“Rukete.”
The sword of sunlight formed as particles of light gathered together.
I soon grasped the hilt and swung it lightly. The sword emitted a bright flash for a moment, and then a human figure sprang out from within the blade.
“Ooooh!”
The figure that emerged from the sword was none other than the swordsman.
He landed safely on the ground and brought a hand to his chin, gazing at my sword with interest.
“What a fascinating sword. To actually experience becoming one with a blade.”
“Forget it; I’m not giving it to you.”
Carlos licked his lips in disappointment.
He then stroked his beard and looked at me with satisfaction.
“You seem pleased. Did everything go smoothly?”
I quietly stared at him for a moment.
Thinking back, it truly happened just as Carlos said.
Had I heeded his words, I might not have hurt Hera.
‘…No.’
Regret brings nothing back.
It’s all my fault.
What matters is what lies ahead.
“Right. It turned out well.”
Hearing my response, Carlos began to laugh heartily.
“Haha! I’m glad. Really glad.”
I chuckled softly in response, and as time passed, the swordsman, having shaken off the laughter, asked,
“By the way, what about that girl?”
At his words, my body flinched, but I managed not to show it.
“I won’t be seeing her for a while.”
“Hm? Did something happen?”
I briefly looked up at the sky, where the dazzling sunlight warmly enveloped my face.
“…..She says it’s better to take some time.”
The swordsman silently watched me for a moment, then nodded and followed my gaze to the sky.
“Yeah. That’s not really my business.”
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“I guess I’ll have to reap what I’ve sown.”
Right.
There’s much that needs to be done.
Only now do I realize how wrong the path I walked was.
I understood just how precious love is.
And that I must never trample on someone’s heart carelessly.
I finally got it.
If I hadn’t met Hera, I might have never known for a lifetime.
The sins I’ve committed during that time.
Like Bordin.
There must be more than one person who suffered because of my foolish past.
During the time Hera granted me, I will seek forgiveness from all of them.
Perhaps, I might never receive it.
But I won’t give up.
“By the way, why did you follow me?”
I turned around to look at her.
The short-haired girl with brown hair.
Once a maid who worked in my mansion, Alina.
She was looking at me with a calm expression.
“…I can’t trust you.”
“Huh?”
“Athena has already dealt the lady an irreparable wound. There’s no guarantee she won’t do it again.”
“…..”
I frowned slightly at her words, but since she wasn’t wrong, I decided to let it slide.
“So?”
“I want to watch. To see how you will change.”
She spoke rather audaciously.
Well, it’s fine.
Having at least one conversation partner wouldn’t be too boring.
“Do as you like.”
I turned my back to her and walked ahead. Alina quietly began to follow me.
….How long has it been since we parted?
Already I miss her.
But she will likely come to see my face someday.
I entered into a master-servant contract with her.
Not the sort bound by mere mana.
It was a truly dreadful kind of contract – one where I committed my soul to my master.
One gesture from Hera, and my soul could be crushed in an instant.
Still, I don’t regret it.
I was the one who proposed to sacrifice my soul.
It was Hera who couldn’t handle mana and proposed the contract.
“Hehe. Could I really become a slave?”
At first, I thought I misheard.
But seeing her gaze locked on me so intensely, I became unable to refuse.
As long as I could maintain my relationship with her, I could become her slave without hesitation, fulfilling her desires hundreds of times over.
‘……The commands might not sit well with me, though.’
– Let’s take some time, Athena.
Hera’s first order for me.
To remain healthy, refrain from wrongdoing, and behave well until she returns to find me.
She said she still didn’t have the courage to face me properly.
That makes sense.
I am grateful to her.
For not discarding me, despite the terrible things I did.
Up to the very last moment.
She was so kind.
So lovely.
“Then, shall we go?”
Thinking of her, I walked confidently forward with a determined look in my eyes.
Perhaps in a few months, I might see her again?
“Mom, what are you thinking about?”
“Euhh… Nothing.”
Mari, who has grown a bit taller, sat on my lap looking up at me.
Her face was still so adorably sweet.
When I gently stroked her head, she nestled into my arms with a charming smile.
It has already been a year since then.
