The Secret of the Nameless Girl
"Um, are you okay?"
Had it been about two minutes since I took off the accessories? Shadow just stared at me blankly, not saying a word. ...Don't tell me, she's being affected by my ability just like Cathy was?
"I'm fine. Didn't I tell you? Mental-type abilities are practically ineffective against me."
"Shadow...!"
So, my ability really didn't work on a top-tier hero. ...Why do I feel both relieved and a little disappointed at the same time?
"Still, I was a bit taken aback. It feels fundamentally different from other mental-type abilities."
"Different?"
"Yes. How should I put it... to borrow the words of another hero, it feels like it touches the soul, not the body or the mind..."
Shadow placed her hand over her chest and gripped it so hard her form seemed to distort. "My heart is growing larger and larger; it's a strange feeling..."
Her chest was being crushed so hard it looked painful even to watch, but she just stared at me as if nothing were wrong. "Sihyun."
The moment she called my name again, my heart felt like it had dropped into my stomach. It was the feeling of being noticed by an apex predator beyond my wildest imagination. Intense terror. I finally understood why the villains in her documentaries had described feeling such primal fear when facing her. Was the ominous shadow rippling behind her back about to swallow me whole? I was filled with such dread, but her next action was far beyond my expectations.
"Sh-Shadow..."
"Such a lovely scent..."
She had buried her face in my neck and was sniffing me repeatedly. The hot breath against my skin. The sweet fragrance I had caught when she held me earlier. 'It's scary... it's so scary.'
But, my heart was racing a little.
"Did you wear perfume? And a scent that happens to be my favorite, too."
"...Perfume?"
"How cheeky. I suppose fans of other heroes research even the most trivial preferences like this? Am I wrong?"
I didn't have the luxury to wear something like that. I wanted to tell her the truth—that it wasn't true, that I had never pretended to be a stalker fan—but I couldn't get the words out.
"...This is a matter that requires punishment."
I thought I heard a faint laugh. No, I was certain she had laughed. The corners of Shadow's mouth, which had pulled away from my neck, were curved into a soft arc.
"Sihyun. I will test whether you can adapt to Justitia and whether you have the aptitude to be a pro hero."
Shadow knelt before me and looked up. Because of her revealing outfit, her cleavage was prominently displayed, but she didn't seem to care at all. No, rather...
"Hehe..."
As if telling me to look all I wanted, she pressed her arms together to emphasize her chest. Even though I tried my best not to look, my gaze was drawn to her regardless, and I felt like crying at how pathetic I was. Just a few days ago, I hadn't thought twice about seeing my friends naked, and some of them even had larger breasts than Shadow.
'Ever since I kissed Cathy... something has gone wrong with me.'
It had happened only a few hours ago. Being held by a woman taller and prettier than me, and having my first kiss. And it was forced, too... The memory was so intense that I couldn't tear my eyes away.
"Shall we begin, then?"
"Yes...? Eek!"
While I was busy staring at Shadow's chest, I finally realized the situation. The shadow beneath me had bound my legs and arms tightly, making it impossible to run away.
"Ahaha!"
The sensation that followed was all too familiar. Fingers gently stroking between my waist and armpits, rubbing up and down. A prank I had suffered from my friends countless times: tickling.
"Ahaha! Ahahaha! W-wait a minute...!"
Shadow was tickling me. Why...?
"I will test Sihyun's patience. Please try to endure it for as long as you can, okay?"
"What do you meeean... Ah-hit!"
Tickle, tickle. Every time her slender, beautiful fingers brushed my waist, laughter burst out of me uncontrollably. It was a professional level of tickling, worlds apart from the clumsy, random prodding of my friends. Shadow focused on the spots where my reaction was most intense, massaging and tickling them relentlessly. My waist, my collarbone, my navel. Every sensitive spot that was usually hidden was being targeted by her.
"St-stop... please..."
Had it been about five minutes? Rather than just laughter, I was starting to feel a strange emotion. When she touched my waist, my toes curled, and when her fingers brushed my collarbone, a shiver ran through my entire body. This... this was torture.
"Are you surrendering already? If you lack this much patience, I'd have to say you don't have the aptitude for a hero."
"D-don't..."
"Five more minutes. If you can't hold out until then, I'll take you out of Justitia and hire you as my personal body pillow."
Press.
"Aung!"
I wanted to protest the sound that escaped me, but the moment she pressed my navel, a lewd moan leaked out. Th-that one was weird. I hate this...
"I may be less popular than other heroes, but I have more than enough money. Even if you do nothing, Sihyun, I can provide you with everything you want to do and everything you want to have."
Shadow, who had been kneeling just a moment ago, had moved close to my side and was pressing her body against my legs. The sensation of her soft breasts, the lewd and strange feeling of her fingers pressing into my navel...
"Ah... Augh."
I didn't even have the strength to speak anymore. I just opened my mouth toward the ceiling, not even thinking to wipe away the drool, and endured. I was certain of it now: Shadow was being affected by my ability. I had so many questions—why she, who claimed to be immune to mental types, had fallen for it, and why she wasn't listening to my commands despite my ability being one of domination—but I had no luxury to think about such things in my current situation. I just prayed for this time to pass quickly.
"Four minutes."
"Ugh... uuu..."
It's ticklish, it hurts. It feels good.
"Three minutes."
Stop it now... please.
"Two minutes. You have more patience than I thought? If you just say you'll give up, I'll let you go right away."
It would be easier. In many ways. She had said she would feed and clothe me if I took a job as her body pillow. Even if I wasn't a fan, there would surely be a crowd of people willing to work under her if given the chance.
