“Do the same in front of others. That’s all for today’s training.”
Jiwon wiped away the tears that had gathered in the corners of his eyes. His stomach was a mess of sandwich and cum. He was exhausted beyond belief. He threw the blanket at Jak and stumbled back to the bedroom, too drained to even put on clothes. He collapsed onto the bed, naked, and his eyes closed on their own.
***
Jiwon woke in the early hours of the morning. He wanted to sit up, but his whole body ached. Why did Jak put me through that training? he wondered. Do I really have to have sex with all those followers? The questions swirled in his head, making it throb.
He hesitated, then pulled the contract from his suitcase and sat in front of it, reading by the dim moonlight. A curse slipped from his lips.
“Fuck…”
It was a contract—almost a slave contract. Interest was piling up even now. He’d signed it in a rush, too exhausted to read it properly.
“This isn’t right…”
The contract forbade him from leaving. He couldn’t escape this mountain until he paid off his debt. Every expense here would be added to his debt, and he’d have to pay it all. Just reading the first few pages made his hands shake. He’d been tricked. Scammed.
“You’re awake?”
Jak pushed the door open slightly and entered. Jiwon nearly fell backward in surprise. Jak saw the contract in Jiwon’s hands and said, “I wondered when you’d read it. Now you have, huh?”
“You—you’re a fraud! You didn’t tell me any of this!”
“Didn’t anyone teach you not to sign contracts without reading them? You’re not stupid. You knew better, Leader.”
Jak’s irritation was obvious.
“What’s the problem? We’re helping you pay off your debt quickly.”
Hearing that, tears of frustration welled up.
“B-but according to this contract, everything I use or do here adds to my debt! And the costs are set by the church! How am I supposed to pay it all off?!”
Jiwon’s tears were bitter with anger. His teeth ground together. Jak stood up, resting a hand on his knee.
“You have training again tomorrow morning. Get some rest.”
“What training?! This isn’t right!”
“If you’d rather be gang-raped without knowing what’s happening, I won’t stop you.”
The blunt words hit Jiwon like a slap. He’d only ever seen that word in the crime section of newspapers. It had always been someone else’s problem—never his.
“Why… would you say that…”
“Fucking the leader is a 100-million-talent reward. The previous leader killed himself because he didn’t want to do it. Everyone’s been waiting for their turn for a long time.”
“Huh…”
“A legal chance to rape someone—it’s not something you get every day.”
Jiwon’s breath caught. He felt like vomiting. Jak watched as Jiwon pressed his face to the floor, dry-heaving. Stomach acid and tears mixed on the floor. Jak brought a towel and wiped it up.
“So, Leader, keep your wits about you and work hard.”
“Ugh… ugh…”
“Suicide won’t help. Work hard, pay off your debt, and get out. That’s your best option.”
Jak’s calm tone made Jiwon even more uneasy. He barely managed to steady his breathing and wiped his face with the new towel Jak brought. Clutching the towel, he glared sharply.
“…Is this going on my debt, too?”
“I’ll consider this a complimentary service.”
Jak smiled. Jiwon found it unsettling that Jak could smile even in this situation.
Jak left, saying he had things to do. Jiwon was left to his thoughts.
He hadn’t come here completely unaware. He’d known he’d have to pay off his debt with his body instead of money. But he hadn’t expected this.
Jiwon stood by the window, staring blankly outside. His reflection stared back—an ordinary, unremarkable face. A bit thin, but otherwise featureless. Do people really like me? he wondered. Jak had even said cum suited his face. His own face, which he’d always thought of as plain, suddenly felt strange.
He pulled out his phone to check for messages. He hadn’t expected any—his social circle was small—but he’d hoped his parents might have tried to contact him. There was nothing. He put the phone back in his suitcase and looked outside again. Only his reflection stared back, set against the dark forest.
Jiwon wasn’t naturally bold. He was timid, even shy. As he’d admitted, he had no sexual experience. And now, suddenly, he was tangled up in this cult…
He hated his parents for disappearing and leaving him in this mess. If they weren’t in the Philippines, were they really in Korea? If so, why hadn’t they come for him? The thought made him miserable.
He stumbled back to bed and collapsed. How much does this bed cost? he thought. How much more debt am I in? The questions swirled, making him feel even more wretched.
***
Exhausted from crying, he fell asleep. He dreamed of a dark, endless space, and when someone shook him awake, he was disoriented. A stranger told him to hurry and get ready.
“Now…?”
“Yes. Change your clothes. Lee Jak is away, so I’m here in his place.”
The man handed him clothes—thin, white garments Jiwon was starting to recognize. He left the room, leaving Jiwon to dress alone. Fortunately, these clothes were easier to wear than the first set: a white shirt and pants, secured with a black sash at the waist.
After tying the sash and draping a white cloth over his head, he looked surprisingly convincing. Humans were visual creatures, after all—just changing clothes could transform an ordinary person into a “leader.” He changed into white shoes, too.
When he left the room, followers were already waiting. Their greetings—”Thank you for letting us meet the Leader”—felt strange and burdensome.
Without Jak’s usual chatter, the silence was odd. Jiwon followed the followers down a high-ceilinged, narrow hallway. The ceiling made the space feel oppressive.
They stopped at the end of the hallway. The followers stepped back, gesturing for Jiwon to enter. The door was slightly ajar. Jiwon had no choice but to push it open and step inside.
The room was entirely white. A long, soft white rug covered the floor, and the only splash of color was a golden chair where a large middle-aged man sat in a tailored suit. His hair was neatly combed, but something about him felt off.
Who is he?
Without Jak to explain, Jiwon was clueless. He took a step back, grabbing the doorknob, but the door was already locked. The man noticed and chuckled.
“Jak said you were a coward. Guess he was right.”
Jiwon was a coward—he couldn’t deny it. But who wouldn’t be scared in this situation? The man seemed to enjoy Jiwon’s wariness. He leaned forward, his voice low and commanding.
“Come here.”
“W-who are you?”
“I said come.”
It was a clear warning. Jiwon shuffled toward him, his steps heavier than ever. When he stopped in front of the man, he was pulled closer by the waist. The man inspected Jiwon’s face like he was checking for flaws in a product. Jiwon tried to pull back, but the man’s large hand gripped the back of his head, holding him in place.
“Pale and sharp. Good choice.”
The man smiled in satisfaction. His smile was more animal than human.
Jiwon, still too tense to see him clearly, realized too late that the man was strikingly handsome, with a wild, predatory charm. Like a beast admiring its prey, he examined Jiwon, then pushed him onto the rug.
“Ah…”
Now, Jiwon was only wearing the veil, a choker, and shoes. The man casually removed Jiwon’s shoes and tossed them somewhere in the room.
“I hate it when things get damaged.”
“W-who are you?”
“Me? Kim Seonghee.”
“What?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