Time flows rapidly, like a river rushing downhill.
As I opened the window, bright sunlight and lush trees flooded my vision.
This place was deep in the forest, located on the outskirts of the empire.
Even if one tried to find it intentionally, it was so remote that they would never discover it.
I had come here on Sephir’s recommendation.
A wooden cottage situated in the middle of the forest. Sephir said it was a dwelling abandoned by elves long ago.
Although I felt uncomfortable being in a house with an owner,
according to Sephir, it hadn’t been used for a hundred years, so it should be fine.
When I first arrived, it was filled with mold and dust, emitting a terrible smell, but thankfully Mari’s magic cleaned it up instantly.
Since that day, a year has passed.
As it is a place untouched by human feet, I’ve been able to live quite peacefully.
“…..Should I go meet her soon?”
I gently placed my hand on my chest and visualized her in my mind.
The Athena who has now become my slave after sacrificing her soul to me.
I wonder if she felt this way too.
Perhaps because I carried her soul within me, the feeling was incomparable to when I had held her mana.
Even though we are so far apart, I always feel like she is by my side.
Maybe that’s why my desire to find her and meet her has faded significantly.
Given that even after a year, that feeling still lingers, I probably won’t be visiting her anytime soon.
Though Athena might have a bit of a rough time.
“Hehe…”
Imagining Athena floundering, a smile escaped me involuntarily.
‘…Let’s make you suffer a little longer, Athena.’
My feelings towards her haven’t entirely subsided.
The betrayal I felt was something that couldn’t be articulated in words.
But I no longer felt like harboring resentment towards her to the point of wishing her death.
Maybe after a little more time, I’ll be able to look her in the eye again.
I heard about Athena’s well-being from Alina.
She is said to be roaming here and there, living for others.
Alina said she truly felt reborn.
“…I still feel the same, though.”
I still fear facing someone directly.
Sometimes, when I express affection to Mari, my body shakes uncontrollably, as a massive rejection still lingers within me.
It couldn’t be helped.
Even if what Athena did was a scheme, the sense of self-loathing I experienced was real.
It wasn’t something I could simply overcome just because I realized it was a lie.
‘Let’s only think of good things.’
Still, there’s no doubt I’m much better off than before.
My body has regained its health, and there’s a bright color returning to my face.
Ding-dong-
The sound of a small bell rang from the direction of the door.
“Hera! I’m here!”
Sephir, appearing in human form, entered the house with bags full of ingredients in both hands.
“You’ve worked hard, Sephir.”
I smiled at her, and Sephir shyly twisted her legs.
“Um… if that’s the case, can I lick your ear for old times’ sake?”
“….Fine. Later.”
Upon hearing my words, Sephir’s expression brightened significantly.
I wondered if she enjoyed it when I did it before.
Since then, Sephir has consistently asked me to lick her ears.
Lily said it’s like a pleasant massage, and it certainly seems so.
“Eh… Mari?”
“…No, Mom.”
…What is this?
I felt a chilling vibe around Mari.
It must just be my imagination.
I looked up at the shining sun outside and murmured.
“Come to think of it… next year the original story begins…”
“Huh? Original story?”
Mari tilted her head, looking puzzled at me.
It seems my muttered words caught her ear.
When I waved it off, she shrugged her shoulders and nestled back into my arms.
…Let’s not think about the original story anymore.
I should no longer need to worry about it.
Athena has become a saint.
Surely, that alone will make things much easier for Robin.
Sephir will no longer assist the Demon King either.
Due to her troublesome allure, fighting with allies no longer happens.
The rest will be Robin’s responsibility.
“…Work hard, protagonist.”
With my chin resting on my hand, I gazed at the bright sunlight.
I will no longer think about the original story.
I feel like I have made this resolution dozens of times, but this time felt different.
Thinking this, I closed my eyes, enjoying the warm sunlight.
But isn’t there a saying?
That the affairs of the world don’t go according to one’s heart’s desire.
In a twist of fate…
A year has passed again.
And due to a rumor that shook the empire,
my resolution was shattered once more.
The legendary sword wielder, who had appeared after a hundred years, was a woman.
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