Taeui tapped his lips lightly a couple of times before asking again with a vaguely puzzled expression.

“Gilsangcheon, as in that Gilsangcheon I know? Lakshmi?”

“Ah, yes. In Indian mythology, they call her Lakshmi—Vishnu*’s wife” – Ilay replied, nodding lightly as if in thought. Taeui tilted his head again.

He had a faint idea of the Gilsangcheon mentioned in mythology—a goddess who brought fortune, or something along those lines. However, while he was familiar with the name, it wasn’t something he often encountered, and he couldn’t fathom why such an unfamiliar word would have any connection to him.

“What’s that supposed to mean? That I’m your Gilsangcheon? Are you saying I bring you luck or something?”

Taeui chuckled softly and muttered: “So, all that immense luck is thanks to me? Sounds good to hear.” He added with a shrug. Ilay didn’t reply—he only offered a faint smile.

Seeing that smile, Taeui’s grin gradually faded. It might have been a joke, but it was a flattering one. Yet, the way Ilay said it made it sound almost genuine. No—if it was genuine, then that vague smile of his gave off an unsettling feeling, like he’d just heard something ominous.

“So, what are you saying? That luck follows you if you stick near me, so you’re planning to hover around me?” – Taeui said incredulously.

Ilay raised an eyebrow slightly before shaking his head.

“If you’re asking me, I don’t covet luck. Whether it’s physical strength, wealth, or anything else, I have enough power to obtain whatever I desire. What I seek isn’t luck. If I had to specify, I’d say I’m more interested in people who can fully unleash their talents through luck.”

“……Like Jaeui-hyung?”

Ilay didn’t respond to Taeui’s comment. He merely gave an ambiguous smile, one that offered no hint of affirmation or denial.

Taeui stared at Ilay in silence for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. ‘First, he was talking like a fatalist, and now he’s diving into mythology?’ – He thought. ‘Maybe this man, who seems so grounded and calculating, secretly believes in superstitions.’ Though, to be fair, that superstitious joke had been absurdly amusing in its own way.

‘Well, he’s always been the type to obsessively read niche books. Come to think of it, I even mistook him for an antique book dealer at first.’ – Taeui recalled.

Taeui chuckled to himself, wondering where this peculiar fatalist had picked up such strange notions to spout.

“Gilsangcheon, my foot. My luck’s been so rotten lately it couldn’t be worse. Gilsangcheon? What a joke.”

And it wasn’t an exaggeration, Taeui’s fortunes recently had been bleak to a degree rarely seen. His colleagues had distanced themselves, his friends had drifted away, the root cause of all his troubles was his family, the only person nearby was a killer, and the one who could be called a lover – or something close – was constantly looking for an opportunity to devour him. Not a single thing in his life offered peace of mind.

The more he thought about it, the gloomier he felt. This man, too. He was one of the sources of his gloom. Lying there so casually in Taeui’s room, pretending to be normal, helping himself to beer—in reality, this man was a dangerous person who might at any moment wrap his hands around Taeui’s neck.

Suddenly, Taeui began blaming himself. His streak of misfortune, he realized, was ultimately his own doing. It had all started when he let himself be talked into coming to this island by his uncle. And then, there was the fact that he had allowed this terrifying man free rein in his room—proof that Taeui had been inviting danger upon himself. Just because they had spent some time together in Eoryeong without any major incidents, he had let his guard down. That kind of carelessness, he now recognized, was reckless and dangerous.

“If you don’t have anything urgent to say, you should just leave. I need to shower and get to bed early today.” – Taeui said bluntly, waving his hand dismissively.

Ilay didn’t seem to have any particular purpose for being there, then he responded with a simple: “Alright”, and got up to leave. It seemed, at least for today, Taeui had managed to survive another day unscathed.

After sending the man off, Taeui thought to himself that he should pull out his calendar and mark it—just to see how many days were left until it had been half a year. It seemed there were roughly 100 days left.

As Ilay walked toward the door, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Taeui, halting in his tracks.

“?”

Taeui was puzzled by Ilay’s sudden pause, and looked at him curiously. Then, without warning, Ilay tilted his head slightly before grabbing Taeui by the collar and yanking him forward.

