Chapter 26 Bondage (3) - Martial Arts Masochist

Early evening. I stood outside my shop, which was on the outskirts of the village, and gazed toward its center. It seemed the Tang family was hosting a banquet, as lavish lanterns illuminated the streets. The village, glowing orange under the sunset, could not be cynically dismissed as anything but beautiful. Laughter and music resonated abundantly through the air. From afar, I could see the stage where Cheongwol and Tang So Ran were set to hold their martial arts match. Already, Tang So Ran was there, charming the crowd with her smile. "Yes! Please look forward to it! I'll do my best!" That genuine, human presence unknowingly brought a faint smile to my face. In a world so devoid of distractions, just watching things like that helps relieve stress. You might ask, "Why not just go watch up close then?" but... well, I just prefer to keep my distance from the world of martial artists. Why should I wade into a place teeming with Tang family members? I continued to observe Tang So Ran. According to the Gwak Du Ajusshi, even she is in decline... but honestly, I don't get it. How could that visage be emblematic of someone in decay? "..." Yet, I also remembered the moment Cheongwol had concealed her inner demons so well. Perhaps Tang So Ran was similarly adept at hiding such things. Who knows? I’m not overly concerned. Even if plagued by inner demons, Tang So Ran will overcome them, become one of this world's most capable allies, and stand against the Demon Cult. Her true predicament lies in her relationship with Cheongwol. In the distant future, she meets her end at Cheongwol's hands. Desperately, she flees a hundred miles to survive, only to be relentlessly tracked down and slain by Cheongwol. There's a reason she's dubbed "Chumyeong-gwi," the harbinger of doom. "...Sigh." Well, I can't exactly advise her to stay away from Cheongwol. From afar, she seems genuinely nice. Beautiful, even... I should just mind my own business. The more I care about people destined to die, the more my heart feels uneasy. After all, distancing myself from the martial world because of these emotions was the whole point. But considering that Cheongwol won’t be seeking me out, I felt slightly at ease. It was a mere assumption, but probability was low. There's no way she’d forgo attending the Tang family’s banquet to stealthily seek me out. Cheongwol is probably somewhere in that grand event, placating the people’s whims. -Creak, thud. “Huh?” A sudden sound drew my attention to my store. The door I’d left ajar had closed. It must have been the wind. That sound unwittingly organized my scattered thoughts. I should just go in, avoiding nervous anticipation. Perhaps what I had wished for—freedom from Cheongwol—had already been granted today. -Creaaaaak. As I opened the door and stepped inside... "Sh-ii...!" I was startled out of my wits! Almost fell to the floor seeing a woman standing idly in my house. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Damn, when did she get in here? My heart pounded wildly, speechless with disbelief. Even breathing felt labored. "...Miss...?" At my call, Cheongwol quietly turned her head. The moment I met her half-open eyes, it sank in that she had indeed sought me out. Even today, her gaze carried an intimidating aura. Could it be due to the martial arts performance? Cheongwol looked noticeably troubled. Hesitantly, I reiterated a question whose answer I already knew. "...Why... why have you come...?" "..." Cheongwol slowly turned her body towards me. Then, taking a step closer, she approached. I forced myself not to step back. Instead, I swallowed hard, trying to calm my nerves. "...Ten days." "...Pardon?" "...The promised ten days have passed, haven't they?" "..." "...I've come for the treatment of my inner demonic energy, Jangju." Even without the inner demonic treatment! This is akin to... I’m driven to madness. The words I once uttered to survive—the inner demonic treatment—have become my downfall. There’s no taking it back now...! Shouldn't she realize it herself? This treatment will offer no help at all, so why does she keep... I steeled my quivering heart in the silence. I must always stay mentally sharp. If I lack courage, it only leads to death. "The Tang family is present, and I didn't expect you to seek me out at such a time." "As I mentioned, the inner demonic energy has deepened." She frowned and clutched at her chest as if to ease her discomfort. "..." At that small gesture, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for her. Perhaps it was because I saw the same desperate struggle I went through in her. Nevertheless, I pulled myself together. In front of me lay a bomb set to explode the day after tomorrow. What was the right action here? …Evade for now. “What do you plan to do if something like before happens again? You were so terrified when the Gwak Du Ajusshi came by.” “The martial artists of the Gwak Du Ajusshi are attending the banquet. They're drinking heavily.” “...” Failed. As expected, those ajusshis are of no help at all. No, don’t give up yet. I should bring up past events a bit more. I composed myself, feigning nonchalance as I took a seat on a nearby chair and crossed my legs smugly. Cheongwol frowned at my demeanor, yet I averted my gaze, saying, “Miss. Surely you recall our encounter at the market a few days ago.” “...” “Are you truly okay with it? Because of that day, I might be a bit rougher than usual.” “What... Are you saying there's such a thing?” “I'm just a person. I do have emotions, you know.” A somewhat honest remark. Huh? You cheeky girl. Acting like that in front of a sadist? Today you'll... “...” When Cheongwol's gaze pricked me again, even my confident muttering froze. No, don’t be afraid. Anyway, if you plan to do any rope play, might as well dig your own trap. Let's put it out there. “Besides, even if it wasn’t for that day, I had planned to step up the intensity today.” “What?” “With the Tang family’s presence, everything's become ambiguous... How about coming back later?” “...” If she leaves here, that’d be best. If she stays and endures, well, I’ve already set the stage, so even if the intensity heightens, it'll be worthwhile. I