29-165

EP.165 – Hostage 

It was just past 2 a.m. 

Climbing the familiar stairwell to the third floor, Hyunseong scowled at the sight before his room. The front door was unnaturally twisted, slammed inward until it lay wrecked against his entrance. Only one hinge clung loosely, dangling precariously. Beyond it, the living room floor was littered with splintered fragments of broken furniture. 

The traces of a battle that had played out without him weighed on his back like the gravity of reality. 

Looks like Ju‑young and Mi‑na went home. 

There was no way they would have stayed waiting all those long hours. 

Glancing quietly around the apartment, Hyunseong pulled his phone from his pocket. At some point during the earlier scuffle with Naeun, when he had been thrown down, he must have struck it hard the corner of the screen was now cracked like a spiderweb. 

Damn… I’d gotten attached to this old thing… 

A new phone could always be bought, but the irritation was real nonetheless. 

When he powered it up, notifications cascaded down the lock screen like a waterfall. 

[Kang Ju‑young]: Hyunseong, are you alright? Why haven’t we heard from you since you stormed out? If you see this, call me right away, okay?! 

[Park Mi‑na]: Senior, you’re alive, right? You’re not dead? Lol. If you don’t answer, I’ll really think you’re dead, idiot. Hurry up and message me! 

[[Villa Manager]]: Apartment 303! Your door’s been smashed in what on earth happened?! I’ll be billing you for repairs, so come to the office tomorrow without fail! 

Real‑world problems he had nearly forgotten amidst possessions and Bureau battles sprawled before his eyes. His head throbbed at the back. 

The concern from the two girls did make the corners of his mouth curl in a faint smile though. 

“…Hm?” 

Scrolling further, his finger froze at one name. 

[Seung‑ah]: Hyunwoo, how have you been? Haven’t heard from you lately. I’m bored. When are you coming over? (emoji) 

He realized he had completely forgotten about her in all the chaos. He would have to visit her, and Yeri too one day but it wasn’t urgent now. 

For the moment, he decided to reply to the most pressing messages. 

He opened a group chat with Ju‑young and Mi‑na and typed briefly: 

[Lee Hyunseong]: Don’t worry, you two. Nothing serious happened. Just a little… misunderstanding. I’ll explain more when we meet. 

As for the manager no point calling now, he would deal with that tomorrow. 

“Phew.” 

He let out a long sigh. 

Oblivious, Child floated about, humming merrily to herself like everything was a game. 

“I’m sorry, Hyunseong.” 

Unlike her, Lizetta swept her gaze quietly across the ruined apartment with her head bowed. 

“This was due to the commotion I caused inside. It’s my fault.” 

“How is that your fault, Lizetta? We both know who the real cause is.” 

And besides, what right did he have to blame someone who had risked herself to protect him. 

He stopped her apology with a gesture, then nodded toward the empty center of the living room. 

Child, catching the silent signal, snapped her fingers playfully. 

A rift opened, glowing red-black and Seohyun, still bound in wires, was unceremoniously dumped onto the floor with a thud. 

“Kh!” 

“Your order has just arrived, fresh delivery~ Pu‑huhu.” 

At Child’s sing‑song, Seohyun raised her face, flushed with humiliation, and glared at Hyunseong. 

Her body was pinned tight, but her eyes remained sharp as blades. 

Why is she looking at me, when it was Child who said that? 

If anyone deserved her rage, it was not him. 

“Now, how will you compensate me? You trashed my place completely.” 

His voice was calm, deliberate. 

Seohyun gave a cruel chuckle utterly unfitting for her position. 

“What do I care if your house is a mess? What, you want me to beg to help cover the repairs?” 

“Oh, really?” 

He remembered then that sour attitude that had annoyed him since their very first meeting. 

“Then I suppose there’s no choice.” 

With no trace of regret in her response, he reached out. 

The moment he flicked his finger, unseen power surged. 

“Wh-what why’s my body suddenly hot hhhhhhk!?” 

Seohyun’s form arched like a bow, stiff, her mouth gasping in a delicate cry. It was a sensation like stinging currents racing along every nerve  

Not pain, but a pleasure that rang directly through her brain. 

Back in the alley, he’d carved into her with his new power [Seal of Subjugation], granted by the trait [Lust Seal Artist]. 

It meant exactly what it sounded like any marked by the seal fell under his domination. 

In other words, Seohyun was now his slave. 

“Hahh…hahhhk…!” 

“How’s that? Do you feel any regret yet?” 

Panting hard, she still fixed him with eyes of nothing but hate. 

“Cute voice you’ve got. Way better than all that glaring.” 

Humiliated at his taunt, color burned across her face. She bit her lip bloody to hold back further cries. 

Her body trembled with fury as she spat, “Just kill me already! Better dead than some bastard’s toy!” 

It was almost a line he thought he’d enjoy hearing, but with her, it failed to stir his lust it only felt like she might indeed bite her tongue if pressed further. 

