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Tyrant's Debt
________________________________________
Using [Shadow Step] felt less like teleporting and more like being shoved through a drinking straw.
The world blurred into static.
My stomach lurched into my throat.
When reality snapped back into focus, I wasn't on the ground anymore.
I was on the gravel roof of the Science Building, stumbling forward, my knees buckling.
"Damn it," I wheezed, grabbing a ventilation pipe to steady myself.
[System: Warning!
Stamina drained by 40%.
Shadow Step consumes significant energy for a novice body.
Maybe do some cardio instead of just chasing skirts, Host?]
"Not the time," I muttered, wiping sweat from my forehead.
Ten meters away, a man in a gray windbreaker was peering over the edge of the roof, a DSLR camera with a telephoto lens pressed to his face.
He was so focused on scanning the alleyway below ,where I had been just seconds ago that he didn't hear me gagging on the nausea of teleportation.
I took a breath, forcing my heart rate to slow. This wasn't a video game.
If I messed this up, or if he had a knife and I was too winded to dodge, I could actually get hurt.
My [Strength] stat didn't stop my skin from bleeding.
I walked up behind him. I didn't shout.
I didn't roar.
I just tapped him on the shoulder.
"Find anything good?" I asked.
The man jumped like he'd been electrocuted.
He spun around, the camera strap tangling around his neck.
His eyes went wide when he saw me...the guy who was supposed to be four stories down standing right there.
"You... how did you..."
He scrambled back, tripping over a loose cable and landing hard on his ass.
He wasn't a hardened gangster.
He looked like a private investigator, scruffy beard, cheap shoes, smelling of stale tobacco.
"Stay back!" he yelled, fumbling inside his jacket.
I didn't wait to see what he was reaching for. I stepped on his wrist.
"Ah!" He yelped, his hand flying open.
No gun. Just a canister of pepper spray.
I kicked it away.
"Relax," I said, crouching down to his eye level.
I was trying to look intimidating, but honestly, my legs were still trembling from the mana drain.
"I'm not going to kill you.
That's too much paperwork."
I snatched the camera from his neck.
"Hey! That cost two grand!" he protested.
"Put it on your expense report," I said, popping the memory card out and pocketing it. Then I dropped the camera.
Crack
The lens shattered on the gravel.
The man looked like he was about to cry.
"Who hired you?" I asked, my voice flat. "Was it Min-ho?
Or the Golden Dragons?"
He swallowed hard.
"I don't know names. Just a text. An encrypted payment.
They wanted dirt on you. Said you were getting too arrogant."
I sighed, rubbing my temples.
"Too arrogant. Yeah, maybe they have a point."
I stood up, looking out over the campus.
The adrenaline was fading, leaving me exhausted.
"Go tell your boss something for me," I said, looking back at him.
"Tell him the photos didn't come out.
And tell him if I see you again, I won't break the camera.
I'll break the hand holding it."
The man scrambled up, nodding frantically, and bolted for the fire escape.
I slumped against the ventilation unit, sliding down until I was sitting on the dirty gravel.
"System," I groaned. "I need a Gatorade."
[System: You need a strategy.
You're burning resources like a trust fund kid in Vegas. You have 100 Lust Points left.
Your Stamina is in the yellow.
And now you have a criminal syndicate aware of your existence.]
"I handled it," I defended weakly.
[System: You scared a paparazzi. Congratulations. But you can't fight a war like this. You need a base.
You need resources.
And most importantly, you need a way to farm Points that doesn't involve nearly dying or causing a public scandal every four hours.]
I closed my eyes, letting the sun warm my face.
The System was right.
I had been speed-running this life, treating it like a hack-and-slash.
But I was human. I needed rest.
And I needed a steady income of points that was safer than seducing the Step-mother or beating up gangsters.
"I need a business," I mumbled. "Something where they come to me."
The Streets of Gangnam - 1:00 PM
I decided to walk home to clear my head. Or rather, I walked until I realized I was hungry and thirsty.
I ducked into a small, slightly run-down convenience store tucked between a high-end boutique and a karaoke bar. It was called "Mrs. Bae's Mart."
The bell chimed as I walked in.
The air conditioning was weak, and the place smelled of instant noodles and floor cleaner.
Behind the counter sat a woman.
She looked to be in her late thirties or early forties
. She was pretty, in a worn-out, tired sort of way.
Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, loose strands framing a face that had seen better days but still held a soft, maternal beauty. She was wearing a beige apron over a simple blouse.
[Target Detected.]
[Name: Bae So-ra.]
[Role: Shopkeeper / Widow.]
[Status: Chronic Fatigue / Muscle Spasms.]
