“Uh… Noa?”
“Yes, master.”
“Why are you clinging to me like that?”
“It’s because of the reward.”
“Clinging like this is the reward?”
“In our industry, it is.”
Noah, who had returned to the room, was sticking to me without even thinking about changing clothes.
It was embarrassing.
‘Hey kid, I’m just checking but…’
‘Yes.’
“Has the hypnosis worn off?”
“Hmm… I can still feel Park Eun-joo’s magic on Noah. It probably hasn’t worn off yet.”
“Well, that’s a relief…”
Then why is this kid acting like this?
“In my opinion, I think Noah underwent some kind of mutation during the resistance process.”
“Mutation?”
“Yes. Noah resisted the magic extremely violently, which caused some kind of distortion.”
Distortion.
“That is, Noah is currently…”
“Now…”
“Under the influence of a hypnosis app. Perhaps becoming more honest with one’s desires or something along those lines?”
Ah…
“…Am I trash?”
“Why now all of a sudden?”
“…”
I had nothing to say. Or rather, from the moment I tried mental domination and hypnosis, I should have been prepared.
So this is…
“Master.”
“Yeah?”
“I request cuddling.”
This must be my karma.
I gulped. A sweet smell came from Noah who has been clinging to me since earlier.
Why do girls smell so good even in their sweat? It’s incomprehensible.
I held onto my sanity as much as possible and patted Noah’s head, starting from the crown and moving outward gently.
“Hmm…”
Normally, Noah would have been giggling at just this. But,
“I want more.”
There was an unsatisfied look on his face.
Not satisfied with one hand, he grabbed the other hand too.
“Noah?”
“Please lavish affection on me.”
“…”
I hesitantly stroked Noah with trembling hands, one on the head and the other on the cheek.
Only then did Noah show a satisfied expression.
As I watched Noah like that, I slowly backed away because I couldn’t predict what might happen next.
Like a mouse in front of a cat, I treated Noah with utmost care. How long had I been stroking her?
“Now, Master, that will be enough.”
“Eh…yeah.”
“Thank you for your hard work. I, Noah, am very happy right now.”
“If you’re happy, that’s good…”
I stood up while squeezing my sore hand.
“Let’s see…”
I tidied up the bedding and looked at Noah.
“It’s time to sleep, Noah.”
“Sleep?”
“Yeah, you should take a good rest while you have the chance.”
School won’t be attended for a while, and neither will part-time jobs. Rather than wasting precious time, it’s better to rest a little.
“Soon there will be a mid-boss.”
Even with Noah’s increased strength, it will be burdensome. It’s best to conserve as much stamina as possible.
That goes for me too.
“So Noah sleeps in the bed. Uncle will sleep over there on the couch-”
“No, that’s an inefficient thought.”
“Inefficient?”
“Yes, look at the bed.”
I turned my gaze to the bed.
“It’s a king-sized giant bed.”
“It is big.”
“It’s a size where two people can comfortably lie down.”
“Noah?”
“I hope the two of us can lie together.”
What is this kid saying now?
“No way.”
“It’s fine. I’m on the smaller side anyway.”
“It’s not right.”
“It’s okay.”
“Tsk…”
“Petting a high school girl’s head recklessly, letting her sleep in the same house, and maybe accepting her confession later.”
“Hmm…”
“Isn’t this already considered out of bounds?”
Noah, has your limiter been removed due to the hypnosis?
Each word stings painfully. This must also be part of my karma.
While pondering how to deal with this situation, my phone rang.
It was a call from the Association. After a brief conversation, I felt relieved and smiled.
“Noah.”
“Yes?”
“Uncle will go to the Association and come back. You must sleep, alright?”
“…”
“Don’t make that regretful face.”
“…Can’t help it. Understood.”
Noah shook her head and got into bed. The bed really is big. Or is Noah small?
“Then, Uncle will go.”
“For a good night kiss-”
“I’m leaving!”
Bang!
I closed the door and slipped out.
“Phew…”
“Why are you sighing?”
“Not…like this…really…”
Will I end up being overwhelmed by Noah?
+++++
“…”
Blackheart Yoo Yul bowed her head deeply.
“…Only I…couldn’t fight.”
Guilt and powerlessness enveloped the girl. She felt like trash rolling around on the streets. No, she was trash.
The actions she took moments ago.
“…Damn…”
Yoo Yul recalled Lee Tae-hwa and Seo Jin-a lying down receiving treatment. They were both battered from attacks.
The reason was none other than Iris’s attack. Since they weren’t very durable, they were quickly defeated.
