“So, what are you curious about, besides what you heard from Instructor Jeong?”

Ilay’s voice grew even more languid. His eyes seemed blurred with drowsiness. Maybe—though Tae-ui couldn’t be certain—the drug was taking effect.

…Anyway, a scary bastard. They said it was a weak drug, but the effect was excellent. Anyone else would have collapsed after half a glass, yet he drank all three straight and now just pretends to be a little sleepy. Tae-ui thought he should have mixed the entire bottle of muscle relaxant into that drink and poured it down Ilay’s throat, then silently finished his own glass.

“You seem to have overheard everything my uncle and I talked about, judging by your expression.”

Tae-ui smirked. Ilay just slightly raised his eyebrows and laughed without a word. He probably thought he’d caught most of the conversation. But Tae-ui knew his uncle well. He was the type to carefully distinguish what to say and what not to say—especially when it came to topics he hoped wouldn’t leak outside.

They looked at each other and faintly smiled in a circular, knowing way. Tae-ui wondered why this bastard was smiling like that, but it was fine. No more dealings with you now, you inhuman bastard.

“If you have questions, ask quickly. I’m starting to get sleepy.”

Ilay murmured slowly. His half-lidded eyes curved softly, looking comfortable. Aha. Tae-ui tapped the empty glass once, twice, three times slowly. Well, you have to at least be part human, right?

“I thought I was curious, but thinking about it, I’m not that curious. Things in this world tend to flow as they will.”

“Fate, huh?”

“That’s something you like.”

Ilay chuckled lowly at Tae-ui’s words. His white hand slowly brushed hair off his forehead. He looked languid and sleepy. Staring at the ceiling, blinking a couple of times, Ilay closed his eyes at some point. Tae-ui just watched him silently.

“You look sleepy.”

“Mm… yeah, that too… just thinking for a moment.”

His voice lowered, the last words almost inaudible. Tae-ui paused briefly, then asked,

“What are you thinking about?”

No answer came.

Tae-ui tapped the empty glass several times slowly again, counting quietly to himself.

“Ilay.”

He called quietly, but still no response. After a short pause, he called again with the same result. It didn’t seem like Ilay was deliberately ignoring him or pretending to sleep. His shoulders and head slumped slowly, and his breathing became steadily slower and softer.

Sorry. I thought you weren’t human, but you still have some trace of humanity left.

Tae-ui pulled out the small medicine bottle the size of a finger from his pocket. The half-empty bottle held some clear liquid that sloshed gently. That amount could knock out three or four people easily.

“Should I be relieved you still have one toe in the human realm, or just push you over there completely and ask for your quarantine…”

Tae-ui muttered quietly and stood up.

The drug’s effect didn’t last long. He had heard that after a brief blackout, the person would wake up again. Though he wasn’t sure what happened if you drank more than the prescribed dose, it wouldn’t let you sleep soundly for hours. Sleeping for hours straight would be boring anyway. Worse if he suddenly woke up without warning after a minute or two—that would be a problem.

“Well, even if he wakes, his body will be relaxed and won’t move as usual… If I’m dealing with this guy, I need to stay alert.”

Tae-ui approached the bed and looked down at Ilay quietly. Seeing this man, breathing so deeply asleep, gave him an odd feeling. Looking at his sleeping face, he seemed neat and gentle—a handsome young man.

Tae-ui shook his head. Looking down like this made his heart sink, and for some reason, he felt a bit pathetic. Maybe even a little sad. It would be hard to answer if asked why.

He counted mentally one by one. He packed all his belongings. Not that he had much—just a sports bag when he came. When he left, he’d leave even that behind and only take his wallet and passport. Bare hands almost. The light load felt lighter for his mind.

Less than two hours remained before the ship’s arrival. In two hours, this damn island would be far behind. Goodbye to this damn bastard. Goodbye to this damn machine. …He wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to his resentful uncle, though.

“Well then, no time to waste. Let’s get going.”

Thinking that if this bastard woke up now, he wouldn’t die peacefully, Tae-ui jingled handcuffs from his back pocket. He had confirmed several times the claim that they could restrain even King Kong, but still felt uneasy, knowing he was about to do something bad.

“Well, if you were born a man, you should live boldly at least once.”

He fastened one cuff to the bedpost, then clasped the other around Ilay’s right wrist. Ilay’s eyes opened immediately, glaring at him, ready to bolt. His wrist in Tae-ui’s hand was as white as snow. Though Tae-ui felt the muscles beneath the skin when gripping, it looked smooth and pale on the surface. He gently pressed his lips to that hand he had thought beautiful from the start.

Then he moved around to cuff the other wrist the same way. Sitting beside the quietly sleeping Ilay with his arms spread, Tae-ui gazed down at him. Thinking about it, there ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) were plenty of grudges against this man. If he strangled him now or put a wet towel on his face, who in this world would blame him?

…Since his hands were tied, maybe he should actually put a wet towel on his face. No, if he shook his head and the towel fell off, better to just…

Tae-ui quietly reached out and lightly gripped Ilay’s neck. Pale blue veins shimmered faintly beneath the white skin. The blood flowing below warmed the flesh. Tae-ui felt the pulse beneath his fingers. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Suddenly a strange feeling came over him. Like when he found an old toy he used to play with in the attic as a child. He didn’t know why, but that’s how he felt.

When was the last time he felt a human pulse? It was strange and yet somehow faintly tender to feel that sensation from this man.

“…”

“So, what do you plan to do now?”

He kept his hand on the neck for a while, feeling the pulse. In the quiet, a low, languid voice suddenly spoke. Ilay moved only his lips with his eyes closed. But after speaking, he opened his eyes and looked at Tae-ui.

Tae-ui reflexively withdrew his hand from Ilay’s neck and reminded himself of reality.

Right, he was just about deciding whether to strangle this monster or cover his face with a wet towel.

But though he expected it, it had only been a few minutes…

When their eyes met with the handcuffs clamped grandly on Ilay’s wrists, a chill ran down Tae-ui’s spine. If this bastard got angry and struggled and somehow broke or loosened the cuffs, that would be the end of Tae-ui’s short life.

Of course, he tested the cuffs’ strength beforehand. The special order metal shackles should be strong enough to restrain King Kong. He had no idea how strong King Kong actually was, but at least strong enough to restrain an elephant.

So it should be safe, but still, his chest turned cold no matter what.

Ilay kept drifting in and out of drowsiness, opening and closing his eyes several times. He slowly turned his head to look at his wrists. The metallic clink of the cuffs made him raise his eyebrows. Tae-ui sat perched on the bed, watching him. Eventually, Ilay looked at Tae-ui. Their eyes met.

But unexpectedly, Ilay didn’t shoot a terrifying glare. Instead, without changing his expression, he calmly looked at Tae-ui and then suddenly smirked.

“Were you awake?”

“No, I just spaced out and woke up again now. …What were you trying to feed me? So this is it? Hmm… a muscle relaxant, I guess. Doesn’t seem like a sleeping pill or anesthetic… …Why the anxious face if you’re not feeding me poison? You’re making the drinker nervous.”

Ilay tried shaking his wrists a few more times, then gave up and quietly put his hands down. He showed no sign of anger or excitement. Rather, a smile lingered on his lips as if he were watching an amusing movie.

Tae-ui frowned. Somehow, it felt like he had heard some very bitter news.

“…You knew?”

“Knew what? That the alcohol was drugged? I didn’t know what kind of drug exactly. I just guessed something was added.”

“Then why did you drink it knowing that?”

It was impossible that he had immunity to all kinds of drugs. Tae-ui muttered with a frown, rolling up his sleeves. Ilay saw Tae-ui roll up his sleeves and laughed again.

“You’re doing things you don’t normally do. I was curious what you were trying to do. I didn’t expect you to do something so foolish and cute… Tae-ui. Just so you know, no matter what you do to me, nothing will change. My brother will keep producing weapons. The organization will still be a weapons distribution network. Weapons will continue to spread across the world. Your brother will keep developing weapons.”

“Ilay Riegrow.”

Tae-ui smiled faintly. He placed his hand just below Ilay’s collarbone and pushed down to lift his body slightly. Then he sat on his stomach as if to choke him.

“Even if you grandly preach world peace right now, it has nothing to do with me. I don’t care what my brother does with the weapons he develops or what your brother does with the distribution. Honestly, I’m not an active pacifist.”

“Ah… so?”

Tae-ui closed his mouth for a moment and looked at Ilay lying beneath him like a cushion. Even if Ilay struggled wildly with his bound wrists, he wouldn’t look pretty, but this calm smirk was no better. His mood twisted more and more.

“Right now, if I choke your neck or stab your chest with a knife, would you be able to avoid it?”

He lightly tapped Ilay’s chest with his knuckles and asked. Ilay pretended to think seriously for a moment and shook his head.

“That’d be hard. Still sleepy and my body’s weak. Plus, these cuffs don’t seem ordinary.”

“But aren’t you too carefree?”

Muttering dissatisfied, Tae-ui grabbed Ilay’s nape again. Ilay suddenly laughed, tilted his head, and licked Tae-ui’s wrist. Tae-ui flinched and pulled his hand away, feeling like a beast tasting its prey.

Ilay chuckled softly and dropped his head back on the pillow.

“Well, I admit I am a bit too carefree. I even wondered why while drinking that beer. Why am I quietly accepting this? Well, I was curious what you were going to do.”

 

Ilay briefly wiped the smile from his face. Staring expressionlessly at the ceiling, lost in thought, he suddenly turned and looked at Tae-ui. His cold black eyes, impossible to read, met Tae-ui’s gaze. A chill ran down his spine.

Muttering “Why is that?” as he looked at Tae-ui, Ilay seemed to come to some conclusion. His mood soured; his brows furrowed as if an unpleasant thought had crossed his mind, and he shook his wrists.

“Enough. No need to indulge your reckless pranks any longer. Unlock these handcuffs.”

Tae-ui felt a coldness settle in his chest at Ilay’s chilly voice laced with displeasure. For a brief moment, he even considered yielding and releasing him to ensure his own survival.

“…I don’t want to.”

But the moment he said that, Tae-ui felt a sharp thrill matching that chill. Perhaps aware that he was half-giving up his life, Ilay’s icy gaze made his heart throb. Tae-ui smiled.

Ilay, who had been looking at him without expression, laughed again—but it was a smile without warmth.

“What boldness is this…”

“Don’t get so angry. It’s not like I’m tied up for nothing. I’m actually planning to make today pretty fiery.”

Tae-ui whispered quietly, though inwardly he clicked his tongue bitterly. Even saying it himself, it felt out of character. He had tried to sound more threatening and subtle, imitating Ilay’s style, but doing something he never did was not easy.

“Haha. Fiery, huh? That sounds promising.”

Ilay raised his eyebrows slightly. He didn’t seem too pleased with the situation and seemed to be pondering it briefly, but there was nothing he could do now. Maybe he thought, “Once these hands are free, you’re dead,” but by then, Tae-ui would already have left the island.

So today was the last day. It would be unfair to just take the beating and run off. Ilay should have at least one memory to rage about, shouldn’t he? Still, Tae-ui’s heart was as vast as the sky and soft as silk; he wouldn’t repay Ilay’s deeds fully, only in a small measure—and Ilay should be thankful.

Tae-ui counted his grudges one by one. There were too many to list, but the one that twisted his guts the most was clear: the night he first truly felt pain and despair until he passed out. When he thought his body was splitting apart from between his legs and he might die.

Recalling that memory, his grudge came alive again. He felt as if ripping that hideous flesh away would barely be enough relief.

“Ilay. You don’t know what it feels like to be forced like that.”

Tae-ui smiled faintly as he slid down slowly from Ilay’s stomach, stopping at his groin. The thick bulk between his thighs felt so substantial that even in a normal state it was immediately uncomfortable. The sheer size stirred his melancholy and anger anew.

Ilay tilted his head, raising his eyebrows as if not quite understanding, then let out a breath like a laugh. A look of disbelief passed over his face, soon changing into one of amusement.

“Right, I don’t know. So, you’re going to tell me?”

He laughed softly aloud. It was the kind of laugh reserved for unfunny jokes.

And Tae-ui—until just a few seconds ago—had no intention of this. He never liked the idea of forced sex, and the concept itself was repulsive. More than that, this man was absolutely not someone he wanted to embrace. If anyone could get aroused facing this terrifying mental state, Tae-ui wanted to see that once. But layered with the past pain and stirred by that laugh, Ilay suddenly spoke in a strangely serious tone, pretending to be worried.

“Tae-ui. But tell me, have you been given a death sentence at the hospital or something? Where did your fear go? What’s with this attitude today? I thought you were smarter.”

At those words, the last shred of Tae-ui’s kindness sank away.

He grabbed Ilay’s collar roughly and shook him once, filled with raw emotion. Ilay coughed a couple of times as if struggling to breathe.

“I said I’d make it fiery. I’m not going to just shove it in like you do. You should be grateful.”

Holding his collar, Tae-ui whispered close to his ear. Then immediately pushed his hands back and tore off Ilay’s shirt. Changing his mind, he thought. Though he hated Ilay enough to want to strangle him, it wasn’t the act itself he disliked. As long as that terrifying thing wasn’t inserted, the lead-up was so intense and pleasurable it made him lose himself. So he wasn’t opposed to sex with this guy.

He rolled up the shirt to expose the white, smooth skin beneath, layered many times. Without hesitation, his hands moved to undo Ilay’s belt. The leg that twitched slightly soon lay quietly back on the bed. Tae-ui looked up at Ilay, who surprisingly wore a calm expression. Though a trace of disbelief lingered, there was a smile too.

“Guess filling from behind wasn’t enough, huh… Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got. If it doesn’t work out, just tell me to unlock the cuffs. Since you’re cooperating so actively, I’ll take responsibility and send you to heaven.”

Ilay lay back comfortably, muttering as if daring him to do his worst, lifting his hips once. With that lascivious and blatant motion, his fully erect member bulged out between his undone pants.

Tae-ui grimaced. Of course, he never expected Ilay to shy away and beg not to do it like some third-rate porn star. If that happened, Tae-ui would have been disgusted and walked away. But he didn’t expect Ilay to shamelessly stand up despite the forced assault.

Damn it. He wanted to see Ilay flustered, yelling no—knowing his personality, probably threatening to kill him—and explode in anger.

However, Tae-ui’s disappointment was short-lived. Ilay’s face showed sharp anger mixed with openly displayed desire. He seemed angrier about the forced situation than the act itself.

Tae-ui smiled at that face. Yes, get angrier. That way, leaving will be more satisfying. He deserved a proper farewell gift.

The man’s member, revealed from beneath his underwear, grew harder and thicker. Seeing that immense thing again made Tae-ui’s heart ache. His body shrank instinctively but the memory of pleasure sharply returned. The intense sensation that once made his vision go white revived chillingly.

Was I the only one who enjoyed it? Was it just so-so for you? — That couldn’t be. Yes. So today, die properly once.

Tae-ui clenched his aching chest tightly. He came to a decision. Should he just assault this bastard? Though he doubted his own member would be firm enough to stay inside that body, he briefly considered jamming anything he could find in to make him feel that pain too. But he pushed those thoughts away. That would only make him suffer watching that grotesque form. Torturing others while torturing himself was no good plan.

Tae-ui knew well when a man suffered.

“Ilay… wait for it. I’ll make it—absolutely—unforgettable.”

He cupped Ilay’s face with both hands, whispered into his ear, then bit his cheek hard enough to make the pale face frown.

“Tae-ui. What are you planning?”

Despite his body clearly heating up, Ilay whispered calmly, his cold eyes quietly examining Tae-ui’s expression. Tae-ui smirked. Acting wild suddenly felt strange.

“Why? You think after I’m done I’m really going to strangle your neck?”

“If I died on your stomach, I wouldn’t mind that much…”

Though laughter lingered in those whispered words, Tae-ui happily stroked from Ilay’s nape down to chest and belly. With his other hand, he undid his own shirt buttons, then the buckle and zipper of his pants, slowly pulling them off with his underwear.

Ilay’s eyes sparkled. His body glimpsed between the shirt’s edges looked no different from others, but his gaze thoroughly inspected every corner of Tae-ui’s body. At the same time, the thick flesh beneath Tae-ui twitched and pulsed.

“Damn… If you get so hard seeing just a plain body, this is embarrassing.”

Rubbing his thigh slowly over the swelling flesh between Ilay’s buttocks, Tae-ui clicked his tongue. Lowering himself close, he lay on Ilay’s bare body. Their exposed chests and bellies pressed together. He clearly felt the erect member rising from Ilay’s groin. That burning heat stabbed Tae-ui’s lower belly, making the act feel all the more blatant.

Tae-ui loosened his collar, nearly stripping bare, pressing his body close to Ilay’s similarly naked form, rubbing skin against skin slowly. Just recalling that posture made his nape flush warmly. Tae-ui’s groin also grew hot. Ilay couldn’t possibly not notice.

Tae-ui began rubbing his faintly stiffening member against Ilay’s, moving his hips slightly. Following what Ilay had done before, he slid lips down from Ilay’s nape across collarbone to chest. Then suddenly realized something was off. Despite pressing their chests together, Ilay showed no reaction, but Tae-ui’s own chest prickled sharply.

“When the body gets more sensitive, even just touching the nipples makes the lower parts ache.”

He recalled Ilay whispering this with a laugh not long ago. Though he doubted it was that extreme, the bumps on his chest had reddened from the contact. A faintly troubled expression crossed Tae-ui’s face briefly. Sitting up on Ilay’s body, he clicked his tongue and stroked his own chest with his fingertips. Maybe it was his imagination, but the touch made it stand even stiffer. He shivered slightly, yet confirmed the strange sensation with his fingertips.

Then suddenly, Tae-ui froze, sensing Ilay’s gaze fixed quietly on him. If he were to describe that gaze in color, it would be pitch black—so red it appeared black.

Starting from Tae-ui’s flushed face, down to his neck, chest where his hand rested, belly, and finally the firmly blood-filled groin, Ilay’s half-open eyes slowly scanned him all over. Then his gaze traced back up to Tae-ui’s face.