Chapter 29 Bondage (6) - Martial Arts Masochist

Upon hearing my words, Cheongwol froze, her eyes twitching. She behaved as if her mind had gone completely blank, seemingly unable to comprehend her own body's reaction. It was as if she couldn't accept that she was someone who took pleasure in disgrace and shame. Yet no matter what she muttered, her body betrayed her. That candid response also brought me a sense of salvation. If she weren't a masochist, I truly would have been in trouble. And her forthright reaction somehow even gave me courage. Perhaps now, I could be a little more explicit with her. After all, some degree of humiliation might, instinctively, feel like a pleasant stimulus to her. “Ah... ah...” Cheongwol slowly opened her mouth, then shrieked in defiance. “Kyah!!” It was an unadulterated scream with no mask. Before me now was not the assassin Cheongwol, but the woman Cheongwol. -Creak… creaaak... Her arms strained against the ropes, twisting, as her long, firm legs seemed at a loss. She kept shutting her eyes as if trying to hide herself, but her arms didn't obey her heart's desires. Watching her made me snap back to my senses. If she ramped up her energy, everything would end. “Release!! Release me!!” I approached the screaming Cheongwol and grabbed her outstretched arms. With just that gesture, her resistance noticeably weakened. “Release...! Hurry! Aaah...!” Her voice quivered between pleading and shame. It was time to pacify her. “Just accept it now.” I tightened my grip on her arms a bit more firmly. Her furrowed eyes squinted open at my touch. “What... what do you mean... aaah! Just release me-” “-You're a pervert. Just like me.” Cheongwol's lips stiffened, and her whole body froze solid, as if all her muscles had tensed up. Her once infinitely smooth skin was now taut with tension. She needed to accept this fact, for her own comfort in the future. I whispered to her who remained rigid as if turned to stone. “No one is asking you to admit you're a pervert in front of everyone. Only in front of me. Just like now, when it's just the two of us.” “Ah... ah...” Her face flushed red. The blush spreading across her white skin laid bare the turbulent complexity of her emotions. Seeing her, perhaps I, too, was in a somewhat similar state. “I'm... I'm not a pervert...” Her voice trembled. “How many times do I need to tell you? Here, you're not the Cheongwol of the Emei Sect.” “Ha... pff...” “Be honest. Considering you keep seeking me out... you are a pervert.” “No... no...!” “Moreover, I find you more beautiful as you are now than as Cheongwol of the Emei Sect.” “...Ugh...” “Truly, I mean it.” Damn, I'm being honest. The Cheongwol of the Emei Sect was a murderer. But in truth, both are equally terrifying. Her eyes, which had been glaring at me, looked away briefly and then returned. Her eyes betrayed the words she screamed in denial. That sight momentarily spurred my sadistic tendencies. I wanted to see her embarrassed a bit more. ...Should I say it? Or not? It was a gamble with my life on the line... But I really wanted to say it. It seemed like it would be incredibly fulfilling... As I soothed her thus, there was no more resistance in Cheongwol’s body, and I slyly glanced at her chest before whispering again. “...Your nipples are cute.” “Uuh!!” Cheongwol's body tensed up anew. -Creak...! Creeaak!! The ropes screamed once more. “No...! No... I'm...” Cheongwol whispered, as if trying to rationalize. “I'm... I'm not a pervert... It's just... cold... my body just rubbed weird...” Even that attempt at an excuse was the reaction I desired. “Say whatever makes you comfortable.” I turned my back on her, fetching more tools once again. At that moment, I closed my eyes tightly and opened them. Such intense stimulation. Since I fell into this world, this might have been the coarsest stimulus I've felt. Is it the same for Cheongwol? Regardless, I took a deep breath inwardly. As Cheongwol repeatedly sang the song of rejection, I uttered words meant to break her. But now it was time to regain my senses. It was indeed a precarious tightrope to walk. I too was tempted by desires, wanting to do this and that... But there's no going back if I do. Really, I had to pull myself together like this. They say that's how sadists usually are. Managing one's desires during a play is crucial. Otherwise, following one's desires without heeding the masochist's safe word could land them in jail. ...Since I'm on the path to hell, I must regain focus with all my might. But really, why is stamina depleting so quickly? I didn't know it would be this hard to tie someone up. “...Whew.” I'll have to climb up and down the mountain later. Lacking stamina. Handling one person turned out to be harder than it seemed. **** ...Me? A pervert? Cheongwol couldn’t wrap her head around those words. For almost a decade, she'd lived as a nun. In matters of the opposite sex, she prided herself on living more chastely and purely than anyone else. She could even take pride in her purity among the nuns of the Emei Sect. Before meeting Han Seojin, the only man who