48

A lively atmosphere filled the restaurant.

The aroma of delicious food mixed with the laughter of people from all around, creating a vibrant ambiance.

This place was one of the most beloved restaurants in Carman.

Athena and I were here, sharing a dinner together.

Though it wasn't as extravagant as the dishes from the mansion, the food looked undeniably delicious.

There was juicy meat, steaming hot potatoes, and a fragrant soup.

Perhaps not the healthiest of meals, but each dish was one that brought joy to the heart.

"Hera, eat slowly. You'll get indigestion."

Athena handed me a napkin as she spoke.

"Mm… thanks."

I took the napkin from her and wiped around my mouth.

Maybe because it was a meal in a new place, but it felt refreshing.

Unlike the stifling mansion, this place gave me a sense of freedom.

"Tomorrow, we'll go a bit deeper. We should be able to find something soon, as there were traces of demons."

Athena mentioned our schedule for the next day as we ate.

"Mm… but you didn't seem in a good mood today… Is something wrong?"

She'd been downcast all day, and it made me feel gloomy as well.

At my question, Athena looked at me with an exasperated expression.

"Hera, has anyone ever told you that you lack awareness?"

"Huh?"

Her sudden question made me pause to think.

Awareness… awareness…

Hmm… I wouldn't say I'm oblivious. In fact, I'd consider myself rather perceptive, having had various social experiences before my current state.

"No? I think I'm pretty perceptive."

But Athena gave me a look of disbelief.

Now that I think about it…

Lily once told me I lacked awareness, too.

-Sis! I like that you're not very perceptive.

-Uh… really? Why?

-No matter what I do, you never… Ah, never mind! Hehe.

It was a silly conversation, but…

Besides Lily, I don't think anyone else has called me oblivious.

…I wonder if Lily and my sister are doing well.

As I ate in this bustling restaurant, I naturally thought of them.

Sharing a meal filled with laughter alongside them… those were truly happy times.

They're probably living a more prosperous life in the empire now. The facilities there are far superior to Drax.

And since Lily and Dania got along so well, maybe they'd even forgotten about someone like me.

Or perhaps they've made new friends in the empire, filling the void I left.

'…Still, I hope they remember me.'

If they were to forget me, then I would be the only one treasuring the warm memories with them.

Thinking that way, a bitter feeling crept up on me.

In truth, at some point, the thought of wanting to find them disappeared.

I didn't want them to see me.

This broken version of myself. This useless self, unable to do anything alone.

I wanted to remain as a reliable younger sibling to Dania, and as a dependable older sister to Lily, remembered that way forever.

If they were to see me like this, so pitiful…

They, with their kind hearts, wouldn't show it, but one day it would surely reveal itself. The way they would begin to treat me with more consideration, the pitying glances. One by one, those things would start to change. Just like everyone else did.

If it came to that, I don't think I could bear it.

With them… at least with them…

I wanted to remain someone useful to Lily and Dania.

Though their absence left me feeling incredibly lonely.

They say time heals. As time passed, it seemed like things were slowly getting better.

I lifted my head and looked at her, standing before me.

Eyes that shone like gold, platinum hair gleaming radiantly, exuding an air of elegance.

"….?"

She raised an eyebrow, seemingly puzzled by my gaze.

This person who endlessly cherished and loved me, despite my pitiful state.

The one who stayed by my side, never letting me feel lonely.

She gave me so much care and devotion that I didn't know if I deserved such one-sided kindness.

…I don't resent her anymore.

The resentment I once held for what she did to me in the past had vanished somewhere along the way.

Perhaps it was from the day she happily ate the food I made for her.

I was so happy. So grateful to her, that now my feelings of affection had far surpassed any lingering bitterness.

'…Family.'

She, too, had become someone as precious as Lily and Dania to me. She was my family now.

I watched her as she ate.

Seeing her delicately slicing even the meat in the dining hall made me smile.

"…What?"

She looked at me with an expression as if she were looking at a strange person.

I wanted to tell her. My feelings. How I felt about her.

