ryu Jin-ah muttered to herself.
“Ha, fuck. What do we do now?”
No matter how much they'd tried to stop things from going too far, Hong Ryeon probably wouldn't see it that way.
They'd already been at odds over the Ha Yoon issue, and now this had happened. She definitely wouldn't stay quiet once she woke up.
Sure, they'd all be scattered in a month anyway, so why worry about it—but Ryu Jin-ah didn't think their bond was something that could end so lightly.
They said in the military that your same-year comrades stuck with you the longest in memory. Plus, they'd endured five months together, comforting each other (though the two of them had mostly just enjoyed themselves thoroughly). She didn't want some trivial spat like this to ruin things.
As Ryu Jin-ah clutched her head in worry, Kim Seon-ah checked Ha Yoon's wound.
“Just lift your head a little.”
“Yeah... Ah!”
“Does it hurt? A lot?”
“It stings a bit...”
In truth, it was far more than just a sting. The rope had dug into her flesh as it tightened, leaving rope-shaped wounds across her entire neck.
Even the slightest tilt of her head brought sharp pain, and even staying still felt like burning heat searing her skin.
Kim Seon-ah knew it wasn't something that could be dismissed as just stinging, so she looked at Ha Yoon with pity in her eyes.
“You should really get it treated.”
“What? Get treatment? No way!”
“...Why not?”
Kim Seon-ah narrowed her eyes at Ryu Jin-ah, who had appeared out of nowhere and shouted.
Ryu Jin-ah flinched, realizing her mood was foul, but she didn't back down and answered in a trembling voice.
“To treat the wound, we'd have to take Ha Yoon to Teacher Gan! Then we'd have to tell him everything Hong Ryeon did to her, and that would definitely mean Hong Ryeon gets punished!”
She might even get a harsher punishment than the senior batchmate who'd gone to prison. That one had been an accident from pushing, but Hong Ryeon had clearly intended to kill Ha Yoon.
She'd get at least as bad, if not worse. But Kim Seon-ah looked at her incredulously and said.
“So?”
“...What?”
“So, what do you want me to do about it?”
“W-What do you mean...?”
“Are you saying we just leave Ha Yoon like this? Me?”
“That's... not it, but...”
Gazing at the red wound over the ID Collar, Ryu Jin-ah opened and closed her mouth before muttering softly.
“C-Could you... just let it slide this once...?”
“Let it slide?”
“I'll apologize on her behalf for tormenting Ha Yoon. Actually, since I helped torment her too, it's not even on her behalf—it's just what I should do anyway. Yeah.”
With that, she bowed her head toward Ha Yoon.
“S-Sorry. For tormenting you these past few days... I apologize...”
Ryu Jin-ah squeezed her eyes shut with her head bowed. Honestly, even if Hong Ryeon had gone too far, she didn't think she needed to apologize like this.
It was basically even—they'd each gotten one in on the other. But in this situation, Ha Yoon held the knife. Putting on this show of apology was the only way to keep Hong Ryeon from getting punished.
Ha Yoon stared blankly at Ryu Jin-ah's words before opening her mouth.
“You're apologizing? For real?”
“Yeah, we've been wrong all this time. Sorry.”
“Then get on your knees.”
“...What?”
“Ears clogged? I said get on your knees.”
Ryu Jin-ah lifted her head to gauge Ha Yoon's expression. Her face twisted at the sight of Ha Yoon looking down at her with a vile smirk, as if she'd never been sniffling moments ago.
“You...”
“What, changed your mind about apologizing? Huh? Should we go to Teacher Gan then?”
“Urk...”
Ryu Jin-ah glared with gritted teeth, but Ha Yoon had no intention of letting this chance slip.
She'd only been a pet for a day, but how much humiliation had this trio put her through? She'd even drunk her own piss. She wasn't settling for just an apology.
Ha Yoon giggled and said.
“Get on your knees. And kiss my foot—Urk!”
“Ha Yoon, that's enough.”
“Ow, it hurts!”
“That's why I hit you.”