“You’re so extreme. Talk of killing and torture… I dislike violent measures.” 

“Then all the more reason I’d rather die!” 

“Why so dramatic?” 

He knew it wouldn’t matter death was not an option with the seal binding her. Still, debate was pointless. 

He glanced away, surveying his wrecked apartment instead. 

So what now… 

Then a thought occurred. 

Wait. Could my power fix this? 

In the alley, he’d bent circumstance slackening the wires just by wishing it. Couldn’t he restore this broken door and furniture too? 

He focused on the warped front door, thinking hard, Return to normal. 

Nothing happened. The mangled fragments stayed broken. 

Child, watching, burst into peals of laughter. 

“Pu‑huhuhu ahahaha! What are you doing? Your power doesn’t work like that.” 

“What do you mean? Didn’t I control the wires before?” 

“That was altering a process loosening the constriction that was about to happen.” 

She tapped his forehead. 

“Your ‘Protagonist Buff’ twists odds and outcomes about to happen in your favor. It doesn’t rewind results already set. Fixing things like that? That’s my domain.” 

With a smug snap, the scattered pieces floated into the air. One by one the shards slotted into place, reversing the destruction until the furnishings stood pristine. 

She flicked again at his cracked phone. Emerald light danced across it  

and the sight of fractured glass smoothed perfectly away. 

“There. Complimentary service. Grateful to the magnificent Child?” 

He looked around at the restored home, face a mix of relief…and disappointment. 

Noticing, Child tapped his shoulder. 

“What’s with that face? Already let down?” 

“You’re a protagonist, not a god. If you thought you could fix the world with a flick of your finger, you were mistaken.” She circled him, her voice half‑soothing, half‑lecturing. 

“Don’t be too discouraged, though. You’ll soon learn how immense your gift really is. With you and me together, nothing’s impossible. That’s your future  

No more Bureau hounding you. Just relax, build your happy harem life.” 

And then, cold words cut in. 

“You think they’ll give up just because you’re holding me hostage?” 

Both turned at once. 

Even bound, Seohyun’s eyes still blazed. 

“The Bureau doesn’t move emotionally. Only on principle and logic. Our objective has always been capturing that brat nothing, not even me, will make them stop.” 

Her certainty made Hyunseong smirk. 

“You sound like you know some secret way to beat us.” 

“…” 

She sealed her lips. 

He stepped closer. 

“Not talking? Fine. Stay silent.” 

Leaning down, his whisper tickled her ear: 

“Except the seal inside you will make you spill everything anyway. Stronger, deeper until you can’t hold back.” 

Her shoulders twitched, but still she refused to yield a word. 

Child shrugged. “She’s bluffing. Fresh agent like her? Just pride making her stubborn.” 

“Maybe. But even the possibility matters.” 

His voice was far more serious than usual. 

“If the Bureau is still a threat, that’s a problem. They might go after the girls around me. Or just keep picking fights. That won’t do.” 

His unexpected resolve sparked interest in Child, who folded her arms. 

“Ooh. So, what’s your plan then?” 

Instead of answering, he simply studied Seohyun in silence. 

The Bureau follows logic. But every organization has its exceptions… 

In his mind, he pictured that one voice yelling desperately to save their junior. 

The next afternoon, Hyunseong sat by the window in a downtown café. 

Until yesterday, it had been a generic franchise shop. Now, its sign bizarrely read ‘Hero’s Star Café’. 

The menu listed drinks like “Healing Americano” and “Mana Recovery Latte.” Around him, patrons casually ordered “a potion of healing” as if it were normal. 

The world was being bent around him, warped into something like an RPG with himself at its center slowly but surely. 

He sipped his steaming coffee naturally, as though he expected nothing less. 

[So what’s the plan? At least tell me that much.] 

“Let me have my coffee in peace. If you’re desperate, come see yourself.” 

[Hmph. Why would I? I’m busy keeping an eye on the Bureau, you know.] 

Despite her haughty tone, wariness laced Child’s voice. Seohyun’s confidence hadn’t seemed pure bluster even to her. 

All the better for Hyunseong. 

Ding‑a‑ling  

The café door’s bell chimed. He glanced up. 

A woman entered, expression rigid, cautiously scanning the room. 

At the same instant, the voice of Child in his head cut out in a burst of static. 

She brought it, then. 

Her sharp gaze swept the café until it locked onto him, sitting relaxed at the window. 

He lifted his hand and waved casually, like greeting a tardy friend. 

Naeun’s glare only sharpened as she strode straight for his table. 

She stopped without sitting, holding out a small communicator. Its screen displayed a brief message in bold: 

[Sender: Seraph] 

[Content: Come alone to XXX Café at noon today. Your precious junior is waiting.] 

Pocketing the device, Naeun looked down at him coldly. 

“I came alone, as instructed. Where is my junior?” 

Hyunseong smiled up at her. 

“Sit down first. We’ll need time for this conversation.”