How to Be Loved by a Witch (8)

Getting banned is basically a death sentence for a gaming addict. Whether her corruption desire had shifted or not, with all her worldly possessions—her data—about to vanish right before her eyes, there was no way she could stay sane.

Turning off the computer power on her like that and then checking her aggression levels? What would be the point?

First, I need to put out the immediate fire. Then she'll react one way or another.

"H-how... is it...? Is it working...?"

I hit enter with a satisfying click.

Ding! A cheerful alert chimed, and the red [ACCESS DENIED] message floating in the center of the screen vanished. In its place, the familiar login window reappeared.

"It... it worked...?"

"Yeah. I bypassed the IP and unlocked it. You should be able to log in now."

I lifted my butt slightly off the chair.

"Want to check it yourself?"

No sooner had the words left my mouth than Jin Se-hee lunged for the chair. She practically shoved me aside and grabbed the keyboard.

Tap tap tap!

Login. Character select. Connect.

She flung open the inventory window, frantically checking if her items were intact, if the gold stashed in storage was all there.

"It's here... it's here... all of it..."

She leaned forward, hugging the monitor like a lifeline. A sigh of relief escaped her, and all the tension drained from her body.

"Thank goodness... really, thank goodness..."

"Looks like Mom got it fixed right away."

"Ah..."

Jin Se-hee staggered up from the chair. Then, as if suddenly aware of her disheveled state, she froze.

Things that hadn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠registered in her panic were now coming into focus one by one.

She hurriedly pulled the collar of her padding jacket up to hide her face.

"S-sorry... I look like this..."

She mumbled with her head bowed low.

"I was in such a rush... and I wasn't very polite when you came over..."

"It's fine. Putting out the fire was the priority."

"No, I must smell..."

She sniffed at her own shoulder. The air in the cramped room was indeed stale.

But I'd gotten used to it somewhat, and the magical girl's natural scent peeking through was always pleasant enough. In fact, contrasted with her grubby appearance, it stirred a perverse thrill.

"Doesn't smell bad at all. Actually, you smell nice."

"L-lies..."

"For real."

I flashed a grin, and Jin Se-hee's ears turned bright red as she ducked her head.

"Thank you... really... If it weren't for you, Teacher, I'd have been in deep shit... Whew, how do I ever repay you...?"

She fidgeted with her fingers.

"Money... I don't have any right now... Yu-bin's paycheck is still weeks away..."

You've got that account, though.

"I didn't do it for money. Mom was suffering so much, I couldn't just stand by."

"Still..."

Jin Se-hee rose from the chair and shuffled timidly toward me. She gingerly grasped the end of my sleeve.

A gentle tug. A faint but unmistakable will, like she didn't want to let go.

"If you just leave... I'll feel bad..."

Her breathing grew a bit ragged. Up close, her scent washed over me—warm, humid bedding mixed with sweet body odor.

Here it comes. The reaction.

I softly wrapped my hand around the sleeve she held.

"How about a drink, then?"

"...Huh?"

She looked up blankly, her eyes rippling with confusion.

"A d-drink...? Now...?"

"Yeah. I'm feeling a bit peckish anyway. How about you treat me to a light one and call it even?"

Jin Se-hee's gaze wandered the air. Unconsciously, she glanced down at her outfit—pajama pants with holes at the knees, grubby padding.

"B-but... I look like this..."

She muttered in a shrinking voice.

"And... drinking with an old hag like me wouldn't be fun anyway..."

"Old hag? I'd believe you were sisters with Yu-bin. And your daughter was really worried about you. Truth is, I didn't come just for the gaming friend thing."

"Ah, I know. I looked you up after you left. You're a counselor..."

Good, that speeds things up.

"Right. So, as your counselor, I'd like to hear more about what's really on your mind. But talking like this feels a bit stiff."

"Ah..."

She worked her lips.

"S-still, I can't go out. Absolutely not..."

"What then? I could use a drink to wet my throat."

"W-well..."

Her eyes darted around the room.

Then she pointed to the bottles stacked in the display case.

"W-we have some... at home. From friends back then... some b-beer left too..."

