51

The bright moonlight gently illuminated the cool night.

At a time like this, when one could easily drift off to sleep in the pleasant night air, I was…

"How dare a mere demon like you…"

"K-Keh… S-Spare me…"

I was on the brink of leaving this world.

Athena's rough hand was firmly gripping my neck.

That hand squeezed my throat tighter and tighter.

As the oxygen in my body grew scarce, I could feel my consciousness gradually fading.

"Speak. What did you do to Hera?"

"Keh… Keh… Air… I… can't…"

'I can't even speak because of you, you damn woman!!!'

But there was no way I could say that.

Her gaze, fixed on me, looked as if she'd have no problem slicing off my neck at any moment.

Perhaps realizing that I was unable to speak, Athena clicked her tongue once, then slammed me to the ground.

Bang—! As my body collided with the floor, pain spread throughout my entire body.

"Kyaa!"

But, as if she wasn't going to give me a moment to gather myself, Athena placed her foot on my forehead and pressed my head down onto the ground.

"Gahh!!! It hurts!! I said it hurts!!"

"Listen, harlot. I don't want to talk with you any longer than necessary. Hurry up and tell me. What did you do to Hera?"

H-H-Harlot?!

To dare call someone like me, one of the Great legion commanders of the Demon, a harlot! How could she use such a vulgar word?

Even though it was her, I couldn't tolerate such an insult…

"Answer quickly before I kill you."

"H-Hic…"

It seemed best to deal with her anger first.

"I-I didn't do anything… I swear..! The woman is perfectly fine…"

"..."

Athena stared at me quietly for a moment, then slowly approached the black-haired woman, gently placing her hand on the woman's cheek.

As golden mana flowed from her hand, it gradually seeped into the woman.

"I'm glad you're safe, Hera…"

Athena's attention was completely on the sleeping woman. Perhaps this was the only chance I'd get to escape.

'I have to get away…!!'

While Athena gazed tenderly at her, I silently spread my wings, preparing to leap—

Boom—!

"Eeeek?!"

A massive chunk of golden mana shot past me in an instant.

When I turned my head…

The dense line of trees had been obliterated without a trace, leaving only a scorched path of destruction.

"Give up, harlot."

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

The terror of impending death was washing over my mind, turning everything white.

One thing was clear.

There was no way I could escape her.

My mind, desperate, quickly came up with an alternative plan.

And that was…

"I-I'm sorry!! I made a mistake!! I swear, I won't ever touch that woman again…"

Begging on my knees.

For someone like me, a revered commander of the demon legion, this was an immense humiliation. But I had no other choice.

'I don't want to die…!'

Yet, despite my earnest pleading, she approached me slowly, emanating a murderous intent.

"P-Please, spare me…!"

"No."

"A-Aren't you curious why I came here?! I… I could tell you?"

"Not interested."

"D-Don't you want to know more about demons? I might not look it, but as a commander, I have quite a bit of information…"

"Don't need it."

"Na… Na… I… hic… Huh… Save… me…"

As the means to persuade her gradually diminished, it was as if she was being told to give up. Tears began to pour from her eyes.

"I… I don't want to die…"

Athena formed a sword-shaped aura in her hand and aimed it at my neck.

"You've touched someone you shouldn't have."

"Huh… Huh… Hic…."

Without hesitation, Athena raised the sword high above her head and swung it towards her own neck.

A beautiful full moon illuminated the night sky.

In the pitch-black darkness, the soft moonlight created a scenic view.

And a golden sword blade poured down towards her.

"Ah…."

That was the last scenery I would see.

It was certainly supposed to be that way.

.

.

.

"Uh…?"

"…Hera?"

"Don't… kill me…"

When I opened my eyes, I found my neck still intact.

Cautiously lifting my head, I saw Athena wearing a slightly flustered expression.

Behind her stood a woman with black hair, hugging her.

"Hera, let go of her. She was trying to kidnap you—"

"I don't want to!! Don't kill her… the darkness… I'll stop the… the shadow…"

The woman spoke in an unintelligible manner.

Her face was still flushed from alcohol, her eyes glassy and unfocused.

I didn't understand why she was acting like this.

But one thing was clear: she was trying to save me.

"Step aside, Hera. She's a demon. We have to kill her anyway."

"The dark… I'll… Athena… my family…"

After leaving those words, she pressed her lips against Athena's.

"Hera? Mmm—"

Smooch— Smooch— Slurp—

They exchanged saliva in front of me.

I couldn't take my eyes off the strangely intimate scene for a while.

Soon, the black-haired woman pulled away and spoke to Athena in a seductive voice.

"Promise… me… you won't kill her…"

"No."

Smooch—

As Athena gave a negative reply, the woman placed a light kiss on her, as if she didn't want to hear it.

"Promise… me…"

"…"

Smooch— Smooch—

"Promise…"

Hah.

Athena gazed at the woman for a long time, then sighed deeply and gently embraced her.

"Okay."

"Hehe… so sweet… so sweet…"

The black-haired woman gently patted Athena's head, as if to compliment her.