"One minute."
"I won't... give up..."
"Give up?"
"I can't... because I'm going to be a hero...!"
But I couldn't break. I had finally been given this opportunity. A dream-like chance to live and learn with the heroes I had dreamed of since my past life. I couldn't give up such a chance with my own hands.
"...How wonderful."
After hearing a voice that sounded genuinely impressed, I realized the restraints holding me had been released. I endured it. I actually endured it. Now... to Justitia...
* * *
"She fainted."
Four minutes and fifty-eight seconds. It's a shame, but you're disqualified. As promised, I'll be taking you as my body pillow, Sihyun. Did you say you wanted to be a hero? If you learn under me, it's certainly possible. It might even be much better than learning from some mediocre teacher, don't you think? Hehe.
"I look forward to working with you..."
Beep, beep.
The phone ringtone I had heard far too many times. Usually, I would have answered it immediately, assuming it was a mission, but I didn't want this moment to be interrupted.
"Call rejection... huh?"
I picked it up to turn it off, but my expression stiffened when I saw the caller's name. It was Cathy, the one who had asked me to escort Sihyun.
"This... I have no choice but to answer."
Come to think of it, Cathy said she would adopt Sihyun, right? I couldn't take her without the guardian's consent, so I would have to tell her, even if it was just a unilateral notification. I was going to take her regardless of whether she refused.
"Shadow! Are you with Sihyun right now!?"
"You're hurting my ears, Cathy."
The moment I answered, my brow furrowed at my friend's frantic voice. She was usually the quiet type; why was she acting like this today?
"I am with her." And I plan to be for a long time.
"Thank god..."
"Why is that? Your voice sounds a bit shaky."
"...There's no one around, right? No wiretaps?"
"There aren't. This is my private space."
"Really? ...I won't ask why you're in a place like that right now. It's actually a good situation."
With Cathy acting this hysterical, my head actually felt like it was regaining its composure. Why? She was a friend who rarely got surprised by anything.
"Listen closely, Shadow."
"Yes. Go ahead."
"Sihyun... doesn't exist in this world."
"Ha?"
I turned my head to look at the lovely person, but she was just breathing heavily with her eyes closed. You look cute even when you're sleeping, Sihyun.
"She's right here, though?"
"...She has no national registration number. Officially, Sihyun is not a citizen of this country."
"Is that even possible in modern society? Everyone gets a number the moment they're born. Even if they're an orphan or the child of a villain."
"I know! I know that! But she really doesn't have one... And that's not all. I went to the orphanage where Sihyun supposedly grew up."
"And?"
"There was no one there. The building was there, but there was no one inside. It wasn't even a building that had been operated as an orphanage in the first place."
What on earth was going on?
"That is certainly strange. Still, I think that falls within the realm of imagination. Like being the child of a high-level villain, like me?"
Don't tell me Sihyun was in the same position as me. I had grown up through a similar process.
"Right. I thought about cases like yours, too. But, but here's the thing."
"Is there... something else?"
"No one except me remembers Sihyun."
"Not the students or teachers at the academy she attended, nor even the staff member who brought her to my inspection office."
"Everyone's memories related to Sihyun have been erased. As if someone had carved them out with a knife."
A chill ran down my spine. Was that even possible? To pull all that off in less than a day?
"If that's true... this isn't something we can solve on our own, Cathy."
"...I think differently, Shadow."
"How is it different! We should call other heroes immediately and request protection..."
"If we report it? Sihyun would definitely be dragged off to a villain reformatory. That's the safest and fastest way."
I couldn't deny it. Even if Cathy and I had some standing in society, we couldn't generally refuse orders from above.
"Besides... I don't know who it is, but the person who did this seems to want that. If I hadn't been fickle, Sihyun would definitely be in a reformatory by now."
"...So what do you propose? We can't just leave her like this, can we?"
There was a moment of silence. Cathy must be thinking about it, too. If she didn't come up with a clear answer, I would have to consider taking Sihyun and seeking asylum in another country.
"We're going to have Sihyun attend Justitia as originally planned."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"I'm perfectly sane."
Sending Sihyun to Justitia, the most famous place in the country? You've lost it, Cathy.
"No one knows that Sihyun is in Justitia right now."
"...Tell me more."
"I haven't reported Sihyun's ability to the higher-ups yet. No, the higher-ups don't even know she's here. And with my authority, I can easily create a fake family register for her."
"If you get caught, it won't end with just a demotion, Cathy."
"I know! I know! But... I can't just leave her like this. Maybe it's because of Sihyun's ability... but that child is truly a good kid. I mean it."
So I want to protect her. As an adult.
"You're sincere."
"I am. Until I find out the truth, Justitia will be the strongest shield to protect Sihyun."
Wanting to protect her as an adult, huh? My vector is a bit different, but the feeling is the same.
"I'll join that plan, Cathy."
"...I haven't even asked yet."
"Did you think you could leave me out after saying all that? I want to protect Sihyun just as much as you do."
There was no reply from the other end of the line for a while. I thought she would agree immediately; why was she silent?
"...You, what did you do to Sihyun?"
"Sihyun will be tired today, so I'll take her to Justitia tomorrow. Please finish the family register and necessary preparations by then."
"Hey! You said she was immune to mental types..."
Click.
After hanging up, I stroked the cheek of the soundly sleeping Sihyun.
"What kind of secret... is hidden behind this lovely face?"
Call it a hero's intuition. I had a feeling that being with Sihyun wouldn't be an easy path. "Still, I won't let go."
...Cathy, if I successfully protect Sihyun, please forgive the four-year age gap.