Chapter 857: No. 1 (1)

There’s no need to talk about the whole three-day training process, so let’s just discuss the results. No. 2 finished her three days of discipline more properly than I expected.

It was a crazy order to shoot the batting machine on herself, so honestly, I thought there was a chance she wouldn’t listen at all. Or maybe she’d get hit about ten times and then give up because she couldn’t take it anymore.

However, unlike my expectations, Geum Dallae had received all 50 lashes of punishment I mentioned-no, to be exact, she received a total of 55 lashes after one extra hit on each part-and was waiting for me. I didn’t exactly observe the whole process myself, though; this was information I got from asking Belle.

When I asked why she got hit more than ordered, this answer immediately came back.

“I, I did get hit ten times each as Warden-nim ordered, but in case I miscounted, I got hit one more time each just to be safe…”

“…….”

“A, anything more than that, I really couldn’t bear the pain anymore…. B, but if I miscounted, I, I’ll take the remaining amount right now, Warden-nim…”

In other words, she willingly endured unnecessary pain just to follow my orders. And seeing she was still anxious even after that, the next day’s training must have truly been horrific.

Although it was due to that fear, she started listening to me well anyway, so it wasn’t all bad.

‘I didn’t expect her to become this obedient before I even bring Geum Jangmi.’

If the two of them teamed up and decided to resist, it would be troublesome, so this was a good development.

Of course, I had planned to intentionally create a situation that would allow an escape once to break No. 1 and No. 2’s resistance, but it was a clear fact that breaking a certain amount of their willpower beforehand would make them easier to handle.

If she had messed up during the three-day trial, I had planned to put her under management again, tied to the restraint device and operated by the automated machine (Belle’s manual operation in disguise). But seeing her like this, it seemed like I could leave her alone for about a week.

“Since you seem to have stayed quiet according to my words for three days, as a reward for that, I’ll give you about a week of compensatory leave.”

“Yes…?”

“Of course, don’t imagine that I’ll let you go outside freely; the condition that you can’t leave this room still remains the same.

Instead, I won’t touch a hair on your head for a week, so just live however you want. I’ll give you enough food and water to endure.”

As soon as I said that, I took out a few bags of hardtack biscuits and a few bottles of water from my subspace pocket and handed them over, as if throwing them.

I had no intention of preparing something special like a delicacy instead of hardtack just because it was leave. For the sisters of Geumhyang, who tormented Eunbyul and stole the successor position, food just enough to survive without dying was sufficient.

“Is, is it a week…? Th, then, for a week, how many lashes of punishment do I need to receive…?”

“Hm?”

“Since it was 50 lashes for three days, th, then for a week, do I need to hit myself 120 times…? If I only get hit 20 times a day, I can rest for a day, right…?”

“…….”

She’s broken a bit excessively, hasn’t she. Seeing her ask how many lashes she had to take, starting with the punishment, even though I clearly said it was leave…

The fact that she became this docile in just a few days also meant that I succeeded in educating this woman with a strong and certain method.

‘Seeing her act like this now, completely removing the punishment feels a bit tricky.’

Somehow, the thought unconsciously surfaced in my mind that if I removed the punishment during the leave in this situation, she might return to her previous rebellious attitude.

It was also the moment the thought entered my mind that rather than removing the punishment completely, continuing it while significantly lowering the intensity would make this woman easier to handle. Anyway, the only thing she could use to spend her time in this room was that torture device, so rather than letting her idle away her time lest she get inappropriate thoughts, it would be better to give her something to focus on, wouldn’t it?

In my mind, I told Belle to make paper and a fountain pen that could be used in this space, and then I decreed a softened punishment for Geum Dallae compared to before.

“Just 50 lashes. Same as last time.”

“Is, is that enough?!”

“Yes. It’s a reward because you listened to me well. I told you at first that if you just obediently follow orders, you could live a little more comfortably, didn’t I? You remember, right?”

“Th, thank you, Warden-nim!! Thank you so much…!!”

I originally had no intention of giving punishment, but because she opened her mouth unnecessarily, it would be better not to mention the fact that punishment was added, right?

Anyway, because I thought a device that prevents other thoughts, even if not punishment, was important in many ways, this time I took out a bundle of paper and a fountain pen made with Belle’s abilities and threw them next to the food placed on the floor.

“Warden-nim…? Wh, what is this…?”

“For a week, if you get bored, play with this. Whether you write or draw, do as you please.”

“Or, perhaps, are you telling me to draw the floor plan of the Geumhyang Shin-ga mansion? Or to write down other necessary information…?”

“It’s not like that, so just write whatever you want. Whether you make paper airplanes and fly them or crumple it up and use it as toilet paper, I don’t care. Spending a week in this space just eating and sleeping would be a bit difficult for you too, wouldn’t it?”

“Warden-nim….”

