Villains Should Act Like Villains (1)
Flicker.
The harsh white light of the fluorescent bulbs stabbed into her vision. Kim Na-young forced her heavy eyelids open.
"Nngh…."
Her head throbbed with a dull buzz, like the aftermath of days spent drowning in booze, barely crawling out of the haze.
But strangely, the leaden weight of anxiety that had crushed her chest was gone, washed clean away.
"Awake now?"
A low, calm voice. Kim Na-young whipped her head around.
A man stood before her. Neat suit, hair slicked back perfectly, hands tidying a briefcase.
It was Jeong Ji-un.
"Wha… Mr. Therapist?"
"Yeah. Feeling a bit more with it?"
He casually slid a stack of papers into his bag as he spoke.
Kim Na-young blankly scanned her surroundings.
Familiar partitions, the hum of the fridge motor from the break room, the night view of Sector 3 beyond the window.
This was… the co-working office. Her office.
"Was I… sleeping here?"
"You seem a little more composed now. Treatment wrapped up, so we came back to the office. Don't remember?"
Treatment? Oh, right. The treatment.
Kim Na-young pressed her temples. A few days ago, she'd consulted this man about her relationship addiction. And then… what happened after that?
"The treatment was a resounding success. You were incredibly cooperative, Kim Na-young."
"Oh… really? That's great. Thank you."
She bowed her head reflexively. The refreshed feeling suggested it had worked.
That nagging headache was gone too.
But then.
"You should be able to live healthily from now on."
Jeong Ji-un's friendly smile and those words. The moment she saw it, lightning flashed through her mind.
Zing.
The dam of sealed memories burst open.
Motel room. Soaked bedsheets. Black blindfold and gag in her mouth. And herself, legs spread wide, howling like a beast.
"……!"
Kim Na-young's pupils shook like there was an earthquake.
She remembered. Everything.
What this man had done to her. No—what she'd begged him to do.
"Hah… hah…!"
Her breath came in gasps. Hyperventilating. Her face burned like it might explode. Shame beyond words scorched her entire body.
"Na-young? What's wrong? You okay?"
Jeong Ji-un approached with a concerned look.
"D-don't… come near me!"
She shrieked, scrambling back behind her chair.
Scraaape, bang!
The chair scraped back and slammed into the partition.
"You… you… this…!"
Her fingers trembled violently. Words wouldn't come. What should she even call him?
Pervert? Scammer? Rapist?
"What the hell did you do to me?!"
"What do you mean?"
Jeong Ji-un tilted his head innocently.
"The treatment? You wanted that…."
"What kind of treatment is that? That was… that was just…!"
Rape! She couldn't spit the word out.
"You locked me up! Tied me down! Took pictures!"
"Oh, that."
Jeong Ji-un nodded nonchalantly.
"Part of the withdrawal therapy. You couldn't control yourself, so you asked for physical restraints."
"Th-that…."
She had no comeback. She'd definitely phrased it that way.
No, she had. Crystal clear in her memory.
"Still… still, how could you?!"
"How? I just fulfilled the patient's request."
Jeong Ji-un was brazenly confident. He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen.
"And above all, we agreed to it."
"Agreed…?"
"See for yourself."
He held out the screen. It showed her from days ago, tied to the bed, tongue lolling out.
[I want… sex… with you, Mr. Therapist… Jeong Ji-un…]
The Kim Na-young in the video mumbled with glazed eyes.
"Eek?!"
She clapped her hands over her ears.
"Turn it off! Off! Now!"
"You said it yourself. You wanted it. And this."
He swiped. Now a document photo.
[Psychological Counseling Completion Certificate]
[Result: Very Satisfied]
[Signature: Kim Na-young]
Her handwriting, no doubt. Even a little heart on the tail of the ng, an undeniable autograph.
"This… this is…."
"Remember? You signed it smiling at the end. 'Oppa, you're the best.'"
"No… I wasn't in my right mind…."
"Who'd believe that?"
Jeong Ji-un chuckled, waving his phone.
"You looked plenty happy in the video. Said your name, your job. Described in detail whose dick felt so good."
"Ugh…!"
Kim Na-young clutched her head. Undeniable evidence choked her.
Her legs gave out, and she slumped to the floor.
"How… how could you do this to me…."
"I did my best. You were satisfied. And now, don't you feel at ease?"
Jeong Ji-un crouched to her level.
"That suffocating anxiety. The obsession where you felt like you'd die without your phone. Gone now, right?"
"……."
He was right. Infuriating, unjust, mortifying—but that sticky dread of her addiction had vanished.
But, but…!
This isn't treatment.
"I'm reporting you."
"Frustrating. You wanted all this. No one will believe you. Evidence is all here."
He'd gathered evidence out of unease, but he truly believed it.
She enjoyed it too.
"…S-so what."
"Huh?"
"I-I can't send you to jail, but I can ruin your career… Therapist who imprisoned and raped a magical girl… Once word spreads, you won't show your face in this business again."
Jeong Ji-un frowned.
"That hurts you too. People who don't believe will call you a gold digger. You'll lose your magical girl gigs—"
"I-I don't have to do them!"
Kim Na-young muttered, head bowed.
Better to quit than have this weakness exploited. Would it end with just this once?
No. He'll blackmail me with that video for all sorts of crap!
Better to vanish as a civilian.
She wasn't some beloved top-tier idol anyway.
"It's too dirty! You think I became a magical girl to be treated like this?!"
As she screamed and tried to stand—
Zing!
A thick needle pierced her heart.
"Gah…?! Urk…!"
Crash!
Kim Na-young writhed on the floor. Not mere muscle pain. Her mana circuits burned like fire, soul-crushing agony.
"Aaaagh! It hurts! Hurts! Save… guh…!"
