Safe Man, Selfish Woman (1)
Yu-bin’s eyes sparkled as she stuffed her mouth full of sandwich, chewing away.
"I was patrolling the outer Sector 3, and suddenly this slime-type magical beast popped out of the sewer! It was a D-grade variant, but a bunch of them showed up at once—scared the hell out of me!"
"Sounds dangerous."
"Nah, no way! I just went wham! with my fist, and it burst right open."
She didn’t stop talking even as she chewed.
"But man, the smell… like 100-year-old food waste? Thought my nose was gonna rot off. Even with a mask, it seeped right through."
She balled her fist and swung it around whoosh whoosh.
"And when it popped, it splattered slime everywhere… ruined my clothes. Ah, I’d just washed them…"
"As long as you’re not hurt. Clothes can be replaced."
"Right? Hehe… Anyway, the team leader praised me, said my reaction time’s great for a newbie! Asked if I was in a guild."
"A guild?"
My motion froze mid-sip from the straw.
"Yeah! It’s a private guild tied to the Sector 4 Defense Force—good terms. Said after this magical beast season ends, wanna try the official enlistment test…"
A Defense Force-linked guild. One of the ones classified as public enterprises. Better treatment than civil servant orgs, but below full private guilds.
Still, for a fresh C-grade magical girl who’d just gotten her rating, it’d be hard to turn down.
She’s not getting poached, is she?
I fiddled with my canned coffee, keeping a straight face.
"So, what’d you say?"
"Huh?"
"To the team leader’s offer. You gonna take the test?"
My voice dropped without me realizing. Was it impatience? Sharper than my usual counselor tone.
Yu-bin’s eyes went wide as she stared at me.
"No? I turned it down."
"…Turned it down?"
"Yeah! Of course!"
She folded the sandwich wrapper neatly, beaming innocently.
"I’ve got you, Teacher."
"Me?"
"Yeah! You said when you start your company, you’d recruit me first."
Oh. Right, I did say that.
Just offhand, but this girl took it as gospel.
"You didn’t forget that promise, right?"
"No way."
"Then we’re good! I told the team leader straight up—I’ve already got a place lined up. Said I gotta keep my loyalty, and he was super bummed. Called me an idiot."
Idiot’s right. We don’t even exist yet. But that idiotic choice brought me relief.
"Good job."
"Hehe… really?"
"Yeah. You’re essential talent for my… our company. Losing you would’ve been a real problem."
"Phew… can’t have you in a bind, Teacher."
Yu-bin grinned ear to ear, like she’d won the world with one compliment.
"Oh yeah, what about you, Teacher? Tough day?"
She’d been chattering away, then suddenly looked at me.
"Weird patients or assholes. Mental drain, right? Mom says listening to people’s crap is the hardest."
Well, a crazy bitch did latch on.
"Me? Sat around stamping papers all day. Worst complainer’s just whining to go home."
"Glad to hear it. You’re so nice, I worried you’d take everyone’s crap. Don’t stress out."
"You get used to it. In one ear, out the other—that’s the trick."
"As expected… you’re a real adult, Teacher."
Yu-bin propped her chin, smirking.
"When’ll I get that chill like you? Always scrambling, head hurts from money math."
"You’re doing great already. High schooler pulling this off? Impressive."
"Aw, you’re just saying that…"
She fiddled with her straw, shy smile. Her hand fidgeted on the table.
Hovered near mine.
Her pinky brushed mine, ever so lightly, then pulled away.
Wants to hold hands?
No reason not to.
I took her hand casually, like nothing.
"Your hand’s cold. Hard worker—good job."
"Y-Your hand’s… super warm…"
"I’ve been inside all day."
"M-Mine’s passionate inside too! Hehe…"
The mood ripened.
Surrounding noise faded; illusion of just our breaths.
Bzzz— bzzz—
Vibration shattered the quiet. From my pocket.
"Ah."
Yu-bin yanked her hand back, startled. Head down like she’d done wrong, fiddling with the wrapper.
"S-Sorry… I got too…"
"No, one sec."
I scowled, pulling out my phone.
Who the hell, this timing. Clueless jerk.
Screen: Caller ID restricted.
And a short text.
A chill ran down my spine.
This…
I knew who without asking.
This tone. This timing.
I glanced at the health center. Visible even from the convenience store.
3rd floor isolation ward window.
A silhouette appeared, vanished behind curtains.
Min Seo-yu.
…Watching the whole thing?
