38

"Hera, how would you feel if someone forced themselves on you?"

"Cough."

The food I was eating got stuck in my throat, and I struggled to breathe.

As Athena quietly handed me water, I quickly grabbed it and gulped it down to push the blockage away.

What did I just hear?

Did someone… What did they say they'd do to me?

I must have misheard.

There was no way something like that would come out of her mouth out of nowhere.

"Sorry… I didn't catch that. What did you say?"

"I said, how would you feel if someone forced themselves on you?"

"Cough! Cough!"

This time, even though I hadn't eaten anything, my throat felt tight again. I took another sip of water to calm my confused heart.

…What kind of question is this?

Someone… forcing themselves on me?

Why is she bringing this up during a meal?

I couldn't figure out her intention at all.

"…I don't understand what you're saying."

But Athena was looking at me with a completely serious expression.

"I mean it literally."

Seeing Athena's serious face, I briefly considered her absurd question.

If someone tried to force themselves on me…?

…Wouldn't I just kill them?

After all, everyone who tried something with me in Drax ended up in the sky.

But Athena didn't look satisfied with my answer.

"What if the person was someone you couldn't defeat, no matter how strong you were?"

Is this some sort of psychological test or something?

Is she asking me this to learn more about me?

If that's the case, it's not entirely strange…

"Hmm… If it was someone I couldn't defeat with strength…"

I tried to imagine it.

A man stronger than me overpowering me.

Tearing my clothes to shreds…

And then…

"Ugh…"

A wave of nausea hit me.

Even though I've become a woman, the thought of being with a man doesn't appeal to me in the slightest.

Since I still have the memories of being a man, the sight of a man's body would make my entire being violently reject it.

I guess I'm going to live single forever.

I have no intention of being with a man.

And I'm not going to date a woman either.

I don't even feel the need to go back to my original world… so I guess I'll live alone in this place forever.

"No, that's not right. I have Athena."

She said she'd take care of me for life.

Even if she marries someone someday, she promised she'd always take responsibility for me. She said it herself.

Thinking about that made me feel a lot more at ease.

Looking at Athena, who was waiting for my answer, I said,

"I'd bite my tongue and die. And even in death, I'd curse that person forever."

"..."

Athena's expression darkened even more at my answer.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

After that, the only sound that filled the room was the clinking of utensils.

Hmm…

It's not that the food isn't good…

Maybe because it's been so long since I've had a proper meal, it's not going down as smoothly.

Usually, I'd just eat a bite or two and stop, but now that I'm trying to eat more, my stomach feels like it's rejecting it.

"You're the one who yelled for food… so eat it."

Even scolding my stomach didn't change anything.

In the end, I couldn't eat anymore and began to toy with my chopsticks. Athena, holding a bowl full of meat, sat down next to me.

She promptly cut the meat into neat pieces, picked one up with a fork, and said,

"Hera. Say 'ah~.'"

She held the food up to my mouth.

"Huh… huh?"

I was briefly taken aback by her unfamiliar kindness. But with her gesture urging me to eat, I had no choice but to open my mouth.

"Ah."

As soon as I took the food into my mouth, Athena immediately picked up more meat and held it out to me.

"…Athena?"

"You've gotten too skinny. I'll feed you."

"....."

In the end, I ate the food as she instructed.

"Here, open up."

More meat appeared in front of me.

"I… I'm full now…"

"Open your mouth."

"Ugh."

Reluctantly, I opened my mouth again at her firm command.

As I slowly chewed and swallowed the meat, another piece was presented before me.

"I… I really can't eat anymore…"

"Hera. Open your mouth."

"I really… huh?!"

When I refused, she forcibly opened my mouth and shoved the food in.

"Now, say 'ah~' again."

"Wait… wait a minute…"

This went on for quite some time.

"I… I haven't finished swallowing yet…!- Hmph!!"

"It's fine."

"I'm telling you, I can't eat anymore!! Ugh-"

"Open your mouth, Hera."

"W-wait… did I do something wrong?! Huff!"

"That's something you need to think about."

"I'm going to burst!! My stomach is going to explode!!"

"You can't move until you've finished it all."

"Nooo!!"

Until I had emptied the entire bowl, Athena continued her violent act of forcing food on me.

It was an atrocious act of food assault, truly.

"Ugh…"

"Drink this, Hera."

Athena offered me a glass of water.

I glared at her with resentment for a moment, then drank all the water in one go.

"I'm doing this because I'm worried about you. You're way too thin."

Athena gently patted my stomach, now full of food, as she spoke.

I couldn't really argue, since she said it was for my sake.

When I looked in the mirror, I did look like I could collapse at any moment.

She must've been worried about me and force-fed me because of that.

Well, thanks to her, I did end up eating a lot.

"…Don't do this again next time."

When I spoke curtly to her, she raised one eyebrow and said,

"Oh? Giving orders to your master?"