Caught off guard, Taeui was pulled right into him with a single tug.

It surprised him a little. While Taeui wasn’t exactly heavy, he certainly wasn’t so light that someone could pull him like that with ease. Once again, the monstrous strength of this man was unmistakably proven.

With one hand gripping Taeui’s collar and pulling him closer, Ilay placed his other hand firmly around his waist and brought his face right up to the nape of Taeui’s neck. The motion was predatory, like a beast examining its prey, and Taeui froze on the spot. He had the distinct feeling that any slight movement might result in Ilay sinking his teeth straight into his neck.

“Why are you doing this?”

Taeui asked, his lips barely moving as he stayed perfectly still. Ilay, without answering, brushed his lips softly along the line from just below Taeui’s ear to the nape of his neck, close enough to graze but never quite touching. The teasing sensation sent a chilling shiver down Taeui’s spine.

“Cigarettes.”

Ilay finally murmured after burying his nose against Taeui’s neck for a moment. At those words, Taeui stiffened and clamped his mouth shut, unsure how to respond.

Oh my, he had forgotten. The cigarette smell must have clung to his clothes and refused to fade.

Taeui, who had previously helped himself to a cigarette from Ilay’s bag without asking, shifted his gaze wordlessly. Getting caught wouldn’t end well.

If it were someone else, a bit of scuffling and laughter might have resolved the situation, but with this man, there was no telling what might happen.

“Uhㅡ I bummed one off someone I know earlier. Guess the smell stuck to me.” – Taeui muttered nonchalantly, feigning ignorance.

Ilay tilted his head back by about half an inch, his dark eyes narrowing into an amused curve as they bore into Taeui.

“Oh, really? I didn’t realize there were still colleagues in this branch close enough to lend you a cigarette. Well then, let’s see, shall we—……?”

The hand that seemed about to release Taeui’s collar instead gripped his shoulder firmly. Ilay’s grasp was strong—unyielding enough that breaking free wouldn’t be easy. His other hand moved to Taeui’s neck, resting lightly on the thin layer of skin, just enough for him to feel the warmth. But then, the pressure increased, slowly bearing down.

A memory flashed through Taeui’s mind—an image from a video he’d once seen: a man’s large hand gripping another’s neck, leaving vivid red marks behind.

Taeui’s expression stiffened. Even though Ilay must have noticed his frozen face, he didn’t let go. His palm, pressed against Taeui’s neck, slowly slid down to his collarbone. From there, the hand moved further down to his chest. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, the warmth of Ilay’s large hand was unmistakable. The hand lingered around his chest for a moment, as if savoring the sensation, before gradually descending with a trace of reluctance.

“Not in the chest pocket, then—” – Ilay murmured softly.

Ilay murmured softly, his voice low and almost teasing. The hand that had slid down to Taeui’s abdomen began to move subtly, slipping between the folds of his shirt. His index finger eased through the gap between the buttons, while the other fingers grazed lightly over the fabric, teasing the skin beneath as though savoring its texture. The gentle, deliberate movement sent a tingling sensation across Taeui’s skin, as if each touch was calculated to test and explore.

“Hey, Ilay. What are you—”

“Shhh. I’m trying to find where my missing cigarettes went.” 

Ilay said with a soft laugh right by Taeui’s ear. His index finger toyed with the shallow dip of Taeui’s navel. As the ticklish sensation made Taeui flinch and his body instinctively recoil, Ilay seemed amused by the way Taeui’s abdominal muscles shifted, prodding more insistently with his finger.

“Wait, wait! I’ll tell you—your cigarettes—”

“It’s no fun if you interrupt.” – Ilay cut him off.

The hand gripping Taeui’s shoulder let go, but only to move and clamp over his mouth. Taeui reflexively tried to pull the hand away, but Ilay’s other hand tightened its grip on his jaw, the pressure unmistakable. It was a silent threat—as if to warn that one wrong move and he’d crush his jaw without hesitation.

Taeui frowned and glared at Ilay. When their eyes met, Ilay gave him a sly smile.