[Lust: 5% (Too tired to care).]
[Favorability: 0% (Just a customer).]
She didn't even look up as I grabbed a bottle of water and a triangular kimbap.
She was rubbing her neck, wincing every time she turned her head.
A bottle of pain pills sat on the counter next to the register.
I placed my items on the counter.
"Rough day?" I asked, trying to sound casual, though my voice was a bit hoarse.
She looked up, blinking.
"Hm? Oh. Just the usual.
That'll be 4,500 won."
She reached for the scanner, but as she extended her arm, a spasm hit her shoulder. She gasped, dropping the scanner.
"Ah... shhh..." She hissed through her teeth, gripping her shoulder.
I watched her.
My [Eye of Discernment] wasn't just for checking stats anymore.
With the recent upgrade, I could see... lines. Faint, glowing red lines running along her neck and trapezius muscles.
Stress points.
[System: Opportunity Detected.
The target is suffering from severe tension knots.
Physical relief often lowers mental defenses.]
"It looks painful," I said. "Trapezius muscle?"
She looked at me, surprised.
"You a medical student?"
"Something like that," I lied.
"Physical therapy."
I hesitated. This was risky.
I didn't have a skill for this. If I just started rubbing her shoulders, she'd call the cops. I needed an excuse.
"I can help with that," I said, keeping my hands visible.
"I know a pressure point technique. Takes ten seconds. If it doesn't work, the water is on me."
So-ra laughed, a dry, tired sound.
"Kid, I've been to three doctors. Unless you have magic hands, I doubt it."
"Try me," I smiled. It wasn't my usual arrogant smirk. It was a genuine, 'I just want to help' smile.
She sighed, looking at the pain pills that weren't working.
"Fine. Whatever. Just don't make it worse."
She turned slightly.
I reached out.
"System," I thought frantically.
"Do I have anything for this?
Don't I get a starter pack or something?"
[System: You really are pathetic without me. Fine. Unlocking Apprentice Massage (Rank F) for 100 Lust Points.
This will drain your account to zero. Confirm?]
"Do it."
[Purchase Confirmed.
Knowledge Downloaded.]
My fingers tingled. Suddenly, I knew exactly where to press.
I placed my thumbs on the base of her neck. The skin was warm, the muscles rock hard.
I didn't just push; I vibrated my thumbs slightly, finding the center of the knot.
"Breath in," I instructed.
She inhaled.
"Breath out."
As she exhaled, I pressed down and twisted.
Pop.
It was a small sound, internal.
But the reaction was immediate.
"Oh!" So-ra gasped.
Her knees actually buckled. She slumped forward onto the counter, a long, ragged moan escaping her lips.
It wasn't a sexual moan—not entirely.
It was the sound of pure, unadulterated relief.
The sound someone makes when a headache they've had for a year suddenly vanishes.
"Oh my god," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What did you do?"
I pulled my hands back.
Even that small action had cost me a bit of stamina.
"Just released the tension," I said, picking up my water. "Better?"
She turned around slowly. Her eyes were wide, watery.
Her cheeks were flushed a healthy pink.
"Better? I... I can feel my fingers again." She looked at me like I was Jesus Christ himself.
Then, she looked at my hands.
And for the first time, the [Lust] meter moved.
[Target: Bae So-ra]
[Lust: 15% (Intrigued by touch).]
[Favorability: 30% (Grateful).]
"You..." She bit her lip. "Do you... do this professionally? I have a sister.
She has sciatica. She'd pay a fortune for that."
A lightbulb went off in my head.
The System's words echoed: A steady income of points.
"I'm actually looking for a place to practice," I improvised. "I'm thinking of opening a small clinic. Specialized massage. High end."
"You should," she said, nodding fervently. "Seriously.
If you can do that in ten seconds... women would line up. Especially women my age."
She gave me a look.
It was subtle, but it was there.
A hunger. Not just for pain relief, but for the contact.
"Here," she said, grabbing a bag of premium beef jerky from the shelf and shoving it into my hands.
"On the house. Come back anytime. Seriously. Anytime."
I walked out of the store munching on the jerky, my mind racing.
"Massage," I thought.
"A place where women come to relax. Where their defenses are down. Where I touch them, and the System rewards me for 'Physical Therapy', how could I forget the legendary NTR massage Novel."
[System: Now you're thinking with your big head. Massage Parlor Golden Hands. It has a ring to it. Yep,the NTR Massage novel was the 🐐.
Plus, you can target specific demographics. Housewives, policewomen, tired CEOs... The potential for Happy Endings purely for point generation, of course...is astronomical.]
