Peter Pan - 6
Mikoto's certificate was surprisingly straightforward and unproblematic. It was a simple command: "Cease your sexual assault activities."
"Here, stamp it! Stamp it for me!"
It reminded me of my childhood days, when I'd swipe my parents' resident registration numbers to sneak peeks at naughty novels. I was just an ordinary guy with no real authority, yet here I was, elevated to this position solely because I was a man. It felt awkward.
"Do a lot of people... no, issue commands like this?"
"Yeah! Tons of them! Like wanting to rent a whole inn by themselves, or loosening up some regulations on their company bit by bit..."
"Does that even make a difference?"
"Well, just letting them know mainland men are watching adds real weight to it!"
Mikoto clutched the document I'd signed to her chest, inspected it meticulously, then slipped it into a ochre envelope, sealing it carefully with glue.
"Mainland... that's a forbidden word at our house."
"Huh? Why? Anyway, thank you so much, Master!"
She folded the envelope neatly back into her laptop bag and gave me another grateful hug.
"And now, just a quick online authentication process, and we're done!"
Mikoto snuggled right up beside me, staring intently at her phone. When the confirmation message popped up, she bounced around in excitement.
"We did it! Thank you! Now I can finally face my colleagues with my head held high!"
She paused for a moment to compose herself, then suddenly put on a bratty expression.
"I-It's not like I'm doing this because I'm super grateful to you or anything..."
I cut her off. "It's fine. You don't have to."
"Huh?"
"Anyway, if we're going to Japan, I guess I should get my passport ready too?"
I'd gotten it issued, but I had no real memory of ever using it. Trips abroad had been passport-free back then, and after the war, I barely left the house, let alone traveled.
"Oh, Master doesn't have to come, you know? I'd feel too bad making you fly all that way just for me... You don't like going out much anyway, right?"
"Still, wouldn't it be better if we all went together? Isn't it risky for you alone?"
Even from internet news, Japan's crime reports popped up constantly. Sending Mikoto off by herself worried me in all sorts of ways.
"Going with a man would make it way more dangerous... If something goes wrong and local terrorists grab you, you'd be held hostage and treated like a gold bar plus a dildo, you know?"
"That bad?"
I didn't think local terrorists would nab me, but facing down guns wasn't exactly fun.
"O-Of course, I think even golden Master would look super cool?"
"Japan's way more dangerous than I imagined... I just can't feel easy sending you alone..."
In truly dangerous places, stuff like "He looks young, but check the ID—he's an adult" doesn't help at all. To criminals, young-looking means just a kid.
"How about going with Yukiko, then?"
"Eek, no way! I'm super awkward around Yukiko. And I don't like leaving you behind alone either..."
Mikoto seemed to want to handle this solo. To truly resolve things, it'd probably be better to drag me along, even if it meant downplaying Japan's security issues.
"So, when do you want to head out?"
"Day after tomorrow... morning? We'll be apart briefly, but don't get too sad without Mikoto, okay, oppa!"
She smiled brightly, but I couldn't hide my mixed feelings.
"I've already installed a wiretap and tracking app on Mikoto's phone. This'll allow minimal surveillance."
"Good work."
The corner of the cafe was reasonably quiet. Yukiko had initially refused coffee but ordered an iced Americano; Park Si-young, buzzing with excitement, got a vanilla latte piled high with whipped cream and a hefty honey butter bread.
"Nom nom... Doesn't seem like Mikoto's wrong about anything. Japan really... um, not to put it harshly, but it's not stabilized. Security, economy, all of it..."
"And yet they still have anime? Kinda ironic."
"Opposite, actually. Their manufacturing base got wrecked, so they're pivoting hard to tourism and culture. Like poor countries growing drugs instead of food while people starve... a sanitized version of that."
"Is sending Mikoto there the right call?"
"Depends on what you want, Seongha."
Park Si-young munched on her bread. Thinking about it, her sky-high energy matched Mikoto's in a way.
"Honestly, Mikoto's request is pretty outrageous."
"Yeah, she seemed desperate... And I figured I could swing it. Just signing a note, right?"
"Th-There are lots of people in Japan who see slaves as kinda contract-girlfriend types, but those who come that way all taste harsh reality."
She slurped her cafe mocha; a sharp sweetness tingled on my tongue. It was loaded with extra syrup, sickeningly sweet.
"Mikoto was really lucky to meet a master like you. Most naive, innocent types who come over like that..."
I knew slaves who overstepped got poor evaluations from their owners, or worse if hated. I knew I was soft on Mikoto too. But I didn't want to change my actions or thoughts just because worse people existed.
"So, is Mikoto telling the truth?"
"Police not moving on something like sexual favors? Probably true. Corruption's bad, and... locals might not notice, but they just flat-out lack cops."
"May I say something, Master?"
Yukiko, who'd been silent, joined in. Her iced Americano had barely diminished.
"Mikoto's issue isn't even worth your concern from the start. Whether she refuses or not, go to Japan with her and resolve it yourself in her place."
"Yeah, that's the cleanest way all around. You go, shoot the perp once, come back—they couldn't even interrogate you properly. Even if they tried, a decent excuse and no court."
"Where's the rule of law... Sounds way worse than I thought."
Yukiko paused, and tension naturally built. She was never wrong.
"Are you afraid Mikoto might abuse your prestige for evil? Don't put her to the test. Deny her any chance to sin—handle every problem yourself."
Park Si-young's face slowly hardened. She gulped down her bread and stared at me with wide eyes.
"Whoa, whoa. For real, Seongha? That just gave me chills..."
"Don't overthink it. I just... don't want to interfere. Didn't want to wreck Mikoto's plan."
Yukiko drained her Americano in one rude, uncharacteristic gulp, like she'd had enough.
"Do you wish for Mikoto to save her voice actor colleague herself, rather than via the man she brought? Your consideration is excessive."
Park Si-young eyed me suspiciously, suspicion lingering.
"Anyway, decision's made. Tomorrow Mikoto leaves, day after we follow. Surveillance, protection—whatever, can't leave her alone."
"I'll prepare for the trip. She won't notice."
Yukiko set aside her personal opinion and obeyed instantly. Seeing that always made me feel guilty.
"Not just surveillance—think of it as a cozy trip for two."
"Nngh... An honor beyond my station."
Park Si-young trembled anxiously but polished off her bread determinedly.
"Man... Timing for this trip is killer. Bad season too... Just gotta ask out of curiosity, Seongha. You're not, like, backed up and pop! wanting to go, right?"
"If it's lust, I handle it daily. Twice a day... Though I fall short due to my inexperience."
Yukiko bowed her head. Park Si-young flailed in panic.
"No, that's private! No need to share! Well, twice is a bit lacking. But this guy's come a long way from jerking off solo without Yukiko!"
"What's pop!? I smoke cigs but never touched drugs."
"Like, hooker stuff—meaning even if you snap or cause trouble, no need to think 'oh shit, game over'."
"I'd have to get mad first."
"Seongha, you're still a Gardener."
I blanked on Park Si-young's words for a second. Even after understanding, I couldn't accept it. Easier to believe "Seongha has wings on his back." I wasn't a bird; I shouldn't have wings. And I sure as hell shouldn't be a Gardener.
"No way, how..."
"I-I'll head out! Have a great Japan trip!"
Park Si-young bolted from the cafe. I wanted to ask more, but shock rooted me.
"Are you alright, Master?"
"Yeah. Gotta look into it eventually, but right now, you and Mikoto come first."
I smiled to reassure Yukiko. Grateful for her worry, I instinctively gripped her hand tight.