The Kept Man
"I'll do the dishes."
"Ah... no, this is my house. You rest, I'll handle it."
It wasn't like I could make someone who was already exhausted do the dishes on top of everything.
"No way."
She said it flatly, already positioning herself at the sink.
"Who do you think helped me find hope again? You're not thinking of ditching responsibility, are you?"
"When you say it like that all of a sudden..."
She looked just like an abandoned puppy on the verge of tears, and any words I had died in my throat.
"Huh? Dodging the question means you are going to take responsibility, right?"
"I will. No matter what happens, I'll take responsibility for the rest of my life."
Lumia's face started turning red. Even though she'd asked first.
My true feelings for her hadn't changed for a single moment. And they never would.
"You don't have to go that far..."
"No matter what anyone says, that's my honest heart."
Her shy expression, like a high school girl hit with a sudden confession, left me speechless for a second. Wait, it wasn't a confession—it was a vow of devotion... But the mood kept veering off in a weird direction.
"Uh, um... let's do the dishes together!"
"Sure, then I'll wash, and you rinse, Siwoo."
"Got it."
A brief silence. In that quiet, a ticklish warmth began to bloom in my chest.
"Ahem, let's get started."
"Yeah!"
The sound of water splashing into the sink. The dishes Lumia handed me. The repetitive rhythm of rinsing and setting them to dry.
Even amid it all, her scent kept distracting me. The shampoo I used. The body wash I'd been using.
The fact that those smells were coming from her body made my heart itch.
Ah... Was it okay to be this happy?
"I must be so blessed."
"Pfft, speak for yourself. That's exactly what I was thinking."
"Huh? No way..."
"I really am blessed. To have a huge lump of good fortune like you, Siwoo—a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck that rolled right to me."
"Haha... You're really putting me on a pedestal. Aren't you worried I'll get a big head? I'm just an average Joe."
"I've already received more than I can handle. If you give me any more, I might just burst right here."
What had I even given her? Compared to her efforts and sacrifices, it was just the bare minimum payback.
"You're skin and bones already. If I could, I'd fill you up even more."
"Ever seen a fat magical girl? I'm already plenty chubby!"
"Pfft."
"Hahaha."
Light laughter muffled by the sound of water. Old emotions washing away like the suds. Moments of happiness, as if everyday peace had returned.
And that chit-chat ended all too soon.
"Doing it together makes it go so fast."
"Right? I used to help my mom a lot, and two is definitely better than one."
"Come to think of it, don't you live with your family?"
"Ah, my dad actually found this place for me... but I'm the only one who came up to the city to live."
"I see. Must be tough."
"It's just what everyone does. Anyway, standing here chatting feels awkward—want some tea?"
I'd brought it up, but thinking about it, all I had was green tea bags and instant coffee.
"Ah, sure, sounds good!"
"I was gonna order from a cafe—any requests?"
"Great! Milk tea for me, extra pearls please. It's my favorite."
"Got it."
"What'd you get, Siwoo?"
"Iced Americano and a chocolate cake."
"Whoa, are you really trying to fatten me up?"
"Nah, you deserve to make up for all the treats you've missed."
"You're so thoughtful. Way more than someone like me deserves."
"If anything, I'm the one who doesn't deserve this—tea time with someone so beautiful."
"You know how to rattle a girl's heart, huh? Feels like you're a pro."
"Nah, I'm a total solo. Never even talked to a girl in an all-boys middle school, high school, or college."
"Heh? So I'm your first?"
"Well, longest conversation, yeah."
"Then I stole your first experience, Siwoo."
"Y-Yeah...?"
Not just that one, but plenty of other "firsts" too.
Our light banter and small talk flowed on.
But I wanted to ask her something I'd always wondered about.
"Can I ask something a bit heavy? I want to know more about you, Lumia."
"Of course. I'll answer anything, everything."
I had no intention of prying into how she'd been captured or what happened. There was just one thing I was curious about.
Why was the magical girl at the forefront of protecting Korea—humanity itself—treated like this?
"Why'd you move to an apartment like this?"
"Ah, yeah, that makes sense. The story's a bit long."
"Take your time."
"The Welfare Department divides areas into zones."
"Zones?"
"Places where only Association staff live, no civilians. They assign spots like that to protected magical girls like us."
"Flashy places would draw eyes, so they picked something low-key?"
"Something like that. I don't know the details—just moved into the assigned place."
It didn't click easily, but I didn't think she was lying.
"Got it. It just bothered me that a magical girl who devoted herself for us ended up in a rundown spot like this."
"Thanks to this place, I met you, Siwoo. No complaints here."
"Haha..."
"More importantly, can I ask you for one favor?"
"Yeah! Anything!"
"Um... quit your job! Resign!"
"Pardon?"
It felt like a hammer to the head. I'd been ready to say yes to anything, but...
Resign? From my job?
Pardon?
What the hell was this out-of-left-field nonsense?
"I-I know it's shameless, but... you're in danger right now, Siwoo."
"But I don't have much savings..."
Truth was, my dad covered the apartment, and I didn't splurge on a car, so I could coast a few months without working... but still, that was a tough ask.
"Mo-money, I'll give you as much as you need!"
"Huh? But..."
Living off a woman? Sounds like the dream! ...That was the old me.
But sucking my favorite—my ultimate oshi—Lumia dry? Not easy.
"I've got tons of money overflowing! No maintenance costs here, so tens of billions pile up in my account every month. So!"
Tens of billions.
Tens of billions just from breathing each month... Gulp.
"See!"
The screen was packed with zeros... Maybe becoming her kept man wouldn't be so bad? Not like we'd actually get married or anything—just saying.
"Is... is that too rude?"
"I-I'm sending it now. 10 billion—no, 20 billion transfer! Please just resign!"
She was poised to hit send on my account any second, thrusting her phone at me.
"Whoa?! No, calm down. I'll resign right away."
"Great! And submit it by email."
Demands were piling up. Probably because outside was dangerous.
I had been kidnapped on the way home... but would they really target a normie like me again?
"Focus on treating me. I'll officially hire you, Siwoo! Monthly salary: 100 million! Tell your company you're switching jobs."
"Whoa, 100 million a month? Dream come true. Even without that, you're my number one, Lumia."
"Sweet talker. Already buttering me up?"
I'd meant every word about devoting everything to protect her. So first, I needed to analyze that blue status window.
"Alright, let's submit that resignation together!"
"You really go all-in once you start, huh, Lumia?"
"Hehe, that's me. You're my man now—hired by me."
"Don't people usually say 'my person'?"
"Heh, you know what my body's like. If you say it like that, what if I get all weird? Might have to leave my body in your hands."
"Already cracking jokes like that?"
Good lord... To hear that from a magical girl's mouth. She'd been mortified earlier, unable to control herself, but now she was adapting.
"All thanks to you, Siwoo—I've improved tons."
"Glad to hear it."
"Oh! One more suggestion. Should we knock down the wall?"
"K-Knock down the wall?"
Hiss. Didn't think he'd stay put? The plan was to nab him the second he stepped outside the zone. No disturbances allowed inside for Heresy Inquisitors like us.
"Um... Team Leader? Just give up. He's just a civilian—no corruption precursors detected."
"You idiot! That guy's soaked in aphrodisiacs and drugs, now shacked up with a girl. Led by hand into the home of a returned magical girl!"
Returned magical girl. Remodeled mentally and physically—no willpower could resist. They'd inevitably succumb to lust. She knew that better than anyone.
It was experience. She was convinced she knew it best.
"The two of them... probably will."
"Exactly. If they actually hook up, corruption symptoms are guaranteed. Got it? That magical girl who disrespected us Heresy Inquisitors needs a lesson."
"Sigh, can you even win? You went flying from one kick last time."
"Ah, I've got friends who owe me favors. Any request, they'll handle it."
"Sigh, do whatever. I'm out."
"What? Aren't we Team 1? Fine, whatever. We won't run short-handed."
Truth was, she had zero interest in sniffing out heretics. She just saw men as jerk-off toys to hunt.
"That guy looks delicious..."
She wanted to ram that man's cock into her pussy. As a survivor herself, she prided herself on knowing Lumia's state better than anyone.
If Lumia lost control and attacked? Perfect—she could frame her as a corrupted one and take her down.