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Jo Chan-young snorted at Seo Dawon’s words–
[What, did you train him or something? Some animal-handling skills don’t prove that what you did wasn’t abuse.]
[Don’t you think you’ll be able to see for yourself afterwards?]
[……]
However, Seo Dawon’s relaxed attitude seemed to agitate Jo Chan-young somewhat. He looked down at me with a stern look on his face.
At that moment, I felt a little depressed as I realized I would need to put on a simulacrum of a circus act. ‘But, if I don’t do this, I don’t think Jo Chan-young will give up….’
I tried to think positively, but I found it positively humiliating to act like a hamster(?) for Bang Eunji, who was probably still observing from some unknown location. What would she think of me after this?!
Meanwhile, though the Summoner seemed to be suspicious until the very end, he eventually acquiesced to the Mage’s confidence. His tone laden with doubt, he threatened–
[…If you use a weird skill, I’m going to leave immediately with Cutie.]
[Do as you please.]
Seo Dawon smiled cheekily, as if he had expected that response.
Though Jo Chan-young was hostile towards the Mage due to the Mage’s suspected abuse, it was clear the man still had some trust– that he still couldn’t entirely believe the Mage would do something so heinous. He soon relaxed his grip and gently bent down to place me on the floor.
‘How on earth did Seo Dawon recruit someone who’s only warm and affectionate towards animals?’
After noticing their unexpectedly close relationship, I glanced up at Jo Chan-young, but, at the following call, I looked back to the owner of that voice.
[Lee-kyung-ah.]
Even though he merely called my name, I could sense a hint of annoyance within those words.
My shoulders flinched, and I quickly ran towards the Mage. Immediately, Jo Chan-young muttered a quick ‘Hmph!’ behind me.
Not long after the Mage called me, I reached his feet; Seo Dawon pretended as if he hadn’t urged me to his side. I grabbed onto the ends of his shoes and cranked my neck back far enough to look up at the Mage; he looked down at me with a strange, mysterious smile.
I became incredibly anxious at that expression, but, with no other choice, I hovered at his feet and shouted, stretching my arms up, “A-Aren’t you going to pick me up?”
However, for some reason, Seo Dawon’s horrible smile became more intense.
Seo Dawon crouched down as if he were about to pick me up, but instead of holding me in his grasp, he grabbed me by the maid skirt with two fingers and created some distance between us by dragging me away.
I looked up at him, bewildered, at the unexpected push; my body froze where he left me. After thoroughly disheartening me, Seo Dawon calmly ordered–
[Lee-kyung-ah, if you want to go with me, then lie flat on the ground.]
“…What?”
[If you want to go with me, show me your belly.]
My mouth opened wide from shock, but Seo Dawon merely smiled in a leisurely manner. He had no qualms about treating me like some puppy.
“You… Are you… insane? Hey!”
[If you don’t want to, then go to Chan-young-ie.]
“……” Seo Dawon responded, despicably, at my shaking protests. Furthermore, Jo Chan-young’s sarcastic remarks from behind me didn’t help my situation at all.
[Do you think a hamster is a dog?]
[Lee-kyung-ie understands everything that’s being said.]
[He looks like he understands nothing, though?]
[Really? Then, I guess I thought wrong.]
[What on…]
Though I wasn’t familiar with Jo Chan-young, Seo Dawon’s last words were like a subtle threat to me. It was only then did I realize that he wouldn’t easily let go of his anger.
“S-Seo Dawon… Y-You’re being too much… I said I’d…explain everything!” I tried my hardest to plead with him, but all I received in return was the Mage’s frustrating smile and elegant disregard.
[If Lee-kyung-ie doesn’t flop over onto the ground in 5 seconds, you can take him and raise him well.]
[…Let’s do that.]
[5, 4-]
He even started a countdown. I quickly sat down on the floor and laid prone on the ground. “…I-I’m doing it! I did, alright?!”
With my body stuck to the floor, I looked at Seo Dawon. He smirked quite obviously, perhaps enjoying this humiliation.
