I Became A Slave To The Mastermind

"By the way, it's really lively here."

I said, glancing around.

"It's a popular bar. Makes sense."

Athena wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

I couldn't help but be surprised by what she said.

"A bar?! This is a bar?"

A bar, huh.

No wonder the place was so noisy.

For a regular restaurant, the atmosphere was unusually good.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind.

'…I wonder what alcohol tastes like in this world…'

Before I came here, as a working adult, alcohol had been a close friend of mine.

Whenever I got scolded by my boss or had to work overtime, a can of beer was my way of relieving the day's stress.

That refreshing taste always lifted my spirits.

As someone who enjoyed drinking quite a bit, I became curious about the taste of alcohol in this world.

'…Would it be okay to try?'

This body is of age, after all…

And before I came here, I could handle my drinks quite well, so I shouldn't cause any problems.

Alright.

I made up my mind and looked at Athena carefully.

"Athena…shall we have a drink?"

***

"Sure! I'm a great drinker. Don't worry."

"It's delicious..! It tastes so much better since it's been a while."

"Hehe… Athena, hurry and drink, cheers~!"

"Ahh… I feel good… Whew…"

"Hehehe…feeling… hehe…"

Hiccup

I rubbed my throbbing temples as I looked at Hera sprawled across the table.

She, who had boasted about being a good drinker, passed out before even finishing her glass.

No, really. Isn't she incredibly bad at this?

It wasn't even strong alcohol, just beer.

"…That's so like Hera."

If even this sight of hers seems adorable, am I just utterly infatuated?

After finishing the drink in her glass, I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes for a moment.

-I love you.

Hera's confession to me.

Those words echoed in my mind, over and over.

The first expression of affection she directed at me.

Though it wasn't romantic love, it was Hera's way of opening her heart to me.

Thump-thump

My heart still hadn't calmed down.

The word 'love' coming from her lips hit me harder than any bizarre attack I'd ever faced.

"I'm not some girl experiencing her first love…"

Though, honestly, it is my first love.

I'd never really liked anyone before, whether as a person or as someone of the opposite sex.

'…I did well to hold back.'

I had resisted countless temptations.

Every night she flirted, playfully wagging her tail, testing my will.

Spending each night alone, enduring those trials.

Though the strain had started to show recently, looking back, I was glad I held out.

If I had violated her…

If I had ignored her feelings and selfishly indulged myself…

She would never have said she loved me. Instead, she would have looked at me with loathing.

Now, I was almost there.

Since she opened her heart, I wouldn't miss this opportunity.

Using the opening Hera had given, I'd draw closer to her.

Someday, she would confess to her, not as family, but as a lover.

And on that day, when they became lovers, she would pour all the desires she had held back onto her.

They probably wouldn't leave the bed for at least a week.

Imagining that moment made her mouth water.

"Mm… Athena… Are you there?"

Hera blinked, half-asleep. She seemed quite intoxicated.

It looked like it was time to put her to bed.

"You're drunk. Let's head back."

After patting her head once, she went to the counter to pay.

"Oh! No, Miss ! How could I possibly take a hero's money?"

"Just take it."

"Really, it's fine! Knowing you enjoyed it is more than enough."

The owner refused her money. It wasn't unexpected.

Everyone she had met so far had shown her this kind of kindness.

But in return, they often expected something from her.

Didn't they assume, just by seeing her in town, that she would naturally get rid of the monsters?

If she said she wouldn't fight the monsters, their admiration would instantly turn to disappointment.

They expect things on their own and feel disappointed on their own. Self-centered beings who think only for their own sake.

Only Hera was different.

She remembered the first time they met.

Not a gaze filled with admiration, but rather, one filled with fear.

It was as if Hera had known her true self from the beginning.

'Yes, it's fate.'

Surely, she was a blessing from the heavens.

A gift from above for someone as weary as her.

"Just take it. I have more money than I know what to do with."

She tossed the money to the owner and turned away.

Toward her lovely slave.

'Since she's drunk… I can be a bit rougher.'

She was likely deeply intoxicated. She wouldn't wake up easily.

Perhaps she could be bolder this time.

Tonight, maybe she'd use her lips instead of her fingers. Or perhaps her chest… No, that could wait.

Whatever she chose.

She would give her a taste of heaven.

With anticipation in her heart, she returned to her seat.

But what greeted her was only a messy table and a chair from which all warmth had vanished.

"…Hera?"

***

Pink hair fluttered under the night sky.

"Haha!! I did it. I really did it!!"

In her arms was a black-haired woman, soundly asleep.

While Athena briefly went to the counter, she moved without hesitation, concealing her presence and approaching the woman.

