I Became a Monster in a T*ash Game

“Don’t fool around—find somewhere to sleep.”
Checking the time, Muhae nodded toward the bedroom. The person he’d been looking for was gone, but somehow he could salvage the researcher’s data.
It wasn’t exactly what he’d hoped for, but he’d take whatever he could and head back to Goryeo City. If he rode the bike at first light, he could meet Director Gil within two days at most.
Duduk. His neck cracked as he stretched it. After a day on rough roads, his body felt stiff. He flipped on the light in the bathroom and a spacious room came into view.
There were four shower stalls, each with a bathtub. Aside from their age, everything was impeccably clean. He tested the water on a whim— it flowed strong and clear.
“Hmm. No weird smell in the water.”
Somehow, Joo-o had slipped in beside him and gave it a passing grade. He was smacking his lips, like he’d snacked on something.
“What did you eat?”
“Meat skewers.”
“…”
How many had he bought? Why bring something so smelly into a dangerous place? Would he snack constantly like last time?
Muhae held back the questions, having learned it was more exhausting to interfere if it didn’t hinder his work.
“Have you found a spot to sleep?”
“Yeah. There’s a bed and a private toilet.”
“How many rooms are there like that?”
“I’m sleeping with Jin Muhae.”
Joo-o quickly declared his preference. Muhae hadn’t expected them to sleep apart. Lately his dreams had been restless, so he figured he’d let him sleep whichever way he wanted.
“Go wash up now.”
Once he’d scrubbed off the dust and grime, he’d dig into the researcher’s data. He wouldn’t rip out the entire computing unit—too conspicuous—but he’d dismantle the exterior to grab the storage drives.
Planning this, he turned—and found Joo-o staring at him blankly.
“I told you to get out.”
“I want to wash too.”
“You want to go first?”
“No. But there’s more tubs.”
He pointed at the adjacent shower stall. Muhae shot him a reluctant glance at the tub, then sighed and flung his jacket to the floor.
A signal to do as he pleased. Joo-o shot off to the other stall in a flash.
Swaaah—
Cheombunge, cheombunge.
As expected, Joo-o filled the tub first. He clearly had no intention of actually washing.
Muhae ignored the sounds and drenched his hair. Warm water poured over him, and his stiff shoulders loosened.
“Even the soap dispenser’s been reused.”

Hundreds of kilometers from any city, he hadn’t expected much, but the almost-odorless pale cleanser foamed richly. It must’ve been a bulk-purchased product someone refilled.
Come to think of it, from the dried drink in the cup to the plenty of energy to power the whole shelter, this occupant wasn’t a wild hermit surviving alone—just a loner hiding from prying eyes to continue their research.
Had someone supported this life? If that “Seopung” from the chat logs had been behind it, then Whirlwind’s legacy might’ve quietly persisted somewhere unknown to Muhae, Teacher Jeong, or Director Gil.
“Hey, Jin Muhae.”
When he’d nearly finished rinsing his hair and body, Joo-o’s voice cut through the cascade.
“What?”
“There’s nothing to wash with here.”
Crap. Only now did he realize this shelter catered to a single person. Someone who’d lived alone for years wouldn’t stock bathing products in every stall.
“Wait here. I’ll fetch some.”
Muhae slid open the door and opened the cabinet in the wall. He pulled out a neatly folded towel, shook off its lint, and turned—only to meet red eyes instead of a shower stall.
“…What are you looking at?”
“Jin Muhae.”
“Why are you staring at my body?”
“I already saw it at home.”
Not wrong, but absurd. Muhae let the towel drop from his hand, wrapped it around his waist, and approached.
“Here.”
“Mm.”
Joo-o, indulging in his half-bath, took the nearly empty cleanser. The hot water had flushed him pink from head to toe.
His body, reflected in the clear water, was pristine—Muhae couldn’t help but bite his lip at the firm ridge above his flat chest.
“Don’t you hate water?”
“No.”
“Then why never use the tub?”
“I’d rather wash quick and rest. Why hang out in there?”
Joo-o laughed, as if hearing a joke. He splashed water, then dumped the cleanser into the tub.
“This is resting too. You’re dumb, Jin Muhae.”
Oblivious to the foam on his cheek, he’d called Muhae dumb.
When Muhae reached out to rinse him, the simpleton mistook it for a caress and rubbed his hair.
“Mm… I ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) like it.”
His face was soapy-smooth. Muhae stroked his silky skin, pinched his soft earlobe lightly.
“Mm.”
A playful glint crept into Joo-o’s eyes. When Muhae brushed wet lashes with his thumb, he felt something stirring below.
Muhae drew back, jaw set. Joo-o’s face followed, lips moist with anticipation.
“Touch me more.”
“Finish washing and come out.”
“You hit me earlier. Huh?”
That whine was downright seductive. He spoke nonsense all the time, but Joo-o had a voice better than any TV star.
Perhaps for that reason, no one ever scolded him, even when he spoke abruptly. When Joo-o greeted strangers with “Hi,” they’d frown, then nod.
“Can’t you rest here too?”
“Why would I?”
“Because it’s fun in the tub.”
He shrugged, as if asking the obvious. Irritated, Muhae splashed him with water.
Again Joo-o laughed, wiped away the foam, then wiggled free to make room.
“Hold me here.”
He had no idea what he was saying, his face innocent. Half-bathing was fun; being held was fun—he’d just combined the two.
Muhae’s throat went dry. Dammit. He hadn’t expected to want to fuck in a random shelter. But trials kept coming.
Joo-o thumped the tub’s edge, urging him in. Muhae glanced outside the empty bathroom before relenting and stepping into the hot water.
“Damn.”
The tub was cramped for two. Muhae sat against the back and Joo-o slid against his front.
Muhae savored the friction between their thighs and wrapped his arms around Joo-o’s waist. Haah, the contact made both their skins tremble.
…There was a problem. He’d never masturbated on the job, no matter how long an assignment ran.
But with Joo-o, forbidden urges arose at every moment. Sitting straddle in the tub was unlike him.
Still, what was done was done, and no one—no beasts or anomalies—could interrupt here.
Muhae bit his lip and kneaded Joo-o’s waist. The steam may have stoked his senses; the soft, firm flesh sent his head spinning.
“I like this, don’t you?”
“…Yeah.”
Though the cleanser was unscented, the shower stall smelled sweet. Muhae slid a hand to explore Joo-o’s lower belly; he whimpered and shifted his hips.
Holding him steady, Muhae stroked his thigh slowly.
“Huaah.”
Joo-o trembled like a leaf.
To strip him and touch him as he pleased—Muhae’s conscience would’ve balked under any other pretext, but this was “rest.”
There was so much to enjoy: the slippery ride along his back, the eager red mouth awaiting his touch.
Muhae played with Joo-o’s ass, then slid a hand between his legs. His fingers found soft flesh below the plump center, grazing a tender perineum.
“Ah, mm.”
Joo-o jumped and something pulsed against Muhae’s wrist.
“Jin Muhae, I like it…”
His drawled words and the throbbing in Muhae’s hand made his blood rush painfully. Memories of a few days ago flickered before him: the spread legs, the milky fluid on smooth thighs…
“Hii.”
Applying circular pressure, Joo-o gave a hiccup-like sound.
His hips twitched and Muhae’s fingers slipped. The small opening contracted at the sudden touch.