"Teacher? What’s wrong? Bad news…?"
Yu-bin looked worried. I pocketed the phone, standing.
"Sorry, Yu-bin. Urgent call."
"Already…?"
"Night shift no-show, apparently. Gotta go now or it’s trouble."
"Oh…"
Yu-bin drooped, shoulders slumping. Like a puppy with floppy ears any second.
"Well, then…"
"I’ll head out. Great sandwich. Next time, my treat—something tasty."
"Yee… Take care, Teacher."
Leaving wistful Yu-bin, I turned back to the health center.
Heavy steps.
Hah, life’s a drag.
Day: counselor. Night: at masochist magical girl’s beck and call. Plus flirting with innocent high schooler on the side.
Why the hell am I doing this?
The other two, fine. But why her?
Walking the dark parking lot, phone to ear. Dialed right away.
"Deputy Leader Min Seo-yu?"
"Yeah."
"How’d you get my number? Privacy law violation."
"Shut up. Asked your colleague—gave it right away. Counselors gotta list emergency contacts."
Ah, damn. That cursed mandatory clause.
"So, what’s up? Urgent enough to drag out an off-duty guy?"
"Come here. Lobby corner break room. Empty now."
"Tired. Tomorrow?"
"Don’t come now, I’ll file a complaint tomorrow. Rude counselor."
Click. Hangs up on me.
Threats, huh.
Cheap for a B-grade magical girl. Ignore? Nah, more hassle.
Back into the health center. Auto doors whooshed; stale lobby air hit me.
Corner vending machine break room. Dark, unlit. Familiar silhouette sat there.
Min Seo-yu in civvies.
Black hoodie, training pants. Less sharp than battle gear, but sulky face same.
"Hmph, fast."
"Complaint threat. What choice, D-grade nobody."
Plopped into opposite chair.
"So? Glaring like you’d kill me earlier. Urgent enough for this?"
"……"
Min Seo-yu fiddled with a canned drink instead. Condensation beaded on cold aluminum.
"Changed my mind."
"Pardon?"
"What you said. That… treatment."
She looked away, mumbling.
"Might try it."
"Suddenly? You called it crazy earlier."
"Then, yeah. You seemed sketch."
Sketchy? Not now?
"So I don’t seem sketchy anymore?"
"Nope."
"Why?"
Min Seo-yu gestured out the window.
"Saw it. Outside earlier."
"……?"
"That girl. Blonde kid."
Ah. Chae Yu-bin.
"Girlfriend?"
Huh? Blanked out.
Girlfriend? That puppy?
Almost denied, shut mouth. Misunderstanding? Sure, but why correct? Could work in my favor.
"Eh… let’s say."
"Not ‘let’s say’—it is. Honey in your eyes."
Min Seo-yu snickered. Mocking, but no earlier killing intent.
"That kid? Pure as hell. But… guy dating a normal one like that ain’t some pervert sex fiend or criminal."
"…And?"
"So I’ll trust you. That behavioral therapy or whatever."
She leaned forward.
"You touch me? Just medical. Guy with a girlfriend won’t get ideas."
Ah.
That vibe.
She needed justification.
This guy’s safe.
He’s got a girl he likes.
No reason for a pretty girlfriend guy to risk shady stuff under ‘treatment.’
Rationalization.
Not bad thinking, even to me.
"Logical."
"Right? I’m logical."
"Good. Contract made."
"Contract? Just treatment extension."
"No, contract. Here as private counselor. Off duty, strictly."
"…Hmph. Whatever."
I stood.
"Shall we start?"
"N-Now?"
Min Seo-yu’s eyes widened in panic.
Why surprised? You called me this late…
"Not here. Too many eyes."
"Where then? I’ll follow."
She pondered, then stood decisively.
"…Follow me."
Pulled hood low, led the way.
"We can go out?"
"B-grades have discretion. Back in 10 if called. And… close by."
Her steps led opposite the health center: entertainment alley. Common in Sector 4. Flickering neon.
[Unmanned Motel]
[Day Use / Overnight Welcome]
"……."
Dumb grin at the sign.
"Deputy Leader."
"What."
"Words say one thing, place screams misunderstanding."
"Sh-Shut up! Closest, no choice!"
She yelled.
"Soundproof too. And no people."
"Got it. Wherever patient’s comfy."
We walked apart, like cheating couple.
She paid at kiosk, snatched card key, into elevator.
Ding—
"Don’t get ideas. Treatment. Medical procedure."