But that vile attempt was stopped by Kim Seon-ah's hand. After smacking Ha Yoon's small head with her palm, Kim Seon-ah sighed deeply and turned to Ryu Jin-ah.
“Fine. We'll keep this between us.”
“R-Really?!”
“Hey! Really what?! Kim Seon-ah, we can't just let those bitches off. Give 'em a proper—Gahk!”
“Yeah, we're heading to the showers now, so Ryu Jin-ah, take care of those two and head back.”
After smacking Ha Yoon's head again for spouting nonsense, Kim Seon-ah spoke. Ryu Jin-ah beamed and bowed repeatedly.
“Thank you! Really, thank you! I'll repay you someday!”
“No need for repayment. Just tell Hong Ryeon.”
“Tell her what?”
“That while Ha Yoon's getting punished, I'll have control rights.”
“Ah... Got it...”
Haah, Hong Ryeon's gonna flip out when she wakes up. Ryu Jin-ah sighed and ruffled her hair. But she had no means to block it.
If she tried to stop Kim Seon-ah and she told Teacher Gan, Hong Ryeon would get punished and control would naturally go to Kim Seon-ah.
No need to poke the bear in this no-win situation.
With that thought, Ryu Jin-ah bowed once more.
“Anyway, really, thank you. For showing mercy.”
“It's not mercy. You guys and Ha Yoon are all the same, so we're just letting it go.”
“...Haha. I see.”
She wasn't sure if she should resent being lumped in with scum like that or be grateful it let things slide. Ryu Jin-ah just laughed it off.
Kim Seon-ah gazed at her pitifully before standing up.
“Can you stand on your own?”
“What do you take me for? Of course—Urk...!”
Eh? Ha Yoon looked down at her wobbly legs in bewilderment and gazed up at Kim Seon-ah.
“M-My legs have no strength...”
It was only natural. Not just for an hour or two, but all day with limbs bound tight, crawling on elbows and knees. And not just that—she'd been worked to the bone. Her legs wouldn't work properly.
Kim Seon-ah bent down, looking at knees bruised black and blue.
“Excuse me for a sec.”
“Wh-What are you—W-Wait—”
She slipped an arm behind Ha Yoon's knees and supported her back, lifting her up effortlessly.
Ha Yoon blushed furiously at the so-called princess carry.
“Th-This pose is too embarrassing!”
“Should I piggyback you then?”
“That's just as embarrassing!”
Kim Seon-ah shrugged at Ha Yoon's frantic protests.
“Then stay still. Unless you want to crawl on your joints again.”
“Wh-What?!”
She was already stressed to death; she wished they'd stop bickering.
Ryu Jin-ah, perched on the mattress edge, thought to herself as she watched them tussle.
-
There was a brief argument, but in the end, Ha Yoon headed to the showers in the princess carry. It was right after dinner and rest time, so they barely ran into any other trainees on the way.
“Kim Seon-ah?”
Kim Seon-ah turned at the voice from behind.
“Yoon Se-rin.”
“Skipping dinner? Where've you been? Haven't seen Hong Ryeon's crew either.”
“Had some business. They'll be back soon.”
“'Soon,' like you were with them or something. More importantly, who's the one you're carrying... Ha Yoon?”
“Eyes down, you bitch.”
Ha Yoon spat that out but was covering her own face with her hands, as if she didn't want anyone seeing it.
Yoon Se-rin stared oddly before noticing something strange.
“But why's she just wearing the collar with no tape on her limbs? That's not allowed.”
“...It's fine. Teacher Gan removed the tape himself.”
“That bastard Teacher Gan? No kidding. Never thought he'd ease up that much in just a day.”
Yoon Se-rin muttered in surprise.
Of course, Teacher Gan had never said any such thing. It was all Kim Seon-ah's lie to dodge suspicion.
“Anyway, too bad. It was kinda fun watching Ha Yoon limp in pain every step.”
Ha Yoon ground her teeth at the giggling, regretful tone. Kim Seon-ah whispered to calm down before saying to Yoon Se-rin.
