MAEVE POV

Meow~

My ears perked at the noise, and I turned to see a cute tabby cat sitting right beside me. The cat seemed kind and concerned about me.

“Don’t worry, little one, I’m fine,” I reassured it, though my mind was still lost in thought as I stared blankly at the sky.

It had been a month since then.

He carried me back to his place after demolishing the entire place, a feat that seemed almost unbelievable for one person to accomplish. Yet, he managed it effortlessly. He cleaned up the data and modified the records in a way that would convince anyone who stumbled upon them that the experiment was a lost cause.

I wasn’t sure how he did it, as he simply stood there, blinking his eyes rapidly. But he assured me that he would take extra precautions in manipulating the archive to prevent the same thing from happening again. For some reason, I knew his words held truth, so I clung to them.

We managed to escape to the surface with little difficulty. Along the way, all personnel we encountered were either paralyzed or fell asleep, rendering our escape unhindered. From a safe distance, I watched as an explosion erupted, obliterating the base. He confirmed to me that all relevant members had perished, whether inside the base or outside in their hiding areas.

I wanted to ask how he was so sure of it, but each time I tried to probe his intentions, nothing seemed amiss. He always spoke the truth, albeit not divulging it entirely.

I know this because he’s a man of many identities. He told me that he discarded his previous one because of the demands of his “job.” Though I’m still unsure about what exactly his job entails, I do know that he’s not a NEET, given the luxurious apartment we live in, situated in an inner ring.

He goes by the name Qinn in our daily lives. When he’s diving into the web, he becomes known as Player Q. And when he’s off on his “job,” he transforms into the Phantom Magician, dressed in a striking white suit, jacket, top hat, and mask.

I asked him, “Why Phantom Magician?”

He launched into a long rant, striking weird poses as he explained how he was inspired by the legend of the phantom thief but didn’t want to make it sound cheap or tacky. So, he decided to go with the magician theme instead.

I couldn’t help but giggle at his explanation. Qinn is such a dork.

Yes, those poses..... dorky.

I could sense his worries emanating from him the moment I felt depressed.

He gently asked if I wanted to visit my old district and hang out there for a change of pace. At first, I was reluctant, but my curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to see what had changed during my coma. Did the people there still remember me? So, we went together.

Standing at the district center, I could feel my grip tighten on his hand. If he was uncomfortable, he didn’t show it.

Everything had changed. The apartment next door, the fish store, the cheap restaurant—they were all completely different now. But what truly broke my heart was when I stood in front of what used to be my home.

It was now just an alleyway.

My breath quickened. It was just a home, I told myself. I had lived there alone for the longest time after moving from Victoria’s slum. But why did I move there? How did I move there? I couldn’t remember. My mind, which should have had missing spots, told me that everything made sense. But in reality, it didn’t.

I was scared. I questioned myself in circles. What was I missing? Why? What? How?

Luckily, Qinn was there to help me through my panic attack. I shuddered to think of what would have happened had he not been there to aid my hyperventilation in the middle of that deserted alleyway.

That night, I cried myself to sleep in his arms. I didn’t know the reason for my tears, but he assured me that it was okay to let them out. Feelings and emotions aren’t rational, he said, so it’s okay to cry when you want to.

He gave me a name: Maeve, meaning a captivating dream. It was a promise for me to find new hopes and dreams, and to be the best version of myself I could be. For the first time in a while, I slept a little better after my tears dried up.

Morning came, and he acted as usual, not teasing me for crying. I won’t say thank you directly; it’s embarrassing enough as it is. But he was warm.

His gentle whispers reassured me that everything would be fine.

His strong arms held me close to his chest.

His smell…...

NO NO NO, what am I thinking?

Despite my reddening face, I knew that deep down inside the pitch-black darkness, a track began to appear. I wasn’t sure how I felt. I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t expect it, but I wasn’t ready for a second time.

I needed more time—time that I didn’t have the luxury of having. Even now, the darkness was inching ever closer, promising to rip me apart into nothingness. But the fear of taking that first step onto the track held me back, so I procrastinated.

Days went by as he introduced me to various fun activities to alleviate my worries and sadness.

He can be a gentleman at times, like when he went all out to trash me completely in a fighting game, claiming that holding back isn’t very gentlemanly of the Phantom Magician. But he made sure to buy me my favorite puddings afterward, so all is forgiven.