“Come to think of it, I’ve been quite busy lately. One of the Instructors died, leaving a vacancy. I wasn’t particularly interested, but my brother kept pushing me to take the position. I wasn’t keen at first, but after giving it some thought, I figured staying here wouldn’t be so bad. So, I decided to come. But once that decision was made, there was a mountain of things to deal with. I’ve been so busy…… I haven’t even had time for little games with my own hands.”

He chuckled softly by Taeui’s ear, his breath brushing against the nape of Taeui’s neck, tickling him and making him instinctively shrink his shoulders.

‘Damn it. Go play your stupid little games by yourself and leave me out of it.’

Taeui screamed internally, muffled by the hand over his mouth. But it seemed Ilay either didn’t hear him or was deliberately ignoring him. Knowing Ilay, it was more likely the latter.

Meanwhile, Ilay’s hand, which had been roaming over Taeui’s stomach, slid further down. Over the fabric of Taeui’s pants, his hand moved to slowly rub against his groin. Ignoring the sharp glare and the clear agitation in Taeui’s wide-open eyes, Ilay pressed insistently against the front.

“You wouldn’t have hidden the cigarettes here……Ah, but it’s getting harder. Maybe they are here.”

‘They’re not there, damn it! You idiot, there’s no way they’re there! It’s in the pocket! The right pants pocket! Just check the damn pocket!’

Taeui screamed internally, once again rendered helpless as his muffled protests were swallowed by the hand clamped over his mouth. But then, all at once, his breath hitched. Ilay’s hand, which had been deliberately rubbing his groin, tightened around the hardening shape beneath the fabric and gave it a slow, deliberate squeeze. Taeui’s shoulders flinched instinctively, and Ilay responded with a low, amused chuckle that rumbled from deep within his throat.

“This is so entertaining, really…… You’re not my type at all, and honestly, I doubt you’d feel particularly good in my arms. But your reaction, those are just priceless.”

Taeui’s anger flared. A man who toys with people like this for fun? If he could snap this bastard’s wrist right now, it would be a dream come true.

But the hand gripping and shaking him over his pants had just enough pressure to be uncomfortable without causing pain, making it impossible for Taeui to act even as he held onto Ilay’s wrist. And, cursed by his body’s unfortunate tendencies, the situation below continued to escalate as his arousal betrayed him.

“Don’t be mad. I’m in a similar state myself……We’ve done this before, haven’t we? Wasn’t it fun in its own way to deal with things like this? Besides, if I want to satisfy myself right now, there’s no one else in this branch who’d willingly follow me. I’d have to grab someone suitable for my taste, tie them up, and do it. That wouldn’t exactly reflect well on me as someone standing in for the Instructor, would it?”

He said it with a teasing nonchalance, as though his logic made perfect sense.

Even if he wasn’t standing in for the Instructor, even from the perspective of an outsider, such behavior was far from acceptable. Wasn’t what he said essentially no different from declaring he’d grab someone at random and assault them?

Taeui, though seething with anger, found his lower body reacting involuntarily, causing him to bend slightly forward. His forehead naturally rested against Ilay’s shoulder as a result. The hand covering his mouth slowly fell away.

“Do you always mess around like this when you’re bored……?” 

Taeui growled, his flushed face still managing to convey a fierce glare.

“Don’t look at me like that, you’re scaring me🥺” – Ilay said with a chuckle, shrugging his shoulders instead of answering directly.

“This kind of innocent play? It’s rare for me. Usually, I skip straight to the main event. ……Huh. Looks like just a little more of this, and you might finish.”

Ilay chuckled as if he somehow sensed the subtle twitch from inside Taeui’s pants. With a smirk, he removed his hand from Taeui’s groin. That damn bastard always managed to get him worked up and then pulled away at the most crucial moment.

Furious, Taeui shoved Ilay off with a sharp motion. As Ilay stumbled back with a casual: “Oh”, Taeui grabbed the pack of cigarettes from his pocket and hurled it at him. Ilay easily caught it mid-air and shook the pack lightly, murmuring as if chiding a child.

“Not enough, though. You shouldn’t go around taking other people’s things so carelessly, hmm?”

“And what about you, huh? What do you call messing with someone else’s body like it’s a toy, huh?”