No–I was certain about his enjoyment. The Mage followed with more unreasonable orders, as if he were a drill sergeant during my time in the army.
[Lee-kyung-ie, roll to the left.]
[Now, to the right.]
[Hug my fingers tightly.]
“……”
Even though my eyes were tearing up, I did as he asked. Lastly, the Mage made a circle with his thumb and index finger, and I stuck my head through… He made me do every trick a dog was known to do.
And, after watching all that, Jo Chan-young said to his guildmaster, genuinely amazed–
[…He’s truly a genius hamster…]
[I didn’t train him. Lee-kyung-ie understands everything I say. He wants to stay with me, after all.]
[That’s…]
[Chan-young-ie also knows that hamsters can’t be trained like this.]
[……]
In the end, Jo Chan-young couldn’t refute those words and stared blatantly at me. And his eyes were…how should I put it…more passionate than his previous stares? However, he retreated a few steps as he judged that I was following the Mage out of my own will.
[…Then, did Cutie want to wear all those clothes?]
[He prefers to wear clothes.]
[…How strange. However, I…I suppose I have to trust my eyes even if I can’t fully believe them.]
[Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him well.]
When Jo Chan-young stepped back, accepting those words, I was finally placed atop Seo Dawon’s palm.
I buried my face into his hand, laying face down and hoping that this shame and humiliation would soon pass. However, my small tears would not stop no matter how hard I tried. I blamed Seo Dawon inwardly, wiping at my eyes with both arms.
‘Seriously… So mean.’
Was this fun for him? I wanted to curse and shout that out loud. However, I was simply sad about this entire situation.
In that way, my brief escape ended in humiliation. After saying his farewells to Jo Chan-young, Seo Dawon left the room without another word to me.
After I was held tightly in his hand, I smelled the familiar scent of his private study.
Click–
“Ah…” When I heard the soft close of the door, I looked through the gaps of his fingers and looked at his office. Then, seeing the pandemonium–the messy state of his room–I gasped unwittingly.
As if he had guessed the origins of my surprise, the Mage asked in a derisive tone–
[How was your recent outing, Lee-kyung-ah?]
“A-Argh…!!”
He’s humiliated me so much, but his anger has yet to subside?!
However, I had a lot to complain about as well. I immediately bit his finger to vent my anger, but Seo Dawon lightly pressed my cheeks together with his thumb and index finger. Then, looking at my trembling, he continued to speak–
[I ordered a new house that you’re going to live in from now on.]
As I listened to the Mage, I instinctively searched for the two-story dollhouse I had stayed in, but it was nowhere to be found.
Then, as I lowered my gaze further to the ground, I saw a familiar wall lying half-broken on the floor. The house I had stayed in had been badly damaged, as if someone had thrown it into the wall and smashed it.
I couldn’t tear my gaze away–it was so disturbing and somewhat heartbreaking. After checking what I was gazing at, the Mage smirked.
[I had thought you were frustrated with the place–maybe it was too small.]
“……”
[There’s no owner like me, right, Lee-kyung-ah?]
He was clearly intimidating me. Though I was frightened by the underlying implications, I finally protested through my trembles. “You’re not my owner.”
Seo Dawon smirked at my glares and pulled at my cheeks–
[No? Then you should have followed Jo Chan-young. What are you saying now after following all my directions?]
“Jo Chan-young thinks I’m a hamster!”
[It’s not so different with me as well. You don’t feel particularly like a human.]
“What….?” I looked up at him, shocked. The gleam in Seo Dawon’s eyes was darker than I had expected.
Seo Dawon stared at me and pulled at the maid suit he had personally placed on my body; with one tug from his fingers, the dress tore easily. All this felt…somehow creepy. I reflexively covered up my exposed shoulders, but Seo Dawon pressed my hands with the tips of his nails, restricting my movements.
He looked down at me with an incomprehensible expression and asked in a quietly reproachful tone–
[Why did you lie to me?]
“……”
[I was going crazy–I thought I’d find you dead.]