Behind the Crimson Door
The meeting room fell silent for a moment at the sight of that device placed there—what the hell were they planning to do with it?
Altair.
She was another magical girl on the same level as Acturus, but in combat, she possessed unparalleled abilities.
"You think that scatterbrained girl, even more reckless than Acturus, will cooperate just like that?"
"Unlike Sirius, Altair doesn't have a bad relationship with Acturus. I'll persuade her myself."
At those words, Director Choi stopped the fingers drumming on the table. Only then did Lucia realize the source of the anxiety that had been gnawing at her all this time.
"Good. If Altair moves, we'll soon uncover the truth. You handle it."
"Thank you."
"Oh, and there's a press conference coming up for the event, so make a stand-in for Acturus and put her there. Don't you have plenty of 'materials' left at the convent? It doesn't matter if one or two die—just create someone who looks exactly like Acturus and ensure the event goes off without a hitch. Now get out."
"Understood."
Leaving the meeting room, Lucia clenched her trembling hands as she gazed out the corridor window. Truth be told, she hadn't claimed it was the Monster Union's doing out of certainty.
It was simply the line she figured would get the maximum support from Director Choi.
"Acturus…."
Instinctively, she sensed something unnatural. This wasn't just a simple monster kidnapping. The old man Choi Isa, who had no connection to magical girls, didn't grasp it properly, but neutralizing star power tracking was impossible by any means she knew.
Someone had kidnapped Acturus, who boasted a ransom worth tens of billions of dollars, yet made no demands whatsoever.
Was it the emergence of an unheard-of monster, or something even more sinister?
What the hell is their goal?
"The last trace of star power was toward Incheon… I should send Altair that way."
Lucia could only pray fervently that Acturus would hold out for three days without her star power suppressant.
* * *
Shwaaa—
Hot water cascaded over her shoulders. The steaming water loosened her stiff body, but the profound shame and chill rising from deep within refused to fade.
Her inner thighs, where that bastard's hands had touched, and her calves, slick with sticky fluids and filth. No matter how much soap she lathered and scrubbed, the disgusting sensation lingered like a brand.
In the midst of that endless shower, a strange incongruity suddenly flashed through her mind.
…Why am I perfectly fine?
It had been over two days since the kidnapping. Normally, by now, she'd be wracked with star power overload ripping her body apart and withdrawal symptoms.
She, who couldn't stay sane for even a day without the cigarette-like inhaler suppressants that cost hundreds of millions per pack. Yet her body now felt serene. No—serene to the point of eeriness, almost weightless. Like a tumor that had tormented her for years had vanished.
A sense of relief, perhaps. The weight of grand titles like Humanity's Madonna, Acturus of the Life Star, which had crushed her soul, had evaporated in an instant.
Amid the hot spray, she shuddered with a liberation she'd never felt before in her life.
This enclosed space, free from suppressants, responsibilities, and the pleas of rejects begging to cure their lung cancer or brain tumors, paradoxically offered her the most perfect respite.
'Feels… good….'
She wanted to stand under this warm water forever.
Hiccup!
The moment that thought hit, goosebumps erupted across her skin. Insane. This was blatantly insane. Was she, in the house of the man who kidnapped and violated her, showering under his mercy and feeling 'comfort'?
"This is… just stress. My brain's confused from the shock. That's all."
She shook her head wildly, denying the liberation.
Star power had been her reason for living; its pain, the sole proof she was alive. Acknowledging this peace without it would negate her entire past self.
Forcing up her hatred. Yeah, that nameless bastard was weird.
He neither killed her nor raped her fully, obsessing only over breaking her mind.
Back in the basement, he'd clearly burned with desire to devour her right then. But he'd punched his own face to suppress that beastly impulse.
That bizarre endurance, self-harming just to continue her 'training.' Even pressed genitals to genitals, he hadn't penetrated. She'd heard male instinct was overwhelmingly strong—holding back like that was nearly impossible….
'What's his goal? What the hell does he want from me?'
He didn't fit any profile of typical male sex criminals. Nothing explained the deep, dark craving in his eyes.
Shiver.
A different chill made her tremble.
As she finished the long shower and aimed the showerhead downward, a weird voice escaped her unbidden.
"Hek…!?"
What the—? The moment the water hit there, electricity jolted through her, a tingling shooting up her tailbone.
Twitch, twitch.
Her lower belly burned hot. From holding urine too long?
'Fucking bastard.'
Blame that nameless kidnapper prick anyway.
No windows in the hallway, all doors locked. Only one staircase to the second floor—he was probably guarding it.
"Five minutes… or so."
Heading back like a lamb to slaughter to keep her 'five-minute' promise, she halted near the second-floor stair railing.
A door on the right of the stairs, unseen in her rush earlier.
At the end of the hall, painted entirely in vivid red pigment. The only colored door in this black-wallpapered mansion.
A peculiar sensation from beyond it gripped her ankle.
The main entrance would be locked tight. But beyond that red door might lie the heart of this abnormal mansion.
Or an intense certainty flashed: the source of her star power, or the medium maintaining the seal on it.
I have to open that door.
Thud, thud.
After glaring at the red door for a while, she whipped her head around at his footsteps from below, pretending to descend the stairs.
Sniff, sniff.
"Acturus, shower done? Smells good. Heh heh."
The creepy kidnapper sniffing her scent. To avoid seeming awkward, she stared straight into his eyes.
Now she had a clue to escape. To seize it, she'd endure his disgusting 'five minutes' and watch for an opening.
"Alright, as promised—off to fill those five minutes."
"Hmph. Bring it."
She, who'd shrugged off battle pains from monsters. Whatever he did for five minutes, she'd endure.
* * *
Smelling my body wash on the freshly showered Acturus felt oddly thrilling. Like we were newlyweds for real.
"Acturus, how many kids you planning to have?"
My question drew a glare of contempt.
"Watch your filthy mouth around a nun."
"Never seen a nun so money-hungry."
"You know nothing."
Her expression darkened slightly.
A meaningful look, implying hidden reasons for her greed.
…
So what?
Hidden reasons or not, she wielded superhuman power beyond mortals, able to save my dying mom with one healing burst of star power.
Impossible for my dad, pulped to bloody mush by physical force, or my little sister, decapitated—but Mom, with a clean spine and chest pierce? Totally savable.
Yet she didn't.
Whatever your secrets, that's all that matters. No interest in wasting emotions on sob stories.
So be a good wife. Bear me lots of kids.
"Where we headed? This isn't that iron-bar room from before."
Down in the basement, she questioned warily as I led her not to her cell but another room.
Makes sense she'd be curious.
"Hmm, what to call it? The room that makes Acturus happy? The room that awakens talents even she didn't know she had?"
"…? Spouting nonsense again."
She scowled fiercely, but even that was cute. No time to dry her hair after washing—nun's veil off, locks damp.
A few silver strands clung to her forehead from moisture, looking seductive. No wonder nuns wear those hoods!
Soon, those hairs would stick more from her sweat. Couldn't wait.
"Come on in. This way."
She followed reluctantly, but gasped at the object before her.
"What the hell are you planning with that thing in here…?"