85

It seemed like it was about to rain. The sky, heavy with dark, gloomy clouds, seemed to mirror my mood.

"…What about Athena?"

"Master said she's tired and will be staying in her room."

The maid, Roselin, spoke respectfully with both hands politely clasped together.

She wasn't the only one. Many people from the mansion were out to greet me.

But Athena herself? I couldn't even catch a glimpse of her.

Really…

Is she really just letting me go like this?

In the face of this sudden situation, I couldn't say anything.

When I woke up in the morning, I thought I had misheard.

She told me to leave the mansion and then disappeared.

I had thought it was just a figment of my imagination.

But when Mari took my hand and led me out of the mansion in the morning…

And when I saw the large carriage parked outside the gates…

And finally, when I saw Roselin and countless others waiting to greet me, I realized.

What Athena had said yesterday wasn't a lie.

"Hmph. She must know she made a mistake."

Sephir, disguised as a human, pouted and muttered from beside me.

She quickly looked around, her face showing a moment of realization. After confirming that Athena wasn't around, she sighed in relief.

Then, Sephir turned her head and looked at Mari.

Mari had been frowning since the morning, as if something was bothering her.

Mari had told me this morning.

The things Athena had said, and the unbelievable amount of platinum coins she had given her.

With that kind of money, I could live comfortably for the rest of my life within the Empire.

But I didn't feel grateful at all.

In fact, I found it even harder to understand why she was so easily pushing me away.

She used to say she couldn't live without me.

And now, she was just letting me go?

Was it disbelief or anger that stirred inside me?

I was frustrated.

I had been the one wanting to leave this mansion.

And I still wanted to leave this hellish place as soon as possible.

But…

But this wasn't how it should be.

"…Hey! Where are you going?"

Sephir called out to me, but I didn't look back.

Not just her, but I turned my back on the countless stares directed at me.

I ran toward Athena.

Even though I resented her deeply…

It wasn't right to part ways so suddenly.

I was sure she would think the same.

But… was I wrong?

"Still haven't gone?"

"…"

Athena spoke to me with an indifferent expression.

I could only stare at her blankly.

"Did you come just to say goodbye? I'm busy, so I'd prefer if you left quickly."

I couldn't understand.

Just a few days ago, she had been desperately approaching me.

Who was this person now, looking down at me so coldly?

"…Really… you want me to go?"

"Of course. Did you think I was lying?"

When I stayed standing there for a while without moving in front of Athena…

It seemed like she realized something, and with a small smile, her eyes widened as she walked toward me.

"Oh, sorry. You came for this, didn't you?"

She placed her hand on my stomach.

"Ugh?!"

Before long, I felt a dizzying sensation as something inside me seemed to slip away.

In an instant, all the strength drained from my body, and I staggered.

It felt as though something important had slipped away. I felt completely empty.

When I looked up at Athena again, a brilliant golden mana was floating and vibrating around her.

"The slave contract ends here. You can go now."

She spoke as if nothing mattered, her tone flat, and anger boiled up inside me.

Unable to hold it in any longer, I rushed at her and grabbed her by the collar.

"…You bastard."

"What?"

"You really are intent on hurting me until the very end."

I'm curious, Athena.

What was I to you?

Was I just a toy you wanted?

Or was I just an easy person to play with?

How could you…

How could you make me feel so miserable like this?

Did you ever love me, even once?

Again, upon seeing her without any response, a bitter laugh escaped me.

"Forget it. I don't even want to look at you anymore, Athena."

Turning my back to her, I said my last goodbye and walked back the way I came.

"Eat well and live well, you bitch."

A single tear rolled down my cheek.

She seemed to have said something, but it was swallowed by the distance between us and faded into the air.

Our long, tangled fate, filled with so many events, had ended.

In such an absurd, empty way.

"Please be happy."

I love you, Hera.

***

What a fine carriage it was. Despite the rough path ahead, the carriage ran smoothly without a single jolt.

"Miss… you don't look well."

"Hey… are you okay? Something happened, didn't it?"

Alina and Sephir, sitting across from me, looked at me with worried expressions.

Marie, who was sitting quietly beside me, still had a frown on her face, as if lost in deep thought.