Taeui snapped, yelling angrily as sweat beaded on his flushed face. His frustration was evident, both in his trembling voice and the heat radiating from his skin.

Ilay stood straight in front of him and slowly began unbuttoning his shirt. Starting from the buttons at the front and then moving to the cuffs, he undid them with deliberate, unhurried movements. As the collar of his shirt parted, a glimpse of his smooth white skin, like a finely crafted sculpture, came into view. Once he shrugged off the shirt, he wasted no time in moving to his belt. The metallic clink of the buckle being undone was soon followed by the sharp *Zziik* of the zipper being pulled down, a sound that felt unbearably suggestive. Just hearing it was enough to make the heat rush to Taeui’s ears, setting them ablaze.

Taeui stood there, dumbfounded, and watched Ilay calmly strip in front of him. It felt absurd even to ask why he was taking his clothes off. The man’s actions made it perfectly clear—he was saying outright: Let’s enjoy this.

“While I was back in Europe, I had a dream about you. Want to know what kind of dream it was? It was about that time…… back in Eoryeong.” – Ilay said, his tone casual.

At the mention of ‘Eoryeong’, an image flashed in Taeui’s mind. That dim, underground space where, for a fleeting moment, they had shared an intense release of desire. He could still hear Ilay’s voice from back then, urging him to let loose and enjoy it.

“I graduated from such childish games well before middle school. Messing around without actually going all the way? That cuts the fun by more than half, don’t you think? But still, that time was surprisingly enjoyable. It left a good memory. Kind of like playing hopscotch with an old childhood friend after years apart.”

Taeui couldn’t tear his gaze away from Ilay’s gradually revealed body, yet he let out a sigh, utterly exasperated by his words.

“Before middle school, huh…… No, wait, forget that. I’ve never played games like this instead of hopscotch with a friend.”

“Haha, it’s just a figure of speech. Still, it’s kind of playful fun, isn’t it?”

It seemed that he and this man operated on entirely different wavelengths. What part of this blatantly exuded lewd and decadent atmosphere could possibly be considered playful or innocent?

Jeong Taeui covered his nose and mouth with his hand, as if to block out the stifling air around him. Somehow, his body kept heating up—perhaps it was the overpowering atmosphere emanating from this man. Or perhaps, without realizing it, he had already succumbed to this intoxicating vibe. Maybe he was being pulled in by it without even knowing.

Ilay was now completely naked. Even seeing it again, his body was breathtakingly impressive, to the point of making Taeui’s face go pale. He tried not to let his gaze wander toward Ilay’s groin, but the sheer size of what he caught glimpses of at the edge of his vision was enough to turn him even paler. If it was this large when only half-erect, it was no exaggeration to imagine it could overwhelm someone entirely at its peak.

Noticing the change in Taeui’s expression, Ilay smirked knowingly. Almost as if to taunt him, Ilay grabbed his ‘thing’, giving it a couple of deliberate shakes. The half-erect member stood right in front of Taeui, undeniable and imposing.

“Why do you look so stiff and pale? I told you, I have no intention of going all the way with someone whose body doesn’t even seem fun to hold. This is just playing, like before. You enjoyed it back then too, didn’t you? ……Look at you. Getting hard like that—what are you so worked up about? Come here……No, never mind. I’ll come to you.”

Ilay’s tone was teasing, his actions deliberate as he slowly began to close the gap between them.

Ilay walked over.

In truth, up until that moment, Taeui had been wavering. Truthfully, just like last time, the act itself wasn’t something he found unbearable. If anything, he enjoyed it far more than he wanted to admit. But the lingering unease in his mind questioned whether it was okay to let it happen again. Once could be brushed off, but repeating it? That felt like crossing a line. Once something happened twice, the third time was always easier.

Playing these so-called ‘games’ with this man—was it really something he should keep doing? It didn’t seem like it would lead anywhere good.

But before Taeui could make sense of his thoughts, Ilay was already standing directly in front of him, pushing him firmly in the chest as if reading his mind. The force sent Taeui sprawling backward onto the bed behind him.

“Don’t waste your time overthinking.” – Ilay said, leaning over with a smirk – “All that useless moralizing will just give you a headache.”

