How to Be Loved by a Witch (3)
"Wh… who…?"
Jin Se-hee, slumped over her desk, turned her head. Her face was a mess, smeared with nosebleed. Her eyes, peeking through tangled hair, fixed on me.
"Eek… a, a man…?"
She flinched, shrinking back. She yanked at the hem of her hoodie to cover her chest, but those massive tits showed no sign of being hidden.
"When did you get here…!"
"Hello."
I flashed the friendliest smile I could muster and took a step back. She was on edge right now. No sudden moves—approach slow and steady.
"I came on Yu-bin’s recommendation. Your daughter’s, I mean."
I steered the conversation carefully. Saying I’m a counselor or I’m here to treat you would get me booted on the spot. To a hikikomori, "treatment" sounds like you’re a freak who needs fixing.
"Yu-bin…?"
"Yeah. She said her mom needed a gaming buddy."
"Ga… gaming…?"
Jin Se-hee’s eyes wavered. Hooked on that word like the addict she was. And that game… looked familiar.
Eternal Saga? No way.
Of all places. Perfect.
Thanks to my month-long NEET stint, gaming talk was easy fodder.
"That’s Eternal Saga, right? Looked like you were in the raid city earlier."
I nodded toward her monitor.
"The last patch cranked the difficulty. Party finder’s a nightmare—no decent tanks."
Her eyes widened a fraction.
Talking her expertise, her one safe haven, chipped away at her guard. I could see it.
"You… know it…?"
Of course. One of the big three rice-grinding MMOs. Back in the day, I’d farmed gold myself to cover Mom’s meds.
Not something to brag about.
But she curled up again, turning away. Guard down a bit, but still repulsed.
"St… still… no…"
"Pardon?"
"Don’t need gaming buddies… I’m fine alone. Talking to people’s just annoying… they just flame me…"
Her hand crept back to the mouse. Couldn’t outright kick out her daughter’s guest, but the message was clear: ignore me.
"Just… go…"
"Yu-bin was pretty worried about you."
"Don’t care… she doesn’t get it…"
Click, click. Back to the raid queue. Rejection, loud and clear.
Made sense. Cracking a fallen magical girl hikikomori wasn’t a chit-chat fix.
Warm fuzzies wouldn’t build rapport here. Needed something a gaming shut-in would bite.
I curled my lips and leaned close to her ear.
"If buddies are a no-go…"
"…?"
"How about a deal?"
"De… deal…?"
She glanced up sharply.
I dropped my voice lower.
"Cash for gold."
"…!"
Her shoulders jerked.
She’d know the term. Slang for straight cash trades.
"What do you say?"
"Wh… what’re you talking about… I’m broke… buried in debt…"
I grinned.
"Eight hundred."
Her eyes bulged. Pupils shook in the monitor glow like an earthquake.
"E… eight hundred…?"
"Yep. 800 won per hundred mil gold."
I heard her gulp.
Eternal Saga gold went for 1,500 to 1,800 per hundred mil. Eight hundred was robbery—for her.
"Sc… scam…?"
"Come on, calling it a scam to my face? Wouldn’t do Yu-bin dirty like that."
I shrugged.
"Quitting the game. Liquidating gear and gold for real life. Too lazy for auction sites or lounges—fees suck."
"Ah…"
"Dealers lowball like assholes. Your girl’s worried, and your gear’s prime for upgrades. Win-win."
I drove it home.
"Pass if you want. Guildies are lining up."
"W-wait…!"
She spun her chair desperately. The limp "get out" vibe? Gone.
Greed lit her eyes.
Dull gaze sparked—not healthy fire, but a gambler’s mania.
Rice-grinder life saving someone. Meaningful after all.
Or ruining her. Whatever.
"R… real? Eight hundred… no take-backs?"
Effects were immediate.
"Swear. Why lie when I’m quitting anyway?"
"Ah… hehe…"
Her lips twitched up. She frantically cleared the side chair, piled with junk and laundry.
"Hang on. Lemme just clear this…"
"Take your time."
"No, now. Gotta… my ID…"
"Got it. Phoning in."
I pulled out my smartphone, acting casual, and fired up the mobile link app.
"Your gear’s insane, by the way."
"Huh? Oh, uh, you think? Not really… weapon’s not maxed yet…"
"Humble much? Any party’d bow and carry you."
"R… really? Healers do stick to me…"
She saw me as an ally now.
