episode_0027

Baek Seonghyun’s house was big, spacious, and magnificent.

“It’s like a dream life.”

A beloved person.

A splendid villa.

The joy of sex.

Is this what a life with everything feels like?

How would it feel to have all this at the age of 20?

Living always feeling like a winner?

Will he always be able to feel the utmost satisfaction?

Is he happy?

“What am I to him?”

Yoo Seoyoung pondered such thoughts as she gazed at the walls of the mansion. The walls gave off a slightly warm feeling – made of a wood-like material.

She liked this house.

“I…”

“I like you.”

Baek Seonghyun appeared, cooking something for a late-night snack. Just the smell made it look delicious.

“What can I do?”

The shadow lingering in her mind was subtle. It lurked under the eaves when she was happy, waiting for an opportunity. If there was a slight gap, it would slip out and torment her.

Once.

Yoo Seoyoung heard the sound of genius.

It was true.

Passing the teacher certification exam at the age of 25 and becoming a high school teacher in Seoul was certainly something that everyone would envy.

“But I’m a regressor.”

Surely she could do better.

The best way to make use of the benefits of a regressor is through investment, but she couldn’t remember any economic phenomena.

She remembered the exam questions from a few years ago as if she had taken a picture of them. But the news she skimmed through in the morning had long been erased as if with an eraser.

“I only know about Bitcoin…”

She kept abreast of major world events.

Who becomes president.

An epidemic breaking out.

Russia going to war.

But she had only a handful of such information and didn’t know how to use it.

She began to dislike herself little by little.

“Sigh…”

Perhaps with a high probability of regression, or as a human from a parallel world, Baek Seonghyun had still achieved such success. Buying a villa in Seoul at the age of 20.

In the face of such income, what meaning did her teacher certification have?

“I love you.”

Love is something done between equals.

Regardless of money, ability, or appearance.

To understand each other’s emotions, one must live in the same world and share a similar perspective.

Could she become such a person?

“Sigh…”

A double queen-size bed covered in white silk. Yoo Seoyoung touched the soft blanket with her hand.

“Yoo Seoyoung is solely Baek Seonghyun’s slave. Baek Seonghyun is solely Yoo Seoyoung’s slave.”

Was this bed prepared solely for her? Or this spacious house, or the gloomy basement.

Would it be okay to accept?

“Teacher, the side dishes are ready. Come out.”

Baek Seonghyun smiled as he spoke, without a hint of hesitation.

“Why do you like me?”

They say there’s no reason for love.

She couldn’t bring herself to love herself.

The more she was mistreated by others, the more she became obsessed, entangled, and enjoyed being punished.

Wasn’t this abnormal?

Truly… a person who should be handled with care. It was an old thought, and it had only hardened further after receiving criticism from the world and committing suicide.

That’s why – his love felt both thirsty and burdensome.

“I’ll make you my lover within this week.”

It was an almost unbelievable situation for her, beyond reading minds.

It was probably love.

“He even cooks well.”

Stir-fried beef with cheonggyeongchae, mung bean sprouts, and pork belly. The mix of black and white pepper already gave off an exotic and delicious smell.

Yoo Seoyoung was good at cooking.

Or perhaps, she knew because she was good at cooking.

“Equal to me, or even more…”

She let out a sigh.

She was already a master of British cuisine.

Steak and kidney pie.

PC and Chips.

Lost Beef.

I was confident that these three dishes would not be overshadowed even if I brought in a hotel chef from Korea.

But the merit was lacking.

“If you couldn’t cook, it would have been nice.”

Then, she could always be a lovely slave who could cook delicious meals for her master while always being able to eat delicious food.

Baek Seong-hyun seemed like a perfect human being.

She stared at Baek Seong-hyun with a sharp face.

“You cook well. You’re only a high school student, but you have a lot of money, you’re good at fighting…”

“I’m just a bit talented.”

Baek Seong-hyun smiled with his eyes. Yu Seo-yeong’s horn came out as she spoke.

“What are you not good at?”

“…Hmm. There’s something I’m not good at.”

Then, as if he needed to think a little, he tilted his head and answered.