She glared at mirror, spat. To me? Herself?
"I know."
"Weird thoughts, I kill you."
"Got it."
Beep.
Door opened. As expected: red lights, round bed, glass bathroom. Classic love hotel.
"Haa…"
Min Seo-yu kicked off shoes, slumped bed corner. Legs shaking—nervous?
Wanna say wash up, strip? Nah, wrong vibe.
Locked door, approached slow. Gripped phone in pocket.
"Let’s begin."
Pressed button. The one triggering desire frenzy.
Click.
Short buzz; Min Seo-yu’s shoulders jerked hard.
"Ugh…?"
She frowned, clutched chest. Breathing roughened. Suppressed desire forcibly surfaced.
"Deputy Leader."
"D-Don’t come… wait, feeling… weird…"
"You came for treatment. We’ll go slow."
Approached bed. Reached out—to remove hoodie.
That instant.
"Don’t touch!"
BOOM!
"Agh!"
World flipped. No—I flipped. Flash; brutal impact to back.
Thud! Crash!
"Keh… cough, cough…!"
Came to: slammed into room corner wall.
Couldn’t breathe. Ribs crushed? Agony.
"Ah…"
Min Seo-yu stared blankly at her hand. The one that just hurled me.
"S-Sorry… reflex…"
She approached, flustered.
"D-Don’t come."
Raised hand to stop her. Staggered up. Back screaming.
"You reach sudden… reflexes…"
"Reflexes almost killed the doc."
Spit bloody saliva.
Too much, huh.
App stimulates desire, but can’t control combat instincts ingrained. Amplified desire sharpened nerves—more dangerous.
Can’t counsel or whatever like this. Bones won’t hold.
Need way. Neutralize her, or treatment’s off—my life’s at risk.
"Restraints."
"What?"
"Or rope. Gotta tie you. Immobilize limbs."
"C-Crazy? Think I’d let that?"
Min Seo-yu’s face beet red.
"Guy tying me here… perverts do that!"
"Then let me get beat to death?"
"Won’t hit if careful!"
"That was careful!"
Rolled throbbing shoulder, snapped.
"No. No physical control, no treatment."
"B-But…"
She bit lip. No backing out. Desire stirred, body heated.
What now… choker?
Witch submission choker always carried.
But risky. Nebula unmarked plain design, but maybe recognized. Plus, proud girl won’t accept dog collar.
Then, cold metal touched fingers.
Ah.
Fountain pen. Nebula hire gift—self-defense tool.
Knocks out elephant in 3 secs. Don’t use on magical girls, heard.
But consensual? Maybe ok.
"Fine. Hate restraints? Alternative."
"Alternative?"
"Drug."
"Drug…?"
Min Seo-yu eyed pen warily.
"Muscle relaxant cum sedative."
"Wh-Why carry that?"
"Self-defense? From folks like you."
She’d attacked me plenty—speechless.
Uncapped. Needle tip glinted under fluorescent.
"This? Strength drains. Reflexes dull. Won’t kill me touching. No misunderstanding—magical girls don’t pass out from this. You know best."
"……."
"What’ll it be? Hate this too, no options."
Min Seo-yu swallowed. Eyes fixed on needle. Gulped again.
Masochism? Aroused instead?
"…Do it."
"Pardon?"
"Do it. But… weird drug, you’re dead."
She rolled sleeve with shaky hand. Tanned forearm exposed. Faint training scars.
No hesitation—stabbed pen in.
Pfsh!
"Augh!"
Needle pierced muscle. Pressed for injection.
Hiss—
"Haa… hot…!"
Drug racing veins? Face flushed instant.
"Fuu…"
Pulled empty pen. Blood drop beaded, trickled.
"How’s it?"
Min Seo-yu’s eyes glazed. Focus blurred; stiff posture collapsed onto bed.
"Haa… haa… body… won’t move…"
"Works well."
Magical girl indeed. Normal person’d foam out; conscious, but couldn’t twitch finger.
Perfect vulnerability.
Flop.
Spread-eagled on sheets.
"This… feels… weird…"
Min Seo-yu mumbled drowsily.
"Like… underwater… heavy…"
"Normal."
Loosened tie, climbed bed.
Even now.
"No counter now, right?"
"Ugh… you…"
"Treatment starts."
Slid hand under hoodie hem. No flying this time. Warm, soft skin met palm.
"Hng…!"
Min Seo-yu twitched, but no resistance. Just limp acceptance.
"Good… very obedient."
Start light.