How should I begin this story? After pondering for a while, I decided to break the ice.
“QQQ, what do you think about the Kraken?”
“…A bad villain. Always looking for an opportunity to target and attack Noah. When we first met, it even tried to kill him.”
QQQ’s voice deepened.
“…Now that I think about it, it was around the time we met Shin Hyun.”
“…”
“Was it your intention from the start? To befriend the magical girl, gain her trust, and then act as a villain?”
I pressed QQQ further.
“I understand you’re flustered, but please calm down.”
“…”
“To me, Noah is also someone precious—”
“Precious person!”
“…”
“Would a precious person do such things?”
It seemed like the anger QQQ had been suppressing finally burst out.
He must have endured it for quite some time now.
From the moment he found out until now.
Since discovering that I am the Kraken, even when I fed him ramen and bought him ice cream.
Perhaps the kid was anxious all along, worried that I might transform into the Kraken and attack with tentacles.
Anxiety and anger erupted like a flood.
“Noah was in anguish!”
“…”
“Because of the wounds inflicted by you, because of the pain you caused! Even though he was scared and cried, he still resolved to fight against you—”
“Enough. Don’t raise your voice.”
I lowered my tone and looked at QQQ.
“Still, QQQ—”
“…”
“You’re rather brave, aren’t you?”
“…”
“If I were to exert just a little force, you could be caught and die. Are you really okay with getting so angry?”
“…If you want to kill me, then kill me. But remember, mascots and magical girls are connected.”
“Hmm?”
“In case that happens, my final memory will be passed on to the magical girl, revealing who killed me.”
QQQ continued with an unusually sharp tone.
“…Noah would surely be pleased, wouldn’t he? If he learns that someone he trusted killed his friend.”
The kid’s words revealed something important.
At the very least, he knows enough to use this fact to threaten me.
That I genuinely care about Noah.
Perhaps that’s why it’s even more confusing.
Caring about someone and yet acting as a villain, attacking them—not jokingly but with real intent to kill—it’s not easy to understand with common sense.
After maintaining silence for a while, I sighed deeply.
“Kkomkmu, come out.”
As I clapped my hands, Kkomkmu emerged from hiding. Seeing Kkomkmu, QQQ’s eyes widened.
“Who is this person?”
“Kkomkmu. In other words…a mascot-like presence to me.”
“Mascot…”
QQQ stared at Kkomkmu for a while.
I couldn’t help but smile inwardly. A cute octopus and a cute bird.
Though I wanted to take a picture for fun, the situation wasn’t appropriate, so I refrained.
In the midst of this silence, Kkomkmu spoke first.
“What is it, this white guy?”
“…”
“Ah, I was busy reading. It was such an exciting part too.”
“I’m sorry, Kkomkmu. Can you explain things for me?”
“What exactly?”
“What we’ve done for Noah.”
At that, Kkomkmu’s expression soured.
“Ah…do I have to? Just imagining it is exhausting…”
“Please help me out. See that white guy over there?”
“Oh…sir? Kraken, calling me sir suddenly is a bit…”
Embarrassed, Kkomkmu patted the seat beside him.
“Sit down first. We need to sit to talk.”
“But…aren’t you Kraken’s ally? How can I possibly trust—”
“Hmph, then don’t listen.”
Oddly irritable, Kkomkmu.
Does interrupting his reading flow bother him that much?
“This sir…right when the protagonist was doing something interesting.”
“Kkomkmu…”
I told him to stop looking at inappropriate content.
“Hmph.”
Ignoring my words, Kkomkmu kept patting the ground.
“You said your name was QQQ, right? Uncle.”
“A…uncle…”
“Hurry up and sit. I’m about to tell you an incredible story.”
+++++
With bookish eloquence, Kkomkmu continued his explanation. Everything we’ve done has been for Noah, and it goes beyond that.
“Seriously, we almost died too, you know?”
“…Uh-huh.”
“Can’t you see how exhausted Shin Hyun looks? If we intended to be villains, wouldn’t we have just acted without all this fuss?”
“T…that…was to lull Noah into a false sense of security before eliminating him—”
“Ugh! Why complicate things so much? If we wanted to kill, we would’ve done it already! Why bother raising him just to kill later?”
We began recounting everything we’ve done for Noah, every effort and sacrifice made.
…Listening to it now, I realize how much we’ve actually done.
“…Hmm…Do you understand now?”
“…”
“Can you comprehend it? How much this human being has worked for your master? How many times they risked their life?”
QQQ fell silent.
He appeared to be deep in thought.
After contemplating, he raised his head and asked me.
“So why does Shin Hyun treat Noah so well?”
