Chapter 135

“From here, it’s the Swamp of Oblivion.”

The pioneering team entered the Swamp of Oblivion under Ha Yu-ri’s command.

“I thought it would be a swampy area because of the name, but it’s not at all.”

Although it wasn’t a swampy area as the name suggested, the appearance of the region was anything but ordinary.

Because of this, the team couldn’t help but buzz with chatter.

“What is this? Is this… snow… maybe?”

“…I don’t know. It’s not cold though.”

Everything was white. Not that the ground was white, but it looked like it was covered in snow.

But it wasn’t snow. Because it wasn’t cold.

Something white was fluttering around like snowflakes, but it wasn’t cold.

“It’s a highly unusual sight.”

It felt different from the dungeons we had conquered so far.

“Actually, this isn’t even a dungeon…”

While we were moving, someone from the front came and spoke to Ha Yu-ri.

“Um, Ha Yu-ri. We’ve encountered a monster of an unfamiliar shape at the front.”

“…What does the monster look like?”

“Well… its basic form is humanoid, but it’s entirely white, and its face only has a mouth. No hair or anything.”

Upon hearing the man’s words, Ha Yu-ri immediately responded.

“It’s a Shape.”

“…Huh? You know this monster?”

“Yes, we encountered it three years ago. We named it Shape back then.”

Shape. It means form or figure.

Probably named so because it’s just something in the shape of a human.

“Shapes are monsters that the residents of the Swamp of Oblivion turn into when they lose all their memories. They’re not strong, so I don’t think they’ll be a major variable. Let’s keep moving.”

‘Residents of the Swamp of Oblivion transform, huh…’

I guess we’ll have to meet them to find out what these “residents” are.

As we continued moving, it seemed like the monsters called Shapes were appearing from the sides.

I could see the Shape too.

But the sight of the creature alive was only for a brief moment.

Yoo Ju swung her spear a few times, and the creature’s limbs were dismembered, rolling on the ground.

It made a sound like it was gasping for air as it died.

Looking around at the others, everyone seemed to be handling the monsters safely.

It was clear that everyone had grown a lot.

‘The Mardan Clan…’

The Mardan Clan didn’t use magic. There was no need to waste mana on these creatures, so it was the right call.

“Let’s keep moving.”

After starting to move again, I approached Ha Yu-ri.

“…It seems like no one has lost their senses yet, or their memories.”

“…The area where people start losing their senses is after we pass where the residents are. And… even if you lose your memory, you often don’t realize it, so it doesn’t mean much. You wouldn’t notice right away even if you lost your memory.”

“Hmm… So, I might have already lost my memory?”

“That’s right. We’ve definitely entered the Swamp of Oblivion.”

“Really? Anyway, why didn’t you tell us about the monster’s information beforehand?”

This was what I was most curious about.

If you knew about the Shape, you could have told us earlier.

“There was no need to mention it. It doesn’t have any special characteristics. It’s pretty much the only monster I know.”

“…Really?”

“Why would I lie?”

“Command. Is that really the reason?”

At the word “command,” the slave mark below her navel glowed, enforcing compliance.

“Ugh…! Really, really.”

“…..”

I suspected there might be some ulterior motive, but it seems I was overthinking.

Ha Yu-ri spoke with a dissatisfied expression.

“…Doubting me, what a terrible master you are.”

“Hmm, hmm… No… well… sorry.”

“…It’s fine.”

I scratched my head and returned to where the clan members were, only to see Yoo Ju opening her mouth with a dissatisfied look.

“Yoon Seong, you seem pretty close to the Mardan Clan Master, huh?”

“Ah…”

‘…How should I explain this?’

I couldn’t say it was a master-slave relationship, and I was at a loss for what to say.

“We just… cleared up a misunderstanding from before.”

“A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding, Yoon Seong… Ha Yu-ri treated you so badly.”

‘I know, I know, Yoo Ju.’

“She deserves more punishment, and you say it’s a misunderstanding? Yoon Seong…”

‘Well… I’m giving her plenty of punishment. She even barked like a dog in front of me, Yoo Ju. You’d be shocked if you saw it.’

“But still, Ha Yu-ri is reflecting a lot on her actions.”

“…Yoon Seong, you’re too kind for your own good.”

If Ha Yu-ri heard this, she’d probably faint from disbelief.

“Haha… Anyway, please don’t hate Ha Yu-ri too much. She’s being punished in her own way.”

Honestly, it’s more than just punishment. I have complete control over her life and can force her to do anything.

“Something felt off about her attitude since the meeting. Did you two make up or something?”

Yoo Ju isn’t dumb, so she must have noticed Ha Yu-ri’s strange attitude lately.

“Yoon Seong, by the way.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“…You don’t like Ha Yu-ri, do you?”

I was flustered as Yoo Ju suddenly linked arms with me.

‘What, why the sudden skinship…’

“No way. How could that be?”

“Hehe, right?”

‘…She’s never been good at hiding her feelings.’

It felt like we were approaching an important decision between her and me in the near future.

But the problem was that I froze when Yoo Ju followed up with her next question.

“Then why did you go to Ha Yu-ri’s tent last night?”

“Huh?”

My brain short-circuited for a moment.

“What did you two do last night? Did you do what I’m thinking?”