"I need a venue," I said. "And I need capital."
The Han Estate - 2:30 PM
I arrived home feeling better.
The beef jerky and water had restored some stamina, and the encounter with So-ra had given me a plan.
But as I walked through the front door, the atmosphere in the house stopped me cold.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
Usually, the maids were bustling about. Today, the main hall was empty.
Standing at the top of the stairs was Seo-yoon.
She wasn't the broken mess I left in the dream, nor the flushed woman from breakfast.
She was composed. Cold.
She was wearing a high-collared dress that covered every inch of skin. Her hair was pulled back so tight it looked painful.
"Welcome home, Jin-woo," she said. Her voice was steady, but I detected a tremor in it.
"Mother," I nodded, walking toward the stairs. "You're home early."
"I took the afternoon off," she said.
"To handle some... administrative matters."
She gestured to the side.
Two large men in black suits stepped out of the shadows of the living room.
They weren't the usual house staff. These were private security. Professional.
"What's this?" I asked, tensing up.
My radar didn't ping them as 'Hostile' yet, just Guarding.
"I've been reviewing the household expenses," Seo-yoon said, walking down the stairs slowly.
She stopped three steps above me, maintaining the high ground.
"You've been spending a lot lately.
New clothes. Cash withdrawals."
She held up a tablet.
"Your credit cards have been frozen, Jin-woo.
Until your father returns, you are on a strict allowance. Cash only. And a curfew."
I stared at her.
She was fighting back.
I had humiliated her in reality, and dominated her in her dreams.
But she was a CEO. Her response to losing control wasn't to submit....it was to lock everything down.
She was terrified of me, terrified of what I made her feel, so she was building a cage.
[Target: Seo-yoon]
[Lust: 85% (Repressed).]
[Fear: 60%.]
[Strategy: Containment.]
"You think cutting off my money will stop me?" I asked quietly.
"I think you need discipline," she said, her knuckles white as she gripped the banister. She refused to look at my crotch or my lips. She stared strictly at my forehead.
"And these gentlemen are here to ensure you stay safe. They will accompany you when you leave the house."
Babysitters.
She hired bodyguards to watch me. To make sure I didn't go to hotels with girls.
To make sure I didn't sneak into her room again.
I laughed.
It started as a chuckle, then grew into a full laugh.
The guards shifted uncomfortably. Seo-yoon flinched.
"What's so funny?" she snapped.
"You are," I said, looking up at her. "You're trying so hard, Seo-yoon. It's cute."
I took a step up.
The guards moved to intercept, but I raised a hand.
"I'm just going to my room," I said.
I leaned in close to Seo-yoon as I passed her on the stairs.
"Freeze the cards," I whispered.
"Lock the doors. Hire an army. It doesn't matter.
You can't lock out what's already in your head."
I saw her shiver.
I walked past her, heading to my room.
So, the Rich Heir route was blocked for now. No infinite money glitch.
"System," I thought, closing my door and locking it.
"I need to open that Massage Parlor sooner than I thought.
I need my own cash flow."
[System: Agreed. But you have zero points and zero dollars.
How do you propose we rent a building?]
I sat on my bed, looking around the opulent room that felt more like a prison cell now.
Then, my eyes landed on the walk-in closet.
The original Jin-woo had a collection. Watches. Limited edition sneakers. Designer bags he bought for girls who rejected him.
"Asset liquidation," I grinned. "And I know just the place to start."
I needed a partner.
Someone who knew the streets, knew how to move fast, and wouldn't ask questions.
And I knew exactly who.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the contacts until I found a number labeled
"Uncle's Wife - Aunt Ji-hye."
My aunt.
The one who owned a failing beauty salon in the commercial district.
The one who was constantly borrowing money from my father.
If I wanted to start a Massage Business
I didn't need to rent a new building.
I just needed to take over a failing one.
[System: Oh? Aunt Ji-hye?
The rumor is she's an alcoholic with a gambling debt.
A desperate woman in a failing marriage? Host, you are bottom feeding.
I love it.]
I dialed the number.
"Hello? Auntie? It's Jin-woo.
I have a business proposition for you. Can we meet? Alone."
Author's Note:
Jin-woo is grounded! (Sort of).
Seo-yoon isn't going down without a fight. I think this makes it more interesting...he has to actually earn his victory over her.
NTR massage parlor novel was a great one.
Next up: Meeting the Aunt and setting up the Golden Hands Massage Parlor.
This path allows for a lot of new characters (Neighbors, Policewomen, etc.) to come in as customers!
Drop those stones to help Jin-woo get his business license! (Or at least pay for a taxi).
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