An unbelievable sight.

'That… that monster is petting her head?'

"I'll promise, so go to sleep quickly, Hera. You must be tired."

"U… Um… keep your promise…"

Her eyes slowly closed, and she began to breathe quietly.

It seemed she had fallen asleep again.

Athena picked her up and gently laid her back on the bed.

A shallow smile lingered on her face.

"But the voice calling me was endlessly cold."

"Y-yes…! Y-yes!!!"

Thanks to the woman, she now had a chance to preserve her life.

Before Athena could change her mind, she quickly responded to her with a loud voice.

Athena looked at her with a displeased expression and continued speaking.

"The Demon King's plan. From start to finish. Every single detail without exception."

"If… there's even one suspicious thing."

"You'll end up in a very unpleasant situation."

…Gulp.

It seemed that today, she would have to betray the Demon King's army.

No matter how great the Demon King was, her own life came first.

'Sorry, Demon King.'

She sent a brief apology to the superior she had served up until now.

Then, without hesitation, she opened her mouth to speak to Athena.

"Our demon clan actually—"

"Now I'm curious."

But she was interrupted by Athena's sudden remark.

It seemed like a thought had struck her. She raised one eyebrow, showing a strange expression.

'…What… What is it?'

Her sly smile as she looked down at her gave her an ominous feeling.

She alternated her gaze between her and the dark-haired woman before slowly opening her mouth.

"I was already planning to give a gift in celebration of becoming family with Hera…"

"I wonder if I could make the Succubus Queen my familiar?"

***

She forced her increasingly heavy eyelids open.

Her body felt unusually heavy.

Her head throbbed with pain.

Her stomach churned with nausea.

"Thirsty…"

Dragging her heavy body, she grabbed a water bottle and drank, the cool water sliding down her throat and quenching her thirst.

With her thirst quenched, her condition slightly improved. Over time, she slowly began to regain her senses.

'…What happened yesterday?'

She struggled to recall her memories from the foggy haze in her head.

She remembered having dinner with Athena…

Curious about the taste of alcohol in this world, she had a drink with Athena…

And then…

Her memory was unclear.

It wasn't completely blank, but it felt like a video tape with pieces missing, sections of her memory completely gone.

"Did I… perhaps pass out from drinking yesterday…?"

That was the only way to explain this situation.

But she hadn't even drunk that much, had she?

Before her possession, the amount she had drunk wouldn't have even made her tipsy. The fact that she got drunk enough to black out on that amount…

'Is alcohol stronger in this world…? Or maybe my body changed…?'

She wondered if she'd unknowingly drunk a potent alcohol.

But recalling Athena's perfectly fine state, it seemed the problem lay with her body.

Maybe her alcohol tolerance had changed with her new body.

"..."

She had confidently told Athena she was a good drinker…

What must she have thought, seeing her pass out after a single drink?

She probably looked at her with utter disdain.

She glanced at the bed and saw Athena sleeping soundly.

It was still 6 AM. It was still early, so she decided not to wake her.

'…Come to think of it.'

It felt like she'd done something to Athena yesterday…

Although it was vague, she remembered trying to cheer her up, just as she would comfort Lily.

But… was it really Athena?

It seemed like the image was slightly different.

A faint image of pink hair appeared in her mind.

"Must've been her…"

It was probably just her imagination.

After all, if it wasn't her, who else would be by her side?

But the vivid pink hair that kept resurfacing in her memory.

The color was so distinct that she clearly remembered it.

Bright and beautiful, like a tulip.

Yes. Just like the hair of the person lying on the floor.

Wait… huh?

"Aaah?!!!!?!"

A mysterious body lay right next to my foot. Startled, I quickly pulled my foot back, retreating in shock.

But in the process, my foot twisted.

Unintentionally, I ended up pressing down on what appeared to be a woman's stomach with my foot.

"Squawk?!"

Then came a bizarre cry, like pressing down on a squeaky toy.

The sound resembled that of a pig being butchered—coming from a woman's body.

In response to the sudden pain, the woman flipped onto her back, clutching her stomach in agony.

"Heghhhh…"

Though it was shocking, a person was still a person.

I ran over to her, who was curled up in pain.

"Are…are you okay?! I-I was just startled…!"

As I approached, the pink-clad woman whipped her gaze toward me—

"Hey…hey!! Please…please save me…!!!"

"Eek?!"

Suddenly, she lunged at me, clinging to my leg like a cicada to a tree.

"I'm pretty skilled, you know? I'm sure I'll be useful to you..!!"

"Uh…what?"

"I can help you have sweet dreams..! If…if you want, I can even serve you at night..!!"

"Serve…at night..?"

"Do you…like that sort of thing..? If you do, I'll do it for you…instead…"

Clinging tightly to my leg, she started speaking nonsense.

"Please, accept me as your familiar!!"

As if her life depended on it, she pleaded with an earnest expression.

I stared at her blankly for a long while before cautiously opening my mouth.

"…But, who are you…?"

I know I shouldn't say this, but…

Is she…crazy?