As Ilay spoke with a faint smile, he was suddenly atop Taeui. Like a signal to mark the beginning of a game, he lightly bit down on Taeui’s lips. His teeth nibbled firmly, almost to the point of pain, before his mouth opened slightly, and his tongue slipped in, intertwining with Taeui’s in an intense, unyielding kiss.

It all happened so fast. The heated breath, the probing tongue, and the exchange of saliva left Taeui momentarily breathless. By the time he regained his senses, his clothes had already been stripped off and discarded on the floor. The chill of the air made his bare skin shiver, but it was soon replaced by the warmth of Ilay’s body pressed against his own. The contrast was surprisingly pleasant.

From earlier, Ilay’s hardened ‘thing’ had been brushing against Taeui’s groin. The sight of their aroused bodies pressing and rubbing against each other briefly entered Taeui’s vision, causing his chest to throb. The visual stimulation sent heat rushing to his lower abdomen, intensifying his arousal.

As Taeui let out a rough sigh and closed his eyes, Ilay shifted to lie beside him. Gently, he turned Taeui’s body slightly, pressing his chest firmly against Taeui’s back. His arm wrapped around Taeui’s waist, pulling him close in an almost possessive embrace. Ilay’s hand slid forward, resting on Taeui’s ‘thing’ before moving lower, finally wrapping around his length with a firm but deliberate grip.

“Wait, spread your legs a little……I’m not going to put it in, I told you. I don’t want to deal with anything troublesome either……Good, that’s enough. You can put your legs back down now.”

Ilay lightly pushed Taeui’s thighs apart a little bit. Feeling an ominous chill of unease, Taeui snapped his eyes open and turned to glare at him. In response, Ilay silenced him with a kiss, brushing his lips softly over Taeui’s eyelids. As Taeui instinctively flinched and squeezed his eyes shut, Ilay slid his hard and heated ‘thing’ between Taeui’s thighs. Taeui jerked slightly, his head drooping as he glanced down. Between his thighs, Ilay’s arousal was now peeking through, the tip glistening as it brushed against the underside of Taeui’s own length, leaving damp trails with each subtle movement.

“Just like that…… yeah, stay like that.” – Ilay murmured, his voice low and husky.

Ilay began moving his hips slowly, his length sliding back and forth between Taeui’s thighs, rubbing against the sensitive skin. At the same time, the hand gripping Taeui’s ‘thing’ started moving roughly, with an almost careless force, like a child playing too aggressively with a toy. The relentless stimulation made Taeui’s chest throb sharply.

“Ah…… ugh……!” – Taeui gasped, unable to suppress the sounds escaping him.

As Ilay’s hips moved, his arousal sliding between Taeui’s thighs, the sensation grew overwhelmingly hot. Each thrust made the tip of Ilay’s penis appear and disappear, and the fluid beginning to seep from it slicked Taeui’s inner thighs. The sticky wet sound emanating from the tightly pressed area between them created an unsettling illusion. The sensation and sound mimicked the act of real intercourse so vividly that Taeui shuddered, a chill running down his spine despite the intense heat coursing through his body. The stark contrast of warmth in his core and the cold unease in his chest left him trembling, unsettled by the unfamiliarity of it all.

However, Taeui’s body undeniably reveled in the pleasure, betraying his inner turmoil. His painfully hardened length couldn’t hold back any longer, releasing fluid into Ilay’s hand.

“……Ah……!”

Perhaps he had made a sound. He wasn’t sure, but the thought alone – of hearing such an unfamiliar, mortifying voice escape his lips – made his face burn with shame. Instinctively, Taeui’s eyes widened as he slapped a hand over his mouth, desperate to silence himself. At the same time, a low groan rumbled from behind him, Ilay’s breathy voice carrying undeniable satisfaction. Warm fluid coated Taeui’s thighs and groin, leaving a sticky, soaked mess that only deepened the heat and tension in the air.

**************************

*Vishnu is a major deity in Hinduism, known as the preserver and protector of the universe. He is one of the principal deities of the religion and part of the Hindu Trimurti (trinity), which includes Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer).