Chapter 86 - The Tiger's Den
Knock, knock, knock—
I took a deep breath and knocked on the door of the Maid Breakroom.
'Every time I come here... I get so damn nervous...'
Ever since the maids gang-raped me, my heart starts pounding every time I pass this place—the memories come flooding back.
Back then, Hayoung was... she was terrifying...
"Who is it?"
A familiar voice drifted from behind the door.
Seo Jiyu's voice.
"It's... it's Kang Minseo..."
Clack—!!
The moment I said my name, the door swung open and there was Jiyu, smiling.
I flinched for a second, then forced a smile. "I came to help clean the warehouse."
"Just a moment—!"
Jiyu hurried over to a cabinet, grabbing something.
"What's her deal... Seo Jiyu..."
The other maids inside kept glancing between Jiyu and me, their eyes full of jealousy.
"Haha... hi..."
I met their eyes and laughed awkwardly, trying to avoid their intense stares.
Why are they looking at me like that... it's so uncomfortable...
I'm just here to clean a warehouse...
After a few minutes, Jiyu came out.
"Let's go, Minseo-ssi."
"Yeah..."
"How'd you... find the time..?"
"Ah... the Executives are all out on business.."
"Honestly, I didn't think you'd have the time, Minseo-ssi... I'm glad."
Jiyu smiled, satisfied.
It looked like a normal, bright smile... but I felt a weird unease. Why?
Something was bugging me... but I pushed it aside.
This meeting was way too important to me right now...
The warehouse was farther in the corner than I expected.
At the very end of the left corridor on the third floor...
If someone hid here, no one would ever find them...
"Alright, we're here—"
Jiyu pulled out the key and tried to open the door.
But the door was old—it made a creak, creak sound and didn't budge easily.
After she forced it and twisted the key a few times, the door slowly started to open.
If she asked me for help... is it that messy in there?
I peered inside, expecting a filthy warehouse piled with dust.
And the inside of the warehouse was...
...
.....
.......Huh?
It was way bigger than I thought, spotless, and actually pretty nice.
Sure, there were boxes scattered around.
"Cleaner than you expected, right? Even if it looks like this, we maintain it every week."
The maids do way more work than people see in places nobody notices...
I stepped inside, impressed.
The warehouse was full of all kinds of stuff.
A plush leather sofa... desks that looked unused, plates, chairs... everything you could think of.
"The sofa's wide, right? It used to be in Hayoung-nim's office... but she said it was too big and replaced it, so it ended up here."
Jiyu knew more than I expected.
"You know a lot. How long have you worked here?"
I could've let it slide as a trivial detail... but my opponent wasn't just any maid.
Since she's a spy from god knows where... she must've been tracking even the smallest things about Hayoung.
"About three years..? The pay's good here... so I joined."
Jiyu lied without missing a beat as she walked deeper into the warehouse.
Phew... how am I supposed to get her to admit she's a spy...
My thoughts tangled, and I just followed behind her for now.
No need to rush yet.
I've got plenty of time. Doesn't have to be today.
I told myself to stay calm, afraid that rushing would ruin everything.
"Okay, Minseo-ssi... stack the stuff here... neatly in that corner. Together with me."
Jiyu pointed at the boxes in front of us.
Each box wasn't that big... but there were a lot of them.
"Yeah, let's get started then!"
Since I wanted to get closer to Jiyu while cleaning, I rolled up my sleeves and put on an energetic voice.
And so, our warehouse cleaning began.
While moving boxes, I asked her all sorts of things.
Her age... hobbies... places she wanted to travel... what she wanted to do after saving up money—I asked both trivial and serious questions, slowly getting to know her.
It was a small win, but... the problem was that any question even slightly about her personal life... she'd either brush off without hesitation or give a vague answer.
From those kinds of questions... I couldn't pick up a single hint about her being a spy.
Well... I should've expected it.
"Minseo-ssi... isn't life as a slave hard..?"
While we were talking, Jiyu asked me.
I turned and looked at her.
Her smile from a moment ago had faded... just a little... turning serious.
What was the intention behind that question?
Just pity..?
Or concern..?
If she were a normal maid... it would've sounded like simple worry..
But knowing she's a spy... it didn't sound like simple worry to me.
It felt like she was asking with a clear, different goal.
My mind raced.
Thinking about what to say... I quickly reached a decision.
"Jiyu-ssi... the truth is... I... it's so hard... I want to escape from here."
I said it seriously, staring straight into her eyes. My voice trembled a little.
If Seo Jiyu is a spy from another faction... and if she's an Executive or holds a high rank... she should be able to get me out.
It was a trap I set to force her to confess she's a spy.
When she heard my words, Jiyu's eyes... just a little... wavered, showing signs of agitation.
A few seconds of silence passed...
Jiyu opened her mouth.
"Minseo-ssi....."
"Yes..."
"It's been really hard, hasn't it..?"
She set down the box she was holding and suddenly—hugged me tight, starting to comfort me.
As she patted my back—pulling me into her embrace—Jiyu's body was... warm and soft.
!!!
My eyes widened at her unexpected move, and I got a little flustered.
I'd purposefully exaggerated, but... for a moment, I actually felt comforted.
"...Thank you, Jiyu-ssi.."
I stayed in her arms for a few minutes.
This wasn't what I'd planned... but it didn't feel bad.
And... at the same time, my thoughts started to get tangled.
What if... Seo Jiyu is actually a good person..?
What if she was forced into being a spy...?
What if she's in a situation like mine...?
What should I do..?
Of course, no matter the reason... being a spy isn't justified.
I knew that... and Seo Jiyu must know it too.
But the more I thought about it... the more troubled I got.
Had I gotten attached to her after just a few meetings?
If the Executives catch her as a spy... what'll happen to Seo Jiyu?
My mind grew endlessly complicated, and without any information... or any progress... the warehouse cleaning ended.
"It's definitely faster with two people. Thanks, Minseo-ssi."
Jiyu tapped my back, saying I did a good job.
"I'm the one who's grateful..."
Still a mess inside, I plopped down on the sofa in the warehouse.
What... should I do.... Haa...
"Minseo-ssi... are you really tired?"
Jiyu asked with worry when she saw my pale face.
"No... it's not that..."
"For now... have some water."
She handed me a bottle she'd gotten from somewhere.
"Ah... okay.."
My mind was so clouded that I gulped it down without a second thought.
The problem was, I'd let my guard down because she'd just comforted me.
I shouldn't have taken that water....
As I sat on the sofa, resting.....
My body started to heat up, getting hot.
'What's this..? Why's it suddenly so hot..?'
At the same time, my dick started to slowly get hard.
What the hell... fuck...? Why is this happening..?
"I need to go to the bathroom..."
My face flushed, I stumbled and grabbed the door handle.
Creak—
Maybe the old door... it seemed locked and wouldn't open.
Creak— creak—
"Wh-what's... wrong with this...?"
I yanked the handle with all my strength, but the door didn't budge.
"Minseo-ssi... the door's old... looks like it's broken..? I didn't even bring my phone...."
Jiyu said with a worried expression.
"Ugh...."
And... in an instant, my body heated up uncontrollably, driving me insane.
Thud—
My knees gave out, and I slumped to the floor.
It felt like I'd taken a drug way stronger than the aphrodisiac Chae-ryeong had given me before.
"Haa... haa...."
The suddenly locked door... and the strange aphrodisiac...
In this warehouse... all I did was drink the water Jiyu-ssi gave me....
...
.....
.......Then.....
"Jiyu... ssi...."
"Yes..?"
Splayed on the floor, under the effect of the aphrodisiac...
I glared at her face.
She looked worried, but it felt fake somehow.
"Khh... what did you... make me drink..."
.....
Jiyu, who'd been silently watching me suffer, took one step... then another... toward me.
Then she crouched down and met my eyes.
"Minseo-ssi."
The worry was gone. She looked at me with a bright smile...
My body started to shiver, chills running down my spine.
What... what is this... fuck....
"Shall I help you?"
Finally showing her real face, Seo Jiyu slowly reached her hand out toward me.