She was so intoxicated that she wouldn't know if someone carried her away. Kidnapping her turned out to be much easier than she expected.

After running breathlessly, she arrived at her hideout.

In truth, it was an abandoned house she found in the forest while searching for hatchlings, but it had a bed, so she had been using it.

She gently laid the woman on the bed and steadied her disrupted breathing.

"Hah… hah… hehehe…"

After tailing Athena all day, she learned just how important this woman was to her.

By now, Athena was probably burning inside, desperately searching for her.

However, by the time they find it, they'll already be my slave.

'Seems like they have lustful intentions toward this one…'

Ah.

If I entwine with this woman, will I be able to see her face twisted in despair?

Or maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to make her willingly spread her legs for me.

As I imagined that monster screaming under me, laughter naturally escaped my lips.

"Hoo… alright."

My breath, now steady, returned. I approached the woman sleeping soundly on the bed, looking at her.

Her flushed cheeks, breathing softly in her sleep, likely from the intoxication.

…She really is beautiful.

Even someone like me, said to possess the beauty of a demon, couldn't look away.

It was as if she had never been touched by sunlight; her skin was so pale, almost pure white.

'Once she's my slave, I'll have her do this and that.'

While my main goal was to deal with Athena, seeing this woman, I started feeling a bit of personal desire creeping in.

It seemed I would be able to enjoy my time with this slave for a while.

Alright, let's start with enchantment.

I gently shook the sleeping woman awake.

To cast the enchantment, I needed her to look directly into my eyes.

"Wake up, dear. I have a gift for you."

"Mm… Athena…?"

She called me Athena, looking at me.

Was she confusing me with that monster?

If so, that was even better.

The more she felt affection for me, the stronger the enchantment would become.

Like Athena would, I gently stroked her hair.

"Yes, it's me. Athena."

"Hehe… Athena…"

With a cute voice, she rubbed her face against my knee.

"Huhu… good girl… Now, could you look into my eyes for a moment?"

I held her soft, pale face in my hands to lift her head.

As I raised her face, her eyes met mine at the same level.

"That's it… that's it… now, look into my eyes—"

"Mm… should I?.. Alright…"

She suddenly muttered something incomprehensible.

But before I could grasp her intentions, it happened.

"Hah."

"Eek?!"

She grabbed my hand, which was holding her face, pulled it to her mouth, and then…

She put one of my fingers into her mouth.

"Mmm… hng… slurp…"

Chup—chuup—suck—

"W-wha… what is this?!"

My heart started pounding as she suddenly took such an unexpected action.

"Nng… slurp…"

Seeing her, flushed, passionately sucking on my finger, my mind started to go hazy.

'Get… get a hold of yourself!'

I slapped my own cheek to snap out of it and pulled my finger from her mouth.

Reluctantly, her lips clung to it, sucking until my finger slipped out, leaving it wet with her saliva.

Looking at my glistening finger, lewd thoughts began to fill my mind.

I shook my head vigorously to shake off those desires.

Then I looked at her and shouted.

"You… you… What are you?"

Even she, who stood at the Queen of succubi, nearly found herself enchanted by this woman for a moment.

This was absolutely impossible.

'No… No way. Could she be the legendary Gumiho?!'

A Nine- tailed fox that exists only in stories.

It's said that any creature who sees that a Nine- tailed fox loses their life as she drains their energy, leaving no one alive to know her face—a legend.

For a moment, she wondered if this woman could be that monsters, but no matter how she looked, this woman was human.

There was not a trace of monsters energy to be found.

'Yes… Right. As long as she's human, she has no choice but to fall for me.'

It had to be a coincidence.

She was the queen of succubi, the pinnacle of desire.

She would not let herself be captivated by this woman again.

Regaining her composure, she looked at the woman, who was staring back at her with a somewhat disappointed expression.

"…Why did you pull your finger away? Didn't you like it?"

"Th… Tha…"

What's wrong with you, Sephir?

Why can't you answer?

Tell her. Tell her that what she did didn't make you feel good at all!

"…Ah! I actually have something I wanted to do for you…!"

"Something you wanted to do?"

"Mm-hmm… I'm sure you'll feel better. Even Lily enjoyed it…!"

…Gulp.

She couldn't help but swallow as the woman's sensual presence washed over her.

Feel better? What on earth was she planning to do?

No, she couldn't allow it.

Her entire body warned her to refuse.

But her curiosity was overwhelming.

It was like Pandora's box. She knew she shouldn't open it, but felt she wouldn't be able to resist.

"W… What is it?"

In the end, she couldn't overcome the temptation.

The woman smiled brightly and gently laid her down on the bed.

"Hehe… Just stay still, okay?"

Then, she leaned toward her face.

Lick-

She slid her tongue into her ear.