“Sorry, we're in a hurry.”
“Where to? With Ha Yoon, to Teacher Gan?”
“No, we need to shower.”
We sweated a bit. Kim Seon-ah's face showed no such sweat, but there was no reason to doubt her, so Yoon Se-rin nodded.
“Don't forget dinner after. You know leftovers aren't allowed here.”
“Yes, I'll keep it in mind.”
Kim Seon-ah resumed walking.
“That bitch Yoon Se-rin... Someday I'll get her good...”
“That's why I keep telling you to get along with the other trainees...”
Hong Ryeon aside, Yoon Se-rin too—most of Ha Yoon's bad blood stemmed from her picking fights first.
Yet she still talked revenge. Kim Seon-ah shook her head.
The shower room was empty. Makes sense—not bedtime, right after dinner, no one would be showering.
Kim Seon-ah stowed their clothes in the cabinet and led Ha Yoon inside. No benches like a public bath, so she had to set her on the floor.
Complaints about a cold butt rang out, but Kim Seon-ah ignored them, set the water to warm, and sprayed Ha Yoon right away.
A few hours ago, in the same spot, same method—but the reaction was worlds apart.
Steam rose from the hot water hitting her body, and Ha Yoon's face quickly softened into relaxation. Kim Seon-ah chuckled.
After a quick rinse, thorough drying, and heading back to the dorm, Ha Yoon's eyes were nearly closed.
She hadn't slept properly in nearly two days, so with tension gone, sleep crashed over her. But skipping dinner wasn't an option, so Kim Seon-ah forcibly woke her and they ate together.
“Look at you, back like a full-on mom.”
Jin Si-won, with Shin So-hyeon on the next bunk, clicked her tongue. Kim Seon-ah ignored her.
Mid-meal, Hong Ryeon and Baek So-ra returned. Ryu Jin-ah trailed behind late, a huge bruise on her face like she'd taken a solid hit.
Meeting Kim Seon-ah's eyes, she awkwardly looked away and fiddled with her nape.
Hong Ryeon glared fiercely at Ha Yoon, then whipped her head away, grabbed food, and settled late dinner with Baek So-ra. Still uneasy, but she didn't seem poised for trouble tonight.
After dinner, laying Ha Yoon on the bunk, she started nodding off immediately. Even with curses and rough speech, she was like this—truly, victims of the syndrome were angels.
Kim Seon-ah gently stroked the half-closed-eyed Ha Yoon's hair. Today was over, but she was still under punishment. Pet. Without her around, protection was iffy.
Even after repelling Hong Ryeon once, even if Jin Si-won watched her back, haters wouldn't bend that easily.
So they needed to end Ha Yoon's punishment ASAP. As she thought that, Hong Ryeon approached in her usual demeanor and spoke.
“Kim Seon-ah. Trainer duty with Teacher Gan again tonight.”
She ground her teeth and muttered.
“Tighten that pussy up, yeah? Seeing as Teacher Gan keeps calling you back-to-back.”
“Done talking? Get lost now?”
“Done? I've got plenty more. Wanna hear?”
Kim Seon-ah briefly considered decking her again but held back. Oblivious to her own survival, Hong Ryeon kept going.
“No matter how much you protect that bitch, Ha Yoon won't change. You'll suffer because of her someday. Then you'll regret today.”
“No regrets, so don't worry. Worry about yourself first. You heard from Ryu Jin-ah, right?”
“...Hmph!”
Hong Ryeon snorted instead of answering and turned away sharply. Kim Seon-ah smirked at her retreating back, then turned at the hand grabbing hers.
Ha Yoon, eyes half-open, looked up and spoke.
“Going to Teacher Gan?”
“He called, so no choice.”
“Be careful...”
She wanted to go with her, just like Ha Yoon had. But right now, she was too weak for that.
Ha Yoon mumbled sullenly. Kim Seon-ah stared blankly for a moment before smiling softly.
“Yeah, I'll be back soon.”