Geum Dallae looked at me, tears welling up in her eyes for some reason after hearing my words.

Feeling sorry for her own situation anew, I thought she might burst into tears, but seeing her subsequent reaction, it didn’t seem like it.

“Th, thank you, Warden-nim! A, from now on too, I will listen well to Warden-nim’s words and stay quiet!!”

“…….”

Were the past few days so painful that she’s forgotten the source of that pain was me?

The thought crossed my mind for a moment that maybe it was just pretense to look good to me, but seeing this woman’s affection level indicator changing in real-time, it didn’t seem like it.

『Current Affection Level: -30』

Clearly, the affection level, which was -60 just a few days ago, had risen significantly, nearly doubling after the recent conversation.

It was truly an absurd change in attitude, but I accepted it. Maybe she caught some kind of Stockholm Syndrome, I guess.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Full-scale action to kidnap Geum Jangmi began from that morning.

Perhaps because of the dawn spent going back and forth between Belle’s dungeon and my room about once an hour, the night felt even longer. Only six hours had passed since 2 AM, but including the time going back and forth to Belle’s dungeon and spending time inside, it felt like at least ten-something hours had passed. Naturally, I couldn’t sleep properly either.

Of course, even that couldn’t compare to No. 2, who spent a full 6 days inside Belle’s dungeon, but the slight fatigue remaining in my body was unavoidable anyway.

“Haaah, hmm…”

“Why is a boy yawning so loudly in front of the bed? Are you tired?”

“A little? Not enough to worry about, but I am tired.”

“Wh, what worry… I just asked because it’s unsightly, that’s all?”

“I heard Miss Han Min-ah’s statement loud and clear about throwing yourself at me asking for a kiss on that unsightly mouth whenever you’re in heat.”

“Aish, this guy really!”

Puh-wuk. Han Min-ah’s kitty punch tapped my side with a little force. Min-ah didn’t seem to be hitting me seriously either, so it didn’t hurt much.

“Are you perhaps going to the office today, Oraboni?”

“Hmm… probably it’ll be difficult.”

“Taekyung Oppa is really busy lately. He goes out somewhere every day, but doesn’t show his face at the office. Is he doing something else?”

“Hmm, well. He is busy with various things.”

“What’s he so busy with lately? Is he perhaps preparing to change jobs?”

“…Hey, Han Jin-ah. Stop bothering Sung Taekyung and eat your meal. You have morning dungeon reservations today too.”

“Aish, whatever. I was just curious, I could ask, right…”

“…S, Sung Taekyung is probably busy with various things too. R, recently, they say Chuncheon City is being redeveloped again, and there are many rumors. Since Sung Taekyung is the protagonist of Chuncheon City’s recapture, isn’t he being called around for various reasons?”

“Hmm, is that so? If it’s for that reason, then Oppa being busy is understandable.”

“…In reality, I was running around busy because of completely different work, but…”

It seems Han Min-ah thought the reason I’m busy lately was related to the new guild to be established in Chuncheon City. Among the members at this table, only Han Min-ah and I know that fact, so she’s probably holding back for now. I didn’t bother adding the explanation that I’m busy because I kidnapped the second daughter of the Geumhyang Group, tortured her for days, and now have to kidnap the first daughter. If I said something like this, it would just cause controversy in many ways.

“I’ll probably be busy for about a week, and after that, I think I can go back to the office. Right now, I’m dealing with the troublesome matters first because if I don’t take care of them now, they’ll become even more annoying.”

“Uh-huh, I see~. I hope Oppa can return to the office soon.”

“Anyway, even if we go to the office together, we can’t go on expeditions together, right?”

“Still, when the timing is right, I can see Oraboni’s face at the cafeteria during lunchtime or in the recovery room. Just realizing that I work at the same company as Oraboni is a great joy for Jin-ah Unnie and me.”

“Ah, and Min-ah Unnie too! We ate together at the company yesterday, and I subtly checked whether Oppa comes to work in the afternoon or not…”

“Hey, Han Jin-ah! Wh, when did I do that?! Are you going to lie with such a shameless expression?!”

Seeing her react so defensively, it seemed like it wasn’t a 100% baseless lie. If she really didn’t care at all, she wouldn’t have shown such an obvious reaction. If Han Min-ah is like this, then Hye-eun or Cha Yuri must also be eagerly waiting for my return to the company. Besides, it’s been quite a while since I met other people not belonging to the company or foundation. Including people like Hwayoung Sunbae or Areum.

Even to fulfill the duty as the Hunter Lust Manager, I needed to bring the work I’m currently handling to a close as quickly as possible.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

And, a few hours later.

-Cheolpeok!

“Aaaack!!”

Bitch No. 1, stealthily kidnapped by my hand, was dragged into Belle’s dungeon. Even though I had information from No. 2, I didn’t know I would succeed in dragging her in this easily.