The Neutralizer's Gaze
"Hello. My code name is Neutralizer, and I'm the leader of the Response Team."
Her outfit was the textbook definition of an OL—neat and professional, every button fastened, not a single loose thread on her shoulders. It was the kind of polished appearance I wished our President would learn from. Yet the contrast was striking: bleached-blonde hair, bold orange eyeshadow, and colorful gel nails on well-manicured fingers gave her the air of a rookie who had only recently started enjoying dressing up. She looked young regardless, so it was surprising to learn she was already leading a Response Team. Still, I was genuinely glad to see her.
Up until now, everyone I'd met down here had been either fully armed guards with their faces covered, the Management Team Leader in her clown mask, the overly open-minded foreign President, or that terrifying woman who could smash facility walls with her bare hands. Compared to the sharp glare of the Field Team Leader I'd glimpsed through the dust and rubble, this woman seemed like nothing more than a slightly haughty girl who liked pretty things.
"...Yes."
Even so, I couldn't bring myself to show my relief openly. There was a reason. Her first impression reminded me of the kind of people I'd never had the chance to talk to back when I was quietly studying—girls in shortened uniforms with cigarettes casually tucked in their pockets, pretty but clearly carrying an attitude. Still, judging someone solely by first impressions wasn't right.
Glance.
Our eyes met as she finished her introduction and looked my way. I nearly flinched. She looked displeased... It wasn't because of me, was it? Ah, I still hadn't introduced myself.
"It's nice to meet you. My name is Sim Geon-ung. Well... my code name is Counselor."
"Yes, I know. And since you might not be aware, the rule is that we use code names when addressing each other inside the facility or in the field. No need to use real names."
"...I see. I didn't know that."
Of course I didn't. The Management Team Leader had been calling me by name the whole time... even if it wasn't exactly proper.
"I'm the team leader, so it's fine."
"..."
I glanced at her sideways. That was her response.
"So, what brings the Response Team Leader here?"
"I came to calm down the aroused Harpy. Counseling someone who's been blushing and panting all day can't be easy for you either, Counselor."
"...Right."
Were these people just used to such blunt expressions? Or was I the only one feeling self-conscious because I was a man?
"Well then, hello, Harpy."
"...Who?"
Did the Response Team Leader have a way to suppress the arousal? Since keeping physical distance from Harpy was impossible, I couldn't think of any other method. Surely she wasn't planning to knock Harpy unconscious and handle things while I was gone. If that were the case, she would have told me to leave, right?
"You just had a dirty thought, didn't you?"
I flinched!
"Unfortunately, the Response Team Leader doesn't swing that way. If you want something good in that department, why not ask the President?"
"..."
One day, I was going to rip that mask off. It wasn't just her position as team leader—the anonymity the mask provided probably encouraged her to spout such nonsense without hesitation. Hiding behind a mask and teasing her subordinate... I wondered if she realized how much karma she was accumulating. I didn't know when I'd get the chance to settle the score, but I would.
Besides, the Management Team Leader was right—I had been thinking something rude, so I had nothing to say.
"Then how exactly do you plan to relieve Harpy's... discomfort?"
"There are more people with special abilities in this world than just you, Ung-ssi."
"That means..."
The sharp click of heels drew closer, and Harpy instinctively shrank back.
"Don't worry. I'm here to help. We've met several times already, so I'm a little hurt you'd react like this."
"..."
Harpy was on guard, ready to flee just like during our first counseling session. From her reaction, it seemed the Response Team Leader knew her, but not the other way around. The only reason Harpy hadn't run yet was probably because the woman's appearance matched her interests. I was a man, so I didn't really get it, but since she liked dressing up, she couldn't take her eyes off those colorful nails and the vibrant makeup.
"Anyway, look into my eyes."
"Ah...?"
"Good. Stay just like that."
From my angle, I could only see the Response Team Leader's back, so I had to watch Harpy's face. Despite her wariness, Harpy eventually lifted her head obediently. Soon her expression turned blank and drowsy, as if she'd forgotten all her fear and caution. She looked more relaxed and comfortable than I'd ever seen her.
Tap!
The Response Team Leader raised her hand—those colorful nails catching the eye—to shoulder height and snapped her fingers.
"...Ugh... Eh...?"
Thud.
"Harpy?!"
Harpy's eyes fluttered before she collapsed face-first onto the table. The sound of her forehead hitting it was painfully clear.
"That takes care of it. I'll be going now."
I had no idea what she'd just done, but Harpy suddenly passing out naturally made me worried.
"Wait a moment, Response Team Leader. What happened to Harpy? Is she okay?"
"Hmm... Didn't the Management Team Leader explain it to you? I'm not used to explaining things to others."
I looked at the Management Team Leader, but... what had I expected? She just shrugged and looked away. Seeing her reaction, the Response Team Leader let out a small sigh, met my eyes, and slowly approached. Even with heels, she was noticeably shorter than me, so once she got close enough she realized she'd have to look up quite a bit. Clicking her tongue, she stepped back to maintain a comfortable eye level.
"Look into my eyes."
"Why the eyes..."
"Stay still."
Tap!
"...?"
The moment our eyes met amid the awkward tension, a finger snap echoed through my rapidly fogging mind. I snapped back to clarity. Standing before me was a woman I'd never seen before, staring at me with a thoroughly unimpressed expression.