waited for Cheongwol’s response. “...” “...” ...Even so, I began to understand that I was spiraling myself. Despite desperately wishing for her departure, some part of me—perhaps a slave to my own desires—was curious about the bondage. The ratio was about 9:1. Nine parts of me wanted her gone, while one small part was eager to try things out. I never thought I'd find myself using ropes on a person after all. Moreover, how much effort had I put into preparing those ropes? How much had I looked forward to exacting my revenge on Cheongwol? Though I knew it was toxic, I couldn’t resist the allure of sampling just a bit. Like curious about the sensation of a drug even when you're aware of its addictiveness. **** "What about coming back later?" I suggested. “...” Cheongwol looked down at Han Seojin coldly, yet inside, she was tumultuous. Her heart was racing, and her fingertips tingled. He intended to raise the stakes? ...Even higher than before? She always thought she'd hit her limit, but it seemed Han Seojin's games had no boundaries. She even found herself wondering just what he was. Despite her tension, a chilling thrill coursed through Cheongwol—a sensation she had never experienced anywhere else, so effortlessly evoked in Han Seojin's presence. With every moment of conversation with him, thoughts of the martial match faded away. “...What... are you planning?” Unable to repress her curiosity, Cheongwol finally asked. Han Seojin smiled mockingly. “...Do you really think I’d divulge that?” His demeanor was shifting, as well. In the marketplace, meeting him as the master of the leather shop, he seemed incredibly naïve—lacking confidence, even appearing fragile and foolish. Yet, with every layer of his mask that peeled away, his presence grew more intense. Confidence radiated in his stance, a gaze that looked down upon her, and an overwhelming aura. Cheongwol had to admit that, a couple of times, she had felt diminished in his presence. "Now, make your choice. Leave... or go down to the basement." “...” The encroaching reality tempted Cheongwol to flee. She didn't know what he planned to do next, and the fear of the unknown loomed. Yet, the thrill was not unwelcome. She almost feared the outside world more. “...If I leave now.” As Cheongwol murmured, Han Seojin replied as if he was waiting for it. “You wouldn't come back for another ten days.” “...” His resolute demeanor tangled her emotions. Memories of Hong Hwa whispering, '...That old man takes such a creepy interest in Cheongwol’s incidents!', steeled her resolve... The very thought made her heart race even more. Silence enveloped the shop. Outside, the sounds of the banquet disrupted the stillness between them. Outside, people went about enjoying life. But here, in the leather shop, it was as if they had entered a different realm... a sticky, tense atmosphere flowed. "I’m waiting for your decision," he pressed. “...Ugh.” Cheongwol fidgeted slightly, pretending to touch her bangs, subtly covering her face with the back of her hand. Entering the basement voluntarily felt embarrassingly awkward—as if she particularly desired such bizarre activities. Though, to a degree, she did come knowing what awaited her, there was still a lingering sense of reluctance in Cheongwol's heart. It was a tug-of-war of desire and aversion... It would have been easier if Han Seojin had simply forced her wrist and led her down. “...” Suddenly, blinking in surprise, Cheongwol wondered what she had been thinking. Han Seojin stared at her, waiting patiently for her choice. Biting her lip until her ears turned red, Cheongwol resolutely turned her body. With caution, she opened the basement door. -Whoosh... This was her third visit here. And knowing the complex emotions this space evoked made entering even more exhilarating. As she opened the door, she looked slowly back at Han Seojin. "Ah...!" He was already standing closely behind her. “...Phew.” With a deep breath, he finally commanded, “...What are you doing? Get in already.” His demeanor shifted in that very moment. As she entered the basement, it was as if she had been cut off from the outside world. Silence reigned, allowing Cheongwol to hear her own heartbeat. -Thud. Thud. Thud. A sound echoing like a drum. It made her swallow nervously time and again. When had she ever felt this tense? ...It was akin to the anticipation of a martial arts examination. The sensation of suspense was slightly different, however. While martial evaluations bore a bitter, annoying taste, this was a shiveringly thrilling... hard to describe feeling. Cheongwol hesitated in the center of the basement. Without daring to meet Han Seojin’s eyes, she asked, to appear less intimidated, “So? What are you going to...” “Quiet.” “...” The instinctive silence suggested that speaking was forbidden. “...Cheongwol, you and I, we had an agreement, didn’t we?” Han Seojin spoke, moving towards the wall. Various implements still hung there. “I asked you not to act familiar with me in the village.” “...” Those words struck her unpleasantly, though Cheongwol muttered her defense. “...It wasn’t like I intentionally acted familiar. If I converse with everyone else but not with you, that’s-“ “-Are you going to keep pretending?” Cheongwol gritted her teeth, whispering, “...Strange. Our relationship here...” She started to speak but halted. What was she about to say? Our relationship here is... ...A bit more intimate? “...Ugh.” Cheongwol would rather avoid uttering such embarrassing words. Thus, she opted for silence once again. “...A naughty child who doesn’t listen must be punished.” Although the term “naughty child” sounded odd, due to his demeanor, she couldn't question it. Not contesting it made her feel as if she was accepting the label as a naughty child herself—a peculiar realization. “...Punishment?” Nonetheless, she focused more on the word “punishment” itself. When Cheongwol inquired, Han Seojin smiled. Swiftly, he tossed an item of clothing from behind. -Thud. The thin garment landed at Cheongwol's feet. “...Oh...” It was a sleeveless undergarment, revealing everything from shoulders to fingertips when worn. Cheongwol glanced sideways at Han Seojin. He spoke. "First, change into the clothes."