Tag Mind control -4

Now, what should I do?

“Noah.”

“Yes, master.”

“Could you let me go now?”

“No.”

To escape from this evil Noah’s clutches.

“Noah, aren’t you hot? It’s extremely hot these days.”

“I turned on the air conditioner.”

“Oh my, that won’t do. Using electricity so recklessly. If we waste like that, the world will end.”

“If I can’t have master by my side, that might be preferable.”

Noah didn’t seem inclined to let me go.

I lay there feeling like a ship tied to an anchor.

Noah, the anchor, had bound me firmly. There’s probably no way to escape.

I resigned myself and quietly embraced Noah.

“Do you like it?”

“…Yes, I like it. Um…”

“Yes?”

“Could you hug me a little tighter… tight enough that I can’t breathe?”

“…”

“Is that too troublesome for you?”

What should I do? Seeing Noah’s tearful expression makes my heart soften.

The guilt of doing something I shouldn’t, the regret of making Noah cry. The two emotions mix, giving me a headache.

I don’t know anymore.

“Ah…”

When I granted her wish, Noah exhaled a heated breath. Noah’s petite body fits snugly into my arms.

It feels like energy is being drained into her body.

“Hehe…”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, it’s warm…”

…Well, after putting her under hypnosis and causing her trouble, I should at least do this much.

I gently stroked Noah’s back.

“Go to sleep now.”

“Mmm…”

Noah looked tired.

That’s inevitable. After all that commotion throughout the dawn.

Don’t children need to sleep a lot to grow well? Noah still has a long way to grow, so she should be put to sleep forcibly if necessary.

The appropriately warm inside of the blanket, the properly dry and cool outside of the blanket. With the luxury of being covered with a blanket and the air conditioner on, Noah seemed to be getting sleepy.

The bed, much softer than the one in her gosiwon, must have contributed as well.

Noah spoke with a sleepy voice.

“Master…”

“Yes?”

“You won’t… go anywhere, right?”

Noah spoke as if pleading and approached me. Until then, I still couldn’t find the words to say.

“Don’t go anywhere. Stay with me.”

“…”

“Because I don’t like being lonely.”

Her voice was moistly wet. Really, she’s so perceptive. How did she know I was planning to escape once she fell asleep?

Noah buried her face and mumbled.

“Keep staying with me… from now on…”

“…”

“If master disappears… I’ll become sad.”

The sight of her even shedding a tear makes it seem like she’s been quite lonely.

I’ve been with her every day, but was that not enough?

I stroked the head of Noah, who had fallen asleep, using her sleep-talking as background music.

“Mmm…”

“…”

“…Oppa…”

“…”

Even in her sleep, she’s looking for me. When I stroked her head, Noah made a comfortable expression.

Looking at her expression like that, I took a sip of water.

‘Don’t go anywhere…’

If only I could, I’d be more than willing to do that. To do so, I must survive the upcoming battles.

‘…Will I be able to survive?’

I recalled.

The day of the impending catastrophe. The day when everyone might die.

+++++

There are two major boss battles in this game.

One is, of course, defeating the final boss of this game, the Demon King, Ludere.

And the other boss is Lust.

He is the mid-boss of this work. Appearing at the end of the summer vacation, he is different from the monsters so far.

‘I was really surprised when I first saw him.’

If I were to describe him, he’s a massive chunk of flesh. A chaos that sees people as mere objects of pleasure.

If defeated by him, not only magical girls but an entire city will be completely turned into a hive for him.

Men as nutrients, women as egg sacs.

What fate awaits magical girls who would become powerful hosts in that process. There’s no need to explain that.

Especially Iris, who becomes even more horrific.

She becomes unable to lose consciousness, experiencing vivid pain.

And above all.

‘…Summer vacation is not far away.’

Summer vacation is really just around the corner now. Especially considering it’s not a long vacation.

Lust’s appearance will be soon.

Soon, he will appear at some point, using a city as his stage, and heroes will launch a large-scale raid.

I wasn’t this tense even when fighting Iris. Recalling Lust’s horrific appearance made me break into a cold sweat.

‘It will be difficult for me to stay by her side.’

Lust attacks so widely. Moving around here and there on dispatches makes it difficult to stick right beside Iris.

I will also be included in Lust’s targets, and I also need to avoid heroes.

“…Sigh.”

‘Why are you sighing so much?’

‘Kyu, are you okay?’

Kkomul-i and Kyukyu, who were playing together amicably under the bed, crawl out.