"Drink here?"

"Y-yeah. Snacks too... ramen, chips and stuff..."

She added in a creeping whisper, stealing glances at me.

"If it's uncomfortable... no helping it..."

Uncomfortable? Hell no. But why keep that fancy liquor display intact when money's so tight?

Her husband's hobby?

Come to think of it, I'd never heard her mention her husband. From not meeting him yet, I could guess the situation.

I stroked my chin pretending to mull it over, then smiled softly.

"Sounds good. I prefer quiet spots over noisy ones anyway. Nice to chat intimately with you, Mom."

"Ah, what a relief..."

And so.

Clink.

We set up a small drinking table, crystal glasses clashing dully with dented beer cans.

Mine was the fancy liquor. Never expected to sip this high-end stuff here...

Jin Se-hee sipped her canned beer with downcast eyes. Hers was the cheap imported four-pack from the convenience store.

"Don't you like the good stuff, Mom? Leaving it untouched."

"I... don't get drunk on that..."

"You don't?"

"Yeah... Magical girls... have strong liver detox... even strong booze tastes like water. So I only drink the magical girl stuff..."

Yeah, that tracked. So the liquor really was her husband's hobby.

"Sorry the snacks are lame... This is all we have."

"No worries. I like this better. Feels human."

"R-really...?"

"Of course. Who cares about snacks? It's who you're drinking with."

I shot her a look, and she hurriedly averted her eyes, chugging her beer.

Gulp, gulp.

Her throat bobbed blatantly. Wiping foam from her lips with the back of her hand was casually alluring, laced with unexpected sexiness.

"You hold your liquor well, Teacher...?"

"You pick it up counseling. Clients often buy me a round."

"Ah... I see..."

She fell silent again. Awkward quiet filled the cramped room, broken only by the computer fan and our gulps.

Savoring the sticky silence, I casually changed the subject.

"By the way, what's that over there?"

"Huh...?"

My finger pointed to dusty videotapes under the TV stand. Rare relics in this day and age. But the labels piqued my interest.

"Th-that's...!"

Videotapes in this era?

The liquor too—she's the type who can't toss sentimental stuff.

"Ah, no! Don't look!"

Jin Se-hee startled and tried to snatch the tape from my hand. I easily dodged with a raised palm.

"Why? Looks like your glory days, Mom."

"E-embarrassing... It's so tacky... Old footage, crappy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠quality..."

"I wanna see. Knowing a client's past matters for counseling. What mindset you fought with, what you looked like."

"Ugh..."

She bit her lip and looked away.

"It's... nothing special..."

"I'll be the judge. VCR work?"

"I-it does, but... the connection..."

She pointed vaguely under the TV. Dusty old VCR. Power cord unplugged, but cables seemed hooked to the TV back.

I plugged it in deftly and powered on.

Whirr—click.

The machine groaned to life. Sliding the tape in, it swallowed it with a gulp, and static hissed on the TV.

"Have a seat, Mom. Make yourself comfy."

Worn two-seater sofa in the corner. I sat first, patting the spot beside me.

Leather frayed and ragged, but room for two. No—too narrow, forcing us close.

Jin Se-hee hesitated, then shuffled over timidly.

The cushions sank, pressing our bodies together. Her thigh met mine.

"Eek...!"

She flinched and shrank back. No escape, though.

"Here we go."

I hit play.

Static...

Noise cleared, shaky footage emerged.

[Kyaaah! Help!]

[Look! A magical girl!]

Beast roars and civilian screams blared. Amid the chaos, a girl descended in a blaze of light.

Frilly dress. Baby-faced compared to now. But that confident expression and gaze endured.

[Don't worry! I'm here now!]

She swung her staff, a gorgeous magic circle blooming in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠air.

"Whoa..."

Figured a C-grade retired after middling fights, but damn—she was promising.

"Mom, you were a real beauty. Idol-level even now."

"N-no... Makeup, that's all..."

Jin Se-hee covered her face bashfully. Peeking through fingers.

"Great figure too. Must've had tons of fans back then."

"J-just... a small fan club...?"

"Small? Those folks with placards are all your fans, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right?"