"Hey…"

She chuckled softly at my timid frustration.

"Alright, Hera. But make sure to eat well."

"…Okay."

Still, I didn't feel bad.

It had been a long time since I'd had such a satisfying meal.

Since coming to this mansion, it felt like it was the first time I had eaten peacefully in the dining room.

I hoped I could keep eating like this from now on.

I never realized how comforting it could be to have someone with me.

This, too, must be thanks to Athena.

Feeling grateful towards her, I wanted to repay her in some way.

Something that would make her happy.

I started thinking deeply about what I could do for her.

"I think I've expressed my affection a bit too much recently…"

In truth, I had been kissing her constantly, so much so that there hadn't been a day where her saliva wasn't in my mouth.

I wanted to do something a little different.

I glanced quietly at the table where we had eaten.

A table where various dishes had been served.

"…Would she like it if I cooked for her?"

Well, I had five years of living on my own. I'd always been interested in cooking, so I'd tried almost every dish.

The cooking skills I'd accumulated over the years.

I had quite a bit of confidence in my ability.

But then I thought, would she, who eats delicious food prepared by a skilled chef every day, really enjoy my cooking?

"Another negative thought."

I caught my mind starting to spiral downward again.

No.

Cooking is about sincerity and heart.

If I put in my best effort, she would surely appreciate it.

I firmly decided to cook for her and casually asked her.

"Athena… do you have any favorite foods?"

"Huh?"

She tilted her head at my question.

"Just… I'm curious!"

"Well, I don't particularly enjoy meals."

"Oh… is that so…?"

Maybe cooking wasn't the right idea.

As my heart sank a little, she spoke again.

"But if I had to choose, I'd say I like spicy food and meat."

"Really?!"

At my sudden outburst, her eyes widened as if to say, "What's wrong with you?"

Feeling a bit embarrassed by her reaction, I quickly brushed it off. That wasn't important.

"Ahem… Athena, do you have plans for dinner?"

"…No, not really."

She looked at me with a somewhat cautious expression.

"Then… let's have dinner together."

"…I was planning to anyway."

She answered as if it were the most obvious thing.

Perfect.

All the groundwork was laid.

Now, I just needed to decide what dish to cook for her.

This luxurious mansion surely had a great kitchen.

Athena said I could do whatever I wanted here, so there shouldn't be any issue using the kitchen.

"Are you okay, Hera?"

Maybe I looked a bit strange.

Athena was looking at me with a suspicious expression.

Did I give something away?

I wanted to surprise her with the meal, so I decided to change the subject.

"So… why did you ask that strange question earlier?"

Athena flinched slightly at my question.

She covered her mouth with one hand and mumbled something under her breath, so softly that I almost couldn't hear it.

"My patience has been running thin lately…"

"Huh?"

"It's nothing. Just be mindful of your actions. Someone might get the wrong idea."

Hmm…

I mean, I guess it could come off as showing off.

But honestly, this body of mine is unbelievably beautiful.

Even I still think I'm stunning every time I look in the mirror.

There might be people out there who would have dangerous thoughts about me.

Well, I can handle most of them anyway.

Unless it's a main boss-level villain from the original story, they won't be able to easily overpower me.

Even if they were, I wouldn't just get beaten up without a fight.

And if, as Athena said, an opponent I couldn't defeat with strength showed up…

I looked at Athena gently.

Then, I smiled softly at her.

"In times like that, you can protect me, right?"

You said you'd cherish me for life, so you should at least guarantee my safety.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be worth it.

Boom—!

"Hiiik?!!"

A sudden terrible noise.

When I properly opened my eyes, the table where we'd been peacefully eating had been shattered to pieces.

And on top of it—

Athena's fist, surrounded by golden mana, was resting.

I looked at her, and her eyes were blazing, staring straight through me.

"Hic."

"Didn't I just tell you… to watch your behavior?"

Her voice, low and growling like a beast, spoke to me.

I couldn't move an inch in front of her overwhelming gaze.

"Uh… uh..?"

What's going on..?

Did I say something wrong..?

***

In a distant part of the Empire, away from Einhart.

There was a mountain with a beautiful view.

And in the middle of that mountain stood a small cabin.

A middle-aged man, exuding a mysterious aura, came out of the cabin.

"My disciple, let's stop here for today. You should head down too."

"…I'll train a little more by myself."

"Haha… You stubborn one. What made you so determined?"

The man, with his rough ponytail and small scars on his face, looked like an Eastern swordsman.

This peculiar man's name was—

The Empire's only Grandmaster.

The Sword Saint, Carlos.

He dusted off the straw hat lying on the ground and placed it on his head.

"But… where are you going?"

"I'm off to meet a friend."

"Even bringing your sword with you?"

At the girl's words, Carlos smiled brightly.

"They're a bit of a rough friend, you see."

Although they look quite gentle.