“I’m not good at fighting.”

“You said you learned boxing.”

“I have no talent.”

Yu Seo-yeong looked at Baek Seong-hyun’s body. It didn’t seem like he would lose anywhere.

“Talent for fighting is something you’re born with. Like dancing, playing the piano, investing, drawing, singing… things like that.”

So they say.

Of course, Yu Seo-yeong couldn’t dance, play the piano, invest, draw, or even fight. She could only sing.

“Of course, all the kids at our school win. But they didn’t learn to win. Even if you fight with someone with a knife or a player, it should be a fight…”

“Delicious.”

She put a piece of beef in her mouth as she listened to Baek Seong-hyun’s words. The slightly greasy taste of the beef belly, enhanced by a hint of black pepper, was exquisite.

“There’s no choice.”

“Isn’t your standard too high? After all, boxers have much faster reflexes.”

“There’s almost no chance of meeting a boxer. Seong-hyun.”

What does that man usually think and live for? Does he wear an umbrella on rainy days because he’s afraid of lightning?

Isn’t he pushing himself too hard?

He looked at Yu Seo-yeong as if he were a little scared.

“Being able to control the situation is strong.”

Even though his expression wasn’t angry, her spine shivered.

“If you’re caught in that situation and can’t control it, then it’s too late.”

As far as Yu Seo-yeong could remember, Baek Seong-hyun’s eyes were a mix of dark brown, but now there was nothing but an abyss.

But Yu Seo-yeong had something to say.

“By lining up like that, there’s no end. There might be the strongest boxer in the world.”

“I’m preparing as much as possible.”

He said with a smile. Perhaps that kind of control barrier was the reason he became rich.

“And… I can’t draw or dance either.”

“Pfft…”

Yu Seo-yeong imagined Baek Seong-hyun dancing. It was funny. The Baek Seong-hyun she imagined was always a dignified image.

What does he intend to do with that cold impression?

Tap dance?

Cossack dance?

Idol dance?

“Why. Anyway, I’m not good at many things.”

“It was unexpected that you’re good at cooking.”

“I just follow the recipe. I don’t feel… the soul. It’s like my hands have no taste. It feels like there’s no layer of taste…”

How well do you have to cook to feel the soul in cooking? She chuckled, poking fun at herself.

“Try my food sometime.”

“Anytime.”

They laughed.

No matter how weak she was, no matter how much she hated herself.

This moment was truly precious.

Food shared with a loved one.

Alcohol.

A beautiful moon.

She still loved life.

.

.

.

Bedtime.

Yu Seo-yeong raised her eyebrows and glared at him. Then, she coldly rejected him as if she wasn’t interested.

“Are you talking about piercings? Please, no. I hate it.”

“Why. Don’t you like it? It seems like you’d enjoy it.”

She sighed with a disgusted expression.

“You’re not in a position to refuse, are you?”

“I am in a position to refuse.”

“I don’t like it. It would make my life uncomfortable.”

“Are you going to shout the safe word?”

“Yes.”

“That’s cowardly.”

Yoo Seoyoung chuckled. Then she leaned in and whispered in my ear.

“Then, try to refuse me. Master.”

Was her voice so sweet that even her teasing words made me feel good?

What we were doing now was part of the play.

This might be good to do,

This might be fun to try.

I was creating a bucket list by searching through external sources.

“Teacher, did you find anything… interesting?”

“Well, sort of.”

“What is it?”

I furrowed my brows.

A woman in latex was molesting a model with a male genitalia… a manga was displayed on her laptop screen.

“Why are you watching something like this?”

“I want to try some femdom.”

“What’s femdom?”

“It’s when a woman dominates a man.”

She said it as if it were obvious.

And there were star-like guns in her eyes. She was serious.

“Please, teacher. Can you turn that off?”

“Hehe. Then say the safe word.”

“I’m not doing it. I’m in a position to refuse.”

“I’m the one in a position to refuse.”

We laughed like fools and lightly kissed.

“Please, teacher. Can you stop that?”

“Hehe. Then say the safe word.”

“Safe word.”

I said it seriously.

“Ugh…”

“And this is a hypnosis video.”