I pointed to the screen corner.

[I love you, Jin Se-hee!]

[Fairy of Light Se-hee is the best!]

Tacky picket signs.

Between first and second gen. Magical girls hitting media, fresh debuts. Common for stage names to match real ones then.

"Ugh... stop watching... please..."

Her earlobes flushed apple-red.

I casually draped my arm over the sofa back, encircling her shoulders.

"Why? It's great."

"Not... not anymore..."

She bowed her head, tangled hair veiling her face.

"Back then... I thought I was hot shit. World was mine... it'd last forever. Now? Just a stinky hag. Gaming addict leeching off her daughter..."

Self-mocking lament. Booze loosening her, emotions crumbling like a dam burst.

This timing.

I tightened my arm, pulling her closer.

"Who says? Stinky hag."

"Huh...?"

"To me, you're plenty attractive now."

"L-lies..."

"No lie. I said it earlier—no bad smell. Actually smells good."

Her shoulder trembled.

My breath on her ear raised her fine hairs visibly.

Meanwhile, I periodically checked her desire levels.

Good. Climbing. From 86% to 91%.

Just talk and light touch getting this reaction. She's instinctively craving me now.

Pity we couldn't go all the way to sex. Possible, but risky implanting intense pleasure memories pre-witchification.

"T-Teacher...?"

"Yeah."

"Too... close..."

She mumbled. But no push away. Leaning into my warmth, relaxing.

"Don't like it?"

"N-not that... just... hot..."

"The booze. Your face is flushed."

I brazenly cupped her cheek with my free hand. Burning hot against my palm.

"Eyes glazing over too."

"N-no... I'm not drunk... Magical girls don't get drunk..."

"Really? Then what's this?"

My thumb grazed her lips. Dried beer foam parted under my touch.

"Hnn..."

A soft moan leaked. She gazed up dazedly. The confident on-screen girl gone, replaced by a woman lost to desire.

Near hysteria.

"T-truth is, since he left... house got too quiet..."

"Must be lonely."

"Yeah... no one talks to me... Yu-bin's busy... I got no skills..."

She clutched my clothes desperately, like grasping a frayed rope.

"But... you're different, Teacher..."

"How?"

"You... listen to me. Don't call me stinky hag... sit with me like this..."

She looked up.

Her heartbeat thundered against my chest.

92%. 93%.

Proof of natural hysteria spiking.

Hold back. If I pounce now, it's over.

Honestly, wanted to pin her and thrust right then. Instincts screaming.

But no.

Fucking her now imprints 'sexual pleasure' too deep pre-witch. Uncontrollable variable later.

"Mom, you're drunk."

"Not drunk... for real..."

"Body's scorching."

Pretending concern, I wrapped her waist. Thick padding hid heavy flesh, but heft palpable.

"Hot, right? Wanna take this off?"

"Y-yeah... so hot..."

She yielded to my hands. Zipper down, padding off—baggy hoodie revealed braless, massive breasts jiggling blatantly.

"Hnn... mmph..."

She burrowed into me, nuzzling like a cub scenting its mother.

Rub... stroke...

"Teacher smells... good..."

"Sweaty, though."

"No... addictive scent... wanna keep smelling..."

Her breath tickled my jaw. Wet lips brushing my neck sent shivers down my spine.

I slid a hand down, grabbing her ass.

Squish—

"Eek...?"

She stiffened. But no rejection. Pushed back, welcoming deeper.

"Mom."

"Y-yeah...?"

"This area's wet too."

"Ah... aaah..."

My fingers delved her cleft. Pajama ass soaked through. Not sweat—love juices from her secret spot saturating thick fabric, seeping out.

"See? Dripping."

"D-don't look... embarrassing..."

"Nothing to be ashamed of. Natural."

"R-really...?"

I rubbed the wet cloth.

"Hnnng! Mmph! Ah!"

Jin Se-hee threw her head back, moaning. No direct touch—just over clothes—yet she spasmed like electrocuted.

94%. Fast.

Hysteria state. Natural one, sure.

Good.

Push to 100% like this.

The moment to cross the line. Finally.