“If only I had done it…”
At least she should have stepped forward, considering she could handle close combat. If they had coordinated their attacks, it wouldn’t have been as pitiful.
Yoo Yul sighed once again.
Leaving the enemy as is, what kind of magical girl or hero is she?
“How could I save sister?”
She didn’t just leave her alone. She ran away. Without even fighting.
She should have fought even if it meant dying.
“What’s the point of regretting here?”
Still, Yoo Yul regretted. It would have been better to get hit and pass out like that.
Not ashamed, and furthermore…
“…Excuse me.”
It would have been better to directly convey these words to that person instead.
“…Hello, Uncle.”
“…Hello.”
Yoo Yul looked at the man’s face. It was weary and showed signs of unease.
She swallowed hard. It was difficult to look at his face. How could she tell him?
Your precious person has been kidnapped. By an evil villain!
“…I can’t…”
Yoo Yul closed her mouth and shook her head.
Because she felt ashamed of herself.
Haven’t I already done plenty of shameful things? There’s no need to become any worse here.
“…Did you receive the contact?”
“Yeah, Noah…uh…”
“…I’m sorry, it’s our fault for being insufficient.”
“How’s Noah?”
“Sister…is…”
Yoo Yul took a deep breath and continued with a firm expression.
“…I couldn’t protect her.”
“…What?”
“Sister, fell under mind control and became…Kraken’s subordinate.”
Various expressions appeared on his face.
Confusion, anger, sadness. Those emotions surfaced, showing various colors until…
Thud.
The color faded.
The man is gray now. A dark, gloomy gray.
“…Mind…control?”
“Yes, it seems to be Kraken’s new technique. Sister…fell victim to it…”
Yoo Yul’s breath caught in her throat.
It was scary to look at his face. However, Yoo Yul took a deep breath and bowed her head.
“I’ll do my best to lift Iris’s control as soon as possible.”
“…”
“Please wait a little longer, Uncle.”
“Waiting…”
“…”
“By waiting, can you bring Noah back?”
Yoo Yul clenched her fists tightly, having nothing to say.
She wasn’t sure herself. Whether she could bring Noah, or sister, back.
Iris is strong. Perhaps the strongest among existing magical girls.
The powerful magic-based attacks. Her body is battle-tested.
On the other hand, what about Yoo Yul herself?
Calling herself a magical girl, she only ran away. Normally, she relied on Iris and didn’t do anything properly.
“That’s…”
“…Sorry…thank you. You guys are also trying hard.”
“No…I’m sorry. Uncle is right, we’re weak.”
Yoo Yul admitted it.
“We’re weak.”
Therefore,
“I’ll get stronger as quickly as possible. I’ll train hard and rescue sister from Kraken’s clutches…from those creepy tentacles. I’ll give it my all.”
To get stronger as quickly as possible, to train and rescue her.
That was all Yoo Yul could say. She thought it was irresponsible, but,
“Alright…I’ll leave it to you. I’ll also search for Noah.”
“…Yes! I’ll do my best!”
“The Association said they’d offer full support…and you guys promised to do your best too. I’ll…trust and wait.”
Trust and wait.
His powerless voice made Yoo Yul feel heavy-hearted.
Accepting this heavy sense of guilt, the girl vowed.
I’ll definitely get stronger.
Definitely rescue sister.
+++++
“Is it fun playing with middle schoolers?”
“It is fun.”
“For something like that, you’re putting on quite a performance.”
“There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Yoo Yul’s serious expression pricked my conscience. But what can I do? This was the plan from the start.
Iris is strong. Overwhelmingly so.
It’s practically a cheat. Because I cultivated someone who shouldn’t exist in this world.
Still, Blackheart in the game was supposed to be Iris’s rival.
“She’ll do well, right?”
As I mentioned earlier.
“Just believe and wait. I hope those kids get stronger and come to rescue Noah.”
“I haven’t told any lies…”
“More or less, yeah.”
Since it’s true that I hope those kids come to rescue Noah.
“…It’ll take some time though.”
Even if I occasionally go out and train with Iris, it’ll take some time.
Thinking about that, I found myself back at my lodging. Though I’d like to go home, I can’t risk Noah following me out.
Noah is currently missing.
If she goes out and gets discovered, it’ll be a headache.
“…I’m entering.”
Opening the door and going inside.
It felt like entering the entrance of the Demon King’s castle.
And the Demon King.
“Are you asleep?”
“Have you arrived?”
“…No.”
“You look tired.”
“Yeah…that’s true.”
“Master, please come and lie down beside me.”
“…”
“Make me your exclusive attachment doll, Master.”
Her bright eyes were waiting for me.
…She’s really going to snap.
+++++
