Tag Mind control -1

“It’s quite peaceful today.”

Iris was enjoying leisure time while strolling through the city at dawn.

How long has it been since she had such a leisurely dawn?

For nearly a month, Kraken hadn’t appeared, and there were no major threats. At most, just a few common criminals.

“Haah… this is nice…”

Is peace finally coming to the world?

“Kyukyu, everything quiet?”

“Yes. It’s peaceful.”

“That’s good.”

Iris stretched wide while drinking coffee bought from a convenience store.

“Hmm…”

There’s no need to patrol any further. It’s not like there’s anything specific to do.

“Should I head home early today?”

But Iris didn’t know. Accidents always happen when one lets their guard down.

“Ugh… ugh… help me…”

A woman appeared in front of Iris. She was staggering severely.

“Are you okay!?”

“Ugh… ugh… I’m dizzy…”

“Did something happen…!”

“Ken…”

“Ken?”

“Kraken…”

When she heard that name, Kraken, Iris narrowed her eyes.

“…It’s been a month.”

“Pardon?”

“No, nothing. Is it really him who did this?”

Of course. The woman nodded several times. Iris wondered why Kraken would attack a civilian, but there was no reason for the woman to lie.

Iris moved in the direction the woman indicated.

“…There he is.”

The woman was right. Kraken was standing there, drenched in the morning dew.

He looked much the same as usual. Iris approached without particular caution.

“Are you trying to set the mood by yourself?”

“…Iris.”

“Why, how’s the moonlight for the last time?”

“Hmm… ah, I see.”

He’s still a strange one. No, he might be even stranger than usual.

Still, he didn’t usually emit such an odd atmosphere.

“…Well, never mind.”

There’s no need to think deeply. In the end, if she defeats him, that’s all that matters. There’s no need to prolong the conversation.

Swoosh!

Iris charged like an arrow being shot.

“You don’t want to have a long conversation.”

“We’re not on those terms!”

Dodging her punch, Kraken shook his head. He landed on the ground and said:

“How sad.”

“Sad?”

“I never thought I’d have to resort to this method.”

Kraken continued to speak incomprehensibly. Even after being attacked multiple times, he showed no intention of counterattacking.

Iris paused her movement momentarily due to this strangeness.

Why on earth is he acting like this?

“Are you going through menopause?”

“I’m not that old.”

“Then why are you being so pathetic?”

“…It’s just, regrettable.”

Sighing, Kraken extended his arm.

“Come here.”

“What…?”

From the direction Kraken extended his arm, tap tap, footsteps were heard. A woman walked out from the darkness.

It was a familiar face.

“You from just now…! It’s dangerous here! Run away!”

“…”

“Why are you coming when I’m telling you to run!?”

As Iris was panicking, even more bewildering words reached her ears.

“I’ve brought Iris, master.”

“Good work.”

Master?

“You… this was your plan all along…”

“It’s regrettable. I don’t prefer this method either.”

“That woman…?”

“Don’t misunderstand. She’s an ordinary person, just experiencing a bit of misfortune for catching my eye.”

Iris felt anger at those words. She thought he was a decent villain as far as villains go.

“So you’re scum who mistreats women?”

“…This much is still a drop in the bucket.”

“What more are you planning to do?”

At Iris’s words, Kraken, though looking conflicted, raised his head.

“Be captured willingly.”

“…What?”

“If not.”

In an instant, tentacles rushed to grab the woman. Her body looked precarious, as if it would be crushed immediately.

“This poor woman’s life will come to an end today.”

“You… cowardly bastard…! Now you’re even taking hostages!?”

“It can’t be helped.”

Iris was astonished by this unprecedented situation.

Profanity burst from her mouth.

“You perverted bastard!”

Unable to find proper words, she could only curse. Since she wasn’t used to cursing, she could only repeat similar words.

“Make your decision.”

“…Kuk…”

“Will you let this woman die, or will you be captured?”

There wasn’t an option to reject both. Iris ran a simulation in her head.

Break the tentacles instantly, save the woman, then retreat. The best possible scenario.

But Kraken wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

‘…Still, I have to do it.’

Iris slowly approached Kraken. As if agreeing to his terms.

Just as the tentacles holding the woman loosened and were about to turn towards Iris.

“…Hup!”

Iris stomped the ground hard, creating a shockwave.

Boom!

Concrete walls rising around her in a circle. They became barriers between Kraken and Iris.

“Snap out of it!”

“…”

“Hurry and run—kyak!?”

