A Window of Opportunity
When Founder placed her hand near the neck of the fallen ability user, the old restraint vanished in an instant, replaced by the Improved Dog Collar. Back then, Rav had tried to use me to escape, and leaving the two of us alone for counseling had been risky, so there had been no choice. Looking back now, though, it didn't feel all that different from a Stigma.
"Hahk… hng… ugh…"
Maybe because it was the improved version, the thick collar around her neck soon eased the pained expression on her face, and her breathing steadied. Even the way the miniature Undine spread her little arms toward me as if asking to be held made it clear the immediate pain had disappeared.
"That nasty authority of hers has a loophole. As long as she believes she's following orders properly, the effect doesn't trigger even if her actual actions produce the opposite result."
"Does that mean…"
Just a misunderstanding could free her from the punishment?
"While she's wearing this, she'll constantly believe she's obeying commands correctly. So she won't suffer any more pain. But…"
But?
"That means your counseling is going to get a lot harder, big brother. Hehe."
"It's like… a form of self-suggestion?"
"Exactly. That's why the effect will gradually weaken over time. It varies from person to person, but once a month passes, the chance to save her is gone."
One month. It was both long and short, but since we had gained time that hadn't existed before, I had no right to complain.
"So how do I save her within that month?"
"That depends on you, big brother. Use those few special talents of yours to open her heart. She won't be able to use her abilities properly while wearing this, so it should be simple enough, right?"
"Few special talents…"
In other words, it was like trying to seduce someone who firmly believed they were in love with their partner and make them cheat.
"If you manage that, the collar will complete the incomplete suggestion on its own. It'll temporarily shift the subject of the command to you."
Shifting the subject of the command… Did that mean I could act as the master of the Stigma?
"Then, if I give a new order saying she doesn't have to obey commands anymore…"
"From then on, no matter what new commands come in, she won't have to follow them or suffer pain."
Whoosh!
"Uwah…?"
The moment I heard that, I couldn't stop myself from pulling the girl in front of me into a tight hug. I hadn't forgotten the warning that touching her carelessly could erase parts of my body, but my arms moved on their own, driven by the surge of emotion.
"Thank you. Thank you so much, Founder."
It wouldn't be easy, but the fact that I had been given another chance to do something filled me with joy. Depending on how this counseling went, I might even be able to save other prisoners marked with Stigmas in the future. Nero's… former master, for example.
"Ehehe… If you're that grateful… you should pet me a whole lot…"
"Of course! First, these handcuffs…"
Tok.
When the girl shyly smiled and tapped the thick handcuffs on my wrists with her fingertip, the metal vanished as if it had never existed, freeing my hands in an instant. I was surprised, but by now it felt almost normal.
"Uhehe… Big brother's hands really do feel the best…"
"What about me? You have to free me too…! Master?"
Sorry, Nero, but right now my two hands didn't belong to me. While I was carefully stroking the great and adorable inventor's soft hair with more care than ever, a sound echoed from below.
Krrrrrrk…!
The vehicle came to a sudden stop, tires screeching against the asphalt, forcing me to pause my hands. I thought there might have been an accident nearby, but when no further sounds of impact followed, I figured it was fine and tried to resume petting—
Thud!
A new shadow appeared against the blue sky beyond the broken outer wall of the building. I recognized that pose.
"…"
It was the exact stance protagonists in hero movies struck when landing dramatically at the scene of an incident.
"Field Team Leader…?"
She had apparently kicked off the building wall and leapt up. Now she slowly stood, letting her black hair that had been whipping in the wind fall back into place. That biker suit… Every time I saw it, I couldn't help but think how revealing it was.
"Counselor, are you safe?"
"Ah! Yes, but how did you know to come here?"
"Ask your team leader about that. Anyway… as long as you're safe, that's what matters."
My team leader…? I didn't know what she meant, but what struck me more was that the Field Team Leader had rushed here so urgently just to save me. Pinch.
"Ow, Founder?"
"Your hands stopped moving."
I felt a sharp sensation on the back of my hand and looked down to see Founder pouting. Honestly, it was cute, but I wished she'd be gentler with the pinching from now on. I didn't want to exaggerate over just the back of my hand, but when she twisted it slightly, I genuinely thought my skin was about to tear off.
"Hmph. I know that tomboy's body is to your taste, but you can't get so absorbed in her that you neglect me."
"N-no, I'm not absorbed or anything like that!"
"…Should I continue the rest later? Maybe I'll come in a body like hers next time?"
"That's…"
Even knowing it was a trap, I hesitated to answer right away. I really was hopeless.
"Hihi, as long as you understand. Anyway, I'm heading out now. You need a few more of the same item, right?"
"Ugh, yes… Please."
This time she pinched my cheek once before slipping out of my arms. The white gown, too small for her, dragged on the floor just like her hair. She fluttered it once for no reason before vanishing into my shadow.
Only then did I remember I'd left the Field Team Leader and Nero behind.
"…?"