I wanted to tell her that I cherished her as much as Lily and Dania, like a precious family.

So I gave her a gentle smile and said,

"Athena."

"Yes?"

..

…

....

"I love you."

"Pfft!"

Athena spewed the food from her mouth.

The food she had spat out scattered across the table.

An action I never would've expected from someone with such a noble air.

But she didn't seem to care in the slightest, instead looking at me with a panicked expression.

"Wha… What… What did you just say?"

In an uncharacteristic manner, she was visibly flustered.

"I love you. I don't hate you anymore. Just as much as you cherish me, I think of you as precious too."

Athena spoke, gripping my hand with a trembling gaze.

"…Then… does this mean we are now…?"

I'd never seen her voice shake like this before. Was she that moved?

Her reaction gave me a strange warmth. The fact that she was so deeply touched meant she valued me that much.

"Yes!"

I grasped Athena's hand in return, giving her a big smile.

"From today, we're lovers–"

"We're family now."

"…"

"...…"

A brief silence enveloped the two of us.

Wait, I think Athena just said something. I couldn't hear it clearly over my own words.

"Athena, what did you just say?"

"…Family?"

Her voice sounded somewhat deflated.

"Yes. Precious family."

….

Athena stared blankly at me for a while, then let out a sigh and resumed eating.

"…Alright, I'll settle for this, for now…"

Mumbling softly, just enough that I couldn't hear, Athena ate her food.

After expressing my feelings, I felt an unexpected sense of relief.

Until now, my resentment toward Athena and the gratitude I felt for her had been clashing within me. But now, I could finally settle on how I felt about her.

From now on, I would cherish Athena as family.

'A slave… well, I'm not so sure about that…'

Since the deep-rooted history of South Korea was ingrained in my mind, the word "slave" felt rather foreign.

But at least the resistance I'd initially felt was gone, so maybe, someday, a time would come when I'd truly be her slave, even in my heart.

Of course, that wouldn't happen anytime soon.

Grinning, I popped the meat in front of me into my mouth.

***

"…What kind of conversation are they having?!"

Across from the restaurant, watching the two of us, was a woman.

One of the four generals of the Great Demon Legion. The Succubus Queen, Sephir.

Using one of her rare talents, transformation magic, she had disguised herself as a human woman.

Well, honestly, her transformation magic was limited to hiding her horns, wings, tail, and the unique demonic mana she possessed. Her pink hair and eyes remained the same.

But still, as expected of a general's transformation magic, even Athena would have a hard time noticing.

Sephir was waiting eagerly for the two of them to part.

But instead of parting, the two continued sharing words, looking into each other's eyes with thick emotions flowing between them.

"…Are they really that close?"

I hadn't heard any rumors about Athena being interested in romantic affairs.

But so what if it's romance? What matters is that she now has a weakness. And that's a huge opportunity for the Demon King's army.

The hatchling had long since faded from her mind.

In her eyes, only the black-haired woman in front of her mattered.

'If I can just get a moment alone with her… I can enchant her!'

However, opportunities didn't come easily. Athena didn't leave the woman alone, and the woman, too, clung closely to Athena.

"..Come to think of it."

That girl is truly beautiful.

Even from a considerable distance, her beauty was vivid to the eye.

Her deep black hair resembled the night sky, contrasting with her snow-white skin. Amidst it, her red eyes exuded a faintly blood-red aura.

Had Athena fallen for her appearance?

For someone who never opened her heart to others, to be captivated by someone's looks like that… it made a hint of jealousy arise.

'Hmph… well, she's pretty! But still, she can't compare to me.'

Her own beauty was said to be demonic. If that woman were to stand beside her, her beauty would pale in comparison.

Consoling herself with such thoughts, she began to focus on them again.

Athena raised her hand to call over the server.

Was she intending to pay and leave?

However, it seemed she wasn't there to settle the bill but to order more food.

The server took her order and went back to the kitchen.

Upon returning, they brought something to the two women.

"…Alcohol?"

Two large mugs of beer.