had touched her body was her deceased father. Though she’d felt the lustful gazes of men, she’d ignored them all. When those men called her lofty, whispered that she was noble, and spread rumors that she was untouchable..., deep within, Cheongwol thought the same. She believed those words could very well be true. That she was pure. That such lust was already a desire she'd transcended. “Ha... ha...” ...And I, a pervert? That single word shook her innermost world. It felt as if a deeply rooted tree was being wrenched from the earth before Han Seojin. Cheongwol wanted to scream that those words were wrong, but... she could barely manage a quiet voice. ...Inside, it questioned her. Do you really despise this sensation? That voice alone was enough to make Cheongwol freeze. Her rough breathing wouldn’t return to normal. In contrast, Han Seojin remained calm. “As I've said, I don't want to be involved with martial artists... I'm not particularly keen on doing this with you either.” “If it wasn't for the demonic influence on my mind-” “-But every time you act so adorably... I want to do even more.” “...” “Shall we proceed? Your arms are bound... let's move on to the next step.” Her heart fluttered at those words. It was always difficult to maintain composure amidst this sudden shift. The persistent humiliation of her heart and the warm reprieve that followed; that warmth was all the more distressing. Perhaps because she was conscious of it... even her nipples felt more stifled. Han Seojin returned with the next rope. Now, Cheongwol was truly aware of one thing. Han Seojin was fearsome. The uncertainty of what he would do or what emotions he'd evoke made her heart race. It wasn't the fear of losing her life. It was fear stemming from overwhelming tension, the kind that made escape difficult. Her curiosity about what emotions might follow if she overcame this fear... and what his praise would be like afterward was... indescribable. That's just how it was. “...Bend one of your legs,” Han Seojin instructed. A shiver ran down her spine, spreading tingles through her lower abdomen. In the end, Cheongwol shook her head. “...N-no.” Perhaps because he called her a pervert, she desperately wanted to rebel, to prove that she wasn't such a vulgar being. “Do it, Cheongwol. I already warned you that the intensity would be high.” She shook her head again, prompting Han Seojin to speak in a colder tone. “...Do I need to pinch your nipples before you budge?” “Ah...!” Her heart pounded wildly at his threat. Her nipples, still betraying their presence, made it easy for him to find them. She wanted desperately to divert his gaze from that area. As she looked up at Han Seojin, he stared down at her imposingly, and... ...Shivering, Cheongwol finally lifted one of her legs, bending it. Her skirt edged precariously upwards, and she started to worry it might reveal too much. A small voice inside her asked again, Do you like it, or not? ...But Cheongwol couldn’t answer. “Such a good girl.” His previously cold expression melted into a warmth as he praised her. “Ah... un...” That shame felt not as a rejection, but as an eerie sensation, mingling with his praise. For her, it was like lightly skirting a forbidden boundary, making her heart tremble. With one leg bent forward, Han Seojin grabbed her knee, binding it with rope. Soon enough, her leg would be fixed in that position. “D-don't keep touching my leg.” “If I’m tying it up, I have to touch. Honestly, I’d love to bite it.” “Uhh...” As her body became more restrained, Cheongwol felt a strange comfort, almost an illusion. If she struggled and tried to escape, it hurt and tightened, but surrendering and letting her body go slack spread her weight against the ropes, giving her an illusion of floating. There was no pain if she didn't resist, and as long as she obeyed, praise would follow. Now, with one leg folded forward at a right angle, Han Seojin held her knee. “...Huh?” He began slowly opening her leg. As his grip intensified, she stammered out, “Wh-what are you doing now...!” “Don’t tense up.” “Uuugh... I don’t want to-” “-Don’t tense up.” “...Uuugh...” Without understanding why, Cheongwol relaxed her leg. Everything was progressing too fast. As her resistance wavered, Han Seojin continued to gently spread her leg. Of course, compliance wasn’t what she wanted. But the fear of retaliation for rebellion was more frightening. Once he had fully turned her knee to the side, and her legs were fully spread, he stopped. Her skirt barely covered her modesty. In contrast, her thighs were exposed through the gaps in her clothes. Han Seojin bound her legs and arms in place, ensuring they stayed that way. Cheongwol ended up with her armpits exposed, one leg lifted, and spread aside. Her body throbbed like a heartbeat with the ropes binding her tightly, an intensified awareness coursing through her. -Sssss... “Hah!" Once she was fully bound, Han Seojin ran his fingers down her bare thigh. Cheongwol couldn’t suppress the strange sound that escaped her, almost a seductive moan. Her hip jerked like a startled rabbit. With shame, she hung her head low, but Han Seojin commanded her. “Look at me.” Cheongwol no longer had the strength to resist him. Her spirit seemed broken by the sheer humiliation. Perhaps submitting to him had become familiar. And once a relationship dynamic was established, it was incredibly hard to reverse. Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet Han Seojin's. Having spread her legs, there was no reason left not to look into his eyes. Initially, following his words meant receiving praise, whereas defying them earned only punishment. It was rational to heed his words if one weren't a fool. “...Ah.” When their eyes met, Cheongwol realized what she had wanted that day at the marketplace. She just wanted to meet his eyes like this. That intense, tingling feeling shook her chest more strongly than ever. Perhaps it was confirmation that they weren’t entirely strangers after all. As they stared into each other’s eyes now... it felt far more personal. As if, bizarrely, she belonged to him... “...No, that's not it.” “...Hm? What isn't?” “...” “I don't know, but you did well.” “Ah...” “Despite the embarrassment, you did well. You're so beautiful.” Compliments received when one is vulnerable sink deeply into the heart. When self-esteem is strong, praise or criticism leaves little impact, but... In such a lowly moment, even the smallest praise resonated deeply within her. Overwhelmed, she closed her eyes tightly. She was too hot, her body flushed with warmth. “So beautiful.” “Huuh... uhh...” Cheongwol wanted to believe she wasn't a pervert. Yet, she had to acknowledge one thing... she didn't mind Han Seojin looking at her with desire. His compliment about her legs being beautiful brought her genuine joy. She might not mind a little more praise. ...Or was this evidence that she was a pervert? It was strange. She had never liked such compliments from men before. “...How much longer do I have to stay like this?" she asked with difficulty. Han Seojin replied, “Hm? We're just getting started.” “...What?” The moment she opened her eyes, his hands gently descended upon her head. “Ah...! What, what are you doing?” And darkness fell upon her. Cheongwol shook her head from side to side, but the darkness remained. “It’s a leather blindfold,” Han Seojin whispered right in front of her. “With you tied up so beautifully, I should take my time to appreciate the view.” Appreciate? Her heart, which she thought couldn’t beat any faster, pounded violently. Not even a courtesan would do something like this. Yet, Han Seojin carried on nonchalantly. “Your body resembles a work of art.” He started slowly circling her. Each time he spoke, she became acutely aware of his position, of where he was looking. “Your breasts are lovely, and your nipples are cute.” “St-stop that…!” “Your thighs are firm... Ah, is that the string of your undergarment?” “I said stop!” “Especially your armpits. They are so pretty, Cheongwol. Why keep them so clean when you don't even show them to people?” Each body part he mentioned sent a tingling sensation through her. With her eyes covered, her other senses seemed even more heightened. “I hate it... stop... when this is over, can you handle the consequences?” “...Maybe I should kiss your armpits.” “I said I hate it!!” Cheongwol tried desperately to shield her armpits by curling her body. However, if she tucked her left side, her right became more exposed, and vice versa. Her elbows twitched like folded feline ears. In the end, she achieved neither. “Did you know?” Han Seojin asked. “...The human body is fascinating. Parts that are covered become less conscious. But exposed areas... become aware and extremely sensitive. Just like your arms now.” “Ugh.” Again, that strange sensation. As if his gaze had physical weight, her arms tingled. Not being able to see seemed to amplify her senses further. “...Your thighs.” Something crawled up her bare thigh. Whether it was his fingertip or her imagination, she couldn't discern. She just trembled. “Your armpits.” Like with a fever, just hearing it made her skin overly sensitive. There was no touch, but a reaction arose nonetheless. “Your nape.” Goosebumps trailed up her neck. His words continuously provoked her body. Though it was hers, she had no control. It felt like the authority had been stripped away. “...Even your lips.” “Ugh...!!” “...Exposed parts like these become all the more sensitive.” Unable to resist any longer, Cheongwol whispered for help, setting aside her pride. Her pride had to be cast away to handle such peculiar sensations, the chaos and embarrassment too overwhelming. “...Ah... uuh... Lord... my body feels strange...” But Han Seojin ignored her yet again. “Do you know what's more intriguing? The harder you try not to be aware, the more you are. Want to test it?” He, who had been circling her, now stood before her. She could feel it. A sudden warmth emanated in front of her face. Her whole body, becoming increasingly sensitive, felt like... it was ticklish. Then he spoke. “...I will touch one of the places I mentioned earlier... Where do you think it will be?”