He can be a perverted dork sometimes, especially when he nerds out over the latest female cartoon figurine. I scratched his face out of spite when he told me a woman’s big chest was a man’s romance. Stupid pervert. I’m still growing. He’ll see.

He can be super spiteful too when he’s angry. To this day, I still laugh whenever I recall the video he showed me titled “The Horror Next Door.” The popcorn was extra delicious that day. I had found my prank-loving comrade.

However, one day he came back home injured, and I could feel my heart dropping at the horrid sight. I almost shouted “Master” as I ran to him, but I held back. Turns out I was blowing things out of proportion. The injuries weren’t that deep, but the sight of him covered in red scared me something fierce.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

After I finished treating him, I tried pestering him to finally tell me what his job was all about. I thought for sure he had destroyed the lab, so he shouldn’t be doing any more dangerous stuff, right? He refused to tell me, even to this day. That night, we fought.

I know the reason why he wouldn’t tell me, but seeing him go out every day and leave me behind was becoming harder and harder. Doubts started sprouting in my mind. What if he gets hurt again? What if the bad guys get to him?

What if he didn’t make it back?

Something inside of me snapped that day, and the track grew clearer towards a destination. I couldn’t live like this any longer, feeling the growing dread of my rampant imagination every time I stood by the door waiting for him to come back. My world grew darker every second he came home late from his job.

I’m running out of time.

So here I am, accompanying him in the shopping district, completing the checklist of our daily necessities.

Towards the end of the checklist, he insisted that it was a men’s thing and I didn’t have to come with him. He had me sit on a bench while he went off in the direction of a shop where he bought that stupid big-breasted female figurine.

Looks like the face scratch last time was not strong enough. I need to sharpen my nails before he comes back.

“I’m back, sorry for the wait. I needed to get a few men’s underwear.”

“I can smell the lie from miles away. You went to that stupid shop didn’t you?”

“Urk! Nooo…?”

“You--!!”

“You?”

“You have me!” is what I wanted to say, but I bit my tongue back.

Breath in, Breath out. I can rearrange his face later, but not now. I need focus.

“Buy me something.”

“O-ok, what do you want me to buy.”

I pointed to a distant place that was a bit hidden from the main road. It’s a shop with specific tastes. I dared not say the word out loud, but there was something there that I needed. So, I braced myself.

“Over there... what the heck? Are you serious?”

I looked down at the ground and nodded strongly. Unable to endure any more embarrassment, I linked my arm to his and pulled him to walk beside me. The sooner we finish this, the better.

I entered the shop at a quick pace. Thank God there is no door chime. I couldn’t bear having people see how red I was. I grabbed a nearby collar that was on display, jogged to the nearest counter, and slammed it in front of the cash register. This entire time I was looking down at the floor.

“This is…. are you-”

I tightened my grip over his arm and just nodded. Any more than this and I will stomp his foot twice. He sighed, rubbed his head, and made the purchase. I could tell he was getting embarrassed by the shopkeeper grinning at him.

The second the transaction finished, I grabbed the collar and rushed out of the store.

“Haa… it’s good to be young.”

I could hear the shopkeeper saying something, but I pretended not to hear it. I pulled Qinn quickly into a secluded area, and surprisingly, he kept up with me instead of stopping me.

We were finally at a place where there was no one around, and I shoved the collar into his hand, making him drop those bags of figurines. Maybe I would step on them later when his attention is elsewhere, but that would be too mean of me, wouldn’t it?

No, focus!

I slapped my face a couple of times and shifted my hair to the side, exposing my nape to him.

“W-well, what are you waiting for?”

“I…..Are you sure?”

“Positive. My time is running out, I couldn’t hold it back any longer.”

“But what about your feelings? Is this truly what you want?”

“I don’t know……Even now, I still don’t know how much of me is left when I stared down that track. But I want to believe, I want to believe you will always treat me right no matter what I will become. That’s why it’s fine. If it wasn’t for you back then, I would have suffered a fate worse than death. Instead, I was shown how to love and be loved in return. I trust you, so please, do this for me.”

After a long moment, he approaches my back. His hand seemed hesitant for a split second before he finally clasped the collar onto my neck. I braced myself for what might happen next.

Nothing happened.

I felt no changes, but the darkness stopped inching closer. It slowly retreated and the sky grew clearer and clearer until I saw the figure at the end of the track.