“I really don’t like hypnosis.”

Suddenly, I became curious.

“Why don’t you like hypnosis, teacher?”

“It’s cowardly. Just go and confess. Why bother with hypnosis?”

I chuckled.

“I blackmailed you. Isn’t that cowardly?”

“That’s because it’s you… If it were someone else…”

She slightly lowered her head, embarrassed by revealing her true feelings in the middle of speaking. It was cute.

I couldn’t resist.

I held her face and kissed her deeply.

Our tongues intertwined.

I could smell the soft shampoo fragrance.

“Haa…”

She let out a sweet sigh.

“Hehe…”

Yoo Seoyoung was truly beautiful in moments like this.

‘She makes that face even after doing that.’

All sorts of naughty things could be done under one theme, and yet she could be shy and cute like that.

It was unfair.

“Isn’t blackmail similar to hypnosis?”

“No, how are they similar?”

She and I heated up the conversation.

“In romance novels, blackmail is used. But hypnosis isn’t.”

That’s… true.

“Well… think of it as making gaslighting easier?”

‘Oh, I made a mistake.’

Gaslighting.

It’s a term that will be commonly used in the future, but it didn’t exist in this era.

This word wouldn’t become known to the public for at least ten years.

It would only become famous after various internet sexual crimes emerged.

Using that word now was essentially revealing that I was a time traveler.

But.

“How can gaslighting be similar to hypnosis? Huh? Seonghyun?”

She chewed on her food without a care.

‘Are you really not catching on? Or are you pretending not to know even though you do?’

“Do you have something to say? Or…”

‘I have to pay attention to every little detail. Teacher.’

She looked at me with a sly smile.

“Do you want to kiss again?”

With a sly smile, she slightly raised her lips.

I quickly checked outside the window and pulled her into my arms.

“Hmm…”

She held her breath.

As if this moment was too lovely, she closed her eyes and moved her lips provocatively.

She was assertive.

“Phew…ha…”

As our lips parted, my lower lip and upper lip became tingling.

With a slightly dazed look in her eyes, she distanced herself.

“Too short.”

She grumbled discontentedly.

“What if the kids see us? This is a school. A school. You know?”

“Ha…you’re saying that? After doing all sorts of things here.”

It was true.

“Then how about gaslighting? Does that suit you?”

“Hmm…that…”

I looked at her with an amused expression.

“Isn’t it strange? The word gaslighting?”

When will she catch on? When will she? But she completely ignored me and said,

“Well…it feels a bit strange. Of course, it’s a crime in reality. But…I think you would be good at it.”

Blushing slightly, she blurted out,

“What?”

My heart raced.

“Shall we try it once?”

“What? Gaslighting? You? Me?”

Yoo Seoyoung chuckled.

“How would you do it to me?”

“Playing a game with the teacher.”

“If the loser does something. Like that? But would that be gaslighting?”

“I think it would. Of course, the safe word would still be effective…and we could use a blank contract.”

Her eyes widened.

Domination is…building up layer by layer.

If there is only one reason to obey, people naturally start to question.

Should I follow orders just because of this one reason?

‘Well, then, I have to come up with dozens of reasons.’

Yoo Seoyoung was no different. A verbal promise. A blank contract. Whispers of “I love you” multiple times.

The more entangled in these things, the deeper the connection would be.

That’s why, even though legally meaningless, the blank contract held significance.

“Is that possible legally?”

“It’s possible between us.”

“If I win, can I make you do something?”

The teacher took the bait. I told her,

“…Yes. I won’t say the safe word. Even if the teacher makes me do something.”

“Hehe. I have almost no more room to fall.”

“Do you know what I’ll ask you to do?”

“I’ve pretty much figured out your preferences.”

The teacher confidently stated.

She asked me,

“So, what’s the event?”

I composed myself and said,

“It’s a gift option.”

She frowned.

It was the intended reaction.

“What?”

“I’ll give you a hundred billion. You just have to turn it into two hundred billion in a week.”

“…No.”

“If you win, I’ll owe you a hundred billion. If you lose…you know?”

I laughed heartily.

“You’ll be my slave for life, until death.”