I momentarily locked eyes with Yoo Ju, but like a mouse in front of a snake, I couldn’t say or do anything.

“Ah…”

“Yoon Seong.”

‘How… did she find out?’

Yoo Ju and I…





The tent was definitely separate.

From the beginning, since multiple clans were moving together, we couldn’t just decide the tent’s location as we pleased.

Of course, being from the same clan, the tents were relatively close, but the distance was still quite significant.

“…Ms. Ha Yu-ri, I heard a sudden moan from your tent. What on earth was that, huh?”

‘Damn… When I exerted the compulsion…’

At that time, Ha Yu-ri made a sound due to the pain from the slave mark, and it seems Seo Yoo-ju heard it, though I don’t know the details.

The sound must have been quite suggestive, leading Seo Yoo-ju to some strange misunderstanding.

“Please… answer me…”

“Ah, no. It’s just that Ms. Ha Yu-ri bumped into the corner of the tent…”

Even I think it’s a stupid excuse.

Seo Yoo-ju brought her face close to mine and blurted out.

“Really? Then why did Ms. Ha Yu-ri call you ‘Master,’ Yoon Seong?”

‘Shit…’

“……”

‘Damn, how much did she hear?’

My vision started to darken.

‘…Does she know about the slave contract with Ha Yu-ri?’

I thought as fast as I could. There was no time to leisurely ponder in this situation.

‘No, if she knew, she wouldn’t ask why she called me Master. So then…’

My mind started spinning faster than in any previous crisis.

Even though Seo Yoo-ju has grown to be a master-level figure in one of the top three clans, considering Ha Yu-ri didn’t notice her presence, Seo Yoo-ju probably didn’t hear everything.

‘She probably only heard the moan and the word “Master.”‘

I went through all this reasoning in under three seconds. Even I was amazed.

Of course, I answered Seo Yoo-ju immediately.

“That, it’s a misunderstanding. Actually, Ms. Ha Yu-ri was apologizing for ignoring me until now… and somehow that word slipped out.”

Even I think it’s nonsense. But it was the only thing I could say in this situation.

“You expect me to believe that? Yoon Seong, are you… into that kind of play?”

“Huh?”

“Is that… your preference?”

I was dumbfounded by Seo Yoo-ju’s words.

‘Why did it come to that…’

“No, wait… why does it come to that? Why would I be into such weird… play?”

“…Then what is it? Why did Ms. Ha Yu-ri moan, and why did she call you Master?!”

“Ah… that’s…”

“Ha, wait a second.”

“Wait! Ms. Yoo Ju, where are you going?”

Seo Yoo-ju ignored my words and left, soon bringing Ha Yu-ri back.

“Ms. Seo Yoo-ju, what on earth… why did you bring me here? Now…”

Ha Yu-ri seemed to have been dragged here without understanding why.

She immediately noticed me and shut her mouth.

‘Damn, why is this turning into a three-way confrontation?’

“Now, tell me. Ms. Ha Yu-ri, what exactly did you and Yoon Seong do in the tent last night?”

“…. What?”

Ha Yu-ri, flustered, looked from Seo Yoo-ju to me.

Her gaze seemed to ask me what was going on, but the problem was Seo Yoo-ju wouldn’t miss that.

“What is it… what, what is your relationship… why, why did you moan and call Yoon Seong Master!”

Seo Yoo-ju, with tears in her eyes, shouted at Ha Yu-ri.

Ha Yu-ri seemed to grasp the situation from Seo Yoo-ju’s demeanor.

‘Damn, please… just save me this once.’

I desperately signaled Ha Yu-ri with my eyes, but she betrayed my expectations.

Instead, she gave me a look of triumph and then dropped a bombshell.

“What relationship? Don’t you know? At night, Yoon Seong is my Master, and I’m his slave. I have to obey his every command, no matter how humiliating.”

‘You damn bitch…!’

I wanted to scream. Ha Yu-ri didn’t stop there and added more.

“To please our Master, no matter how shameful the command… I have to do it. If I obey well, I get a euphoric reward.”

Seo Yoo-ju, with a lost expression, asked in a trembling voice.

“What… what kind of… reward?”

“Yes, after that, our Master pampers me like a puppy until morning.”

With a look of ecstasy, Ha Yu-ri twisted her body as she spoke, her acting worthy of a Best Actress award on Earth.

‘Damn bitch!’

Not gratitude… but after showing her mercy, her betrayal made the back of my head tingle.

‘You… just wait. I won’t let this slide.’

What really pissed me off was that after saying all that, Ha Yu-ri slipped away.

While Seo Yoo-ju was making a scene with me, Ha Yu-ri disappeared like an assassin.

“Yoo, Yoon Seong. Why… why with Ha Yu-ri… not that girl, I’m here…!”

In this state, Seo Yoo-ju wouldn’t listen to anything I said.

It was better to let her calm down first and explain later, to save mental energy.

Though her following words were strange.

“If… if you need someone for that role, call me. I can do it all for you!”

With tears in her eyes, her pleading could move any man’s heart.

“Huh? Whatever your preference, I’ll match it. So please…”

‘That’s not it…’

It took some time before Seo Yoo-ju realized that Ha Yu-ri’s words were lies.