Qinn smiled at me. Our souls resonated, and I knew for a fact that he expected nothing of me. No threading down on a warpath to burn down the world. No cursing enemies for generations to come. Not even a world-shattering pleasure that I often saw in his perverted picture book.

My view widened as the receding darkness disappeared completely, and I saw the world that lies beyond.

It’s a vast blue sky as far as the eye can see. Fresh air and green grass were all around me, with him standing next to a giant tree, watching me with a warm gaze. His intent tells me more than a thousand words. He wants to protect me from those who wish to harm me. More importantly, he wants me to find a path. A path of my own that will lead me to my happiness.

Tears started flowing down. Silly Qinn, my path has always been fated to lead me to you.

My master.

I ran along the track, and jump hugged him.

Thank you.

Thank you for being born.

Thank you for saving me.

Thank you for trusting me.

I moved my head closer to his and prepared to give him my first kiss.

I Love Yo-

BEEP BEEP.

BEEP BEEP.

BEEP BEEP.

BEEP BE- SLAM!

I smashed the alarm clock and opened my eyes.

What happened? Where am I?

I’m currently sitting on a bed.

When did I get home? What about my first kiss?

Then it came back to me. A silhouette of a giant man with a dark and blurred countenance. Arms so big, they could wrestle a three-stacked-up telephone pole and swing it like a baseball bat. The word menacing doesn’t even begin to describe it.

I tried probing into his intent, and what I saw made my hair stand on end. It was a depiction of hell. Souls wailing in a twisted symphony inside a gaping maw that threatened to swallow anyone it disagreed with.

So many souls, to the point of making me feel dizzy just recounting the scene.

Then he let his pressure be known. I couldn’t do anything but kneel on all fours while retching my stomach and lungs out. Its intent reached Qinn.

Qinn.

Where is Qinn!?

He is not here. I instantly reach for my neck and feel for my collar. It’s gone. C-c-calm down. He promised me that I could fight alongside him. He promised me that he would take care of me.

I looked around and finally found where he put my collar. It was on top of the table with a paper note next to it.

No no no…It can’t be. He promised.

Is it because I’m weak? Am I a burden?

Am I no longer needed? Is he abandoning me?

I had nothing left. I don’t want to wait here all alone.

Not when I know you will face that monster again. If you die, I ……. I will……

I started choking. My breath grew erratic and I could feel my vision blurred. It’s painful, please make it stop. It hurts.

Qinn. Save me. Qinn…

“I’m back. Are you awake, Kitty? Kitty!?”

He threw away the contents of his plastic bag and placed it near my face. He gently coaxed me to breathe slowly and steadily while using his other hand to circle my back, gently patting, and massaging it. After a moment, he put the plastic bag away and whispered into my ears softly.

“I was just going off to buy a coffee. Don’t worry. I’m here.”

“M-my collar…..”

“Sorry, I thought it would make you breathe easier.”

“It’s mine…..please don’t take it away from me.”

I hugged him tightly, afraid of letting go. “You are my master. My everything belongs to you, so please use me. I will fight for you. Don’t abandon me. I don’t want to be alone. I’d rather die!” I cried into his chest, afraid of what he would say next.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have removed the collar. I will never abandon you.”

“R-really? *Sniff*, you promise?”

“Yes, so please calm down. I’m not going anywhere, and from now on we will fight side by side.”

“Cross your heart…”

“Cross my heart. I will entrust my back to you, just like how you entrust yours to me.”

“O-okay…”

“Maeve, from now onward, I will need your power more than ever. There are things we shouldn’t have known, but here we are anyway. The product of this twisted and desperate world. I want to change that. And to do that, I need a group of trustworthy people who will fight alongside me. That includes you.”

“Not just me? You are not thinking about making allies with a big-breasted girl, are you?”

“Cough! W-where did you get that idea from? A-anyway, to tell you about my goal, I need to start from the beginning. It’s going to be a long story so buckle up!”

I narrowed my eyes. He hesitated for a split 0.42 seconds, but I will let it slide. Because today is the first time he has come clean with everything. Even though the majority of the story was about his silly escapades and pranking people around with his Technomancer abilities. It’s funny and fun.

I want him to succeed in whatever path he chooses for himself. Just like how he wants me to succeed in accomplishing mine.

I rubbed my belly as I snuggled closer to his warm chest.

Someday.