Of course, as the woman wasn’t in her right mind, she did something bizarre. She took out her phone and suddenly turned on the flash.

“Turn it off! Quickly!”

“…”

“Tch!”

Iris snatched the woman. In that state, she flew up and escaped.

As for Kraken…

“Huh…? Where did he go?”

He had disappeared from his spot in an instant.

‘Is he following?’

He wasn’t following either. He had vanished like the wind, disappearing without a trace.

Where on earth did he go? It was concerning, to be sure.

‘For now, I need to get away quickly.’

She couldn’t fight with this woman in tow.

With that in mind, Iris fled while avoiding being tracked as much as possible. Taking the most winding paths possible, to prevent Kraken from following.

“Once we get past this street, we’ll be fine.”

“…”

“Just wait a little longer.”

A police station would appear a little further ahead.

“How long are you planning to keep the flash on! Ugh… I can’t break the phone either…”

“…”

“Anyway, let’s hurry to the police station. Once we reach there, we’ll be safe, so don’t worry about anything.”

“If you can get there, that is.”

“We can get there! …Huh?”

Iris froze.

‘That voice just now… a man’s voice?’

A man’s voice.

No.

“…Kraken…?”

Kraken’s distorted voice was heard.

‘From behind… no, from below.’

Iris used her intuition to trace the source. Looking back, she saw a long shadow. It was because the woman was shining the flash.

Feeling something eerie, goosebumps rising—

“Got you.”

Shadow.

Tentacles as dark as pitch poured out from it.

“Kuk!?”

“I am here, young lady.”

Crawling out from the shadow, Kraken spoke.

“I can’t stay still forever either.”

“Kuk… let go! I said let go!”

“As you’ve grown stronger… as your tactics have increased. I too have changed.”

“It’s sticky… disgusting…!”

“Checkmate.”

It was Kraken’s declaration of victory.

+++++

‘…Phew… barely caught her.’

‘Good work. What should we do with that woman?’

‘The streets are dangerous at night. We should escort her home after this is over.’

‘True. She almost suffered at the hands of beastly men. Going out alone at night would be dangerous again?’

‘Of course.’

I slowly moved the woman who had helped me back.

Then I saw Iris who was bound by tentacles and screaming.

“Let me go quickly! You pervert!”

Iris, bound by tentacles, struggles. Her face is full of anger, asking if I’m using such dirty tricks.

“Success.”

“You… cowardly bastard…!”

“…Sigh, you’re the first one to make me use such methods.”

Her gaze is fierce. Perhaps it’s because this is the first time she’s been toyed with like this.

“What are you planning to do to me tied up like this…?”

I withheld my words. It was difficult to explain.

For now, the plan was as follows:

Hold Iris until the others arrive. Once they arrive, apply mind control and make them fight.

A plan where the other magical girls, shocked by this incident, would strive to become stronger on their own.

For the first step of that, this is just the beginning.

“…I’ve sent letters to the other magical girls too.”

“…Don’t do anything weird.”

“…They’ll all come to save you.”

“I’ll really kill you… you perverted bastard…”

“…In front of their eyes, the show will begin.”

Why does my heart hurt already…?

‘…’

‘Why aren’t you saying anything?’

‘…My conscience hurts…’

‘At this point?’

Iris’s gaze begins to change. Eyes full of anger gradually intensify, then turn into a kind of hatred.

She seems to think I’m going to do something. And it’s probably something of a very horrific nature.

It’s hard to explain given the ambiguous way she’s caught. Wrapped in tentacles with both arms raised, bound like that.

“…”

“…”

Her heavy silence weighs on my heart. How much time has passed?

Iris sharply turns her head away.

“I understand what you want to do.”

“…”

“You can hit me until you’re satisfied, or experiment as you please.”

“…”

“…Could you at least leave my first experience?”

Kkomul-i reacts to Iris’s words.

‘Hmm… perhaps… that’s because she’s thinking of Mr. Shin Hyun…’

‘…Quiet.’

Haah.

“…Hmm, is that so?”

“I, despite how I look, have someone I like. For that person, I must…”

I had nothing to say. How could I tell her that the person is right in front of her, doing this?

I remained silent, and that seemed to make Iris anxious.

“…Sob…”

“…Are you crying?”

“No… sob… oppa…”

Oh no…

‘Are you okay?’

‘My conscience… hurts…’

‘That’s what happens when you do this kind of thing.’

‘It couldn’t be helped… it’s safer than making her fight villains or monsters…’

‘…Sigh…’

My heart aches.

When are the others coming?