“That’s—”
“…Just a moment.”
QQQ interrupted me, flapping his wings a few times before sitting back down.
“What did you do?”
“You don’t need to worry. Please continue comfortably. Let’s try to avoid words like ‘villain’ if possible.”
Such a cheeky kid.
Anyway, since the stage is set, there’s no reason not to proceed.
“…Hmm…the reason I treat Noah well…”
It’s simple.
“Because I like the kid.”
“Do you…like him?”
“Yes, I enjoy the efforts he makes. I still remember the day we first met.”
Not long after arriving in this world.
The first wind demon I encountered, and the magical girl Iris—Noah—who stood against it.
“The kid protected me despite being scared and did his best to defeat the demon. That might be what drew me to him.”
“And…well, not to boast, but I have good intuition. I noticed when I saw Noah at the convenience store that something wasn’t right.”
And that intuition proved correct.
Noah was living alone, without parents, feeling lonely.
“At first, it was just sympathy. Noah seemed too pitiful to leave alone.”
“Indeed, he looked unstable back then.”
“Yes. Funny thing is, the kid accepted my kindness…”
I exhaled deeply.
“In my opinion, I think the kid has developed feelings for me.”
Unimaginable.
Who would’ve thought Noah would fall for me?
I merely extended kindness, but the kid, being so lonely, took it to heart.
My words startled QQQ.
“Did you know?”
“Yeah, I know everything. QQQ, I’m not stupid. I mentioned earlier that I have quick intuition.”
“And…”
“If someone blatantly shows affection and I don’t notice, I’d be an idiot.”
How could I not notice?
The way he blushes cutely whenever he sees me.
The way he pleads for warmth when I stroke his hair.
Hearing this, QQQ paused momentarily.
Even Kkomkmu, who claimed to go read a book, came crawling back out.
Soon, QQQ spoke.
“Does Shin Hyun like Noah?”
“…”
“I’m asking if there’s Love involved, not just Like.”
Straightforward, aren’t you, QQQ?
There’s a big difference between liking someone and loving them.
Love carries far greater responsibility.
‘Which side am I closer to?’
I closed my eyes briefly to contemplate.
What is Noah to me?
A stray kitten that keeps meowing, a close younger sister, a magical girl I must protect.
And now, someone whose absence feels hollow, whose presence I wish to keep nearby.
Seeing his adorable smile brings a smile to my face.
Stroking his hair calms my heart.
His happiness makes me happy.
I hope Noah remains happy, even if I endure hardships.
Ultimately, I hope for his happiness.
And if possible, I hope we can share that happiness together.
So summarizing these feelings…
“…I’m closer to Like for now.”
“…Is that so?”
QQQ’s tone slightly softened.
The kid seemed to truly seek my sincerity, asking further questions.
“‘For now’ implies…”
“The future is unknown.”
I continued.
“Noah is such a kind and cute kid, diligent and cool. If someone like that likes me, it’d be strange to dislike them.”
“…”
“I know too. Noah is still a high school student. He needs to explore the wider world, experience more, meet more people.”
And as time passes, once Noah matures.
“If at that point, he still likes someone like me, I’d be willing to reciprocate.”
“…”
“I really like that kid too.”
“…I see.”
“Well, it’s something to consider once he grows up. Not now, absolutely not.”
The moment those words left my mouth.
Clang!
Something fell outside the door, followed by the sound of the door opening and closing.
Probably the room to the left.
And that room is…
“Isn’t it Noah and Taehwa’s room…?”
A chill ran down my spine at the possibility.
Surely not, right?
“QQQ, just checking…”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t send our conversation via telepathy, did you?”
“No, I did not send it.”
“Phew…thank goodness—”
“Our conversation contents weren’t sent.”
“What?”
“However, I did mention that listening to Shin Hyun’s door might reveal interesting stories.”
You feathered troublemaker!
“Don’t worry. I didn’t call when we were discussing villainous matters. However…”
“However…”
“Why Noah treats him kindly…he definitely heard that part.”
It felt like the sky was falling.
So…did he hear me say I like him too…?!
Seeing my flustered expression, QQQ’s voice and tone returned to normal.
“QQQ~QQQ…”
“Hey, QQQ!”
“I prioritize my master’s happiness as a mascot.”
“…Ah…I’m the fool here…”
This is bad…
+++++
“Noah, what’s wrong?”
“…”
“Noah?”
Rushing back to his room, Noah pulled the blanket over himself and slowly recalled.
“I really like that kid.”
The utterly unbelievable reality he had overheard.
“Uuuuugh…Taehwa…”
“Yes?”
“What should I do…?”
“Why?”
“Uncle confessed to me…!”