‘You two are getting along well.’

‘Yes, he’s more understandable than I thought.’

‘Kyu, Mr. Kkomul is an interesting person.’

‘You’re not talking behind my back, are you?’

‘No.’

‘Of course not.’

Both shake their heads simultaneously.

…Really not? I looked at them with suspicious eyes. They nodded as quickly as possible, as if it really wasn’t true.

At that moment, Noah’s body twitched.

The rustling sounds must have bothered her.

“Ugh… don’t go… oppa don’t go…”

“Noah, mister is right here.”

“Don’t go… cold…”

“Don’t worry. Mister won’t go anywhere.”

I stroked Noah like that and made her fall back asleep.

I felt gazes on my back.

The two mascots seemed determined to tease me, putting on a performance with all their might.

‘Mr. Kyukyu… I’m so cold…’

‘Kyu… don’t worry… I won’t go any-‘

‘Go to sleep. I’m starting to crave chicken and raw fish.’

‘Eek!?’

‘Kyuu!?’

I chased away the two shocked ones and looked at Noah once more.

She was sleeping obliviously. She looked like a fairy resting on a cloud.

“Mmm… hehe… oppa…”

“I wonder what kind of dream she’s having…”

When I pressed her mochi-like cheek, she made an “mmm” sound.

‘It’s soft.’

I stopped because she might wake up if I continued, but it’s an addictively soft texture.

“Noah. Let’s definitely survive together.”

I kept patting Noah’s small back.

Until dreams lured me away.

+++++

“Master, where are you going?”

Scritch scratch. Noah, who was slicing meat, turned around to look at me.

I told her honestly.

“To face the magical girls.”

“Have they invaded?”

“No, I’m just going to meet them.”

Noah’s worried eyes turn towards me.

“Will you be okay? Should I come with you…”

“It’s okay, I won’t die.”

“Ah…”

“Uh…”

Having said that line, I smiled awkwardly.

“Really. Do you think I’d lose to them?”

Noah shook her head.

“So don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”

I patted Noah’s head. Still anxious, she held my hand tightly and asked.

“…You must come back safely, okay?”

“My goodness, someone might think I’m going to my death.”

“Even so…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back.”

“Be careful. I’ll prepare something delicious, so you must come back, understood?”

“I got it. I’m going then.”

After leaving the accommodation, I waited on a tall building.

It seems like it’s about time they should be coming.

“Kraken!”

Hmm, punctual.

“Return Iris at once!”

I turned around at the familiar voice. There stood Black Heart.

“Did you come alone?”

“Stella and Natalia are still recovering.”

“Hmm, I wish them a speedy recovery.”

Black Heart made an incredulous expression. Well, anyone would react like that when the perpetrator says such things.

She seemed to have nothing more to say and drew her black sword. The aura of black magic flowing along the blade is ominous.

“Oh ho, do you intend to face me alone?”

“Iris is gone, Stella is gone, Natalia is gone. But.”

Flare.

Flames ignite in Black Heart’s eyes.

“That doesn’t mean I can leave a nasty villain alone, right?”

“…I see.”

I inwardly rejoiced. That’s right. This is how Black Heart should respond.

I was worried she might chicken out and give up, but that doesn’t seem to be a concern.

Especially.

“Black Heart!”

“Let’s fight together!”

“Unnies…?”

Seeing that appearance, even more so.

“I should be the one to save my friend.”

“We can’t let our youngest fight alone, right?”

“Unnies…! Yes, let’s do this together!”

A scene where magical girls unite to rescue a friend.

“Excellent.”

However, this is not a fairy tale. Stories where suddenly tremendous power surges and defeats the villain, such Märchen-like stories don’t exist.

If you want to defeat a villain, if you want to protect what’s precious to you. In the end, there’s only the way of becoming stronger.

“Very well! Then let’s have at it!”

“””…”””

“I’ll hold a festival with your blood, right here!”

For that, you need to train steadily on a regular basis.

“Come at me! You weaklings!”

I too intend to train them earnestly. That is ultimately the way to defeat villains and protect what’s precious.

And above all.

To survive again and again, to return to where Noah is waiting.

“Haah… mister is home…”

“Have you returned?”

“Ugh… I’m tired… Noah, can mister rest a bit-“

“Then… master. Would you like a shower? Dinner first? Or if not… me-“

“Okay, that’s enough. Mister is going to lie down.”

My heart might skip a beat every time I come back if she keeps doing this.

…And so, a month passed, exhausting both body and mind.