Somehow… the Field Team Leader had crossed her arms and was deliberately looking away, pretending to be uninterested, while Nero… Ah, this was bad.
"Hiss…"
Nero was glaring at me resentfully while slowly melting the handcuffs with both hands shoved inside Undine's body. It looked like it would take quite a bit of effort to soothe her sulking.
"Is that the ability user lying there? Her horn's broken too… This seems like it needs some explaining."
"Ah, well, that's…"
Now that Founder had left, the Field Team Leader was slowly approaching. Where should I even begin explaining? Starting with the sloppy kidnapper who hadn't even taken the safety off his gun? Or—
"Should we head back first?"
My vision suddenly blurred then refocused, and I felt a sense of wrongness. I realized I was still a patient who hadn't fully recovered. Once the tension faded… I suddenly felt incredibly tired.
"Master?!"
I passed out like that, and when I opened my eyes again, it was already late at night. The soft, purring bundle of fur under my left hand was definitely Nero back in cat form. Looking around, it seemed to be a recovery room on a different floor, though similar to the others. This would be the third time I'd woken up in a recovery room. Passing out wasn't something most people experienced often in their lifetime, yet I'd already done it three times since joining the facility.
Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick…
The lights were off, only the soft glow of a nightlight illuminating the room, making the sound of the clock's second hand especially clear.
"Nngh…"
Thirsty, I tried to sit up for some water when I finally noticed the shadow of the person sitting to my right.
"Ah, did I wake you?"
That voice…
"…This voice. Yerin, is that you?"
"Who else would it be?"
…She really was popular. All three busy team leaders had come to visit me during my hospital stay.
"I heard you were busy. I was going to go see you instead."
"A patient shouldn't be wandering around. Do you want to make me look like a bad person?"
She smiled faintly, but even in the dim lighting, the dark circles under her eyes were clearly visible. The Response Team Leader was always busy even on normal days, but this incident must have piled on a mountain of work.
"You look exhausted."
"Yeah… I was working nonstop and came out for a walk to stay awake when I remembered and stopped by for a bit."
Even so, it was quite a distance from her personal office to the nearest recovery room. I decided not to point that out.
"Want to sleep here for a bit? I'll wake you at the right time."
"Th-this place is too narrow…"
Wait…
"I meant the bed next to yours."
"…Oh."
"…"
Even a quick glance around showed plenty of empty beds. Creak… After a brief, awkward silence, she bit her lip hard and suddenly climbed onto my bed, the frame groaning. She looked slightly sulky, clearly embarrassed but climbing up out of sheer stubbornness.
"You said it that way on purpose to make me misunderstand."
"You're the one thinking dirty thoughts."
"…And whose fault is that?"
"…"
It was probably partly my fault, but honestly, she'd been pretty indecent from the very beginning. Still, hearing her say that… somehow—
"Did it put you in the mood?"
"…"
She was taking it that way?
"…A little. But you're tired."
"Yeah, but if I push through for another two days, I should be able to wrap things up…"
So…?
"After that… do you think I could take a day off?"
In the dark recovery room lit only by the soft nightlight, with only the sound of the water purifier's sterilizer and the ticking clock, we were so close that even her smallest breaths were audible.
…Gulp.
So the sound of me swallowing dryly was naturally loud as well.
"Pfft… What's with that reaction? Did you build up that much just from sleeping too long?"
"…"
"…You're not saying anything. It's a little scary…"
I hadn't expected to face this kind of trial right after waking up. It was a pleasant trial, though. Still, she had come straight from work and was clearly exhausted, so I couldn't just push my desires on her. Of course, she was partly to blame for provoking me, but… I had to hold back. Nero was right there too.
…But there was one thing I needed to correct.
"You say that, but aren't you the one who's pent up?"
Squeeze…
My mischievous hand had been about to grab her firm rear, but I redirected it at the last second to tightly wrap around her slim waist instead. I whispered softly, and her flinch was satisfying.
"Ugh…"
Last week I'd been squeezed dry by Undine, and this week I'd barely survived a major incident and spent most of my time bedridden. It had been a while since we'd been alone together. I felt my blood circulation quicken, but I suppressed it and decided to stop teasing her there. I had only woken up briefly myself and hadn't fully recovered my strength yet.
"Let's stop and sleep. When should I wake you?"
"…Around twenty minutes, uheuheuh… mm…"
She nuzzled deeper into my arms, letting out a long, tired sigh that ended with a soft, pleased moan. The bed was narrow and probably uncomfortable, but she seemed to have found a comfortable position anyway.
"While I'm sleeping… you can touch me however you want…"
"…Huh?"
Snore… Snore…
After dropping that incredibly irresponsible line that left me in quite a dilemma, she buried her face near my shoulder and fell asleep in an instant. Cold sweat ran down my right arm, which I still hadn't removed from her waist.
"…"
And so, for a full twenty minutes, I had no choice but to desperately fight between the fear of disturbing her sleep and the desire to freely grope the woman's body nestled in my arms, training my patience to its limit.