We were on our way to the empire.

Originally, it was supposed to be just me and Marie, but Sephir, having stepped down from her position as commander, followed me, saying she had nowhere else to go.

Alina also begged to come with me.

Honestly, I wanted to be alone, but knowing how much they had cared for me, I accepted their company.

"Hera…?"

Sephir called out to me again, perhaps sensing my silence.

"…Sorry."

I apologized to Sephir.

It wasn't that I had purposely refused to answer.

I just had no thoughts at all.

No, to be precise, all I could think about was her.

It felt like she had changed so suddenly.

Earlier, I had lashed out at her in a rush of emotion and turned away, but now, sitting in the carriage and thinking calmly, her actions seemed so strange.

I gently stroked my lower abdomen.

The complete lack of sensation felt unfamiliar.

"….It must be a good thing that I've clearly escaped from being a slave.

But my body, now devoid of mana, it felt so hollow.

"….Mom."

For a while, as I blankly stared at the floor.

Mari came up from beside me and tightly clung to my waist.

Immediately, her worried expression caught my eye.

"Yeah… I'm okay, Mari."

I patted her head, gently smiling as if to reassure her.

"...."

But Mari, as if still not reassured, kept mumbling and fidgeting anxiously.

The guilt of worrying Mari again stabbed at my heart.

I felt like I couldn't go on like this. I shook my head vigorously, clearing the thoughts of Athena from my mind.

Right.

I should forget it now.

My relationship with her is already over.

Thinking about her any further would be meaningless.

The truth is, I didn't have the courage to erase her from my memory.

She had been such a significant presence in my life.

But I tried not to think about it too much.

As time passes, maybe eventually, I'll be able to forget her, even if it's in an indifferent way.

I quietly rested my head against the carriage window and closed my eyes.

When I open them again, a completely changed world will unfold before me.

Not that suffocating mansion, like hell. I'll need to find a new home.

Should I look for one in the Empire?

Living in a forest with no people might not be a bad idea either.

Whatever it is, it will be better than that mansion.

I opened my eyes again and looked at the dull sky.

It looked like it was about to rain. The dark, gloomy clouds filling the sky seemed to reflect my mood.

***

"….You, did you come here to die?"

Her massive wings spread within the castle, flaunting her majestic form.

At that, the surrounding demons began to cheer, praising her one by one.

This place, filled with the sounds of blood and screams.

The very heart of the Demon Realm. The Demon King's Castle.

Here, countless demons were gathered, all staring at a single human.

If it had been a regular person, they would have fainted on the spot from fear.

But surprisingly, it was the demons who were shaking with primal fear.

Standing boldly here, the woman, with a calm expression, extended her hand toward the red-haired woman sitting on the throne and flicked her fingers.

"I wonder. Won't it be you who dies?"

"Hahaha, this is ridiculous."

The red-haired woman with the enormous wings began laughing mockingly.

"Even if it's you, do you think you could ever be a match for me in this demon realm without a single ounce of the goddess's power?"

The woman descended from the throne, and as her feet touched the ground, all the demons inside the castle knelt, paying their respects to her.

This red-haired woman, who was called 'the Goddess' by the demons, often referred to as the Demon King.

"The Goddess's power? Why would I need something like that to kill you?"

The Demon King's brow furrowed at the woman's provocation, but then she started laughing heartily.

"Hahaha! Fine. If you really want to die that badly, I see no reason to refuse."

The dark, dense, and simultaneously destructive and murderous black mana began swirling around her.

"I do hope you'll entertain the Demon King."

The Demon King's crimson eyes glowed ominously, as though she intended to devour the woman before her.

However, the woman showed no sign of fear. She extended her hand into the air and muttered.

"Shine brightly, Lukete."

As soon as the woman finished speaking, a blinding light surged from her hand, so intense it could burn the eyes.

A mass of light, taking the form of a sword, settled into her grip.

She swung the sword, and with the roar of a fierce storm, the surrounding demons were sliced apart, leaving no trace of their bodies behind.

"It's been a while since I've used a sword."

The woman spoke as she pointed the sword at the Demon King.

Her eyes, like a bright sun, burned brilliantly gold.