Right on cue, rustling from behind. Chae Yu-bin, broom in hand, stared blankly our way.
I glanced back, winking at Yu-bin. Going smooth.
"Whoa…"
Joy bloomed on her face. Hands clasped in awe.
"Sent. Check it."
A cheery ding-dong! chimed as her inventory flooded with gold.
Half market price or less.
Hurt to dump it impromptu—blood from my wallet—but necessary.
Replenish later.
"That’s it for today?"
"Huh? Leaving already…?"
Jin Se-hee looked up, reluctant. "Get out" was ancient history. Now I was her walking ATM.
Left a sour taste.
"…Yeah. Got a schedule. And you need to gear up—no distractions."
"Oh… right. Upgrades…"
"Cool if I drop by again? More to chat, leftover gear too."
Another hook.
"Obviously! Anytime! Tomorrow even!"
Hooked hard.
"Rest up. Upgrade luck."
I bowed out politely.
Creak—
Door shut. I loosened my tie, exhaling hard.
"Hoo…"
Outside air this sweet? Stench and fruit funk had numbed my nose.
"S-sir…!"
A small shadow from the door scampered over.
Chae Yu-bin. Grubby work clothes, helmet hugged to her chest like a teddy.
"D-done?"
"Yep. First session—keep it short or it overwhelms."
"Oh… got it."
"Great talk with Mom. Guarded at first, but opened up."
"R-really?"
She’d watched but not heard, bowing nonstop. Face lit like she owned the world.
"Haven’t seen her laugh and chat since retirement."
"She was ready to open up."
"No way! She just yelled at me to buzz off… Pros are different. Magic trick?"
Magic. Money, the modern spell.
I swallowed a wry smile.
Dumped billions at half price—tens of thousands gone from my pocket.
Free consult? Paid out of pocket.
Stung, but no whining.
Investment!
"Rapport technique. Mirror their interests, build trust."
"Rapport…?"
"Trust bond."
"Whoa… you’re amazing, sir."
Her eyes shone with pure admiration. No guilt from those innocent peepers—I shrugged shamelessly.
But her reaction exceeded expectations.
"I’d beg for replies. Left food at the door, got screams… But she laughed with you…"
She sniffled.
Plip, plop. Tears dotted the dusty floor. She rubbed her eyes with filthy work gloves.
"Sniff… sorry… shouldn’t cry…"
Tear-streaked face, beaming bright.
"Saw hope today, thanks to you. Mom can get better. We can talk again."
"…"
"Truly… thank you, sir. I’ll never forget this kindness."
She bowed ninety degrees.
Tricking her into "treating" Mom, shoving her deeper into the pit. And she thanks me with tears?
Something pricked my chest.
On reflex, I opened the app.
"…"
Zero percent. Pristine.
Young and green—no poison qi buildup. But staring at this pure magical girl stirred something odd.
Her mom started like this once.
"Sir?"
My face must’ve hardened; Yu-bin looked worried.
"Nah, nothing."
I picked up her dropped helmet, dusted it, and plopped it on her head.
"You’re incredible, Yu-bin."
"Huh? Nah, just tough."
"No, really."
I patted her shoulder. Small, solid.
"Not crumbling in this mess, not abandoning Mom? That’s heroic."
"Hehe… praise makes me shy."
She scratched her cheek, grinning bashfully.
"Um, sir!"
"Yeah?"
"Next session… I’ll earn more and book it!"
Fist pumped.
"Free this time, but next I’ll pay proper! Site boss says overtime pays extra. Two… no, one month grinding!"
"Don’t sweat money. Pace it with Mom’s state."
"No! No such thing as free—learned that. I’ll pay!"
Stubborn. That grit kept her going.
"Got it. I’ll wait."
"Yes! Safe travels, sir!"
She waved till I hit the alley.
She deserves to thrive.
But I know better. Idealism’s bullshit. Poison qi’s inevitable for magical girls.
Still, I’m the one corrupting her untouched mom.
Two weeks to a month, though… too slow. No excuse for another freebie.
Any other way?
A dangerous hypothesis flashed.
> Corruption Desire: Gaming Addiction (82%) / Jeong Ji-un (3%)
Jin Se-hee’s status from the app earlier.
What if I flip those ratios?
If—if—I rewrite her corruption desire onto me like Park Min-jeong’s, then witchify her?
What happens?