"Hello."
"...Hello. Wait, who are you?"
"Code name Neutralizer. I'm the leader of the Response Team."
The Response Team Leader? What was she doing here...?
"I'm Sim Geon-ung..."
I'd never seen her before, yet she felt familiar. Fairly recently, too. Ah, right. There was that rule about only using code names.
"My code name is Counselor. But... have we met somewhere before?"
"...Is that a pickup line? It's really cliché and outdated."
"Huh? No, no. That's not what I meant..."
"I'm joking. Now, hand."
Hand? She held out her hand. And "hand" like she was talking to a pet... Huh...?
Pat.
My eyes widened. Without realizing it, I'd placed my hand on her outstretched palm.
"Good job. Now turn around."
"What are you... Whoa?"
At her command, my body moved on its own, spinning in place before returning to stand in front of her. What was happening? How was this possible?
"Lastly... that's right, bang."
"Huh...? Whoa whoa?"
When she shaped her hand like a gun and pretended to shoot, I loyally and intelligently dropped to the floor like a golden retriever, playing dead. Lying there with my belly exposed in that awkward position, my face was filled with nothing but bewilderment.
"...This guy's reactions are pretty good."
"Do you understand a little how I feel when I look at the Management Team Leader now?"
"Tch..."
After some time, I regained control of my body, but I never wanted to experience something like this again.
"What just... What happened to my body?"
"I hypnotized you to obey my commands up to three times. You're fine now, so get up. I'm not angry, but if you stay down any longer I might actually want to keep going."
Hypnosis? Like the hypnosis I knew?
"When exactly..."
"I can hypnotize someone just by looking at them. The closer the distance and the longer we maintain eye contact, the more reliable the effect."
"So I was already hypnotized."
"Yes. As for the side effect... once someone is hypnotized, they forget not only the moment it happened, but everything about me as well."
So I'd been hypnotized at some point and forgotten all about her? That explained why she felt familiar even though I'd never seen her.
"I hypnotized Harpy to mistake her sexual desire for sleepiness, so she won't wake up for a while. You've had your fun, so it's fine, right?"
"Fun... No, it's not."
I wanted to deny it firmly, but my voice trailed off. Probably because there was some truth to it.
"Ung-ssi, please move Harpy to the bed. I have something to discuss with the Response Team Leader."
"Yes?"
"No matter how much you like it, you don't need to make such a fuss. Hurry up while she's asleep. If we leave her like that, she'll wake up later complaining about a sore back and whimpering cutely."
"..."
Harpy's cute whimpering face... I might actually want to see that once. No, what was I thinking... I didn't want to see it. I didn't want anyone to make her wear such an expression when she already triggered protective instincts in everyone.
The embarrassment still hadn't faded, but seeing the two team leaders calmly chatting as if nothing had happened made me feel like I was the strange one for being flustered.
...I just had to carry the unconscious Harpy to the bed. This situation... was making me incredibly nervous.
"..."
It probably didn't matter since the two team leaders were openly talking right there, but I still approached as quietly as possible, worried I might wake her. I got close enough to reach out, yet she remained in such a deep sleep she wouldn't notice being carried. Up close, the sweet shampoo scent and the soft, warm body odor that made my lower body ache grew even stronger—especially with her defenseless gown barely covering her.
I couldn't wake her, and I couldn't hesitate forever not knowing when she'd wake up.
"Nngh..."
Fortunately, she was slumped over the table, so I bent down, desperately enduring the sight of her dangerously alluring figure hanging heavily beneath it, and finally managed to lift her.
"Ah."
I'd mentally prepared myself, but... it really pressed against me from every angle. The warm, soft sensation spreading across my back felt even more vivid because of her weight leaning into me. On top of that, the gown had ridden up from the position, no longer covering her plump thighs, and my fingers—only meant to hold her steady—sank deep into the soft flesh.
The team leaders seemed absorbed in their conversation, so I carried Harpy into the bedroom where her bed was, avoiding any glances that might turn my way.
"..."
The moment I saw the bed, this morning's scene flashed through my mind and my lower body immediately grew stiff. I wanted to stand there a little longer if possible—that was an inevitable thought—but if Harpy woke up now and saw me this close, she might hole up again and refuse to eat like before. The guilt, worry, and frustration that thought brought were stronger, so I laid her down on the bed and carefully fixed the hem of her gown that had ridden up her thighs.
Still, my feet wouldn't easily leave the spot.
"The real thing... is even more impressive."
Had she grown more since then? I'd finally seen Harpy's breasts in person—breasts I'd only glimpsed through screens and the outline of her loose top. Of course they were still cleverly hidden by the gown, but how could I describe it? It was moving. I'd already made excuses about it being unavoidable contact, and even through several layers of fabric during the carry, I'd felt enough to know they weren't just large—they had both firmness and softness.
"...They're incredible."
Even while lying down, they held their perky shape against gravity. Meanwhile, the overflowing curves had slightly spread to the sides, causing the front of the gown to open further, leaving me unable to look away any longer.
Today was truly a historic day. The memory of being hypnotized and humiliated in front of the two team leaders had already vanished, and my mind was dizzy from the intoxicating sensation of touching a real woman's soft body for the first time. I'll make an exception for the Response Team Leader's "hand" command.