"Y-you okay?"
She clawed the floor, vision flashing white.
She knew instinctively what this meant.
Angel… nim…?
[Fulfill the contract.]
[You cannot run.]
Warning bells echoed in her head.
"I-I'm sorry… I won't… urk! Sob!"
She reached for the air, pleading. Not to Ji-un, but to the unseen absolute watching from above.
"I take it back! I'll keep being a magical girl! Please… stop…! Hnng… ugh…."
The pain faded like a lie. Aftershocks left her drenched in sweat.
Cheek to the cold floor, she panted. Jeong Ji-un tsked and offered a handkerchief.
He wasn't oblivious enough to misunderstand.
"…Why make pointless threats?"
"Hah… hah… sob…."
She took it with trembling hands. No escape.
Couldn't quit being a magical girl, couldn't report him due to the constraints.
If it were mere scandal, maybe—but this screamed "slut."
Once known, the angel would abandon her.
Abandoned by the angel….
Not like deciding to quit. Just thinking it—
Her body shivered uncontrollably, bladder threatening to give.
Just…
Have to accept it.
Kim Na-young smiled faintly. Her eyes twitched.
"…S-sorry, Mr. Therapist."
Tears welled, wiped away.
"I-I made a scene, huh? Thanks for the treatment."
She stood, steadying twitching muscles with shaky hands, stepped back from the chair.
Bowed 180 degrees.
"Please take care of me from now on."
A bright smile.
A magical girl's smile.
A bit unsettled.
Her writhing screams still echoed in his ears.
Quitting as a magical girl versus retiring. What's the difference?
Just words—same result: stopping.
Not a magical girl himself, but resentment boiled toward the absurd alien "angels."
Did he push too hard? He'd thought morality was long gone, yet the aftertaste lingered.
"Idiot, that's 'cause you're too damn nice."
Han Seo-yul cleared it up.
Shower-fresh, she poked his forehead disbelievingly.
"You guys know the difference between discharge and desertion, right?"
"Well… yeah."
"Retirement's discharge. End of term or medical discharge. Serve your time or get wrecked enough to fight no more."
"Right."
"But what was she doing? Quitting 'cause she's embarrassed. That's desertion."
Han Seo-yul smirked.
"Angels are vicious. Magical girls are consumables. Sign the contract? They'll squeeze till they break even. Shitty bosses."
"I get that, but… did they need to make it that painful?"
"Safety net. If they bail whenever it's tough, who's protecting Earth? So they implant constraints like a chip in the brain. 'Run and die' fear."
She tapped her nape.
"I felt it active duty. Heart shrinking when I wanted to drop everything."
"You too, noona?"
"Duh. Think I'm steel-mented? Bleeding battles, comrades dying. Sanity's the anomaly."
Her eyes clouded briefly, then mischievous grin returned.
"Anyway, my retirement was 'honorable.' Body trashed, seniority maxed. Angels said 'go rest.' Like reserves."
"Reserves…."
"Yeah. War calls? Grab a gun again. But peacetime, civilian. Her? Whining to ditch mid-service. Should've expected brig."
She'd served, huh.
Analogy clicked.
Kim Na-young tried unilateral breach, no term or merits filled. Purely personal.
"You saved her. Syndrome untreated? Dragged by guys, witch or pathetic death."
"True."
"You fixed her. Method… hardcore, but."
She giggled, glancing at his crotch.
Her bluntness cleared the lump in his chest.
Right. Not rape or abuse.
Treatment. Extreme, self-serving—but patient healed, back to society.
She wanted it.
"Thanks. Clears my head."
Han Seo-yul tousled wet hair with a towel, smirking. Shampoo and her scent wafted.
She cracked a canned beer from the fridge, chugged.
Hiss—gulp, gulp.
"Ahh… living now."
Wiping foam with her hand, she turned. Bathrobe loose, ample cleavage teasing, but carefree.
"But Ji-un."
"Yeah, noona."
"Who said done? Thanks later. Explain first."
"Huh?"
Wasn't she just praising?
She slammed the can down, eyes narrowing.
"Gutsy, huh? Using an unregistered license?"
"Ah."
Cold sweat trickled down his spine.
"…It just happened. Client popped up suddenly."
He mumbled excuses.
Strike while iron hot, seize opportunity.
She scoffed.
"What if she checks the association site? 'No data'—you're cuffed. Forgery plus fraud."
"No way. Trusted your skills, noona. Knew you'd forge perfect…."
"Flattery sucks. Paper's flawless. Database separate. Association security ain't pushover."
She jabbed his forehead.
"N-next time, I'll confirm first."
"Next? Think there'll be? One more fuckup with my work, I report you."
"Got it."
She sighed, sipped beer.
"And second."
"More?"
"Biggest. C'mere."
She beckoned. He approached meekly.
Grab.
She snatched his wrist. Soft but firm grip. Thumb pressed his pulse.
"You're awakened."
"……!"
Heart dropped.
"H-how."
"Think I'm blind? Psychological therapy? Spill those woes, hide mana circuit awakening? How's a normie treating magical girls?"
Thought it'd slide.
"N-not hiding…."
Pitiful puppy eyes.
"First telling you, noona. Promise."
She stared up, eyes scanning like a lie detector.
Then smirked.
"Fine. Not scolding."
Satisfied, released wrist.
Whew.
Thwack!
"Ow!"
Heavy knuckle rap. Stars burst.
"Said you believe me! Why hit?!"
"Insolence tax. Be grateful."
He rubbed his throbbing head, pouting. Handprint burned to bone.
"Anyway, good timing. Had a proposal. Time to tweak the plan."
She crushed the empty can.
"Wanna do a job with me?"
Familiar line.